Disclaimer: I wish wish wish I owned this awesome (Mai-Hime) but I don't...how sad.

ON WITH THE STORY

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Gliding Underwater, Hard to Breathe

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The smell of chlorine was overpowering as she stepped into the open-roof pool area. Almost heavy upon her lungs and certainly humid against her dry skin, the air pressed all around her as she waded through it to arrive at the edge of the water.

Clear blue and undisturbed by the passing breeze from the ocean to the east, the bottom of the pool could be seen along with the depth numbers. She was standing at the deepest end, the darkest blue.

Regreting again her reason for being here, Nao did not notice the shadow dart about underwater until it was closer to the side of the pool she stood at. Verdant eyes narrowing as they tracked the sleek outline flying beneath the surface of the water, not disturbing the tranquil top in any way, Nao could only marvel at the ease with which Natsuki swam.

The redhead mentally patted herself on the back for not dismissing the school pool as a possible place to find the dark-haired senior on her search for the reclusive ice princess. As the shadow got closer and began to take the well-remembered womanly shape of Natsuki Kuga, Nao crouched down at the edge of the concrete and waited for her friend to come up for air.

With a splash, Natsuki surfaced right in front of her visitor, taking in a deep breath with her head thrown back to grab at that fresh breeze while one hand clutched the concrete lip of the pool. Shaking a bit from exhaustion, having been doing laps for an hour now, Natsuki slumped her upper half onto dry land and opened her icy-green eyes to take in her surroundings.

Immediately green eyes of deviating shades met: one wide in awe at how gorgeous dripping water can make pale skin; the other narrow with questions and a wariness of the sly girl before her.

But before Natsuki could ask Nao what the younger teenager was doing here, Nao had already extended her right hand, palm up. Now really confused, Natsuki backed up so only her hands were still in contact with dry land and stared incredulously at the helping hand Nao had offered...was still offering despite the sneer that crossed her lips when Natsuki looked at her as if she had grown a second head.

Luckily for Kuga, Nao actually had quite a bit of patience when she chose to utilize it. So when the older girl finally made a move to accept the help, Nao wasn't too disgruntled and pulled. The moment her fingers slid against Natsuki's slick palm to grasp her wrist, Nao felt time stand still for just a second.

Yeah, it was horribly clichéd and the redhead usually laughed or jeered at such sappiness in others, but this time Nao just couldn't quite muster up her defenses. A spark caught hold in that single moment and lit the tinder that had been piling up ever since she had met the older delinquent.

A moment is still only a moment, however, and Nao continued to pull Natsuki up and out of the water.

When Natsuki stood fully upright out of the pool, Nao withdrew her hand and folded her arms across her chest. Not liking where her traitorous thoughts were taking her, Nao did not follow Natsuki to the folded towel placed on the ground next to a shed outfit and sneakers the long haired girl had left behind when she dove into the pool. It wasn't until Natsuki bent over to grab, one-handed, at her towel that Nao realized her eyes had betrayed her body's desire.

Turning as red in the face as her hair, Nao wanted to throw herself into the water and drown herself and her blasted hormones. There had to be something in the drinking water around Fuka! There was no way this many girls attending this school would suddenly discover they preferred the fairer sex over the opposite one otherwise!

And Natsuki was at the core for many of the fantasies of those girls if Nao's eavesdropping skills had anything to say on that subject. Nao refused to believe that she was turning into one of those fangirls who swooned whenever Kuga came within radar range.

The calm, deep water of the pool was beginning to look mighty tempting to cool down in.

In the relative silence of the outdoors Nao's sharp ears caught the rustling of clothing and her brain went into overtime imagining which limbs were being covered first – torso or lower?

A smack of skin on skin resounded throughout the air and Natsuki whipped around, thrusting both arms through the sleeves of her t-shirt, and took a stance, ready to fight whatever had disturbed the otherwise quiet area. All she found was Nao staring out over at the mountains of Fuka, head turned away from Natsuki and giving no indication that she heard anything.

It was odd that her fellow delinquent wouldn't also be wary of such noises, especially in lieu of all they had been through a few years ago. But Natsuki was willing to ignore the sound if Nao had not bothered reacting to it. Turning back to her stuff, she just slipped on her sneakers and threw her towel over her left shoulder. Sparing a single glance over towards the unmoving form of the younger student, Natsuki found determined verdant eyes looking into her own.

Nao had a slightly angry red mark on her cheek but otherwise seemed normal...then why was Natsuki riveted to her spot as the younger woman stalked over to stand before her?

Completely eye-level with Natsuki, Nao took a deep breath and let it out slowly before diving in. She would not chicken out. One more inhale of chlorine-filled air and Natsuki's own unique scent was taken in and reluctantly let out again...just for the sake of fortifying her nerves of course.

The silent staring match was broken when Nao used her gathered courage and asked Natsuki if she would like to accompany her to a cafe downtown...and maybe just hang for a while...?

Pale, milky white eyelids slid over icy-green eyes before sliding back up. Repeating that motion about two more times, Natsuki finally registered what Nao was asking her.

A light pink flashed across her cheekbones, mirroring Nao's own cheeks as Natsuki's lips slowly pulled up into a smirk.

"Only as long as there is mayonnaise."

Turning on her heel, Natsuki made for the exit. Nao took only a second before she smiled mischievously and followed, giving in to her teasing nature as relief washed over her skin in the form of a cool warmth tingling her raw nerves. She could breathe again.

Maybe wasting time trying to find Natsuki for the entire day was a good idea after all, especially since it seems she got a date out of it.

"No wonder you're swimming everyday. Your biking outfit wouldn't fit if you didn't get rid of those love-handles courtesy of your diet!"

"Nao!!"

A towel was rolled and snapped in the redhead's direction which she dodged agilely on her way out of the pool area with Natsuki hot on her heels.

Laughter and banter was exchanged for the rest of their day spent together. Neither could remember when they had so much fun with another person, being loners by nature. However, in each other they found a kindred spirit and decided they would not mind spending more time together.

And so they did.

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This was kind of small and not really my best but I have never done a Natsuki/Nao before so please bear with me!

Thanks for reading! Review if you have a chance.

ToaR