Chapter 4 : A Fairy tale Story
...
The morning rays of sunshine's light slips it's way into any hole and crevice it can find, lightening the dark room from it's eerie silence to morning birds chirping and singing. Parts of the light beams onto a large bed, passing the see-through curtains and creeping up a pale white face.
The person shifts, the soft rustling of the sheets bundled up into a larger lump. The suns rays has yet to past over closed eyes and it became hard to fall back asleep. The cold was still lingering into the large dark room, making it harder to pull away the sheets and welcome the new day.
With a defeated grunt the closed eyes slowly opens. Shizuru had a hard time to adjust her heavy eyes in the slightly dark cold room. She balls her hands, gripping the sheets in a tight fist as she brings it closer to her neck. She was well aware of a morning person, but mother nature has taken over this pleasant awakening. Shizuru sighs in defeat as she closes her eyes again.
" Such a rude awakening." Shizuru says to herself, her voice was thick and groggy from lack of sleep. She should have known she was going to start her period after a full moon, but the events spending with Natsuki has made her lose her balance of schedule. Shizuru struggles again to open her eyes and sit up, but she needed to freshen up before things got dirty.
Shizuru slowly peels away the sheets, the chilly air inside the mansion has already given her goosebumps as she reaches for her chair. With a sluggish lift Shizuru adjusts her legs onto the foot rest and slowly begins to make her away out of her room. The heavy wooden door groans as Shizuru pushes it aside and wheels her way to the washroom. Once inside Shizuru shuts the door, the pleasant atmosphere of privacy was her favorite start of the day. She begins to do her daily morning business by stripping down to her clothes and turning on the hot water.
As the water was filling the tub Shizuru thoughts had drifted back to when she and Natsuki were enjoying the day of her working in the mansion.
..." And now you know why the water is running slow. " Natsuki says as she was tinkering her way around the large bronze pipes that flow underneath the house.
" I should thank Natsuki for fixing such a annoying problem, but of course I have already known this situation." Shizuru was comfortable in her wheelchair, watching the engineer fiddle with her tool box to pick out the best wrench to handle the large bolts.
" Why not let twinkle toes boy fix this? Surely he knows how to do some kind of man work around here." Natsuki says, tapping the pip with one of her wrenches before tightening the bolts back in place.
Shizuru couldn't help but laugh at how Natsuki names Reito with such words. " Reito knows his manly fitting, but as you can see he has not touched a single thing in this house as to why I have hired you to do the fixing?" Shizuru looks down at the girl who was laying on her back, only her midriff and down were only visible to Shizuru's eyes.
The sound of the tinkering stopped. " Why not? Is he afraid to get his hands a little dirty." Annoyed with the way she spoke she gives out a grunt before going back to work.
" No." Shizuru props her elbow onto the armrest, leaning her head and cupping her cheek as she watches Natsuki's feet shift and her knees buck. " His hands are always dirty with personal reasons from outside the house. But of course that's none of my business." Shizuru watches the feet halt, her eyes curiously roam up.
With both gloved hands Natsuki grips the pipe, sliding herself out from under the stifling moist metal and peering up to the girl. " You don't know what he does in town?"
Shizuru quickly switches her eyes to the side, not wanting to be caught watching intensely Shizuru heaves out the air in her lungs. " I'm not interested in what he does for his spare time." burgundy eyes stayed where they were, a small silence fell upon the cisterns halls.
" Hmph. Well if I were you i'd be curious." Natsuki closed her eyes and pressed a dirty glove to her temple, massaging away the small irritation forming.
" Is Natsuki interest in what Reito does for his spare time? Perhaps she wants to have lunch with him?" Shizuru's purring voice hit Natsuki's ears.
Natsuki's body slightly jumped, opening her eyes and furrowing her brows to the woman next to her. " N-No! I was just advising you!" She clicks her teeth together as she watches the woman give her a smile, her eyes giving out a hint of amusement. " You..." Natsuki shuts her eyes tightly and with a big tug she pushes herself back under the pips. " Idiot." Natsuki gruffs softly.
Shizuru heartly laughs at the girls reaction.
Shizuru shook her head from the thoughts as she remembers the running water was filling up faster then before thanks to Natsuki's handy work in the cistern.
Reaching out to turn off the hot water Shizuru grips onto the porcelain side of the tub, lifting her bum off the chair and balancing her dead legs onto the cold tile floor she settles herself onto the tubs support. Shizuru was well enough on her own when her servants weren't present. Normally they would only be at the mansion if there was a busy schedule or big crowds of guests.
But she knew she was alone.
She sighs heavily as she turns her upper body to the steaming water, carefully hoisting her legs inside before fully settling herself into the hot welcoming water. She sinks lower until her lips vanish under, her nose only the source of air to enter her lungs. Shizuru closes her eyes as her body begins to relax and the hot water boiling her blood flowing through her body, wakening her groggy mind from sleep.
It has been well aware a week and a half since Natsuki had started to remember her way around the mansion. She wouldn't stay much more then an hour or two before going back to her work to finish up a few more clients before sunset. Natsuki hasn't let her know when she will end the small poorly paid job but the extra money coming up was too hard to pass.
Shizuru opens her eyes, her dark eyes roaming on top the flat surface of the water. Her mind couldn't stop pondering about Natsuki's comforting aura every time she was around. Every time Shizuru hears the loud thud of the doors Gothic lion handle she would try not to hastily open the welcoming person on the other side. She would quickly peer into a passing mirror and fixing her hair that would be out of place before opening the door. Natsuki would be there with her tools and a smile on her face. The mansion lit up so quickly with her presence.
Shizuru blew out under the water, the soft air escaping from her mouth made the water ripple, the sound of small bubbles filling the silent air. Oh how she wanted to see Natsuki again but the girls schedule has been taken away this week from her other job.
Perhaps I should go to town today? She ponders to herself before making a quick decision. Shizuru hasn't left her mansion ever since she went to Natsuki's job and the thought of going shopping on her own without Reito by her side made her smile a bit. Indeed it sounded like a great idea for her day hence she had the whole mansion to herself. There were no need for cleaning and her laundry was already fresh. The only thing she can do is make herself breakfast and water her garden. She also though of going to Mai's Inn, the long travel down to town will be almost an hour on horse back.
It was decided.
Shizuru quickly washed down and emptied the tub before turning on the water again and washing her hair with the loose shower head. Once she was done she finally gathered herself into her wheelchair and strode naked back to her room. She rummaged through her drawers and picked out a long tan dress skirt as well as white long pants. She dried her hair with the towel and applied little amount of make-up before finally putting on her light green cloak. She tied the strings together to form a bow by her collar and lifted the hood over her damp hair, the shade of the cloak hiding her unusual eyes from anyone who she runs into.
Once she was ready she makes her way down the hall where the open lift awaits her. She hauls herself inside before shutting the inner gate of the lift and pulled the crank shaft down to the first floor. It slowly descended before it gave a small rattle to a stop and Shizuru once again opens the inner iron gates aside.
Shizuru made her way into the side door, closing it shut behind her she was greeted with a small gust of fresh air and the smell of her blooming gardens. She wheels her way on a stony path that leads to a small barn where her horse was parked. Luckily for her the horse was trained to stay down to be saddled before standing.
She smiled at the large black shire when she slides open the barns wooden gates. The horse claps it's large hoof onto the hay covered floor, signaling to be let out and loaded onto. Shizuru lets out the large shire out of it's resting area and nuzzles the side of her face.
" My, my aren't you just the sweetest every morning." Shizuru says with a small guffaw, petting the shire's large snout.
Once everything was in order Shizuru had saddled her horse, quickly folding her wheelchair and strapping it to the side of her horse Shizuru grabs a hold of the reins.
" Let's check out the rest of the town shall we? " Shizuru gave her shire a small tap on the side of it's neck and it rose up to it's full height.
The slow ride to town has begun.
...
A large crowd was forming in front of a police line, the loud chattering and whispers from the people were beyond spooked and shaken from the scene before their eyes.
" You think this was a murder? "
" Who could have left such a sight! "
" The smell is beyond necrotic. "
The panic crowd was asking full of questions of the mysterious death that was placed in the alley way. There was police already at the scene and careful chalk out-lining of the death of the unknown man that was ripped beyond noticeable. The brick walls were splattered in blood and pieces of inners everywhere the police stepped.
A loud horn and the sound of a police siren made it's way through the crowd, signaling people to move out of the way and make room for the small automobile.
" Move! Coming through! Important person here! " The driver inside was a girl no other than Chie Hallard. With her automobile parked she kicked the door open, making her way out with her clip board and feathered pen.
" Detective Hallard, so nice of you to be on time with this one." One of the police says.
" What's the juicy details on this one sir? " Chie says as she pulls her collared trench coat closer to her neck. Her slightly dirty spectacles were perched on her nose and her ash colored hair wasn't brushed properly. Her brightly light brown eyes gave the officer a hint of excitement.
" See for yourself detective." The officer steps aside for her to move through, stretching his hand to the side to let her move forward. " And watch your step."
Chie makes her way through the police and finally on her target. She adjusts her glasses for a better look at the situation.
" Indeed to watch your step " Chie quietly whispers to herself as she look down at the victim. The poor man was unidentified, his face was completely ripped off, teeth missing and tongue. His eyes were gone from his sockets and his lower half body was missing. His engorged guts were splayed out everywhere, some completely shredded around the body.
The only thing Chie had notice was the sickening smell. " A body can't smell this bad unless it's been rotting out in the sun for weeks." Chie thought to herself as her eyes were glued to the scene.
" Detective! " Chie was snapped out of her thoughts when she was greeted by the head officer, Masashi Takeda.
Chie puts on her charming smile and greets Takeda with the tip of her hat. " Good morning to you chief! Seems like we got ourselves a mess here."
Takeda nodded as we fully walked up to the detective, his eyes shifting to the body before him. " Yeah, a big mess. There's no trace of any other victim besides him." The tan man says and tucks his hands into his pockets, straightening his back to his full height.
" No other victim? Takeda you must need some glasses because this guy couldn't have done this to himself." Chie pinched her nose, squeezing her eyes shut before letting out a sigh.
" Well has anything caught your eye? We've inspected everything." Takeda pulls his hands out of his pockets and rubbed the back of his sweaty neck. The crowd has become quite the headache.
" You guys just look and not dig. Why do you think I'm here?" Chie makes her way to the body, squatting down on her heels she looks for any sign of out of placement. Her eyes scanned carefully around the body, she shifts around and looks inside the open wound of the torso. The muscle inside was inflamed and the hollow of the chest cavity was infested with flies.
What caught her eyes was a thick white substance coming from the victims neck. She flicked her pen around and stretched out her arm, lifting under the swelled chin of the man the thick substance was not part of his body.
" What about this? Did you see this? " Chie tilts her head to the side for a better look before peering up to Takeda. With a raise of her hand she signals Takeda to come.
" Yes, we saw that earlier when we arrived. Seems like it's just convulsions from his state of death." Takeda didn't move where he was, infact he didn't want to be anywhere near the body.
With a small grunt of her throat Chie leans forward further but a strong necrotic smell hit her nose as she withdrew her pen and stumbled back, her bum hitting the dirty floor. "Oh! Oh God that reeks!" Chie covered her mouth and nose with both her hands. " So that's where the smell is coming from." Chie thought.
" We can't find the source of the smell. Do you think this guy had a bad parasite?" Takeda asked as he watched Chie's sudden shock.
" That's no parasite. But that isn't foam either." Chie got the courage to stumble back on her heels and pulled out a rag from her back pocket. Pressing the rag to her nose and mouth she uses the pen again to lift up the victims chin. "Look."
Takeda made his way around the body, bringing up his arm he uses it to cover his mouth and nose as he looks at the source of substance again.
" You see this? It has a shade of green. And it's thicker than foam. " She sticks the end of her pen into the substance before pulling out. The substance sticked to the end of the pen, it stretched out longer as Chie pulled back. The strong goo-like texture never letting go of the pen. " This is the smell. And it isn't human either." Chie muffles behind the rag before she nudges Takeda's shines. " get me a clear bottle, I want to bring some to the lab."
Takeda made his way back to his horse and grabbed his pouch. Making his way back he fetched out a small glass container and handed it to Chie.
With the tip of her pen Chie collects the substance, trying to flick off the remaining goo off the edges before closing it shut. " This will do fine, I'll let you know what I found." Chie straightens up and wrapped the glass around the rag. She adjusted her glasses again and turned her attention to the officer. " Get this place cleaned up, we don't want rumors spreading in this town."
Takeda nods in agreement and they both made their ways. Chie makes her way out of the crowd and into the safety of her automobile. Shutting the door loudly she stops and fiddles with the bottle in her hand. "This isn't good..." She whispers and peers out of the other side of the window, watching the clean up crew getting rid of the evidence.
" Not good at all."
...
The sound of trumping hooves cobbled onto the mossy stone, The shire horse snorted and shook it's head from pesky flies getting into it's nose and eyes. Shizuru was saddled comfortably onto the shire, her hands holding the reins as her eyes roamed into the brightly lidded forest. Birds sang around the tree tops and butterflies danced around patches of flowers. The road grew warmer as she road onto the path, sensing she was alone Shizuru brought one hand up and flung her hood back, letting her wet hair dry from the warmth of the suns rays peeking through the heavy thick tree tops.
Shizuru brushes her hair to one side of her shoulder and scans the area once more.
" This isn't so bad. I thought this road would be used much more then to lead up to my home." She spoke to herself as she enjoys the slow movement of her body makes when the horse swayed in it's path.
Her shire lets out a small ney before shaking it's long black hair to one side. Shizuru breaks away from the scenery and smiles upon her shire. " Of course I wouldn't doubt loving this long walk with you, Kiyohime." She softly ruffles her slim fingers into the horses mane, watching the soft hair slip between her fingers and grips the reins once more.
" I wonder if Natsuki will be in town today? Perhaps on her break?" Shizuru speaks a loud, bringing her pointer finger up to rest on her chin in a thinking pose. Before she could think of meeting Natsuki in town a rustle from within the forest stops her from her thoughts.
Halting her horse still, Shizuru looks to the sound. Her breath hitched and she felt like her heart stopped beating.
The rustling in the bush becomes louder.
Please.
Shizuru kept her eyes on the bush, not blinking once until the intruder shows themselves. The sound became more louder and the bushes movements increased. Shizuru stayed still like a cornered mouse.
Don't be a...
The source of the noise and the rattling of the bush halted. Shizuru's heart beated like a drum her breathing became slightly labored. Until a small head of a raccoon poked it's head out from the bushes. It's long whiskers twitched and it's blackened eyes looked up at her.
were-beast...?
Shizuru and the raccoon blinked at each other, both of them confused of what to do next. The raccoon sniffed at her direction before leaping back into the bush, finding shelter away from her.
Shizuru kept her eyes glued to that spot, the feeling of her adrenaline pumped into her head until the sound of her horse heaved out a grunt, pulling out of her trance Shizuru blinked once again and brought her hands up to her chest.
"Ah...I'm not use to being on my own, I'm on high alert with my surroundings." Feeling embarrassed with herself with the small creature she encountered she tried to still her heart before giving the reins a small flip, signaling the shire to continue the walk to town. Such a small thing and I was spooked beyond my words...
Shizuru looked down at the mossy stone path, her senses grew so much in the years that every little noise had her attention.
why would I think a beast was hidden in those small bushes...?
Slightly annoyed with herself, Shizuru couldn't understand. She moved away from those creatures long ago, they wouldn't find her here. The night her parents were slaughtered by a were-beast had burned a forever image into her mind. The bright eyes looking back at her from within the darkness...
I shouldn't let that trouble me anymore.
Shizuru lifts her head from the mossy path and gazed ahead. She could see the town coming into view as she rides towards the source of light out of the woods.
At the end of the path Shizuru halts her horse, enjoying the scenery as she looked beyond the town. It wasn't small or large, but perfect for everyone to get along. She could see the roads were already heavy with horses, carriages and automobiles. The side walk crowded with people with their families and pets.
Shizuru smiles to herself as she pulls her hood over her head and with the flick of her reins, she descends down to the small town.
...
Upon the arrival into town Shizuru looks in awe. The town was very much alive and the heavy crowd of people were talking away and going into the open shops. Shizuru wasn't the type to be in such a ruckus but being surrounded by people wasn't bad either. But she was most certain that a lot of eyes were on here.
Living in Manchester for a while and not come into town everyday was something new for these people. Looking at something new was like a newly open shop to them. Shizuru kept her gaze down to shield her eyes from onlookers. She didn't want to be judged from her odd colored eyes, and certainly didn't want people to think she was a witch. Shizuru grabs a hold of her cloak and pulls it closer to her chest, feeling the burning gazes on her back as she rides her huge shire. The horse itself was odd enough, she was higher then most of the people on the road, riding their smaller horses. She was beyond unnoticeable and slightly nervous.
The smell of flowers had caught off her thoughts and she peers to the side of the road. There were flower stands of all colors and different types of plants, various of splended soil bags and empty flower pots.
Shizuru just couldn't help but make her way out of the traffic and towards the flower stands.
...
Natsuki steps out of the steamy building, twisting her torso here and there and then placed both of her hands on her lower back, arching forward she was rewarded with a loud pop of her spine and she exhaled all the air out of her lungs with a pleasurable sigh. Today was a good day to busy herself. She hasn't stepped out of the boiling room since early morning. The afternoon suns hot rays beaten down on her dark abyssal hair, giving it a shine of dark blue in it's light.
" Yo." Natsuki jumped and let out a yelp. Hearing the voice from her right Natsuki turned her head to the source.
It was Nao, perched on the wooden beams like a sly Cheshire cat. Her pale legs hung and swayed slightly with each movement she made.
" Jesus Nao, how many times do I have to tell you to stop showing up and not making a noise!" Natsuki gruffed, folding her arms like a child as she looked anywhere but at the red-haired minx.
" Calm you're tits, I came here to tell you some news." Nao straightened up her posture and leaped down, her heavy boots splashed into a small puddle from over nights down pour.
" News of what? You finally getting a real job." Natsuki huffs again still showing no interest in talking to the smaller girl.
Nao slowly walks her way to the engineer, keeping her gaze down to avoid the blazing sun. " Besides you?" Smirking when she settles under the shade of the buildings flag, Nao leans one of her shoulders onto the pebbled wall. " There was a brutal murder last night."
" What? " Natsuki perks her ears and turned her full attention to the smaller girl. " A murder? Who was it?" Nao as the girl she was, didn't have an effect from the conversation. Clicking her nails and picking any dirt from under them Nao continues.
" Yeah, some drunken guy got slaughtered near Mai's Inn. Took a good look at him." Nao stops her picking and folded her arms together, glancing her bright lime eyes to the dark forest ones. " His face was missing and his lower half was completely gone. Reeked of death as well." Natsuki lifted a dark slender brow, how could that have happened? Manchester wasn't known for brutal man slaughter nor death's out in the open let alone in the middle of town.
" So? Who was the killer?" Natsuki's curiosity was high, but she couldn't help it when this town had nothing new besides a mysterious murder scene. She herself would have gone to check it out if it weren't for her job to book her early in the mornings. The scene was cleaned up by now.
" Didn't say. But Chie was there." the smaller girl said, pushing herself from the wall with a slight bump of her bum. Nao knew something was wrong, that murder didn't come from a human. Seeing Chie's face back in the ally made it obvious.
" She doesn't know who the killer is?" Natsuki watched as Nao looked out in the crowd for an easy picking for money and jewerly.
" That's the scary part. She didn't say it was human." Nao brought one of her hands up, still staring out into the crowd as she shades her eyes with her hand. " And that's not all, She found a foreign substance on the guy's neck." Nao was watching her target, A well dressed man that screamed money.
" Not human? It could have been a pack of wolves that snuck it's way in town. That man should have known better to venture out alone drunk and into the night." Natsuki followed the girls gaze, landing on the man she was staring at.
Natsuki slapped herself and grabbed a hold on the girls forearms, giving her a small shake. " Hey! Don't you dare think about it." She gives Nao a scorn look.
Nao rolls her eyes and brushes the girl off her. " I won't get caught this time." Nao lands her eyes on a familiar figure as she scans her eyes into the crowd. The figure was riding a large black horse, light brown chestnut hair peeked from the hooded cloak. "Hey isn't that Viola?" Nao says, her eyes spying on the woman.
Natsuki quickly distanced herself from the smaller woman and looked over the crowd. "Wh-What, Where?" Nao once again rolls her eyes in a annoyance and placed both her palms on the side of Natsuki's head, turning her head the same direction she was looking.
" Over there idiot!" Nao harshly whispers. Giving Natsuki's eyes time to adjust upon her target before dropping her hands to her sides. It wasn't a lie, there was Shizuru, riding on a large high horse and giving out her appearance to the world to see. Natsuki watched as Shizuru parked her shire, but she also notices that the woman seemed flustered. What has made her seem that way?
" Hey don't you think some-" Natsuki was turning her head back to Nao but the sneaky minx was already gone. "...Thing." Natsuki furrowed her brows and slumped over. How can that girl get away so quietly flabbergast Natsuki. With the red-haired gone Natsuki turns her attention back to Shizuru, she was still saddled on her horse and she was looking around as if she was being followed. Whatever the case was Natsuki slowly made her way to the woman.
...
Shizuru strode up to one of the horse poles. The thought of finally shopping for herself giggled her belly and her smile widens. Oh, how she can't wait to park her horse, get down and-
"Uhn.." Before Shizuru was about to let go of her reins she forgotten one rule. How to get down.
She slapped herself inside the head and let out a groan of defeat. " How could I have been so stupid!"
Shizuru tightly shut her eyes and repeatedly called herself unpleasant names inside her head before re-opening her eyes and shyly scanned the area around her. She didn't know anyone walking about and she highly doubt that any man could help her off her horse and into her chair. Shizuru spots a couple of people coming her way, a fine couple that were happily chatting with each other. The man was strongly built under his flannel shirt, the two tops of it's buttons pulled town to reveal a lot of amount of chest hair. The woman beside him had her lithe arms hooked around his arm, giving him her bashful smile.
" Uhm...Excuse me?" Shizuru says in a small quiet tone. But the couple haven't notice any sound as Shizuru reached her arm out to at least get their attention. " I-ah..."
Before Shizuru could fully turn her upper torso at the couple who has passed behind her they have already walk past a small corner store, leaving Shizuru in the empty damp horse pole parking. " Could use some help..." Shizuru whispers to herself as she turned her eyes back on her horse.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.
Shizuru bent her head slightly and let out a defeated sigh. The thought of her shopping in this brightly warm day has lifted her spirits high. But without getting down and into her chair seemed to change everything. Everything when...
" Shouldn't twinkle toes boy be here helping you?"
Shizuru chirped slightly at the husky voice behind her. " Pardon? "
Bright red eyes sharply turned towards the voice, her breath caught in her throat upon seeing the black haired vixen. " Natsuki? " Shizuru blinks down at the girl that has walked to the side of her horse. Natsuki's hands were inside her pockets as she looked up into the ruby gems.
Natsuki couldn't help but smirk up at the woman saddled onto the large horse. " You stuck? " She shows Shizuru her toothy grin.
Shizuru couldn't help but blush at the sight below her. Natsuki knows well enough why she was stuck so why stand there and not help?
Clearing her throat Shizuru fixes her posture, lifting her chin high and softly closes her eyes, gripping the reins more lady-like. " Natsuki must know I am very aware that I am stuck." Shizuru's blush was easily visible to the emeralds eyes, still picturing that handsome smile.
Natsuki rolled her eyes, taking her hands out of her pockets Natsuki places them on her well shaped hips. " Why are you even on that huge thing? Where is pixie boy?"
Shizuru turned her head away from Natsuki's comment. She was having a hard time to bubble down the laugh. Her shoulders were slightly quivering. Once she regained her formal self Shizuru looks back down at the girl.
" Reito? He hasn't come back." Shizuru spoke softly. She gave the girl below her a small smile before adding another comment. " Besides, I'm a big girl. I should be fine on my own don't you think?" Shizuru tilts her head to the head, her shining hair swaying to one shoulder as she did so.
Natsuki's cheeks burned. She presses her feet together and folded her arms across her chest, puffing it out like a quail. " Fine. Get someone else to help you off." Natsuki slowly made her way back to her work as she turned her back towards Shizuru, her long jet black hair swayed in her movement and started to stomp off.
Shizuru's eyes slightly widen at the girls words. Shizuru quickly squirms onto her saddle, trying to turn her torso more. " Natsuki! Oh please, I really want to go look at the flowers, please do help me." Shizuru faked a sadden cry as she gripped the back of her cloak and burried her face into the soft fabric.
With a fast halt Natsuki turns on her heels, a worried look plastered on her face as she scrambles for words. " I-I wasn't going to leave you! hey now, stop that." Natsuki rushed back to Shizuru's side, softly grabbing the lithe leg that was dangling. " Come on now, I'll help you down." Natsuki wasn't sure why seeing this woman sad and hopelessly stuck. But it did make Natsuki laugh a little on the inside to see Shizuru stuck on a horse.
The sounds of soft sniffles and shaking shoulders has slowly descended as the maiden upon the horse slowly lowers her cloak from her eyes and peeked down at Natsuki. " Natsuki...Promises...? " She says in a soft whisper before fully pulling her cloak away.
Natsuki softly pats Shizuru's leg. "Yes. Now stop, I'll help you down and we can look at the flowers." She didn't know why she added the we but she couldn't bare to go back to work just yet without grabbing something to eat. So maybe just looking at the flowers with Shizuru wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Shizuru flings her cape back and clapped her hands together, pressing her flushed cheek against the back of her hand and she giddies with glee. " Natsuki is such a gentlemen!" She gave Nastuki a bright smile.
" Ahh-! You-" Natsuki bend her head down, her rich oil black hair framed her face. Pinching between her tightly shut eyes Natsuki was tricked by this maiden. With a sigh of defeat, Natsuki goes around the other side of the shire, unstrapping her folded wheelchair and went back to the other side when the large shire's tail flicked in her face.
"Ack! Shizuru! Tell you're horse to behave." Natsuki cough, trying to get the dust out of her mouth when the tail swatted her face.
Shizuru rolled her eyes playful, a warming smile still on her face as she waits for Natsuki to set up the chair before she can do anything else. Once Natsuki has settled the wheelchair in place she look up at Shizuru before reaching out her arms for the woman. But it was hard to take this seriously as Shizuru kept looking at her with that charming smile.
" Cou..Could you not?" Natsuki says as she just stood there looking up at that stupid smile.
" Could I not what?" Shizuru didn't know she was affecting the girl below her but still she was enjoying the teasing moment.
The girl blow growled, showing her scowl. " Nothing." She says in a low gruff tone, reaching her arms out to the girl with a full on blush. " Just stop smiling and grab on!" She didn't want to look back at that face, knowing the girls secret of teasing people Natsuki has become a victim of the game.
" Natsuki is being too cute. " Shizuru couldn't help but have another playful tone in her voice as she teasingly slides her palms along Natsuki's hands and up her toned arms. She was bent awkwardly, the height of the horse didn't show any signs of laying down. Once Natsuki got a good grip of both Shizuru arms she made sure to tell her to grab on tight.
"Careful Natsu-eep! " She was fastly taken off, she shut her eyes tight for the upcoming impact of her face hitting the stone floor. She curled her body tightly into a ball making herself small as possible. But the impact hadn't came but instead...A soft chest and strong arms kept her from being damaged.
Shizuru slowly opens her eyes and looks down at the floor. She wasn't set on her chair but she was obviously still in Natsuki's arms. Bashfully, Shizuru slowly turned her head to look up and see Natsuki looking down at her now.
" See? I gotcha. " Natsuki gave her another toothy grin, her emerald eyes shined. Shizuru couldn't help but register her brain on Natsuki's gentle grips. Her side was pressed softly against the girls chest, her hands were softly gripping Natsuki's shoulders for support and oh my...
Shizuru can smell a faint forest lush coming from Natsuki. It was intoxicating.
" Shizuru? " Natsuki questions her. Wondering if she was alright Natsuki gives the girl a small bounce in her arms to get her out of her trance. " Shizuru, hello? Earth to Shizuru."
Shizuru shook her head and looked straight into those emerald eyes. Shizuru's mind was blank as writing paper before she finally found her voice. " Ahm..." Shizuru felt her cheeks grow slightly hot, thankfully her hood was covering the brightness of the sun or Natsuki could really see the true colors of what she has done t o her.
" Natsu..." Shizuru shook off the remaining thoughts and buried her head into the girls neck, making Natsuki off balance from the sudden action. " Natsuki is my wonderful knight!" She couldn't help but muffle into the girls neck.
" H-hey! Knock it off Shizuru there's people around!" Natsuki whispered behind closed teeth, making her voice sounds feral and well much embarrassed.
Shizuru gave a purr as she held on tighter around Natsuki's neck, enjoying the lush smell and wiggled a bit in those strong arms. " But I want Natsuki to carry me like this the whole day." She gave the reddened ear a puff of air.
Natsuki whipped her head back, keeping her face far away as possible from Shizuru as she felt that hot air creep on her stinging ears. " I-I-No! No way! " Natsuki shook her head to the side furiously, the thought of carrying Shizuru made her head smoke and ears steam of embarrassment. Natsuki quickly drops Shizuru onto her wheelchair, earning herself a small yelp and a sadden look down at the girl she has let go of.
" Oh no you don't, I'm not being fooled again by that." Natsuki huffs and turns her back on the girl. " You can forget me ever doing that again." Her head burned. Natsuki moved her head slightly forward, once again trying to hide her face behind black hair.
Shizuru lets out a chirping laugh. The heartily sound of that made Natsuki tense more. Just like Church bells...
" Oh Natsuki I was only teasing you." Shizuru folded her hands onto her lap and looked up at the back of the girls head, catching her eyes on redden ears that peeked out from the long cobalt hair. " After all. Natsuki said she was going to look at the flowers with me, did she not?" Her voice changed into a soothing milky trance.
Natsuki paused. She did say that...
With a hand reaching up and tucking some stray hair behind her ear Natsuki spoke without turning around to face the woman, still slightly shooken from the girls actions. " Yea-Yes.."
Shizuru gripped her wheels and directed them to the flower stands. " Well? Shall we?" Shizuru began to push her wheels forward but a soft hand on her shoulder stopped her from going anywhere. Curious rubies peered up into green ones, but they were looking away, down casted onto the street.
" Um...You shouldn't...I mean you came down here so I thought, maybe..I could.." Natsuki buckled down her blush and glanced her eyes on scarlet. " You know..." She glanced her eyes back onto the street, the feeling in her cheeks started to burn again.
Shizuru smiles, holding back a teasing remark she decided to not try to ruin this moment and let Natsuki help. " That would be very nice Natsuki, thank you."
Thank you.
chapter 4 end.
Next chapter - The rumors spread like wild fire. Can Shizuru avoid them or will they reach her before the next full moon approaches.