Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime or the movies
Natsuki and her guard dismounted from their steeds. Wearing her usual red coat and white breeches with her sword hanging on hip, Natsuki noticed a figure exiting the front doors of the castle before her. Nao stayed behind to watch the horses knowing who was unknowingly walking toward them. Realizing who the person was, Natsuki felt her once dead heart become alive once more. From sweaty hands to erratic behaviour, Natsuki felt the heat of the normal blush rise to her cheeks whenever she saw or thought of this person. Soon fear erupted within her, she feared she may have lost this person because of her reaction to the truth. An action she wished she could rewind and redo all over again. Not only to correct her mistake but to keep that look of utter heartbreak and pain from touching the person before her.
Shizuru couldn't keep the grin off her face when she remmebered the look upon Tomoe's face as she had left her tied and wounded. The feel of her wrists being unbound by the heavy chains were a relief. Taking one back look, she felt like she could laugh. Turning back, Shizuru's thoughts flowed on what to do now. She had every intention of returning back and reclaiming her home. There was no way, she was going allow her home to go to ruin; the home that her father and mother created long ago. Looking ahead, she felt her smile instantly leave her face and her heart ripped apart once more. Memories of that night skimmed through her mind.
In front of her stood the holder of her heart, Shizuru had never felt more unworthy of standing in front of this woman. Biting her lower lip, she ran her hand over her messed, grimy hair while her other hand tried in vain to smooth out the wrinkles of her blue, faded frock. Her white blouse underneath was frayed and stained from long days work. Her hands were filthy and rough from cutting firewood and cleaning, she lowered her eyes as Natsuki started to jog toward her.
"Hello." Natsuki's voice felt like blades cutting deeper into her heart; Shizuru forced a smile.
"Hello.' She responded in kind. Then the question that has been bothering her broke free from her lips, "What are you doing here?" Her voice was weak and she hated it. She didn't want to appear weak in front of Natsuki. Natsuki stood in front of her with the same look she held before this entire mess happened with apprehension.
"I umm...came to rescue you." Natsuki gave a half smile with a hint of a laugh hoping to lighten up the tension.
"Rescue me? A commoner?" Shizuru walked past her with sarcasm in her voice.
Natsuki felt her heart constrict seeing Shizuru walking away, "Acutally, I came to beg for your forgiveness!" Her voice pleaded, Shizuru continued walking. Natsuki found her legs moving to follow, "I offered you the world and at the first test of honor I betrayed your trust." Shizuru continued to walk not talking or looking at her. Natsuki never felt so scared in her entire life, 'I'm going to loose her! No, I can't! I don't care what or where you go, I'll go with you.' The feeling of icy fingers tingly over her body at the realization that Shizuru may never forgive her nearly took the air out of her lungs. Shizuru stopped at the broken wall, "Please, Shizuru!" Natsuki's voice broke.
Turning around, Shizuru looked at Natsuki with surprise. Her heart stopped at the name upon her beloved's lips. Never did she imagine that hearing her name spoken by Natsuki could sound so wonderful. Shizuru begun to think she had imagined such a pleasure. She had to know for a fact if what she heard was real, "What did you say?"
'She spoke.' Natsuki sighed in relief, 'Of course she spoke, Shizuru wants to hear my apology. She has every right to hear it more times than once. If this will mean I can have you, I'll say it as many times as you want.' Closing her eyes, Natsuki prepared herself, "I'm sorry." She opened her eyes hoping to reveal everything she felt. Disappointment flittered past Shizuru's eyes caused confusion and panic to rise within Natsuki. 'Did I do it wrong? Was she wanting something more? What?' Her mind was in disarray as she tried to figure out what this woman wanted to hear.
Shizuru's voice interrupted the torment of Nastuki's mind, "No, the part where you said my name."
Natsuki's eyes widen in shock, 'Was that what she wanted to hear? Could it mean?' Hope filled her as Natsuki licked her chapped lips, "Shizuru." Watching Shizuru closed her eyes and her face was completely unguarded, an expression Natsuki missed seeing. The smile of pure bliss and happiness set upon the woman Natsuki loves. Taking a moment to savor that look, Natsuki took a few more steps in front of Shizuru, "Perhaps you would be so kind as to' Natsuki reached behind her and lifted a glass slipper from her belt, "help me find the owner of this...' Natsuki looked at it then back to Shizuru, "rather remarkable shoe."
Shock littered Shizuru's face as her mouth hung open, "Where did you find that?" 'I was so sure I had lost it.'
"She is my match in every way,' Natsuki stood just inches away from the woman, "please tell me I haven't lost her." Natsuki poured her entire heart out to Shizuru; she didn't care anymore all she wanted was this woman before her.
"It belongs to a peasant, Your Highness, who only pretended to be a courtier to save a man's life." Shizuru cried. Unable to support her weight from all this, she sat down on the broken flat stones with her head down.
"I know.' Natsuki's voice softened. Seeing Shizuru look back up brought some courage to her, "And the name's Natsuki, if you don't mind."
Watching as a single tear slid down her cheek, Natsuki knew this was real. Shizuru bent her head once more as tears fell. Natsuki looked down at the slipper in her hands. She knelt on one knee to humble herself before Shizuru. Reaching for Shizuru's left leg, Natsuki continued, "I kneel before you not as a Prince, but as a woman in love." Seeing Shizuru's eyes darted to hers and the emotion behind those red eyes lifted Natsuki's spirits.
Lifting Shizuru's leg up, Natsuki allowed her hand to slide down until it cupped Shizuru's ankle. She took off the muddy shoe, "I would feel like a King' Natsuki looked straight into Shizuru's eyes as she continued, "if you Shizuru Viola would become my wife." Finishing off her proposal, Natsuki tenderly slipped the the glass slipper on.
Shizuru felt her heart about to collaspe on everything going on. Her mind couldn't keep up with the fast events. Her heart was bursting at the seems as she weakly laughed while crying. She held her face in her hands as she cried tears of utter joy. She never thought that dreams could come true. Her body shook as she let out the emotions she felt right then and there. Natsuki watched helplessly for Shizuru's answer. The moment felt like hours to Natsuki as she waited for Shizuru to stop crying. Before she knew it, Shizuru's arms opened wide and she jumped into Natsuki's surprised arms. Overjoyed, Natsuki begun to spin her around and kissing every part of her face while Shizuru laughed out loud for the first time in her life. Finally, their lips met and they kissed each other fiercely.
AN: I thought this might be fun. Also, I thought it would be nice to see if the readers can figure out the movies that are in these chapters. I'll reveal the movies in the next chapter. Enjoy!