Swani: Ok, so here's another chapter. I'm hoping this one will be longer. I realize that this last chapter was actually pretty short. I hope people are still satisfied with the story. Enjoy.

1

"You're kidding, right?" Mai Tokiha placed her hands on her hips and glared at Natsuki. "You met a woman who stirs your soul and who you openly admitted you're in love with, but you turn tail and run?"

Natsuki sighed and hung her head. She plopped down on the bench. "Look, I know. I'm a loser."

"More like a coward and an idiot."

Natsuki looked up, shocked by the anger on Mai's face. She opened her mouth to speak, but Mai held up a hand to stop her.

"Whatever your excuse is, I don't want to hear it. All of this behavior I have heard about is completely out of character for you. Being that afraid of your father? You would have kicked his ass from the beginning. I know what he did, but you would have made him pay. Not only that, you have been craving love and family since I've known you." Mai crossed her arms, her anger radiating into the room. "You meet a woman who made all those feelings come about and you fucking leave her. You probably broke her heart."

Natsuki sighed. "You're probably right. She probably hates me."

"Natsuki, you're my best friend so I can say this: She has every reason to."

Natsuki folded her hands together. She hated it when Mai yelled at her, but she had never seen her this angry.

"The one thing you haven't told me is who she is."

Natsuki sighed and leaned her head against the wall. "Shizuru Fujino."

"Fujino. Fujino! Shizuru fucking Fujino! The CEO of Fujino Innovations? My god Natsuki. She's probably the richest and most powerful woman in Japan and you break her heart. Way. To. Go." Mai seethed. "I don't know what to do with you."

"I don't know what to do with me either."

Mai studied Natsuki carefully. "You want her back."

Natsuki stood, fists clenched. "Of course I want her back!"

Mai walked to Natsuki and wrapped her arms around her. She brought Natsuki close in a friendly embrace and whispered in her ear. "Then go get her."

Natsuki pulled back and grinned. Mai reared back and slapped the grin off of her face. "The fuck, Mai?" Mai chuckled.

"That's for being a coward and an idiot."

1

Shizuru's heels clicked as she made her way down the tile-floored hallway. An elevator door dinged and she heard a familiar shuffling behind her.

"Miss Fujino!"

She turned to see the usual frantic face of Yukino Kikukawa. Shizuru smiled warmly. She didn't have many real friends, as a matter of she could count the number on one hand. Sure, she had many of suck ups and 'followers' but Yukino was different. She was a warmhearted and kindly person. Shizuru considered her a friend.

"Yukino, it's wonderful to see you and I have told you time and time again you don't need to call me that. My name is just fine." Shizuru said with a playful scold.

Yukino dropped her head and blushed slightly. "Yes Mi-Shizuru. Anyway how was your vacation?"

Shizuru did her best to veil the flash of pain in her eyes. "Perfectly fine." Shizuru smiled again. "I feel relaxed."

Yukino raised an eyebrow briefly, but nodded. Shizuru looked down towards her office. "Where is Haruka? I'd like to get the swamp over with."

Yukino smiled softly. "She's in your office." She held up the armful of files she had. "She asked me to get these from the records office. She doesn't believe that last year's financials were filed properly. She wanted to review them."

Shizuru shook her head. Haruka always did this. Every time she left, without fail. "I'll deal with it. Do you need any help with those?" Yukino shook her head. "Well then, shall we?"

As soon as they stepped through the threshold leading to the executive offices they heard Haruka's voice bellowing. Yukino rushed towards and Shizuru sighed softly.

Haruka flew around the corner almost colliding with Yukino. She pointed accusingly at Shizuru. "You! You're an hour late! Some of us actually have respect for this company! I hope one day you do too!"

"Ara, I'm sorry if I have caused any inconveniences. Kanin na."

"Save it. We have business retorts to deal with."

"Reports, Haruka."

"That's what I said, Yukino." Haruka bellowed waving her hand dismissively. Yukino put her head down and followed as Haruka led Shizuru to the Central Executive Office.

1

Natsuki rubbed the grease off her hands after waving a customer goodbye. She turned to her motorcycle and smiled. She picked up a rag and continued polishing the rims. She loved this bike. Her Ducati was her pride and joy. She jumped when she heard a familiar voice.

"Well. Well. Well. I figured you would still be gallivanting in Germany with a Miss Shizuru Fujino."

Natsuki turned to see Chie Harada with crossed arms grinning at Natsuki. "You realize it took me calling in a lot of favors keeping that one out of the papers? Almost all of them."

"How…"

"Word travels fast. Shizuru Fujino keeps to herself, so when someone sees her getting into a taxi with someone, looking quite cozy might I add, research gets done."

Natsuki stood tossing the rag on the counter. "How'd they track it back to me?" Chie glanced over her glasses. "You're kidding right? Your dad."

Natsuki rolled her eyes, "I'm not surprised."

Chie raised both of her eyebrows peering over her glasses again. "So…"

"So, what?"

"Spill! I want all the gory details!"

"Oh, you didn't hear? Natsuki turned tail and ran." Mai called, coming into the garage from the hall.

Chie looked at Natsuki with gaping eyes. Natsuki rubbed the back of her neck. "Mai, you're not going to let this go, are you?"

"Not on your life."

"Wait, you ran away? After all the stuff you've been through?" Mai held up he hand to stop Chie.

"I already gave her that lecture."

Chie shook her head. "Natsuki Kruger ran like a bitch." She pulled her cell phone from her pocket.

Natsuki furrowed her eyebrows. "The hell you just call me?" She took a step towards Chie. "Wait, who are you calling?"

"Aoi, she needs to yell at you too."

Natsuki threw up her hands.

1

Shizuru sat back in her chair with a cup of tea, only partially listening to Haruka's ranting.

"Are you even listening?"

Shizuru looked up and smiled innocently.

"Typical! You and your usual incontinence making us all pick up your slack."

Shizuru hid her smile behind her teacup. Yukino cleared her throat.

"I think you mean incompetence."

"I know what I said!"

Reito Kanzaki stepped forward raising his hands defensively. "Now, now, Haruka. Our distinguished CEO here knows exactly what she's doing."

Shizuru shared a friendly, but brief, glance with her Chief Financial Officer. She and Reito had a long history of friendship that dated back to their student council days at finishing school. They had been an unstoppable force then and that carried through till today. He really was her best friend.

Haruka snorted and handed a stack of files towards Yukino, who took them quickly and added it to her own stack. She twitched as Shizuru continued to sip her tea calmly.

"How can you sit here calmly? We slipped a tenth of a point in the last quarter! We need to figure out how this happened and fix it."

Shizuru set her cup down and looked at Haruka. "I understand Haruka's concern and we will look into it, but I hardly think it's something to obsess with at the moment."

Haruka placed her hands on the desk leaning close to Shizuru. "Fine, but I'm watching you. The minute you skip I'll be there to clean it up, like always."

"Slip."

Haruka snapped her head over at Yukino who looked down. She turned back to Shizuru and glared. She stood up and crossed her arms.

"Now, Haruka, why don't you take your lovely Yukino here out to lunch? She could use a break." Shizuru said tossing a mischievous glance at Yukino, who blushed softly. Shizuru knew how she felt about Haruka. She didn't for the life of her understand it, but she wanted Yukino to be happy. So, she'd do what she could to nudge Haruka in that direction.

Haruka opened her mouth but looked over at Yukino. "Fine, but not because it's your suggestion but because she looks tired." Haruka turned on her heel and motioned for Yukino to follow her out of the office.

Reito tossed a playful glance at Shizuru. "She never changes, does she?"

"Well, that's what makes her dependable. She may be brash, but she's good at what she does."

Reito shrugged, "Either way, I'm glad your back." He stepped forward and leaned a hip on her desk. "So, who is she?"

Shizuru looked up, startled. Reito chuckled. "Come on, I know you. I know when you've had your heart broken. I remember that look from when your dad starting running around. Did it happen in Germany?"

Shizuru nodded and smiled wistfully. "Natsuki Kruger." Just saying her name tugged at Shizuru's heart. "We spent two nights with each other, nights full of passion. I helped her face her demons and she ran out when I was in the shower." Shizuru sighed and took another sip. "We even admitted to loving each other."

Reito placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. He squeezed gently. "Well, what's her story?"

"She's based here in the city. An automotive shop and she teaches martial arts in her spare time."

"Kruger? That's German though."

"Her mother was Japanese and her father is German. Hans Kruger."

Reito raised his eyebrows. "The investment genius?" Shizuru nodded. "Faced her demons? I guess she has father issues?"

Shizuru laughed. "Don't we all?" Reito shared her laugh.

"So, have you thought about looking her up? Talking to her?"

Shizuru shrugged. "I want to, but if she's happier this way I understand. I want Natsuki to be happy."

Reito smiled softly and bumped her shoulder. "Come on. Let's get lunch."

1

Natsuki felt underdressed as she looked around and saw the rush of businessmen and women. She looked down at her own jeans, leather jacket, and converse. She shrugged it off. Mai nudged her as the receptionist's desk had an opening. Natsuki moved quickly getting there before anyone else had the chance. Mai hung back glaring at anyone who dared try to push past Natsuki.

The receptionist looked at Natsuki up and down. "Can I help you?"

"Yeah, I need to see Shizuru Fujino."

"Um, ok, do you have an appointment?"

"No."

Natsuki frowned when the receptionist laughed. "I'm sorry, but you can't expect to waltz in here with no appointment, dressed like that, and asking to see the CEO. Come back when you have an appointment."

Her anger flared when the receptionist waved her off. She slammed her hand down on the counter. "You are going to call up and tell them Natsuki Kruger is here to see Shizuru Fujino. Then you're going to walk me to the elevator and wish me a nice day."

The receptionist stared at her, eyes wide. She looked over at the security guard and motioned him over with her head. Natsuki rolled her eyes and look at her, dangerously. "He's not going to help you."

"Ma'am, you need to leave."

She flicked her eyes over at the guard. "This is none of your business."

"Ma'am, leave or I'll remove you."

"I'd like to see you try."

Mai stepped towards them. "Do we have a problem?"

The guard gave Mai a startled look. "Um, I-"

"There you guys are!" All four of them turned to see a winded Chie. "I'm so sorry. My photographer can be a little overzealous. I had to run back for the camera." She handed a camera bag to Natsuki.

Chie flashed a flirty smile. "Chie Harada. I have an impromptu interview with Miss Fujino. Very last minute, my people called her people. You know how these things go." She flashed a press badge and the guard pointed at Mai.

"This is?"

"Ah, My personal assistant Mai Tokiha."

The guard nodded and the receptionist gave them a dubious look. "I'll call up and let them know you're here." The guard left for his post.

Chie turned to them both. "Seriously? Coming without me? Natsuki, I can get you in anywhere. You're lucky Mai called me."

"You called her?"

Mai shrugged. "I foresaw this kind of a situation."

Natsuki rolled her eyes. The receptionist cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, but Miss Fujino isn't in at the moment. She's gone to lunch."

Chie stepped in front of Natsuki. "Alright well thank you. We'll be back later." She pulled Natsuki with her away from the desk.

1

"Well, how about that place we hit before you left? You seemed to like that." Reito suggested as they stepped off the elevator. He looked over at Shizuru who was staring out toward the main entrance.

"It's her." Shizuru bit her lip. Natsuki was there with two other women making a scene at the receptionist's desk. Her breath caught when Natsuki turned and green eyes locked on crimson ones.

1

"Natsuki we can come back. She's not going to be at lunch forever." Mai said sympathetically.

Natsuki pulled away from them and turned away from them. Her mind went blank when her eyes locked with Shizuru's.

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Swani: Well, I hope this new chapter satisfies some concerns with the out of character-ness. I'm really sorry some of you have been unhappy. Anyway, please leave a review and let me know what you think.