6.

Natsuki grimaced in pain, holding herself up on a pair of rails on either side of her, hopping on one foot to advance while using the railing as balance.

"Your determination is admirable, Miss Kuga," Miyu said, "But you are about to overtax yourself and…"

Before she could finish, Natsuki lost her grip, and slipped, falling forward face first to the padded mats under her. Miyu was by her side in an instant, helping her back into a standing position. Shizuru was watching from the sidelines, her face unable to conceal the concern she was feeling.

"Damnit!" Natsuki slammed her fist down on one of the rails, then winced.

"Miss Kuga, you have only been out of the cast for three days. You are more than skilled enough on the crutches. You mustn't push yourself so hard."

"I need to, Miyu," Natsuki said with an edge in her voice, "I lost muscle while I was stuck in that chair. I lost body mass. I need to get back to where I was. I need to be myself again, and…"

"Miss Kuga, again, your determination is admirable. But you are risking new injuries. I can analyze your body in multiple spectrum fields at once. You are overheated, on the verge of dehydration, and your adrenal glands are at their limit. I will not allow you to pity yourself and simply laze about. By I also will not allow you to risk your recovery by pushing harder than you are able."

Natsuki's emerald eyes glared at Miyu, but the android's scarlet eyes remained impassive. Natsuki suddenly became aware of her heart pounding in her chest, sweat dripping into her eyes, and at that moment her stomach let loose a rumble that echoed in the room.

Natsuki sighed, "You're damned hard to argue with."

Miyu actually managed a smile, "I am all to familiar with the stubborn pride of humans. Your bloodline in particular. Were you aware that after returning to life, Miss Alyssa was plagued with nightmares for a time?"

Natsuki blinked, "Seriously?"

Miyu nodded once, "Why would that surprise you? She was murdered in a most painful manner, being shot in the chest by Joseph Greer. Even if Mashiro Kazahana deemed her worthy of being restored, she did not remove those memories, either of the physical pain, or the emotional pain of being betrayed by someone she had trusted. Publicly she would never show such a fear. However, in private, it was clear it was tearing at her.

"You are in a similar predicament, now. You were wrongfully robbed of the abilities of your body, which were exceptional for a human, through no fault of your own. Your desire is to return to your former self, or at least as much as possible. But just as with Miss Alyssa's nightmares, you will not reach your goal overnight."

Natsuki nodded a few times, then wiped the sweat from her brow, "So then, what do we do? Are we done for the day, or just a brief break?"

"We are done for the day. Why don't you allow Miss Fujino to escort you to the bath, and after you've cleansed yourself, I can have a balanced meal for you."

Natsuki exhaled and draped a towel over her shoulders, "Alright, Miyu. See you in a few."

Shizuru walked over, handing Natsuki her crutches, and Natsuki began to follow her to the washroom.

"That's a pretty serious expression, Shizuru. You sure you're okay, watching me in therapy?"

"I'm more concerned about whether or not you are alright, Natsuki," Shizuru shook her head, "However, while Miss Greer seems content to let you go right up to the limits of your abilities, it seems to me that she won't allow you to go beyond them."

"No," Natsuki agreed, "But sometimes…sometimes you have to try to, anyway. Because how can you exceed your limits if you don't try to?"

"Natsuki!" a voice called. Natsuki and Shizuru turned to see her father, who was holding several pages in his hand, "I looked up the laws, as you requested. So, it seems that it is legal for you to ride a motorcycle with a prosthetic limb. As it was a left-leg amputation, you also wouldn't have to make any special modifications to your bike."

Natsuki nodded, "Thanks, Dad. Good to know. I'm off to the bath. Therapy is sweaty work."

"Natsuki, I'm going to chat with your father," Shizuru smiled sweetly, "I'll be along shortly to help wash your back."

Natsuki blushed, "Geez, Shizuru, you don't have to say things like that in front of my Dad, you know. He doesn't need to know about our sex life."

"Mou. But I thought Natsuki was fine with me telling people about our relationship?" Shizuru tilted her head to the side.

"That we have one, sure," Natsuki groaned, "What it entails…? Would you like me to tell YOUR parents about that thing with your belly button?"

Shizuru, to her credit, actually flushed scarlet, "Oh. I…um…hadn't considered turnabout."

Natsuki grinned, "Good. Now, I'll be back shortly. And yes, you can join me if you want. For the record, I mean Shizuru, not you, Dad."

"I gathered as much," Genichiro Kuga smirked.

As Natsuki walked off, he could feel the penetrating stare of Shizuru Fujino without even turning to look at it. He sighed.

"What could I do? She asked. She was going to find out the answer on her own, one way or another. I'd half expect that if she asked the robot, it would tell her the answer, anyway."

Shizuru's gaze softened a bit as she relented, "I realize that. Also, please don't refer to Miyu as 'it'. She has a feminine personality. And it would offend Natsuki, as well as her hostess, if you did so in either of their presences."

"Understood."

"But,"Shizuru sighed, "Did her request not alarm you?"

"Of course it alarmed me," Genichiro turned to meet Shizuru's gaze, "My daughter was nearly killed on a motorcycle, and as soon as she's able she asks me about whether she's legal to ride one or not anymore. You think I'm not scared to death of the idea of her being on a motorbike ever again? I told her in front of you so that you would have some forewarning of her notions."

"I see," Shizuru nodded, "You sought to make me your ally in this, since your long separation from her means she has no particular inclination to listen to you?"

"Or perhaps," he smiled without humor, "I sought to become your ally, knowing that it would alarm you to know what she was considering."

"And in the end we cannot stop her," Shizuru shook her head.

"No. We can't. We can plead. We can reason. But if she doesn't agree with us, she has the right to do as she pleases," Genichiro nodded, "And I understand where she's coming from. After all, isn't the expression 'you have to get right back on the horse'?"

Shizuru sighed, "Indeed. In fact, it was her tenacity that was one of the things I admired most about her when I first met her. It would be selfish of me to ask her to abandon that quality because of my own fears. It's equally parts reassuring and terrifying."

"To use a phrase popular with my American business partners, 'Preaching to the choir,'" Genichiro gave her a tired smile, "Part of me is proud of her, of her resilience. And Part of me wants to lock her in a room bundled in a cocoon of bubble wrap."

"Under armed guard," Shizuru gave an exhausted chuckle, "And she'd hate us for it and break out anyway."

"And I can't afford to lose her again,"Genichiro sighed, "The time I lost before was my own fault, and she's still willing to allow me back into her life, but I just…I'm afraid of losing her again."

"'Preaching to the choir'," Shizuru sighed with a smile, "I told you about the Festival. And my own shameful behavior. And yet, somehow, when it was all over…"

"Fujino, may I ask one question?"

"I reserve the right not to answer if I find it to be insulting or personal,"Shizuru said sternly.

"Fair enough. It's nothing insulting. I promise, I'm not really concerned about you two being in a relationship. Even if I were, my history disqualifies me from protesting anything regarding sexual morality. I just…I'm curious what the long term plan is. I mean, as banged up and hurt as Natsuki was, you stuck around, so I have no doubts that you're committed. And I saw how she responds to you. Reminds me a bit of Saeko back in the good days. But…well, would you like me to host a ceremony for the two of you? It wouldn't be anything official, of course, but…my way of showing my support, I guess."

Shizuru looked at him a moment, then smiled, "Well, I wouldn't mind. But plans like that should involve Natsuki, I think. However, I will broach the subject with her, in due time."

"That's all I ask," Genichiro said, "That, and we do need to talk to her about her desire to ride again. Together. And gently."

"The soft touch is sometimes what is required,"Shizuru nodded, "Though I doubt we'll sway her. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a back to scrub."

Shizuru walked down the hall to the washroom, where she found Natsuki sitting on a stool, washing her underarms.

"So," Natsuki didn't turn to look at her, "You and Dad conspiring to keep me from riding a bike again?"

"I wouldn't call it a conspiracy," Shizuru began to disrobe, "We both expressed concern, but also agreed that it was your decision to make. I would be lying, though, if I said I was happy with the idea. However, I also know that you have your reasons for wanting to. Natsuki must be Natsuki, or she wouldn't be Natsuki."

Natsuki blinked, "That some kind of zen thing?"

"In a sense, I suppose. In the end, I must allow you to be yourself, or you are not the young woman who stole my heart."

Natsuki gave a chuckle, "Well, I suppose I can see that. Just like I won't try to stop you from teasing me. But for the record, I haven't made a decision about the motorcycle. But…part of me is ashamed that I haven't made a decision, either, Shizuru. I'm…I'm afraid. And that's part of why I feel like I have to try. Because I'm scared shitless, right now."

Shizuru pulled up a stool and sat behind Natsuki, grabbing soap and a washcloth, "I understand. You rode with confidence before. You leapt from window of the third floor on that bike, trusting Duran to catch you, so you have done fearless things before. And then you had your accident. And it forced you to confront your mortality in a way that our prior death never did. And you sense yourself hesitating, and that is alien to your nature. But while you want to be who you were before…you also are scared to be that person again because of what happened, yes?"

"Something along those lines," Natsuki sighed, "So…please…let me come to this on my own?"

"I will support whatever decision you make," Shizuru pressed up against Natsuki's back, "So, I promise, I will not pressure you, one way or the other. I will relay your feelings to your father, as well. I think…No, I know he will understand."

"Thanks, Shizuru. Um…Shizuru, those aren't my back. They're nowhere near my back."

"True, but they're so light and perky, I couldn't help myself."

Natsuki smiled, "Well, I know you've been waiting. It's been awhile. And the doctor said my ribs are good, so…"

She didn't get to finish speaking, as she found an eager set of lips pressed against her own, and a warm soapy body on top of her.

"Mmmppphhhhh," Natsuki said, then shrugged and returned the embrace. It had, after all, been awhile for her, too.