Author Notes:
Yada..yada..I'm back. How long has it been? Well, I'm not fully recovered yet, but, tomorrow I can go back to my old room. My room with so many memories. It's now just a fond memories for me. I hope I will not enter this quarantine room again, and never enter ICU again..I guess it's such an awful nightmare for Yaa-chan. This whole month is an awful nightmare for both of us. Also my family. Many things happen and mother manage to find my father. Although after the surgery, more time need for my body to familiarize with the bone marrow, so twice I've been admit into ICU for critical state. Well, we leave all that experience behind. I fell like given a second life.A second chance. I feel alive.
Yaa-chan has been tired taking care of me through days and nights without proper rest, despite her works shift, frequently commute from home back to hospital. She been lack of sleeps and not eating properly, so, when I was waking up after 3 days comatose, I could see dark circle, anxiety, and tiredness on her face. So poor Yaa-chan. So, I'm giving her a good rest. That's why this chapter is un-beta. My deepest apologies. It's thanks to Yaa-chan that she had to going through hardship with me. I'm sorry for being a burden to her. And I'm grateful for having her love. Deep from my heart…
Hah..she make me hopelessly romantic am I…awww…I feel stupid..
Okay…quit with my stupid story…on with the long awaited Midsummer Chronicle.
Saturday, 06.00 am, Kuga Resident
"arrrghhh! Which one?!" Panic start to attack Natsuki. Her room in chaos. "This one? No..NO! definitely No!" She grab her head and pulling her hair in despair. "Anyway, why should I care which shirt I should wear. It's not like I'm expecting anything from her. Also, that woman…." Natsuki gritted her teeth. "I hate that woman….. .no" At the mention of the surname, an image of smirking and warm crimson came into her mind. A pink blushed unaware from the owner appear on her cheek. "Fuhhh.." another exhale. She didn't care anymore how many exhale she already have since waking up. Last night, she couldn't even sleep thinking about the event of this day, and she blink her eyes as she realize its already morning when her alarm clock shouting its annoying beep. "This is not a date…Its not a date. Its just an escape and I don't even love her. She even barely know me." Looking down at the shirt in her hand, she could feel the ache in her heart.
Chapter 6 – Summer Date
Saturday, 7.00 am, Fujino Resident
A melodic voice could be heard singing in the background of pattering shower. The owner of said voice closing the shower tap and not long after that a beautiful sculpture body emerging from the bathroom wrapped in a fresh towel. Drop of water painfully seductively tracing its way from her hair down to the smooth skin of her neck before disappear between the valley. Oh so stunning ruby orb staring into the mirror while her hands make its way drying the damp hair. She smile at her own reflection. "Ahh..Natsuki. What should I wear for our date today?" Talking to herself she imagine the face of said person and she bite her lips when she think all the possible reaction that she could get from him at the dresses she choose to wear. She might wearing a seductive form fitting dress with low cleavage so to promote a tomato deep blush from him. Or maybe she could wear a cute evening gown so to get a pink cute blush on his cheek. "Ara..which one?hmmm…maybe this one better." Shizuru raise a purple blouse and a white skirt with fond smile gracing her lips. Eyes twinkle in wonder.
Fuuka City Park, 09.00 am
….[Shizuru POV]
" .HaH! did..did I make you wait long?" At the sound of husky voice, Shizuru turn to look on her left. Natsuki arrive with a plain white shirt over a plain blue t-shirt, loosed fitting blue jean and white sneaker. His hair as usual tied up in ponytail. Dark circles evidenced under his eyes indicating lack of sleep. Tired and panic on his face as he bend forward to catch his breath. Shizuru smile assuringly and approach him. "No. Natsuki. You arrive on time."
"Atta..sorry if you have to wait for me..It…it just..I.." before Natsuki could finish his word, Shizuru extend her arm toward. Blushing, Natsuki reach for her hand and raises standing straight. Averting his gaze and rubbing his cheek with his index finger.."T-then, sh-shall we go?"
Shizuru found that the image is so cute.
Walking their path in the amusement park at the center of Fuuka Commercial District, once every few minutes, Natsuki would steal a glance at Shizuru. As if Shizuru didn't realize, she silently enjoy a few blush after the glance but decided to let it past without teasing. After all, Natsuki maybe had a hard time to sleep last night thinking about their date today. But, she couldn't denied, she also had a hard time to sleep. Sometime during her silent slumber, she would dream of Natsuki in not so innocent encounter or should she state it as intense activity. And she wake up with a cold sweat feeling something stirring in her stomach. She could feel her face hot and flustered and her breath erratic. Unable to return back sleeping she rising and make her way for a cold shower. Again, at the memory of the her last night dream, Shizuru wonder what was it all about. Why would I dream of Natsuki and me in…I..I'm not falling in love with him, am I? This is just an act. A cover because my magic failed on him, so I push him into this. I want opportunity and chance to cast my spell on him until it work, but.. why do I feel like this? Why would I dream such a sinful dream? Or…could it be my magic backfired at me? No..It couldn't be..but…
"A-anoo, Kai..Fu..Fujino-san, would you like an ice cream?" Natsuki husky voice brought Shizuru back from her inner dialogue.
"Shizuru." She responded. Natsuki averting his gaze again. "I want you to call me Shizuru, remember, my Natsuki?"
"Urmm.." Natsuki reply, but her eyes focus elsewhere.
Maybe he still not comfortable being around me.. "Natsuki…"
"H-hai."
"Green tea."
"What!?"
"I want green tea flavor, please."
"A-ah.H-hai. I-I'm going then…to the ice cream stall. Urmmm.. Y-you wait here, then..Shi-Shizuru" Natsuki smile and spun around.
With her name being said in such a gentle tone, Shizuru could feel her face hot for the second time this morning. Maybe she blushing, she didn't care anymore. Watching the handsome back of the boy running carelessly toward nearby stall, the image is so cute she can't even comprehend. She could feel her heart beating fast like she's running a thousand miles nonstop. She didn't realize she was holding back her breath until her hand rise to her chest and tried her hardest to calming her heartbeat. At that, she feel she want to cry but didn't know why. Her lips tried to call for that familiar name. What happen to me? Her hands painfully clenching, stopping it from reaching for Natsuki. I feel I want to embrace him. I feel like I want to…AH! "A-Ara.." Shizuru's eyes widen as she realized. Now, it all makes senses. The dream. The heartbeat. My blush. This feeling….
"Here you go!"
She didn't even realized Natsuki had arrive with two cons of ice cream and extend one toward her.
"Ara. Ookini, Na-tsu-ki." She tried to form each syllable carefully and fondly. At that, Natsuki cheeks blush.
"Hmm..where do you want to go next?" Natsuki tried to start the conversation to break the awkward silence.
"How about we go to the hunted house there?"
"Hu..hunted!?" Natsuki voice shriek weirdly.
"Don't tell me. My Natsuki is afraid of ghost. And it's a fake ghost.."
"NO! NEVER!..W..WHO ARE AFRAID OF G-GHOST! I-I'M NOT AFRAID! HAHA…HAHAHAHAH!" Natsuki voice seems to rang too loudly that nearby visitors glance toward their way with annoying look. Natsuki, much to the attention, glomping at his ice cream whole and gulping it down in one go before shot a death glare toward the annoying visitors.
"W-well then..hurry up finish your ice cream. The Hunted House we will go! Yosh!" he hoist his hand in a punch toward the blue sky above. Nearby, a crow loudly screaming..ahoo..ahoo..ahoo..
…..
"EEEEEIIIIIIYYYAAAAAAA!"
Shizuru chuckle silently behind her hand. Eyes twinkle with mirth. Another loud shriek rang as a the next scary figure appear in front of them suddenly. Natsuki already hiding behind her clutching at her blouse with a death grip. His face pale and his hand tremble. This amuse Shizuru greatly and she didn't waste any opportunity to hug Natsuki every time Natsuki jump out of surprise. Maybe fear.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT!?" Again, Natsuki bark and point his index finger accusingly toward Shizuru. Calmly Shizuru closing her eyes, inhale deeply. "Whatever does My Natsuki mean?"
"YOU-YOU EVIL WO…IIIYAAAAA!" Natsuki couldn't finish his word as another fake ghost grab his sleeve and laughing manically.
Shizuru took another fortunate opportunity to hug his small body and smell the refreshing cologne. His hair smell like mint in the winter. It comforting for her. Shizuru rub his back reassuringly to calm the frightened pup. Awww..I never knew such a boy would afraid of ghost so much. But, ahhhh….I can't let this opportunity to slip. Fufu…well I should keep in mind that next time I should ask my friend to fake a ghost whenever he's near me. So I can hug him and..
A fervent blush appeared on her cheek at the memory of her sinful dream. Am I start to become a pervert. Ahhh..how sinful I am for thinking such toward a frighten pup.. Gulping down, she tried to form the word without sound like a pervert.
"As grateful as I am to have my natsuki hugging me, S-shall we continue walking, ne, N-Natsuki." Little by little tried to close the distance between their face. Ah, a little bit. His lips so smooth and delicious. I feel like eating it.
"Ehem…m'kay." Quickly, Natsuki push Shizuru and straighten up again like a gentleman and looking sideway.
The moment interrupted when an earthquake erupted.
"Uwaahh, what was that?" Natsuki look around in questioningly.
Another earthquake. They could hear screaming around them.
"I think we should go to the exit immediately." Natsuki look straight to Shizuru with determine emerald and extend his hand.
"Ara..hai." Grabbing Natsuki's hand, they ran fast toward their exit until another earthquake erupt and the floor below their feet suddenly crumble and cracking.
"Wha…" both unable to react when the floor collapse and they fall into darkness.
….
….
…. [Natsuki POV]
"Urrrgggghhhh…" Natsuki blinked her eyes. What happened? Where am I? Blinking again to rid of the blur, she jolted upward panicky "Shizuru! SHIZURU"
"I never knew My Natsuki like my name so much. I'm flattered."
That provoke a blush on her cheek. Looking to the right, Natsuki see Shizuru standing at the corner of the poorly lit place.
"Where are we?"
"Ara, hmm..I also don't know. It seems like a cave under the park. That maybe lead toward somewhere." Shizuru point toward somewhere behind Natsuki. As she spun her head around, she could see at where Shizuru was pointing. It's a cave like tunnel without any light to lit it. It's completely dark, but surely it lead to somewhere. Standing up and patting her shirt of the dust, Natsuki gulping down her fear. Dark. Again?
"S-should we go through that?"
"Ara, where else can we go? I don't see any other option here."
"It can't be help. Is it?"
"As more I like to spend my time here with My Natsuki, I prefer to do it in my room and not here."
Natsuki look questioningly toward Shizuru trying to comprehend the meaning behind her words until it hit her. "Wha..not that, you pervert!"
"Ara. So, Natsuki hate me that he didn't even think about spending his time with me and he even said I'm a pervert?" Shizuru close her hand on her face.
"Wha..No..Its..but.."
"Then, Natsuki think that I'm ugly that he..hick..didn't even want to touch me..hick" with a hurt voice, a sob could be heard behind the hand.
"NO, I mean, Yes..eh..NO…eh…I mean I don't hate you, you're not ugly, you're beautiful to me, in fact you're angel, gorgeous."
"Then…hick…why he don't want to touch me, ikezu!" again another sob.
"Why!? W-why..aaa..I didn't said I don't want to touch you..you see. But.."
"Then, he should kiss me."
"What…?"
"Natsuki should kiss me."
"K-Kiss…uwaaa…stop..stop crying..okay..okay..I..k-kissu you."
"Ara-ara, now where were we?" a hand drop from the face revealing a smile behind it.
Gack! I've been tricked..again! The nerve of this woman!
"I think my Natsuki said he want to kiss me." Shizuru said seductively approaching slowly with the glint in her eyes.
Natsuki retreat backward step by step as Shizuru walking slowly nearing her. They stop when Natsuki back reach the wall behind and she was trapped between the wall and Shizuru. Raising both arm to cage Natsuki, Shizuru closing the distance. Natsuki could feel her eyelids heavy and she could smell the lavender in Shizuru hair. Time feels slowing down.
Clack
Two breath trying to synchronize with each other.
Grrrrrr….
Eh!? What's that sound? Natsuki tried to focus her eyes toward the sound.
Clack
Don't tell me… "Shizuru, look out!" Natsuki pull Shizuru with her averting the incoming black smoke.
"Tsk.." Natsuki grimace at the image in front of her. Pollution.
The smoke start forming a monster. It glaring hungrily toward them. Natsuki glance toward Shizuru and could see a surprise look on her face. I should protect Shizuru.
"Shizuru, stay behind me." Natsuki step in front of Shizuru and facing the monster bravely.
"Natsuki!?" she could hear a trembling in Shizuru's voice.
"It's okay, I…" Natsuki couldn't finish her word as the monster again lung forward to attack.
Eyes widen. Shit! I don't have time to evade. Closing her eyes, Natsuki grimace for the incoming force. A minute went by but nothing happen. Opening her eyes, Natsuki was shock at what reveal in front of her. There, Shizuru blocking its attack with her bare back and extending arms protecting her. Drip of blood pooling on the ground. Natsuki could see sweat on Shizuru forehead before she collapse to the ground painfully. Reaching forward, Natsuki embrace Shizuru, hugging her while her eyes glaring toward the monster. Her fang clenching. The monster sensing the threat, retreat backward snarling.
"S-Shizuru.."
"I…don't…want..my Natsuki hurt." Shizuru reaching her hand to touch Natsuki's cheek, smearing the blood on it.
"I will not hurt. It's you…"
"I'm sorry…I love Natsuki so much. I cannot bear to see he's hurt, even a scratch."
"Shizuru…don't you worry. Wait here, kay. I'll be back to you" Putting Shizuru on the ground comfortably, Natsuki pull her shirt and cover Shizuru with it.
Standing up, she walk again in front of Shizuru, blocking her from the monster.
"Natsuki…." Shizuru look at Natsuki sadly.
"Shizuru, I will make sure we escape from here safely. Don't worry." With that word, Natsuki close her eyes to focus. She still could remember the words Mai chanted. Inhale deeply, she relax her shoulder. I don't have any choice right now. I cannot keep my secret for I worry about her safety. Shizuru. Natsuki cast her last glance before she recite the spell confidently. "O great ancient one, I call upon thy presence, Mysterious and divine, In this space and time. Materialize!".
A blue light shone under Natsuki's feet. Shizuru eyes widen at the form in front of her. The only word she could form at the moment is The Lagendary Silver Knight.
As she materialize, Natsuki lung forward and the battle between the knight and the pollution began. The fight create the quakes and sometimes the force from the impact crushing the wall around them. It end when Natsuki miraculously summoning a sword and thrusting it into the monster. The monster disperse leaving Natsuki standing in her armor with sword still raise in the air. Narrowing her eyes, Shizuru noted that most of Natsuki magic are quite peculiar. Yes, he is the water element knight class, but, it's in the ice form. Not the water itself. Furthermore, apart from the materialization, Natsuki didn't even recite the spell to invoke the magics. It's weird, even for the sorcerer class.
Natsuki recite the spell to undo her materialization. Her form is quiet beaten. Hah..hah..I..I should save Shizuru. She's injured. Natsuki tried her hardest to stand up and walking toward Shizuru. Reaching her destination, she collapses in front of injured Shizuru. What..what should I do next? Let see…Mai once said to me about healing spell. I guess I can bet on my luck. Putting her hand on Shizuru arm, Natsuki focusing to invoke the magic. Focus. Please let me heal Shizuru.
A yellow light come to life. Opening her eyes, Natsuki feel relieve as she successfully manage to invoke the healing spell. Little by little she could see the wound on shizuru side closing and healing. With the little power that she have, she tried to look into Shizuru's eyes, and what she found was overwhelming her. There, Shizuru stare at her, mouth slightly open, and eyes full of warm, maybe a thousand of question swarming in them. The sight are so beautiful. "Shi….." and the darkness engulf her vision. Natsuki collapse but before it ever reach the ground, Shizuru catch the body and hug it. "Natsuki, My Natsuki….I love you"
Author notes:
Ahhh…do you expect the next chapter preview…sorry..not this time..it's a secret but I give you the title.
Next Chapter: Summer Quest