Final chapter. Thanks Urooj for betaing.

Beta and author notes located at the end of the chapter.

---

I'll miss this place.

The doorbell rang

She's here.

"Ah, Shizuru you're here. I thought you back out on me, you know not wanting to see me for the last time." Natsuki tried to joke but it didn't take her more than two seconds to realize what she had said wrong. Shizuru said nothing, trying to ignore what Natsuki said and also pulling back that frown breaking out on her face.

"Well I'm here. Do you need help packing?" Shizuru offered while looking around the apartment. This place would soon be unoccupied.

She shook her head. "I'm pretty much done with it."

"I see..." Shizuru mumbled, looking around the room for the final time and remembering her time in the apartment.

"Um, Shizuru, I want you to have this before I go." Natsuki reached into her pocket and revealed the momiji doll in her hand to Shizuru. "This is something I want you give you before I leave."

It was the doll that had looked just like Natsuki.

Shizuru took her gift with both her hands. "Natsuki this is?"

Natsuki slightly pinked. "It resembles me, and so I thought it would be best to give it to you." Natsuki explained. She planned on keeping the other doll with her, as a reminder of Shizuru.

Looking at the bottom of the doll, Shizuru found a note instead of a coin slot (is that what you mean?), which surprised her. Curiously, she pulled the note, unfolded and read its content.

"Thank you so much...Natsuki." Shizuru said as she wiped the tears that hard gathered at the corner of her eyes after reading the note. It had a tremendous affect on her. "Thank you..." She repeated again softly, holding the doll close to her heart and smiling radiantly.

"Don't worry Shizuru. I'll definitely come back and visit you, I promise." Natsuki assured and all Shizuru could think about was being there for Natsuki, when she came back.

Natsuki looked around. "Well I guess it's time I locked this place up."

"Yes." Shizuru agreed.

They checked all the rooms and turned off all the lights. Natsuki grabbed the only travel bad she had with her which was light because she thought it would be better if most of her items stayed in her apartment.

"That's all I guess..." Natsuki wistfully said and started leaving the apartment to head down to the lobby. She had wanted to spend more time with Shizuru bit there was a taxi waiting for her outside to take her to the airport by her mother's arrangement.

Natsuki and Shizuru both stood outside and beside the taxi, not wanting to part.

"So Shizuru..." Natsuki started but stopped. She walked towards the driver's side of the taxi and then came back to Shizuru. "I asked him to wait for a while because there was something more I wanted to give you."

She reached into her pocket. Shizuru let out a small gasp. "This is your..."

"These are the keys to my apartment and my bike. They mean a lot to me so I figured I should give them to you while I'm away, though I'm not sure how long you'll be in Fuuka..." Natsuki trailed off.

Shizuru looked at Natsuki, wanting so much to embrace the girl in front of her but decided against it because she wouldn't be able to let Natsuki go.

"Don't worry Natsuki! I'll be here when you return." Shizuru promised.

They both stared at each other for a while longer, trying to conceal the sadness that they felt at this moment. Natsuki took a deep breath.

"Is that so? Well thank you, I guess I should be going now."

She turned around and got into the cab.

I'll miss you

But to say such a thing to Shizuru would only bother the Fuuka kaichou, who still had her crimson eyes locked with her emeralds. So she kept it to herself, deciding to tell Shizuru some other time in the future. "Please take care of yourself Natsuki" was the last thing Natsuki had heard before the taxi left.

Shizuru watched the car disappear down the road. She hadn't thought that Natsuki could have changed her mind into staying in Fuuka by entrusting her personal items with Shizuru.

The sounds of thunder could be heard and after some time it had started raining. Natsuki stared outside the window and watched the rain fall, her mind adrift which the taxi driver had noticed. The man in his early forties had not said a word until they had reached their destination.

"Ojou-san?" He called out, breaking Natsuki from her thoughts. "We're here."

Natsuki blinked, and then she got out of the car and apologized to him. "Oh I'm sorry I didn't realize we were here."

The man went in the trunk of the car and opened it, handing Natsuki her traveling bag. "For someone who's leaving the country for a while, you sure travel light."

"I didn't see a need to bring any more than I already have." Natsuki said as she tugged her bag.

"Or could it be that your heart does not want to leave." He said softly and walked back to the driver's seat.

"Huh?" Natsuki knew he was right.

He tried another approach. "Don't you think it's sad to leave when you're not ready to leave?" He looked at her. "There isn't much I can do for you, except ask you reconsider your decision. I hope to see you around, Kuga-san."

Natsuki watched the cab leave and entered inside the airport. There she went to her flight gate where her mother greeted her.

"Ah, Natsuki-chan, you're here! If you'd come any later than now, we would have to wait for the next flight." Natsuki tried to smile but her mind was elsewhere.

The intercom beeped.

"Good evening passenger for flight B123 to Queens. Passengers for this flight are now invited to begin boarding. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready."

"That's our flight." Saeko cheered, but Natsuki had a gloomy expression on her face. "Are you alright Natsuki-chan? You seem different." Saeko asked, concerned.

"Nothing mom, just a little tired, that's all." Natsuki looked through her back, taking out her flight pass and accidently dropping the momiji doll from her bag landing close to Saeko's foot who was about to step on it. Natsuki lunged and protected the doll from her mother's foot.

"I'm sorry Natsuki-chan, I didn't realize there was something on the floor." Her mother apologized.

"It's okay Okaa-san. But Okaa-san, I don't think I can do this. I don't want to leave Fuuka, I'm sorry." She said, and started running towards the exit. Saeko was surprised to say the least.

"I'll call you and explain." Natsuki yelled and disappeared from Saeko's sight.

Saeko sighed and then smiled.

"Natsuki..."

Natsuki got into the taxi and quickly told him her destination i.e. her apartment.

She didn't know if Shizuru would be there but her guts told her so and she was also quite familiar with Shizuru's route back home from her apartment.

On the way she spotted Shizuru near the school and asked the taxi to stop. Natsuki paid her fare and left, sprinting after Shizuru.

Why didn't notice sooner about this?

"Shizuru!!!" She shouted with the top of her lungs.

Shizuru stopped and turned around.

"Natsuki?" She could have recognized that voice anywhere.

Natsuki was all wet from the rain unlike Shizuru who had an umbrella over her. Gathering her courage, Natsuki walked over to Shizuru and gathered her in her arms, shocking Shizuru, who believed her precious person to be onboard a plane.

"Why?" Shizuru whispered, unable to understand why Natsuki was hugging her.

"I'm sorry Shizuru, please! Don't leave me." Natsuki whimpered and held Shizuru tighter. Shizuru was stunned by Natsuki's words and dropped her umbrella, melting into Natsuki's embrace.

"Have I ever said that I would leave you?" Shizuru gently asked, returning Natsuki's hug. She had tears gathering in her eyes at the realness of this situation, enjoying every bit of it, but hardly believing it. "Don't you know how much I love you Natsuki?" The warmth from Natsuki proved to her that everything was real.

"Baka, look at you, you're all soaked! You're going to get cold!" Natsuki loosened her embrace, but intertwined her fingers with Shizuru. Looking into crimson eyes, Natsuki's heart felt at home.

"That's not true, it's so warm right now." Shizuru smiled happily.

The long forgotten the warmth

Natsuki had followed her instincts and had finally gotten it right. Shizuru was the only one who could give her everything she wanted and now she knew that fact better than she did before.

"I'm sorry for being so stupid and making you wait for so long, Shizuru." Natsuki sobbed while burying her head into Shizuru's chest.

"Oh Natsuki, don't call yourself stupid. Don't say that." Shizuru said while brushing back Natsuki's hair.

"Shizuru..." Natsuki murmured.

"Yes, Natsuki?" Shizuru answered in her pleasant Kyoto accent.

"Let's go somewhere private."

---

It was the first time Natsuki was going to Shizuru's place. When she thought about it, Natsuki felt ashamed of herself for not ever stepping into Shizuru's dorm, even when invited.

"It's just as I thought!" Natsuki exclaimed. "Everything is so neat and tidy in your dorm!"

Shizuru grinned. "Yes, I prefer to be organized, unlike Natsuki, who has her items scattered all over her apartment."

"Hey! I'm trying to be organized!" Natsuki defended. Shizuru chuckled.

"Yes, you are. I could tell when I was looking for an umbrella under all your..." Shizuru remembered that Natsuki's umbrella was underneath a pile of lingerie. A blush graced itself on her nose bridge. She didn't want to share that information with Natsuki.

"Under my?" Natsuki prompted.

"It's nothing. Anyways, there are still things that need to be organized, but we'll get there." Shizuru reached into her pocket. "Here are your keys Natsuki." She handed the keys over.

Natsuki stared at the keys for a moment, before taking them, and then taking a key out and giving it to Shizuru.

"You can have this one." Natsuki gave Shizuru the key to her apartment.

"But..." Shizuru was speechless to say the least.

Natsuki smiled. "Don't worry. I have another copy of the key. I want you to have one too."

"I won't be needing all of them." Natsuki passed the keys she removed from the ring. Shizuru remembered it all well, it was the same keys that Natsuki had used to gain access her apartment..

"But…"

"Don't worry, I still have another set of the keys. I want you to have it."

"Thank you Natsuki. I'm really happy. I truly am so..." Shizuru's voice trailed off and her eyes began to moisten. Her crimson eyes looked at Natsuki with such gentleness.

Natsuki protective hugged Shizuru. "No matter what Shizuru, I'll always be here. Please, don't ever forget that."

"Yes, Natsuki."

I'll be the one protecting you Shizuru from now on.

Natsuki held Shizuru the entire night. Shizuru who was vulnerable on the inside, slept soundly like a child. Shizuru had woken up in the middle of the night with tears in her eyes, but feeling Natsuki's arms around her, she knew she didn't have to feel that longing any more.

Her feelings were returned.

Everything was real.

---

The next morning Natsuki was late to school and surprisingly, the Fuuka kaichou was late as well. Although one might think that both of them didn't have a valid excuse, in reality Natsuki had to return to her apartment to get the essential items needed to be ready for school. She was accompanied by Shizuru, who wanted to be with Natsuki every moment, which Natsuki thought odd.

Natsuki had managed to shock everyone in school, as everyone believed she was to be in America. Mai had went out to confirm the news of Natsuki's return, and quickly went to the student council room. There, she was shocked by the affections Natsuki and Shizuru had seem to have been sharing at that moment and felt awkward for interrupting.

"Mai?" Natsuki called out.

Mai looked back and forth at each of them, trying to confirm the status of their relationship. "Are both of you...?"

Natsuki blushed slightly. "Uh, well...we're both..."

Shizuru decided to intervene.

"Yes, Tokiha-san, it is exactly as it looks and exactly what you're thinking. Do you have any objections to it?"

Mai shook her head and looked embarrassed.

"No of course not! I actually have to go...and speak to...Midori! See you Natsuki!" She winked and gave Natsuki two thumbs up. Natsuki stared at her, and then returned to what she had been doing earlier; she and Shizuru were feeding each other home made bentos.

After a few minutes, Shizuru broke the silence.

"Say, Natsuki?"

"Yes, Shizuru?"

"I...It's nothing." Shizuru stopped herself and looked away. Natsuki looked at Shizuru, trying to understand what was going through Shizuru's mind.

"Is there something you want to ask Shizuru? You've been trying to ask me something ever since we bumped in to Nao on the way here." Her emerald eyes narrowed.

"You'll tell me anything right?" Shizuru asked, wanting confirmation

"Anything." Natsuki replied softly and brushed off the piece of rice at the corner of Shizuru's lips.

"Do you remember that day I had saved you from Yuuki-san?"

Natsuki scratched her head, trying to remember. "Oh yeah!" She said when she remembered what Shizuru was referring to.

"She whispered something into your ears right? And then today, when we saw her, she winked at you and I couldn't help but wonder what she said about you."

Natsuki sighed. "Shizuru does it really matter? There's nothing going on between me and her if that's what you think."

No way in hell there could be.

Shizuru's shoulders started to shake.

"Natsuki is a meanie! Maybe she's cheating on me!" Shizuru started to pretend cry, trying to tease Natsuki. She knew Natsuki would never hurt her in any way, but she wanted to see Natsuki's reaction if such a topic was ever brought up.

"Ch-cheating on you? What? Hell no! I wouldn't do that!" Natsuki panicked making the most adorable face. Shizuru had succeeded.

"Fu, fu, fu, Natsuki is so cute right now!" Shizuru thought to herself.

When Shizuru hadn't stopped sobbing, Natsuki tried once more to reaffirm her feelings for Shizuru.

"I would never do such a thing to you!"

Shizuru wanted to up it another notch.

"Then prove it to me." Shizuru teased, tapping her index finger on her lips. Shizuru was enjoying every moment, and teasing Natsuki now had felt even better than before.

In seconds Natsuki pulled Shizuru close. Their lips touched and quickly moved away. Although it was quick, the kiss had carried a lot of significance. Shizuru was touched by the gesture, and slightly stunned because she had expected Natsuki to rebel.

"Is that enough?" Natsuki asked in a husky voice while nuzzling Shizuru.

Shizuru smiled affectionately. "Natsuki is so sweet."

Natsuki smiled looking at Shizuru knowing she had done the right thing. Natsuki felt whole now, and had something to look forward to everyday.

I'll cherish every moment.

Someone once told her that because there's love, people are able to live on.

If it's for my dearest one, I will do anything.

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Beta note to readers: My apologies to everyone. This late chapter was my fault. So no blaming author-san for this ne? If you do want to blame though, send a pm and I'll personally take care of it D. Another thing, it's been great working with DuranBarks and her story was amazing if not awesome. I've got to say it's been the best and hopefully if she wants, I'd continue to beta-ing for her any day.

Author notes:: Don't worry, readers won't be blaming anyone for it, I personally think its good to make readers wait once awhile, as long neither of us just abandon the story, am I right?

It's sad to see the end of this story. To those who followed the story, thanks for reading it. I know this is not one of the best stories available, but I do hope that you enjoy it.

Dear readers, do remember one thing, I am able to complete this story because of my beta (Just incase you still didn't know who am I referring to, please type Urooj in search bar, select author before hitting enter)

So I guess that's the end of it.