Author's Note: Well, its been a while. I just pray someone is actually still reading this. Thanks Tee for betaing this chapter xD
Disclaimer: I don't own…coughcoughMaihimecough/coughotomecoughmangascough and neither do I own Loveless.
Mini-Bleach: -sweatdrops- Well…they yeah…kind of…just a little bit, couldn't help it. Sorry xD? Well after about 3 or so months…I just hope you are still reading it my dear friend xD thanks for reviewing! –winks- if you actually do read it, try checking 'The Beauty of Madness' –my third master piece- xD
Reference:
Loveless fighting system: The fighting style in the series is also unique; fighting can only occur between couples (with a few exceptions), where one is the Sacrifice, who receives all damage, and the other is the Fighter, who attempts to attack the enemy couple. The connection between this two is especial and rare. A spell battle is how they fight, since attack and defense mechanisms are activated by pronouncing certain words -- spell words -- which have a special ability or meaning in battle context.
Chapter 3: Loveless
"Did I not say it clearly enough?" Shizuru questioned herself frowning a little before straighten up to look at the well-known emerald eyes she had missed so many centuries ago.
"I know what you mean, idiot!" Natsuki yelled annoyed and her face began blushing unexpectedly. "I was asking what kind of fighter are you! Coming all of the sudden and stalking me!"
"Ahh." The brunette nodded understanding and then flashed a seductively smile and winked at the raven haired. "Well, I like to be mysterious."
"You…are weird." The other woman replied, eyeing her stalker suspiciously.
"Will my beautiful sacrifice tell me her name?"
Natsuki's eye twitched and she shouted annoyed for a second time. "I haven't even accepted you!"
"Oh, is my raven beauty refusing to accept such exotic fighter as myself?"
"I-idiot what kind of things are you saying!" The raven haired stuttered out when she observed the disappointed look from her companion. She sighed and looked away with her arms crossed as she revealed her name. "And my name is Natsuki Kruger!"
"Natsuki…" The immortal face seemed to beam at the confirmation before looking crestfallen for another second, and then finally putting back a smile to the reincarnation of her beloved. "Well, since Natsuki doesn't seem to want me. I will just have to find myself a better partner."
Shizuru sighed saddened and began walking away slowly, hoping that her beloved will have a change of mind. She stretched her arms for a second before putting them on her leather pant's pockets and munched her chocolate pocky quietly.
"Wa-ait!" The other woman called as soon as her companion was about to walk out of the alley.
"Yes?"
The Immortal turned to gaze hopefully at Natsuki for a moment and then hiding it. She gave her a blank look. The raven haired woman walked closer to Shizuru. She looks nervous, noted Shizuru.
Young, jade familiar eyes stared at old, forgotten scarlet eyes before she uttered. "You…are loveless too aren't you?"
That simple question held so many sentiments to the chestnut haired woman. It was so true and real that sometimes it was the only thing reminding her why she had become an Immortal. Unconsciously Shizuru's hand moved to her left side, a little above her hips and gripped it for an instance.
"Yes, I am." She answered quietly, not looking away from her Sacrifice.
Neither knew how long had they been staring at each other, they didn't care. It wasn't till Natsuki did the first move. She caressed the older woman's cheek and gave a small smile.
"Kiyohime, right?" The raven haired asked and received a nod from her companion. "Instead of playing around you could have told me the truth."
"Where will the fun be then?" The other woman whispered and held Natsuki's hand, the one caressing her cheek.
"Silly idiot, I was about to let you go." Natsuki walked closer and rested her head on the woman's chest. The raven haired used her other vacant hand and held Shizuru's other arm. "You are my fighter, don't you dare joke about leaving me."
"I'm sorry, Natsuki."
"Fighter and Sacrifice, we have a fated connection to each other but to the ones called 'Loveless' is the most dearly thing one can hold as their own. Because we are loveless, there's no love for us but between us."
"Indeed, it is."
"I will become your sacrifice, Kiyohime." Natsuki muttered tenderly.
Gradually Shizuru's dream ended at the same time as the rain began to stop. Her sleepy eyes blinked a little before she mumbled her answer and snuggled closer to the other woman. "And I your fighter, Natsuki Kruger."
"Bad dreams?" The raven haired asked sincerely concerned and stroke the long and smooth chestnut hair.
"Not anymore." Both women groaned, hearing their alarm beep and blinking 7am. "Remind me why must we be awake so early?"
Natsuki turned off the alarm and rubbed her eyes. "I don't think I remember anymore."
The two of them separated and started their daily routine, unwilling and still tired. It was just after taking her morning bath and beginning breakfast did Natsuki ask what the other woman dreamt.
Shizuru leaned on the countertop and tilted her head to the side as she looked at Natsuki who was sitting in front of her and gazing back at her. A mischievous idea began forming in the playful woman's mind.
"You were recalling our embarrassing meeting?" The raven haired almost chocked her toast when Kiyohime began telling about her dream, the last parts that is.
"Yes and thank you."
The raven haired frowned, swallowed a piece of toast before asking. "Why?"
"It was because you came, I could go to better dreams."
"My pleasure, Kiyohime."
Shizuru was almost disappointed at the lack of a tomato face from Natsuki but the husky voice and smirk adorning her precious one face was much more worth and it made the Immortal heart beat faster for a good moment.
"What is that Natsuki?" The Fighter asked observing the change of mood in her beloved when she began reading the newspaper.
"Look at this." The raven haired showed the article that had caught her eyes.
A little below the main article a black bold and big letters said: Beware Fighters and Sacrifices, the Beloved team is back and ready to strike!
"They are suppose to be our counterparts, are they not?" Kiyohime asked noting there was no picture of the said team.
"The most loved ones." Natsuki answered bitterly.
"We might meet them pretty soon, sooner if I chose to find them."
"Don't, let them be for now. I will let fate play as it like and wait till the right moment."
"Natsuki…"
"Where does my cute sacrifice plans to go today?" Shizuru asked playfully.
The pair strolled around the streets linked arm to arm. While the brunette stared at many and various stores joyfully, her counterpart glanced from side to side a few times but not actually looking at anything that truly will caught her eyes.
"Is not time to play games, Kiyohime."
"My, my someone is serious."
"We have a stalker." Natsuki whispered cautiously, her eyes locked at the said figure.
Shizuru chuckled. "Is that so? I can assure you, whoever that is might only be another of our fans or a mere human. Not a real threat."
"Sometimes I can hardly believe you are my Fighter." The raven haired grumbled and guided them to a more secluded place.
"Natsuki is so mean." Shizuru complained childish and pouting but it didn't work, this time.
"You deserve it."
Fighter and Sacrifice turned to an alley and disappeared from their stalker view, making it panic and run to where they had vanished. The figure blinked at the empty alleyway. However it soon found itself frozen when it felt something pointed at its head.
"I don't welcome stalkers unless they go by 'Kiyohime'." Natsuki stated, pointing a pistol at their stalker. "Identify yourself."
"You are Loveless aren't you?" Rather than answering, it asked. The figure's silver eye glanced at the pair behind him.
"Who wishes to know?"
"Discordia." It replied this time.
"Does Natsuki know who this 'Discordia' is?" Shizuru asked quietly to her companion's ear.
"Am I suppose to know?" Natsuki sighed in relief internally when she didn't stuttered and tried hard not to seem affected by her Fighter's breath on her ear.
"Discordia has invited you to a private tournament sponsored by herself." The figure took a letter from itself making both women wonder if it was even human. "We wish you pleasantries and hope you will assist."
Shizuru took the letter carefully and backed away rapidly when the figure dissipated. She shook her head and concentrated on the letter in her hands. "Greetings Loveless, I apologize to have not come myself however as you know…"
"I hope you will assist to my own championship in hopes to show who the strongest team in earth is."
At the other side of the town Mai read the same letter with Mikoto on her lap, their faces unreadable.
"In one week from now I will await for every team that has chosen to assist at Fuuka Island where the battles will be done.
A brunette and dark short gray haired woman stared at the dissipating figure, the same one that had been with Shizuru and Natsuki. A single letter with BELOVED written was the only trace left of the mysterious being.
"Many will wonder what is the point of showing who the strongest team is nonetheless I have one more reward for the victorious duo.
Another shot elsewhere, a blonde and a light redhead woman staring at each other and then at the letter they held together. Behind them two defeated redhead blinked surprised at a letter of their own.
Not far away another pair received the same letter. The blonde Sacrifice listened attentively.
"…Fighter and Sacrifice will be granted any wish they want. Farewells, Discordia." The husky voice finished and then looked at timid green eyes who shrugged helplessly.
A female silhouette smirked pleasantly, its eye watching each scene of the Sacrifices and Fighters receiving her invitation. The diverse screens shut off, leaving only darkness and the standing figure barely visible.
"One little nameless girl, two beloved pets and three forsaken loves!" A wicked rhyme, insane and incoherent just likes the one reciting it. "The first one is the last one. Fearless like its master and now loveless and all forgotten!"
"Let's see if you can escape fate again, Shizuru-chan." The very well known voice whispered in the darkness and began laughing wickedly. Its crazy companion kept reciting the same sentences again and again yet it was ignored.
In the meantime, two young women stayed in silence, deep in thought.
"What does Natsuki think?" Shizuru finally asked.
"What do you think?" Natsuki asked instead wanting some kind of advice from the older woman.
"I'm the Fighter, I should follow my Sacrifice for you are the one to decide our fate."
"Is that so?"
The brunette nodded and ignored the bittersweet question from her beloved. "Natsuki is the one who will be hurt each time we fight, is in your hands whatever you choose to do with this invitation."
"If I say 'no'?"
"Then we will stay and continue our lives."
"And if I chose to go?"
"I will ask when and pack our stuffs."
"I see." Natsuki sighed, she knew that what Kiyohime did for her was for her sake. I just wish she will choose herself, she really should have a say when it comes to this things. She thought sadly and began walking back home.
"Kiyohime…" The raven haired whispered and turned to look at her Fighter. She took a quick glance around and noted the streets were rather empty.
"Yes, Natsuki?" Shizuru asked smiling softly.
"A year ago, when we met. You told me Kiyohime wasn't your real name after I began questioning about your whereabouts." The brunette's smile disappeared and she looked away. "Will you still deny me that knowledge now?"
"The first time wasn't personal, I did take Kiyohime as my name. However…" Shizuru stared at the ground, her eyes began being covered by her chestnut locks. "As much as I wish to tell Natsuki my name I can't."
"Can't or won't?" Her companion countered harshly.
"Both."
"Why?"
Shizuru closed her eyes, trying in vain to stop her emotions. She knew how painfully Natsuki might be looking with the hurt tone she had heard. It was a very haunting image and the Immortal didn't dare glance at it. "I told you already." She uttered out, swallowing a sob.
"That's not an answer." The raven haired was already crying, her voice sounded small, hurt but must of all vulnerable.
"It is for me."
"Do you remember that night? The one you promised that nothing will go wrong, that you will stay forever by my side?"
"I do."
"I made the same vow myself." The Sacrifice stated making Shizuru to stare at teary jade eyes. "Whatever you did in the past, whoever you were back then. It won't change how I think of you."
"Natsuki…" Shizuru wanted to reach and comfort her beloved. She had knew, deep inside her since last year. It was meant to happen sooner or later, The Fighter though distressfully, her heart ached and began crying too.
"If a name means so much, then I wonder if we really are that close."
"You don't understand." The chestnut haired woman tried explaining.
"Then make me! Because I know something is eating you from here Kiyo!" Natsuki yelled and pointed at her heart. "You think I am that dense? I can see it clearly as the sky! Your smiles might deceive me but your eyes don't! Those bloody scarlet painful eyes tell me enough! They tell me how much pain you are!" A sob and more tears from both women. "And you won't let me help you!" The raven haired panted slightly and swallowed another sob. She wiped her tears roughly with her arm and calmed herself. "Maybe is not fair but we are going. If you won't say it then I will wish for it." Shizuru was staring at the floor again, helpless. Natsuki shook her head in defeat.
"I just really hope we don't have to." It was the last thing her beloved said before heading away, leaving a heartbroken Shizuru.
Omake:
Shizuru: -blinks-
Natsuki: Oh BEEP
Rainee-chan: -sweatdrop- -smack herself with the table- I'm an idiot.
I had this for a while…and since I just hope people do actually are reading this I am updating it. Review if you wish or find worth it. I do like my chapter but…-sweatdrops- I just hope people do read it…
