On the emperor's order the assassins departed that day as soon as possible. The faster the job was done the more money they would be paid. They traveled on two Arabian horses; the fastest mode of transportation. Since the boats wouldn't be able to take them to Fuuka. The boats only ran through the towns of Garderobe. The other parts of the world really didn't exist to the dictating emperor; since they weren't nearly as prosperous.
They only stopped for camp: hunting for small food and sleeping a few hours at night. The horses ran an increment of fifteen miles straight. Then break for fifteen minutes before trotting for a mile or two and picking up the run again.
At long last boots touched Fuuka soil. The assassin walked up to a random citizen. "Excuse me do you know where Shizuru Fujino lives?"
"Welcome back, Natsuki." Shizuru's lovely polite voice rang in her ears. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Actually, I was hoping that you would want to go outside for a walk with me."
"Walk outside…?" She saw the noblewoman flinch. It really has been five months since she consciously left her home.
"We won't go far, promise." The ebony haired female held out her hand in a friendly gesture hoping that the other woman would take it. Slowly the chestnut haired woman raised her hand. Shizuru's hand was soft and warm to the touch. Her fingers closed over the heiress' a light flush entered the holy woman's face. Shizuru didn't let go of her hand as they walked outside.
Duran who noticed his owner walk out of the building trotted over to them. "Oh, is this your horse? He's very handsome." She giggled trying to suppress her nerves.
"This is my partner Duran, we've been together since he was a foal." The priestess ran her hand down his neck. Shizuru watched the affection between them with a curiosity. "Would you like to pet him?" Natsuki asked innocently unaware of her discomfort.
"I don't know." The green eyed woman didn't take that for an acceptable answer. She took her hand and placed it on his snout. The animal actually leaned into her touch his tail flicking a few times in approval. The complement she gave him went pretty far. Duran normally hates strangers touching him but Natsuki wasn't going to tell her that.
"He likes you. Would you like to go for a ride instead of a walk?" The woman had an unsure facial expression. "You have ridden on a horse before right?" In truth she hadn't. She had only been in the carriage. The navy haired girl wrapped her arms around the unsuspecting woman and lifted her in the horses back. She was placed on the horse in the side saddle position. Next Natsuki mounted Duran sitting behind the saddle. Wrapping her arms around the other and grabbing the reins.
"Lean against me." The nomad commanded gently as Duran began to move. Unnoticed to the blunette the taller woman was blushing while she rested her head on her companion's shoulder. Natsuki inhaled the lovely woman's scent, her hair smelled like ginseng. While the heiress was beginning to relax and get comfy she however was not. Natsuki was thinking of a way to bring up what she had learned from Yukino.
The path was flat sand; a dessert like scene without much beauty and the unbearable heat. "Hey, Shizuru?"
"Yes?"
"I learned something about your curse." The priestess said in a monotone voice.
"Alright…?" Shizuru tensed up she already didn't like were this was going. After all if this was happy news the raven haired girl would have announced it with a better voice.
"I think someone asked the revenge deity to place a curse on your heart." It was whispered softly into her light brown hair.
"…?"
"Someone is likely to hate you for marrying the emperor's rich son." Tears gathered on her bottom eyelid but she refused to let them fall. She already does enough of that she won't do it in front of Natsuki. The smaller woman was observing the noble wondering if she should continue.
"I think the solution to cure your heart is for you too-"
"Die!" The two females jumped and so did the horse. They were so focused on each other that they didn't notice another's presences. And it's not like the new comer was even able to hide behind something. An unknown female- smaller than either of them- wearing metal claws on both hands jumped in front to the traveling pair. Shizuru shrieked when Duran did. Natsuki pulled on the reins trying to get Duran back under control before they fell off. Duran didn't fully calm down but immediately listened to the command given. The order given through the tense reins was turn around run back to the house.
"You can run but you can't hide!" The redhead shouted adding in an evil laugh.
"Who is that?" Natsuki turned her head around to see if the redhead was following. Her eyes couldn't tell but something in her said she was coming.
"I don't know another assassin after me!" Shizuru held onto the priestess fear clearly written on her face. This was one of the many reasons she never left her home.
The stallion ran all the way up to the front door. "Go hide inside." The dark haired woman commanded helping her get down.
"Wait, what about you?" Despite the fact they were still considered strangers the ebony haired woman took great comfort in knowing that the tan haired woman was concerned about her.
"Don't worry about me." Natsuki mounted her companion and kicked the horse's sides. The younger woman's plan was to stop the attacker from getting to the house. Hopefully keeping her out of harms way. The only problem being that she didn't have any weapons to fight with. The charms she carried only worked on demons and other supernatural things.
"Good to know you have the guts to face me head on." The redhead licked her metal claws. Though the assassin knew the only reason she came was that the blunette was trying to keep her from getting to the snake woman.
"And just who are you?"
"Not that it matter much you may call me, Nao."
"Nao and you objective here is?" The cobalt haired woman dismounted from her partner but keep him close.
"Collect the bounty on the head of your monstrous friend."
"Don't call her a monster!" Natsuki yelled anger rising in her body. Her hands reached into her pockets grasping onto the paper charms. There was nothing she could use as a weapon either small rocks weren't good projectiles here.
The crimson haired girl started to walk closer to the holy woman. Slowly stalking her prey like a vicious apex predator. Even weaponless she still didn't back down only readying herself to avoid an attack. Nao lunged at her like a cat trying to end it with one swipe at her chest. It could have been a fatal move but Natsuki managed to evade it in time but fall on her side avoiding another slash.
While on the ground and currently in a bad position to defend herself. Duran jumped up trying to stomp on the smaller green eyed female with his front legs. Nao didn't expect the animal would attack her but darted and rolled to the sided dodging another attack from the animal. He brought his hind legs up and kicked blindly trying to get her to back off. It did work the assassin move back yards away from the pair.
Natsuki stood up placing a hand on Duran's back. Sending a telepathic thank you that she knew he understood. "Hm, this is the first time I've seen an animal actually stand by its master trying to defend them. What a lovely bond you two much have" The foe said in a sickened voice crossing one hand over her middle and brought the other to her face striking a pose. "However, it won't take me by surprise again."
Shifting into attaching position the older woman braced herself once more. Whoever blinked first would be the one to get hurt. They concentration on each other faltered when the ground under their feet began to shake. "Earthquake?" Natsuki whispered grabbing for Duran's reins. The horse neighed in fear trying to get away. It couldn't be an earthquake or Duran would have been acted up along before it started. Unnoticed to them under Nao's feet is where the earth shook the most.
The redhead screamed as she found herself airborne flying past where the ebony haired girl and her partner stood. A large snake popped out of a hole like it was a mole. Hissing and screeching violently. "Shizuru…?" The navy haired female took her partner and ran out of the path of the serpent observing her from a safe distance.
Shizuru was a purple snake, dark amethyst on top with a light purple underbelly. She had golden eyes the glowered with anger. Acidic poison dripped from two very large fangs burning holes on the dirt below. Very freighting.
The redhead groaned a bit but stood up like nothing happened. Surely after that fall something had to be broken? "Finally my prey decided to show its self." The enemy rushed over to the Serpent Shizuru and swiped at her body.
The priestess openly flinched, hearing Shizuru cry out in pain. Her roar was more than just a snake's hiss. Her voice growled like a big cat plus a child like screech. Scales were ripped off her body and blood spilled forth onto the ground. Enraged with pain the reptile lifted her tail and tried to crush Nao with it. She eluded the initial slam but couldn't dodge when she racked her tail outward. The hired gun flew in the air once more. Only this time she didn't bounce back up.
Shizuru slowly slithered towards her opening her mouth as wide as it could go. She retracted back and like lightning strike forward. A dust cloud exploded upwards as she crashed down to the ground. The blunette was unable to see if Nao was dead of not but who could survive that?
The massive snake pulled her head back out of the earth and looked forward. Natsuki followed her eyesight to see an unconscious Nao being held bridal style by another woman. Emotionless the new female started at Shizuru with red orbs. She didn't say a thing but took the smaller female and left. Shizuru didn't follow. She had won and protected her territory.
"You did it Shizuru!" Natsuki left her safe area unaware of her bad move. Slowly the reptile turned her head focusing on the blue haired woman. The emerald eyed girl froze as the heiress hissed at her. Sensing danger she jumped on Duran's back and took off. Looking back the serpent was leisurely moving in her direction, further away from her house. At least this way she wouldn't destroy anything.
A mile down she stopped the horse and looked back. She couldn't see or feel the presence of the large snake. Maybe she turned human once more? Thinking it was safe she turned around and walked back. Half a mile back she saw the chestnut haired girl, out cold and in human form. Natsuki leaped off her partner and rushed over to the older female.
She pulled the fair haired woman into her arms. Shizuru's clothes were ripped and dirty but still on her person. Her wound had closed leaving dried blood on her side. So, she wouldn't remember any of this when she wakes up? Gently she laid the red eyed woman stomach down onto Duran. Resting on hand on her back making sure she wouldn't slip off they started the walk back.
They paused when they reached the area where the battle was fought. There was a giant hole in the ground like the ones at Shizuru's house. Something else caught her eye as it glittered in the sun. It was one of her light lavender scales. She bent over and picked it up; it was a large scale sharp to the touch. More like a fish's scale then a reptile's. "I wonder if I can make something from this." Very carefully she held onto it making sure not to accidently cut herself.
They continued the walk back. Duran walked all the way up to the front door before the dark haired woman opted to carry her. She glimpsed at the hole filled yard sure enough there was another hole. Without knocking she opened the door of the half demolish manor.
Tomoe heard them entered and walked out of the kitchen wanting to greet her master. "What happened?" She screamed upon seeing the state the heiress was in.
"We were attacked by some woman bounty hunter named Nao."
Natsuki frowned when the maid took the tawny haired woman in her arms. "I'll take care of her."
"I'll help."
"No need!" The servant snapped leaving her at the door. Huffing she crossed her hands over her chest. Natsuki really hated the thought of the short haired girl bathing and dressing the wound of the lovely woman. Grumbling under her breath she walked outside. Duran was now grazing a bit on the half dead grass of her yard not really paying any attention. To distract herself she gazed at the mauve scale.
Natsuki glimpsed around and spotted a piece of wood about two inches thick standing up. With a flick of her arm the edge of the scale cut into the wood. The timber was slashed in half; no rough edges the prefect cut. The top part fell to the ground with a small patter. The green eyed female smirked she knew what she wanted and she wanted to forge a sword out of it.
A/N: Meh, I hate this chapter it's kinda rushed still after all this time. Either way review please I need something positive after my shitty day at work. Arabian horses are one of the fastest horses for long distance runs.
Hey, does anyone know how to get another category up? I emailed the FF crew twice but they won't put up the movie I want. They didn't even bother to email me back with a no. I've even already written the fic too. Are they really that busy being asses and deleting rated M works? Well I don't know about you guys but I'm not letting them stop me from writing whatever the hell I want.
Did you know that Wolves Child was also deleted? *sigh* But that one had been gone for a while now.
On another side note, does anyone have the chapters 17-19 of Silence of the Himes by DemonicTwister? If not can someone I don't know summarize those chapters for me?