Gahhhhhhh. This was supposed to be posted on the 19th for Shizuru's birthday, but I was stuck celebrating mine. Anyways, happy belated birthday, Shizuru. You're still so awesome even after all these years.

The last chapter guys. I don't know whether to jump up and down or cry is agony. Maybe both? I mean, I can do that right? Cry while jumping? Because I think I'll do just that.

And to think, this is my first multi-fic that I've actually finished. I feel so accomplished.

Enjoy guys. I hope I didn't disappoint.

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai HiME.

Monday rolled around faster than Natsuki had wanted. Along with it came the sunny weather, complete with white cumulus clouds scattered throughout the sky. The air was warm, bringing along the sweet scent of flowers and the sun. Natsuki ignored it all and parked her bike underneath a shady tree, feeling as if whatever deity there is out there was mocking her.

Her less than happy attitude wasn't unwarranted. She had days, weeks, months to confess to SHizuru about what's been on her mind since Yoshi-oji had died, but no words regarding Shizuru's guardian's wish ever left her mouth. THe most horrible feeling entered her stomach making the blunette gulp.

Her actions didn't go unnoticed as Shizuru gave her girlfriend's waist a tight squeeze before slipping off Natsuki's motorcycle. Natsuki turned off the ignition after a while and turned back to see Shizuru removing her helmet, letting long honey colored tresses settle on Shizuru's shoulders.

Natsuki grabbed her helmet and took it off, allowing her own mane to fall on her back. She took a deep breath before getting off her vehicle. It was going to be a long day so the most she could really do is relax and calmly think about her next course of action. And that meant taming her beating heart to a more relaxed state.

Emerald eyes glanced towards Shizuru's hand, which had just grasped her's, and Natsuki smiled. She squeezed the older woman's hand before tugging the two of them into the building that the reading of the will was to be taken place.

There were hundreds of voices talking behind two closed doors and those quieted down as Shizuru and Natsuki entered the room. Each pair of eyes stared at the two, many like Shizuru's own crimson, but of course, Natsuki couldn't see a single pair that brought comparison to Shizuru's beautiful eyes.

"Shizuru!" yelled one of them. Could be a cousin or something in Natsuki's opinion. Suddenly a body came running towards her girlfriend. Lean with brown hair, the girl of fifteen, maybe sixteen, came forward, light blue eyes twinkling with happiness.

The girl grabbed Shizuru into a warm hug, different from the normal Viola formality, and Shizuru hugged back.

"Mika. How are you?" wondered Shizuru addressing the younger girl. The older woman soon lets go, letting a smile grace her lips as she gets a good look of the other girl.

"I'm doing good. Well, expect for your father. I'm really sorry about what happened..." Mika's eyes slightly dimmed.

"It's all just a part of life."

Natsuki hummed, agreeing immediately. This draws attention to herself as the younger girl finally notices her.

The blue eyed girl turned towards Natsuki, scrutinizing her. "Hello. I don't think we've met. I'm Mika Viola. Shizuru's cousin. It's a pleasure to meet you.. um?"

Natsuki took Mika's outstretched hand and gave it a firm shake. "Natsuki. Kuga Natsuki." The emerald eyed woman smiled and proudly claimed, "I'm Shizuru's girlfriend."

The area was suddenly overwhelmed with murmurs as most of Shizuru's relatives began to talk amongst each other. But Natsuki ignored all their voices, focusing on the awe glint in her girlfriend's eyes. She grinned, mentally high-fiving herself.

Mika just grinned. "Someone finally managed to gain my cousin's heart? Congratulations!"

"If anything, her heart seemed to be waiting for mine all along. I just had to get my overly dense brain to realize it." Natsuki grinned sheepishly.

Shizuru laughed and drew her unaware companion to a surprise hug. "Hmm, that surely was the best day." She turned to her cousin and smiled. "You wouldn't believe it, but this wonderful woman, who's usually grumpy and unapproachable, did the most romantic thing. She-"

Natsuki quickly covered her mouth and shook her head frantically. "And that's as far as you're going to get, Shizuru."

Mika laughed at their interaction and was about to tease the blunette only for a new face to appear into their conversation. Well, everyone's conversation really.

A loud cough quickly grabbed everyone's attention to the front of the room. There stood a man- slightly old in his years, dressed in a dark sleek suit, carrying a leather briefcase. "Welcome everyone. My name is Kanzaki Karui and I am.. was Hideyoshi's lawyer and friend. Today, I have Hideyoshi's last wishes to give."

Everyone quickly moved towards the front of the room where a chairs had been set up for the guests. Kanzaki took his place on an elevated stage where a microphone stood in front of him to speak with.

The rest of the group sat in their seats. Natsuki and Shizuru in the front with Mika a little off towards the back sitting with what is perhaps her own family. Natsuki gave her a nod and Mika smiled back.

Natsuki then took the time to observe the people around her. There were at least twenty people in the room. A couple of them had no family resemblance so that must be some of Yoshi-oji's acquaintances from work. The rest of them, with their striking blood eyes or their chestnut colored hair, were definitely part of the Viola family. The air surrounding some of them also supported many of her theories about the crimson eyed beauty's extended family. 'A bunch of no good... calm down Kuga, they're still Shizuru's relatives...'

Emerald eyes turned nervous as the lawyer began to speak. It had finally started. And this illuminated her inability to tell Shizuru about her father's wish. Truly, she didn't mean to put it off. She just never could bring it up. 'Fucking hell. How am I even going to tell her?'

"Natsuki? Are you okay?" asked Shizuru, turning towards the younger woman. Natsuki just nodded and brought both their attention to the speaking man.

"...so let's get started," stated the elder man, taking out a couple of papers from his briefcase. He, out of unconscious habit, tapped the papers on the podium to straighten them out. The dark haired lawyer then began to read Yoshi-oji's final words.

The lawyer's voice dissipated as Natsuki's thoughts quickly turned towards her dilemma. How in the hell is she going to tell Shizuru about Yoshi-oji's wish for them? Again, its not like she can say- "Hey Shizuru, guess what? Your father wants us to get married in order to be able to touch his money. I could care less about the money, but I do want to marry you?" Yea no.

"...and the old family house will go to Miharu Viola, my sister, and her family to do as they please," the lawyer finishes. Natsuki discreetly looked around the rest of the room to see what had transpired only to notice the families that had once held an air of arrogance, had only anger and frustration seeping into the atmosphere.

"The family heirlooms were given to everybody else, but them," whispered Shizuru, as if she were reading Natsuki's wondering. But if her girlfriend would've been able to read minds, then Natsuki really didn't have to hide anything.

"Ah. What a bummer."

Shizuru crinkled her noise, which Natsuki found to be adorable, before saying, "Oto-san had never been particularly happy with them. They were always busy with work rather than their own families."

Natsuki nodded before Shizuru began to talk again, "That's what made oto-san special. He always made time for me and whenever I tell him that I understood the importance of work and that it was okay that he didn't have all the time in the world to spend with me, he'd just say that I came before anything and that he had to make up for something he did in the past."

"Hmmm. He was a great man."

The older woman laid her head down on Natsuki's shoulders before they both looked towards the lawyer again. Of course, Natsuki paid no attention. She had something to think about.

So the marriage. She knew for sure that she loved Shizuru. The way the crimson eyed beauty laughed, talked, smiled, hell anything Shizuru did, Natsuki found either cute or beautiful. Shizuru's rather flirty nature and her kind character had also helped. And the decrease in her nightmares was definitely because of Shiz-

Emerald eyes grew wide. Her nightmares.. The very thing that used to plague her mind. Not only had there been none, considering her nightmares usually occurred during spring break till summer, but her mind hasn't gone to her father in months. It was usually occupied with Shizuru.. That's got to mean something..

Shizuru. Shizuru had changed what she had been trying to change ever since her father... The older woman had done it. Not her guardian or her friends. But her best friend. Her girlfriend. The woman she loved.

She was ready.

"Shizuru," whispered Natsuki to catch the brunette's attention. A pair of crimson orbs stared at her in question. "I have something to tell you. Your father, before he died, he needed to tell you something important. It's about us. And him."

"What is Natsuki?" asked Shizuru, intrigued.

The other woman took a deep breath, gathering what courage she managed to gather in her moment of revelation. "It was Yoshi-oji's wish. He wanted us to get m-marr-"

"And now, for Natsuki Kruger and my daughter, Shizuru," began Kanaki-san, drawing Natsuki and Shizuru's attention from their conversation. "To my darling Shizuru, the company is yours. Do as you wish with it. Grow and let it prosper or sell it if you need to, but I highly doubt you would when you find out how much I've left to you and Natsuki."

Shizuru's eyes widened. "Natsuki and I?"

Karui started again. "I'll further explain later. To Nat-kun, there is an empty house where I had left my most precious possession. My most important thing. I have guarded it with all my being and it is more precious than any jewel in the world. Over the years, I have waited for you to retrieve it. And when you finally do so, please, being the person I trust most with it, take care of it with every fiber of your being."

Natsuki nodded, tears gathering at the edge of her eyes, knowing exactly what Yoshi-oji meant. Shizuru just turned to her confused. 'I'll tell you later,' mouthed Natsuki in which she received a nod.

"Now, to everyone in this room who has been wondering about my money and riches going to Shizuru and Natsuki, let me explain. Shizuru is my heiress. Natsuki is her best friend. I've seen them both grow up too early. Either by loss or separation. And I cannot stand to see it any longer. As such, I have created a proposal to benefit them."

Natsuki's eyes grew and she suddenly turned to Shizuru. She needed to be the one to tell Shizuru. Not Kanzaki-san or anyone else. Shizuru deserved to know first. "Shiz-"

"Natsuki, what's wrong?" Shizuru asked, noticing the obvious frantic in Natsuki's form and voice.

"Yoshi-oji wanted me to tell you that he had wanted us to get marr-"

"I have set up a joint account containing all of my money for my daughter and Natsuki,"

Shizuru turned towards Natsuki again when the younger woman grabbed her elbow. "Really, what's wrong Natsuki?" she asked, utter confusion and slight annoyance in her voice.

"I've been trying to say that Yoshi-oji wanted us to get m-"

"but I have set up one condition in order for them to access it,"

The rest of the room kept their attention strictly fixated on what the lawyer was going to say. Natsuki, ignorant of anything but Shizuru, couldn't care less. The words that Shizuru were supposed to hear must come from her.

Natsuki began again, hopping against all odds that what she wanted to say was what Shizuru heard first.

"He wanted us to get married."

"they must be married."

The room was quiet, faces ranging from shock to furious. A anxious Natsuki blatantly avoided everyone's stare as her attention was completely on Shizuru, waiting for what the older woman was going to say. By then, everyone was also looking at her, expecting some sort of shocked reaction.

All they got was a smile and a loving look towards the nervous wreck besides her.

"For the last time, what is the matter Natsuki?" Shizuru asked, grinning.

Flashback

A seventeen year old Shizuru hummed quietly as she walked down one of the many halls inside the family house. It was a peaceful Saturday. No school and her father was in his office talking to an old friend of his. Everything was good.

But as she passed by her father's office, she heard her name being mentioned. And because of teenage curiosity, she quickly moved towards the door to hear more.

"... and that is exactly what I want on my will." her father finished. Shizuru could imagine her father just sitting in his favorite chair, his right hand messing with the stubble on his chin and his other tapping the table.

She heard her father's friend, Kanzaki-san, hum in confirmation. "Are you sure this is what she would want?"

"Yes," her father spoke with such conviction that even Shizuru had to believe that whatever he wanted to do for is exactly what she wanted. Even though she doesn't have a single clue about what they're talking about.

Kanzaki-san still seemed bent on changing her father's wish. "It's just, she's only seventeen. Isn't it kinda early for marriage?"

Shizuru's eyes widened. 'Marriage?' She was way too young for that. And who exactly is she supposed to marry? Kanzaki-san's son, Reito? That thought made her want to laugh. She only saw Reito as a friend and she knew he thought the same way. And really, the only one that she would give her heart to would be her best friend.

"This will isn't until I have passed and even then, she'll have the choice whether to go with it or not. It is all dependent on what she feels then."

The young girl was still confused. What choice was her father talking about? And what does her feelings have to do with it?

"But Hidey-"

Shizuru could feel the scrapping of her father's chair move back. He must've stood up. "Enough Karui, that is what I want on my will and as my lawyer, and friend, I hope you respect my last wishes and hope to see it done."

She could her Kanzaki-san mumble before sighing. "Very well, Hideyoshi. The joint account to your fortune will only be accessed if Shizuru Viola were to marry one Natsuki Kruger. And if they fail to comply, then the account will be closed until Shizuru Viola's children are of age."

There was nothing to prepare Shizuru for what she just heard. Married. To Natsuki? Butterflies made their presence known in the teenager's stomach. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Natsuki, her most precious person, could be with her. She could feel nothing byt happiness. Her hope had dimmed over the years regarding her reunion with Natsuki, but now it was back, with more power than ever. She just hopped that when the time comes for her to meet Natsuki, it wouldn't be through her father's deathbed.

Her father made a small noise, agreeing with the terms he's set with. "Let us hope that it doesn't come to that. My daughter deserves the best and I believe that Natsuki is the one to carry on Shizuru's happiness."

Shizuru quickly walked off before she heard anything else, happier than she's been in a long time.

Natsuki's mouth remained agape and what Shizuru had just told her. She knew. Shizuru had known. All her worrying, her nights spent wondering, were for nothing.

"Ara, Natsuki? Are you alright?" asked a skittish Shizuru. Now that she's spilled the beans on what she had overheard, Shizuru was waiting for what Natsuki would say about the marriage proposal her father had set up. So far, with the slackjaw expression on her girlfriend's face, it wasn't going well. 'Maybe I should've eased into that more smoothly..' Shizuru bit her lip as she continued to stare at Natsuki. The rest of the family by then had already stood and had headed for the door. A couple stood around, talking amongst each other, a couple glances thrown their way, none of them bad.

"Natsuki?"

"Shizuru... You knew this entire time?"

"Yes."

Natsuki took a deep breath before jumping from her seat, dragging the older woman up with her. "Thank Kami! Trying to tell you has been one of the most difficult things that I had ever experienced!"

Shizuru, still somewhat stupefied at Natsuki's mood change just remained quiet, letting the other woman talked.

"Yoshi-oji had talked to me about it when you left. Back then, I couldn't even imagine being with you. I mean, you're really beautiful and you're personality fits you like a glove, and you had this gorgeous smile to go with your hypnotizing eyes and your melodious laugh, and I thought- she's my best friend. I couldn't possibly be with you. But the more time I spent with you, it was life changing. You've changed me. I was so grumpy, so apathetic about everything. Now its like bright with fluffy clouds and dancing angels. Kami, I'm so cheesy. And to think, we're not even married yet..." Natsuki's rambling suddenly stopped upon realizing something.

Shizuru snapped out of her daze and turned towards the pair of emerald orbs, asking her the most obvious question. And in truth, Shizuru's been waiting for years to say what she was going to say next. "Natsuki, I would gladly marry you whenever we're both ready. What's the rush? We've got all the time in the world."

The grin she received told her all she needed to know. Natsuki didn't want to rush into anything. That includes her relationship with Shizuru. They loved each other, that much is true, but there are some things left to find out about each other. And with no limit on when they have to get married, they'll take their time, letting their relationship blossom. The money wasn't even involved.

After waving goodbye to Shizuru's cousin and her family, the two made their way out. It was then did Natsuki remember to do something she had promised. Whipping out her phone, she called her number three speed dial.

"Hey Mai. I've finished what I needed to do so we can do what you've planned."

Shizuru turned towards Natsuki, wondering what was going on. Natsuki just smiled back.

"Yes. Uh huh. That's fine. Of course. Haha as if I'd actually leave her behind. Uh huh. Okay, that's fine. Bye." Natsuki locked her phone and put it in her pocket. She then grabbed Shizuru's hand, opening the door with her other.

"Ara, might Natsuki inform me about what's going on?" asked Shizuru.

"I had promised Mai that I'd join her trip after the will reading so I called her to ask what she wanted to do. Of course, a couple of those things we've already done, but some we haven't visited yet. She asked me to bring you and I told her that I wouldn't even imagine leaving you." Her pale skin gave off a slight blush and her declaration. Shizuru giggled and began to swing their interlocked hands as they neared Natsuki's bike.

Natsuki handed Shizuru her helmet and grabbed her own. Before putting it on, something occurred to Shizuru.

"Wait Natsuki, what did my father mean by his most precious possession?"

Natsuki turned towards her and grinned. "I would've thought that that brilliant brain of yours would've figured it out by now."

Shizuru, rolling her eyes at her girlfriend's jibe, lightly shoved the other woman. "Mou I should be the one teasing Natsuki. It's more fun that way."

"Fun for who exactly?"

"Just tell me already, Natsuki."

Emerald met Crimson. "He was talking about your heart of course. Now, let's go meet up with Mai and the rest. We've got some great news to share."

To those of you who have been with me from the beginning, thank you. To those who jumped into this already moving train, you guys are awesome for giving this fic a chance :D

To those who favorited, followed, and reviewed. I couldn't have done it without you guys :)

It's such a bittersweet day for me and I hope for some of you guys too. Thank you all to those who've read this fic of mine.

You guys are absolutely, positively, ginormously, awesome! Stay tuned for more guys! I might just start another one today :)