Sorry if it took a long time for me to update the story. The damn exams wouldn't let me think of a good story for this chapter. Yeah. Here it is, the second chapter. (Please excuse my mistakes; unbetaed, it is.) :)
If someone could help me with the corrections, please PM me! ^^
DISCLAIMER: Sunrise owns MAI Hime and ShizNat.
I tightened my ponytail and wore my dark blue 'ninja mask' after taking a deep breath.
This is it.
At least, in this disguise, the guards would barely notice me and my identity wouldn't be endangered. While I was here tensed and sweating, they're having the comfort of Chie's pick up, tracing my every move with my night vision binoculars. Great. Being watched in this kind of situation pisses me. Why couldn't they admit that they only lured me here because they're very eager to watch a live action/suspense/porn scene? I truly had a bunch of wonderful and kind friends, hadn't I? Using my birthday for their mischief was a brilliant strategy.
Glad that the few amount of alcohol kicked in and gave me 'ze guts', I hastily climbed up the tall, wooden fences. I didn't even care if I made a noise doing that. I just got to m-make l-love to that Fujino girl then escape immediately.
NO! What am I thinking? My mind is corrupted by those freaks!
I needed my dignity. I wouldn't lose it to someone I barely know. Maybe, I'd just get inside, hide there and wait 'til the dawn breaks. In that way, no one would be harmed, nobody would be put to shame, and Nao would be satisfied with the lie.
While reconsidering my thoughts, I looked up at the full moon. Like a wolf would.
'Hey Tsuki-san, would you mind helping me get out of this?' Bleh. How childish.
I trudged the bushy part of their spacious, green lawn, walked past the breathtaking chaniwa garden illuminated by the moonlight, then abruptly stopped when two male figures appeared near the koi pond. I could hear them conversing in rough Kyoto-ben, probably talking about their graveyard shift shit.
"I think we should take a nap and let Kiyo-chan handle if there's any intruder," a stocky man in early 30's suggested to his partner and yawned.
"You're right. Nobody's got past through her in all these years according to ani. I wonder why," the taller and younger-looking one nonchalantly said, stretching his thin arms.
So they're gonna neglect their duties, huh? Good for me. Eto...who could that Kiyo-chan be? A hired killer/black belter jiu-jitsu master? Whoa.
"Besides," I continued to eavesdrop on their conversation. "Fujino-ojousama could handle any unexpected circumstance, I assure you."
Raising his thick brow, the taller man queried. "What made you think of that?"
Fat guy chuckled. Ass. Who would forsake his master for a nap?
"You'll see," he grinned.
When the two left, I slipped to the corridor near their previous location. Nao said that the room should be at the end of this.
Heightening my alertness, I glanced at my sides and back.
Oh, shit.
Two moonlit yellow orbs looked straight at me.
"Why, hello there, li'l doggy!" I quietly called the bewildered looking creature.
To my astonishment, the dog ran and pounced at me! I tried to dodge, but knowing that I might make a noise, I shut my eyes. Sayonara, bitter world! I'd end up dying with rabies in my system for sure. I grasped the thought of leaving at this age of 20 as I felt myself knocked down.
Warm gush of liquid trickled down my neck.
"Shh! Pfft~ You naughty dog! Stop it!" I found the Akita dog lapping my masked face and chin. I suppressed my laughter with all my might; a while ago, I had just conjured my last will for this!
Something shone from the chocolate-furred dog's collar. On the dog tag, the name "Kiyo" was engraved in Hiragana.
"So you're the one they're talking about, ne, Kiyo-chan?" I cooed as she whined. Oh. I almost forgot my mission!
I patted the dog's head lightly and motioned her away like I always did with Duran. She obeyed my magic trick and disappeared in a few instant.
Whew! I didn't imagine that Kiyo-chan's a dog. Thank heavens, I was good in handling those kind of creatures.
Going back to my night crawling, I was almost two meters away from the target area. I could see orange lanterns lighting the dim façade of the shoji doors. Intricate patterns and details on the entrance and walls proved the status of the woman lying behind this barrier. I wonder why they shaped like serpents with bodies intertwined.
Taking a deep breath, my cold hands gently moved the shoji apart. My eyes roamed swiftly around the candlelit area; Japanese ornaments and pieces of antique furniture adorned the room. There lay my maiden, curled up on the futon, waiting for my arrival, I inwardly laughed at my imagination.
After observing, I slid my leg to the small opening I had made. Here went the tiptoeing again.
All of a sudden, the cold metal of a kaiken touch my bare neck. My breath hitched and my heart started to pump harder. I looked at the shadow in front of me and I swear, I could see the dagger glitter under the moon! Dammit! I would die now for sure!
Panic surged and paralyzed my body. A soft, ghostly whisper then lingered on my ear.
"Ara, an unexpected visitor, isn't he, stranger-san?"
"Oh, calm down. You needn't worry about them. Worry about the girl."
"Fujino-sama could handle any unexpected circumstance, I assure you."
So this was what the devil and the guard were trying to say. If I only knew that Fujino-onna was a good dagger wielder! Baka. What should I expect from the heiress of an influential family? I should've known that she's mastered deadly self-defense 'stead of thinking that what she only knew were tea ceremonies and ikebana.
Beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead and bile rose from my stomach. I clenched my fists and bit my lip as the blade moved a little just beside my jugular vein; I shut my eyes, accepting my unfortunate fate.
'Sayonara, mayonnaise, sayonara Xbox...and so to you, my Duran, Ducati and lingerie colle—'
"What might Stranger-san want from me?" the lady queried with great confidence, shattering my farewell moment. Why prolong my agony? Just kill me already!
"He shall not be afraid. I'm going to let him go if you answer me honestly."
"R-really?" I nervously replied. God, I'd die of heart attack in here!
"Yes, I promise."
The cool blade left my neck immediately. Now what? Should I say that I was gonna crawl into her futon and...and—
"Answer now, or I'm calling the guards to send him to the police station," she threatened.
"I'm sorry! I gotta—"
*thump*
I couldn't give a good reason! All my mind thought was running away so...there we were on the floor now. She pushed me hard when I attempted to escape that I nearly knocked my head off bad. My chest felt so heavy like...wait...her hands were...SHIT.
Her eyes scrutinized what she had touched, earning blushes from both of us.
"Kannin na," faint hues of crimson were evident from the heiress' ebony face. Her ruby eyes met my emerald ones.
She retracted her hands and stood up, getting herself out of our awkward position.
"I didn't know that Stranger-san's a she."
As much as I tried, my body still wouldn't move. I was still stunned by what had happened. My cheeks felt hot and my feet were wobbly. Damn this woman in front of me!
She switched the lights on and gracefully made her way to me. Oh, God. Chie's right! She's fucking gorgeous!
After helping me get on my butt, she kneeled before me; her slender fingers making their way to my masked face. I wasn't afraid now, 'coz I knew that if there's anybody who should see me in this state, it should only be her.
She gently removed the cloth and looked at me with...was that delight on her ruby eyes?
"Ara, Stranger-san is such a pretty girl," she giggled.
"I'm not a girl. I'm a woman," I grunted. Duh! I just turned 20 today!
Thin brown brows arched in my remark.
Her lips tugged upwards then, giving me a couple of blushing episodes. (Sounds like having a seizure, eh?)
"So what brought Stranger-san here?" She drew nearer that I could feel her warm breath against my face. Whoa... Too much for detailed descriptions!
"I, ugh, uhm."
"Let us skip that question," tilting her head to the side, she said. "What is her name?"
"Ku-Kuga. Kuga N-Natsuki."
"Does Na-tsu-ki want a cup of tea?" I loved how her lips move with every syllable of my name. O-oi. I just meant that her voice is...beautiful.
"H-hai, douzo," I mentally slapped my forehead. We're not supposed to drink tea at this time! Besides, what's with the hospitality and kindness?
Before I could take my words back, she immediately left.
What to do, what to do, what to do? What should I say if she asked my agenda again? Should I make my intentions known soon? Or should I say that it's my birthday and my idiot friends made me do it?
Fujino went back carrying a tray containing two cups of steaming hot tea. She gave me a cup and the green liquid burned my tongue.
"Ow," I flinched. Where could I buy patience and throw recklessness, anyone?
"Natsuki should not be in a hurry," the woman clad in purple kimono coaxed as she put her cup down. Oh. She's calling me in my first name.
"Gomen, F-Fujino."
"Shizuru. Call me Shizuru."
Jackpot! I didn't even have to ask for it!
"Mind if I ask Natsuki her purpose for visiting our humble abode?"
Humble abode, you say?
"O-oh. I—"
"Don't tell me that she's a shitagidorobo." WHAT THE HELL?
"NO! I AIN'T A PANTY THIEF!" I could feel the blood rush to my face again. (M-maybe it's a good idea...if she had a collection better than mine... WHAT WAS I SAYING?)
"I'm just kidding. No need to be grumpy," she brushed the topic aside, trying to suppress her giggle. "Am I going to repeat the question again?"
This is it! Let's see...
"Eto...I'm h-here t-to..." Oh no. She might think I was having a speech problem. How should I put it into words?
"Er, I-I'm...a nightcrawler."
Shizuru seemed shocked. Blood rushed to my face for the nth time.
"Ara," she finally spoke. "Does Natsuki mean that she wants to sleep with me?"
With that being said, the crimson eyed woman pounced on me. She smiled like she's going to get a taste of her favorite ice cream after a very long time.
Oh, great.
A/N: For those who are wondering, I derived the name 'Kiyo' (the dog) from Shizuru's child Kiyohime. :)
Kindly review the story, guys! ^^
