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Another day in the dorm and Natsuki was getting dressed for class she'd probably ditch
anyways. Bra, sweater, vest, skirt. "Damn it, this thing is a mess." She looked at the skirt
and remembered art class. What a disaster. Shizuru got a good laugh out of it though. For
some reason she found the 'avant-garde' painting to be cute even though it was intended
to be a still life. She tossed it aside and went about looking for another one.

"Mai!" Natsuki shouted as she walked over to her in-between classes.

"Yes?" she stopped and turned.

"I need to go shopping, know any good places?"

"What for?"

"I need a new skirt, this one didn't wash right."

"Ah, heh, I wasn't going to ask. Well the school sells some."

"Not cheap enough."

Mai stared at her for a bit, but declined to comment, "I guess we could hit the resale shop
in the city."

"Alright, that sounds good. Meet me after school then." She walked off without another
word.

Mai had wanted to interject, but despite her disapproval it seemed she was getting used to this. It also seemed
she'd be late to her date again.

Class drudged on slowly and Natsuki found herself yawning once again. She hated
shopping, she hated class, but somehow at least she found time to study. Shizuru saw to
that.

"Oi, Natsuki, earth to Natsuki." Mai walked in front of her.

"What?"

"Look, not to impede your... schedule, but I have a date tonight, so..."

"All I need is a skirt and someone to show me where to buy it at. I haven't been shopping
in months."

"Couldn't you go with Shizuru-san?"

"No, I'd rather not."

"Ok, whatever you say." She shrugged and got on the bike. Natsuki grumbled and they
were on their way.

The shop was a bit rundown and they could smell the various fabrics both real and fake.
Detergent also hit their noses, but they wouldn't be here long. Natsuki, ever tactful,
walked up to the manager and demanded, "I want the cheapest school skirt you have. I'm
trusting it looks better than this one." She pointed to the one she had on.

"Ah, well," he hesitated a bunch and looked over to another worker. "We have skirts like
that?" he pointed.

"Might have a few in the back."

"Could you hurry up," she grumbled and crossed her arms. Mai just smiled having no
easy way of calming the situation.

The guy frowned and headed to the back. "Hey, Takeshi, get her that one over there."

"That one?" he sounded uneasy.

"Yeah, I can't stand that type. Relax, its worth nothing to us." He patted his back.

"They're slow, I'll have to take a short cut back."

"Eh, please, don't worry about it, Natsuki." Mai knew she'd be jarred all over again. It
was futile.

"Here, 500 yen." He offered.

"Eh, 400 yen." Natsuki commented.

Mai couldn't be quiet now, "The school sells them for 1400 yen, how much money do
you have?"

"Enough, let's go." She left some coins and took the skirt.

Outside, "Natsuki, that's not a very good skirt there."

"What do you expect? It doesn't have paint all over it and the tear can be mended."

"Oh, you expect me to do that?" she allready knew the answer.

"Yeah."

"Fine."

---

The next day she checked her watch, just a few hours until Shizuru would give another
tutoring session. To be honest she was enjoying them more and more as they had them.
She found less and less of a reason to act bitchy. Might have helped if it was the better
part of the month.

"Natsuki, ara." Shizuru had walked over, but for some reason felt light headed.

"Are you alright?" Natsuki offered a hand but the condition seemed to get worse.

"Maybe, we should.... Call the session off for today." Shizuru offered.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Natsuki asked.

Shizuru tried to smile, but the room started to spin. "I'll be ok, I'll take a nap...
when I get back home. I'll make it up to you tomorrow, I promise, ok, Natsuki?" she
forced a smile, but she couldn't even see her right.

"Can I walk you back to the car?"

"I'd like that." she felt her weakened body supported by her, but it almost made her gag.
She coughed and pulled away, she didn't know why. "I'll walk."

"You don't look like you can."

"Natsuki, you can't fret about me all the time." She wished she could see the blush, but all she could do was survive.

Natsuki was speechless, but she watched her stagger off, her hand firmly leaning on the
wall as she left. She seemed to be getting better. She was scared.

--

"I should call her." She grabbed the phone some twenty minutes or so later and it rang in
her hand.

"Oh, hello, Natsuki here."

"Sorry about that, Now I know what morning sickness feels like."

"Ha!?"

"Fu fu, silly, I'm all better now, just needed some fresh air. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Good to hear, how about we go to the park?"

"I'd like that. Take care, Natsuki." She delighted in saying her name.

Her voice did sound like her spirits were better, but even she couldn't feel relieved,
"Take it easy, ok?"

"Thank, you." Shizuru said softly.

Natsuki blushed and said goodbye quickly and hung up. She rubbed her face and jumped
on her bed, burying herself in the pillow. She just couldn't admit how much that woman
got to her.

The next day was laundry day. Natsuki tossed all she had into a basket and walked to the
stairs. The laundry-mat was on the bottom floor.

"Natsuki, is Shizuru alright? I heard she was sick." Mai ran up to her, she had a
basket of her own, though smaller in size.

"Yeah, she's fine. Just a stomach flu or food poisoning, I don't know." she glanced away, her voice was softer now,
"She was fine when she got back home."

"That's too bad. Did you study for the test last night?"

"Eh, not so much."

"Ah, worried, weren't you?" she teased.

Natsuki gritted her teeth and marched away from her. Mai sighed and started filling a
machine. It was going to be another long day.

"Ah, Natsuki-chan."

"Chan?" Natsuki fumed and had a seat on the bench.

"Sorry, I just felt so bad doing that to you last night."

"No, don't be. It happens." She got her text books out and set them on the bench
between them.

"Natsuki, you ever think about being a mother?"

Natsuki dropped her book and pen, her mouth wide open, "A what!?" she almost stood
up.

"I just thought about that last night."

"Baka," she tried to hide her bright red face with her book and notes, but there wasn't any
fooling her. Shizuru smiled seeing even the edges of her ears were red. She marveled at
the idea that maybe, just maybe when Natsuki was ready, they'd get a house together.

"Shizuru, why are you blushing?"

"Ara," she tried to laugh it off.

"Shizuru....," Natsuki just stared, looking rather unamused.

--

School, some days later she found herself dreading the test. All this studying and she still
felt that the numbers were planning her funeral. Worse yet, she was now under the
impression that Shizuru was planning her wedding. She sighed and thought to see her
before the class started. She grabbed her cell phone, "Yes, could we meet outside school?
If you're not busy... no? Good, I'll see you soon then. Thanks" she hung it up and started
walking.

Natsuki felt a smile move across her face and she blinked upon noticing it. She fought to
be rid of it before anyone else saw. Why was she so happy to see her? It hadn't been long
since the last time. They were only a yard away from each other when Shizuru fell to one knee.
Natsuki instantly ran to her side, but she fell the rest of the way before she could reach her.

"St...ay b...go!" she fought as hard as she could. Tears of pain covering her face. she
buried it in the ground. Natsuki was hurt and scared. She couldn't think, she couldn't act.

"I'll get a nurse." She ran for it. The test was no longer on her mind.

When she got back, she was gone. She called her cell as fast as she could, but there was
no answer. She apologized to Youko and walked over to a bench. Her cell almost rang
out of her hand, but she managed to keep control. "Shizuru?"

"I'm... sorry..."

"What's wrong?"

"Don't fail your test because of me, I'm not worth that much, please, do your best."

"Shizuru..." she felt her own tears now, "this doesn't make any sense, just see a doctor,
someone!"

"I will. You have class now, I'll call tonight." The call ended and Natsuki wiped her eyes.

She found herself sitting on the bed next to Mai, Mikoto was eating ramen off to the side
looking as happy as can be.

"Natsuki..." Mai saw how hurt and confused she was. Something had to be done. "From
what I know, she doesn't hate you."

"I know, but she pushes me away. She apologizes, but pushes me away. Do you think
its...?"

"I doubt it, this is happening almost randomly. Did she ever fall ill when she wasn't with
you?"

"I don't think so."

"All I know is, if there is something wrong between you. You should confront it. If its
something else, I've no idea. Maybe let her be for awhile?"

"I saw how much she was hurt, it was as if she was paralyzed. She was angry, sad, afraid.
I never saw her like that before."

"She's a strong woman. I can sorta see why you like her so much."

"Don't put words into my mouth!"

"Is it so bad?"

"Eh? No, she's, I want her to be happy. Not like this." Her cell rang and she disregarded
the Caller ID. "Shizuru? Yes, ok, stress? Nothing else came up, really?"

"..." Mai waited.

"Ok, thank you."

"..."

"She's sleeping. Stress, that's what they said."

"See her tomorrow."

Natsuki nodded.

---

The next day came not near fast enough, they let Shizuru stay there for observation. She
had only slept there for the night and she'd be gone after breakfast and tea. She
delighted in knowing Natsuki was on her way. She wondered what the little girl would do
to amuse her this time. Even after the 'moments' she had, she couldn't let it get to her.
They had to be coincidental.

"Shizuru, you awake?" Natsuki walked in. She had a jacket and pants on.

"Yes," she smiled quite pleasantly as a flower was placed in a vase next to her.

"I've been trying to figure this out... Mai doesn't think it was..."

"Too late in the month, its not that."

"Ah, well, has this only happened when you were by me?"

"It's not you, silly, but, yes, so far. I'm afraid I may have something far worse than just
stress."

"Like what?"

"Ebola."

"..."

"Don't worry, it's not that contagious."

"Shizuru, I'm not in a joking mood."

"I'm glad you came, even if you were the cause. So don't be hard on yourself."

She nodded, her hands fumbling to hold something. Shizuru took one and just smiled.
Natsuki couldn't stop her own this time.

---

Another week went by without any incidents, she had hoped the problem went away, but
life was never so kind.

"That skirt." A young girl from another class with short black hair saw Natsuki walk
by. "I can't let this happen." She ran over to her and latched onto the skirt. Natsuki, blushed and scowled in one of her many trademarked expressions followed by a stream of obscenities and tried to beat the girl back.

"Why the hell are you stealing my skirt!?" she punched her again, but this time the poor
girl was unconscious and bleeding. "Ah, damn it!" she fell back in the grass, the girl
laying on top of her.

"Get in another fight, Natsuki-san?" Youko teased.

"She tried to steal my skirt."

"Didn't think you were that popular with the ladies."

"Youko!"

"Alright, not my place, her name is Akari Tenjou. Hmm, no record, good grades, good
attendance. You'll have to talk to her when she wakes up."

"Great, well, I gotta get going. Thanks." She left at once.

"That...skirt..." Akari moaned.

"Hmm?" Youko turned to her.

"I can't believe that girl!" Natsuki was furious and needed someone to shout at until she
felt better.

"Natsuki..." Nao looked on from her perch in a tree as she walked by. She felt her
stomach go weak and she promptly fell out of the tree.

"Ha?" Natsuki turned to see Nao limping away from her towards the nurses office. "..."
She had forgotten some of her anger, but she still had to rant and rave somehow. Her
mind was in circles.

"Yes?" Shizuru answered the phone.

"Some kid tried to steal my skirt right in view of dozens of students!"

"Ara, was it a girl?"

"Yes!" Natsuki blinked not understanding the conversation as well as Shizuru did.

"So aggressive."

"...!" Natsuki clenched the phone tighter and coughed when she heard muted laughter on
the other end.

"If you want to talk in person, I can see you after school. Do well, ok?"

"Thanks, you too." She hung up and grumbled the whole way back to class.

--

Shizuru walked to the class Natsuki was in, she felt her body become weak again. She
couldn't explain the pain she felt, but she knew it was the same kind as before. She walked
back the other way and it subsided. She caught her breath and looked down the hall at the
classroom. It couldn't be.

A fellow student saw her there leaning against the wall, "Fujino-san, are you alright?"

"Yes, yes, thank you."

Natsuki heard this and walked over to the doorway, but she didn't see her there. "She
should be here by now," she sighed not having as much of a reason to complain
anymore. Seeing her would have been nice though.

--

Natsuki grabbed her cell and called her upon getting back to the dorm room, "Did
something happen?"

"I'm afraid we can't do our studying anymore. It... won't fit in my schedule."

"We could change it around."

"No, I've... no time to do that. I don't think we can hang out this weekend.
Maybe...another time."

"I see, did you get sick again?"

"Not as bad as before, I'm ok now. Take care of yourself, I'll call you when I can."

"Alright, thanks for telling me. Bye." She fell on her bed and rolled over. The ceiling
mocked her emotions and she closed her eyes. She felt... alone.

---

Weeks and weeks went by, final exams were drawing near and Natsuki was depressed.
She was afraid her grades were worse than they were before she was tutored. She was
being emotionally drained. She talked with her now and then, but it felt so forced.
Something was wrong and she wouldn't say what or why. She couldn't. This was becoming
a crisis and Natsuki was getting sick of the silent treatment.

"Natsuki!" a girl shouted from behind her.

"What, who!?" she hadn't known the voice and to be called by the first name. She wanted
to be killed?

"Akari is my name! Where is that skirt?"

"Ha?"

"The skirt!"

"You can't have my skirt, you pervert, and don't call me by my first name!"

"I'm not a pervert!"

"Whatever, I gotta go." She ran off down the walkway.

"Wait!"

Natsuki slammed the door shut to the dorm room and startled Mai. She marched right by
her and into her room.

"Natsuki?" Mai followed, although slower.

"Akari!"

"Who?"

"That little ho wanted my skirt again!"

"Ha?"

"She was the one who jumped me and tried to tear my skirt off some time back!"

"Strange."

"She asked for it, I punched her and kicked her until she was unconscious, she had a
death grip on me!"

"I can see that." she nodded.

"See what?"

"Maybe you can give it to her?"

"No way! She might want my panties next!"

"Not like you'd run out of them." She stopped when the door was slammed in her face. "I'll talk
to her."

"Fine!"

"Damn woman, now she has kids grabbing her." She sighed and walked back to her
room, "I know her pain." she shrugged, it wasn't that bad.

---

A week went by and finals taunted her once again. Natsuki had no idea what to do, she
didn't care. She went a whole week without a word and now she was pissed off. She
grabbed a skirt from off the floor and a shirt out of the basket and hurried out of the dorm
room.

"Natsuki, wait!" Mai shouted. She chased her down the stairs. Natsuki ignored her and
ran for her bike. "Where are you going?"

"I can't stand this anymore! I'm seeing Shizuru, now!" she shouted with utter contempt
and put her helmet on. She sped off before Mai could do more.

Her cell rang, "Mai here."

"This is Akari, look you went to that resale shop right?"

"Yes."

"That skirt is cursed! I had that thing a year ago, my boyfriend almost had a stroke when
I glomped him! I'd of never known if I hadn't ripped it while hiking."

"..."

"It drives the one you love mad! It's the only explanation! I'm not even superstitious!"

"Thank you, I have to go now." She spoke somberly. She hung up and dialed Natsuki's
number, no answer. She was still riding. She called Shizuru without even a dial tone. "I
have to do something."

--

Shizuru was in bed, her face was disheveled and her hair scattered. She had a cup of cold
tea beside her and the TV was off. Life was barren, but somehow she felt ok. She heard a
loud banging on her door some distance away. She refused to answer it. She couldn't take
a chance. She feared the next one would kill her and she couldn't begin to think what that
would do to her good friend.

"Open up!" Natsuki shouted. Shizuru opened her eyes wide. The shear anger, the
determination in those few words. She came here for her. Her body shook, but she
managed to smile if only briefly.

"I know you are in there! Stop hiding from me!"

"Nat...suki..."

"I know you better than this!" she shouted again. Shizuru could hear the pain in her
voice. "I'll break this door!"

"Don't," she knew her voice went unheard. The banging stopped. A minute passed and
she heard one large bang and a string of curses. A shorter time went by and the door was
hit again and again. It squeaked and she heard it ripped from the hinges.

Her body tensed, it anticipated the coming pain. She felt the room grow dark and silent,
she couldn't hear her own scream.

"Shizuru!" Natsuki shouted. "Tell me what's wrong already!"

"..."

"What is it? Is it Akari?"

"..."

"Answer me!" she got closer only to see her pain become worse. "Are you jealous of
her!?" even she knew the accusation made no sense, but before this.... She felt her own
tears again, but she didn't stop them. "Talk to me! We can't be silent like this!"

"..." she was curled up in a ball as far away as she could get.

"Shizuru..." she lost it, "What is it!? Is it my hair, my clothes?" she tore her jacket off
and tossed it on the bed short of her. "How am I causing this, tell me! I'm the one doing
this, right!?" she couldn't even hear her own words anymore let alone understand them.
She took her shirt off. "Look at me!" she went to tear her skirt off and found it harder
to remove than she thought it should. She pulled at it and pulled and it didn't let go.
"What the hell?"

She grabbed the bottom of it and pulled with her teeth. It wouldn't tear or pull off.
"F*ing thing!" she found the sewing Mai made and pulled at it there. The threads came
loose and soon it ripped. In her rage she ripped it off and stomped on it until she thought
it was dead. Having seen it lay there still she stared at it and decided to rip it more.

She didn't even notice Shizuru watching her.

"Natsuki..."

"Huh?" she looked up.

"I love you too."

"Wha..wait..huh?"

"Damn." Mai walked through the broken doorway and then through the room. She soon
made her way to the bedroom. "Natsuki, that skir.....!" she blushed and promptly turned
away. "I didn't see that, I didn't see that." she repeated over and over.