Wish it was longer and more elaborate! I love the ending though! Cheers!

This was good.

Aw! Yay for happy endings! Well, a heart felt kiss actually happening would be even happier, but alas, you remained true to the flow. And there I was, just about to go, "Tsk, tsk, shame on you - OOC!" You sure fooled me! P

This is really beautifully written. The contrast, the flow, the phrasing, it's like the words came out naturally. It's free of overabundant use of: ara, ikezu, stutters, Shizuru!, Na-tsu-ki, blunette, brunette (which is not at all correct in regards to Shizuru's hair - sorry, pet peeve, lol), and all other things that make Hime or Otome fics so annoying.

Lastly, I have to comment on your bringing back the kind of Shizuru I believed in: honorable. This is how I imagined - and still believe - Shizuru to be. I never doubted that she didn't take advantage of a recovering Natsuki on that fateful night simply because of the behavior you outlined here. She might be sly and pervy in her teasing, but she knows her boundaries (well, until she caved in and stole a kiss, lol). There ya go, well done!

-thumbs up- :)

good!

u so heart warming i luv it!

and I also luved the line "But she knows that nothing will happen next, because Shizuru's sin has to remain her own" ah so much angst filled potential in that one line it felt god... *ahem* xcuse the angst luver in me lol

thnx for the one shot!

So poetic and beautiful. It was marvelous and enchanting. I should hope to learn a few tips of storytelling from you ;) Arigato for this composition, was sublime.

Very touching in the end...

Aw :3

Nice. Thanks!

You have achieved your purpose of comparing Shizuru and Natsuki's experiences pre and post Carnival, and in such a poetic way too.

" Natsuki no longer steels her heart against the world, and Shizuru no longer compresses hers into a tight ball of secrets ready to explode when the wrong string is pulled. They know they love each other, even if it is an uneven love, still tottering and new in the spaces between them." These words pretty much sums their relationship up.

I can see how hard it is to accurately portray the persona of Shizuru. She's such a complicated character, and from what I've read, (and I've read a lot of works here), you're one of those who can truly give justice to her character. Nice job.

I forgot to add thanks to my laptop suddenly got out of hand while typing my first review, though just a minor rating problem but the story was light and sweet like candy. it is cute and I like it! I have not read any onsen scene story here so it is refreshing to read.

thanks for sharing this one!

Aw, I really needed this lovely and warm story. It was a pleasure to read and just what I needed to get cheered up. Nice work!

it's endearing

I love Natsuki, but when you have to stalk the

one you love and with the constant refusals, its

time to go.

I like the story.