Chapter Thirteen

Family

"Come on, Nao, you have the perfect build for this!"

"Ah, as always my Natsuki is a perfectionist when it comes to fashion!"

"Sh-Shizuru!"

I stood with my back leaning against the pink wall of my bedroom, breathing hard as the two bickering lovers came at me with a flowing emerald dress. They had been trying to wrestle me into it for over an hour , but I knew the house just was well as they did now.

"It matches your eyes, Nao," Shizuru said, trying to convince me as she came a step closer.

Natsuki closed in on me even more like a predator, ready to grab me if I tried to run again. She had a wolfish grin on her face. She enjoyed torturing me like this.

I weighted up my chances and bolted around Natsuki. Her hands clawed at the back of my shirt but I danced away and slipped out of the room. The two girls followed, snorting with laughter as they gave chase.

It was like this all of the time now, ever since the day when I had been released from the hospital with perfect health and the pair had taken me to my new home. At first things had been awkward with Shizuru shooting me glances and conversations failing to start, and I had to defend myself all of the time, reminding the pair that I was not in love with Natsuki.

The poor raven-haired girl hadn't been sure of how much help to offer me. Neither of us wanted me to become too reliant on her, so the rules were created to set up boundaries.

Rule number one had been the most expected, especially as Shizuru was the decider: No falling in love with Natsuki. Rule number two was similar: No staring at, kissing, or doing anything too suggestible with Natsuki.

By that point I had rolled my eyes to the point where I had given myself a headache, and Natsuki was bright red. Shizuru was the most protective girlfriend she could ever hope for, but sometimes it was just plain frightening.

Rule number three was to be expected: No hiding things, and the next rule made even more sense: No solving things too serious on your own.

They were the four key rules, but more were being added all of the time. I was sure after this attack with the dress, another would be added along the lines of 'No ignoring your superiors' or 'always dress formally.' I dreaded thinking about it.

Down the hall I ran, the thundering feet behind me making my heart beat in my throat. I shouldered open the door to the bathroom and collapsed against the wood as Shizuru and Natsuki hammered on it from outside.

So this is what it's like to have a family? I thought. A smile spread over my face. I had to admit it, I was enjoying myself. Ever since I had stepped into the house that became my home I was filled with such happiness that all of the sadness faded away. I never would have thought it was possible, but they had both cured me. I could stand on my own now, but they were both there to help me when things got too rough.

Shizuru's voice came through the door. "Okay, we're giving up now."

Natsuki tried to whisper, but she failed miserably. "Shizuru, she isn't stupid! That's the oldest trick in the book!"

"Oh Natsuki, are you saying that I am stupid then?"

Wh-n-no, I'm just saying..."

I sighed and shook my head in disbelief. "I can hear you both, you know."

Shizuru stifled a laugh that was muffled as she obviously tried to hide it behind her hand. "I don't know what you're talking about, Nao. All I was saying is that if you don't come out than you won't get my spaghetti special tonight."

My mouth watered. Her spaghetti was to die for. "That's not fair!"

"Life's not fair," Natsuki countered.

I shrugged. She had a good point. "Alright, but I am not wearing that dress." I stepped away from the door, opened the door knob, and stepped to the side. The pair tumbled in, the dress heaving out to catch nothing but air. Laughing, I stepped over them and raced out into the hall, leaving them to lay upon the cold tiles on top of the ghastly dress.

I had escaped another attack.

The first night I had spent here had been in the living room as the pink room was 'renovated'. The couch that I had spent too much of my time during the beginning of the week felt too uncomfortable now that I had Natsuki and Shizuru squeezing on with me, so I was all too happy for the next day when my new and improved room was to be revealed.

I should have known that instead of the pair getting rid of the pink and styling it to a more appropriate image, they would add splashes of pink with extra bright cushions and floral wallpaper. A new line of stuffed teddies had been purchased just for me, and all of my possessions were to be kept in a cupboard with carvings of blossoms all over the wood.

I had almost fainted at the sight and Shizuru had been forced to support me for the entire day as I could barely stand from the blinding brightness of the room.

Three days later, and I was managing to sleep in there for longer than ten minutes as I had convinced them to let me have my belongings wherever I wanted. Of course, I spread them out to cover up as much pink as possible.

Shizuru had become like a mother figure to me, and she was trying her hardest, I could tell. Her untrustworthiness started to waver and some nights when I woke up crying from the loss of my mother, she would stay up with me as I watched bloody DVD's on my laptop so I wouldn't be alone. It was no secret that I hated to be on my own anymore, and even though she knew my weakness, she kept it away from all other ears and never dared to mention it to me. Natsuki didn't even need to tell her not to, which had been such a surprise that when I had found out that I was sure I had a hearing impairment.

Natsuki was still herself, the cold biker girl who kept all of her affection and caring ways on the inside and became hostile when I mentioned it. She was the sister of the family, showing her kindness in her own ways by protecting me from Shizuru when she brought up an embarrassing subject, or talking to me when I was suffering from dreams or reality. We no longer had to share the intimate moments that had silenced the raging world around us. The need was gone, and I was feeling better than I had in years. I felt like I child again, when my mother had been alive. I could feel her around me, her eyes watching over me and her kind smile filling my days with hope.

"Nao, that wasn't very nice, was it?"

Shizuru was like a ghost in the house, appearing out of nowhere it seemed and striking like a viper. There she was, standing in the middle of the hall in front of me and blocking my way. She no longer held the dress. Her empty hands were crossed as she leaned against the wall.

If I hadn't been tired from the recent recovery of the disease I had contracted, I would have known to turn around and dodge Natsuki as she leapt at me with the dress. Unfortunately my mind was preoccupied with struggling to control my wariness, and the emerald dress slipped over me.

Damn. I had lost.

I stood in the brightly coloured monstrosity as both girls fell to the floor laughing, but as usual, I couldn't keep the smile off of my face.

Despite night time being the period in which my sleep suffered from the constant dreams, it was my favourite time. I sat upon the roof, my arms pulled around me against the chill, and looked out over the street. I could see myself running through the rain, collapsing on the road, dragging myself to the door... then it all began.

That night had started off so terribly and had only gotten worse through the memorable week, but it had earned me the strength I never would have had, and a family I could love when the last I had left me. A cold breeze blew over me as though reminded me of the fears I had lost, then warmth came.

A jacket was thrown onto my shoulders and I looked up to see Natsuki standing beside me. She was looking out over the stars, even as she sat down. We were in a companionable silence for some time until she cleared her throat and spoke.

"You never stop thinking about it, do you?"

"That night?" I asked.

She nodded, her eyes finally turning to mine. "You learnt a lot, more than some people learn in a lifetime."

I sighed, feeling a lecture coming on. "You're just like Shizuru, you know. I know that I went through a lot and I should be grateful and all of the other crap."

Natsuki frowned. "That wasn't what I was going to say."

That was hard to believe. "Than what?"

She turned her face towards the sky again and closed her eyes. "I was going to say that I envy you. I wish I could have found the strength to face myself and all of my fears when I had lost my mother."

I was in shock that she envied me. After all of the hate and the anger, she wished she had been like me? I pulled the jacket tighter around me. "Natsuki, trust me, you're fine how you are. You're so strong and protective. I wish I wasn't still weak."

"I'm strong on the outside," she corrected, letting out a deep breath. "But in here," she pressed a hand to her chest and shook her head. "I break easily, Nao."

"Why?" I asked, turning to her. "What is it that makes you afraid?" I was sure I knew the answer, but I wanted her to say it.

She took some time to say the words. She took several deep breaths, smiled shyly, and closed her eyes again. "I... I've always been afraid of being on my own."

"Just like me. I knew it."

She opened her eyes and laughed. "Yeah, but you countered it. You accepted that you weren't alone."

"Then let me teach you," I said. "Tell me, if you were alone, then who am I and Shizuru to you? Are we just a apart of the background?"

She looked shocked. "No! You two are all I have!" Her words struck her more than me and she froze.

I smiled. "You see? How easy was that?"

She shook her head and her face fell again. "I still feel alone though."

I knew the frustrations and the isolations well enough to put myself back in the past when I suffered under the torment. "You need to hear the voice that tells you that you aren't alone. You need to be shown the truth of it."

"How?" she asked, clenching her fists. "How am I supposed to hear this voice?"

"What do you hear when you go down to the sea, Natsuki? What do you hear when you remember your mother?"

She scowled, but I saw the sadness in her eyes. "It's just my imagination when I hear her."

"What if it's not?"

She winced and lowered her head. "Nao..."

Slowly, I placed my hand on her shoulder, releasing a comforting side that I rarely showed to anyone. "Natsuki, when you feel alone, think of what you heard, and I think you'll realise that it isn't all in your head."

Her eyes drifted over the streets without really seeing. She was hiding it, but I knew that she was thinking deeply.

"Natsuki, Nao, your breaking rule number four: No doing anything suggestible!"

Shizuru's laughter broke the silence and I let my hand drop from Natsuki's shoulder. "What the hell do you mean? We're just sitting on the roof!"

She laughed even harder and her head appeared over the edge, peering across to us. "Exactly. Under the stars in the perfect place for romance."

I knew she joked because she knew it wasn't true. It was that which stopped me from wanted to push her off of the roof.

Natsuki jumped to her feet. "Why do I have to follow the rules? I live here!"

Shizuru climbed up onto the roof with her unwavering grace and wagged a finger in front of the raven-haired girl's face. "Now, now, follow the rules and you have nothing to worry about."

"Shizuru!"

The woman simply laughed even harder and headed down to the house again, both of us in tow. As Natsuki neared the edge of the roof, she turned to me and to my surprise, pulled me into a quick embrace.

"Thank you," she said as she pulled away. "You're right. I'm not alone. I should have realised."

"I guess I was pretty selfish and didn't give you a chance," I admitted sadly. How I wished I could have acted differently.

Natsuki shook her head though, and smiled. "I don't regret anything. After all, now my family is even bigger. I'm not complaining." With that, she leapt back down to the balcony and back into the house.

I stayed and stood upon the roof, staring up at the stars. It was amazing how everything could change in a moment, or even a week. I had once thought that all of those changes could only be for the worst, but the week had come to prove that some of them forced you to move forward and take the steps towards a brighter world.

For once I smiled without having to force it.

For once, I felt happy.

Author's Note – Alright, there you have it, the happy ending. I'm sorry if it didn't go as people expected, namely that I didn't make it a NatNao ending, but I felt that making them a family would work better, and it was going to end up like this from about the middle of the story, so I am sorry if it is not what you wanted, but please accept the ending I thought would be best.

Also, if it was all a little rushed in the end I apologise. I felt that it would drag on if I focused too much on her new lifestyle, but I am proud with the way it went as the author of this fanfic :)

I hope you did enjoy reading it, and I appreciate all of the feedback and replies I have received. All of your ideas and questions were recognised and appreciated, so whatever you had to say, whether it being good or bad, thank you.

Until the next HiME fanfic that involves Nao and Natsuki in some way or another...

ShatteredHeart98