Disclaimer:
Not mine! This is a translation of a Chinese ShizNat fic from yamibo. For author details, please refer to the bottom of this page. Thanks.
Summary:
ShizNat Post MyHime with some surprises. I'm not telling... Muhahaha.
When Natsuki meets Shizuru
Chapter 1 - Sick
Authored by submerged
Translated by glowie
She felt weak and her whole body was sore. Her limbs were heavy and it seemed each and every one of her muscles groaned at the slightest movement she made. Her eyelids felt as though they're made of lead and it took all she could muster to pry them open.
Her vision was hazy and blurr and the once bright and clear emerald orbs were clouded with a dull glaze. Pain coursed through her body with each labored intake of much needed air. Her face felt burning hot yet her body shivered uncontrollably as if to fight off a freezing cold. Her throat was parched dry and they screamed for water.
She fought to push herself into a sitting position and it took her awhile in her clouded daze to notice the glass of water on a desk beside the bed. A now lukewarm towel slipped from her forehead and fell onto her lap.
"Shizuru?" she whimpered. No response. Her brow creased. "Shizuru??" she strained to put more volume into it this time but all that greeted her was silence.
Cough... cough...
Each burst that tore out of her were an agony as they painfully clawed at the walls of her throat like sandpaper and her lungs felt as though they're being ripped apart. Her ears hummed and the throbbing headache intensified.
Yes, you are correct; our Natsuki is running a high fever at the moment. As the last bit of strength left her, her body slumped back into the bed sending jolts of pain throughout her weakened body. She found it hard to believe that she could be brought down by what started as a minor cold. Sigh... she could only blame herself for ignoring it in the first place.
Lying on the bed nursing her wounded pride, she laughed bitterly. "If only I've known better, I would've listened to Shizuru and not stuff myself with all that ice-blended mayo. Argh! Running a fever in the middle of summer is no laughing matter!" she continued her strings of mumblings, drifting in an out of consciousness.
The need for water continued to nag at her, refusing her rest until its thirst is quenched. Once again, she forced herself to sit up and strained to reach for the glass of water. Her body welcomed whatever relief the water could offer as she down the water in one chug. Upon returning the glass to its place, she spotted a note.
Dear Natsuki,
We ran out of food. I'm going out to get some to make you a nice dinner. Do rest well and remember to take the medicine on the counter. Don't get out and move about and don't you dare to steal anymore mayo and be careful not to catch a cold. Ara, don't worry, I'll be back quickly. Try not to miss me too much ok? My dear Natsuki? I promise I'll make it up to you when I get back
Shizuru.
"Baka! Who will miss you in such a short time?? Steal mayo? What do you take me as? A dog? Who needs your making up??!" a very red faced Natsuki bellowed. Although she seemed to be fuming, her hands neatly folded the piece of note and held it with care.
Her headache seemed to have cleared somewhat, it's a wonder what a few words of loving care (even when they're somewhat teasing in nature) could do for you.
Unconsciously, she looked towards what was supposed to be Shizuru's room but which in reality is more of a common study room now. She smiled as she recalled the expression on Shizuru's face when she first moved in. She was so cautious, like a tightrope walker threading on a thin line. Sigh...
"Thank goodness, it wasn't too late." Her mouth slowly formed a smirk of relief. Nowadays, Shizuru would ceremoniously waltz into Natsuki's room, crawl unto her bed and snuggle up to her raven haired princess every night with the same old excuse, "I couldn't sleep without Natsuki beside me" she said... lame as it is, Natsuki seemed to be accommodating of Shizuru's advances and this eventually became a familiarity which the emerald orbed beauty was starting to enjoy; secretly of course.
Despite the lack of protest, apart from the occasional grope or two, the ever calm and composed Kaichou-sama daren't overstep the boundary, always mindful to keep herself in check, least she loses whatever relationship they had; constantly torn between the content of having the raven haired beauty near her and the fear of losing her if she goes overboard.
Although all these emotions were expertly hidden behind her mask of perfection, they weren't left unnoticed by our usually dense Natsuki; she has been working hard to understand her crimson eyed friend after all.
Totally uncharacteristic of her "ice princess" image, she strived to give whatever comfort and assurance she could to her "most important person" in her own gentle ways. It surprised even herself that she didn't find this a nuisance... in fact, she enjoys it whenever she is able to draw out facets of the crimson eyed beauty which she had kept from the public; Facets that were reserved for her and her only.
Just as she was slowly drifting back into some much needed slumber, a sudden crack followed by an angry rumble shook the sky; flashes of lighting illuminate the sky, painting it with their intricate steaks. Peering at the clock tells her that it was only 4 o'clock in the afternoon but the dark and heavy laden clouds had cast their dark shadow across the city denying it both warmth and light.
Despite her body's protest, she reached for the bedside lamp and switched it on. Her palm unconsciously gripped the note tighter. "I wonder if Shizuru has an umbrella..." Worry filled emerald orbs as they gazes out towards the darken sky.
Another thunder clapped and her heart leapt with it. A sense of dread quickly filled the room. "It looks like it's going to rain... what's keeping Shizuru? Didn't she said she'll come back quickly?" her tone that of annoyance but that's just because she was worried.
The thunder could have been striking directly at Natsuki's heart for anxiety and worry intensified within her with each hit. All sense of sleep had long escaped her and each display of lightning flashes only served to quicken her already irregular heartbeat.
Unable to calm the growing uneasiness trapped in her chest, a shiver ran up her body. Upon a sudden realization, she jumped off the bed. The sudden movement reignites her headache and they returned from their dulling throb with a vengeance; she felt as if her head was about to spilt open. Gritting her teeth, she brushed it aside she quickly changed her clothes.
Grabbing the umbrella beside the door, she rushed out of the apartment slamming the door shut without glancing back.
As if her actions will coax the elevator to descend faster, she mashed the button for ground floor repeatedly with the skills of a seasoned console player. Suddenly, everything went black. She felt her legs weaken and her mind started to blank out. She quickly pushes out her arms, desperately searching for anything to hold on to and manage to steady herself by leaning on the elevator walls before her feet gave way. Breathing in and out in strong steady puffs she finally manages to break free from the dizzy spell.
"Ding!"
Without even bother to check if the exit is clear, Natsuki rushes out just as the elevator door opened wide enough for her to squeeze through. With an umbrella in hand and a mission in mind, she ran into the raging storm.
"Argh, where is she?" The howling storm rained its fury mercilessly on the raven haired beauty. Huge pellets of rain battered her weaken body once the umbrella was out of the way, bended out of shape; outliving its usefulness in mere minutes in the face of the storm from hell.
Try as they might emerald orbs failed to provide the much needed guidance through the thick blanket of water which was liberated from their prison in the darken sky. The freezing raindrops which had been stinging her face did however manage to clear that foggy mind of hers enough to make an educated guess. "Yes! The grocery shop Shizuru usually goes to!" Without waiting for the words to finish, her feet with a mind of its own were already guiding her body towards the intended destination.
Eventually, the rain started to lighten and the clouds no longer as dark after their earlier release.
Natsuki released a sigh of relief once the shop in question is within her vision. Trying to her best to make her disheveled self look somewhat presentable, she wiped her face and combed through her raven locks with her fingers after she had dumped the distorted umbrella into the garbage bin.
Emerald orbs started scanning the crowd for the familiar figure but what caught their attention instead was a gradual gathering of people at the junction. Umbrellas of various colors were huddled together looking like a garden in full blown.
"What happened?" Her chest instinctively tightens as her mind tried in vain to calm its owner, assuring her that nothing bad has happened. Slowly she approaches the crowd.
"What a pity! Still so young..." she heard a middle aged man exclaimed as he sadly shook his head.
"I heard it's to save a kid who was running across the road..." someone else in the crowded started to explain.
"Is it too late? It seemed very serious... Where's the ambulance?" another commented.
She froze. 'No... No... It can't be... It can't be Shizuru!' her heart kept chanting...
'Of course it's not Shizuru! Shizuru is definitely safe and sound.'
As the rain continued their barrage... her heart started to flood.
Natsuki felt cold... her body starts to shiver and her face pale beyond words as her heart started to choked... drowning in despair. 'No! Please don't leave me! Don't leave me alone!'
"Baka!" She hit herself on the head. "Shizuru is alright! Stop imagining things!" she verbally assured herself.
"Just go in there and see for yourself!" As confident as her voice might sound, her feet didn't seemed to believe her for it was still rooted in its place... refusing, almost scared to partake in the actions to reveal the truth.
Yes, scared, our fearless ice princess. Her mind kept asking herself... 'What if it was Shizuru? What would I do? Can I live in a world without her?'
The cloudy sky finally relented and rays of sunlight managed to break through its thinned resolve. Warmth gradually returned and the previously grayish atmosphere seemed to take on a warmer... more hopeful glow.
Recollecting her wits, she gritted her teeth and raises her head.
"Natsuki Kuga! When have you become a weakling?" she hissed at herself, obviously displeased with her show of weakness.
Just as she has managed to gather enough courage and willed her feet to move, emerald orbs caught a glimpse of their object of affection. She had a hand covering the top of her head while another was carrying a shopping bag, running out of the grocery shop.
Avoiding the crowd, she didn't even bother to spare a glance at the commotion, obviously uninterested in her surrounding, bent only on her own agenda.
Oh! how she wish she had a pair of wings right now so she could return to her love right that instance!
With renewed strength and urgency, her feet pushes towards the running figure as her arms reaches out and clutch tightly unto her hand and tugged. Bewildered, Shizuru turned around.
Confused crimson took in a smiling Natsuki who was contented and relieved seeing her precious one standing in front of her safe and sound.
Caught within the mesmerizing gaze of the raven haired beauty, Shizuru lost herself in the endearing moment, filling her heart with warmth. The coldness seeping unto her skin where Natsuki held her however jolted her back into reality.
She quickly led Natsuki under the roadside canopy to take refuge. Natsuki shouldn't be in the rain! She didn't forget the fact that Natsuki is running a high fever.
"Why is Natsuki here? Why are you drenched?" All her cherished composure was thrown out of the window as concerned and worried crimson orbs took in a shivering and ghastly pale Natsuki. Her usually calm and soothing voice took on a higher pitch than usual. Traces of panic evident as her voice was almost trembling.
Her instinct to protect urges her to wrap Natsuki protectively but was surprised when Natsuki made the move before her. Once again our collected Kaichou-sama lost her wits when she found herself wrapped tightly within the embrace of her raven haired beauty.
"Well... I saw that it was raining and you're not back yet... so I've decided to deliver the umbrella to you." Her hoarse but calm voice was heard right next to Shizuru's ear as her hot and labored breath brushed along Shzuru's cheeks.
"Where's the umbrella?" With urgency, her hands reached to feel Natsuki's forehead. Her chest went into knots and her mind was thrown in disarray.
Hot... it was scalding hot... too hot...
"Oh! The umbrella broke." Natsuki weakly replied, the smile never leaving her face. Gone without a trace was her earlier uneasiness, she felt safe and content right now. Feeling her warmth, hearing that voice... her body felt lighter than earlier... much lighter...
"I thought you would have said 'Ara, have Natsuki misses me so much already that she can't wait for my return?'" weakly she continued. Of course if the situation were any other different, Shizuru would never have allowed such an opportunity to pass her by but with the current situation at hand, that was the last thing on her mind.
Shizuru could tell that Natsuki's condition had worsened. Willing herself to reclaim her calm, she ignored the long forgotten shopping bag; discarded on the ground, steadying her hold on Natsuki with one hand she quickly retrieved her handphone and quickly dialed for help. She needed to get help and she needed it quickly.
Natsuki could hazily feel Shizuru talking but the humming in her ears had blocked out most of the sound... Shizuru's voice seems to drift further and further away as she gradually drift out of consciousness.
As Natsuki's tightly wrapped arms slipped and fell limply to her side, her entire body weight fell onto Shizuru.
"Natsuki? Natsuki!" Her terrified voice resounded as she tried to steady the raven haired beauty but she couldn't. Both of them slipped and knelt onto the asphalt ground. Shizuru tighten her hold on Natsuki as tears streamed down her stricken face.
"Natsuki! Please don't scare me. I'm sorry; I should have gone back earlier. I shouldn't have kept you worried."
Alas, Natsuki had long lost the battle of consciousness, sinking deep within the folds of darkness... Try as she might, Shizuru's desperate cries could not reach her.
As the shrilling sound of the ambulance approaches from afar, the rain soundlessly ceased.
- to be continued -
Notes:
FINALLY! I'm sorry I took so long. I was pressuring myself to improve my translations and subconsiously I kept pushing them back. Having more pieces pending for translations only serve to worsen my mood. I had to force myself to finish this so I apologize if some of the descriptions doesn't make sense or don't fit well.
Of course... you guys DO know that the crap I just spat out above is just some GRAND excuse for my laziness ya? -grins-
As usual, please feel free to send me corrections and suggestions. I know I need lots. Thanks!
I really had to take my hats off to you guys who can write lengthy chapters easily... this one is only 2k+ and I felt like I had ran a marathon. -sweat drop-
btw... IF anyone is looking for a good anime or manga... CLAYMORE FOR THE WIN!
After Note #1: (LOL... my way of saying this added after I had published the chapter... suddenly I have an urge for chocolates...)
Thanks for the feedback... managed to go back and correct some mistakes (-blush-) and I have remove most of the BOLD words... sorry about them, I was hoping that they would help to bring out certain situations or mood but if they are distracting, I don't want them. Thanks again. -smile-
Remarks:
The author for this piece is "submerged" (literal translation). In my rush to get this out, I forgot to ask for her english nick. My bad, I'll fill that in as soon as I can. She doesn't have a blog so I'll just add the link for the article here. As usual, reconstructing links in ff net is not easy... so good luck?
However, I'll be putting this up on my LJ as well so you if you're interested, can use the links there.
http : // www . yamibo . com / thread-26453-1-1 . html