Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-HiME/ Mai-OTOME, neither the characters used in this story. XD

HI GUYS. I swear I'm sorry, many of you seem to kill me because most you thought I already left the story, I am just so sorry guys, but I am so happy. SO HAPPY for your continued support in this. Really guys, I'll be updating this regularly by now. I hope you would still read it and enjoy. :D

Chapter 6

"I am afraid to fall.."

It was 1am when she had her late conversation with her charming puppy, informing her that she is going to work for the HiME magazine, and especially under her name: Natsuki Kruger.

"Thank you Shizuru. Sorry for disturbing you in the middle your beauty sleep…uhm,Till here. Goodnight."

These words left Shizuru dreaming on to her bed, she had never felt this kind of excitement before, few hours from now she will be working side by side with Natsuki and her team.

Now it's already past 3:00am and the brunette couldn't contain her senses to relax and go back to her sleeping state, she was actually forcing her eyes to shut but ending up giggling to herself. "Kami-sama, I wish to stop giggling now!" she rolled over to get the picture of the blunette beside her. Staring at it for awhile

"You…" She mumbled while looking at the portrait, her hands sliding on the cobalt-haired woman's features.

"Mou~ Stop staring at me! You're making me blush!" Her hand cupped her own cheek while emitting pinkish blushes on her nosebridge, she was actually flirting the picture. "If could just see, how wonderful you are, *kyaaaaa! Why are you smiling?"

She had an overload of Natsuki the whole midnight which caused her:

6:00am

"Shizuru dear, why do you have such luggage in your eyes?" Her father couldn't just believe that his daughter acquired her medium-sized eyebags, he sipped his tea while holding a newspaper. "You have your second day of job-hunting, am I right?" he gulped as he took a short view on his daughter 'She looks happy, I guess. But my, it's feels like she's high.'

"Kannin na otou-san, I was just very very excited today!" her voice sounded trembling but cheery, but it was by the fact that she was not able to rest her systems very well. "Natsuki called me in the middle of the midnight, telling me that the company will not be closed and I'm hired!" she closed her eyes and sipped her tea to relax the remaining minutes before she prepare herself for bath, okaa-san sat beside her dad widening her eyes to her little kitsune.

"Ara! How much did you buy for MJ?" She teased, examining her features. Her tone sounded jokingly angry then laughed a little. "How would just your dear lover say if she saw you like that? Oh my." Her mom was teasing her again, she pouted as a reply. "Mou~ Okaa-san, now you're making me conscious! *chuckles Just trust me, I'm going to do my best today!" Although she had not enough sleep, her determination to be on time and to work for her first day fuelled her capacity to cheer up, not checking her eye bags.

After a few minutes she stood up to take a shower and dress for office. When she turned around to look herself on the mirror after her bath, she saw...

*Ennggk Enggk Enggk (Scary sounds)

"Noooooooooooooooooo~!" (She became conscious)

Her eyes scanned the whole closet; she glided her hands through the hangers and opened her drawers as if she was looking for something. She was very anxious to what she would wear today, now that she feels so free that the company she owns would continue to grow along with his team and she will have more time to know more about her employees than pushing them through their limits.

"This is a very big day for my magazine." She spoke to herself. She already planned this day as 'non-working but attendance is a must' day for all of her employees; of course all those who work under her name were unaware of this preparation, except only for Nao and Shizuru. With 'Mai-Delicious' under the care of Mai, a catering is scheduled to cover in one of the meeting rooms of the wing.

*Ting (A new message came on her phone)

It was Nao. Her message was all in caps, for Natsuki her voice would sound so loud in here.

WHAT THE-? WE'LL PARTY TIL NIGHT! BETTER NOT TO EAT BREAKFAST! HAHAHA, SO WHAT ABOUT THE BACK-UP PLAN?

-NAO

She smiled as she texted her reply to the red-head.

Just put them all back for now, we could always use that especially now anyway. Hahaha. I hired Shizuru anyway.

-Natsuki

Then they had a short exchange of messages.

OH... THAT'S GOOD! VERY. I'LL SEE YOU NOW WHIPPED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN! :D

Shut up! Or I'll drop a bomb to your ass right away! :D

DAMN, SAY THE ONES WHO FARTED LONG ENOUGH TO HELP HER IN-HOUSE CHEF FIRE AUNT SAEKO'S STEAK WHEN THEY LACK GAS. :D DON'T YOU DARE ME SPILL THAT ONE!

FINE! Hahahahahhahahaha F.U so much Juliet! See you! :D

NO PROBS. I EFFIN LOVE YOU TOO! EWW. HAHAHA :D LASTLY, I ALREADY TALKED TO YUUICHI TELL YA'LL DETAILS AT THE OFFICE. SEE YOU AND DRIVE SEXY, LIKE ME.

What the? Hahahaha Okay! You drive safely!

Then she slid her phone back to the table and think again of what she will wear.

"Damn, why do I really want this?" she asked herself.

After a few minutes, she had already decided her outfit; she wore maroon-fitting pants and black casual shoes while she chose to wear black short-sleeve polo and a v-neck tank top for her upper part. 'I guess this is fine, I should stop bothering myself for pushing these fashion tricks.' She finally closed her closet and fixed everything she needed before heading the office. "This is finally, a fresh start." She hummed to herself as she walked to knock on her parents' door.

"Mom? Dad?" No one answered, until a familiar force tried to surprise her by lounging her into a warm brotherly hug

"LI'L SIS!" He warmly greeted with a playful smile.

"REI!" She exclaimed, his brother Reito, or Rei has more on the looks of their father, he has his hair in pure-black with his eyes sharp as their dad's. "It's been awhile! Where were you last night?" She tapped his arm rested on her shoulders.

"I had a party, you know." He scratched his cheek. "Boy Games. Haha." He chuckled as he fixed his hair and removed his grasped to his sister. "So, where are you going?" He asked. "Leaving again, we have not played yet! I just came back!"

"Well, I'll make things up, just please don't leave almost every day! " She glanced at her watch then continued. "Obviously, I'll go to work. How about you? I was looking for mom and dad anyways, couldn't find them anywhere." She answered.

Reito is a freelance photographer and a fashion designer, he works all around the companies the Krugers have established, he's the closest buddy of Natsuki more than Kenji, who she considers as her rival in professional terms. Although, Reito has been expressing the manly of him, a part of Natsuki wants to believe there is still something more than him unveiled, just like what she is.

"Probably, had some sweet time, you know what I mean." He received a light punch to the blunette who was now a little flushed as she thought of the sweet time. She shook her head to release the shade and talked. "Gah! Forget about it, just tell me I already left for office."

"Okay, Take care on your way, Nat-chan!" He waved as his sister walked her way outside their manor; her keys were given by Sergay. "Anyways, I'll check your clothes next time, something is wrong!" He playfully shouted.

The blunette smiled warmly to her brother and waved back before straddling her Ducati , revving its engine and drive her way to the office.

Some workers for the Krugers stared the two in awe then looked at each other. "Are they really okay?"

Shizuru had herself mixed in full nervousness, consciousness, and excitement as she carry her bag, walk along the bus stop and wait for the bus, there stood a lone figure in 40s, also waiting for the vehicle to come. 'Ara, I forgot my watch.' She thought, she felt lazy opening her bag to get her phone so she gently nudged the person in front of her and asked. "Good morning, may I ask what time is it?" followed by her grateful smile.

The figure turned slightly to face the brunette. " Who—aaa OW" his eyes widened in surprise but made himself back in less than a second. "I-It's 7:00am miss, s-sorry for my reaction." He shyly laughed at his initial reaction. 'I must have scared him with these eyes.' She smiled again in response. "You must have thought I was a lost ghoul, am I not?" She teased herself to ease the tension in the elder's side, which he laughed in response. "I'll just take it you did not have a good rest. Ne?"

"Hai, it's my first day on my job." She chuckled, she's very happy to have the opportunity everyone would go die for. And she knows she's not going to let it slip away.

"Oh, really? Do your best then!" The man cheered. Just in time, the bus made its way on the stop, the two figures started to hop in and travel. 'Here we go.'

The travel on her way to the company was smooth as usual; she fixed herself before staring once again to the building before her. "Hello again, Kruger building." She smiled at the still architecture as if greeting it. 'I'm pretty sure I'm on time, so I guess I have to check myself at the restroom first.' She glanced as the big clock atop the receptionist. "I'm correct." She congratulated herself as she smiled at the personnel on the floor, it was just 7:35.

Then the sound of Kruger-sama's engine roared the mainbuilding.

With legs trembling and sweat dropping features, the raven-haired girl stopped right in front of the entrance of their building, she dismounted her bike as fast as she could, leaving her helmet on the receptionist and her workers in surprise. "IT'S COMING OUT!" with a hand on her behind preventing something to launch, while the other putting the keys on her pocket.

"MY GOODNESS WHY NOOOOOOW~" She cried out as she ran fast on her way to the restroom. 'Shit! I hope it's open!' she made her way past a certain brunette who was just gracing herself to the restroom.

"Ara, so fast…Was that just Natsuki?" she asked to herself. Leaving the question itself she walked her way on the same room, thanks to all the blunette's crew, always on time.

*BRRRRRTTTTT. PPFFFRRRRRT. PLOK*

"Uhnnnnnnnnn..Geez." She mumbled to herself silently, her raven locks were falling as if covers for such embarrassment; she did not expect to be warmly greeted by such warm and hard-to-release bowels. "I was forcing you to come out earlier! Why so shy of you?" she lectured her stomach. After a few pushes, majority the pressure were already gone. "Oh…" That's the best expression of being relaxed once again.

She heard a giggle.

'What the-' Natsuki mentally cursed on her mind. 'I forgot this is a public restroom, not mine. For Kami-sama's sake!'

But the release of pressure from Natsuki's air eating drive did not cooperate with her. *BRRRRRRRRT* A fart partied loud to embarrass her more. 'Curse you ass! I hate hate hate you!'

Now she heard bursting giggles outside. 'Damn, this woman! Why can't she leave? Pleeaaase.' She mentally noted. Her body was now relaxed, now the only left to finish the ritual was the 'cleansing'. 'After this one, I'll kill you with these menacing stares woman!' she cannot handle the embarrassment she was having anymore, it is not like she wanted to fire the giggling woman, but she wanted her to know that she should have left the rest room.

*Click*

The door of her cubicle slowly opened, her eyes searching for a certain giggling figure, who was now on the corner of the restroom her hands covering her face while continuing her giggly laughs. 'Chestnut locks? Whoa… No…' she has realized the figure that stood at the corner. Just from the curving figure who was wearing a dark green blazer with a knee high office skirt that showed her curves and the tawny colour of her hair that compliments the whole woman she was eyeing. 'Shizuru…Viola.' She frighteningly uttered, at least mentally.

"C-Can't you just stop, laughing please?!" Natsuki fully opened the door, her face reddened due to so much embarrassment. "Shizuru!" she finally called her name.

"Ara? *giggles" She turned around to face the embarrassed CEO. "It smelled like your breakfast." Her eyes were crying out of happiness which made her eye bags creepier for the moment. Natsuki's face changed within seconds which Shizuru happened to realize.

"Ikezu!~" her giggles were placed by a sudden surprise consciousness. 'Karma went so fast!'

"Shiiizuru!" Natsuki barked a scared tone, But later on on went on the floor laughing. "What ha-*laughs* Happened?" she stood up on the floor mentally calming herself step by step. "Now, try to laugh at me again!" she followed a short laugh at the brunette.

"Call it even, Ms. Kruger!" she blushed for a moment and used pout "I know what you're mumbling earlier like 'I was forcing you to -" then she saw her boss covering her ears while blushing. 'Ara, such a cute person to tease… You're making things for me Kami-sama' she stopped her teasing and chuckled at the response of the blunette.

After a few minutes of easing each other's laugh, bagged crimson orbs met a sparking one. They smiled at each other.

'Even with those bags, I find you more fascinating.' The viridian eyed girl thought as they continue their staring contest.

'I can't place a word in this moment…' the crimson orbs sparkled.

Natsuki coughed and started to talk, more in a formal conversation. "Well, seems both of us have moved on into that unforgettable moment, right?" Both of them chuckled. "So, Miss Shizuru Viola…"

Shizuru paid attention. "Yes, Boss?" her tone was rather sweet.

The blunette's heart fluttered a moment when she heard the title given to her, in a sweet tone but pushed it away. 'I cannot blush too much in front of this girl.'

"Nah, Natsuki. My team works like a family, well, a broken family I suppose if I'll think of it now. But you know, just Natsuki is very fine." Her hand waved like she did not care for a title.

The crimson-eyed woman formed and 'o' in her lips. 'So now I think, she's really different from any boss. I wonder how she works back then.'

Natsuki glanced on her clock. "It's near eight, let's get going." She walked through the restroom door and opened it for Shizuru. "Ookini." She smiled and went out first.

'Well, this I guess ranked 1st in my list of my most embarrassing moment now.' The blunette thought as they walked outside the room. "Wait for me here, I'll just park my bike correctly." The brunette nodded in response, so she ran out and did her job.

Shizuru, on the other hand pulled out a sticky note, putting the date and the time she wrote something in it and smiled.

"Hey there." Natsuki got back as fast as she could.

"Let's." Shizuru smiled in return.

As the elevator opened, they walked pass across rooms through the office seeing her red-head friend gathering her team members at the board room. "Thanks to Nao." Natsuki stated as they walked near the door. Shizuru just smiled at Natsuki's relieved expression.

Nao, on the other hand, caught the eyes of her viridian mate, winking at her she said "There she is, our great Aslan speaking for the land of Narnia! -Ouch! Heck!" which earned her a bonk on her head. A familiar face stood behind the blunette and of course, it will not go past her laughing lungs.

"Is that you? Ms. Vuala?" Trying her self to calm first to keep formality. "It's Viola, cheeseball!" corrected by Natsuki.

"Oh, Sorry Ms. Shi-Shizuru Viola? Right?" the red head finally uttered. The referred brunette nodded and smiled.

"Yes, I am, miss Nao Zhang." She was offered another hand shake, this time by Nao which she gladly accepted. " No, no formalities from now on, Shi-zu-ru." The red-head's voice became friendly; she knew the reason why Natsuki hired her, most of all, why Natsuki all of sudden became like this. It was all because of her.

After scanning the crimson-woman, "Now let me do this, sorry—HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" She was crying herself out of a sudden,

After a few seconds, "Okay, all is well! I just find your eye bags kinda weird! You look so different!" Shizuru did not know what to react, her eye bags has been her trademark ever since 6:00am. She just flushed her self out of shyness.

Most of the Kruger team members have not seen her yet, so they were kind of curious why their beloved Nao had burst into laughs at one point. For them Shizuru just looked like a normal Halloween employee, just like them no sleep at all. Which unknown to them she hides the beauty of Natsuki's goddess.

Natsuki poked Shizuru in her arms lightly and whispered non-chalantly. "You're still beautiful." Then, she went back to her spot in front of the crowd. This caused her porcelain skin to heat too much. 'Oh no, what am I feeling.' Her heart beats too much, she cannot control.

'If I ever fall for you, would you catch me?' she shook her head again and again to subside her full blush. 'I can't have a person like you Natsuki. We don't match after all.' She stared at the young figure who was about to start talking.

-o-

Natsuki coughed, this gained the attention of all her team members, she scanned them as if checking their attendance. 'Just Tate…wel *sigh' Then, she smiled. A warm smile which caused everyone to stare to her half surprised, everyone almost shared the same thought.

'After all these years, it was again the first time to see her smile.' The past years after finishing her college brought her more into her downside, everyone witnessed the blooming Natsuki Kruger in her first years of managing the HiME magazine, she didn't like any of them younger or older than her call her something she will stand out, she wanted her to call her by her first name 'Natsuki.' They worked along with her from soft tides until rough ones, the magazine reigned to be the 2nd among the top 10 magazines along Japan, for them it was worth the effort, but neither any of them know, why was Natsuki became so hard, so cold to the point she had stopped herself from smiling. So this moment, the moment they saw their cold boss warmed a little caused them to curve their lips once more.

The crowd seem to light the atmosphere, which made Natsuki more comfortable. "Thank you guys, for not leaving me." She sighed deeply and continued. "From the very first period, we have been together, worked together, I assume you already know how we all work right?"

The crowd seem to nod at her statement. "I've always considered you as my, second… family." Her members began to soften at the moment. "I know these past years, I have been a very very bad leader, I have caused you so much sleepless nights and trouble, just so you know, I regret all of that deep here. " She held her heart. Nao, smiled admiring how her buddy handled with such gentleness the Shizuru continued to stare and hear how the girl speaks.

"A family divided in to two or into how many, cannot stand alone." She remarked. "I wanted to start a new Kruger Team, with you guys, you who did not leave me through this. Who shared pain, and effort in making this magazine, Our Magazine." She emphasized. "A family that will not be broken again."

The hearts of her team members fluttered, some of them shed soft tears, and they were very happy, happy to be acknowledged, Happy that they never left. But the young CEO isn't finished yet.

"The reason behind my pain is that, my dad would close this establishment if we continued being 2nd, it was an ultimatum we have dealt because of my aspiration." She heard gasps from them.

"But don't be afraid, I have placed you your new jobs if that was about to happen anyway. Even if the magazine would close, you will still have some positions to keep in though, not the same. Hehehe-" She chuckled at her own statement. "I did not know, my dad was just keeping an image to me to teach me something. He wanted me to realize that before any, I should first love you guys, love our readers, and love each other. It is the secret how a company grows better I guess." She could not believe how fluffy her words right now, but she couldn't just explain better.

The crowd seem to wait for a word to let them know she's finished.

"To top it all guys," She coughed. "I'm not gonna let you go."

The crowd stood and cheered for her, some cried too much tears, everyone was just happy, so happy. Natsuki could not believe she was seeing, they felt so much happy working for her. She looked for a certain someone, her eyes scanned left to right, just to meet those crimson orbs standing beside her best bud.

'Shizuru…' her eyes sparkled so much happiness. She mouthed 'Thank you' on her. The brunette on the other hand, winked her with so much happiness and amusement. Natsuki blushed at her sudden actions. 'No, no, do not blush here.' The wink replayed. 'Oh man, I'll have insomnia tonight.'

"Anyway!" She shouted to gather their attention once more. "Today is no working day, proceed to the meeting room for we will feast and bond as family!"

"OH, HELLA PARTEYYYYYY!" Nao cheered together with the members, everyone stood up to their seats and fixed the board room like nothing happened, they emptied the board room and started the buffet.

Nao walked last after others, leaving Natsuki and Shizuru at their spots. "Hey, FACK Leader!" she changed her pronunciation of 'P' to 'F' to taunt her again. "If there is anyone who would lead better between you and your brother, I'll stand by your fur." Her face made a toothy grin and waved till she was lost in sight.

Natsuki gave her a lopsided smile, though she did not see. "Really, you Nao." 'I'm thankful you're here.'

"Ara, that's so much of you Natsuki. I was kind of speechless." The woman beside her smiled, her smile was full of grace and charm, less the eye bag part. For Natsuki it's still lovely. 'What spell do you have on me…' Her face blushed to her words and facial expression.

"It's because you're here." Her words were almost incoherent.

"Again, Natsuki?"

She took hold fast of the brunette's left hand and kissed swiftly as she could. Both of them flared faces. "Ara…" Again crimson orbs were left speechless.

"Don't do that Natsuki." She finally spoke but gently. Her words made the blunette to step back by the crimson's sudden reaction. 'Wha—What did I just do?' Natsuki spoke to herself.

"I'm afraid to fall…" after that she walked past the blunette, "Let's go." She mumbled, leaving a dumbfounded raven-haired girl.

"Such an idiot Natsuki!" she scowled herself "I pushed the wrong button." She followed walking Shizuru behind, slower to prevent them from walking side by side.

Just as scheduled, Mai-delicious covered the whole catering, with Mai of course being the head chef of her own restaurant. She just have to leave her Main restaurant to the manager in-charge, and Mikoto.

"I am kind of scared with what is happening to my restaurant all of a sudden." She sighed deeply while supervising her workers.

"Nao!" She called her familiar red-head friend. "Goodness! I've been looking for you and Natsuki!"

"Hey there Mai- hmmmmm delicious!" she was actually referring to her buddies bust size but was met into a spatula slap.

"You called my name, just to greet your good friend that!" cursed the lime-eyed woman, but then both shared laughs and a "HIGH FIVE" as their symbolic greeting. "Where's Natsuki?" Mai curiously asked?

"Well, alone with the Viola girl I guess, have you met her already?" Nao responded as she grabbed a plate while picking small pieces from different cuisines. "Yeah, Shizuru Viola you mean?" Nao nodded.

"I smell something to Natsuki, well, probably just a guess." Mai stated plainly while staring at the munching Nao.

"I, as well. That's her first time you know! " she managed to talk while eating. "It's weird. Not weird, I mean creeeeeepy!" she blurted out a small laugh but ended by choking her food.

"Oh, my, Nao! How old are you really!" she chuckled as she offered water to her choking friend.

A cobalt haired woman finally came on the two. "Natsuki!" she walked towards her two friends, her face a little trembled. "I can't find her!"

"What? Who?" The two forgot instantly that she was looking for the woman they were just talking about.

"Shizuru!"

Hahahaha

I hope you still enjoyed! Don't forget to read and review. :3

It helps and energizes me alot. ;D