Mai-HiME Fan Fiction ❯ An Affair to Remember ❯ Chapter1 ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: The usual. I do not own blah-blah-blah-blah…

Summary: What if MIYU destroyed the pillars but the ending wasn't the same? A very SHIZNAT centric fic (So please, don't expect to find other couples here.)

Rating: T

A/N: Another post-carnival entry here, though this will start during the carnival and will continue until after. So I am giving SHIZNAT an alternative ending. I am going to try writing an angst story and This will be multi-chapter but it won't be a very long story. I was hoping to finish this in five to seven chapters. (The plot just won't leave my head so I decided to finally write it.)

Edited by Wing Weaver…arigato

Chapter 1: Carnival Ending

It was cold. My eyes were open and yet all I see is darkness. Is this hell? I got this idea that hell is a very hot place, so hot that it will burn your soul crisp…and yet you never die. A lifetime of burning sensation, just the right punishment for someone like me, but if hell has fire? Then where am I? Purgatory? Is there such a place as purgatory? If I am there, then it means I still have a chance of salvation. But will someone pray to salvage my soul?

What was the last thing that happened before I found myself in this desolated place? Ah, yes, My Natsuki enveloping me in an embrace, her lips touched mine and her soft voice that whispered forgiveness in my ear. Forgiveness? After all the vile things I've done, my Natsuki has forgiven me? Do I merit forgiveness? My Natsuki is really a very kind person, despite the fact that her hate for me made her child as monstrous as mine, she was still able to forgive my sins. But I am not Natsuki, and though she gives me that important thing, I cannot forgive myself. There's nothing more evil than me taking advantage of her kindness…of her weakness.

The first time I shed tears in front of my Natsuki and I have to kill her too. Why does she have to be my most important person? If we have not met, if I have not known her then maybe all these things will not happen. My Natsuki will be free…free from someone like me.

I am tired, my heart is tired, my soul is sick and like a cancer my sickness is incurable. The touch of her lips on mine will be my last memory of my Natsuki. No, I wouldn't hope for us to meet again in another life as my sins against her would never be washed no matter how many life times ahead of us. Let this be the last my Natsuki…let this be my last good bye.

“Onee-sama?”

Do I know you? Should I recognize that voice?

“Let me take away all your pain onee-sama.”

Can you? Can you make all this pain go away?

“We are one onee-sama, let me take away all your burdens and be with me.”

Your voice soothes me, I can feel your presence, I can feel your warmth surrounds me

I close my eyes and smile as I accept my salvation…

XXX

The sudden explosion rocked the whole of Fuuka Gakuen, and when all is over, bright lights started appearing one by one. Yukariko and Wataru-san appeared in front of the altar the way they died. Haruka came back as if nothing happened, she was still fuming and cursing Shizuru Fujino's name, Nao's mother re-appeared on her medical bed, Nao's eyes were returned to normal, Kazuya returned on the forest where he died just like Takumi was returned in front of their dormitory building. Mashiro was freed from her entrapment and Tate came back on the school ground. The moment Miyu destroyed the pillars that held her Alyssa-sama captive, she freed the other HiME's most important person. With their powers renewed, the HiME's called forth their children and rode high up in the air to join Mai and Mikoto in destroying the obsidian Lord…

But One is missing.

When Natsuki opened her eyes to the sight of the ruined chapel, Shizuru wasn't there. Despite her memory of dying with the older girl in her arms and her unplanned resurrection, she cannot take for granted the foreboding feeling that grates on her nerve

I died with Shizuru…and now that I was resurrected, where is she? Were she resurrected ahead of me? Or was I ahead of her?

Her reverie was cut short by the sound of flying beasts in the sky. Running out she saw her comrade's protector beast heading towards the HIME star. Summoning Duran, she rode the beast and followed pushing her worries aside for the moment. Defeating the Obsidian Lord is important right now. She reasoned as she headed straight and fly along with her new found friends.

Mai looked at her sides to see the other HIMEs and she smiled. Looking behind to see the others, Midori lifted an arm with her labrys and made a salute to Mai. The others exchanged smiles, an action that says their fight wasn't for naught. The one on her right most was Natsuki, her face serious…

“I don't see Kaichou-san?” Mai asked

Natsuki looked at her and smile, “Shizuru's probably was late. She'll be here.” Natsuki said cheerily and Mai nodded at her friend as they prepared themselves for their greatest battle.

And the HiMEs won.

XXX

One Month post-mortem

The wind blew passed the opened window causing the woman to shiver despite a thick blanket covering her slim body. Her eyes began to move once the sunlight hit her face. She smiled when she heard the soft, lovely voice from the kitchen singing an unfamiliar song

“Onee-sama!” the voice stopped singing and without looking at the woman on the futon started speaking, “I have prepared your tea just as you like it, and I made a special vegetable salad for your breakfast. Can you get up now and prepare yourself? You don't want to be late for school right?” The soft voice ended her tirade causing the older woman to laugh.

The woman pulled her long, wavy chestnut hair into a pony tail and stood up. She started folding her futon, once done she kept it inside the small wooden cabinet at the corner of the small room. Now awake, she strutted towards the kitchen and pulled a small folding table and placed it at the center of the now empty room where her futon used to lie.

Going in the kitchen she saw a wooden tray where two empty cups and a tea pot rests. She took the tray and brought it to the room where the table was now prepared, followed by a small girl who is now carrying two small plates of vegetable salad.

Crimson orbs met crimson orbs as the two seated themselves opposite each other in seiza position. The chest nut haired woman smiled at the little girl with silky raven hair, “Ookini Kiyo-chin, you've been taking care of me very well!” she said smiling,

“Onee-chan! I really should take care of you we are all that's left.”

The older woman sighed, “Hai, you're right, but sometimes I think you're over doing it!”

“I do?”

“Ara? Doesn't Kiyo-chin notice it?

Kiyo shook her head no, “I just want my Onee-chan to be well and happy!” she cheerfully said.

“Well I am, especially if you take good care of yourself and stop worrying too much about me.”

“Then I shall take good care of myself, if that's what Onee-chan wants!”

“Good!” The older woman then looked down on their breakfast, “This looks delicious Kiyo-chin!” Kiyo nodded excitedly, “Itedakimasu!” both females said before they started eating.

XXX

“What am I paying you for?!” the blue haired girl screamed and threw a glass on the table causing it to break.

“Calm down Natsuki!”

“Calm down?! Shizuru was missing for a month now Mai! You can't order me to calm down when I'm paying this bastard a lot of money to find her!” Natsuki said panting with anger.

“But Kuga-san, not one from my informers saw Fujino-san and we are not stopping from our search.”

“You better not stop Yamada! I had high hopes with your ability and you got to prove to me your worth!” Natsuki spat again and tried jamming her fist at Yamada's face but was halted by Mai's fast action.

“Arigato Tokiha-san.” Yamada thanked the fiery haired girl.

“Leave us!” Natsuki screamed once again, not minding if she got the attention of all the patrons of the said bar, “What are you looking at?!” Natsuki shouted and made a gesture as if she is to pull her gun from her back. Thank Mai for her fast thinking, she pulled the girl out of the bar fast after bowing her head to the other patrons for apology.

“Natsuki!” Mai screamed at the angry girl.

“What?!”

“Stop what you're doing already! You're going to get us both killed in there with your temper!”

Natsuki looked at Mai angrily, “You can say that because Mikoto is with you. Your most important person isn't missing!” this brought Mai's palm to hit Natsuki's face. The fiery haired girl stand still waiting for Natsuki's counter, but none came.

“You're not the only one looking Natsuki. We all are looking, Kaichou-san's families were looking, even Haruka and Nao who harbored grudged with Fujino-san were looking Natsuki. We all are.” Mai said calmly.

Natsuki fell on her knees and her shoulder started shaking as the blue haired girl cried her heart out, “Why did this happen Mai? Why now?” she said as she cry, “Why now when I can finally tell her how important she is to me, when I can finally say that I share her feelings for me? Mai!” Natsuki wailed, Mai being Mai kneeled before her friend and gathered Natsuki in her arms

“We don't know Natsuki.”

“Why is it that everyone I love is taken away from me?”

“Natsuki…”

“Mai! I need to find Shizuru!”

Silence.

“What if Fujino-sama wasn't revived Natsuki?”

Natsuki pulled away suddenly from Mai's embrace, “NO! Shizuru is alive! I can feel her, I know she is alive! Mai you got… you got to believe me!”

Mai did not reply instead she held the other girl once again.

XXX

Yes. Shizuru Fujino was missing. Right after the HiMEs defeated the obsidian lord, there was no sign of Shizuru being revived, not even her beast protector Kiyohime was in sight. Natsuki Kuga, Fuuka's ice princess broke down many times. It was a different story for Natsuki to see her precious Shizuru drifting away from her, at least if that happened, she have a way to correct things for her Shizuru was there. But her sudden disappearance was a hard blow on our ice princess core. How will she reciprocate Shizuru's love if she wasn't around? How can Natsuki live and go to school everyday knowing that her most precious memories at Fuuka was the ones she shared with the older girl?

Every night, Natsuki would have dreams about Shizuru, some horrid but most of them were happy and beautiful. Sometimes Natsuki thought if she was just dreaming and once she wakes, Shizuru will be there beside her smiling at her… Times she never thought she'll miss.

“Shizuru…” Sleeping Natsuki whispers

XXX

…Shizuru

Crimson orbs suddenly opened as the sudden assault of pain in her chest caused her to gasp for air. The chest pain that came after hearing someone's name.

Who is Shizuru?

She asked herself, looking at her right side she smiled when she saw her sister's peaceful slumber Ara, I am glad I didn't startle Kiyo-chin, I probably need to drink more water before sleeping next time! She said before returning to her futon.

Unbeknown to the chestnut haired woman, the girl beside her wasn't sleeping at all You cannot remember onee-sama, you promised to be with me, you cannot remember, I won't allow it. The girl thought before she closed her eyes to sleep.

-end chapter 1-

A/N: Some semblance with Tenchi Muyo The Movie 2 as some of the scenes were inspired by that movie