Hey guys... Don't kill me please. Life has been kind of crazy lately, and I've been lacking inspiration because of it. Luckily, inspiration hit in the face hard last night, so I was able to get this chapter done! I hope you enjoy it~
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-HiME or Mai Otome... Sadly.
It was cold, even for Natsuki. Low temperatures had never bothered the huntress before, but the combination of the snowcaps and her not wearing her cloak might have something to do with it.
Currently, Natsuki was trudging through the knee-deep snow of Windbloom's northern mountains. Her trusty cloak was draped over the mysterious beauty who was still unconscious and occupying the stolen steed. Thus, Natsuki was forced to bear the cold in her usual garb: a tunic with the sleeves ripped off and chainmail underneath, black pants, and a pair of hunting boots. She quickly resented herself for choosing to wear the sleeveless shirt and fingerless black gloves, for the cold wind was biting at her bare arms and fingers the most.
Natsuki also resented the route she had planned out earlier when she making arrangements for the unknown damsel's escape. Whenever she visited Windbloom – which was one of the places she visited the least – Natsuki would then return to the only place she dared to call home: the Guild. The Guild was a haven for Natsuki, and was seated in the far outskirts of the Aries Kingdom. It was usually a journey that took about a week, but with all of this extra baggage, the dark-haired beauty knew that it would take twice as long to get there.
When leaving Windbloom, Natsuki would go through the northern mountain range. Once she descended the northern-face of said mountains, she would continue southwest, which would cause her to follow the bend of the mountain range for a short while before passing into a large forest. After a one to two day journey through the forest –the timeframe depended on whether Natsuki stopped to rest often or not, and she usually didn't– she would arrive in a small, kind village called Sandburg that was nestled in the outskirts of the Aswad Kingdom and the infamous Aswad Desert. A few hours would be spent resting in Sandburg, and then Natsuki would make her way through the desert, stopping to visit a certain group of friends briefly before continuing on. Eventually, she would reach the end of the Aswad Desert, marked by the Crystal River, followed by the Amber Plains. The deep forest that rests beyond the plains creates the border between the Aswad and Aries kingdoms.
In truth, the journey was tiring, and Natsuki only took a week to do it if she was in a rush. Sometimes, she would take a whole month to help out in Sandburg, assist her companions in the desert or maybe even take up a task or job. But Natsuki didn't have time to spare.
Whoever this girl is – rather, whoever she was – she is now classified as "precious cargo" in Natsuki's mind. She was paid to keep her safe, and she was determined to…
"Aw fuck… I didn't get paid!"Natsuki cursed loudly. She glanced at the bundled up girl resting on the weary horse's back, glad to see that her small and sudden outburst didn't disturb her peaceful slumber. Based on whatever she had seen unfold in the castle, Natsuki knew that the girl should enjoy her sleep while she can. Most survivors of tragedies are plagued with nightmares or guilt-induced nightmares of surviving while others perished. Odds are that this girl will be no exception.
Such a shame, Natsuki silently mused. Someone so young shouldn't be denied peace through dreams. Natsuki chuckled upon realizing that she was being a hypocrite. Just how young was she when she started having those horrid nightmares? Too young, Natsuki supposed. She had eventually grown accustomed to staying awake through the night and taking the occasional mid-afternoon nap. No matter the case, Natsuki always slept lightly. Why give her enemies or the creatures of her nightmares the chance to kill her?
Sleep is a luxury… at least, that's how Natsuki sees it. A little sleep is vital – as to not go insane – but too much just provides another opening for those who wish to hurt her. Even Natsuki's body has grown accustomed to the lack of sleep, though from time to time, it will give out, thus forcing Natsuki to take some time to rest. Of course, if she knew that trusted comrades were nearby, Natsuki would be a little more open to the idea of sleep, but it always depends on how bad the nightmares are.
Natsuki growled. It made her seem like a coward, her sleeping habits. It made her look like the frail little girl that she is, always running away when a dream threatens her subconscious. Her job didn't really help her sleeping habits, either. Her nightmares sometimes would force her to recount the faces of all the people she's killed, watch as the victim's family would wail and curse at their beloved's murderer – curse her and her life.
Those were the easier nightmares. Natsuki would willingly deal with those for the rest of her life than have to relive her childhood, her personal tragedy. When she dreamt of the past, she would wake up, find herself covered in a cold sweat. The worst nightmares would make her scream or cry herself into the world of the living. If she was lucky, Natsuki would be shaken awake by a merciful person, one of her friends.
Honestly, going insane from sleep deprivation was the lesser of two evils.
A sharp wind called Natsuki out of her thoughts. The huntress paused and sniffed the air. Her eyes narrowed, a new determination shining in them. Her trudging through the snow picked up, and the almost-frozen horse behind her gave a snort of annoyance at the new, faster pace. Soon, a small plateau came into view. Natsuki had ignored the small cabin and barn here countless times, but there was no time for that now; they needed shelter.
The dark-haired girl inwardly cursed when she saw the smoke slowly trickling out of the cabin's chimney. That meant people. And people meant that Natsuki had to play nice. Natsuki hated playing nice.
Coaxing the horse to approach the cabin proved to be the hardest part, which Natsuki found to be odd. The cabin and barn appeared friendly enough… Perhaps the animal could also sense the approaching danger and just wanted to keep going, rather than stopping to find shelter. This was something that Natsuki could understand; she was ignoring her own instincts right now, but she had another person to think about – oh, and the horse, too.
It turned out that the people living in the cabin were an old couple who raised livestock during the spring and summer, and they were kind enough to allow the odd couple to stay with them for the time being. Natsuki took the girl inside and placed her on the spare bed before taking the steed to the empty stall in the barn. The horse actually nuzzled and licked Natsuki as she took off his bridle, which caused Natsuki to lightly shove its head away with a playful "Cut it out!"
No questions were asked by the elderly couple, and Natsuki rightfully assumed that her relationship with these people was on a "need to know" basis. Natsuki wouldn't have said much, anyways. The less that this sweet old couple knew, the less likely that they'd be hurt for helping her. However, the old woman talked to Natsuki a little while she worked to keep her visitors warm, especially the girl that was currently sleeping in the spare bedroom's full-sized bed. The huntress sat off to the side by the window while the woman placed warm blankets over the sleeping beauty, answering the innocent questions that the woman threw at her. The pounding of the blizzard and the wind outside, repeatedly beating at the window, made it hard to hear the old woman.
"How did you know that a snowstorm was approaching, dear? I looked out at the sky not two minutes before you arrived and there was not a cloud in the sky!" The woman draped another quilt over the brunette's body, who was shivering slightly.
"I smelled it." A good thirty seconds of silence prompted Natsuki to elaborate. "I've been in the mountains enough that I can tell when a storm is coming. I guess my nose is just more sensitive."
"I see. Well, this is the only other bed we have, but you're welcome to sleep on the couch until the storm passes. I can tell you from years of experience that these things can last for awhile."
"Thank you, but I would rather stay in here and look after my friend. She isn't accustomed to this kind of travel and I need to make sure that she is okay." Most of this was true. It was required of Natsuki to ensure this girl's welfare, but was acting like she really cared going too far?
The woman nodded before rising from beside the bed and exiting the room. Natsuki watched her leave, no relaxing until the footsteps faded, and even then, she didn't relax. I haven't let my guard down for the last 13 years. Why start now?
The huntress gazed at the brunette in the bed. Like the old woman said, there was only one bed in the room, which was fine because Natsuki didn't plan on sleeping. She glanced out the single window again, noticing how it shook even more from the pounding snow and strong winds than before. Looks like this will delay us some. Pushing off said window-sill, Kruger made her way over to the fireplace. This couple must have been wealthy when they retired, Natsuki thought as she tended the flame. Having more than one fireplace is a luxury among common folk. The dark beauty made sure to keep her distance from the flame; she and fire had a love-hate relationship.
Once she was satisfied, Natsuki started to return to the window, before deciding to sit cross-legged against the wall of the fireplace, which was adjacent to the wall of the window and the bed's headboard. This way, she could keep her distance for the girl and still be able to have a visual of the door.
Detaching the sheath form her waist, Natsuki laid the sword across her lap, taking precaution to keep her left hand firmly on the sheath and her right on the sword's hilt. She has spent many nights like this: on guard and on edge. Honestly, the emerald-eyed girl couldn't remember the last time she had properly slept in the past few months. Couldn't afford to let my guard down while in unfamiliar territory, she reasoned with herself. The only place that I allow myself to sleep is the Guild, but I've been travelling for… for almost 8 months. Natsuki frowned, wondering how time managed to slip past so quickly.
A small noise caused Kruger to rest her gaze on the girl, who was mumbling in her sleep. The girl's face contorted in anguish, more frightened noises escaping and her movements becoming more and more frantic. Natsuki knew the tell-tale signs of nightmares. "At this rate," Natsuki muttered with slight annoyance. "She'll be awake in a matter of minutes."
Though this was Natsuki's first taste at "babysitting," she knew that once the girl awoke, she as likely to panic. And once the girl started panicking, she would become either terrified or violent, depending upon the girl's personality. Either way, Natsuki knew that her job – and night – was just about to become more troublesome than she expected.
As if on cue, the girl suddenly lurched forward, sitting upright in the bed, a shocked and slightly fearful expression on her face. The girl quickly snapped out of her post-nightmare daze, scanning the room, trying to figure out where she was.
Natsuki couldn't help but chuckle. She could practically see the gears turning in the girl's head. The brunette turned toward Natsuki, her eyes widened slightly.
Her eyes. Natsuki stopped laughing, mildly startled by the girl's crimson eyes. Perhaps… perhaps it's just a trick of the light, Natsuki thought. The fire could easily make someone's eyes look red, right? 'But the fireplace is too far away…' a voice in the back of Natsuki's head reminded her.
The warrior merely observed as the girl's apprehension drained from her face, but the sparkle of emotion never leaving her eyes. Putting on a mask, are we? Natsuki mused to herself, smirking. How interesting.
"Where are we?" The girl asked. An accent... But it's not a Windbloom accent. Actually, I've only heard that accent once, but… it's not possible—
"We're in the mountains to the north of Windbloom. The castle there has been attacked by Artai's army. The king is probably dead," Natsuki deadpanned. She was never one to answer questions in a round-a-bout manner. Mai and Nao always accused her of being too blunt, too harsh. 'That's what happens when you have a heart of ice. You forget how to be gentle or kind,' is what Natsuki would tell them.
The brunette's eyes narrowed slightly. "And just who are you? Why did you bring me here?" The girl struggled to keep her emotions in check, to keep the mask in place. She was failing miserably.
"For someone that came out of Windbloom Castle, you sure do have some terrible manners, Miss…"
"Shizuru. You may call me Shizuru." Shizuru paused, as if she was considering her next words carefully. "Could… could you come into the light?"
Natsuki raised her eyebrows, though she knew that Shizuru probably couldn't see the gesture. It didn't occur to the dark beauty that she was invisible, hiding in the shadows. She automatically chalked it up to habit. "Do you not have a last name?"
"I do, but I make it a rule to not share my full name with people I cannot see."
Natsuki frowned. She hated sass. She got enough of it from Nao. "I'm afraid that I don't reveal myself to just anyone. Tell me, Shizuru…. Are you of the royal family of Windbloom?"
"Does it matter? " Shizuru frowned, her mask slipping off her face with every word she says. "If what you say is true, everyone in the castle is dead…" The brunette's eyes glazed over, her voice quieter. "… Everyone… is dead."
Natsuki peered at the girl, curious to see what see would say or do next. But when nothing was said or done for a suitable amount of time, Natsuki cleared her throat and stood up, being careful to still be concealed by the shadows. She walked forward slowly – so to not alarm the obviously distraught and distracted girl – and kept her eyes on her sword as she attached it back to her belt. She halted a few steps away from the bed, the white light emitting from the window engulfing the left side of her figure.
Natsuki rubbed her nose before placing her right hand on her waist and her left forearm on the hilt of her sword, her weight shifting from on foot to the other. Seeing that her movements still didn't alert Shizuru, she cleared her throat again. This caused wine red eyes to turn, resting upon the slender build that is Natsuki Kruger. Eyes widened, eyebrows lifted slightly, and – if Natsuki's ears weren't deceiving her – Shizuru's breathing hitched. The huntress shook it off as it being a temporary hearing impediment.
"All right, princess… You want to play it that way? Fine. As for me? I'm hired to do keep you away from Windbloom," Natsuki said gruffly.
Shizuru slightly frowned. "So… what? I'm your prisoner, your hostage?"
Natsuki shrugged, indifferent. "You can call it whatever you like, your highness… No matter how you phrase it, you will do everything I say when I say it. You're going to have to do a lot of things you've never done before in the next week or so, and I don't want any trouble coming from you. Clear?"
"Crystal," Shizuru responded quietly.
"Good." Natsuki paused awkwardly, not really sure what to do next. Shizuru looked so torn, though she seemed to be taking the news rather well. And even if she was a mess, Natsuki wouldn't know what to do; she was never very good when it came to comforting upset people. "Get some rest. It's going to be a hard day tomorrow."
Natsuki glanced out the window before making her way to the fireplace again. The heat coming of the flames warmed her, though it never reached her full being. She heard Shizuru's smooth voice over the crackling of the wood.
"You never told me your name… or where you hail from," Shizuru stated softly. The dark beauty heard the rustling of sheets as the brunette got comfortable in the bed. She could feel the crimson eyes boring into her back, their heat competing with the fire.
"My name is Natsuki Kruger, and I have no home." Emeralds reflected the bright embers temporally escaping onto the hearth before they died. Her eyes not really watching the fire, but looking past it at a memory she just wanted to forget.
A mysterious Natsuki is a sexy Natsuki~ ...Right? ;:3
I hope that satisfied you guys until next time!
OMAKE:
Natsuki: (shrugs) You can call it whatever you like, your highness… No matter how you phrase it, you will do everything I say when I say it. You're going to have to do a lot of things you've never done before in the next week or so-
Shizuru: (smiles seductively) Like what, Na~tsu~ki~~
Natsuki:...Wait, what are you- (blushes hard) Oh God! No! I didn't mean-
Shizuru: I thought Natsuki was the one that does whatever people what... for a price, that is...
Natsuki: (blushes harder) I KILL people! KILL! NOTHING SEXUAL!
Shizuru: (smirks) We'll see about that.
*THUD* (Natsuki faints from all the blushing)
Shizuru: (Laughs) Ara, looks like Natsuki's already falling for me~
END OMAKE
Oh Shizuru... you and your (lame) jokes. Until next time~