Chosen
"The irony is delicious, pet," the sharp-toothed creature mocks, golden eyes gleaming brightly. "It took becoming a hero for you to fall apart."
Ignoring the stinging pain in her left abdomen, the young, athletic girl runs toward her enemy.
Awaiting the girl, the vampire slightly crouches down in preparation to catch her. Upon impact, and catching her, he turns the girl around and prepares to snap her neck, only to have the female push back. Wincing, he looks down at the branch seeping through his heart. "Fuck . . . " he mutters before turning into dust.
Dusting herself off, the girl groans before lifting up her shirt.
"I didn't know you gave free shows at night," a voice teases, causing the other girl to flinch, recognizing its owner.
Jumping down from a pillar, the dark-haired girl makes her way toward the taller girl. "You're hurt."
"Obviously," the tawny-haired girl utters, causing the emerald-eyed girl to crack a smile.
"Here," the raven-haired girl starts, grabbing the taller girl by the waist and pulling her closer. "I can help with that," she adds, looking down at the tawny-haired girl's toned abdomen.
Flinching, the red-eyed girl roots herself more firmly to the ground. "Natsuki," she starts, moving the other girl's hands away from and taking a step back. "Don't."
Clicking her tongue, the emerald-eyed girl raises her free hands. "Fine," she complies, placing her hands inside her jean's back pockets.
"You're mad," the taller girl notes, feeling guilty.
"I'm always mad."
Resisting the urge to fight the girl on the matter, knowing all too well that Natsuki was not always mad but was always stubborn, the taller girl looks down at her wound. The bleeding had stopped. She was healing.
"I didn't come back for you," the raven-haired girl states, causing the taller girl to flinch.
"What?"
"I didn't come back for you," the pale beauty repeats, distant emerald orbs staring blankly at the tall beauty.
Not knowing what to say, the tawny-haired girl lowers her shirt. "Good."
Scoffing, Natsuki clicks her tongue.
"It's good to see you either way, Natsuki," the beauty manages to say, forcing a smile.
"Don't lie."
"I'm not."
Scoffing, the cobalt-haired girl slowly rolls her eyes. "Whatever."
Stuck in uncomfortable and awkward silence, the red-eyed beauty tugs a strand of tawny behind her ear.
"As much as I dig this reunion," the dark-haired girl begins, sitting atop a tombstone, "I'm here for my annual Slayer Trial."
"Ah," the red-eyed girl utters, quickly biting her lip. "You feeling up for it?"
"Well, it's supposed to be harder than last years," Natsuki inputs, shrugging. "But that is not saying much, since I passed last year's examination with flying colors, all the while under the influence of you."
Turning bright red, the tawny-haired girl clears her throat.
Amused, Natsuki raises a brow. "What's up with you?"
Scoffing, the tawny-haired girl furrows her brows. "Um, what's up with you?" she retorts, causing the other girl to roll her eyes. "How can you be so casual about it?" the taller girl asks, frown deepening.
Last year was the worst year of her life. Following in her father's footsteps, the tawny-haired girl started to dive deeper into witchcraft. The stronger she grew, the easier it was for her to unlock doors that had once been sealed. Her newfound power, however, came with a price: she remembered everything. She remembered that she was once a slayer; she died; she was ripped out of heaven; she met the new slayer, Natsuki, and had fallen in love with her; she was also partly to blame for Natsuki's mother's death, which was not under natural causes, but was, instead, caused by her ex-lover, Tomoe; she died once more; she went to hell; and she was brought back under false pretenses. In short, the world did not want her and Natsuki together because horrible things tended to happen. That much was clear.
Grunting, Natsuki looks away from mesmerizing reds. "I'm not 'casual' about it, Shizuru," she answers, jaw clenched. "I am THE Slayer, which means I don't have the luxury to dawdle over every girl I share my bed with."
Breath caught in her throat, Shizuru is quick to control her breathing. It stung.
Aware that she had hurt the other girl's feelings, Natsuki looks away and clicks her tongue.
"I was once the slayer, too, you know."
"Yeah. I know," the raven-haired girl admits, standing up. "Right up until you passed the baton to me."
Scoffing, Shizuru runs a hand through her hair. "I didn't intend TO DIE , Natsuki! Nor did I intend to BURDEN YOU with becoming the next slayer!"
"I didn't say that."
"YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO!" the tawny-haired girl snaps, causing the emerald-eyed girl to flinch. "I know that a small part of you will ALWAYS blame me. Because if it wasn't for me, you would've NEVER become what you are!" Shizuru exclaims, heartbeat accelerating. "Even before we lost our memories, I sensed your resentment."
"So now you remember EVERYTHING!?" Natsuki rebuts, scoffing. "What a bunch of BULLSHIT! You told me that everything was in little fragments. Too obscure for you to make sense of details."
"THAT WAS A YEAR AGO!"
"So what now?" Natsuki starts again, a foot away from the taller girl. "You're suddenly Dumbledore? You're a master of witchcraft and sorcery?"
Scoffing, Shizuru flairs her nostrils. "What are you doing here, Natsuki?"
"I'm here for my trial."
"No. I mean, here as in here," the beauty clarifies, gesturing at the cemetery.
"Patrolling."
"Just patrolling?"
"What are you insinuating!?" the dark-haired girl challenges, scowling at the tall beauty.
Sighing, Shizuru takes a step back. She knew Natsuki well enough to know that she getting nowhere with her. "Maybe, it's best we stay out of each other's way. After all, you have a big test to prepare for."
Grinding her teeth, Natsuki looks away. When she doesn't sense the other girl, she searches for the beauty, only to find a gloomy yet serene cemetery sight.
One year ago . . .
Sitting across from each other, the girls playfully kick each other under the table as they study. The darker-haired girl was studying for her annual Slayer test, while the tawny-haired girl was brushing up on protective spells that she was planning to surprise her girlfriend with, despite the fact that Natsuki's best friend, Mai, had probably placed multiple and more powerful spells on Natsuki. Still, Shizuru's magic was improving rather quickly. Plus, she wanted to hep Natsuki fight the forces of evil.
"Cousin!" a redhead chimes in, eyes locked onto the grimoire that the beauty was holding. "What's up?" she asks, not taking her eyes off the old book.
Giggling after Natsuki playfully kicks her, Shizuru licks her lips. "I'm sorry," she starts again, giggling once more, when Natsuki makes faces at her redheaded cousin. "What did you say, Nao?"
"I said," Nao starts, glowering at the raven-haired girl who fights a snicker, "What are you up to?"
"Reading," Natsuki answers, causing Shizuru to burst out laughing. "I mean, she is holding a book and looking at it."
Biting her tongue, Nao ignores her cousin's girlfriend's remark. "So what are you reading?" Nao clarifies, slight worry on her face. "Doesn't look like a novel," she adds, knowing exactly that the unlabeled book belonged to Patricus.
"Oh. It's just some of papa's old spells," Shizuru answers, turning the page. "Why?"
"Nothing," Nao lies, recalling how dangerous it was for Shizuru to have any of Patricus' grimoires at hand. "I just thought he was buried with all his grimoires," Nao states, green-orbs still locked onto the leather-bound book.
"Apparently, not," the beauty answers, shrugging. "What's the big deal anyway?" she asks, noting a mixture of anxiety and worry in her cousin.
"Well, cousin, as you know," the redhead starts, pausing, "Your father did not exactly practice safe magic," she finishes, smiling nervously.
"I am aware of papa's run-ins with dark magic."
"I just-"
"-You worry too much, cousin," the beauty finishes, reaching out to grasp the redhead's hand. "I know what I'm doing. Trust me."
Forcing a smile, Nao scratches the back of her head.
Feeling guilty, Shizuru closes the book. "See. I can stop whenever I want."
"Yeah she can," Natsuki inputs, smirking. "Which sucks for me because she knows just how to get me going, only to stop and get her way."
Scrunching up her face, Nao shivers in discontentment.
Bursting out laughing, Shizuru grabs her cousin's hand once more. "I won't do anything you wouldn't do," she vows, as the redhead looks down at the floor. "I promise," she adds, kissing the redhead's cheek.
Standing up, the raven-haired girl yawns and stretches. "I could use a break. Shizuru?"
Breaking eye-contact with her cousin, Shizuru blushes when Natsuki gestures upstairs, which could only mean one thing. Biting her lip, Shizuru kisses her cousin's cheek before running off to her girlfriend, who easily catches her and carries her upstairs to her bedroom.
Present Day
After staking a couple of vampires, the raven-haired girl walks back to her hotel. Hands in her pocket, she freezes when she spots the ice-cream shop where she had taken the tawny-haired girl on their first date. She remembers lightly tapping her ice-cream cone on the girl's nose, right before the taller girl knocked the ice-cream cone right out of her hand. Somewhat impressed by the red-eyed beauty's tenacity, she tried to snag the girl's cone, only to have the other girl's quick reflexes prevent it from happening.
"You're not very good at this dating thing, you know," the tawny-haired girl states, smirking before licking her ice-cream cone.
"Yet you're having a good time," Natsuki notes, brow raised at the sight of the other girl teasing her in the way she was eating the frozen desert.
Not being able to hold her laughter, the red-eyed beauty nods. "I'm having a good time because I had never had a bad date. It's interesting."
"Which is good," Natsuki inputs, trying to snag the ice-cream once more. "At least, I presume it is," she adds, cracking a smile when the beauty prevents her from stealing her frozen delight once more.
"It's good because you infuriate me and annoy me, but, for some reason, I like that about you."
"And you say, I'm bad at dating . . . " the emerald-eyes girl mutters, somewhat hurt that she annoyed the beautiful tawny-haired girl.
"You do realize that you purposely aim to annoy me, right?" the red-eyed beauty asks, brow raised. "I can see your little Natsuki-gears working as you attempt to get a reaction out of me," she continues, scoffing. "You find it amusing."
"True. But-"
"-But nothing," Shizuru interrupts, quickly shoving her ice-cream cone on the slayer's mouth. Smirking, she fetches her ice-cream cone back and licks it, as the other girl scoffs and wipes her mouth clean, in amusement.
Brows furrowed, Natsuki walks past the ice-cream parlor. London was known was to be gloomy, but the last time she found herself in the busy European city, it was anything but gloomy. Little by little she had fallen in love with the not-so-bratty, tawny-haired girl who never failed to surprise her. In fact, Shizuru was also the only girl her friends ever approved of, only now, Natsuki knew why: they felt guilty for what they did to them.
Zipping her leather jacket, feeling London's cool, night breeze, Natsuki halts when she hears a woman scream. Quickly, she takes off, heading to where the screaming originated. Not long after, a male in a ski-mask rushes past her. Scoffing, she chases after him, full-speed ahead. Ramming the male down to the ground, Natsuki punches the flailing man, knocking him unconscious. Grabbing the purse from his limp grip, she tears off the handbag's strap and uses it to tie the man up. Shortly after, a blonde female comes into view.
Gasping, the woman looks down at the nonchalant raven-haired girl straddling her assailant. "Are you-are you okay?"
Meeting another pair of bright greens, Natsuki shrugs before handing out the handbag. "I'm guessing this belongs to you," she presumes, admiring the designer bag.
Slowly nodding, the blonde stares curiously at the dark-haired girl. "Thank you . . . "
"Yeah, um," Natsuki starts, gesturing the woman to take her purse.
"R-r-right," the blonde stutters, smiling nervously at the pale-skinned girl, as she grabs her handbag. "So-"
"-I suggest you call the cops," Natsuki interrupts, standing up and stretching, revealing her smooth yet rigid abdomen, gleaming under the starlight. "Nice bag, by the way," she notes, smiling at the woman. "It suits you," she adds, now grinning.
Blushing, the woman pulls out her phone and begins dialing the police. When she looks up, the mysterious heroine is gone.
Finding herself curled on the patio chair, Shizuru reaches for her glass of wine. Natsuki was back. At the very least, she would only risk contact with the dark-haired beauty for a couple of more days until Natsuki flew back home after her Slayer trial.
"Yo!" a voice calls out, garnering the red-eyed beauty's attention.
Leash at hand, Nao walks over to where her cousin was sitting. Petting their family dog, Kiyohime, Nao unclasps the leash's hold on the furry dog, who is quick to address the tawny-haired girl. "Someone missed you," Nao notes, smiling at the affectionate dog, wagging its tail for Shizuru.
"I always miss her," Shizuru discloses, breathing in Kiyohime's scent before kissing the large dog. "How was your walk?"
"I wouldn't know," Nao admits, sitting down across from the beauty, as Shizuru raises a brow.
"Meaning?"
"I didn't actually walk her," Nao reveals, smirk forming. "Lorne borrowed her to pick-up a demon he's been crushing on."
"Oh," Shizuru utters, smiling whilst sipping from her wine. "How'd that turn out?"
"It didn't," Nao answers, fighting a snicker. "Turns out his crush was about as interesting as a bag of cement," she jokes, laughing. "Poor Lorne had to lie and say that Kiyohime was due any day now, so he could go home."
Bursting out laughing, Shizuru sets her glass down.
"Anyway," Nao starts, searching crimson orbs. "What's up with you?"
Sighing, Shizuru tugs a strand of tawny hair behind her ear. "It's that time again," the beauty starts, clearing her throat. "The Slayer Trial."
"Oh," the redhead manages to utter, looking away from her cousin. "Have you seen her?" she asks, fidgeting with her hands.
"I have."
Frowning, Nao gulps.
"I'm okay, Nao," Shizuru comforts, feeling bad for her cousin.
"You-you don't . . . you don't have to t-t-talk to-to me about it," the redhead stutters, aware that anything Natsuki-related was a sensitive issue between the two.
"I'm not mad anymore," Shizuru states, sighing. "I don't think I was ever mad at you, really."
"B-b-but you left . . ."
"I was angry at my past, and how that past affected my future."
"You mean, your future with Natsuki."
Sighing, Shizuru reaches for her glass of wine again. "It's for the best," she admits, gulping her wine down. "Everything we have done has been for the best," she adds, standing up.
"Shizuru?"
"I'm going to bed," the beauty announces, smiling weakly at the redhead. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Nao parts, feeling guilt taking over her again.
Entering the hotel, Natsuki strips off her jacket as she nears her hotel room. Tensing, she freezes when a door swings open.
"How was," a familiar voice starts, causing the dark-haired girl grit her teeth. "How was, um, your first day back in, um, London?"
Turning around, Natsuki locks eyes with an afro-haired man who pulls out a handkerchief to clean his glasses. "Okay, I guess."
"Were you, um, out . . . patrolling?" the man asks, avoiding eye-contact.
"I ran into her," Natsuki answers, instead, causing her watcher to tense.
"Did you now?" Sakomizu remarks, cleaning his glasses once more before sloppily putting them back on. Smiling nervously, he gulps.
"I'm fine."
Now fidgeting with his handkerchief, the man stops and folds his handkerchief before shoving it back inside his pocket. "Um, Natsuki, I'm aware that I am the last person you would-"
"-6 o'clock tomorrow?" the emerald-eyed beauty interrupts, as the afro-haired man's face turns somber.
"Um, yes."
"Okay," Natsuki replies, crossing her arms across her chest. "Goodnight," she adds, turning back around and entering her hotel room.
"Goodnight," her watcher utters, sighing as the door closes. Pulling out the handkerchief once more, he cleans his glasses. Life was not fair. Duty called them: watcher and slayer protecting the world from the evil forces of darkness. At least with him, he was trained and conditioned at an early age; he always knew his role in this world, his destiny, as did all watchers. Natsuki, however, was not so lucky. It was pure chance. She led a normal teenage life, right up until she was called. She was chosen.