Blood Letting
Part Two
Disclaimer: Usual nonsense - I don't own the borrowed characters contained within this work of fiction, etc., etc.
Notes; I just wanted to say thank you to the community for welcoming be back so wonderfully. I've missed you guys. :)
The heavy, sweat-laden air clung to Natsuki's nostrils and she had to fight against her own gag reflex. She hated places like this but following the trail of Shizuru had brought her here. It hadn't been far from the apartment building they'd taken refuge in but she hadn't heard the dull thumping coming from within until she was outside the entrance to it.
Pandora's Box. That had been the name above the door. Natsuki had rolled her eyes at the lack of creativity but she didn't expect much from night clubs. This one seemed just like any other; full of half-naked, writhing bodies, too much alcohol and not enough self-control. Now she was amongst them, fending off the occasional proposition and ignoring the ridiculous things Humans did to reel in a mate.
She hadn't found any sign of Shizuru yet, however, and she had started to wonder if her nose had been wrong. She peered through the throng of bodies and noticed a flash of black leather at the far end of the bar. Her pulse quickened as she recognised the coat's owner. She slowly made her way through the crowd, her gaze focused on Shizuru.
Something was off, though. Natsuki could sense it. Shizuru seemed intent on something, her eyes not budging from where they looked. Natsuki followed the gaze and found a young woman standing there. She was clad in a light blue cocktail dress, her dark hair falling down around her shoulders. She was currently walking away from a thoroughly perplexed man who attempted to stop her from leaving only to be pushed away.
What's going on? She watched as the woman moved straight towards Shizuru, whose gaze still hadn't shifted. Natsuki felt a pang in her chest as she watched the events unfold before her. Her eyes narrowed as she watched an alluring smile pull at Shizuru's lips and she reached out for the approaching woman. The elder took one of the woman's hands into her own and pulled her closer.
Natsuki's breath caught in her throat. What the hell..? She watched in growing discomfort as the woman in the blue dress pressed herself up against Shizuru and the vampire's arms wrapped around the slim body without hesitation. Her chest tightened and the back of her eyes burned as the anger rose up inside of her. She took a step forward, intent on giving Shizuru a piece of her mind.
Just as she moved, however, Shizuru pulled away from the other woman and pulled her away from the bar. The woman in blue allowed herself to be tugged along without any reluctance whatsoever. Natsuki followed them as quickly as she could, having to side step several dancers and drunken clubbers. She soon found herself standing in front of a fire exit.
Noticing the door was ajar; she pushed on it and slipped out into the alleyway beyond. The door closed with a dull thud but she barely registered it. She stared down the gloomy alley, her eyes fixed on the scene before her. She could feel her mouth grow dry as she watched Shizuru and the woman she had left with in a tight embrace.
Shizuru had the other woman pressed against the brickwork of the club, her body pressed against hers. Natsuki clenched her fists as she noted the woman's hands entangled in soft, chestnut locks. Why is she doing this? Why would she say those things and come here and do... this?
As she took in the image of Shizuru nuzzling the woman's neck, something dawned upon her. Her eyes widened and she stumbled down the alley towards the pair. Puddles of water made her approach obvious and she halted several meters away from the pair, watching in shock as Shizuru lifted her head. Blood trickled down her chin from her lip, the colour matched only by her eyes, which now mirrored what Natsuki was feeling.
"Shizuru..." was all she could muster, her throat tightening as she spoke.
A pained expression briefly flickered across the vampire's face before she lowered the woman in her arms to the damp ground, leaning her against the wall. The woman's head lolled forwards and Natsuki could smell the sharp metallic scent of blood in the air. Wiping the blood from her chin with one finger and popping it into her mouth, Shizuru took a step towards Natsuki.
Her stomach lurched. "What... what are you doing?"
"It was a simple request. I asked that you not follow me. Why couldn't you just do that?" Shizuru's voice was level and Natsuki wondered how she could keep her cool so easily.
Natsuki snarled. "You're a vampire; I can't trust you just like that. With good reason too, apparently!" She motioned to the woman slumped against the wall.
Shizuru didn't even look at her recent prey. "Natsuki... I must feed."
Natsuki felt the anger fall from her slightly as she realised that Shizuru was only doing what came naturally to her. There was still that empty feeling in the pit of her stomach though; that made her feel uneasy. "Why like this? Why... her?" she muttered as she continued to stare at the woman in the blue dress.
Shizuru moved closer again but Natsuki didn't pull away. She sensed the vampire reach a hand out for her. "Is Natsuki... jealous?"
Natsuki slapped Shizuru's hand away angrily and glared at her. "No! I'm disgusted!"
Shizuru held her hand in front of her for a moment, staring down at it. "I didn't drain her completely. She will survive."
Natsuki looked back at the woman on the ground in surprise. If she concentrated enough she could just make out the slight rise and fall of her chest, albeit minutely. Why hadn't she sensed it earlier? Damn you, Shizuru. Why did things like this always happen around the Kyoto elder?
"But I don't think that is what truly upset Natsuki tonight," Shizuru's voice broke through her internal questioning. The vampire was close again but she didn't reach out for Natsuki this time. "I can practically taste it on you."
Natsuki shuddered and pressed herself up against the brick wall in an attempt to gain more distance between them but also to steady herself. "W-what?"
Shizuru leaned in, her gaze dropping to skim over Natsuki before coming back up to meet emerald eyes. "What you felt when you saw us together."
Natsuki shook her head with uncertainty. "As I said, that was disgust."
Shizuru quirked an eyebrow and placed a hand to the right of Natsuki's head. "Really..?" She reached out with her free hand and brushed her fingertips against the fabric of Natsuki's vest at her stomach. "Disgust comes from here."
Natsuki shivered slightly and swallowed down the lump in her throat. "So?"
The vampire trailed her fingertips upwards, disturbing the cotton only slightly as she went before coming to rest her palm against Natsuki's sternum. "This is where your feelings stem from. Natsuki's heart is pounding."
She felt as though she couldn't breathe, as if Shizuru's hand was a ton weight on her chest. Her mouth felt suddenly dry and she licked her lips in an attempt to moisten them. "You're wrong."
Shizuru cocked her head to one side slightly. "Am I?" she asked, her voice dropping to a low purr.
Natsuki clenched her jaw, attempting to gain some semblance of control over her body once more. "Yes, dammit," she hissed through her teeth.
Darkened crimson eyes dropped again, a yearning in them Natsuki had never seen before. It caused a heat to prickle at her skin and the muscles in her stomach to tighten. Long lashes fell down over those eyes and, when Shizuru opened her eyes again, Natsuki saw no hint of any emotion. Shizuru pushed herself off of the wall and turned before walking slowly down the alley.
"You're just walking away?" The question was out of Natsuki's mouth before she could stop it.
Shizuru paused but didn't look back. "That is what Natsuki wishes, is it not?"
Was it? Of course it is! But the aching in her chest wasn't entirely convincing her. She decided to ignore it again. She was good at that by now. She leaned her head back against the brickwork and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to clear her mind. Shizuru's scent still lingered in the air around her but so did her victim's blood.
"I shall return to the apartment. If you cannot stand to ally yourself with me any further then you need not sleep there tonight," Shizuru stated. "I do hope you are there when I wake, though." With that said, Shizuru left the alley and disappeared onto the street.
Natsuki stared up at the sky, watching as the clouds drifted by lazily, obscuring her view of the fading sun. She stood there motionless, merely enjoying the sensation of the wind brushing against her and the daylight on her face. This was her haven. She could find the time to think things through without the presence of Shizuru during these hours. She didn't have to worry about vampires leaping out at her. It allowed her the luxury of relaxing.
She'd spent most of the day just going over everything in her head. It was a confusing mess of questions and half-answers but she felt better for having the time alone, nonetheless. It was getting late though and she'd have to make a decision about returning to the apartment or not soon. That was something she hadn't been able to figure out yet.
She didn't trust Shizuru. Even after the vampire had saved her life several times she still couldn't bring herself to relinquish that part of herself. I can't even trust my own pack, how the hell am I meant to trust a vampire? She did, however, respect the elder. She had lived for a long time, possibly centuries, and survived. That wasn't easy. Plus, she was able to get the better of Natsuki quite easily so she was clearly skilled and strong. There was no denying that.
If she had a chance of escaping the Fuuka cadre, her best chance was with Shizuru. If everything she said was true. She couldn't rule out the possibility that this was all some elaborate manipulation. Vampires did love to play with peoples' minds. But, as much as she disliked their kin, she couldn't bring herself to hate Shizuru. There's just something about her...
She just couldn't figure out what the allure was, and that frustrated her. For that reason alone, she should probably walk away. Being inexplicably drawn to a person, particularly an enemy, was never a good sign. It likely wouldn't end well either.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Natsuki glanced down the street in the direction of the apartment building where Shizuru was likely sleeping. What should I do? It was then that she noticed movement outside the front of the building. She narrowed her eyes and tried to get a better look at whoever was there. She could just make out the form of several men dressed in dark suits.
Her eyes widened. Oh no... Before she could even think about what to do, she had launched herself into a run towards the apartment. Shizuru... She sped down the street but the men had already disappeared into the building. I won't get there in time! Panic tightened the muscles in her chest and questions burned in her mind. How did Searrs find us? Why are they targetting us? Is there anyone who isn´t out for our blood?
She threw open the entrance door to the apartment, not caring if the Searrs men heard her or not. If they were distracted by her then perhaps they wouldn't reach Shizuru before she could. She looked towards the stairs but there was no sign of the men but could pick up their scents. She could make out the distinct odour of shoe polish and gunpowder.
Due to the darkness, she decided a quieter approach would be more advantageous for her so she tried to remain as silent as possible as she took the steps two at a time. Her agility allowed her to do this successfully and she was satisfied that the intruders wouldn't know she was behind them. Unless they'd heard her enter the building, of course. She paused by the doorway to the floor that housed Shizuru's temporary sleeping place.
Pressing herself against the wall, Natsuki peeked around the door frame, her heightened vision quickly making out the form of two men in the hall. There had been more though, so where were they? She didn't have time to think about that though, time was of the essence. She moved quickly, slipping into the hallway and surging towards the two men, keeping as low to the ground as she could. The last thing she wanted at that moment was for them to see her silhouette. Even so, crawling around wasn't an option, she needed speed.
She closed the distance between them quickly and without the men taking notice. When she was only a few meters away, she launched herself into the air, piling knees-first into her target's lower back. He cried out in surprise and pain as he tumbled across the dusty flooring. She rolled into a crouching position and used the momentum to propel herself at the second man, who was now pulling a pistol from his jacket. They both fell to the ground, Natsuki on top of her prey.
She lifted herself and quickly brought a fist down on the man's cheek, snapping his head around to meet the floor. He instantly lost consciousness. She didn't have time to check on the other Searrs agent's condition so she just pushed herself up into a run and headed for the apartment. When she reached the door, she found it open and her pulse quickened further in panic. If they were already inside, then what had happened to Shizuru? Would they really be able to sneak up on her? She knew the vampire was meant to be sleeping but, she realised, she had no idea how vampires slept. Suddenly images from old black and white movies entered her head, of coffins and deep slumber. That can't be right.
Hurrying down the hallway, she nearly piled into the door that led into the living room. It was closed. Before she could enter, she felt a presence behind her. She instinctively ducked and something thudded off of the wood in front of her. She spun around and lashed out reactively with one leg, sweeping the Searrs agent off of his feet. She brought her elbow down onto the man's stomach and he folded up in pain. Where did he come from? Her eyes went immediately to the bedroom. Was Shizuru sleeping there?
She hopped over the groaning man's body and burst into the room. It was empty. Where is she? Giving the room a once over before heading back out, she intentionally stepped on the Searrs agent's stomach and used him as a minor spring board. She heard the air forced from his body as she used her momentum to force the living room door open. It swung violently, slamming against the wall noisily. She landed in a crouch on the carpet, her eyes hurriedly scanning the room.
The Searrs agents had made it into the room already and there appeared to be three of them. She spotted Shizuru sat, all-too-calmly, on the couch, one leg crossed over her other. What the..? The intruders couldn't help but notice her entrance and two of them had pistols aimed at her in seconds. The final agent continued to point his own weapon at Shizuru. Crimson eyes found hers then, and Natsuki could see only a hint of amusement there.
"So nice of you to join us, Miss. Kuga," the man who had his weapon pointed at Shizuru spoke coolly.
He knows who I am? Her confusion was only growing and it didn't look like things were going to get explained any time soon. She gave Shizuru a questioning look but the vampire only offered her a slight shrug. She brought herself up to her full height slowly, being careful not to provoke the intruders. She had her pistols hidden under her jacket but she didn't think she'd be able to get any shots off without endangering either herself or Shizuru. Besides, if this man knew her name then it was likely he knew what weapons she was carrying.
"This makes my job so much easier, thank you for your cooperation," he said without turning to look at her.
"You mind explaining what exactly I'm being so helpful with?" she questioned.
The Searrs agent, who had short cut blonde hair, let out a small chuckle. "That wouldn't be terribly wise of me, would it?"
"Oh, I don't know. You appear to be the kind of man who loves to talk," Shizuru murmured with an even tone, a slight smile on her face.
"That's enough out of you!" he snapped. It was the first sign of his cool slipping that Natsuki had seen. Why was he so hostile towards Shizuru and not her?
Natsuki took the opportunity while he was distracted to quickly assess her situation. The two goons focused on her seemed skillful enough in the use of their firearms, although it was hard to say when she hadn't seen them in action. She hoped she wouldn't have to though. They did appear somewhat inexperienced though and she could pick up on the subtle nervous twitches coming from the agent on the left. The guy on the right didn't seem overly confident either. Blondie, however, looked like the kind of man who's be in charge. He was the one she had to worry about.
He glanced over his shoulder at Natsuki for only a moment before focusing on Shizuru once more. "We won't keep you waiting long, ladies, I assure you." He sounded in complete control of the situation once more.
Natsuki noticed the quick shift in Shizuru's gaze from Blondie to her and back again. Is she trying to tell me something? Was that some form of signal? She realised she'd not be able to figure that out since she hadn't fought with the vampire enough to know how she'd act in every situation. She'd need to play it by instinct alone, she figured.
At that moment, Blondie slipped his free hand into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a cellular phone. He flipped it open and keyed in a number before placing it against his ear. Natsuki continued to watch him, staying alert for the moment when he'd become too distracted to notice her initial attack. There was silence for a while before Natsuki could hear the low buzz of the connected call.
"Stage one is complete, sir." A pause. "Yes, sir. No problems at all." Another pause. "Both are subdued." Who is he talking to? "She is in front of me, sir." Blondie looked pointedly at Shizuru before lowering the phone and holding it out to her.
Shizuru quirked an eyebrow at him before taking the offered phone. She didn't greet who was on the other end but it seemed they had started talking anyway. Natsuki watched as a crease appeared between Shizuru's eyebrows and her jaw tightened. Who can get that kind of reaction out of her?
"We had a deal," Shizuru finally spoke, her tone icy. Deal? What deal? Natsuki was starting to get a bad feeling about all of this. She watched closely as Shizuru's top lip twitched ever so slightly. She was clearly not happy about something. "You may try if you wish," she said after another pause.
With that, Shizuru passed the phone back to Blondie, thoughts troubling those ruddy eyes. The Searrs agent snatched it from her hand and placed it back against his ear, the aim of his pistol not wavering. Natsuki hadn't seen an opening yet and she was getting worried time was running out for them. Their intent was fairly obvious, but why did they want to kill them?
"Yes, sir." With that, Blondie closed the phone and dropped it back into his pocket. "Seems your little chat didn't make him very happy," he said to Shizuru.
She gave him a withering look but that only proved to amuse him. "Before we continue, tell me, how did you find us?"
Continue? Blondie chuckled and wagged a finger at Shizuru. "Now, now, do you think me the type to give away valuable information in the face of your inevitable demise?"
The elder shrugged. "If your assessment of the situation is, indeed, correct then what harm would it do?"
Natsuki saw Blondie tighten his grip on his pistol. She could see the faint glow of the UV bullets, even through the handle of the weapon. "I'll be counting those chickens after they've hatched, vampire."
A smile tugged at one corner of Shizuru's mouth. "If you wish."
What's she planning? If she gets hit by even one of those bullets, she's dead. That thought reminded Natsuki of what Shizuru had done for her weeks previously. She'd taken bullets meant for her and saved her life in the process. From her position, however, there was no way Natsuki could do the same for Shizuru.
One of the other agents spoke up now. "You're pretty calm for someone who's about to die." Natsuki could hear the slight quiver in his voice. Was Shizuru's demeanour unnerving him?
"I'm not," Shizuru said, looking directly at him.
The eye contact caused him to draw his attention away from Natsuki and she knew that was the best chance she was going to get. She glanced to the other Searrs agent who was still eyeing her but he appeared distracted by the conversation. She chose to target him and dropped to one knee, quickly pulling out one of her pistols and firing off a round.
The suited man went down before he could even react and Blondie whirled around, a gleam of panic in his eyes. Shizuru took that opportunity to surge from the couch and knock him aside. Even from her position, she moved so quickly he didn't even know he was behind him until he was on the floor. Natsuki didn't have the time to worry about what Shizuru was doing, however, as the remaining agent was aiming his pistol right at her.
A shot rang out and she attempted to dodge it. She felt a sharp sting across the side of her neck and she winced, realising that had been a narrow escape. The force of the clip knocked her off-balance, though, and she stumbled to the side, a hand coming up to clutch at the wound. The Searrs agent fumbled with the weapon, surprised he had missed. Before Natsuki could raise her arm to retaliate, a blur of red swept across her vision and her attacker screamed out in pain.
Natsuki looked on in shock as she saw his weapon arm fall limply to the floor before quickly being followed by him. Shizuru stood just beside where he had, blade in hand, Natsuki had no idea where she'd gotten it from but she'd had no hesitance about slicing the Searrs agent's arm clean off. She wasn't sure whether she should be thankful or sickened. She knew elders could be ruthless and it was for Natsuki's sake, so she forced the thoughts from her mind. They were still in danger, after all.
"Going to die, that is," Shizuru whispered to the fallen agent and it took Natsuki a while to realise she was finishing the sentence she'd started earlier.
Shizuru peered over her shoulder and Natsuki followed her gaze to where Blondie was scrambling across the floor to reach his dropped weapon. Shizuru walked slowly towards him, her blade hovering above the ground. Natsuki wondered if she was merely toying with him or she wanted her to take care of it. Not wanting to take the risk, Natsuki slipped around Shizuru and brought her foot down on top of the firearm before Blondie could close his fingers around it.
"Ara, Natsuki is spoiling my fun," came Shizuru's playful voice.
Natsuki shot her a warning look. "This isn't play time."
Shizuru merely shrugged and looked back at Blondie, who was now looking extremely terrified and vulnerable without his weapon. His body was visibly shaking and he peered up at Natsuki, a silent plea in his eyes. She clenched her jaw. She may not have been as ruthless as Shizuru but he had attacked them and tried to kill them; he had chosen his fate.
The leather-clad figure of Shizuru loomed above the last Searrs agent and Natsuki couldn't help but feel a little pity for him. He deserved his fate, for sure, but his final moments must have been terrifying for him. "So, tell me, how did you find us?"
Blondie pushed himself up into a sitting position and backed up till he met the wall of the living room. Shizuru moved with him. "There's no way I'm telling you anything." His words were defiant but his voice gave away the fear he felt.
"That is a shame. After I asked nicely too." Shizuru tilted her head to one side as she spoke.
Narrowing his eyes, Blondie glared with resolve at her. "You should just kill me and get it over with, I won't say a word!"
A soft chuckle filled the room and Natsuki could see the perspiration beginning to collect on Blondie's skin. "Kill you? Now why would I do that? I want that information, after all."
Fear and concern flashed across Blondie's face. "Wh-what do you mean?"
Shizuru smiled pleasantly at him. "You can either tell me now, or I can turn you and have you become my thrall. Either way is fine, but I'd rather not insult my poor taste buds with your blood." Her tone was casual but the meaning behind them was enough to send a shiver down Natsuki's spine. She was just glad they weren't facing off against one another this time.
Blondie's face visibly paled. Natsuki could tell he was going over his options and perhaps trying to figure out if Shizuru was bluffing or not. Was it really preferable that he die rather than give them the information? "F-fine..."
Shizuru's smile widened. "Good human."
Blondie cleared his throat and tugged at his collar nervously with one hand, loosening the black tie there a little. "You... really have no idea who gave us the information?"
The elder's pleasant demeanour faded with his words. "Would I be asking if I did?"
The shift in Shizuru appeared to make Blondie thing twice about trying to take advantage of the fact that he had knowledge she needed. He sat there, shuffling uncomfortably for a few moments before answering. "I... I suppose not."
"Time is of the essence, we do not have all night for you to get around to telling us."
Blondie glanced behind them, towards his fallen comrades, before dropping his gaze and clenching his fists. "It was your own damned people!" he blurted out.
Natsuki saw the surprise flicker across Shizuru's face. "Who?" was all she asked.
"Those filthy beasts up at the Kanzaki Estate approached us with your location. It was a freebie even." He let out a twisted laugh after pausing. "They must really hate you to come to us!"
Shizuru's grip tightened on her weapon. "Why... why would they?"
Blondie seemed to forget about the dangerous situation he was in and was speaking with a mocking tone. "Aren't all you bloodsuckers the same? Lots of backstabbing and power trips."
Shizuru reached out in a blur of motion and grabbed the Searrs agent by his tie, yanking his to his feet. She held him here, their faces only inches apart. He looked stunned, obviously not expecting her to react to his words. "Either you know or you don't, which is it?" Natsuki could hear the tension in her voice now, which was definitely unexpected.
Blondie shook his head quickly. "N-no, I don't."
With that said, Shizuru tossed him aside as if he was a doll. He tumbled across the carpet and whimpered. As if he was no longer a threat, Shizuru turned her back on him and looked at Natsuki. Her crimson eyes seemed cloudier now, and Natsuki wondered what she was thinking. She nodded towards the door and started moving towards it. The werewolf looked after her in confusion. Was she just going to leave him alive? She didn't stop when Natsuki didn't follow so she decided to take the matter into her own hands.
She paced over to where Blondie was huddled. He cautiously looked up at her, shaking pathetically in fear. "Please..." he begged, obviously expecting the worse. She glowered at him before bringing a foot down hard on the side of his head. He lost consciousness immediately and slumped to the floor. That's better. She guessed he would be out for a few hours so that gave them enough time to get out of the area. Just to be sure... She crouched and fished the phone out of his pocket, easily crushing it in her grip. She tossed the broken equipment aside and jogged to catch up with Shizuru.
She found the vampire out in the hallway, eyeing the empty corridor. Wait, empty? "Shit," she cursed under her breath but Shizuru picked up on it.
The vampire approached her, a questioning look in her eyes. "Natsuki..?"
Embarrassed by her carelessness, Natsuki rubbed the back of her neck. "There were more agents out here. Looks like I didn't put them down hard enough." The motion from her rubbing caught the wound where her neck curved into her shoulder and she grimaced from the sudden pain.
Shizuru didn't miss that reaction either and her brow furrowed slightly. "Natsuki is hurt?"
Quickly removing her hand and shaking her head, Natsuki tried to deflect the vampire's attention away. "No, no, I'm fine. We have to get out of here; there may be more on their way."
That didn't even come close to working on the elder. Shizuru didn't try to persuade her with words; instead she placed her blade against the wall and grasped the collar of Natsuki's jacket.
"O-oi," Natsuki protested but Shizuru ignored it, She pulled the jacket aside quickly and leaned in to inspect her neck. The werewolf felt like they were stuck in that position for a while but she guessed only moments had passed. The tickle of Shizuru's breath on her skin forced a shiver to creep down her back and the sudden air on her wound caused it to sting further.
"You're... bleeding..." Shizuru's words were breathy and she pulled back slowly. Natsuki stared into darkened eyes and she was sure her skin had flushed ever-so-slightly. Is that even possible?
Natsuki swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat. "It's just a scratch," she muttered. Shizuru's eyes went to her neck once more and she continued to stare, her grip tightening on Natsuki's jacket as she did. Does she want to drink? That thought made her feel uneasy.
As if sensing the uneasiness, Shizuru dropped her gaze but didn't pull away any further. "We should get that seen to."
Natsuki lifted a hand to grip Shizuru's forearm. "No, there's no time."
Shizuru looked back at her. "Then we must make time. Or do you forget who chase us? If I can smell your blood then so can they."
Her grip loosened on Shizuru's arm slightly as she realised the vampire was right. "Okay..."
Shizuru nodded once before stepping back. She picked up her weapon before lightly gripping Natsuki's hand and pulling her towards the apartment they had just fled from. The coolness of Shizuru's skin against the heated flesh of her hand brought her full attention to it. She stared down at their hands as she allowed herself to be guided into the bathroom of the apartment. She briefly wondered why they were there before Shizuru motioned for her to take a seat on the edge of the bathtub.
Natsuki watched as Shizuru repeated her earlier action of placing her blade against the wall before the vampire started rummaging through a cupboard at eye-level. A single light bulb hung from the ceiling and it swayed slightly now, causing the shadows in the room to dance from side to side. She followed them for a while as Shizuru tried to find what she needed. Before long, the vampire approached her with a small box clutched in her hands.
Shizuru opened the box to reveal a few basic medical supplies. The elder took out the gauze, medical tape and a tube of disinfectant. Natsuki thought she was taking her medical attention a bit far but arguing with the other woman was futile. So she merely sat there and let Shizuru take care of it. Placing the items beside Natsuki on the edge of the bath, the vampire motioned for her to take off her jacket. Natsuki eyed the other woman for a moment, looking for any mischievous glints or teasing smiles, but Shizuru's expression remained neutral.
She slipped the jacket off and hung it over the bath's rim before looking back at the vampire. "Shizuru?"
"Hm?" she responded as she sorted out the medical items beside Natsuki.
"That thing about biting people and them become a thrall... Is that true?" she found herself asking, without putting any thought into it. She decided it was better to fill the air with stupid questions than to sit in uncomfortable silence.
Shizuru stopped what she was doing and peered at Natsuki out of the corner of her eye. A smirk worked its way onto her face and she leaned in close to the werewolf. "Why? Would Natsuki like to become my thrall?"
Of course she would... She leaned back a bit, away from the other woman, and rolled her eyes. "I can't get a serious answer out of you, can I?"
The smirk faded a little. "That would depend on the question."
What does she mean by that? "How about you just answer this one for now?"
Shizuru let the smirk return to her lips. "I lied."
Natsuki's eyebrow shot up in surprise. "That was one hell of a bluff."
A soft laugh escaped Shizuru's mouth and Natsuki caught a glimpse of her teeth. Up close, they didn't look all that different to anyone else's, apart from the sharper and slightly longer incisors. But it wasn't all that noticeable. Perhaps that was how they could pass through human society so easily. Shizuru seemed to notice where her attention had gone and quirked an eyebrow at her.
"Uh..." she mumbled, realising how it might have looked. "Let's get a move on."
The playful gleam in Shizuru's eyes told Natsuki that she had no intention of letting it go, however. "Is Natsuki interested in something?"
The werewolf looked off to the side with an irritated scowl. "No. Just get on with it."
She heard Shizuru sigh but didn't believe it to be a real one. "Very well."
Natsuki felt Shizuru pull away and she followed her movement, watching as she ran the single tap in the standalone sink. Natsuki was surprised there was still running, and clean, water in the building. The elder soaked up some of the water in a bandage she had retrieved from the medical supplies and walked back over to Natsuki. Carefully, Shizuru pulled the strap of Natsuki's vest aside and dabbed at the skin of her neck with the bandage. The werewolf shivered at the feeling of cool water on her skin. Shizuru took care not to hurt her as she cleaned the wound thoroughly. Placing the now stained bandage aside, the vampire picked up the disinfectant and looked at her patient.
"This might sting a bit," she warned.
Natsuki frowned. "I'm not a child," she said bluntly.
Shizuru smiled at her. "Of course, but I think it only fair I give you a decent warning."
Natsuki wanted to see the wound, to see what Shizuru was making such a fuss over but she wouldn't be able to see it without a mirror. From how it felt, she didn't consider it much more than a scratch and, even with Shizuru's concerns about the scent of blood, it wasn't necessary to take so much time cleaning it. "Thanks, I guess."
The other woman, then, set about finishing her task. She used another bandage to soak up some disinfectant and then patted at the wound with it. She was right, it did sting, but Natsuki ensured she didn't give that fact away. Shizuru then placed a clean square of gauze over her skin and taped it down. She stepped away from Natsuki, her job done. Natsuki regarded her for a moment, attempting to read her expression but not having much luck doing so.
"Thanks, Shizuru," she mumbled.
Shizuru raised her eyebrows slightly but didn't say anything. It wasn't like her to resist the opportunity to toy with her so Natsuki wondered why she'd held that in. She continued to watch as Shizuru collected the leftover medical supplies and replaced them in the box. She tossed the used bandages in the bath behind Natsuki. Once she was done, Shizuru seemed to notice her dirtied hands. Her fingertips had traces of red upon them and Natsuki realised it was her blood. The vampire stood there staring at it for several long moments before turning and washing her hands in the sink.
She forcibly scrubbed at her fingers and Natsuki grew concerned she was going to hurt herself. The werewolf's brow furrowed as she continued to notice Shizuru's behaviour. "You really hold yourself back, don't you?"
She saw Shizuru stiffen slightly and stop what she was doing. She turned off the tap but didn't turn to face Natsuki. "What do you mean?"
Natsuki stood and rolled her right arm in a large circle, ensuring the medical tape wouldn't pull on her skin if she had to move suddenly. "I could tell you wanted to taste it."
"Natsuki, I..." she trailed off.
The werewolf took a step towards Shizuru. "It's not like you can help your nature though, right?"
Shizuru sighed, and this time it was genuine. "After centuries of holding myself back, I've gotten used to it. I've gone weeks without feeding before; not through choice, of course. But..." she paused, searching for the right words. "I remember so vividly your taste in my mouth, your blood sustaining me. It was invigorating and so very addictive. I can't say whether that is because you are a Lycan as I've never fed from one before, or if it was just you..."
Natsuki's heart stammered in her chest at Shizuru's words. "I..."
"Nothing tasted quite the same after that and in the weeks I spent away from you, it only worsened the thoughts that had been plaguing me in Kyoto. Perhaps this is all transference though and I only believe you to be... different. I may just be forcing all my hopes onto you."
The honesty shocked Natsuki but it was the sadness lacing those words that had her holding her breath. She wasn't sure how to interpret those doubts of Shizuru's though. Are you just giving me a way out? She reached out to touch Shizuru's back but hesitated. It was true she felt drawn to this woman but should she act on it? What would it mean if I did? What do I do? She forced the questions away and closed the remaining distance between her hand and Shizuru.
The vampire stiffened again at the contact. "It doesn't matter now, does it?" Natsuki almost whispered.
Shizuru hesitantly turned, taking holding of the arm that had reached out for her. Emotion flooded her eyes now and Natsuki found herself behind drawn deeper into them. "Natsuki..."
Deciding she should probably explain that, she allowed her hand to slip into Shizuru's, her stomach fluttering at the action. "We've already gone too far now. I don't think either of us can go back to how we were before. Even if we are supposed to be killing each other right now, I..." she trailed off, knowing if she spoke the words that would make it all real. "I... don't want to."
Shizuru gripped her hand once before suddenly pulling Natsuki against her. The Lycan let out a gasp as strong arms encircled her. She hadn't expected that kind of reaction from the vampire, but then again she never knew what Shizuru would do. She was an enigma to Natsuki. She allowed herself to relax slightly into the embrace, the new sensation of their bodies pressed together distracting her. She slowly lifted her own arms and slipped them around Shizuru's waist, under the leather of her coat. She could feel the curve of the other woman's waist and hips through her corset and she found herself wondering how the skin felt there.
The vampire squeezed Natsuki once and whispered into her neck. "Let us continue this conversation when we are safe."
I wonder if we ever will be... "S-sure," Natsuki replied, part of her not wanting the embrace to end.
Shizuru pulled away, her features softer than they normally were. Her crimson eyes were still a mystery to Natsuki though. The vampire's gaze lingered on Natsuki for a few moments, causing a heat to rise up under the werewolf's skin, before turning and picking up her weapon. Natsuki blinked a few times, attempting to regain mastery over her mind once more. She quickly collected her jacket and slipped it on.
As they both headed for the apartment door, the stench of blood in the air brought her immediately back to reality. "Shizuru..?"
The elder opened the apartment door and glanced back at her. "Yes?"
"What was that all about back there? Who was on the phone? What's going on?" These were all questions that she needed answered. She really wanted to be able to trust Shizuru but unless she was completely honest with her, that was never going to happen. Natsuki didn't trust people, and she never usually had the desire to either. But if there's one person I feel like I might be able to one day... it's her.
A flicker of something passed behind Shizuru's eyes and she paused in the doorway. "Natsuki deserves to know but I shall explain on the way."
She was surprised Shizuru was so willing to divulge the information. Hang on... "On the way to where? Where we running to next?"
Shizuru flashed her a smile, which instantly made the Lycan worry. "We are not running. We shall be going on the offensive."
With that, Shizuru disappeared out into the hallway and Natsuki scrambled to catch up with her. "Wait, what?"
A/N: So, this chapter is slightly shorter than the last but it seemed like the right (read: evil) place to end it. The scenes in this story tend to be a bit longer than in some of my other stories so I didn't want the update taking too long to get out. Hope you enjoyed it. :)