Between Pen and Paper

Drabble Six

"I knew something was wrong, I could just feel it," Nao muttered, shoving her balled fists into the pockets of her short jacket. She idly kicked at the ground with one foot, her gaze following it.

"Why would you think that? Since when are you attuned to us?" Came Natsuki's reply.

Nao peered at her and gritted her teeth in an attempt to hold back a laugh. "Why the hell would I care about you? I mean something big is about to happen," she explained, stilling her foot and looking levelly at the other woman. She watched with slight amusement as realisation dawned upon Natsuki's features. "Besides, since when would Fujino disappear without taking you with her, huh?"

A smirk pulled at one corner of Nao's mouth as the dark-haired woman opposite her looked away at her words. Some things didn't change. She withdrew her hands from her pockets and stepped closer to Natsuki. "So, what do you think?"

The question took Nao by surprise. Since when did the strong-willed Natsuki ask anyone for their opinion, especially Nao? Perhaps things did change, after all. At Natsuki's expectant look, she turned her attention to the school building that they'd previously walked away from. Even at this greater distance, it loomed over them, as if it was watching. "Whatever is wrong, I'd say this place has something to do with it," she said quietly, as though the building would hear her words.

She heard a soft grunt from the other woman and she looked back at her to see Natsuki walking back towards the school, the thought of leaving on her bike long forgotten. She stared after her for a few moments before jogging after her. When she'd caught up to her and had set into an even pace beside her, Nao found herself peering at the other woman out of the corner of her eye. Now she was closer, it was easier to see how Natsuki had aged over the years and, she had to admit, they had treated her well. Far better than herself, she suspected. 

She quickly dropped her gaze when she found emerald eyes upon her. "What?" came the curt tone the other woman had been known for.

Nao shook her head slightly. "Nothing, it's not important," she muttered, glad when they reached the main gate that led into the academy grounds. Her eyes follows the tall metal contours of it, noting the rust that had started to collect at the edges. Someone hadn't been taking good care of things over the years. That thought worried her. "Well, might as well take a look inside, eh?" she gestured from Natsuki to the gate. "Heroes first."

END OF DRABBLE