Thanks for everyone's awesome reviews! Schools been kicking my butt so I'll try to update once every 2 weeks. Anyways, until next time~ ^^
Important: From this chapter on, "Love as you will" will be continued by Treawolf. W00PPIE~~~ Please look to him for more!
A flurry of flechettes flew across the bedroom at the ready Shizuru who swiftly manipulated her naginata to deflect all the projectiles. Or so she thought. Until she saw a fifth flechette, hidden behind the others, escape her naginata. Her eyes widened slightly in surprised but she quickly hid it behind an amused smile as she deftly maneuvered to the side just enough to dodge the projectile. But if she thought the onslaught was over, she was wrong. Following immediately behind the projectiles was the Duchess herself and her ebony dagger, raised and poised threateningly at the great general.
"Ara." Shizuru mused admiringly. Not many people have ever gotten past the defense of her naginata. Yet…she was not named one of the greatest general of all times for no reason; she was well versed in hand-to-hand combat as well.
Gracefully spinning, she blocked the incoming dagger with a free arm and sent a back kick into the intruder's chest, knocking the breath out of her. Propelled backwards by the force of the attack, Natsuki landed on her backside as she slid across the mosaic floor. The general pressed her advantage and charged at the downed Duchess, but Natsuki sprung to her feet and caught the descent of the intimidating naginata in the crux of her ebony dagger and her second most prized dagger, one she made herself.
The two renowned fighters with their legendary weapons danced to a song of metal against metal as strikes were continuously parried and countered only to be parried again. Natsuki tried to get inside Fujino's defense again, but the general didn't give her a second chance. She kept the bluenette at a distance with incessant bouts of assaults and Natsuki was hard press to block them all. Her daggers were only good in close range combat and Fujino gave her no opportunity to extract her projectiles.
Clenching her teeth against not only the flurry of attacks but the taxation her body was undergoing after two consecutive nights of anxiety and tension, the Duchess slowly circled and backed up against the four poster bed, breathing hard. To her surprise and pleasure, the famous Fujino was sweating slightly and breathing heavily from the exertion as well. Then an idea struck the bluenette as her back was pressed firmly against the bed at Shizuru's relentless attacks. The Duchess leapt onto the bed and as expected Shizuru stepped closer and the Naginata sprung forward after the bluenette. In that split second the long weapon's mobility was compromised between the two posts of the bed and Natsuki quickly threw her less prized dagger at the brunette and leveraged her freehand against a pole as she swung in the air with a fly kick aimed at Shizuru. Checkmate.
The general, faced with the two unexpected attacks, forwent her trapped weapon and evaded the flying dagger only to have the bluenette land and grapple her to the ground. In the struggle, Shizuru withdrew her own dagger and Natsuki's mask slipped, exposing the entirety of her beautiful china-doll like features. Hissing in genuine shock, the brunette froze momentarily for fear of marring the beautiful creation before her.
The hesitation was all Natsuki needed before trapping Shizuru below her at knifepoint, but Shizuru didn't lose completely, for she had her own dagger placed carefully against the bluenette's neck as well. Holding Shizuru's free hand securely above the brunettes head and crouched over her abdomen, the bluenette glowered at the mysterious crimsons under her.
With only a few scant inches to separate them, they warily panted shallow breaths that brushed each other almost lovingly. Crimson stared up at the beautiful porcelain doll above her—from the lusciously pink lips to the delicate point of the nose and finally to the swirling emerald abysses that dazed her in their stubbornly defiant glare. How had she not noticed them earlier? They absolutely glowed like two precious jewels in the dimness of the room. And her scent…she carried an irresistibly sweet flavor with a touch of smoky ember. Overall, Shizuru found it both enticing and comforting to inhale.
"What a predicament this is…" Shizuru mused with a sincerely pleased smile as if she were entertaining well acquainted friends over afternoon tea and not lying flat on the floor with a dangerous point against her neck.
Unlike the brunette, Natsuki was very much aware of the dagger threatening her life and so she awkwardly asked, "Look, I don't get how this is amusing to you, but let's call this a truce, k?"
Crimson eyes danced at hearing the sexy, husky voice. Not only was the striking bluenette an excellent fighter, but she also carried a delightfully enjoyable voice too? The gods have truly smiled upon her tonight. "Ara, but my dear…?"
"Natsuki. Natsuki Kuga." Natsuki said, seeing no point in hiding her identity now that her mask is gone.
Eyes gleaming like a child with a new toy, Shizuru continued teasingly, "Natsuki might I remind you how we got into this interesting fix?" Na-tsu-ki…Shizuru repeated the name in her head, liking the way it rolled off her tongue.
Drawing her eyebrow down in comprehension, the bluenette reluctantly gave Shizuru what she thought she wanted, "Fine. I'm...I'msorry." The monumental effort it took Natsuki to apologize showed in the faint frustrated blush that decorated her cheeks. "Now can I go? I didn't even kill anyone. Just knocked them around a bit."
Oh my…Shizuru had to restrain herself from caressing and feeling the heat on Natsuki's almost translucent skin. Can you be any more adorable, my little thief.
"My thanks for not killing off my household," Shizuru chuckled at the absurdity of her appreciation before she whispered, "but regardless…" the brunette would have rose to cover the few inches that separated them but for the dagger that held her down. Her own dagger was also pressed firmly against that porcelain skin. Beautiful the bluenette may be, but the general was not going to forfeit her life for a kiss. No, she was not some love-struck adolescent girl fawning over a pair of lips…delightful, delicious-looking lips. "My lady thief broke into my villa and proceeded to try and steal one of my most prized processions. Surely, you're not asking me to let you off this easily, are you?" The brunette asked mischievously.
"How about I spare your life?" Natsuki returned, deadpanned.
"And I your's." Shizuru retorted easily as she pointedly looked at her dagger against Natsuki's throat for emphasis.
Growling in irritation, Natsuki felt her dagger hand weakening from prolong tension of holding the weapon upright and she grew impatient as she hissed, "Lady! What do you what?"
Slightly intoxicated from the overwhelming scent and beauty only a breath above, Shizuru suggestively murmured, "I want whatever you have to offer."
Bewildered for a moment at the vagueness of the brunette's response, Natsuki opened her mouth to demand her to be more specific, but she stopped herself when she recognized the universal signs of hunger and desire overflowing from those half-lidded crimson eyes and the tongue that darted out to invitingly wet those slightly parted lips.
The hell? Do I have to meet every pervert in the house! Unconsciously edging back from that eager crimson gaze, Natsuki took in the general's whole profile and allowed that the brunette looked quite appealing herself. Her russet hair fanned out beautifully about a very feminine countenance. She had a slightly hooked nose and succulent lips that further complimented her womanly features. Looking further up, Natsuki was captivated by the drowning pools of red eyes staring dazedly back at her. Dang...
Raising a lazy eyebrow at the bluenette's increasingly pink face, Shizuru smiled and teased, "Have you thought of some naughty ideas you care to offer?"
The bluenette gasped indignantly and would have reflexively flung herself from the compromising position they were in if Shizuru had not turned the tables and grabbed on to the bluenette's free arm in time to keep her down. The brunette softly warned, "I wouldn't move around so much, Natsuki." She applied a little more pressure to her dagger to make sure the other understood. Natuski growled and returned the favor with her own lethal weapon. To Natsuki's frustration and Shizuru's pleasure, the struggle ended with the two even closer together than they were before. Now their mouths were almost touching and all they could see were the depths of the other's eyes.
"Natsuki, I admire your combat skills, but what else do you have to offer?" Shizuru breathed seriously, realizing that time was growing short for the other girl. She didn't want anyone to walk in on them should her household begin waking up and cry alarm. She also wanted to keep the Duchess's identity all to herself; this would be a secret between the two of them and no one else. Of course she considered that Natsuki might have shared her identity with others, but she would deal with them as they come.
Natsuki. She inwardly giggled at this new discovery.
"I make weapons," the bluenette said, relieved that they were finally getting somewhere.
"A blacksmith?" Shizuru asked, surprised.
"Apprentice."
"I see." Shizuru thought for a moment before continuing, "How about working for me, Natsuki? I will commission you well to make and repair the weapons of my army as well as to coach an elite team in your art of stealth and fighting style."
Brow climbing up to her forehead in genuine surprise, Natsuki clarified, "Wait, you'd hire me after I just attempted to steal your naginata?"
"Yes." Shizuru said, unruffled. "You truly impressed me with your skills. I had expected you to come for the naginata soon so I had more sentries patrolling the grounds than usual. Yet...I see that they barely slowed you down and that in itself warrants considerable recognition. Furthermore," Shizuru smiled challengingly before continuing, "you stood your ground against me."
Preening under the evaluation, Natsuki smirked and lied, "Ah, it was nothing."
Ara, what pride. Amused, Shizuru said, "I'm sure you don't really mean it was 'nothing'. After all, time is on my side and as long as I keep you here, I will win in the end, Natsuki."
Eyes narrowing at the declaration, Natsuki said, "Whatever, lady. When do you want me to start?"
Crimson eyes sparkled at the acceptance and Shizuru said, "In a 3 days' time, if that is ok with you. I'll have Chie prepare the soldiers for our arrival and I'll ask Mai to arrange for our stay."
"Wait, my stay? I already have a place in the city. I don't need anything arranged."
"The soldier barracks are located two leagues outside the city. You don't propose to traverse the distance daily, do you? They will see you every day during and outside the training sessions, and by living among them, you will make it easier for the soldiers to gauge your worthiness and develop the necessary attachments to you." Shizuru paused to study Natsuki's annoyed expression before continuing, "Besides, an effective officer needs to develop strong bonds with their soldiers. It will make your job easier, Natsuki. Please?" Shizuru pleaded with her eyes, while secretly planning to have her own bonding time with the bluenette during her stay.
Unable to say no to those insistent crimsons, Natsuki looked away and asked defiantly, "What about my equipments? Like a furnace? I can't fix weapons without the proper tools."
Seeing her victory in hand, Shizuru happily soothed Natsuki's worries by informing her of how she had already provided the soldiers with their own blacksmith building and that the previous blacksmith had retired. As for their living arrangements, they would be sharing their residence along with some of the other officers at an inn-like dwelling in the midst of the camp.
After reluctantly nodding her acquiescence, Natsuki cautiously lightened the pressure on the dagger and glanced at Shizuru to do the same. As soon as the Shizuru's dagger was a safe distance away, Natsuki promptly jumped up, but before she could make an escape Shizuru stopped her with a strong hand on her arm.
"Natsuki?" Shizuru called sweetly even though the bluenette was already looking at her with a crooked eyebrow as if to ask, 'What.'
"Please call me Shizuru from now on. I prefer that over 'lady.'" Even though Shizuru smiled while she made her request, Natsuki recognized a hint of insistence underlying her tone and crimson gaze. I want to hear you say my name, Natsuki…
Firmly removing the brunette's hand, Natsuki turned toward the balcony and waved. "See ya."
Disappointed, Shizuru reached out again, but the Duchess had already leapt across the room and onto the railing of the balcony. "Na-"
"Shizuru," Natsuki called into the night from her crouching position on the railing.
Pleasantly surprised by the sound of her name on the bluenette's lips, Shizuru unconsciously took a step forward. She watched the breeze catch the blue, silky hair in a river of ripples lapping at the dusky sky. Then the angel slowly turned her head and graced the dazed brunette with her stunningly green eyes. Giving a silly lopsided grin, she warned lightly, "I haven't given up on the naginata, you know."
Amused and delighted at the declaration, Shizuru instinctively reached up to catch her racing heart as she studied the delectable expression on Natsuki's face. Although she was fair fidgeting with glee on the inside, the brunette gave away none of her excitement on the outside.
"Ara," Shizuru smiled challengingly, "I wouldn't expect any less from the famed Masked Duchess."
And that was that as Shizuru watched Natsuki expertly hook her grappling onto the railing and bounced down the stone walls whiling holding her rope. When she landed, Natsuki retrieved the grappling with a practiced flick of her wrist and soon snuck across the lawn.
Even after Natsuki was long gone, Shizuru continued to stare at the edge of trees below where she had last seen the bluenette melt into the shadows. The brunette's heart never stopped hammering. Her ears were slightly tinged with pink. And for some reason her lips had a life of their own for they insisted on remaining in their silly upturned position.
When she finally tore her gaze away from the outside, Shizuru retreated to the receiving room where she lighted an oil lamp and poured herself a decent amount of red wine. Sitting down on one of the luxurious couches, she stared at the cold tea kettle in the middle of the low table in front of her. Though she loved tea, it was late and she didn't have the heart to wake the servants up to boil water for her and to be honest, most of them were probably still out cold thanks to a certain lovely, bluenette thief. She preferred wine tonight anyways. It suited her mood. Light. Dazed. And happy.
All too soon, the head of the Fujino household could hear the heavy footfalls and clanging of armor growing increasingly louder from the corridor outside her room. Unfazed, Shizuru swirled her wine and crossed her legs as the captain of her guard knocked politely but urgently at her door.
"Come in."
Bursting through the door, a handsome short haired woman clad in a tight fitting armor marked by the Fujino's insignia, a horizontal line with a golden red, half-circle rising from it like dawn, quickly glanced around the room. Five of her soldiers, swords ready, stormed in behind her, careful not to knock her over in their rush.
Hiding an amused smile, Shizuru sipped her wine and waited for Chie to be done with inspecting her room.
"Was it the Duchess?" Chie observed as her eyes flicked over to Shizuru's naginata, still leaning against the bed.
Before answering her, Shizuru dismissed the rest of the soldiers who obediently sulked away with their shoulders slumped in shame at their failure and motioned the captain of the guard to have a seat.
When Chie sat down, albeit stiffly, Shizuru poured another glass of wine for her and answered, "It was."
Groaning, Chie bowed her head over her glass and muttered a list of apologies and regrets.
"Chie." Shizuru waited until the captain looked up. "The Duchess and I ended in a truce."
Amber eyes widened at the news and the recent overlook was momentarily forgotten. Smiling again in excitement, Chie placed her wine on the table and leaned in, asking, "A truce? You mean I missed an epic fight between the greatest general in living memory and the famous Masked Duchess? Noooo…. Oh at least tell me about it!"
"Don't worry, Chie. I'm sure you will have another chance to witness it."
Drawing her brows together, Chie said seriously, "No, you wouldn't need to dirty you hands again. We'll be ready for her next time."
Smiling, Shizuru thanked the captain for her concern and said, "I honestly do not mind meeting the Duchess again. She is a formidable opponent and the gods know that I haven't met one since Haruka. I quite enjoy the occasional challenge."
Nodding in agreement, Chie picked up her glass and took a sip. "I understand that it's lonely at the top, but if the Duchess is really as scary as you say then she should have no problems getting to you no matter what I do to stop her."
Eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly in warning, Shizuru said evenly, "Do what you must, but please do not draw blood. There is no need to trade either of your lives for a mere inanimate object, whatever its value. Understand?"
Stunned at the intensity of the crimson gaze, Chie openly stared at Shizuru who calmly refilled her glass while still waiting expectantly for an answer. "L-Lady…I understand." At the general's nod of acceptance, Chie regained her composure and continued, "So, how'd you two end in a truce? I know the Duchess is famous and all, but I would have put my bets on you! And not because you're my general, mind, but because I've seen you fight in the battlefield. As far as I'm concern, you have no equal! So how'd this rascal do it?"
Chuckling lightly at Chie's eagerness and curiosity, Shizuru recounted the fight in vivid detail for the captain's benefit and withheld only the part about Natsuki's mask slipping and the deal that occurred afterwards. For her part, Chie loyally took down notes in her mental journal and nodded now and again at certain points of the narration.
By the end of their talk, dawn was beginning to grace the sky in a tinge of orange and red. Chie got up to take her leave.
"I can't wait to share this with Aoi. She's been really down. No matter what she does, the princess just gets sicker every day. But hopefully this will cheer her up, at least for a little bit." Chie grinned and headed for the door.
"I hope so too." Shizuru said as she watched Chie grab for the door handle, but almost as an afterthought she added, "Oh, and Chie? I recently commissioned a trainer to prepare an elite group of soldiers in the art of covertcy and close-quarter combat. She'll be going with us when we head to the barracks."
Arching an eyebrow, Chie asked suspiciously, "Is this elite group going to be an intricate part of the plan?"
Shizuru nodded and said, "They will be the main force in recovering her since everything must be done in utmost secrecy."
"Then I will personally handpick the soldiers for this elite group." Chie walked back to the general before adding, "You said that Haruka plans to meet with the princess soon. Do you think maybe Haruka is suspicious of us?"
Staring emptily at the ceiling, Shizuru answered, "She probably is, but I don't think there is a single noble Haruka doesn't have doubts about. And she is probably right too. Otherwise we wouldn't be planning this at all now would we, Chie?"
"Yeah…then she's probably trying to persuade the Princess to terminate your position as the General of the Royal Army." Chie crossed her arms with clear displeasure. "That wouldn't be good, but I doubt Princess Mashiro would listen to her when even the Queen is unwilling usurps you with a lesser official. They have to trust you when the whole of the country does and their position as the Royal Family is so fragile."
"And I have yet to give them a reason to do otherwise." Shizuru mused as she stood up and stretched her tired body. The general barely slept a wink last night due to the uneasy feeling in her gut that started early evening of yesterday and which was later explained by the arrival of Natsuki. "Chie, will you ask Mai to check on the servants. I do believe the Duchess may have gotten her hands on some of them."
"No problem." Chie bowed before leaving.
Shizuru readied herself for a long day. She will be visiting the guards and lesser officers to discuss the migration to the training camp. The brunette also needed to prep the household for her temporary absence, and of course, she planned to visit the palace today one last time to get a sense of the atmosphere of the upper class reigning in the Court right now. A long day indeed.
When she was dressed in her fair lavender armor along with silver wrought vambraces, the general of the Royal Army grabbed her cherry red naginata and held it admiringly.
Is this what you want, Natsuki? Then I will keep it with me at all times. Come for it. Come.
The weapon was no longer just a weapon to Shizuru. It was a way for her to draw Natsuki to her. It was the only connection she has with the bluenette. For now. Hooking the naginata to her back, she took one final look at the forest where Natsuki disappeared into before she stepped out of her room and into a very busy day.
AGAIN, TREAWOLF WILL CONTINUE THE STORY FROM HENCEFORTH!