Chapter 3: After 7 years
"Are you watching this folks?! Two beauties are just a match away from the 500 grand Gil!" the announcer's voice boomed from the gigantic speakers that surrounds the whole sphere stadium. The crowd cheered afterwards, jumping up and down from their seats due to excitement. "The best Machina Raiders and the beauties of the battle dome are undefeatable!"
The red head snicker as she waved her hands to the crowd who were cheering for them. Her hands full of blood from the monsters they had slain from the event battle while her cousin was just standing beside her, smiling proudly at the corpse of the monster they had just killed. At her hands held two small silver pistols that she had used to kill the monster together with her cousin. They went to the locker room to get ready for their next opponent.
"I must hand it to you mutt; this would the easiest money we ever had in weeks! I bet we can't get this much on three days when we work at Rin's!" the red head said in delight, wiping off the blood from her mechanical knife.
The blunette carefully placed her pistols back to her case and she grinned at her red headed cousin. "We still need to get back to Rin if we ever want to have a stable job. Haha! But I must agree, this is so easy!" the blunette said. She took off her coat and revealed a pair of forearm's length black arm guards. "Man, each and every match, these things gets so annoying." She complained, rubbing her right arm guard lightly.
The red head giggled and slapped her cousin at the back, making the blunette glare at her. "You still not used to that? What about the ones on your legs? Those are double compared to your arms. Don't tell me you can't handle them anymore? You've been wearing them and upgrading them ever since we decided to train."
The blunette took her cousin's words as a friendly insult and she just stood up and stretched her body. "Yeah right, as if that would happened. How about you spider? The wrist bands hidden under your sleeves, the ankle bands and your knife, those are the same as mine. Aww, are you scared to tell me you can't handle them?" she said with a taunting smirk.
"Touché mutt!" the red head retorted and both of them ended up laughing out loud.
The two of them were laughing loudly when a knock at the door had made them stopped laughing. The blunette hastily put on her coat and waited for the door to open. They looked at the person who knocked and saw the announcer, beaming a smile at them.
"Great job out there ladies, might I say that the crowd loves you!" the announcer said with a hearty laugh.
"We are the best in the biz old man. So what brings you here? Aren't you supposed to be out there?" the red head asked with a raise of a brow.
The announcer snickered and took out a blue sphere. He turned on the sphere and an image of high summoner Viola and her guardian had appeared, sitting at the VIP section of the dome. Seeing the image of Shizuru made the blunette's heart race. "See the high summoner's guardian? He will be the next opponent but only one of you will fight him." The announcer had turned off the sphere.
"The hell?! Why would we have to fight that toothpaste model?!" the blunette asked in surprise. She wasn't expecting to fight Reito, let alone in front of Shizuru. She and her cousin had never been seen by the two ever since they were exiled from the facility. She made sure of it.
"Those are the rules, unless you want to forfeit and if you do, you won't get any of the 500 grand. Only problem is that Kanzaki-sama still haven't seen his opponent yet." The announcer said.
Hearing what the announcer said to them, the red head placed her hand over her cousin's shoulder and smiled like a Cheshire cat. "C'mon Natsuki, give it a try! You and I both know what would be the outcome." She said in a diabolical tone. "And besides, isn't it high time that you show your face to that Viola? It has been what, seven years since you last saw her in person! Oh and we need the money." Nao added with a grin.
Natsuki sighed. She knew once her cousin had used her diabolical tone, it means that there's no way for her to get out of it. "Fine, fine we're in." she said lazily to the announcer. The announcer joyfully thanked them for not backing out, saying that the crowd will go wilder because of this and he hastily went out of the locker room. "But seriously, with that look on your face spider, it means that I'm the one who will do the dirty work." Natsuki said, pushing her goggles up to her forehead, revealing her spiral emerald colored irises.
Nao laughed and nodded her head as an answer. "Well mutt, don't overdo it okay? We don't want to embarrass that smug infront of everyone, let alone here in our beloved city." Nao said sarcastically, laughing at the fact that she was very confident that they would win.
"You and your sinister ideas. Feh~! But I like this idea." Natsuki agreed. She took out her pistols again from her metallic case, loading them with silver bullets. "Well, the show must go on!"
Back outside, Reito was already at center stage since he was asked to duel with the challengers. He couldn't decline for his reputation of being the strongest Guardian was on the line. With his right hand atop of the hilt of his blue rapier, he waved his left hand to the crowd that earned him loud cheers.
The cheering had stopped when the speaker's had boomed the voice of the announcer. "We should be honored that Kanzaki-sama had agreed to be our guest fighter for today aswell as being graced by none other than high summoner Viola. But without further stalling, I give you guys the challenger!" this time the crowd cheered louder.
At the VIP area, Shizuru watched her guardian waved at her. She like her guardian but deep inside her heart, a certain blunette was still her heart's choice of love. She sighed and waited for the whole fight to start and end, not knowing or caring who Reito will battle with since she knew her guardian was going to win.
"Now I give you, the challenger for this main event! Once the best Machina Engineer of Garderobe facility and now the greatest Raider there is; none other than the beautiful, NATSUKI KRUGER!" the announcer's voice echoed across the whole dome making the crowd go wild. But hearing the name, both Reito and Shizuru who was in the VIP area, had their eyes wide open in surprise. Both had their sight glued at the challenger's entrance, waiting for the arrival of the said challenger.
"Yo toothpaste model, am right here!" a feminine voice said from above Reito. The raven haired guardian looked up and saw Natsuki, falling down and landing perfectly infront of him with a wide grin on her face. "Long time no see personally eh Kanzaki?" Natsuki said with a wolfish grin.
Back at Shizuru, she practically leaned forward to the glass panel to look at Natsuki. Tears formed into her crimson colored eyes as she gazes upon her friend. "Natsuki…" she whispered.
Reito covered up his surprised expression by his toothy smile and a gentleman's bow towards the blunette. "My, my, it's been a long time Kruger-san. Seven years?" He asked with his wide smile. He hated Natsuki ever since they were little since the blunette had always outdone him in everything. He even heard some of the elders praise the Garderobe engineer that she has the potential to be a guardian but to their dismay, the girl is an outsider. He was happy when Natsuki had suddenly disappeared due to the exile punishment she and her cousin had received from the Garderobe facility.
But the smile had no effect towards Natsuki. She just ignored Reito's comment and took out her twin pistols. "As much as I like to stay and chat, but I have a contest to win toothpaste model. So why don't you unsheathe your weapon, if that is one, and let's finish this before my employer finds out I'm playing." She said mockingly. She then pointed her pistols to Reito and smirked.
Reito giggled as he saw the small pistols being aimed at him. He drew out his sword and bowed before Natsuki. "Shall we finish this and be on our merry way? I do want to get back with Shizuru." He jested to Natsuki. He positioned himself into a guarding stance and awaited how the blunette will make her move.
----INSERT 'Those who fight' battle music by Nobou Uematsu -------
The blunette gave put a warning shot a few inches away from Reito's boot-covered feet and smirked when the guardian jumped backward to evade the shot. "Being cautious are we?" she mocked the guardian, tapping the barrel of her pistol on top of her temple. But without a second hesitation, she began firing her pistols again towards the raven haired guardian.
Reito continued evading the gunshots from his opponent. But he noticed that not a single bullet had come in fatal range to him. "You always amaze me Kruger-san. If you were a Fuuka citizen, I bet you can be a guardian like me." He commented sarcastically. He knew that Natsuki wasn't really aiming for him.
"Feh~! I aim to get the money Kanzaki and I want to take my time. Unless you want me to end this quickly." Natsuki said as she stopped firing at Reito and stood a few meters away from him. She flicked her hair with her right hand and tapped the barrel of her pistol on her temples.
Reito took the opportunity and lunged himself towards Natsuki, thrusting his rapier towards the blunette. But his attacks were quickly dodged by the blunette like it was nothing to her. He was surprised that Natsuki had swiftly evaded his attacks. 'Darn it! How can she evade my attacks like that?' He questioned himself as he continues to attack the evasive blunette.
Meanwhile, at the VIP section, Shizuru watched her guardian and beloved best friend battle at the center stage. She felt herself getting nervous at each and every strike her guardian tries towards Natsuki. She knows her guardian's strength and she fears that Natsuki might get hurt badly. "Be careful Natsuki…" she whispered, placing her hand on the glass pane.
"You know Viola, for someone who had known my cousins since all of us are little; you have no faith in her."
Shizuru quickly turned around and saw Nao by the door, having a taunting smirk on her face. "Ara, it's been a long time Nao. I missed you and your cousin so much." The summoner said with her façade smile.
Nao walked towards the summoner and stopped to look at the glass panel where she can see her cousin, evading and shooting at Reito. She smiled devilishly knowing that Reito may be the best guardian that the meisters had seen, he can't be in par with Natsuki. "That flashy guardian of yours is in for a rough ride Viola. He doesn't know who he's up against." Nao said with a sly smirk.
Shizuru looked at the red head and couldn't help but tilt her head. She was still surprised and happy that after seven years, she finally saw her dear friend but on the center stage, battling her guardian. Sure she knows Natsuki can fight and some did say that the blunette was excellent but she wasn't sure if she can beat Reito.
"This is a contest where the money is higher than our usual salary so both me and my cousin are planning to take that money." Nao informed the Summoner with a sly smirk.
"Ara, is Nao and Natsuki in need of money that much that they had to join such dangerous contest?" Shizuru asked.
"OH MY GOD! KRUGER'S GUNS HAD BEEN DELFECTED AND FLUNG AWAY FROM HER HANDS AND KANZAKI-SAN TOOK ADVATAGE OF THIS OPENING!" the speakers boomed out. The announcer sounded so surprised.
Nao looked back at the battle and saw that her friend was down on one knee and her guns are not on her hands. She smirked as she watches Reito smile at her cousin as if he had won the match. "In need indeed Viola. I guess I'll be seeing you later Viola, I have a prize to claim." She said in a sinister tone. 'Way to go Kruger!'
Back at the center stage, Natsuki was kneeling down in one knee with Reito's sword pointedat her throat. She was snarling dangerously at Reito as she saw the taunting smile of the guardian. 'This better be a great plan spider or else!'
"I guess I won again as usual Kruger. Seven years of absence and still you couldn't defeat me." Reito said with his dashing yet taunting smile. He drew back his sword and sheathed it back.
Natsuki stood up and glared at Reito. "You're a lucky bastard Kanzaki." She looked up to the VIP section where Shizuru is watching them, looking right thru the glass and staring straight at the striking crimson orbs of the summoner. After a few seconds of staring and hearing the announcer announce her defeat, she waved at the crowd which she earned a booming cheer of both praise and adornment.
"LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR NATSUKI KRUGER AND OUR SPECIAL FIGHTER, REITO KANZAKI!"
------------INSERT FFX VICTORY FANFARE-------------------
The crowd went wild when both fighters waved at them. Natsuki didn't stick too much at the stage and she decided to head back to the lockers. But when she was side by side Reito, her brows furrowed and a small growl came out from her lips. "Ec ed vih du feh? palyica E ramt socamv pylg.(1)" she said as she went pass the guardian, leaving him dumfounded again with her language.
At the lockers…
Natsuki tiredly went inside, with both her eyes closed and yawning tiredly. "SPIDER! E RUB- DRA RAMM?! (2)" she felt a stinging pain at her left cheek. She took off her goggles and glared at the person who had hit her face. Her glare faltered and had been replaced by a surprised look when she saw a crying summoner. "Shi-zuru…" she whispered with her hand over her left cheek.
"IKEZU! IKEZU NATSUKI!" the summoner shouted, tears still running down from her eyes.
"Shizuru I-" that was her weakness. She couldn't bear to see the brunette crying so she pulled her long time friend into a hug.
"Why did you leave without telling me?!" the summoner shouted, not caring if it was un-summoner like of her.
Natsuki shook her head and pushed the summoner to face her. She took out a green handkerchief and wiped the tears away from Shizuru's face. "I'm Sorry Shizuru…" She whispered with a small hue of red across her face.
The brunette looked at her friend, tears still threatened to fall down. "Where were you? You left without a word. Even if you send those gifts during my concerts, you never showed up these past seven years!" She asked.
Natsuki could only sigh and scratch the back of her head. "I was… busy…" she said coldly. She went past Shizuru and towards her metal case, opening it slightly to put her guns back inside and closing it.
"Busy? Busy with what? Midori said you did something terrifying so they banished you and Nao from the facility."
But Natsuki remained silent. She looked at her friend and shook her head. "I did nothing terrifying. The geezers at the facility aswell as that man thought what I created was too dangerous. Tsch! Nao agreed with me and we left that fuckin' place." She defended.
Shizuru could see in those emerald orbs that her friend was telling the truth. "What exactly did you create Natsuki for you to be exiled from the facility?" she asked, slight fear was obvious in her tone. She knows that when it comes to Machina, Natsuki was the best. And if Natsuki was going to create something with the aid of her mischievous cousin, majority of the features in that Machina will be danger.
Natsuki shrugged. She doesn't want the brunette to know what she and her cousin had created. That's one of the reason she had left without telling her friend where she will be. "Something I thought can save someone." She muttered.
"YO MUTT! I got the prize so let's go before Rin gives our S-Rank jobs to some lame team like Akane's." Nao shouted as she entered the locker room, carrying a bag of money. Shizuru quickly put up her façade as soon as Nao had noticed she was there and Natsuki grabbed her case and held it behind her. "Hey Spider." Natsuki said with a slight nod.
Nao saw Shizuru with Natsuki and a sly grin had appeared on her face. She tucked the money bag on her own bag and crossed her arms as she stares at the summoner. "I see Kruger has some company. Viola, don't keep her for too long okay? We'll be going back to work." She said with a wink and left the locker room at the same time, Reito had come in, looking for his summoner.
"Shizuru! There you are!" the guardian said worriedly. He ignored Natsuki and approached his summoner, giving a curt bow before looking straight at his summoner's crimson eyes. "We're needed to perform a Sending at the Mi'hen Highroad." He said with a dashing smile.
Shizuru had put up her façade smile and beamed it towards her guardian. "Ara then we should go there at once Reito-kun." She said calmly.
Natsuki sighed when she heard that the summoner has a job to do and swung the case to her back, swinging it like it was just paper. She was ready to leave when the brunette had quickly held her arm and squeezed it. "Natsuki?" Shizuru said with a sad tone.
The blunette didn't bother to look at Shizuru. "I work at Rin's Travel and mercenary agency. If you are going to see me, just drop by there." Natsuki said, exiting the locker room.
"It seems Kruger and her cousin had planned everything out. Even if Kruger lost to me, she and her cousin had received the reward." Reito said as soon as Natsuki had left them alone. He turned his attention towards his Summoner and saw the sadden look of the brunette. "Let her go Shizuru. She has her own life to deal with and you know well that an outsider cannot be involved with us." He said, pretending that he's worried with the blunette.
Shizuru didn't verbally answer her guardian; instead she just sighed and walked out of the locker room and back to her own room. 'Rin's Travel and mercenary agency…'
ALBHED TRANSLATION:
1: Is it fun to win because I held myself back
2: I HOP- THE HELL?!
Omake: kitsune and threats
Natsuki and Zaki waiting at the living room for snacks…
Natsuki: Wow, I look cool! But why the heck did I lose to that toothy Kanzaki? *pointing defeat part in fic*
Zaki-kun: *sigh* don't complain. It's hard enough to write a fic update.
Natsuki: hehe, don't tell me you're missing…
Zaki-kun: *glares at Natsuki* Shut up Natsuki! If you dare continue that sentence, I'll make sure you get eaten by a Malboro in the next chapter. *takes out a pen and paper*
Natsuki: OH! The mighty coffee-addict author is threatening me… *snicker* what shall I do?
Shizuru and Hanako_sappho-13 enters the living room, carrying tray of snacks and placed it on the coffee table.
Shizuru: *sits beside Natsuki* Natsuki will leave Zaki-kun alone unless she wants me to be Natsuki-less in the next chapters. *pretend bothered look* and I think it's going to be hard since the fans will start flocking again.
Natsuki: O_O Fans?! Okay, fine! *pout* Sorry Natsuki…
Zaki-kun: hehe you're whipped…
Natsuki: Why you?!
Shizuru: Natsuki… shall I remind you that your mayo bottles are still hidden? *sinister smile*
Natsuki: *pout* hai…
Shizuru: Kawaii~! *hugs Natsuki*
Zaki-kun: what did I tell ya nako-hime, that natsuki's whipped! *laughing out loud*
Hanako-sappho-13: Hunya~! Zaki-kun should stop teasing the poor Natsuki or else your junkfood ban will be extended. *arms crossed*
Zaki-kun: *stops laughing* eh?! M-mou! Nako-hime…. *pout*
Hanako-sappho-13: *put up sad look* its okay if Zaki-kun won't follow…
Zaki-kun: *panic mode* a-ah! Okay I'll behave!
Hanako-sappho-13: *wide smile* hehe! Good to know.
Both hanako and Shizuru giggled at zaki and Natsuki's reactions.
Zaki-kun & Natsuki: kitsunes… *sigh*