It has been a while and all I can say is crap happens but I am glad to finally be back.

Thoughts in italics and single quotes unless I missed some

Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime or anything else that is cool *sigh*

Natsuki stopped talking and began screaming when her left shin suddenly snapped. Even though it is a robotic leg it is just like a regular leg. The pain is just as bad as if it was her real shin that broke.

Meanwhile Shizuru was starting to wake up. Her hand reached out and felt the bed and she realized that Natsuki had left. But what really woke her up was the scream that she just knew that was Natsuki's. The chestnut haired girl jumped out of the bed and began to look for the biker.

Luckily for her, but not for Natsuki, screams of pain were still heard. 'What could have caused Natsuki so much pain?' Shizuru went into the room that the screams were coming from and saw Natsuki on the floor with a bunch of people around her. She was able to see what the problem was but she couldn't get to the bluenette.

Dr. Cross and the others picked Natsuki up and put her on a gurney. Juliet injected Natsuki with a pain-killer to ease the pain.

"Juliet call and let them know that we are bringing her in. She will need to get it replaced."

"Sure Sunako and I will go over everything here to see if I can find what went wrong."

"Okay. Let's go guys." Dr. Cross and the rest took Natsuki out of the room passing Shizuru in the process. "Oh Juliet this is Shizuru Fujino, Natsuki's girlfriend. Take care of her for me," Sunako said when she saw Shizuru.

Juliet looked away from the monitors to see the chestnut haired girl standing there with a worried look on her face. The blonde walked over to Shizuru and grabbed her shoulder. "Don't worry she is going to be fine. This sort of thing happens sometimes."

"What happened? She was in so much pain." Shizuru wrapped her arms around herself.

"Her left shin broke. Natsuki feels pain just like a normal person. She is wired for it." Juliet walked back toward the monitors.

"How could it just break? I mean it's made of metal right?" Shizuru followed Juliet.

"I don't know why but I will find out. After all that is my job."

"Your name is Juliet right?"

"Oh yeah I haven't introduced myself. My name is Juliet Rose. I am one of the head scientists here. It is actually my job to create better parts. That is why I will do everything I can to find out why her shin broke." The scientist began to print out the information from the machines.

"My name is-," Shizuru started to say but Juliet cut her off.

"There is no need for that. Sunako said that you are Natsuki's girlfriend Miss Fujino." Juliet went back to the printouts.

"Please call me Shizuru," the ex-kaichou told her. 'That's twice someone called me Natsuki's girlfriend. I don't think I am ever going to get tired of hearing it.'

"I will as long as you call me Juliet." The blonde noticed something in the printout. "So that's why," she mumbled.

"What did you find?" Shizuru walked over to the scientist and looked at the paper.

"The wrong metal was used in her left shin. You see whenever she goes under new parts replace the old ones. For whatever reason her shin bone was replaced with an old piece of material and that is why it broke. The new material would have stood up against the weight she was lifting." The scientist began to gather all of the printouts.

"How could that have happened? I mean don't you check for stuff like that?" Shizuru was very concerned. She didn't want to hear that scream to come out of her Natsuki's mouth again.

"Yes there are people who check, double-check, and triple check the pieces before she goes under. I don't know how this happened but I can assure you that there will be an investigation. Natsuki is the only person we have for this project. Without her this project would crumble."

"There isn't anyone else?"

"No Natsuki is the only one that agreed. Everyone else that was asked didn't want to do through all of the operations and experiments."

"Do you know why Natsuki agreed to this?" Shizuru asked. This was a question she had to have an answer for.

"I do know but I don't think I should tell you. That sounds like something that Natsuki should tell you. Don't you agree?"

"You're right. I should hear it from Natsuki but I don't know if I will like the answer."

"Then don't ask the question until you are ready for the answer. I have a feeling that you are going to be staying here with Natsuki so just wait."

"I guess I will wait." Shizuru looked around the room.

"I need to take these to Sunako. Do you want to come with me? They might still be working on her but there is a window so you can watch if you want." The blonde walked toward the door.

"Yes I will go with you. I want to check on Natsuki." The two left the room and went in the direction the others went.

-In the operating room-

Natsuki was lying on the table waiting to be put under. She was given some pain killers while she waited. Sunako didn't want to put her under until they knew what exactly needed to be replaced. The doctors were looking at x-rays that they had taken before entering the room.

"It seems that we don't need to replace the entire leg," a doctor stated.

"I do see what you are saying but I think it is best to remove the entire leg. There might be something else wrong that hasn't happened yet. I don't want to bring her back in here until we put the skin back on," Sunako said.

"I agree with Dr. Sunako. The entire leg should be removed and a new one will be put on after it is made clear what went wrong. So nurse if you would please start," another doctor mentioned.

A nurse then began to put Natsuki to sleep. "Count back from ten Natsuki," the nurse told the bluenette.

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5…" Natsuki counted and then fell asleep.

"Let's begin everyone," Sunako said. Everyone started to do their job.

During the surgery Sunako heard a taping sound. The doctor looked up and saw Juliet waving at her and Shizuru standing next to her. Shizuru is looking at Natsuki with concern in her eyes. Sunako waved back and went back to work.

"Natsuki can't feel anything right?" Shizuru asked.

"Oh yeah she can't feel anything. She is out like a light. Oh it seems they are removing the entire leg."

"But you said it was just the shin. Why would they have to remove it completely?"

"In truth they don't but this will at least help out with the investigation."

"What do you mean?"

"Each part of the leg is constructed by a team of people and every team sees what the other teams are doing. By getting the entire leg I can see which team worked on what and find out how the wrong metal was used," Juliet answered. A confused look crossed Shizuru's face. "Look just think about Natsuki and spending time with her. I will think about the other stuff. Deal?" Juliet held her hand out.

Shizuru thought for a moment and then looked over to where Natsuki was still lying. 'I can always ask Natsuki about what is going on. But knowing Natsuki she probably won't ask anything about it. Perhaps I can get Natsuki to ask about it. Yes that could work. So until I want to know I will just spend as much time with Natsuki as possible. After all it has been six years and I need to make up for lost time,' she thought as she shook Juliet's hand. "Deal."

The two stopped shaking hands and looked back through the window to watch the surgery.

-In Kyoto-

Clef was on his way to a bar. Normally he wouldn't step foot in a bar but he had to make sure no one knew what he was doing. When he arrived at the bar he looked around to make sure that no one had followed him.

After checking to make sure the coast was clear he got out of his car and quickly went inside. Clef looked around the place and saw who he was meeting sitting in the back. The man in the back looked up and saw Clef. Clef walked over and sat down at the table.

"Have you found her yet?" Clef asked.

"No but I do know that her father bought her a ticket to Okinawa," the man informed him.

"Her father did? Why did he do that?"

"If I ask him then that would cause a problem for you wouldn't it?" the man asked.

"Yes that would. Do you know where she is in Okinawa?"

"The last place that she was spotted at was a bar called Wild Rumble. After a period of time a car came and took her away. My men tried to follow the car but lost it."

"I thought your men were the best. They can't even follow a car."

"Don't worry we will find her and when we do she will be brought back. If by chance Kuga is there what do you want us to do?"

"A better job than you did last time."

"Look I don't know how she lived through that but this time I will be there to make sure that she does not survive this time," the man said as he got up and left the bar.

Clef sat at the table and waited a few minutes before he left as well. After the two leave the bartender picks up the phone and makes a call.

"Hey it's me. They just left. He is on his way to Okinawa. Clef is probably on his way back home," the bartender said. There was some mumbling from the other line. "All right I will give her a call. Don't worry there will be no mistakes this time." The bartender hung up the phone and made another call. "Hello how are you doing Juliet?"

-Back at the Facility-

Juliet and Shizuru were watching the surgery as a buzzing sound started. Shizuru looked at Juliet who had pulled her phone out and looked to see who it was.

'Hmm haven't heard from him in a long time. Something must be starting. Things are going to get interesting,' Juliet thought to herself. "Please excuse me Shizuru but I need to take this," Juliet quickly said as she made her way out of the room.

As soon as Juliet was out of the room she answered her phone.

"Hello Roku."

"Hello how are you doing Juliet?"

"I'm doing well but I highly doubt you called to find out how I am doing. What is it Roku?"

"You're no fun Juliet but you are right. It appears they have figured out Fujino is out there and are headed to Okinawa."

"Do they know about the facility?"

"Not from what I heard but if they spot Kuga they are to finish the job."

Juliet stood there and took in the information that Roku told her about. 'So they will finish what they started? Hmm I wonder what they will do when they realize she isn't the same anymore,' Juliet thought.

"Hey are you there?"

"Yeah I was just thinking that I need to tell Sunako. This should make her happy. After all she will be able to see her project in action."

"True but remind her that they are fully human and well Kuga isn't. I doubt the boss wants to cover up anything."

"Don't worry. Nothing bad will happen," Juliet informed him. A ding sounded and Juliet turned around to see that they were finished with Natsuki. "Oh they are done. I got to go Roku. Keep me informed if anything else happens."

"No problem Juliet. Talk to you later." The two hung up their phones. Roku went back to work at the bar and Juliet went back to get Shizuru.

-In room-

Shizuru had watched Juliet leave before turning back to watch Natsuki. 'Something about this doesn't make sense. There is no way people would turn down the chance to walk or whatever.' Crimson orbs locked on the body of her love. 'Could all of this been planned so they could do this to her? There were no reports about her being in an accident. Something doesn't feel right. I get the feeling that what happened to Natsuki was planned.'

The ex-kaichou began pacing the small room glancing at Natsuki's body every few seconds. Shizuru began thinking back on that day at the station and what happened afterward. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks. 'He did this to her! He must have. Why else would he have been that happy and smug during the ceremony? Plus he suggested the deal and everything. I can't believe I didn't suspect anything. But even if he did set up her accident which I'm sure he did how did she get brought here? Was someone watching as it happened?' Shizuru's thoughts just wouldn't stop. 'I need to find out how she got here and why she was chosen for this project.' Just as she thought this Juliet came back into the room. Quickly the former hime regained her composure and smiled her perfect fake smile.

"It seems they are done Shizuru would you like to go see her. I'm sure they are going to take her to her room."

"Yes I would like to go to Natsuki's room."

The two left the room and made their way to Natsuki's room. Along the way Sunako came up and joined them.

"Juliet did you find out the reason for what happened?"

"Yes Sunako I did and I'm not sure how it happened. The wrong metal was used in the shin."

That comment made Sunako stop walking. The other two stopped as well but Shizuru's face gave herself away.

"You may go on Shizuru. I'm just going to talk to Juliet about what happened. I'm sure Natsuki would like to see your face when she wakes up."

-Natsuki's Room-

Shizuru walked into the room and went straight for the bed. Natsuki was sleeping soundly. 'Oh how I've missed seeing your sleeping face,' the older girl thought. Shizuru began to stroke through the blue locks of her beloved. That slight gesture seemed to cause a stir in the younger girl.

"Shi… ..," Natsuki spoke out slowly waking up. The green eye looked over and saw tear filled crimson eyes staring back at her. 'Geez, it seems all I have done since seeing her again is make her cry,' the biker thought. A metal hand reached out to wipe away the tears that slowly began to fall from her love's eyes.

Shizuru leaned into the hand that was brushing against her cheek. "Natsuki, how are you feeling? Do you have any pain? Is there anything that you need? Perhaps you are hungry."

"Whoa calm down Shizuru. I am okay. Stuff like this happens sometimes. Well maybe not recently but still I am going to be okay," Natsuki told her panicky Shizuru. Natsuki looked down and noticed that her left leg was gone. "Oh they took the whole thing."

At first Shizuru was confused but then she followed Natsuki's line of sight. "Yes they did. Apparently the wrong material was used," the older woman said.

"Great that means I have to wait until a new leg is approved to be put on me then before I can get the skin put back on," Natsuki told Shizuru. "This might take a while Shizuru. Perhaps you should go back and when they are done I can come and see you."

Crimson eyes narrowed at the last statement. 'Leave! She expects me to leave after what just happened! Not only that but I have just realized that her getting into her accident was planned and that he had to be a part of it. Oh no Natsuki I am not leaving until I know everything. Fu fu fu besides it will give me time to come up with a plan to deal with my so-called husband,' Shizuru thought.

Seeing the eye narrow at her made the ex-ice hime nervous. "Um Shizuru it will be okay you know. I mean I know you love me but…um…," Natsuki began to mumble before fingers were put on her lips to stop her.

"Natsuki, Natsuki, Natsuki," Shizuru began in a low sultry tone while keeping her fingers pressed to her love's lips. Shizuru began to make her way onto the bed and Natsuki. To say that a blush appeared on the biker's cheeks would be an understatement. 'Ara that is certainly a new shade of red I haven't seen on her face before. Fu fu I wonder if I can make it even darker,' Shizuru thought to herself as a grin appeared on her face.

Natsuki's wide eye followed every movement that Shizuru made as she climbed on top of her biker and straddled her. Shizuru removed her fingers from her girl's lips to replace them with her own lips. This turn of events had Natsuki's head spinning so much that she did not even notice when Shizuru's tongue entered her mouth. The kiss lasted until breathing air became a necessity. Shizuru pulled back and looked down into Natsuki's one dazed emerald eye.

"Listen to me Natsuki. I have no intention of leaving you here alone. The only way I will leave this place is if you are coming with me. Everything that I want and need is right here underneath me," Shizuru said as a smile spread across her face as Natsuki did indeed plus an ever darker shade of red. The chestnut haired girl leaned down to brush her nose against Natsuki's. "I love you Natsuki. I made a mistake letting you walk away from me that day and I will not let that happen again."

Metal hands cupped the face that was so close to their owner's. "I love you too Shizuru and nothing is going to change that," Natsuki whispered as she leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on the lips above her. "And everything I want and need is right on top of me," again Natsuki whispered as she kissed her love again.

After the kiss Shizuru nuzzled into Natsuki's neck. They held onto each other and laid there in each other's arms as both drifted off to sleep. One thinking about how long it will take to get a new leg and the other thinking about how to get back at the person that nearly killed her love.

Well there you have it chapter 4 after 3 years and some change. I cannot say when the next chapter will be up because I have a couple other stories that need my attention. I am hoping to update as soon as possible though.

Thanks for reading and staying with me after so long. All reviews are welcome.