Always the Last to Know (Mai-HiME, Mai/Mikoto, #1)
Title: Always the Last to Know
Fandom: Mai-HiME
Claim: Minagi Mikoto/Tokiha Mai
Prompt: #1 - Unexpected News
Characters/Pairing: Mai/Mikoto, Shizuru
Rating: G
Shizuru felt tired and lonely after returning home from a week-long family vacation in Los Angeles, so she felt the need to visit an old friend of hers to help bring her spirits up. Unfortunately, Natsuki was out of town on "official business", so she went to a small cottage where she heard Mai was staying over the weekend. She hoped that Mai's cheerful smile proved infectious as she knocked on the door. "Tokiha-han?" she asked.
"Who is it?" Mai answered.
"It's me, Shizuru. May I come in?"
"Yeah. Just a second."
Mai put down her comb and headed to the door to greet Shizuru, deciding that the single stub of hair pointing out in front of her could be styled down later.
"Welcome back!" Mai gave Shizuru a hug, and then led her into the living room. "How did your trip go?"
Shizuru stepped carefully onto the welcome rug and planted herself next to the television. "It was...relaxing, at least," she replied. "I wish I had more time to clear my head after all that's happened lately."
"Yeah...me, too."
Shizuru had tried to repress the memories of the HiME Festival ordeal, but she still remembered watching Yukino and Haruka, two girls whom she believed to be her friends, suffering because she had lashed out against them. She didn't expect either of them to forgive her immediately, believing that there would be a proper moment for a formal apology. Having already experienced death once herself, she vowed never to let her emotions get the better of her again.
"At any rate," she said, "I'm relieved that everything appears to be back to normal. How is school going for you?"
"I'm working on getting my grades back up to par so that I can actually finish and get my degree," said Mai. "Things are going pretty well, otherwise."
"That's good to hear. I've also been told that you've hooked up with a certain someone from the kendo club. Am I correct?"
Mai raised an eyebrow at Shizuru's last statement. She had never told her about the true nature of her relationship with Yuuichi. As far as she knew, he hadn't said anything to Mai about it, either. To everyone else she knew, it was assumed that they were going out, but avoiding each other intentionally in a failed attempt at allaying suspicion.
"You, uh, could say that," she said, scratching her head.
"Hmm...so Tate-kun finally asked you out? That's quite sweet of him."
"No! I didn't...well, I mean he never talked to me about that sort of thing."
Shizuru was confused. She thought for certain that she had it right. A lot of the gossip she heard came from Haruka and Natsuki, and they rarely ever steered her wrong. "Huh? You mean the person in question isn't him?" she asked.
Mai shook her head. "I...kinda let it slip that I was going out with Mikoto."
"You and Mikoto-kun? That's...different."
"It's not like I..."
It was too late. Now that Mai herself had confirmed it to Shizuru, no amount of backtracking could put the proverbial cat back in the bag.
"Oh, who am I kidding?" she said. "I couldn't just let Mikoto go after all that's happened. She said she still needs me, and...well...I kinda like having her around. It'll be sad to say goodbye to her when I graduate. Maybe one day before we do, I'll take her with me to see L.A."
"I'm sure she'd like it very much," said Shizuru. "It'd be a great experience for the two of you. I could recommend a place for you to stay, if you'd like."
"Thanks...I appreciate it."
She didn't know how it happened, but Mai was able to get Shizuru smiling again. While she wondered when the time would come for her to feel the sort of love she was searching for, she at least felt good about being able to sit down and chat with Mai without having to worry about anything else. Mai welcomed the prospect of going it alone with Mikoto for a few days, as it would give the two of them time to bond and get to know each other better.
Fandom: Mai-HiME
Claim: Minagi Mikoto/Tokiha Mai
Prompt: #1 - Unexpected News
Characters/Pairing: Mai/Mikoto, Shizuru
Rating: G
Shizuru felt tired and lonely after returning home from a week-long family vacation in Los Angeles, so she felt the need to visit an old friend of hers to help bring her spirits up. Unfortunately, Natsuki was out of town on "official business", so she went to a small cottage where she heard Mai was staying over the weekend. She hoped that Mai's cheerful smile proved infectious as she knocked on the door. "Tokiha-han?" she asked.
"Who is it?" Mai answered.
"It's me, Shizuru. May I come in?"
"Yeah. Just a second."
Mai put down her comb and headed to the door to greet Shizuru, deciding that the single stub of hair pointing out in front of her could be styled down later.
"Welcome back!" Mai gave Shizuru a hug, and then led her into the living room. "How did your trip go?"
Shizuru stepped carefully onto the welcome rug and planted herself next to the television. "It was...relaxing, at least," she replied. "I wish I had more time to clear my head after all that's happened lately."
"Yeah...me, too."
Shizuru had tried to repress the memories of the HiME Festival ordeal, but she still remembered watching Yukino and Haruka, two girls whom she believed to be her friends, suffering because she had lashed out against them. She didn't expect either of them to forgive her immediately, believing that there would be a proper moment for a formal apology. Having already experienced death once herself, she vowed never to let her emotions get the better of her again.
"At any rate," she said, "I'm relieved that everything appears to be back to normal. How is school going for you?"
"I'm working on getting my grades back up to par so that I can actually finish and get my degree," said Mai. "Things are going pretty well, otherwise."
"That's good to hear. I've also been told that you've hooked up with a certain someone from the kendo club. Am I correct?"
Mai raised an eyebrow at Shizuru's last statement. She had never told her about the true nature of her relationship with Yuuichi. As far as she knew, he hadn't said anything to Mai about it, either. To everyone else she knew, it was assumed that they were going out, but avoiding each other intentionally in a failed attempt at allaying suspicion.
"You, uh, could say that," she said, scratching her head.
"Hmm...so Tate-kun finally asked you out? That's quite sweet of him."
"No! I didn't...well, I mean he never talked to me about that sort of thing."
Shizuru was confused. She thought for certain that she had it right. A lot of the gossip she heard came from Haruka and Natsuki, and they rarely ever steered her wrong. "Huh? You mean the person in question isn't him?" she asked.
Mai shook her head. "I...kinda let it slip that I was going out with Mikoto."
"You and Mikoto-kun? That's...different."
"It's not like I..."
It was too late. Now that Mai herself had confirmed it to Shizuru, no amount of backtracking could put the proverbial cat back in the bag.
"Oh, who am I kidding?" she said. "I couldn't just let Mikoto go after all that's happened. She said she still needs me, and...well...I kinda like having her around. It'll be sad to say goodbye to her when I graduate. Maybe one day before we do, I'll take her with me to see L.A."
"I'm sure she'd like it very much," said Shizuru. "It'd be a great experience for the two of you. I could recommend a place for you to stay, if you'd like."
"Thanks...I appreciate it."
She didn't know how it happened, but Mai was able to get Shizuru smiling again. While she wondered when the time would come for her to feel the sort of love she was searching for, she at least felt good about being able to sit down and chat with Mai without having to worry about anything else. Mai welcomed the prospect of going it alone with Mikoto for a few days, as it would give the two of them time to bond and get to know each other better.