Chapter 5

Natsuki Kuga was not afraid to get her hands dirty, and that probably was her main problem. For Shizuru, she was willing to do anything, even things she was not especially enthusiastic about at first, like playing with dolls, and doing some face painting. Simply to watch Shizuru smile, Natsuki set aside her pride and shame. She took a deep breath and sighed again. This was already humiliating, but her mother added more to her pain. She was taking so many pictures of her. She tried to hide her face behind her long-hair, but she realized she was wearing some embarrassing pigtails, so there was no way she could escape…

And now, Natsuki was sitting on the cool grass of the small garden behind her house. It had already been six months since Shizuru began living with her. Alone in her house, the little girl was depressed to be waiting for nothing. Terrified, she didn't understand why her parents left her, and why she had to stay alone. She always asked: what did she do wrong? Of course, she wasn't in fault; it was her parents, if one could even call them that. No matter how many times Kuga tried to reassure her, it didn't work. But Natsuki wouldn't leave like the others.

Scarlet, Natsuki sulked like a beaten puppy, and the bluenette vigorously scratched her back and scalp. She hated wearing pink, and more importantly a dress! The white rabbit ears were horrible. She didn't look like a rabbit at all. Nevertheless, her gloomy state became more cheerful, and she smiled when she saw her best friend greet her. Shizuru ran in her direction. The ruby-eyed girl wore a white and purple dress, her hair was in a ponytail, and she was also wearing a straw hat. In her hand, she was holding a basket.

"Natsuki!"

"Hey Zu-"

Pouf! Shizuru loudly pushed Kuga into the grass; she couldn't contain her laughing.

"Wow calm down my little kitten, you are tickling me. Are you so happy to see me?"

"Yes! Very much! You are so cute Suki! You are like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland."

"Thank you and you, you look like Alice."

"Thank you so much for accepting my invitation to my tea party." Shizuru rose graciously and she sat in front of her friend.

"It's fine, I'm happy to come. So…did you prepare something good?"

"There is no mayo sandwich …mama Saeko didn't want me to prepare them…she said you will be ill, and I'm afraid that my Suki would be ill." Shizuru said with a sad face. The dark-haired girl winced, but she accepted this terrible repression.

"It's alright! If my Zu makes something, it doesn't matter to me."

"Realllly?" The chestnut girl asked in delight, her eyes shining with happiness.

"Of course! I would never lie to my Zuru."

"I'm sure you will…like others…" She muttered. Natsuki did not hear that statement, and she frowned.

"Did you say something?"

"No, I just forget to bring some cookies…"

"It's fine."

"But I have some tea!" The child immediately answered, and she took a thermos out of her basket. She gave Natsuki a cup, and some strange, black substances were swimming inside.

"What is that?" Natsuki asked raising a brow.

"It's tea!" The bluenette coughed nervously. She had not expected that, and she even lost some color when she thought she saw something strange moving in her drink. That wasn't tea. It was very dark, like petroleum, but the smell and texture were suspicious. A pair of eyes stared at Natsuki carefully.

Natsuki gulped hard, it would be bad if she didn't drink it, but…it would also be bad if she drank it…she had no choice, she must quickly pass this test, and then it would end.

Natsuki gulped and cut her breathing, and then she drank it all. She was not going to pass out, she was stronger than that. The bluenette was right, it was not tea but dust and dirt...

"Suki…you cry?" The green-eyed girl removed her tears and tried to smile.

"I'm…just…happy…my Zuru is so nice to me…"

"I can make some tea for you every day," Fujino proposed innocently.

"NO! I mean… it's better to enjoy moments like today...only...today..."

Shizuru was thinking, and she jumped up from her sitting position. "Oh no! I forgot to bring Duran, I will be back. Wait for me."

"Ok." When Shizuru walked away, Natsuki immediately began to vomit.

"…And you said Brussels sprouts were bad. And you were harsh with your words. But when it is Shizuru, you are nice. I'm kind of jealous…. No, I'm not. I prefer that you drink her tea." Saeko commented playfully, and her daughter only pouted in response.