Chapter Two: Enter Natsuki Kuga
A/N: I apologize for the delay. Was busy with work and stuff. Hopefully the wait was worth it. Here's the new chapter. Thank you for the reviews. I don't usually leave messages but I do read the reviews. I'm thankful for those who appreciate the story.
He didn't know what time it was or where he was. But he knew he was somewhere peaceful. He felt content though he felt he was alone. There were no sounds other than his breathing. He had his eyes closed and his body felt light. It was as if he has been laid on clouds. He wished this would have gone forever.
But that irritating voice had to break the serenity he was enjoying.
"Yo! Better open your eyes because you and I have a lot to talk about." The voice called out as it tapped his shoulder.
He opened his eyes, into a room filled with smoke. No… It seemed like smog. No… Were they Clouds? He looks to his left and his eyes grew wide when he saw he was floating.
OOFF!
He falls down without warning making his behind feel sore.
Alexander looked at himself. His body was covered with white cloth. He had no recollection of prior events. He only knew his name. Staring at his palm he winced as the voice apparently had a hand to slap him upside.
OUCH!
"I don't think that was necessary." He mumbled rubbing the back of his head.
It felt sore too.
"Pardon the action. But I did need to get your attention. You have been preoccupied by the location and yourself or so it seems." The redhead quirked her eyebrows as she slapped his hands.
He had been fiddling with them unconsciously. Perhaps it was something Alexander did when he was feeling nervous.
"Where am I?" He asked looking up to his companion.
"And who are you?" He stared then noticed something about the person he was talking to.
"Is it Halloween already? Cause you definitely don't look like an angel to me." He smirked earning another slap on the back of his head.
OUCH!
"Watch your mouth pretty boy. I'm an angel. And I'm here to guide you."
"Guide me to where? This place seems to be a nice place to settle down. Although I don't remember much, this place seems serene."
"Believe me pretty boy. Heaven is much better than this place."
"Where are we anyway?"
"You're in limbo."
"Limbo?" He cocked his head to the side.
The angel crossed her legs as she floated. She had set herself in a comfortable position before she replied.
"You're in limbo. It is a place where souls who have departed the earth realm reside if there are things keeping them from moving on to either heaven or hell."
"I don't remember much. I don't remember anything that would tie me to the 'earth realm' as you call it. I wouldn't know what is holding me down here."
"Of course you wouldn't remember. That's how souls are. Hence, the expertise of people like me, are needed. I'll be your guide. Although if you ask me, I'd rather send you to hell and move on to the next poor soul trapped in this place if need be."
His crossed his arms.
"Now… Now… Pretty boy… This is how things are. You will go back in human form, but not as yourself. Only to finish what the Almighty has planned for you in the first place. To have the chains of the earth realm ripped off from you so your soul can move on. You have been given 100 days for the task. I, your guardian angel, will be with you. I can only be seen by you. So be careful what you say."
"Why am I not going back as myself?"
"You're dead, remember? You're only a soul. Your own body might look like a zombie if it were alive at this time. You will have to comeback as someone else! I doubt your personality will change but, you will look and be known as someone else. Please do not stray away from the task or it would not only affect the balance of those who cling to you but the balance of nature as well."
"What is my purpose?"
The redhead snapped her fingers then a huge screen popped out behind Alexander. There was a video of a child playing among other children. Chestnut hair, green eyes, the child would have been three if his assumptions were right.
"You are going to go back for her."
"Alright…"
"What? Not amazed or anything? She's really pretty. And once you get to know the child, she's pretty smart too. Just like her mother."
"Well… It's not that…"
"Well what about? Out with it." The angel tapped her right elbow in annoyance.
"I didn't really know that this place could be high tech. I may not remember much, but I don't think I was ever thought that Limbo or Heaven were so high end on technology…"
The angel put her palms on her face in exasperation.
"If I didn't know any better, the years that you have spent in Limbo made you dull and stupid."
Alexander shrugged not really knowing what to reply.
"Come on. We need to get you back to earth so we can finish this and I could get back to my ward in case no one else is left in Limbo."
"Ward?" He asked as he followed the angel who was floating towards the light.
"Yes. That child is my ward. That's why I'm with you."
"I see." He walked beside her and was now almost at the end.
"By the way, what's your name?" He asked before the angel could disappear into the light.
"You can call me Nao."
A very pregnant Aoi entered the room with another set of flowers in her hand. She gave her boss an apologetic smile as she tried to arrange the new set of deliveries with the rest. The office of Shizuru Fujino-Kruger may already pass as a flower shop with all the deliveries for the past hour.
"Please tell me that was the last of them, Aoi-san. I would actually wish I was allergic to flowers just to keep them from multiplying. Anymore would endanger my space in my own office." Shizuru let out an exasperated sigh.
The scene was something she and Aoi had gotten used to but nevertheless it annoyed Shizuru. Since the death of her husband, suitors have come from all shapes and sizes. They wasted no time expressing in their intention. The lady that she was, Shizuru declined their offers politely. But then, when you have the chance to marry one of the major stakeholders of the biggest conglomerate in Japan, why pass up?
"I see they are still fond of you after the baby bump…" A blonde stood casually against the door frame with a grin on her face.
She twirled her keys as she grinned.
Shizuru turned to her and let out a breath.
"You're late."
"Am not hime… I'm…" The blonde stopped speaking then checked her watch.
"Two hours early."
"You were supposed to be here by twelve. We still have to pick up, Lexie." Shizuru stood up taking some paperwork off of Aoi's hands.
"Thank you, Aoi-san. I'll take it from here." The blonde winked at the blue-eyed secretary who simply blushed in reaction.
"Stop flirting."
"I didn't know it was illegal." The blonde shrugged taking a seat.
"Haruka-san… You're posing as my boyfriend slash girlfriend, whatsoever, for Kanzaki's party. You can't expect him to believe matters like that if my current squeeze is out flirting with anything that moves."
"Correction, I don't flirt with anything that moves."
"Dare I correct myself with the proper word?"
"My… My… How obscene are your thoughts, Shizuru-san?" Haruka mocked surprised earning a folder thrown her way.
"Ara… I'd have to kill you if you ever found out."
Darkness…
He was surrounded with darkness.
Was Nao playing a trick on him?
Was he already in heaven and that so called angel just made him trade places?
"Nao?" He called out but there was no answer.
He willed his feet to move walking in a direction that seemed to lead to nowhere. Where was north? Can he assume where is south? He didn't feel the wind. There seemed on edge on any path. There was no sound. There was nothing but darkness and total silence.
"Nao!" He called out again.
There was no echo which allowed him to conclude nothing was around him.
He was only blanketed with darkness.
He stopped moving and just stood still. What was his purpose? What was he supposed to do?
He reminded himself of that green-eyed girl.
He smiled.
Though the darkness may lead to nowhere, that image will be his light. He walked towards a direction where his heart wanted him to go. Through the darkness there was light, light in his mind and his heart. But just when hope was springing into Alexander, he suddenly felt falling down to an endless abyss until he lost consciousness.
It was one of those parties somehow designed to lure Shizuru out in the open. Shizuru wasn't the type to back down especially if such parties include important people. She still had to attend social functions for business' sake. The red-eyed woman was always the belle of the ball considering her single status and upgraded financial position. Business-wise, Shizuru was hot commodity and people like Reito Kanzaki didn't just want a piece. They wanted the whole she-bang.
Imagine their frustration when Shizuru Fujino-Kruger not only kept her married name but also started dating Haruka Tenoh.
Haruka Tenoh is that famous racer from Tokyo who just came back from her stint in the Asian Grand Prix. Known to be one of the ladies but certainly for the ladies, she was also known to be Shizuru Fujino-Kruger's second cousin. It had already been a year since she posed as the CEO's current boo. Oftentimes she has been found holding hands with her cousin, further instigating that they did have a relationship. There was neither any confirmation nor denial. The duo seemed to have veered off to the topic to let the people do their own speculations.
"You know, dear cousin. If we continue with this charade, I might not end up with a nice woman to settle down with." Haruka whispered into Shizuru's ear.
Facing the blonde, Shizuru placed her arms around the racer's neck and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
"That nice woman doesn't really like you Haruka-san. Maybe my cousin should rethink her options. I am more than willing to stop this charade. That is only if my cousin has the courage to tell Michiru-san that she actually likes her." Shizuru whispered back earning a scowl from her companion.
"Psssh... That old woman is as frigid as it gets. She doesn't have the word romance in her vocabulary."
"That's because, Haruka-san's definition of romance is sex on the first date."
The blonde blew air from her mouth as she let go of Shizuru. The CEO simply giggled as she took her cousin's hand once more.
She took a mental note of Tomoe and Reito.
They were like wolves waiting for the right moment to pounce her. Good thing she still had Haruka to be her human shield. The problem was for how long can they keep the charade up? It was not impossible for Haruka to find her own soul mate as Shizuru would muse. The most she could do is to show them she was not interested at the moment. How to have a relationship that was serious was another problem.
Well, Shizuru always had the short-term answers for short-term needs.
"Haruka-san…"
"Hmm…?"
"I think this is the part where you kiss me passionately before charming the ladies behind my back…"
"Eh?"
His lungs flamed on as he felt himself drowning. He kept reaching for the sky though he could only see darkness. With what would have seemed hours of unbearable pain, he felt a hand taking his, reaching to pull him up. Light, he could see light even though his eyes were failing him.
When he reached the edge, he found himself face to face with a blue-eyed woman.
He coughs.
"There… There… Breathe…"
He tried to mumble something but his throat was hurting. He raised his hand only to grow confused. Have they become smaller and more… feminine?
"What's your name, miss?" A man who seemed to be a medic sat down and took her pulse.
Confused, he didn't reply. His eyes dropped to his own chest.
He has grown breasts!
And on that moment, Alexander fainted.
She had been staring at the moonlight for a while now. Sometimes she felt she was looking for a sign. A sign from the heavens that she should let go and move on. Four years since the plane crash, Shizuru kept waiting, hoping for a call that her husband had been found. Four years and yet she was still not giving up. Tate, her husband's aid, was thankful but at the same time sad. He would have been with his boss if not for Alexander's kindness.
He was well loved.
He was missed.
He was greatly missed by both their families.
"Mommy?"
He was missing out moments with his own family as well.
"Hai… My darling…?" Shizuru turned around then picked up her daughter.
The little girl had a habit of sneaking into her mother's room at night. She did it not knowing Shizuru needed her presence. Her impeccable timing was like that of her father.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?"
"Hai… Of course…" Shizuru placed a kiss on her little girl's forehead.
"Nao said she'll be busy for a while. She made me promise to take care of myself and you too. Well… While she's gone doing stuff..."
Shizuru raised an eyebrow but nevertheless gave a nod. The doctor said it was a little normal for children to have imaginary friends. Good thing she was about to start school under Michiru Kaioh. At least her little girl would outgrow them soon.
"I have to thank Nao-san someday, yes? She is very thoughtful, just like my little Lexie."
Lexie gave a toothy smile and kissed Shizuru lightly on the lips.
"Love you mommy."
"Love you too…"
"You don't have to do this. We can take care of them…" The woman grinned evilly as he struggled to get out of the ropes.
A man walked around him splashing water on his face.
"Wake up little man… You're not going to make it there. You're stuck here."
He clenches his fist trying hard to untie himself but to no avail.
"It wouldn't matter. She'll never let go. She'll never love another. She's going to keep you here forever. Forever in the darkness…" The woman slowly disappeared into the darkness.
He could hardly see the man as well. Lights grew dim till there was none.
He was in darkness once more.
Alone and in the dark.
"IIIIIEEEEE!" She woke up screaming with her hands on a defensive stance. Her eyes grew wide abruptly hugging herself as light penetrated her eyes.
"Lay back down… You need rest… Onegai…" She turns to her left, a woman who seemed to be the doctor was already holding a syringe.
It probably contains something to subdue her if she resisted.
She's still having a nightmare!
"Let go!" She took her hand away from the blue haired doctor who suddenly looked apologetic.
"We're not here to hurt you… We're here to help you. You were fished out of the water, unconscious. And you have been having nightmares, screaming endlessly. We had to give you medicine to help you out. We won't hurt you. I promise." The man pleaded but she wasn't sure if what he was saying was true.
She tried to assess if these where the same people in her dreams but she couldn't. Her head throbbed in pain whenever she tried.
Her hand moved up to her forehead to slightly massage her temple.
What the hell was going on?
Where is Nao?
"Mamoru-kun… Let me try…" A woman with aquamarine hair walked over to the bed and took her hand.
The other woman carefully took her hand, smiling as she did. She tried to steady her hand which she didn't even know they were already shaking involuntarily.
"My name is Michiru… What's your name?" The voice was melodic and she found it somewhat hypnotic.
Her eyes were now glued to beautiful blue eyes. Those eyes were so sincere and she could already feel her chest burst into something.
She was excited.
The hell she's a woman. Why should she be excited?
She shook her head, her free hand massaging her temple once more.
"What's your name?" The woman asked again.
"Tell her you're Natsuki Kuga…" She heard her guide's voice who decided to appear just in the nick of time.
"Natsuki…" She forced out still bewildered.
"My name is Natsuki Kuga…"