Disclaimer: I don't own Mai Hime or Mai Otome.
Ha! This is turning out more funny than I thought it would! Ideas just popped into my head from nowhere, and sooner or later, this ended up being thirteen pages worth of chapter! Whoo! But don't take my word for it, read and enjoy! XD
Swarm012: Of course there will be more MidorixYouko. XP Well, I figured that Shizuru didn't know anyone, and she was desperate to get out of the marriage so it was more like: 'anyone will do! anything to get out of this marriage!' not really 'I don't care...' (XP My explanations suck. Sorry.)
rainee-chan: XD;; Couple of things I didn't understand in your review. But I'll answer what I can: Well, Nao wouldn't be Nao if she didn't do something to profit herself the most. XP;; NaoxTomoe?? oO;;; Ha, and it's not you that's having trouble reading. I just got lazy and didn't write well at night. XP Sorry.
ShotgunNeko: Like a friend? Or like a beta? Or both?! XO Anyway is fine with me! XD -high-fives- (Love your username, by the way. XDD)
ManiazAzn: Meh, this story has them in here, meh. You just have to give me some time to type stuff out, meh. XP XD
krugren: Thank you. Yes, this story may be based around 'Shiznat' but I wanted to give other characters some time as well. Well, the story's whole time-line is about a week and a half so I kinda had to speed things up a tad. XD;; I'll just use the excuse that Shizuru was desperate.
tsuko-chan: I know, right? MidorixYouko is a great pairing (screw that professor we barely ever hear about anyway.) Ha, tricked ya. ;D Oi, hard question. Well, I'll say yes that in this world it's 'normal' to have wings, but there are a few special cases, that in which you'll find out in the future. XP
"Why don't we go to the mess hall and sit down while you explain?" Natsuki gestured towards one of the doors at the far end of the hall. Her voice suggested a question but her expression said it was an order.
Shizuru simply complied and walked into the mess hall, taking a seat on a nearby bench. Natsuki sat down across from her, Nao sitting down next to her Captain.
A couple seconds passed. "Well?" Natsuki urged.
"Yes, well…" Shizuru started, trying to recall the stories told to her in her youth about the pendant.
Natsuki and Nao waited, one listening intently so she could figure out what just happened, the other one just listening because she has nothing else better to do.
"It's said that this pendent is back from the times when the sky was up and water was all around. When the only creatures that had wings were birds and the continents were surrounded by 'Oceans'."
"Pfft!" Nao broke the tension, "As if! Everyone knows that that time of 'Oceans' is a myth. And a pretty stupid one at that, it's always been just Skies."
Shizuru patiently looked at Nao, "May I continue?"
Yuuki shrugged.
"It's said this pendent dates back to when the Endless Roar was still very small. It started one day and kept growing, much to the people's fear. However, just when the Endless Roar becomes monstrous in size, two goddesses appeared and stopped it before it could reach land. However, stopping it from moving and getting rid of it completely or two completely separate things:
"The two goddesses could not destroy the Endless Roar, even with their combined power. Once they realized this, they sacrificed their souls to form a barrier around Endless Roar to stop it from traveling. Even with this done, Endless Roar grew in power, sucking up all the oceans and seas until there was nothing left but cracked ground. The cracked ground tore into parts and were lifted up, sucked in by the powerful gusts of the Endless Roar. This is why we now live in the Skies, due to an event dubbed 'The Great Calamity'.
"This pendent is said to house the souls of those two goddesses, the gems being their very souls and the snakes being the barrier they created as their last act. It's said that should something happen to the pendant, the barrier keeping the Endless Roar still will vanish and the only thing keeping our lands from falling will be sent into a chaotic rage, ending all life as we know it.
"Oh, and there's also something in there about if two soul mates should touch the pendant at the same time, they would be able live without worry of separation from their loved one," Shizuru finished with a calm smile.
Natsuki's mouth was open but no words came out. It seemed like she was trying to put her feelings into something coherent, but couldn't quite do it. Her expression was yelling 'The hell?...' in volumes.
Nao seemed to be trying to keep back her laughter.
"What is…" Natsuki's words stopped, collecting her thoughts hopelessly.
Nao slammed her fist as the first burst of laughter came out, "Ha! Soul mates! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!"
Natsuki blinked, coming back to life, "Wait. Hold up. Just because of some tale and glowing object, I'm suppose to believe we're soul mates?!" She stared incredulously at Fujino.
"Well, there were all those runes and the glowing and the pendant turning white…" Shizuru started to list off reasons, ignoring Nao's laughing.
"Er, j-just some wind blowing stuff around! And trick of the light for the glowing… and more trick of the light for the pendant! Yeah!" Natsuki nodded to her own illogical logic. "Things don't just glow!"
The brunette looked back to the Captain, smiling victoriously at Kuga's lame attempt to cover up what happened, "If you don't like 'glow,' the synonym 'illuminate' is always available."
"I wasn't taking about synonyms!"
"But you admit that it glowed?"
"But it's just a myth! You can't believe everything you hear," The noirette said, trying to defend herself.
"I heard my parents used it and it glowed for them."
"… So? They aren't us. It could skip standards for every other generation," Natsuki lamely tried.
Nao finally calmed down, then tugged on Natsuki's jacket to get her attention as she whipped tears from her eyes, "Why not bed her and make it official?" The First Mate grinned like a Cheshire cat.
Natsuki blushed at this, "Sh-shut up, Nao!" She growled loudly.
Shizuru smirked coyly, seeing an opportunity. She stood up and leaned over the counter, putting her lips close to the Captain's ear, "I suppose it won't be all that bad being your soul mate. At least you're cute," She said, blowing onto Natsuki ear and making the Captain shiver.
The gunslinger's blush quickly spread across her cheeks, turning her face a deep red color. She regained her senses after a couple seconds and realized what just happened, "Wha-wh-what?!" She stammered as she slid down the bench, trying to get away, but lost her balance and toppled over the wooden seat.
Shizuru's blinked, her eyes widened as she watched, "Ara…" She brought her hand to her mouth and tried to mask her giggling in vain, "I can tell this journey is going to be a fun one!" She said as she picked up the clothes she was carrying around and walked out the room.
Natsuki was still sprawled across the floor, gaping, trying to figure things out.
Nao looked down at her, "Wow, that was lame." She said flatly. "I don't think I've ever seen you spazz that bad before. Oh well, there's a first for everything, I guess." She got up, walked over and bent down to her best friend with a wide smirk on her face, "You won't be hearing the end of this any time soon," She whispered before getting up and walking out the mess hall.
Tate Yuuichi was standing nervously in front of the Duke of Fuuka, sweating bullets under the Duke's intense gaze. The reason being was because Duke Kanzaki's fiancée was nowhere to be found and he was the object of blame. "You wanted to see me, Duke Kanzaki?" He said, trying to keep his voice calm and level, but failing miserably.
"Yuuichi Tate, Captain of the Guard of the Kanzaki Manor," Kanzaki stressed every word very slowly.
"Duke?"
"Do you remember promising me that absolutely nothing would happen last night?" The Duke had a frighteningly calm smile on his face.
"Y-yes, Duke…" His legs were almost quaking as much as his words, making his armor rattle slightly.
"Then could you tell me why my fiancée is missing? The woman said to be more beautiful than the Skies on a colored morning? Of course, then again, I wouldn't know this because I never got to see her," His voice increased slightly.
"I-It's been reported that along with Lady Fujino, some of her items of value and other miscellaneous treasured items are.. also… missing…." Yuuichi's voice trailed off.
The anger was visibly boiling in the young Duke's eyes; another clue would be his clinched fist. He opened his mouth to say something, but his advisor stepped in, "Duke Kanzaki, if I may suggest something?" His smile was as wicked as ever. It was often wondered if that was his normal smile, or if he was just that evil, "May I, Sir?" Nagi repeated looking as innocent as possible.
Tate gulped. This can't be good.
Nagi turned walked closer to the Duke, "What if Captain Tate here goes after the ship that was spotted suspiciously sailing away just when people were becoming aware the castle had robbers in it?" The Advisor's smile spread slightly, looking more and more like a fox by the second. "He could take the Commodore—"
Tate's eyes widened. Not the Commodore! Anyone but the Commodore!
"—and her respective Captain; the Lieutenant; a few people from the Intelligence and Technology Team; and that 'maki-maki' girl everyone seems to pass around. They could take your best ship, as well, Duke." Nagi Homura turned his smile back to the Duke, "This will surely prove your love to her, Duke Kanzaki."
"A-All those p-people, sir?!" Tate's mouth gaped wider then he thought possible.
Nagi turned back to Tate, "And if Captain Tate doesn't come back before the wedding deadline… Kill him," He said, that grin still on his face.
Yuuichi's eyes widened in horror.
"Hm," The Duke seemed to consider this, "Alright." He said at length, "If Captain Tate Yuuichi is not back by the wedding date, he shall be beheaded in the town's square. Dismissed."
Tate hastily bowed before scrambling to the door, trying to gather people as soon as possible. After all, he only had six days to get the future Duchess back or he would be beheaded!
Tate cleared his throat, reading out a list of people in front of him that were ordered to partake in the trip:
"Commodore Haruka Suzushiro and her respective Captain, Yukino Kikukawa; Lieutenant Masashi Takeda; Chie Harada and Aoi Senoh from Intelligence; Alyssa Searrs from Technology Department and her.. robot… android thing—"
"Miyu has a name, you know!" The genius child glared up at the Guard Captain.
Miyu's emotionless stare turned to Tate and her arm lifted, morphing into a blade.
"Wh-what?! F-fine! Alyssa Searrs from the Technologic Department and her android Miyu! Happy now?!"
Miyu looked down to Alyssa, "Miss?"
Alyssa smiled up at Miyu, nodding her head. The robot morphed her hand back and stood at attention once again.
"And lastly, the 'maki-maki' girl that creeps everyone out," Tate said flatly.
"It's Shiho Munakata! SHI-HO MU-NA-KA-TA!" I'll give you one guess.
"Oh, so that's your name. Nice to meet you."
"Isn't it on the paper?" The pink-haired girl frowned.
"No. It says: 'the 'maki-maki' girl that creeps everyone out'."
"And Tomoe Marguerite, newly appointed Head Maid for Miss Shizuru Fujino," A voice said from behind them before Shiho could retort.
Tate turned around, "And who're you?" He looked at the person in the maid outfit.
Tomoe frowned, disbelievingly, "I just said my name, you moron." Can someone really be this stupid?
The Guard Captain frowned, "Well, I'm sorry but you can't come alo—"
An eerie aura made its way toward Yuuichi, making him shiver, "I suggest you let me on if you know what's good for you."
"But the Duke said—"
"Enough!" An annoyed voice bellowed from the line. Everyone turned to see Haruka grinning broadly, "Let her come along, it'll only take a day or two with my superior skills. Please, catching the robbers be like a piece of pie."
"'Cake', Haruka." The Navy Captain corrected. "The saying is 'a piece of cake'," Kikukawa explained gently.
"Oh… well, they're both desserts," Suzushiro huffed, earning a sigh and a shake of the head from her most trusted Captain.
"Chie! I can't believe it! We're going on a ship cruise! I bet the Skies' setting will be wonderful..." Aoi looked dreamily as she imagined the scene.
Chie smiled charmingly as she turned to her partner, "Not as wonderful as you," She smirked.
"Stop it, Chie. You're embarrassing me," Aoi smiled back.
"Don't worry Milady Fujino, I'll come and save you from those savage beasts," Tomoe muttered to herself.
"Hehehehehehe… I'll maki-maki anyone who gets on my nerves," Shiho was chuckling manically to herself.
Tate watched the team assigned to this mission, "I'm dead." He deadpanned. He then turned to the only person who hadn't spoken yet, "Lieutenant Takeda! I haven't seen you since we went into separate fields! And 'Lieutenant'? The Goddesses have been smiling down on you," Yuuichi ended with a friendly smile. At least I have one sane person on my crew.
Takeda smiled back, "Yeah, a lot has changed. So you're Captain of the Guard?"
Tate nodded, then sighed, "Maybe a deceased Captain of the Guard if we don't come back in six days."
Masashi grinned, patting his friend from school on the back, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure we'll get Lady Fujino back before you know it."
"I hope so…"
"Room for one more?" A distinctly female voice made them all turn to see who the intruder was.
Yuuichi gapped, "Another maid?!"
Tomoe frowned suspiciously, "I don't remember you on our team…" She said, trying to remember if this newcomer worked with her.
"She does not work with you, Miss Marguerite, because she works directly for Her Highness, the Queen herself," Yukino chimed in helpfully.
"H-her Highness, Queen Mashiro Blan de Windbloom?!" Yuuichi stammer, "Why would someone from the kingdom be here?"
Suzushiro rolled her eyes, "Does it matter? We'll be done with this in about three days so what difference dose it make?"
The second woman in the maid outfit smiled politely, bowing at the hip, "As an order under Queen Mashiro Blan de Windbloom herself, I Fumi Himeno, Head Maid to the Queen was ordered to accompany you all. It's a pleasure to meet you all," She leaned back up.
Why offer us her Head Maid? Tate didn't voice his questions aloud. After all, The duchy of Fuuka was ultimately under the kingdom of Windbloom so whatever the Queen ordered, goes.
"We've wasted enough slime, let's go," The Blonde Commodore said, starting to lead the way toward Yukino's ship, the Koumokuten.
The bifocal-wearing woman gave a helpless smile as she walked next to her Commodore, "It's 'time', Haruka," She whispered, not wanting others to hear her call her friend's name without her title.
Suzushiro grumbled, "Slime, time- they sound the same! Damned Windbloom words…" Originally being from the Republic of Aries, she had to learn the Windbloom language. She still messed up every now and then.
"Captain!" Someone burst through Natsuki's door when she was sleeping.
"Someone better be dying," She growled through gritted teeth as she opened her eyes. What? She was having a really good dream about running through an edible field of mayo flowers and— … Moving on.
"No, but we've landed at Windbloom's port!" Natsuki looked over to see Midori excitedly grinning at her doorway.
"Already?" Natsuki leaned up, yawned and placed her hat on her head. She raised an eyebrow, "How are you up already? Shouldn't you be having a hangover?"
Midori smirked, "I have my ways."
"…?" Both Natsuki's eyebrows raised in realization before they furrowed, "Oh. I'm surprised I didn't wake up from the noise."
It was Midori's turn to frown, "Not that way."
Suddenly, a black blur ran between Midori's legs and toward the bed, jumping up. The black blur morphed into Mikoto right before she landed on Natsuki's lap.
"Oomph!" Natsuki exhaled on the impact, "Morning Mikoto," The Captain greeted in a strained voice.
"Mai told me to come in and wake you up because breakfast is ready! Yep!"
"I was already awake…" Kuga grumbled, trying to get her breath back. "And couldn't you land on me in your cat form?" She asked the Morpher.
"Then I wouldn't have been able to wake you up if you were asleep," Mikoto said, thoughtfully.
"Well, I'm awake, in any case. You can go on ahead and tell Mai," Natsuki said, stretching.
"Okay!" Mikoto bounded off with Midori following her to the mess hall.
The noirette did the morning necessities before going to the hall to meeting the crew. She also saw Shizuru in the clothes she was given yesterday.
Shizuru was wearing a simple white, button-up blouse with a couple of the top buttons undone and the ends of her sleeves cuffed. She had on dirt brown pants with the leggings stuffed into black boots. The pendent was visibly dangling on the small amount of cleavage she was exposing and her hair was down. She had on an open, black jacket so she could stay warm in their cold environment.
"…"
"Natsuki, you're staring," Fujino said after a couple minutes of silence.
"Huh?" Natsuki blinked, then looked away, coughing into her fist, "I was just surprised. I' use to seeing you in your gown." She turned back to the brunette, giving her a pointed look, "And don't call me Natsuki, Miss Fujino."
"My name is Shizuru to you, Natsuki," Shizuru challenged, smiling.
"Captain?" Mikoto's voice butt in, but no one was listening.
Natsuki made a huff and looked away, grumbling, "You aren't staying with us for long…" She sat down as the food started to come out, "Okay, here's the plan. Midori, you go with Youko to get some clothes for Fujino and supplies for the Doc. and the ship. Mikoto, you go with Mai to pick up food and water."
Natsuki then turned to Nao, "You stay on board with Fujino."
"Natsuki?" Mikoto's voiced again, but wasn't heard.
Nao frowned, "I ain't stayin' on the ship with Princess."
"It's okay, Miss Yuuki, I've no intention of running away from the group," Shizuru informed.
"When did you learn people's names?" Natsuki asked, bewildered.
"You were sleeping for quite a while, so I walked around Duran and asked people some questions and for their names," Fujino explained to the Captain.
"You don't need to learn people's names!"
"That's not what you said before," Red eyes danced brightly when they saw Kuga's stunned expression.
"Well, I changed my mind!" Natsuki huffed, crossing her arms under her chest.
"Can I eat the rest, Natsuki?…" Mikoto's voice trailed off in the wind when no one responded.
Shizuru simply looked away, keeping her comments to herself. So childish!
Natsuki finally looked down to the table, finding it empty. "Where'd all the food go?!" She looked around to see Mikoto still stuffing her face, a rarity if it lasts more than five minutes. "Oi! Leave some for the rest of us!" She reprimanded.
Mai scowled at Natsuki, "She was asking you the whole time and you didn't answer so she took it. No complaining. You'll just have to have lunch in town."
Kuga looked at the Cook, "Can I have some of yours?"
"No." Blunt. Tokiha took another bite of her meal, ignoring her Captain's stare.
Natsuki finally looked away, grumbling, pouting. She looked over to Midori and Youko, "Can I?"
They both shook their heads.
Natsuki looked over to Nao and opened her mouth to talk.
"No begging, mutt."
Natsuki scowled, closing her mouth. A couple seconds passed and green eyes slowly slid over to glance at Fujino, who seemed to be eating antagonizingly slow on purpose.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"… Fujino?"
"I won't answer to that."
"Fujino."
"…"
"Fujino!"
"…"
"What will you answer to?" Natsuki asked, finally giving in due to hunger.
"Shizuru. Call me Shizuru."
"Fine, Shi-zu-ru. May I have some food?"
"I'll share half," The nobleman's daughter smiled pleasantly at Kuga as she pushed her plate in the Captain's direction.
Natsuki mocked soundlessly as she got her fork.
"Step away from the handrail and walk down the plank!" Natsuki yelled, her voice strained as she pulled on Shizuru's arm, trying to get the girl to move. Apparently, she had changed her mind about Shizuru staying on Duran.
"I said I'm not going to leave this crew!" Shizuru strained to keep her grip on the wooden hand railing. What had started out as a simple exchange of words had grown into Kuga taking drastic measures and trying to pull Fujino off her ship.
"You aren't welcome on board!"
"I'm the one who asked to be kidnapped!"
"No one said they would do it!"
"Miss Yuuki did!"
"She doesn't count!"
"Oi!" The red head glared over to the captain, "I 'don't count', huh?" She placed her hands akimbo, raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't mean that!" Natsuki yelled in a strained voice.
"Yes you did!" Shizuru said back, still hanging on. She was stronger than she appeared… This whole ordeal was silly to her, but she wasn't about to give up without a fight.
"Quiet you!" Natsuki frowned. "Argh!" She growled in frustration, quickly changing her position and placing her whole body behind the brunette's to get more leverage. However, when she was hooking her arms around the other girl's form, her hand accidentally caressed the flat of Fujino's stomach, Kuga's hand somehow getting under the white blouse.
Shizuru inhaled sharply at the cold touch, perking up and flushing lightly, "You really are a pervert!" She said, glaring forward. She lifted her right leg, trying to kick Natsuki's tight to knock her backwards. Too bad her foot accidentally rammed right in between her legs—
Natsuki bent over and brought her hands down to her crotch, hitting an octave note so loud and crisp clean that it would make opera singers proud. She whimpered a little as pain shot through her body. No matter how tough someone is, getting hit there hurts!
"Look ma, no brains!" Nao laughed hysterically as she watched.
The Captain was in fetal position as she continued to shiver, gnashing her teeth against each other with her eyes squeezed shut.
Nao had calmed down by now, but she was still smirking at the scene, "Karma, bitch."
Kuga was finally able to relax after half a minute or so, so she slowly tried to get up. She was a little weak in the legs, but she managed, "Shizuru…" She leaned against the railing. Her voice was surprisingly level.
"Yes?" Shizuru asked, vaguely noting that this was the first time the Captain had called her by her first name.
"I'll take you into town with me as long as you promise not to kick me there ever again."
"Deal."
Natsuki nodded, pushing off the handrail and walking robotically stiff toward the other members of her crew. Pain, pain, pain…
"Let's move o-ut!" Natsuki voice cracked slightly before she stiffly walked down the plank, the rest of the crew was snickering as they followed, except for Nao. Oh, she was snickering alright, she was just stay on the ship.
After they did what was required to dock their ship, they split up and walked into town to do their assigned chores.
Natsuki grumbled as Shizuru walked right next to her. People were staring and she didn't like the attention. What're they all staring at? Natsuki frowned as she started to speed up, powering walking.
Fujino started to walk faster in order to keep, "Natsuki?"
"What?" Natsuki barked harshly, her tone mirroring her mood. I gotta loose this woman…
The brunette was quiet after being barked at, but quickly recovered, "… I'm sorry about earlier."
"Hm?"
"When I kicked you in the—"
"It's fine, nothing to be sorry about," Natsuki waved it off over her shoulder nonchalantly, not turning back to her stowaway. An awkward silence hung between the two as they continued to walk for a couple more minutes.
C'mon Natsuki, find a way to get rid of this woman. Oh, I know! I'll go up to a guard and say that I've found 'Miss Shizuru Fujino' and collect and rewards and that'll be that. Natsuki smiled, putting her plan into action. She turned to the other girl, "Shizuru."
"Yes?" She turned to look at the Captain. She raised an eyebrow slightly, suspicious about Natsuki's unusually warm smile, "…"
"We're going this way for a second," Natsuki lead Shizuru through the town, trying to locate a station throughout the bustling port town. They made their way past people, animals, houses and carts before Kuga finally found a guard. The shorter girl looked around, locating a nearby alleyway. She dragged Shizuru over, "Stay here."
Fujino frowned, "Why should I stay here?" She glanced down the darkened alleyway before looking back to the Captain.
"Well…" Kuga's mind worked quickly for a reason, "You won't be caught and taken back! I just have to do something here, really quick. I'll be back soon," Natsuki smiled.
Red eyes narrowed, "Ara, You want me gone, correct?" She asked in an accusing tone. "This would be the perfect opportunity to leave me here and thus take off without me on your ship."
Once again, Kuga's mind worked fast to come up with something. She put on a facade of anger, "Would you seriously think I'd go through all the trouble to leaving you here when I could have lost you in the crowds we passed through? But I waited for you, didn't I?" She asked, glaring. That sounds convincing…
Scarlet eyes studied Kuga's visage before softening up. A small smile formed on her face, "You're right. I am sorry for accusing you."
Natsuki face melted into a soft grin as she shrugged, "It's alright." And with that, no more annoying, self proclaimed 'soul mate'. Natsuki smiled as she walked off, "Be back soon!" She called back before walking into the crowd.
With one of her problems dealt with, she walked toward the guard she spotted earlier, "Excuse m—" She stopped right behind him, her eyes widening as she read what the man was placing up onto the town's notice board: 'Wanted: Dead or Alive. Captain Natsuki Kuga and her crew, Mai Tokiha, Mikoto Minagi, Nao Yuuki, Midori Sugiura and Yoko Sagisawa. Wanted for robbery and the kidnapping of future Duchess of Fuuka, Shizuru Fujino. Reward: 200,000 gold pieces per member.'
Natsuki quickly turned around, pulling her hat down over her eyes before quickly walking away. Two hundred-thousand gold pieces per member?! I gotta tell the crew so we can pack up and leave! She thought running toward the port.
Natsuki was out of breath by the time she got arrived at the ship. Eleven minutes of flat-out sprinting was a bit much for someone not use to it.
"Well look what the dog spit up, a wanted criminal," Nao smirked from over the railing of the ship.
Natsuki frowned as she walked up the plank, "If you have enough time for stupid comments like that, then you can help load. I want this ship ready to depart in twenty minutes. Do you hear me? Twenty!" She called out to the others on the deck as she started to help load supplies into the hold.
"Aye, Captain!" They continued to work, only faster.
"Oi, Captain," Nao looked around, "Where's Princess?"
"I said Miss Fujino isn't staying with my crew and I say what I mean," Was Kuga's reply, holding an air of authority about her as she walked toward the stairs leading into the hold.
Nao just shrugged and continued to work.
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Meanwhile, back in the alleyway, a very lonely feeling suddenly consumed Shizuru, making her feel empty and broken. I thought she'd come back… Miss Kuga — She shook her head. –no. Natsuki was supposed to be my soul mate. Is it really just a myth after all? A rueful smile crossed he features as she looked down at her pendant, "Ara, listen to me, going on like a school girl rejected by her first crush… I was just using that myth to get out of marriage, after all." … But still… Being around Natsuki felt nice and natural.
From my short time on that ship, I found out that everyone loves their Captain like a leader. She's responsible, dependable… I guess I really was a burden. Fujino smiled sadly -pathetically- on the verge of tears as the emotions got more intense. She brought her hand up to the pendent and clinched it tight in her fist, This feeling… it hurts so much.
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Natsuki stopped in mid-step, "Huh?" She looked around, frowning in confusion.
"Natsuki?" Mai noticed her Captain glaring while looking about, "What's wrong?"
Green eyes met purple, "I don't know why, but for some reason, a pang of pain hit my heart before feeling really guilty, then extremely pissed."
"Oh… kay…" Mai blinked, "Need any help?" She asked lamely, not knowing what else to say.
"No," Natsuki shook her head and relaxed, "It's probably nothing." Then why am I still ticked off? Natsuki looked at the younger black-haired girl, "Go down to the engine room. Supply power so we can get out of here," She turned to Midori after Mikoto nodded, morphing into a cat and running on all fours towards the engine room. "Midori!" The nineteen year old captain called out, "Take us out once we have enough power to catch the wind."
"Ma'am!" The Second Mate saluted, smiling as she made her way up to the bridge.
-----------------------
Natsuki…
"Miss," A man's called out, pulling Shizuru from her thoughts. "Yes?" She lightly pushed away from the wall she was leaning on, putting on a 'placid' façade as she turned around, almost to immediately flinch away from the sight.
"You seem lonely back here in this alley. We just wanted to come and keep you company," The four guys were obviously punks, the kind of guys you don't want to meet in an alleyway. Oh, the irony~
"I-I'm perfectly fine," She backed up a half step, clearing her throat after she stammered. "I'm just waiting for a friend who should be back soon. No need for company, though the thought is appreciated," She said, trying to keep her cool despite being frightened.
"C'mon, beautiful," The man's smile reeked of wrongdoings. "We can be a lot more fun than your friend. Why not come with us?"
"No thank you, gentlemen," Shizuru replied as politely as she could. She inwardly cursed when she felt the brick wall against her back.
Suddenly, one of the punks was right in front of her, grabbing her wrist and pinning her against the wall, before she could react, "You answered like that was a suggestion." His friendly smile turned wicked as he stared down into terrified red eyes. He pushed his whole body against her, sandwiching her between him and the wall. The rest of the group circled around, chucking in anticipation.
H-Help… Shizuru whimpered in her thoughts, looking up into a pair of lustful eyes.
"Heh," He man chuckled as he gripped one side of her pants and started to tug them and her underwear down, sinfully slow. He enjoyed watching the brunette turn her head away and shut her eyes tight.
--------------------------
"H-Help…"
"Huh?" Natsuki looked up a second time, alarmed.
Yuuki looked over and frowned, "What's wrong now? You forget something? Too bad, we're already fifteen feet away from docking."
"No, did you hear someone just call for help?" The noirette asked, still looking around.
The redhead glanced around, "I didn't…" The First Mate turned to Kuga, smirking, "You hearing things now? Great, our fearless Captain has officially lost her mind!"
"No, shut up!" Natsuki looked at redhead with a stern expression, showing she was dead serious. "I definitely heard something."
Nao's stance wavered slightly, her face showing discomfort, "Kuga, stop it. You're creeping me out."
"Help me, someone!"
Natsuki gasped, her eyes widening, "Shizuru!"
Everything that happened after that, happened quickly:
Natsuki started to run towards the railing of the ship, showing no signs of stopping. She closed her eyes as she jumped up onto the wooden railing and opened her eyes, showing one was now a deep red color. She jumped off the railing and seemed to glide through the air, onto the docks, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for someone to jump twenty-five feet without using his or her wings.
Kuga's thought through all of this: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?
The others gapped as they watched the scene. Nao ran to the back of freight liner, leaning over the railing, "Kuga!" She called out, "What the hell are you doing?!"
"I don't know!" Natsuki yelled back, a horrified expression on her face as she started to run, using her arms to pump, "I have no control over my limbs!!" She shouted back before darting off faster than humanly possible.
The crew just watched, standing there in their stunned stupor.
"I have no control over my limbs!" Kuga repeated to herself, running at speeds that made papers and skirts fly up. She expertly move her way through the crowds, not touching anyone or slowing down. She flipped over carts of apples and used tables to swiftly jump from place to place. She flipped over people, using their shoulders to vault over and landed perfectly on two feet.
"Somebody stop me!" She yelled as she continued to zoom past hordes of shocked and amazed citizens.
Finally, something was telling her that she was near Fujino, like a built-in intuition. Her face became stern as she ran toward a nearby alley.
Wait, I don't even have control over my face anymore?! The gunslinger thought in a panic after trying to speak. No muscles moved when she willed them, so no words came out, I can't even speak anymore?!
The Captain was about to go into the alleyway, but turned to the wall parallel to it and jumped. She started to actually run up the wall before pushing off and aiming her landing… landing straight into the man that was holding Shizuru against the wall, knocking him a good ten feet away.
She landed in a squatting position but quickly sprung into a sprint. She ran up to the closest punk, jumping up to knee him in the chin before doing a backwards flip, hitting him in the head with both her feet. Kuga, smirking, not a strand of hair out of place.
"N… Natsuki?" Shizuru's eyes were wide as she watched the whole scene in shocked awe.
Natsuki walked over to a still-stunned Shizuru, wrapped her arms around Shizuru's waist, and pulled her close.
What the hell is my body doing?! Natsuki's conscious screamed.
Fujino flushed at the sudden contact.
Kuga's body turned to the two remaining thugs, "No one touches my girl's body besides me, got that?" She said, giving them the infamous Kuga Death Glare, making them back away in fear.
Natsuki's body turned to Shizuru with such a strong look of love and protectiveness that the brunette found her cheeks becoming warmer, "Shizuru." Natsuki's worried/protective gaze looked at the other girl's bruised wrist and frowned, "They hurt you." She brought the wrist down and lightly kissed it.
WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING?! Poor Natsuki.
Shizuru was too stunned to respond, standing there with her mouth open slightly, speechless. She just stood there with a deep red blush on her face, thoughts raging through her mind (none of them helping her to calm down.)
Natsuki smirked cunningly, seeing Shizuru's mouth hanging open ever so slightly. She, Natsuki's body, brought a hand up behind Fujino's neck and gently leaned up, capturing Shizuru's lips with her own, causing the noblemen's daughter to gasp ("Nat--!!") and her blush to spread like a dark red mask across her face.
After a couple seconds, she calmed down and started to return the kiss.
Oh my Goddess. Oh my Goddess. Oh my Goddess. Oh my Goddess. Oh my Goddess. Oh my Goddess. Oh my Goddess. Oh my Goddess… Natsuki's conscious had no say in the matter as she watched her body kiss the brunette.
Kuga's body pulled back after a minute, ending the kiss, much to Shizuru's disappointment (even thought she was only vaguely aware of what she was doing), and smirked at the taller girl's hazy eyes, "Mine." She whispered before backing up, unhooking Shizuru's waist.
The body turned to the two remaining shocked men that probably should have run away when they had the chance. Oh well.
The Captain's body frowned, cracking her knuckles, "Which one should I kill first for touching my girl?" She asked rhetorically, her piercing glare like knives on the men's skin.
-----------------------------
Natsuki was panting. Natsuki had her body back. Natsuki was pissed, tired and confused all at the same time. Poor Natsuki.
Natsuki leaned against the alleyway's wall near the entrance, "The heck… was that?…" She looked down at her hands, clinching and unclenching them, "I had no control…"
"N-Natsuki," A voice quivered near the noirette.
"I'm sorry Shizuru, I don't know what got into— !" Natsuki eyes widened after she finally turned, seeing Shizuru on the brink of tears. Why is she- … That's right. She was almost… Of course she's frightened, She walked over, putting her arms around Shizuru's body, "It's okay to cry," She murmured into the older girl's ear.
After a couple of seconds, Shizuru forcefully grabbed Natsuki's back and fell down, dragging the gunner down with her. Tears fell like waterfall as she bawled her heart out, all the emotions that had been built up coming out in one strong wave.
Natsuki just sat there, rubbing the back of Shizuru's body soothingly.
After about six or so minutes, Shizuru finally calmed down. "Better?" Natsuki asked with a calm smile.
Shizuru nodded, whipping the tears from her face with her sleeves, "Yes, thank you," Her voice was a tad horse after all the crying.
"Good, then could you fix year pants?"
Shizuru leaned away from Kuga's body and gave the Captain a questioning look.
"I can…" Natsuki coughed, looking away, blushing, "I can see the, erm… straps of your… underwear…"
"…!" Fujino looked down to see that her pants were, indeed, slightly pulled down. She quickly jumped up to fix her pants, cheeks flushing from embarrassment, "Ecchi…" She muttered when she was done, her back still turned.
Natsuki rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah, I'm a pervert." She took this opportunity to get up, "Shall we get going?" She brushed off her pants.
"To where?" Shizuru turned around, frowning in confusion. 'We'?
"Where else? The ship," Kuga answered, matter-of-factly.
Shizuru's face brightened, "You mean--?!" I can come too? I thought she didn't want me on her ship.
"Well, I can't really leave you here without knowing what just went on, right?" Natsuki said before she started to walk back toward Duran.
"Yes," Shizuru smiled contently as she followed the Captain, close behind.
The walk back had two different kinds of air about it:
The first one was Natsuki, frowning, trying to figure out what just happened: the fight, the running, not having control of her body, calling Shizuru 'hers' and… the kiss.
The second one was Shizuru walking with a serene smile on her face. While the outside looked calm and collected, the inside was swarming with thoughts about that just happened. Natsuki saved me. Her eyes betrayed the rest of her face, showing her intense happiness. Natsuki came back for me…
Shizuru recalled the heroic actions of the noirette earlier that day, her cheeks pinking at the memory of the more… spontaneous moments. Her red eyes drifted down to the pendant and she smiled a little more, 'Soul mates' indeed…
Ha! This'll be an interesting story to write. People having no control over their own body; a whack group after the kidnappers; the different situations that couple happen-- oh! Possibilities are endless! X3 Sorry, no omake, but I thought this chapter was funny enough to make up for that. XD I had fun doing this chapter!
