"Destiny decides who you meet in your life but it's your heart that decides who gets to stay in your life."

A/N: Last Chapter. I would like to say thank you to all my readers and reviewers. Without you this story would never have been completed. I'm very grateful for the constructive criticism and all the praising. I am sad and happy at the same time. At least I did something where I can honestly say that I am proud of. Of course I am not fully satisfied because I have a sick obsession with perfection but I am content how everything turned out.

Beta: Akira Sasaki

Disclaimer: Sunrise owns Mai HiME.

Chapter 22 - Destiny

"Are you hungry?" The raven-haired girl asked after a while of sitting in peaceful silence.

"Yes."

"Good, because I brought something to eat."

Natsuki gave Nao a bento-box that looked much too neatly for being prepared by someone clumsy as Natsuki.

"Did you make this?" The younger one asked nonetheless.

"Of course not, silly. I can't cook. I didn't want to poison you so soon after you dropped your pills. Who knows what might happen?"

"True. I might probably turn into a monster and eat you." Both had to laugh about this strange imagination. Natsuki was the first one whose face became serious again. They sat down at the edge and watched how the sun slowly began to set.

"That is the place I wanted to show you before I left. I'm sorry."

"Well, you're showing it to me right now. That's fine too." Both knew clearly that the 'sorry' was meant in another way but it was more comfortable this way. Natsuki relaxed a bit and leaned back on her elbows while closing her eyes.

"I love the sunsets here." She said in a dreamy voice.

"I don't think I've ever seen something that beautiful." What Natsuki didn't see was that Nao was not looking at the sun but at her when she said these words. The sight those both girls were able to regard at this moment looked like a painting from ancient times and their forms fitted in so perfectly.

"I bet you have seen a lot of those blazing sunsets here." Nao stated after a while.

"Yes. But every time it's different. Always beautiful but never the same."

"And this time it's even more special because you share it with me."

"Is that so?" Natsuki opened her eyes and grinned at Nao.

"Absolutely. Sharing such things make them twice as much special."

"I know." The older girl's face became serious again and Nao instantly knew what that meant.

Of course she had been here with Fujino...

"Fujino. I see. This place must be even more painful for you now."

"It was always painful, but I also find solace here. You're right though. I brought Shizuru here before." Natsuki eyes became distant.

"I thought so..." There was a short pause before Nao started to speak again. "How are you feeling right now?"

Natsuki stood up and walked a few steps away as if she had to think hard before she started to form an answer. Meanwhile a slender figure was approaching the cliff. Shizuru was still too far away to see anyone but she could already see a parked bike. When she reached the top of the cliff she could see Natsuki standing in front of a beautiful sunset. But to her surprise she was not alone. There was another figure standing a few inches away from her. And as her eyes got used to the blending light of the setting sun she saw the reason, why Natsuki had to leave her so suddenly, right in front of her eyes. Yuuki Nao... here... Shizuru stopped dead in her tracks. She was not close enough to understand a word, but she could clearly see that they had some kind of argument.

Natsuki finally began to form an answer to Nao's question. "I cannot stop thinking about what you said. I mean what if Sandra had lied? Shizuru and I have so many memories. Even here at such a private place I can feel her presence." While Natsuki was speaking her voice became angry and shaky at the same time. Nao was a bit irritated about the sudden burst of emotion. "When I look back now at these long gone times, it won't stop hurting because what we had was so incredibly beautiful and we both just threw it away. I threw it away and I am alone. You understand? I am alone!"

Now Nao was the one to get on her feet.

"Because you chose to!" The younger girl said a little aggravated.

"I fucking know that and I hate myself for it but what can I possibly do now?" The desperation in Natsuki's voice was pitiful, but Nao somehow could understand.

"It's never too late you know..." The younger girl said, whilst shielding her eyes from the last sunrays.

"Something like this from your mouth."

"I know it sounds sappy, but I guess it's true. If you love her and if you want her then you should never stop trying." Nao paused for a second, berating herself for being so stupid to show Natsuki the option of fighting for Shizuru. "But you should also know that there could be another way..." She added, trying to turn the tide at least a little.

"Hmm?" Natsuki turned around to face the other girl that seemed so out of character.

"I think I've fallen for you." Nao abruptly closed the distance between them and kissed Natsuki without giving the movement a second thought. And before Natsuki could even consider kissing her back she was taken aback by a very familiar voice.

"No!" Shizuru didn't even notice that she had almost screamed the word out loud. The black-haired girl felt like she was trapped in a bad dream.

"Shizu... ru..." Natsuki turned her head, looking straight into the crimson-eyes of the Kyoto-beauty. Those eyes she had seen in pain many times before. But looking at them now was like she could hear the slow cracking of her heart. Time seemed to have frozen. Only the setting sun disturbed the still life as dawn slowly forced back the light of day. The sky seemed to mirror the emotions of those three girls. Natsuki and Shizuru where still looking at each other. The latter couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She wasn't really crying. It was more like her tears were forcing their way outside. When Natsuki saw the destroyed picture of the usual perfect girl she wasn't able to control her emotions anymore.

"Shizuru... what are you doing here? I mean how?"

The Kyoto-girl didn't even consider answering this question and Natsuki already knew that this was absolutely unimportant right now. She made a step towards Shizuru who was about to turn around to flee the scene, when she realized that she was still standing next to Nao, who hadn't said anything and was staring at the ground instead. She now looked at the younger girl, who wasn't facing her but attempted to say something.

"You better go Kuga... This might be your last chance." The younger girl said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Nao, I..."

"Don't" Nao cut her off. "Please don't say anything. Just go."

Shizuru was already leaving and Natsuki felt horrible about leaving Nao once again. But she had to go. Her heart was telling her that she has to be at Shizuru's side right now. And so Natsuki turned her back on Nao and started running after Shizuru.

"Wait! SHIZURU! Please!" She screamed. The girl stopped but didn't turn around. She tried to sound composed but she obviously wasn't.

"I didn't mean to interrupt something. I'm sorry for intruding."

"Stop it! Stop the fake voice and look at me!"

Shizuru wasn't responding. She was just staying there saying nothing.

"Please... I wanna see your face. Your eyes. Or I'll never believe that this is true." Natsuki whimpered.

"Do you want it to be truth? You should think about that first. If I turn around this might become true but if I don't, you still have a chance of pretending this never happened."

Natsuki was slowly closing the distance between them and with every step Shizuru's heart began to beat faster.

"I think I pretended for too long. I'm done with it." Okay Natsuki, just for once do what's right and tell her your feelings.

"Look, I don't know if it's true that you're with Sandra or not or if your feelings for me have vanished. I just need to say this to your face. So, would you please turn around for me that I can properly talk to you?"

Shizuru slowly turned around. She was afraid to look into the eyes of the younger girl. The emerald eyes which she had missed so much. She was afraid that only the sight of them could melt her heart. The tears were still streaming down Shizuru's face and Natsuki finally realized that the older girl had missed her just as much. A flame of hope was set ablaze, bursting out into a huge fire the next second. Natsuki now took all her courage and slowly closed her eyes and distance between them. They were so close that she could feel Shizuru's breath on her lips and she faltered for a moment. This moment right before their lips met seemed to be the perfect moment. And just a second before she closed the final gap she breathed:

"Shizuru, I love you."

The crimson-eyed girl didn't even think for a second. That was what she had always dreamt of. She didn't hesitate to return Natsuki's kiss. She had always thought that a kiss with Natsuki would be something very vague and innocent. But this kiss was so full of emotion and passion that her knees became week. Natsuki seemed to enjoy the kiss just as much and it seemed to last forever. Even their tears had dried. When they finally broke the kiss, Shizuru formed the words on her lips without saying them out loud. But Natsuki had heard them anyway. After opening their eyes again the darkness had taken possession of all of their surroundings. Only their eyes were still clear and bright.

Emerald met Crimson and there was nothing else to say.

The End.

A/N: Okay. This is where it ends. I told you guys I thought of a solution and I am a die-hard Shiznat fan. I've always been. BUT during this story I came to love Nao and instead of making two different endings I decided to do a sequel. There is a lot of unfinished business but I wanted for all the Nao haters and Shiznat lovers this story to have a Shiznat ending. So for those who are interested how things could turn out in the future I would be happy to have you guys read the sequel and those who are satisfied better don't read the sequel. I haven't written anything for the sequel now. But I have a lot of ideas. Because the mix of Shizuru, Natsuki and Nao is so explosive that I just have to make sequel. So the ones who are going to read the sequel will have to face a lot more drama, suffering, pain, tears, hurt, decisions and of course love. What happens to Nao after the sudden appearance of Shizuru? Will she fight? How will she cope with the next big downfall? Does Natsuki really have no feelings for Nao at all? How will she react when she hears about Shizuru's relationship with Sandra? Is Sandra really forever gone? Will this Author's Note ever come to an end? Well guys, as you can see I don't like letting go. But I have to. I hope you enjoyed reading and that you will enjoy the sequel and to those who are die-hard ShizNat Fans and therefore are not going to read the sequel: I am also writing another story from time to time. If I ever finish the first chapter I'll upload it. Maybe you'll like this one. It's hopefully a pure Shiznat one. Although I now really like the idea of spicing them up^^

Alright, I take a bow. Thank you for your support. It was a pleasure writing for you guys.