Disclaimer: Mai Hime and its assorted characters are the property of Sunrise. This story contains elements of shoujo-ai, unreciprocated or otherwise grins. Don't like, please don't read.

A/N: Special thanks to Jenny Chan.

Chapter One

Natsuki stepped into the rebuilt Student Council room and grimaced as the fresh smell of paint hit her nose.

Her grimace grew even larger, because the room was empty, devoid of the presence of any irritating, tea-drinking Student Council Presidents.

She stared at the president's desk in the Student Council, wanting to give it a few good solid kicks. If it was not for the fact that Shizuru still had a month or two left to sit in it, she would have thrashed it into kindling in a second.

And burnt down the whole Student Council room with the pile.

Her frustration level was growing to a fever pitch, having explored practically the whole campus without catching sight of her annoyingly unavailable friend. Shizuru had also been away on business meetings on behalf of the school the past few days, greatly adding to her irritation.

"Shizuru," she said with a growl. "Where the hell are you, damn it?"

A cool, amused voice answered her. "She is in the courtyard, being fed lunch by some rather lovely ladies."

The dark-haired girl whirled around to see the Vice-President lounging merrily against the doorframe.

"Why so eager to find her, Kuga-san?"

"None of your business," she said curtly as she stalked out of the room, pretending not to see the smirk he wore on his handsome face.

She was not exactly on bad terms with him but it seemed that nowadays, he got to spend more time with Shizuru than she ever did and that did nothing to endear him to her.

I never did have this much problem finding her.

It seemed like she had always been able to find Shizuru. Whenever she needed the Student Council President, she had always been around. Or even when she did not need the other girl, she also seemed to have always been around.

The Student Council room, the library, the garden- She had run into Shizuru everywhere and anywhere but it seemed that nowadays, Shizuru always seemed to be one step away from her.

She reached the courtyard, then listened carefully. Immediately, her ears caught cries of 'Kaichou-san!', 'Fujino-sama' and general sounds of swooning as well as the occasional spat over who got to do what for the Student Council President.

How annoying that I can't find her and they can. They must've had attached a homing beacon to her or something.

The ruckus appeared to be coming from a large group seated around some trees in the north-east corner, so she headed towards it.

If Fujino Shizuru had been extremely popular in the days before the mysterious incident that ravaged Fuuka Gakuen, she was now a goddess whom everyone worshipped.

Her efforts in rebuilding and restoration of the school were now legendary and the fifteen hour shifts she had tirelessly spent each day in organising and leading set in stone as a shining example of the perfect Student Council President.

Beautiful, intelligent, resourceful and extremely dedicated. There were even rumours that some girls had set up a Fujino-sama shrine somewhere behind the auditorium.

Of course she had been a dedicated president before the incident, but Natsuki knew that her friend had always preferred to work in a very subtle manner, such that it looked sometimes as if she was rather idle.

It seemed that this time, no amount of subtlety could hide the sheer effort she was putting in and even Suzushiro Haruka had had to quit her public grumbling against the Student Council President after being lynched twice by angry student mobs.

"Shizuru..."

There she was, in the exact centre of the mass of girls fighting to be the one who presented a clean fork for her.

"...you got to pass her the napkin..."

"...not fair, I was the one who saw that she needed a fork..."

She looked perfect, the graceful Student Council President lounging on the picnic blanket, a charming smile on her lips. There was no sign of fatigue at all that Natsuki could see.

The dark-haired girl looked blackly at the crowd of admirers and started to pick her way through occasionally having to no choice but to karate chop away a few more rabid ones who resented making way.

The ones who had been long-term members of the Fujino-sama Fan Club scowled at her but gave her space, respecting her as an honourary member of the court as well as her legendary temper.

Then, as she sidestepped a groupie frantically trying to fold paper napkins into hearts, Shizuru turned, and saw her.

Relief coursed through her.

Shizuru.

---

"Natsuki," Shizuru called out, smiling.

Around her, the groupies stared in envy at the person whom their adored Student Council President called by name.

"Shizuru," her dark-haired friend replied, narrowly avoiding tripping over a pile of what looked like crushed napkins.

The groupies stared in double envy at the person who dared to call their adored Student Council President by name.

"Would you like to join me?" Shizuru asked with a grin, knowing full well that the other girl would rather gargle crushed glass than sit around with the groupies glaring at her.

"What? Uh, I mean, no! But ah... I would like to talk to you."

"As Natsuki wishes," Shizuru said. "Sit here then," she continued, patting the empty space next to her.

"Eh?" Natsuki yelped. "What I mean is, can I talk to you in private?"

All the mini-fights that had been taking place around the Student Council President immediately stopped as the satellite dishes the groupies had for eyes and ears swiveled towards Natsuki.

"Ah, you want to steal me away? Alright then, for Natsuki, I shall allow myself to be stolen away."

She enjoyed the explosion of colour on Natsuki's face very much as the dark-haired girl spluttered. Then she took pity on her friend, gracefully unlounged and got up from the picnic blanket.

As she stepped off, the tide of students grew quiet and parted a way for her, much like the Red Sea was parted.

The black look on Natsuki's face was priceless, and she secretly chuckled as Natsuki led the way.

Her dark-haired friend made for the garden, and then to one of the more secluded gazebos that was often used for a romantic interlude by Fuuka Gakuen's courting couples.

"So romantic," Shizuru said. "Tell me then, what does Natsuki has in store for me?"

"Shizuru!"

A peal of laughter bubbled out of her chest and danced merrily around the gazebo. It had been far too long since she had had the chance to tease her friend like this.

"I apologise," she said, and then beamed in such a way as to let Natsuki know that she was not really sorry anyway.

It was strange then, that Natsuki did not start grumbling at her but instead chose to stare at her with what appeared to be worry.

"Natsuki? Is there anything wrong?"

"Shizuru," Natsuki said softly, surprising her by catching her arm. "Have you gotten enough sleep lately? Enough food?"

"Why do you suddenly ask this, Natsuki? I am fine," she said.

"Shizuru, you look a little thinner and you look a little tired," her friend replied, looking at her.

"So you have been paying attention to me, Natsuki," she said gaily, expecting a blush and an angry retort from her friend.

Instead, the dark-haired girl looked taken aback and a little sad. "I should have been paying more attention to you."

She could have come up with any number of airy words but she did not. There was something about Natsuki that told her she would hurt her if she gave any more flippant answers.

"Don't worry, Natsuki," she said softly. "I am doing more than fine."

They stood in awkward silence for a while, their old, easy silence completely gone and in its place, the polite words of acquaintances.

It hurt, but then again, it had been her fault.

"What is it that you wanted, Natsuki?" Shizuru gently reminded her friend. "I will have to go soon, there is a meeting Himeno-san wants me to attend after lunch."

"Oh," the dark-haired girl muttered. "Actually, I... I..."

Natsuki looked at her feet, then said, "Actually I was wondering if you would be free this Saturday."

Why is it you are asking, Natsuki? Shizuru sadly asked her friend in her mind. I should never have told you... You are so kind.

Aloud, she said, "I am due to attend the handing over of the chairmanship of the tea ceremony club."

"I see," Natsuki said, looking away into the distance.

She should have told Natsuki she needed to go, she should have told Natsuki that Himeno Fumi was waiting.

But there was something about Natsuki that stopped her, and she could not bring herself to disappoint her friend, even though she had set her heart on carrying through with her actions.

"The meeting will end at one-thirty, Natsuki, and after that I'm all yours," she said gaily, even though pain was lancing through her heart at her own words.

Would it have been that I truly was.

"Picnic, I'm cooking," Natsuki blurted.

She glanced at her friend, surprised. "...Natsuki, what did you just say?"

"I'm cooking."

"I'm sorry?" Shizuru asked, amazement colouring her tone. "Did someone steal my Natsuki away, the one who hates picnics, the one who refuses to step into a kitchen, the one who baked a flat cake, the one who-."

"Stop that!" Natsuki said, narrowing her eyes. "Do you want to come, or not?"

"I see, a victim to test Natsuki's unpalatable mess?" Shizuru teased. "What is this special occasion? You hate picnics, Natsuki."

In return, she got a scowl and an unintelligible reply. "mumbleyoumumblepicnicsmumbleeverytimemumbleIthought"

"Natsuki?"

"I said, you seem to adore picnics! I see you having a picnic lunch almost every day! And I haven't gotten the chance to... To... I mean, we haven't talked for some time now," Natsuki said, her voice trailing away. "What with you being so busy and all..."

The dark-haired girl turned her head to look at the bushes beside the gazebo, but not before Shizuru saw the emotion in them.

Dearest Natsuki, why do you make this so hard?

"Then I will be there," she replied softly. "I look forward to your cooking."

The awkwardness fell over them again, neither saying anything and both not meeting the other's eyes.

Natsuki, I'm so sorry.

"Excuse me now, Natsuki, I have to go. I will see you Saturday."

She smiled as she said goodbye, then walked away.

Any more of Natsuki's suddenly vulnerable eyes and she would break her resolve.

- 8 -