Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime or the characters! Sunrise does! This is purely a fanfic in appreciation for these amazing characters that many have fallen in love with.

Summary: Watching the one you love die because of you is probably the worst burden you can obtain throughout this life. Well… hunting them down afterwards to stop mass murders and bloodshed is a whole other story…

Sorry for such a late update guys, been really busy with uni! Trying to keep up with 7s I got going on!

Thank you so much for your reviews! Seriously, I know a lot of fanfic writers say this but they really mean it. Your reviews fuel us. I know there are fanfic writers out there reading this as well and I really appreciate it!

So now I will literally be checking my email and fanfiction for reviews for the next week or so… well 24/7 really.

Enjoy and please review!

...

Chapter 4

Just Yesterday Part 2

A Newborn's Wrath

By GrimaThanEvil

...

It was just yesterday when we first began to fall in love…

And it was just yesterday when I began to lose you…

...

Bright green eyes stared out of the window into the darkness; the rain reflecting through their sharp colour. Thick rubber tires swept along the concrete cutting through the wet as the jeep Natsuki was currently seated in echoed in loud silence. The large warehouses seemed to surround Natsuki like giant skyscrapers and the more she peered out the window into the darkness the more vulnerable she felt. Her eyes searched the sky for any sign of light, an airplane, helicopter or stars, but all she could see were dark murky clouds slipping over the tall unnatural buildings. Out of the corner of her eye she sensed a presence. Someone was with her but she could not work out who it was. No matter how hard she tried to look to her left and identify this entity it was futile. Her body refused to move, her eyes refused to budge in that direction. They were so close but just out of her reach; an unsettling shadow in this terrible scene. The jeep came to a halt and although Natsuki's green eyes could not identify the individual they picked up their movement. The figure shifted and the jeep lights flicked on engulfing a shadow in its path.

Natsuki's mother stood in the jeeps light reaching out towards them. Green orbs stared back into those eyes so identical to their own. A white lab coat smeared with blood and growing ever damper in the rain adorned the woman. Her skin was pale and covered in dirt and scratches. Her lips moved but Natsuki could not hear her, her hand stretched out, fingers uncurling as if trying to grab at them; reaching out for aid, trying to hold on to life.

'Help me' she mouthed staring at Natsuki with empty eyes; dull and hollow. The longer Natsuki stared into those eyes the deeper she fell, the deeper she slipped into the unknown.

Natsuki blinked and found herself staring at her own out stretched hand; she looked beyond it at the bright jeep lights penetrating her sensitive eyes, finding herself in her mother's previous position. Was she her mother now? Or was she Natsuki?

Her heart started to beat faster as an uneasy feeling enveloped her body. She noticed how hard the ground felt beneath her feet. Odd, but that was something that seemed to stand out to her. The air was cold and biting but Natsuki did not feel it upon her skin; she just knew it. Something soft grabbed her arm but she did not move. She did not feel it but it happened. It was behind her, what was it?

Delicate fingers enveloped her wrist and a familiar smell entered her nose and she knew. She knew exactly who it was. Thousands of bright lights seemed to explode inside her being. She could not explain how happy she was at this moment. All the fear disappeared from inside her and all she felt was warmth and happiness; safety.

The jeep lights infiltrating her vision seemed so very meek now. The darkness surrounding her and the tall skyscraper warehouses were now meaningless. Her feet moved automatically and she followed them willingly. Her body twisted around and the hand disappeared off of her skin like fog. Natsuki was ready to feel that warm embrace; ready for Shizuru to envelop her. But what stood behind her was not Shizuru. It was a monster… a craver looming down over her. Its freakish eyes watched her hungrily; they were glowing and to Natsuki they were brighter than any high beams. Its brown flesh seemed to lighten up from the back, and its long limbs just hung at its sides. Sharp jagged teeth protruded from its thick lips and it seemed to hum deeply inside its chest. That thrumming sound hit Natsuki like a wave. Immediately her heart was hammering and trying to escape from the safety of her chest. She could not move and her eyes refused to budge.

She blinked

A Mistake.

The cold hard ground was now against her back and the craver was now right over her. Natsuki stared into those hungry eyes and soon found herself trapped. Her vision became blurry and when it returned she found herself staring down at her own face. She was now the monster that was about to tear into her flesh and the worst part of it all was that she wanted too. She loomed over herself not recognising that it was in fact her own body, it was a meal, it was flesh, it was bone, and it was sustenance. Her large claw like hand landed right next to the cobalt haired girl's face. She hummed in her chest and growled hungrily.

Suddenly her body was sliced in half; the craver body.

Natsuki was now herself again and she stared at the craver slopped to the side. Green orbs looked up to where the monster once was and Shizuru stood in its place. For a moment Natsuki was uncertain, those red eyes held an emotion she did not understand. It was not the warm Shizuru, the radiant Shizuru or the gentle Shizuru. It was the strong, brave and angry Shizuru… covered in blood. Natsuki leapt up without a second thought and enveloped her in a hug, she held onto the chestnut haired woman not caring that her clothes were being stained, not caring that something else was out there, and not caring that the shadow in the jeep was staring at them. She wanted Shizuru close, wanted to know this was real that Shizuru was alive… that Shizuru was safe.

Natsuki spoke but as the words left her lips she had forgotten what she had said. It had been a statement at first then a question. What was it again? Why was Shizuru not replying? Natsuki opened her eyes and pulled away from the object of her affections. She looked at Shizuru and realised her greatest fear had come true. Bloodthirsty eyes stared at her hungrily and Shizuru's fangs sunk into her neck. It was so quick Natsuki barely had time to breathe in or gasp. She cried out in pain. Tears fell down her face as she screamed out to Shizuru begging her to stop. Not because Natsuki was dying but because Shizuru was at risk… Shizuru would die. The emerald eyed girl did not remember the words as they left her lips. She felt the body holding her become cold and the hands grabbing her become stiff and glassy as Shizuru began to turn to ice.

The ice shattered into thousands of tiny specks of dust and Natsuki found herself in complete darkness.

Alone…

A drop of water hitting a surface pricked her ear on the left; another on her right.

Drip. Drip.

Before she knew it rain poured down all around her; rain she could not see. She was all alone in the darkness.

Alone…

She closed her eyes

She screamed

-0-0-0-

Instead of waking up from her nightmare with her heart beating rapidly, breath rabid and mouth agape emerald eyes peeled open slowly at the constant sound of rain outside. Natsuki's room was cool and dark …so she concluded that it was early… a time where Natsuki preferred to be sleeping. But sleep had not been kind to the emerald eyed teen. Ever since the last few months' events the eighteen year old had not gone a night without nightmares. She dreamt of those creatures that she had encountered at the harbour; she dreamt of them tearing away at her flesh; she dreamt that she was her mother and that they slowly ate away at her; she dreamt… she dreamt…. And dreamt…. But there was never one peaceful dream. Unfortunately those were not the only crazy events that had occurred lately in Natsuki's life… the latest happened a few hours ago… in a room just down the hall… a room that belonged to none other than Fujino Shizuru.

Green orbs stared up at the ceiling deep in thought… Natsuki lifted her hand up to her neck and traced the wound that now lay there. Its surface had already become clean and it was almost fully healed. Her eyes closed and last night flashed before her like a vivid dream. She saw Shizuru's lips hovering above her; she felt the warmth of Shizuru's body on top of her….

Natsuki squeezed her eyes shut even tighter and rolled onto her side unable to bare the memory. Shizuru had been strange… very strange… she had tasted Natsuki's blood. Those eyes had looked so hungry yet so loving, so needy yet so secure. Of course it was impossible for Shizuru to actually become a creature of the night since she was a Hime right? If she had turned then Natsuki's own flesh and blood would have killed her. Shizuru could not possibly be one of those things because they were so ugly… so rotten… and Shizuru was so beautiful and intoxicating… and… and…

With a sigh to end her uncontrollable thoughts Natsuki sat up and placed her feet onto her carpet slowly. She sat there for a moment and ran her eyes over to her clock which read; 6:00 am. For the first time in her life she was going to be on time for school… it dawned on her that today was the day of graduation…

Her face fell and she bolted over to an old calendar and stared at it, she had stopped counting the days ever since she left with Shizuru. Cursing she checked her phone and realised that the battery was dead.

A continuous amount of growls of frustration and cursing echoed throughout the Fujino estate, while Fujino Jun, Shizuru's mother, sat and calmly drank her tea. Her eyes closed and features portraying utter calmness. Opposite her however, her husband, Hideo, pulled his mouth into a thin line with worry; watching his wife for any sign of rage with wide eyes. He knew his wife was very concerned about Kuga Natsuki's constant oaths and swearing. Very concerned as in on thin ice, he was as well, but it did not concern him as much when there were no guests present. However, Kuga Natsuki could potentially affect the Fujino name. Most of the business families and important companies already saw her as a lost cause, but Hideo knew Jun did not care. In her eyes everyone noticed it and everyone commented on her discipline methods, since Hideo was head of the company, Jun was the one that dealt with the 'daughters'.

There was a yell in the building next door, signalling that Natsuki was making her way through the entire estate, lord knew why. The screaming of the servants could be heard as she rampaged along…

Jun's eyes snapped open and a servant in the room flinched. The woman snapped her eyes towards said servant and ordered the girl to retrieve Kuga-san immediately.

An hour later Natsuki found herself in a traditional kimono on her knees opposite Fujino Jun. Her ankles ached and knees hurt from sitting in the same position for at least twenty minutes. The older woman proceeded to crush tea leaves while emerald eyes watched intensely trying their hardest to concentrate. Next it was Natsuki's turn, who, with shaking hands attempted to crush the leaves in the same way Jun had. She managed to fail miserably and the tea leaves flaked off of the side creating a mess. The midnight haired girl gulped under the intense glare of the older Fujino and knew she was in for it this time. She expected Jun to scold her, to lecture her about proper etiquette and manners, and the 'inside voice' but to her surprise the woman said something else entirely.

"Your mother and I went to the same school…" commented the woman and Natsuki's hands froze, her emerald eyes stayed low however and after a moment of silence the midnight haired teen continued her work and Jun continued to speak "Never before had I seen such a strange human being, I once thought, how anyone could be so different. How could anyone be such a fool when it came to manners and tradition?"

Silence

"I was very young back then" continued the Fujino "My being had been so filled with what my parents deemed right and wrong that I could not even speak my own mind. I have done so to Shizuru as well."

Emerald eyes looked up to find Fujino Jun's eyes mirroring such pain. Natsuki had no idea what to do; her heart seemed to tighten at the expression on the woman's face.

"Do you think me evil Natsuki?" asked the woman her eyes dark and unknown "At first I had thought your presence was a thorn at my side, a bother to Shizuru's bright future under Searrs, a hindrance to the name Fujino… so I tried to conquer you, to break you, yet here you are failing at such a simple task; crushing leaves"

Fujino Jun tried to smile at Natsuki's defeated expression

"It seems no matter how hard I try, I too am destined for failure. Failure always creeps through the crevices of your mind Natsuki, it is hard for someone like myself to accept such a fate, but unfortunately the reality of this fate keeps bringing itself before me", Fujino Jun locked eyed with the emerald as she spoke "You may succeed but at some point in your life, you will realise that your success can only stretch so far. Only then will you realise that you should have allowed yourself to fail at simple tasks in order to succeed in those that are most important to you"

Natsuki was not quite sure how to react, was Fujino Jun complimenting her? Or was she insulting her?

"I have spent my life perfecting the smallest of things Natsuki, yet here you are just like Saeko-san, with no care for tradition, no acknowledgment for proper etiquette and I cannot help but wonder" uttered the Fujino "Where will your life lead you? You must understand that I cannot simply hope you will succeed. Hope does not bring you success Natsuki, that is the way I have been raised and no matter how hard I may try I cannot change my past and my methods"

Fujino Jun's gaze became rock hard "Evidently, it has become clear to my eyes that you, Kuga Natsuki, seem to be influencing Shizuru greatly. Never before has she disobeyed my commands, gone against Searrs regulations or dared to ignore her father's instructions. So tell me, is this because of Saeko-san's methods or is it because of mine?"

Natsuki stopped her work and sat there quietly waiting for Jun to continue. Images of that night flashed before her eyes, the warehouses, the dock, the jeep, Chie and Haruka yelling… Shizuru… the cravers all around her… it was all Natsuki's fault. If Natsuki had not become so needy towards the chestnut haired woman… if Natsuki had not wanted to go with Shizuru wherever she went… if Natsuki had not fallen in… fallen in love with Shizuru… then none of this would have happened "No…" mumbled Natsuki "…it was mine, it was my fault"

Jun stayed quiet for a moment and watched the emerald eyed girl, but Natsuki refused to look at her.

"I have worked hard to protect Shizuru and I do not think you see how greatly you have impacted on her future," continued Jun after a long silence. Natsuki could feel her eyes watching her with such intensity, waiting for Natsuki to interrupt her, any excuse to attack Natsuki's behaviour would satisfy this woman if only for a moment, "Searrs is the greatest most powerful corporation in the world, for Shizuru to disobey their rules, their regulations, is a great disgrace, it does not only affect the Fujino name, but Searrs as well, now they must answer questions Natsuki; serious questions. Why did one of their greatest Himes face death? Why, with such a promising career, did their number one Hime fail?"

Natsuki put the tea leaves down on the table in front of her and stared at them, her eyes searched the tiny fragments in the hope that would give her something; anything to explain to Jun how it was not her fault. But everything Jun said was true; it was Natsuki's fault for Shizuru's injuries. There was nothing the cobalt-haired teenager could do or say to take it all back.

Jun exhaled loudly and emerald eyes flicked up "I suppose this was bound to happen…" she spoke softly, to herself or to Natsuki the green eyed teen was not sure "Shizuru does have her flaws, no matter how perfect she seems to be, no matter how strong she looks in your eyes, you cannot expect her to always be there risking her own name, her own life, to protect you Natsuki. I fear that you have already tainted her behaviour and I fear that it was already bound to happen before you even stepped foot on Fujino manor"

Natsuki could not take it anymore, she slammed her palms on the table but Jun did not flinch. Her green eyes glared at the woman opposite her with great intensity "How dare you speak of Shizuru like that!" yelled the teenager. Natsuki was so angry, so confused, so frustrated. Why would Shizuru's mother say such things? This was… ridiculous. She was Shizuru's mother. Natsuki's mother would never say such a thing, Natsuki's mother always supported Natsuki's decisions and even her mistakes, "Shizuru is strong, Shizuru is perfect, and her flaws are what perfect her! Everything she does brings her further and further above the line of perfection it is impossible for you to even reach her!" Natsuki spoke each word with venom "Someone like you could never understand, you fall so perfectly into the slots your own parents have made for you, you're not even your own being anymore, you're just a chest piece on a board, waiting, waiting to be sacrificed for the good of the game! How can you even think Searrs' reputation is more important than your own daughter?"

Silence lingered

"It is strange… that you speak of sacrifice" commented Jun calmly "…maybe one day, when you understand the meaning of that word, you will realise everything I have done for Shizuru and everything she has destroyed for you, Natsuki"

-0-0-0-

The sleek black car Natsuki was now in held a loud silence. She was painfully aware of Fujino Jun sitting on her left. The emerald eyed teen did not know how this happened but apparently the woman wanted to watch Natsuki's graduation. Maybe the older Fujino wanted to see Natsuki standing and waiting there for eternity. Natsuki could see the smile on Shizuru's mother's face when the teenager's name would not be called out. To make matters worse Natsuki had not seen Shizuru the entire morning. The cobalt haired girl had no idea where Shizuru was. Her room was empty so she had guessed the crimson eyed goddess had been called out on another mission.

Emptiness swallowed the bike loving teen's chest. Shizuru had not said goodbye or even woken Natsuki to wish her good luck. The chestnut haired woman had promised Natsuki that she would be there for her graduation but the emerald eyed teen guessed that Shizuru had to deal with Searrs. That thought made Natsuki feel even worse. Fujino Jun's words echoed through her mind 'sacrifice' Natsuki truly had no idea what that meant. Natsuki had not sacrificed anything in her life. Her mother had sacrificed herself for something, for Searrs, for the Himes, for humanity. Yet Natsuki had done nothing her entire life. Shizuru had even sacrificed herself for Natsuki… what did Natsuki do?

All she could do was run. Run like a frightened, weak, insignificant mouse.

Before Natsuki knew it, students all around her were yelling with excitement, crying, laughing and even some had mutual expressions. The emerald eyed girl made her way through the crowd ignoring the voices that called out her name, ignoring the sounds of happiness and joy. Their high school life was over and now it was off to university. Unfortunately for the bike loving teen she could not express the same amount of joy everyone else emitted. Now that graduation was over she would join Searrs as a Hime.

During the ceremony she had searched and searched for Shizuru, amongst the staring faces, but had been unable to meet the chestnut beauty's gaze, yet alone find it. Her thoughts lingered on Fujino Jun's words as she made her way out of the front gate and waited for her ride. The older Fujino had left early. Natsuki had spotted her making her way out rather quickly after the green eyed girl received her certificate. This made Natsuki feel even more uneasy, the look on Jun's face was not one of satisfaction; in fact it looked angry, confused and even a bit surprised.

Natsuki guessed that her ride would take some time and as she waited the crowd began to disperse until she was the only one left. The teenager frowned angrily and looked up and down the road, the bastards had forgotten her! She cursed and decided that the only way she would get back is on foot.

Later...

Natsuki's sneakers hit the pavement of the footpath painfully. She rubbed her hands together and placed them to her lips puffing warm air onto her palms for warmth. It was going to be another hour before she reached the gates of the Fujino Estate. Next time she would charge her phone and not travel with Fujino Jun. Night blanketed the sky and a cold wave had swept through the town. Natsuki placed her hands in her jacket pocket and watched the road for any sign of headlights. It was very quiet all around her; all she could here was the scrapping of her heels on the concrete and the rustling of leaves. She sighed deeply and as she exhaled she whispered Shizuru's name.

The twenty one year old was always on her mind, especially after last night. At that thought Natsuki unconsciously touched her neck again, her skin felt soft and smooth. There was no sign of any mark or wound anymore, nothing that could support what Natsuki had witnessed. Which was another perk to being a Hime; increased regeneration, if only it worked for memories as well.

Drip

Natsuki came to a halt and stared at the dark spot on the pavement

Drip

Emerald eyes frowned and Natsuki knew it just was not her day.

It began to rain. It was an understatement of course. It was storming. Rain was pouring down in mass waves and the bike loving teen was exposed to it all.

Quickly she began to run as fast as she could in order to escape the typhoon.

Her eyes narrowed as she tried to see through the falling water droplets; like bullets against her skin. She turned a corner and ran down an old road. She decided she would take the forest trail. It was longer but the tree canopies would protect her body from the downpour.

Twenty minutes later she was walking in between bushes and shrubs, up a small hill and along a dirt path. She cursed at the state of her shoes. They were covered in dirt and permanently stained brown.

An hour later…

The dirty brown sneakers came to a halt at a wall. It was smooth and grey and its edges decorated and carved with swirling patterns. Natsuki stood there for a moment wondering how she was going to get over this new obstacle. Rain pelted down onto her shoulders but it had no effect. Her clothes were already so drenched and heavy from the water, the rain seemed insignificant. The quickest way to get to the nearest building was over the wall and if she could not manage that then she would have no choice but to go all the way around. A nearby tree caught her eye and she made her way over to it running her gaze up and down its branches. With a grunt she began to climb. At first she fumbled and could not get a good grip. The rain had soften the bark of the tree trunk and made it ever so slippery. Natsuki's wrinkly wet hands did not help her in her attempt either. Cursing as she finally made her way onto a firm branch she stretched out her arm to the next one. It was an odd looking stump, crooked and broken at the end. A sudden breeze caught her off guard and she held onto the thick trunk to stay balanced. Once the wind had stopped blowing she released her firm and desperate hold and grabbed onto the broken branch. Hoisting herself up, she was almost at her target. A long thick branch curved and shaped like a curling hand. It was just sitting above the wall so it would be Natsuki's only option. Unfortunately as Natsuki reached out to grab it she realised it was just a few centimetres too far. With determination in her eyes she forced herself up onto her feet. Her knees were shaking nervously but she paid them no mind and with a kick off she jumped and grabbed onto the branch. Her arms stretched over it and it nestled right under her armpits. Her feet dangled in mid-air and she scrambled around trying to pull and push herself up.

Once she got on the branch she straddled it and slowly made her way out to its tip. Carefully she swung herself down and aimed for the top of the thick wall. She let go. Her foot landed firmly on its stony surface but the other slipped and she fell forward into the rose garden. Natsuki growled and cursed as she stumbled out, rubbing her cheek after it had been pricked by a thorn. She could feel the tingling sensation all over her skin as well. She could not wait to get inside and have a warm shower but most of all yell at Fujino Jun for leaving her without a way home.

Stomping her way through the garden pass a building and into the courtyard Natsuki made her way to the main household. She slid the door open and walked in not caring that her shoes were muddy and that she was dripping water all over the expensive wooden floor. She kicked her shoes off, pulled off her socks and looked down the hallway. None of the lights were on and it was dead quiet. In fact Natsuki had not noticed any lights at all when she had made her way into the Fujino estate. Frowning she took off her jumper and tossed it next to her shoes. The servants could deal with her mess later. Sighing she walked towards the bathroom not really caring if she was missing out on dinner.

After passing a number of doors Natsuki grew suspicious. She had not encountered any servants or anyone at all.

She stood in a wet puddle and froze.

The liquid coated her toes a dark colour and her brows knitted together. The pool of water came from her left and ran under the door to the study. Carefully she opened the entry quietly and peeped inside. A desk sat on the far side and another entry on the far right. The walls were covered in bookshelves and a few old chairs were placed on the left wall. Her emerald eyes squinted through the crack and she spotted a figure sitting at the desk slumped over. It was unlike Fujino Hideo to sleep at his work desk… she opened the door wider and there was a gasp on her right.

It was not a gasp of surprise or astonishment; it was a wheezing, strained and painful gasp that sounded clogged up and drowning. Natsuki flicked on the light and it flickered a very dull glow.

Then all the pieces fell into place because what Natsuki saw was not Hideo sleeping… it was Hideo covered in red. The water she was standing in was not water at all, it was blood and the gasp on her right was coming from Fujino Jun. The woman was on the ground surrounded by a pool of red liquid, her face was smeared in red and she coughed out a dribble of blood. She looked at Natsuki with blank eyes. Those eyes flickered and seemed to come to life at the site of the midnight haired teen. Emerald eyes stared in horror as Jun lifted her hand up trying to reach for Natsuki.

Images flickered in her mind about her dream and her mother reaching out to her.

"N-atsuki…" wheezed the woman and at the sound of her voice the bike loving teen was on her knees in blood with Fujino Jun in her arms. Emerald eyes scanned the pale face for something, anything. An explanation. But when none came Natsuki had to ask it verbally.

"What happened?" demanded the green eyed girl "What happened?"

Impossible… Fujino manor was surrounded with elite guards, protectors. Where were they? How did Natsuki even get in so easily? She was so stupid! Of course there had to be something wrong no way could she enter Fujino estate without being stopped or spotted.

"…I am sorry…for those things I said to you" whispered the Fujino "…you must – pause – understand e-ver-ything w-we did was for S-shizuru's sake… we loved her very dearly… I thought I would never have a child…such a beautiful child… so I h-had n-no choice…"

"It's okay Jun-sama I understand" cried Natsuki "Just… stay with me okay? You are going to be alright"

Then Jun's eyes widened and she whispered something "-un" she uttered it so softly Natsuki could barely hear her

"Run… Natsuki"

Natsuki frowned at her and watched the woman's eyes flicker to behind the emerald eyed girl. Slowly the midnight haired teens head turned and stared at the figure in the doorway in disbelief.

And the world came crashing down.

-0-0-0-

When Natsuki's mother died… she believed it was the greatest pain she would ever feel in her life. A large empty void was left in her chest. Only now did she realise that it was not losing her mother that would cause her the most pain in her life; it was losing that person that filled that empty void… all those hollow spaces in Natsuki's heart. Worst of all, that person, would be walking among the living… an empty void themselves.

"S-shizuru?" gasped Natsuki placing Fujino Jun down gently. The emerald eyed teen jumped up and faced her injured companion. Shizuru stood in the doorway, her eyes and face expressionless, but her entire body was covered in blood. She was pale, very pale and it worried Natsuki. The teenager grew even more worried when Shizuru's expression showed one of pain and fear. She took one step forward in an attempt to go aid her but something grabbed her ankle. Green orbs looked down to find Fujino Jun gripping onto Natsuki's joint with as much force as she could muster.

"D-don't go n-near her-r" croaked the woman and Natsuki's head snapped up to look at Shizuru. The woman was no longer frightened or in pain, her face was completely blank and she was standing up straight and confidently. Something about Shizuru seemed…. Different.

Natsuki's eyes widened as the object of her affection smiled and let out a giggle. It happened so fast Natsuki only blinked; Shizuru appeared right in front of her. Her eyes were red and full of bloodlust. But what shocked Natsuki even more was that there was a figure between Shizuru and her acting as a barrier. Fujino Jun gasped in pain. She had leapt in front of Natsuki with the last bit of her strength. Shizuru's hand had hit her stomach and clawed its way through her flesh. The older Fujino coughed up a pool of blood and slumped to the ground.

Shizuru glanced down at her mother's body like it was nothing, her expression was so emotionless and void. Her eyes flashed upwards and locked on to Natsuki and emerald orbs stared into those dark and empty red eyes searching for a glimmer, a sign that this was still Shizuru, but all they found was nothingness. Natsuki watched as Shizuru lifted up her bloody hand and licked the red liquid up in one thin line. Natsuki took a step back and shook her head at the sight of her friend. Her eyes were wide and teeth clenched as she tried to accept this reality.

Shizuru dropped her hand to her side and tilted her head with a smile painted on her expression "Na-tsu-ki" she slurred and lifted her hand up, slowly, with its palm outwards. Her finger curled up as she beckoned Natsuki to step towards her "…you look cold, come here"

A moment passed before the emerald eyed teen actually felt her body lean slightly forward. This motion frightened her and she had to second guess herself as she examined this cruel lifeless being before her; this monster. Shizuru's body was still the same, her shape had not changed at all, and in fact it had become more exotic. Her hair was a slightly darker brown and her skin paler beneath all the blood, but other than that there was no sign that she had changed at all; physically.

Natsuki closed her mouth and took another step back and at this action Shizuru's inviting expression changed. Her dark red eyes narrowed and her head lowered at the teenager's refusal. Natsuki had no choice… she could never fight Shizuru… she was outmatched in every way; Shizuru as a Hime had been incredibly powerful, but Shizuru as a vampire, a creature of the night? What could she accomplish?

So Natsuki did the one thing she could do. The one thing Shizuru had taught her.

She ran.

As soon as Natsuki's foot shifted to move for the back door Shizuru moved swiftly to block it.

But Natsuki ran forwards, towards where Shizuru once was a second ago and slammed the door shut.

She had no time to stop and bolted as fast as she could. She reached the front door and stretched her hand out towards it desperately.

Just as her fingertips touched it her neck was pulled back by her collar.

Shizuru threw her down the hallway and Natsuki slid along the wood screeching to a halt at a small rise in the floor. Her arms and side burned from the friction of the wood. Wincing she looked up at the approaching figure.

"So… Natsuki has learnt well" uttered Shizuru, "I am glad"

Every step the Kyoto-born seemed to make echoed in Natsuki's ears and made her heart thump harder. Emerald eyes watched each step hit the floor in slow motion but the teenager could not will herself to get up.

"Whatever Shizuru!" uttered the cobalt haired girl kicking the water on the footpath "You say that all the time and I never finish, you always catch me! Why can't you just lose for once baka?"

"Ara that would defeat the purpose Na-tsu-ki" smiled the chestnut haired beauty once again, tilting her head upright "I cannot simply just let Natsuki win, then I would be worried about her safety all the time; this way Natsuki will be fast enough to get away and I will be content knowing she can outsmart her enemy"

Natsuki forced herself up. She knew she could not outrun Shizuru but she did it anyway. She had to try. The cobalt haired teen only took two steps before the chestnut haired woman had grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. Shizuru gripped onto Natsuki's collar as the cobalt haired teen groaned in pain. Her back hit the wall hard and the likelihood of her escaping seemed so very meek now.

Green eyes opened wide at the sight of Shizuru's fangs. The teen kicked the wall desperately and at Shizuru with little effect. The creature grabbed Natsuki's throat and smirked at her weak attempts to escape. Natsuki's eyes closed in pain as she attempted to fight her conflicting mind "Forgive me Shizuru" she uttered and grabbed Shizuru's wrist with her right hand.

Crimson eyes widened. The crackling of ice coated the joint and limb quickly and the blood-seeker dropped Natsuki and hissed in pain. Shizuru's cries pierced Natsuki's heart like a thousand knives but she had to be strong. Without a second thought the teenager sprinted pass Shizuru and down the hallway again towards the front door. When the exit came into view her heart began to beat faster and faster. Fear seemed to ripple up her back, a part of her expecting to be pulled away from her freedom. As her hand gripped the door Natsuki felt a chill spread throughout her body. She opened the exit and stared into the dark rainy scene.

Instead of exiting Natsuki ran into the kitchen and decided to hide. At first she thought the pantry cupboard would be a good idea but she had seen way too many horror movies to know how that ended. This hesitation gave her less time and she would pay for it. With no time left she just slipped behind the bench as Shizuru dashed pass to the front door. The breeze from the creature's speed hit Natsuki a second later and her locks of hair shifted slightly from the movement.

The bike loving teen sat there in silence not daring to make a single move. Her will power did not even allow her to sweat. Natsuki's body was rigid and tense and it felt like an hour before she allowed herself to sigh in relief; able to breathe for once. Her eyes drifted to her left and she found two creamy legs crossed over and hanging from the top of the bench a meter away from her face.

Her green orbs shot up and Shizuru sat there, leaning back on one arm while inspecting her nails. Crimson eyes slowly moved away from the fingertips and locked eyes with Natsuki "Ara… ara…"

Frantically, Natsuki scrambled until she hit the wall. Her hand moved around trying to find something… anything…

With nowhere else to go she watched the dark empty shell that use to be Shizuru slip off the bench and walk towards her. Shizuru's hips swayed as she came ever so closer. She looked so cold, so calculating and so animalistic. The hairs on the back of Natsuki's neck stood up and her body was hit with chills.

"Shizuru…" whispered Natsuki not wanting to believe this was real. It was a dream, one of her bad horrible nightmares and she was about to wake up.

Wake up!

She closed her eyes shut as Shizuru leaned over her. Cold bloody fingers touched her chin and her face was lifted to meet that gaze.

Emerald eyes opened and Natsuki met red heartless ones staring at her with such content, such hunger. Shizuru's lips curved into a smile.

Then, Shizuru leaned towards her and Natsuki prepared for the end. She closed her eyes and felt something wet and firm touch her cheek. A lip mark sat on her skin formed by the blood on Shizuru's pale lips. The blood of Shizuru's mother, Shizuru's father and Shizuru's family was now on Natsuki's face. The reality of it all was sealed with one crimson kiss.

…

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Next chapter: Our Game