Title: Roommates Diary I - New Routines (Part VIII)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1384

Summary: Good luck explaining yourself, Natsuki.

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As soon as Natsuki bolted up in bed and started screaming, Shizuru had covered up her ears on reflex while trying her hardest to conceal her amusement. Ara, Natsuki is so full of energy in the morning. If she was an anime character, her hair would have been standing straight up by now, hehe. Lifting herself up partially by balancing on her elbows, Shizuru cocks her head a little with a lazy smile. "Good morning, Natsuki. Did you sleep well last night?"

"You … I … Why are we in my bed together?" Despite the chaos in her mind, Natsuki finally managed to string out a coherent question with great difficulty. Wipe that smile off your face, Shizuru. The way you are looking at me right now is not helping. Somehow the furrowed brows only seem to have a contradictory effect on the ever widening smile on the older girl's face.

"That's funny. I could have asked you the same question. More importantly, Natsuki, will you take responsibility for what happened last night?" Fully sitting up at this point, Shizuru stares on with watery eyes, daring the other girl to coldheartedly say no. Oops, forgot to loosen my bathrobe a little to show some skin. That would have gone well with my unfortunate ravished girl look, hehe.

Natsuki buries her hands in her blue disheveled tresses and shakes her head from left to right. "What the hell happened? I just remember falling asleep on the sofa and going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I don't know how I got here." Shit, don't tell me I sleepwalked to my bed after going to the bathroom. I hope I didn't do anything inappropriate to Shizuru …

"Listen to me very carefully." The Kyoto woman takes a deep breath.

The air between the two girls becomes stagnant. Natsuki gazes intently at the solemn crimson eyes.

"I'm pregnant."

"EH?!?!"

A few seconds later, fits of giggles from the older girl hammers the absurdity of the statement into Natsuki's head. "Stop messing with me!" The heavily blushing girl picks up the body pillow from the floor and smacks Shizuru on the chest with it repeatedly. There she goes again! I can't believe I was taking her seriously for a moment there. I'm such an idiot.

Shizuru brings up her hands to soften the blows. "Iya, stop it. Why does Natsuki keep attacking my breasts this morning? If I become flat-chested one day, you'll be in charge of massaging them back to their original state." Exhibiting a childish side of her that is never seen at school, Shizuru puffs up her cheeks and sticks out her lower lip in defiance.

So cute … NO! What am I thinking? "BAKA!" Natsuki drops the pillow down and crosses her arms instead with her head turned away from the other girl. Like I'm going to broaden the gap between our breasts sizes. Wait, AHHHH, that's not the point. I'm not going to massage her breasts! Period!

"Oh my, you should have seen the look on your face when you thought I was expecting a baby." Leaving no traces of her earlier pout, Shizuru is now busy wiping the tears off the corner of her eyes. "But still, would you like to see our secret love child?" (Evil smirk) Those sleepless nights of missing Natsuki when I ended up watching CSI have finally paid off.

"I'm not falling for it again." Natsuki pouts. "Nothing probably happened last night anyways." What's the worst damage I could have done in my sleep? Kicked her a few times and gave her some bruises? In a nonchalant manner, green eyes try to sneak a quick peek at the exposed skin not covered up by the white bathrobe. Absolutely flawless. Wow, her skin looks so smooth. I bet she puts lotion on after taking a shower everyday. Ah! Don't go there. Natsuki tries to mentally blink away the naughty image haunting her thoughts.

What's going on in that busy head now? Her face changes colors like those kiddy mood rings. Kawaii! "Well, then how do you explain this?" After rolling up the sleeve of her white bathrobe, Shizuru nods towards the red mark on her upper left arm. Lesson number one – Plant your evidence when no one is watching.

Natsuki bends down to examine the mark skeptically. Is that a bug bite? Wait, it looks more like a bruise. Shit, it can't be … Stay calm, Natsuki. Act dumb! "Why are you showing me your pimple? Are you asking me to pop it?" Conjuring the hidden drama talent within her, Natsuki scoffs as if the older girl just made the dumbest request on the planet.

You can't throw me off that easily. Lesson number two - When the other person is in doubt, brainwash them with information in your favor. Leaning her cheek against her hand, Shizuru closes her eyes with a Cheshire grin to pretend savoring their stolen moments in bed just hours ago. "Don't tell me you forgot how you imprinted your signature on my arm with your lips. Natsuki was so passionate last night. Daisuki!" Just because I gave up the idea of giving you a hickie in your sleep, doesn't mean I can't give myself one and frame you for the act. Can't help it. This is too much fun!

"AHHH! I don't remember a thing about last night. Can we just pretend that nothing happened?" Natsuki clasps her hands together and takes an apologetic bow.

"You mean, all the sweet nothings that you murmured in your sleep were a bunch of lies? How could you?" A timely tear drop slides down porcelain skin.

"Uhm, what did I say?" Oh god, do I really want to know? With a pained look, the blue haired girl holds out her index finger to catch the falling droplet.

Putting on her most seductive voice, Shizuru leans forward to whisper in Natsuki's ears. "You were telling me how I taste good and that you wanted more of me." Not a complete lie. At one point, I did believe those words.

"WHAT? (Cough) Hey! You know what I think tastes good? BENTO!" Jumping off the bed like it suddenly transformed into a hot plate, Natsuki turns her back on Shizuru in a swift movement, desperately trying to hide the heat on her face. "Since you claimed the kitchen last night, why don't you go prepare some lunch bentos for us? Hurry up! I don't want to be late for school!" She rushes to the bathroom like a blue lightning bolt.

Natsuki is scared of being late to school? Oh my goodness, it's the end of the world! With a small smile, the Kyoto beauty can only shake her head as she gets up from the bed. (Sigh) So many ways to tease her, so little time.

Moments later, both girls are neatly dressed for school with backpacks in hands. As Natsuki heads towards the foyer, she is surprised by the pause in the footsteps trailing behind her.

"Shizuru?"

"Say 'I'm leaving now' and pretend that you are going to walk out that door."

"Huh?"

"C'mon, humor me. Please?" Puppy eyes attack!

"Fine." The younger girl rolls her eyes and complies. "I'm leaving now." Two steps forward.

"Walk safely." Shizuru hops ahead and wraps her arms around the shorter girl's shoulders from behind. Without warning, she kisses her on the cheek.

"What was that for?" A timid hand covers the spot that seems to emanate warmth uncontrollably.

"I've always wanted to play the newlyweds game." The sparkles in the crimson eyes perform a jovial dance.

Natsuki mumbles as she stares into the horizon outside the door. "And I'm sure you'll make the most beautiful bride…"

"Did you say something?"

"No, nothing." After locking the door, Natsuki turns to the taller girl with a lopsided grin. "Are you ready?"

For you? Always. "Yes."

"Let's go then." Natsuki swings her backpack over her shoulder and extends her open palm behind her back. Seconds later, a warm hand slides in seamlessly, taking the invitation.

As the two girls walk away together from their home for the first time, no words are exchanged. In truth, their comfortable silence is sufficiently filled with the smiles that they only reserve for one another.

THE END.

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A/N: It might come as a surprise for most readers how the series just ended suddenly. Honestly this was a surprise for me too. I don't know. It just seems like the right time. From today on, I am officially taking a break from writing. Those who have been thinking about starting their own Shiznat fanfic, well, what can I say, NOW IS THE TIME! Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone who has been following my Shiznat saga and giving me reviews. You guys are great! Till next time. (Wink)