Chapter IV- A New Day

I am so sorry that you had to wait so long. the stupid computer came down with a virus for i dont know how long, like a couple of hours after i posted the third chapter. if that didnt happen, then the fourth chapter would have been posted then. I hope that you enjoy the awaited the chapter. Discalimer, i do not own mai hime and the characters.

Before she walked in, she had put on her helmet as usual, but making sure that it was secure that Mai and Shizuru would not be able to take it off. Earlier, they have tried multiple times to take off the helmet. They almost succeeded one time. It was all because she nearly tripped and fell on the ground and they were able to get a firm hold of it and they tried to pull it off. She sighed before opening the door to see the troublesome duo. They were sitting next to each other and writing stuff down as they spoke softly to each other. God, it's like I'm babysitting two little kid. I really hope that Mai recovers soon.

Natsuki had thought to herself as she sat on a chair before speaking.

"So, what are you two up to now?"

"Ara, does Nat think that we are like troublesome kids?"

"…"

"So you do think that. Ara, why is Nat being so mean to us?"

Shizuru said while she started to cry. Natsuki stood up from her seat and was trying to think of something comfortable or helpful to say.

"No, I don't think that I …think that…I don't know.

She started to trail off as she soon found herself looking dumbfounded. While Natsuki was busy occupying herself with this and that, Shizuru let out a small giggle as she looked up to the woman in the dark armor.

"That's what Nat gets for being do mean."

Natsuki gave Shizuru one of her famous 'death glares' nut knowing that it wouldn't work, she sat back down again, trying to hide the blush that cane heavily on her face.

"I swear, you two are just like little kids if you ask me."

"Are not!"

Mai suddenly spoke up from watching what Shizuru did to the black knight and she decided that she would give it a try.

"You treat us like we are two troublesome kids though."

"Have you hit your head when you were small? Think back to what you were doing not too long ago, or more specifically, yesterday."

"Um… let's see, we ate, you came to check on us, and we tried to take off your helmet, not much."

Natsuki had to stop herself from yelling out "you fucking idiots kept trying to take off my helmet day by day!" but instead, she calmly stated, "ever since the day you guys came, all you did was try to take my helmet off."

She crossed her arms across her chest and look out the window. Luckily for her, Souske came in and asked her if she could speak to her privately.

"Natsuki, Mai is able to leave but…"

"What do you mean by but? You're scaring me now."

He took a deep breath before he continued.

"Mai… *sigh* you see Mai here, well she may be currently healed at the moment, but her blood shows that she is just more than a carriage drive. And that she is-"

Before Souske was able to finish what he was about to say, Natsuki placed a hand over his mouth while looking away.

"I know… I know more than you so don't worry about it. Besides, the best thing is not to get involved in it. I have tried, but it did not end well I will say."

She walked away from him and slowly walked up to the door and quickly opened it to see shizuru and mai fall over o their butts.

"So you guy were listening.

They looked up at her, as if she was some monster.

"Natsuki… is that really you?"

Instead of replying, Natsuki crossed her arms and looked the other way.

"I don't need to answer this."

"What happened to you?"

"…"

Shizuru stood up from the ground and walked over to Natsuki. Natsuki stiffened as Shizuru pressed her body close, and then Mai followed in. Natsuki felt a blush creep up on her face and she wanted to get out of there as fast as she could.

"W-What are you guys doing? Get off me!"

"Ara, Na~tsu~ki doesn't like this anymore?"

"Were not going anywhere till you tell us everything. Natsuki"

"Crap, crap, crap, FUCKING CRAP!"

Is what Natsuki thought as they got closer and touched the sides of her helmet.

"Hey, mutt! You here-"
unfortunately, Nao came in at the moment to see… um… the small incident that occurred.

"Wait Nao! It's not what it looks like! I can explain!"

"I should have known! You kept them for yourself in the end!"

"No! All I know is that I walk in the room and they started to ask me questions and then, when I didn't answer them, they did this! You got to believe me!"

"Hold on, I'll be back."

"Hey Nao! Get me out of this! Get back here spider!"

"And pull!"Shizuru got a firm hold of the black helmet and yanked it off.

"No!"

The sound of the metal clanging against the ground was heard throughout the room. When the metal died down and silence was followed.

"Natsuki…"

"Don't talk Mai. I'm going."

"But wait!"

"Why should I Shizuru?"

"At least explain to us what had happened to you these past years."

"No."

Natsuki walks over to the door and grips the handle before she speaks.

"From now on, Nao and Chie are to be in charge of you two for the time being."

And after that, she left them.

Nighttime fell onto the village when, Natsuki went out for a walk. The dried leaves crunched under her metal boots and all that surrounded her was the owls hooting, and occasional wolves were heard. She took off her helmet and sighed heavily to herself. She reached for her sword and grasped it by the hilt. Pulling it out of the sheath, she listened to the sound of feet shuffling. She turned around and there stood a woman with a long sword resting over her shoulder.

"Hm… I take it that you're the one that they call the black knight. You fit the description quite nicely."

She held up a wanted poster with a sketch of Natsuki in her armor and Duran.

"What do you want?"

"You should know by now."

"Tomoe, I don't know what it is that you want, but it would be best if you left."

Tomoe didn't have enough patience on her and she charged at her. Natsuki sidestepped left when the sword came by her. She leaped up to a nearby tree and opened up her leather bag and threw silver knives at her. Tomoe, who deflected the oncoming knives, she picked one up and threw one back at Natsuki. Unfortunately, Natsuki did not see that coming until it was millimeters away from her body. Twisting her body, she managed to get stabbed in the arm instead. She grabbed the knife and pulled it out of her arm, and she let it bleed. They lever left each other's gaze as they fought fiercely. Blood covered the floor, and Tomoe's men interfered with the battle. They all fell, and the last two was left standing.

"Huh, *pant* who would have guessed that you *pant* never play fair?"

"JUST DIE ALREADY! The sooner you die, the sooner I can get to Shizuru-onee-sama and that she will be free!"

"Tomoe, you will not get her!"

They lunged at each other, and that Natsuki was losing. Her sword came and met her back.

"AAAHHHH!"

Natsuki stumbled to regain her balance, but she fell to the ground.

"Must… win… for hers… sake…"

"Poor you. You took her away from me and now, I will take you away from her."

Blood came out from her wound and she was losing conscious. She reached for her sword and used it as a cane to get up.

"It's not over… just yet…"

Tomoe charged at her, and the only damage Natsuki was able to inflict was a regular wound to the arm until something cold entered her body. It was as if time froze there as they felt that one of them was going to fall. Blood oozed out of her mouth as she looked down at the injury, until Tomoe pulled the long sword from her body. She lost all nerves to stand, so she fell onto her knees, and then fell onto the floor.

"That's what you get bitch. For taking Shizuru-onee-sama away from me."

Tomoe walked up to the rouge warrior and she thought to herself, I might as well get the bounty that is held over her head. But, just for one fucking person, who the hell costs 7,000,000 million yen? So, she tied her arms and legs together before throwing her on her horse. And she rode off into the mist with an unconscious Natsuki.