Chapter four: Confined people have confined secrets

Note: This chapter was a bit slow for me… ah well, as long as my readers like it, I'll eventually think something up to make this even more twisted than it is.

Vocabulary: (again, just for being polite)

Genmaicha: Japanese green tea made out of rice.

Natsuki didn't know how long she had been there aiding Shizuru's limp body. She just kept insisting, her mind expecting the worst. She won't wake.

Her mouth covered hers once more as she tried to her lungs to function one more.

The cop was ready to give up when she saw the woman under her cough and her eyes flutter. Letting out a huge sigh of relief Natsuki simply fell to the side of the floor and rolled away, resting face up and closing her eyes.

Then after a few seconds she opened them again to see Shizuru's crimson eyes focusing directly at her. Natsuki sat up and went to check on her.

"Shizuru?" She asked unsure of what she was doing

Shizuru just lied there, without uttering a sound or moving.

A bit freaked out by the lack of response her mind started thinking frantically.

She might be injured elsewhere… How long was she up there?

"I'll go get the doctor" Natsuki concluded.

The cop started to get up but then she heard a weak voice calling out to her "No…" Natsuki turned and Shizuru gripped Natsuki's sleeve like a small child as she repeated "No…" the last thing Shizuru wanted was to create a scene.

"Hang on then." The cop gripped the prisoner and took her in her arms like a bride and then she left Shizuru on her bed, then Natsuki settled by the edge of the bed.

Natsuki watched worriedly at Shizuru as she rested her eyes. The cop felt very uncomfortable seeing the usual animated crazy prisoner so vulnerable and weak.

"Are you sure you don't want me to get the doctor?" She insisted

Shizuru simply shook her head then after a pause she asked with difficulty "Why… did you… save me?"

Natsuki seemed shocked to be asked this question.

Why did I save her?

"Be-Because…" Natsuki paused, her brain racking for an answer. Any answer is fine! "Because, I'm a cop and not a killer…"

Shizuru chuckled weakly "How very noble of you…"

"Even in this state you find the strength to tease me?"

"It surprises even me…"

Natsuki's body relaxed realizing that Shizuru was slowly recovering.

"Who would do this to you…?" The blunette's eyes darted around the cell, from the remainders of the rope that Shizuru had tied around her neck, to the dead man in the corner and Shizuru noticing this did the same. Natsuki felt her stomach lurch as she remembered what had happened to the man.

It had been on instinct, Natsuki didn't intend to kill him but to defend herself. She didn't think twice before stabbing the pen into the man's chest. Even though it was probably the only action that was available to her at the time she couldn't help but feel a deep surge of guilt.

Never, even despite her history as a violent cop did she kill anyone. Injure? Sure. Even fatally, but never had she killed someone like that.

"Natsuki?" called out a soft voice "Natsuki are you ok?"

"What?" Natsuki answered snapping out of her thoughts "Yes."

"You're shaking."

The young woman looked down to her hands which were indeed shaking. She gripped them together to stop the trembling with no avail.

"I'm just cold…"the cop lied not caring if Shizuru believe it or not. But then gasped as she felt a pair of arms snake around her and pulling her back.

Natsuki rather shocked by the sudden contact resisted to go where Shizuru was pulling her.

"Let go of me!" she struggled weakly, slightly amazed how much strength the woman had recovered despite what she had been through just now.

Shizuru couldn't help smiling "But you said you were cold" Natsuki blushed as the brunette moved her arms reluctantly from her body.

"You're completely fine! I don't know why I bothered to be worried about you!"

"Ara? Natsuki was worried about me? I'm so happy!"

"Ugh…"

Shizuru smile increased unnoticeably silently congratulating herself for distracting the younger woman, however this victory couldn't be celebrated for long since Natsuki's attention fell upon Shizuru once more her face reflecting the her thoughts so clearly that Shizuru could read her like an open book.

"I know you tried to distract me… But I'm not letting you off the hook just like that."

"Ara…"

Natsuki raised an eyebrow "No getting weird ideas. You owe me an explanation."

"Ara…" Shizuru pouted "… Maybe I decided to kill myself because Natsuki doesn't love me?" she suggested with an innocent expression like as if she never did any wrong in her life.

The cop rolled her eyes causing Shizuru to chuckle lightly. "You didn't try to kill yourself because there was a third person in the room, who by the way, tried to kill me."

Shizuru's smile faltered slightly but the blunette didn't notice this change "Tried to kill you?" she repeated careful not to hint the other woman of her concern.

Natsuki rolled her eyes again then she flicked her raven blue hair out of her face at that moment Shizuru caught a glimpse of a thin red mark on her neck.

"Anyways…" the cop continued as if there had been no interruption "I heard you have enemies… So… if you put all this together… they probably did want to make it look like you had killed yourself, thus the way they tried to kill you. Suicide cases aren't especially rare in prisons such as these…" The last part, Natsuki said more to herself than to Shizuru as she rested her hand under her chin in a 'thinking pose' sort of way.

"Ara, Natsuki acting like a detective is very sexy…"

The cop felt her blood rush to her face. "Oi! Stop trying to distract me. I'm trying to help you here!"

"Help me?" Shizuru was so surprised she let her mask slip.

The blunette blinked unsure if she heard the words correctly that had come from her mouth.

"Why would you help someone like me?" Natsuki gazed into Shizuru's eyes realizing that she was serious; there were no hints of teasing or anything.

"I-" the cop was unsure what to answer or what to do, she got up as if she was going to leave.

"Natsuki?"

"I'm leaving…"

"Natsuki… wait…"

Natsuki looked at Shizuru who was wincing as she stretched out her hand apparently trying to reach for something on the side of the bed.

The younger woman seeing her in pain took a few steps forward towards her.

"Natsuki in the drawer next to my bed…"

Natsuki obeyed and headed towards the drawer.

"Open it."

She did. Her eyes widened at its contents, and then she pulled out Shizuru's profile folder.

"That's what you came in for no? Take it"

Natsuki stared at the profile. "You're letting me read this…"

Shizuru hesitated. "Yes"

The cop thought about it hard. Then trying to hide a pained look she handed it towards Shizuru.

"No, it's ok. I—I don't need to read this."

Shizuru seemed slightly amused at her reaction. Her face is completely saying the opposite thing.

"Why?"

"Well, I just need profiles about people related to the Syndicate… and you're not one of them so… I don't need this."

"Why can't I be Syndicate? I could be"

"Just take it before I change my mind."

Shizuru took her profile back pausing slightly at the action. "And about… um…" Natsuki gave a nervous jerk of her head towards the dead man's body.

"Ara do not worry about that. I'll take care of it." Her crimson eyes flashed dangerously as she said this.

"Ri-right." Natsuki walked out of the cell feeling slightly numb.

Shizuru sighed and closed her eyes tiredly slumping deeper on her bed. Then she rubbed her hand against the spot the rope had been cutting into her throat.

When she opened her eyes as she sat up then she plunged her hand under the mattress taking out a few documents. Then she opened the folder she had handed Natsuki and opened it, which was empty, and she placed the documents inside.

I'm sorry Natsuki.

Natsuki slept terribly that night, she had been waking up constantly every few minutes panting and drenched in a cold sweat.

The events that happened earlier kept being replayed in her dreams, especially the part in where Natsuki struggled against her attacker, every time killing him in a more gruesome way that before.

The dreams came to a point in which Natsuki was afraid of falling asleep again.

In the end Natsuki remained awake in the corner of her bed curled up like a ball listening to the snores of her cell mate Nao, who was completely unaware what was going on below her.

Things in the morning did not improve for the blunette since Nao continued avoiding her and Shizuru was nowhere to be seen. Natsuki found herself dragging her feet wherever she went because of the tiredness.

She tried to regain some sleep but the dreams unallowed her to do so peacefully.

Also the rest of the prisoners seemed to stay away from Natsuki wherever she went, as if they were avoiding her as well.

This is probably what Nao warned me about Natsuki groaned mentally.

Without paying much attention where she was going she bumped into something. Looking up she realized it was Youko.

"Ah sorry…"

"Oh! Ku—I mean Natsuki! I was just heading to the infirmary…" Youko studied the younger woman's face and realized she had bags under her eyes. "Everything ok?"

"Peachy." Natsuki answered sounding sarcastic without meaning to.

"You want to come and have some tea? We can talk about it if you like"

"No I'm fine."

"Then how about just tea?"

"Well if it's only just tea." The cop shrugged Youko smiled satisfied with her answer.

They headed together towards the infirmary and this time Natsuki didn't have to sit on the examination bed, but on a chair in front of Youko's working desk.

"You're wound is ok I hope?"

Natsuki stopped her hand from rushing upwards towards her neck as she realized Youko wasn't referring to her neck.

"Yes, it's just fine. You worry too much"

"It's my job to worry."

"I guess" Natsuki laughed feel a bit less miserable.

Youko pulled out a few boxes of tea.

"What tea do you prefer?"

"Whatever you feel like having. I confess I'm more of a coffee person."

"Ok, then… I'll make some Genmaicha tea"

"Suit yourself."

Natsuki's green eyes followed the doctor as she prepared tea.

"I thought tea was usually made in a kettle and not in a coffee machine." The cop said as Youko pour some of the contents of the box into the coffee filter.

"Yes, but I get distracted easy and I could burn the whole facility down because I left the kettle on the fire too long."

"I'm guessing it happened already…"

"Maybe…" Youko said blushing slightly. "Thought it only affected this office. Since then I was banned from making tea… but I convinced them to allow me to use a coffee machine"

Natsuki raised her eyebrows trying not to laugh.

Youko waited for the machine to finish its job before taking the jar and pouring its content into two cups and then handed one of them to Natsuki who thanked her before taking it.

"You know, I can't help it but every time I look at you, I suffer…"

The blunette feigned a pained expression "I know I'm not beautiful… but that is a bit too much…"

Youko laughed "No, not that. I just see you and it makes me worried. I'm worried that this place will break you. I see you hurt, bruised, tired, yet you refuse to say that you are in trouble. You refuse to ask help…"

Natsuki smiled at her. "You're a good person Youko, but kindness in a place like this will not get you far. You should worry less about others and more about yourself, and quit your job here, it sucks"

Youko chuckled at this. "Maybe I should, but I don't know if you're trying to give me advice or you want me out of the way."

"I'll leave that to your imagination" Natsuki took a small sip from her cup. This tea is quite good.

"My point is, if you ever need anything… ask me ok? Even if you wake me up at three in the morning."

Natsuki spat some of her tea out. "You sleep in this prison?"

"Well in a small building outside the prisoner area. With the rest of the personnel."

"Ok… that's a bit creepy, are you sure you're not workaholic?"

"Maybe I am"

"Don't you ever deny anything?"

"… No?"

Both women laughed at this. Natsuki eventually finished her tea, and thanking Youko she left the infirmary feeling much better.

And of course Youko didn't let her off before giving some tips against insomnia.

Which caused Natsuki to just keep rolling her eyes.

At lunch, she took her tray and after collecting some questionable looking food she sat in the furthest table not wanting to attract attention to herself.

Somehow her appetite died down as she took her fork and rolled a piece of broccoli around her plate.

"Ara Natsuki, I thought you weren't supposed to play with your food."

Natsuki recognizing that voice and accent looked up to see an amused Shizuru carrying a tray. She settled it on the table to sit in front of the blunette, causing whispers to erupt in the whole cafeteria.

"Uh… Shizuru…" Natsuki was half glad that Shizuru was here to keep her some company… ever since Nao was avoiding her she felt slightly lonely. On the other hand Shizuru reminded her of what happened yesterday which wasn't a pleasant thought.

Also she wondered how Shizuru would have 'taken care of' the body.

Ara, Natsuki… you look tired… "You didn't sleep?" Shizuru asked curiously

"Meh…" was all the cop could say

"I advise Natsuki to get a good rest tonight; she doesn't look to good without her beauty sleep"

"Well forgive me if I do not look my best." Natsuki snapped her bad mood returning.

"Yes I'm pretty sure some sleep will help her temper as well. You are so grouchy when you don't sleep"

"I'm always grouchy!"

Shizuru laughed but stopped as a ruckus behind Shizuru was heard. A woman had dropped her tray but her eyes were fixed upon Shizuru.

"You're still alive!" she exclaimed unknowingly before running away.

Shizuru and Natsuki reacted at the same time chasing after the woman. Natsuki being an expert cop caught up to her and leaped onto her, both of them landing on the floor, Natsuki sitting on her back, restraining her arms with her own.

"Ara should I be jealous Natsuki?" came in the calm voice of the Kyoto ben.

Natsuki mentally face palmed. Does she have to tease every single moment?

"Tell me what did you mean Shizuru was still alive!" Natsuki inquired roughly increasing the pressure upon the woman's back.

Shizuru watched entertained. Natsuki is being bad cop, fu fu…

"I don't know what you are talking about!" the woman gasped under Natsuki's grip.

"Spill it! Before things get worse"

"Ara, ara Natsuki… we do not need to use violence." Shizuru lowered her face level to the woman's who stopped struggling for a bit to stare into those crimson eyes. "You know who I am, yes?"

The woman nodded. "In that case I suggest you tell me what happened in the cafeteria." The woman nodded again and when she spoke there was a fearful tone in her voice. "I was asked by someone to help them…them… kill… you…" she whispered the last two words but both Natsuki and Shizuru got wind of them easily. "They said if I collaborated they would reduce my sentence here!" Her voice got panicky "Only if you were dead!" she added quickly.

That explained her reaction upon seeing Shizuru.

"Did you have any accomplices?" Natsuki urged the woman who shook her head quickly

"No! They asked only me! Be-because they didn't want people to know!"

"So what were you supposed to do?"

"I- I- was to lead a man into Shizuru-sama's cell no-nothing more!"

"Who asked you this!" Natsuki asked gripping her arms harder causing her to whimper.

"I-I don't know! The-They approached me during visitation! Men in bla-black suits…"

Natsuki raised an eyebrow at Shizuru who was avoiding her gaze. "Ookini for the information. Now… This conversation never happened." The woman nodded "You tell anyone… I will kill you" she whispered into her ear so low that Natsuki couldn't hear. The woman nodded feverishly again.

"Natsuki you can let go of her."

"You sure?" The cop hesitated

"Yes, go ahead."

Natsuki got off the woman who ran off like mad.

"What was that all about?" Natsuki turned to look at Shizuru, but she was gone.

Natsuki entered her cell to see Nao, packing up some stuff.

"What are you doing Nao?"

"Can't you see? I'm packing."

"Why?" Natsuki asked slightly panicked.

"Because! I don't want to get in trouble! I have only a few more months left of my sentence and I don't want to risk losing my freedom!"

"What trouble!"

Nao pinned Natsuki to the wall dropping whatever she had in her hands.

"Look, don't get me wrong, I like you Natsuki, a lot, you're cool. But hanging around Shizuru is not so cool. I'm getting killer looks and all, and I don't want to die in here when I'm so close to being free. Okay?" her expression softened. "Ah boy, looking at you this close you look terrible…" Natsuki pushed Nao aside.

"What does it matter to you, just pack and leave."

Nao opened her mouth a few times to retaliate.

"I warned you about her. Just so you know 'I told you so'."

Natsuki felt something inside of her snap "What is it about Shizuru that everybody knows that I don't!"

Nao rolled her eyes "She's a serial killer do I need to say more? She's a killer, she's insane and she has too much power over this place! We know better than to mess with her! And worst thing is that now a group of people want to challenge her! You see the big picture now?"

Natsuki simply slumped into her bed exhausted, discussing with Nao was draining her of whatever energy she had left. Nao seeing this felt guilty.

"Hey Natsuki don't give me that face…"

"Whatever, just leave Nao. Let me be." She said tiredly

Nao took her stuff and paused before the exit. "Take care" she mumbled before leaving.

But Natsuki was already falling asleep and didn't hear it. All she could see or hear was her nightmares.

"Natsuki… what is this place doing to you?" Mai asked her friend who had dark bags under her eyes.

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"Well you do not look fine."

A week went by with no special occurrences, except that Natsuki had started to suffer from a slight insomnia, not because she had nightmares, but because she was afraid to fall asleep and see them again, after a few days the lack of sleep was taking a toll on the cop's body.

"I don't care."

Mai looked worriedly at her friend "Well, then… the mission…."

"I'm not going anywhere. I feel like I'm going in circles. I think there is something wrong here, or maybe I'm not seeing the big picture. What are the reports on the Syndicate's movements?"

"It seems they are lying low at the moment, maybe because they feel that we are snooping around and suspecting something is up."

"Figures making my job harder... great" Mai frowned at this.

"Natsuki you really don't look well, maybe I should tell Haruka to get you out-"

"No. I'm fine I can do this ok?"

"Na-"

"I said I can do this!" Natsuki raised her voice without intending to. "I'm sorry…"

Mai shook her head and took her hand between hers. "I just want you to be safe more than anything."

"Yea" Natsuki grumbled

"Natsuki?"

"What…?"

"I can't help but notice… Who is that woman that keeps staring at you. Every time I come in here I notice she stares at you a lot." Natsuki turned to look in Mai's direction and met with a crimson gaze.

"Ah, that's just Shizuru." Not bothering to worry about the 'staring you' comment.

Mai frowned. "Shizuru?"

"Yea." Natsuki took her hand away from Mai to let her head rest between her hands. I'm not feeling all that great.

Mai saw Shizuru's expression become concerned as Natsuki was giving into her weakness. "What is your relationship with that woman?" she asked trying to sound innocent

"There is no relationship, she's just some other prisoner psycho." Natsuki said keeping her voice neutral.

Mai raised an eyebrow "Do you know all the names of the prisoners here?"

"Mai relax will you?" Natsuki ordered feel slightly nauseous

Shizuru watched the situation from her seat. She saw the red haired woman glare at her as if she had done something bad. Shizuru fought the urge to go and tease Natsuki in front of her just to make her irritated at her for a reason but, she fought the urge since more important matters were at hand.

"Shizuru-sama I brought what you asked for"

"Ookini." She took a small folder that Tomoe was handing her. Natsuki will like this…

"I said there is nothing going on between her and me!" Natsuki said angrily at her friend. "Sorry I didn't mean to yell" she apologized quickly. "I have to go" she added with a slight urgency in her voice.

Mai got up as Natsuki did, it passed by the cop's mind that maybe she wanted her usual good bye routine, so without thinking it twice Natsuki smashed her lips upon Mai's and rushed out of the visitation room.

Shizuru witnessed all this feeling slightly angry. This time Natsuki had kissed that woman…

After giving her thanks to Tomoe she rushed after Natsuki feeling a pair of blue eyes burn her back as she did. And surprisingly found Natsuki not so far from the hall leaning weakly against a wall.

"Natsuki." Shizuru's cold voice reached the cop's ears who turned around slowly. Shizuru was ready to assault Natsuki if necessary to pry everything about that red haired woman when Natsuki called her name weakly.

"Shizuru…" this made the older woman refrain from her planned actions. "I'm not feeling well…" and she collapsed.

Note: about Shizuru hanging thing, I found out it takes 7-8 minutes from someone to die without oxygen, although around 3-4 minutes for the brain to start shutting down. So yea Natsuki did save her during those minutes, also I know hanging her seems harsh but "they" tried to make it look like that Shizuru was killing herself.

Who's they? Who's Shizuru?

Well stay tuned ne?

(feel free to review and check other of my works! Actually it's an order!)

P.S: i'll have to beta this myself later, i didn't double check this yet ^_^

OMAKE:

Natsuki: Omg… I'm being screw left and right in this fiction, I have a crazy Mai, a crazy Shizuru , I get beaten, then attacked, then sick…

Asuka: that's life! *evil laughter*

Natsuki: This is the most boring omake ever

Asuka: I know T_T don't rub it on me