Natsuki's Navel Victory

By Drummondtype2

It all happened, Shizuru would later reflect, because she'd gotten comfortable in Natsuki's presence. That could be the only explanation for her slipping into such blatant carelessness.

It was mid-August, and Natsuki was putting the final touches on her summer homework early in the morning. She and Shizuru had plans later that night for her birthday, and she had made it a point to be completely done with everything by then.

It was hot and it was humid. Natsuki was sitting on the bed in a pair of shorts that clung to her hips as though painted on, and wearing a tank top loose enough that if she bent over it would have divulged its contents to anyone in the room.

Shizuru had decided to take a shower to help alleviate the heat. She and Natsuki had been together now for several months, and they were comfortable with moments of casual nudity, though Natsuki was still working on her intimacy issues. More than just what had passed between them during the Festival, there was also the fact that her parents' relationship had failed, and so while she was now working on being a more open person, it wasn't something that just changed overnight. That said, Natsuki no longer blushed when she and Shizuru bathed or changed clothes in one another's presence. That, Shizuru would later conclude, is what led to this particular moment.

That being that she was standing against the wall by the bathroom door, partially undressed and holding a towel in front of her draped over one arm. Natsuki's hand was on the wall by her head, her arm barring her path to the bathroom, Natsuki's emerald eyes boring straight into her own crimson gaze, a grin on Natsuki's face, her free hand on her hip in confident triumph.

"Shizuru Fujino," Natsuki's tone was deeply teasing, "Did I just see what I think I did?"

~~Oh, very likely~~ Shizuru thought to herself, but aloud she said, "Ara, ara, I don't know what Natsuki is talking about."

Natsuki's hand lowered from the wall and touched Shizuru's bare shoulder. She gently coaxed her away from the wall just enough that she could put her hand behind Shizuru's head and cradle it, as she touched her forehead to Shizuru's own.

"Shizuru, you pined for me ever since my first year of Middle School, your third year. And I was too blind to see what you were thinking, what you were feeling…"

"Natsuki…"

Natsuki grinned and gave Shizuru a quick, playful peck on the forehead, "But Shizuru, we've been living together since graduation and I'm not THAT blind. Move the towel, Shizuru."

Shizuru sighed. She knew she was being teased, and as often as she'd teased Natsuki, she had to accept that turnabout was fair play.

~~I have earned no small amount of payback, but if this is how Natsuki felt when I teased her, I owe her much in the way of apology.~~

Shizuru complied and moved the towel down, exposing her bare stomach, her belly button, and…

"Shizuru! Is that a navel ring?" Natsuki made a surprisingly girlish gesture, putting her hand to her mouth to hide a growing smile, her cheeks a bit rosy.

She was staring at the amethyst stone in Shizuru's belly button, glittering in the sunlight from the bedroom window.

Shizuru closed her eyes and said, in a bit of a huff, "You can see full well that it is."

Natsuki laughed a little, "Shizuru? Why would you try to hide that? It's adorable!"

"It was a foolish decision made on a whim," Shizuru sighed, "And I'm planning to remove it."

"But when did you even do that?! I've seen you naked lots of times, and…This is why you went out yesterday without me, isn't it! You….Shizuru," Natsuki blushed, "Did you do this for my birthday?"

Shizuru confirmed that assertion by flushing as crimson as her eyes.

"Did I…Oh, Shizuru, I'm sorry!" Natsuki shook her head, "Did I spoil a surprise? I didn't mean…"

Shizuru shook her head, "No, Natsuki, you didn't spoil a surprise. I…meant to take it out."

Natsuki blinked, "But…why?"

Shizuru sat on the edge of the bed, and Natsuki sat beside her.

"I know you are still working up to physical intimacy, Natsuki, and I know that it's not an easy thing to change the habits of a lifetime. But I thought if I added this bauble, maybe it would stir your interest. But…it was superficial, shallow, and…and unfair to you, because I was selfishly trying to get you to go along with what I wanted. Again."

"You're right," Natsuki said softly, looking down at her feet, "Changing the habits of a lifetime IS a hard thing to do."

She reached over and brushed a lock of Shizuru's hair from her face, leaning forward and kissing her.

"Like a certain person I know who has spent her youth trying to hide how she felt because she thought it made her some kind of deviant. She's having a tough time adjusting to the idea that her feelings can be returned openly. But I know that she's working on it, so I have to be patient for her sake."

Shizuru chuckled a bit, "I suppose both of us had baggage going into this relationship."

"Sure. But who doesn't? And for the record, I don't think you putting on a little belly ring is crossing any sort of moral lines, and I definitely don't count it as manipulative or unfair. Besides, I like how it looks on you. The purple really suits you, you know? But it's your belly, Shizuru."

"You really like it?" Shizuru cocked her head to one side.

"I do. It's cute. Definitely not the sort of thing I would expect of you, though."

Shizuru frowned, "If my family ever saw it…"

"Shizuru, you wear semi-formal clothes everywhere, and even sported one piece swimsuits to the beach. When is anyone in your family going to see it?"

Shizuru smirked, "I had to wear one piece suits. My HiME mark was just under my belly button, you know."

"Still, I think I'm the only one who'll ever see it."

"You think I should keep it?" Shizuru asked.

"I think that's your choice," Natsuki held her hand and squeezed it, "But don't just undo it now. You had it done yesterday. If you got rid of it now, it'd just be a waste of money. Why don't you give it a month, and see how you feel about it then. And, in exchange…I'll start taking baths with you."

Shizuru felt herself flush scarlet again, and the heat of the blood rushing to her head, combined with the heat of the day had her feeling dizzy and light headed.

"I think I need to lie down," Shizuru said, "Natsuki, you would…?"

"Sure. I mean, it's not like we haven't seen each other naked already. And we're in a relationship. And if you can do something a little unusual to try and get my attention, I suppose I can do something like take a bath with the girl I love, right?"

Shizuru smiled at her, "Only if you're comfortable with the idea, Natsuki. I know I can be a selfish and demanding creature at times…"

"Yeah, and I can be a moody grump. I think Mai calls that 'balance' or something," Natsuki beamed at her, "Come on. I'm finished with my summer homework and I'm drenched in sweat. Let's bathe, and then maybe we can just lay in bed and air dry."

"Ara, ara, but it's Natsuki's birthday, so then why am I receiving so many wonderful gifts, today?" Shizuru winked at her, wrinkling her nose with an impish grin.

Natsuki smiled, shaking her head, "Idiot. But…you're my idiot and I wouldn't have it any other way."

The duo headed to the bath together, and Shizuru knew then that she likely would never part with the navel ring. Indeed, an hour later she found herself naked in bed, Natsuki at her side, letting the breeze dry them, Natsuki absently tracing a line back and forth around her new bauble.