Here in the camp I look around I can't help but feel the sense of longing for the person I so long to see
A/N: It's been a very long time since I last wrote a fan fiction so I'm just giving you a heads up
Declaimer: I don't own Mai hime
Here in the camp I look around I can't help but feel the sense of longing for the person I so long to see. I started to walk towards my companions, I have known them for a long time now, and they have been my teachers, companion, partners, allies and friends. We have surpassed many problems to keep living, to keep searching.
"Natsuki!" A voiced called.
I turned around and saw one of my companions.
"Mai" I said.
She looked at me with that look of hers, that look that helps us keep going on. I really admired her positive attitude. It's something that I might have already lost.
"Come on, dinner will be serve soon. You don't want to lose all your food to Mikoto now"
Ah! Who would forget her? Our human food disposal, we can't help but wonder where all those food go but then again she might have the right idea. Food is sacred to us, we commit crimes in order for us to live. We, a group of outlaws that had been forgotten by the society that we used to live in.
"Alright" I said to her as I walk passed her and entered a small hut where we all eat.
Dinner passed without any problem, well if you don't count Mikoto "trying" to steal everyone's portion. Everyone went into their different ways after that and now here I am walking around again without any destination. I climbed up the tree that is in front of me and looked at our little town. It's walls made of wood and guards that would watch. I sat down the branch that I was currently standing on and stared at the red star. The same star when I had lost everything I have and everyone that I cared for. I reached for the pendant that is in my chest as memories of my past once again hunts me.
Flashback
A splash was heard.
"Mou! You cheat!" shouted a 8-year old green eyed girl as she glared accusingly to the one infront of her.
"I'm…" a giggle "…sorry." Was replied to her and offered her hand to pull her friend.
The green eyed child cross her arms and pouted as she looked sideways to hide her embarrassment. Loud steps was soon heard.
"Ojousama!" shouted one of the servants as she rushed to the fallen girl and inspected if there were any bruises on her.
"I'm fine!" the green eyed child shouted as she was continuously showered with attention. She looked over her friend who had a amused look on her face. "This is all your fault!"
"Ara?" said the accused girl as she tilts her heads side wards. "How is it my fault, Na-tsu-ki?" she added in her playful tone.
The girl named Natsuki stomped her feet and pointed at her friend. "You!You…you keep saying inappropriate things!" she shouted as she turned red from embarrassment and anger.
"Inappropriate things? Like what?" said the girl with innocence but the twinkling in her eyes says another story.
She started to walk and stopped once she is directly in front of Natsuki and lean closer and gave her a peck on the lips causing her to once again fall down the pond. Natsuki stared at her friend for a minute before she realized what has happened. Natsuki clenched her fist and shouted her friend's name.
Natsuki excitedly pulled her friend towards the garden. Once they reach their destination she looked around to see if there is any one else in there beside them, seeing none she turned to her friend and pulled out two pendants. Her friend examined the items Natsuki was holding and looked at her friend questioningly.
"They're pendants." Natsuki said.
Her answer didn't satisfy her friend as she asked "And why is Natsuki showing them to me?"
Natsuki blushed as she looked at the grass beneath her feet and began to whisper. Her friend stands closer to her to try to decipher what Natsuki is saying but to no success.
"Natsuki, I can't understand you like that."
Natsuki looked at her and turn redder as she once again looked away and began to whisper.
"Natsuki…."
"I said, my mother said this pendants are important and…and they should be given to someone that is important to you!" she pause and started to look everywhere and then adding in a whisper "I want you to have one of them so that you'll be with me forever."
Her friend stared at her wide eyed and glomped her.
"Natsuki, just proposed to me. Ureshi!" she squealed
"Whhhaaaa?" was all Natsuki managed to say.
Natsuki was waked up by the middle of the night when she heard shouting and clinging coming from outside their house. She quickly ran to her parents chambers and as she was about to knock, the door opened revealing her father dressed up in warriors clothing. He picked her up, hugged her and kissed her on the forehead and then he was gone. She watched he's vanishing figure not knowing this would be the last time she will see him ever again. She turned and went to her mother when she saw tears in her mothers eyes.
"Mom? What's wrong?" she asked her mother
Her mother smiled a tiny smile as she lifts her up and started running towards another end of their compound. Natsuki has no idea why they are running and why he mother is crying. Her mother never cries, her mother is strong, stronger than many men in their household.
Natsuki was surprised when she saw his father friend along with her friend. Like her, her friend was clinging to her father tightly. The two adults look at each other and as a silent agreement was made. Her friends father put her daughter down and kneeled in front of her, he hugged her for a while before handing her over to her mother.
"Take care of her Seiko." He told her
She nodded and said "With my life, take care of yourself too and please watch over my husband."
And with that he ran towards their burning mansion to look for his friend and fight alongside him.
They were cuddled together in a abandoned house. They can still hear screaming and sounds of metals clashing together.
A noisy creak was heard indicating that the door was opened; they can hear people coming closer and so her mother signaled them to be quiet. It didn't take long though, for them to be found. The men took delight as they saw them, saying that their master would be pleased once they brought their heads to him. One of them raised his sword and slashed down only to meet a pitchfork. Natsuki looked up and saw her mother with a determined glint in her eyes.
"Take Natsuki and get out of here." Seiko ordered her friend.
She was about to protest when she felt a soft hand gripping her wrist and dragged her outside. She was about to shout at her friend for stopping her when she saw her friends face with tears flowing down.
"Natsuki…please." She begged "Let's just go."
And so they run, they didn't get too far away when they heard Natsuki's mother screamed. Natsuki was about to go back when she was spotted by the same man that was in the abandoned house. Only this time only one of the three that was once in there was chasing after them. He didn't look well in Natsukis opinion in fact it's still a miracle that he can still chase them. He has a large wound on his chest and he was limping as he chase them.
They ran as fast and they could and they end up in the river. They looked around to see if there is any other way to get across. They heard the man call out for them saying that he won't hurt them and that he is their friend.
Natsuki gritted her teeth and looked at the direction of the mans voice. She felt a weak tug on her sleeves and she saw her friend holding her pendant. Her friend looked at her and asked her if she trust her. Natsuki only nodded afraid of what may happened to them. Her friend told her that they have no other choice but to jump in the river.
Natsuki looked at the fast flowing river and gulped. She had heard about how may lives it took, she turned to her friend and realized that she wasn't the only one afraid. A few moments later she felt a had held her own. Her friend looked at her, crimson eyes shining with determination and said.
"I'll never let you go Natsuki"
And with that she nodded and they both jumped in the river.
She woke up and saw the shining red star above her causing her to jump only to once again fall down.
"Rest little one." A voice said. And with that everything turned black.
End of flashback
I tightly clench the red pendant and once again stared at the bright red star as I softly whispered your name.
"Shizuru."