A/N: Thank you so much to all of you who have read, and especially to those of you who reviewed! I tried replying to all of your comments but if I missed you, I apologize, and allow me to take this chance to THANK YOU! THANK YOU THANK YOU THAAANK YOU! It makes me so happy that people actually like this story! I'm glad that the whole Nao/Nina thing went well. Thank you again for reading and I'd like to thank again, my beta Silverveign for editing this chapter. Thank you my friend :)
Now without further ado, I present to you the next installment of this story. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime/Mai-Otome.
Love You Today, Tomorrow, & Always
7
The music coming from the ballroom reached Natsuki as she stared at her reflection on the mirror. "You look beautiful Natsuki." Akane commented as she watched her cousin from her spot on the bed. Natsuki had finally opened up to her after a couple of days in the castle and had told her about Shizuru and about her pregnancy.
"Thank you Akane." Natsuki mumbled as she smoothed down the red silk dress that hugged her curves tightly. Seeing her cousin's demeanor, Akane rose from her spot and walked over to stand behind her cousin, placing a kind hand on her shoulder, "It will be okay Natsuki. Remember what I told you. You just have to endure the party tonight and tomorrow I will get you out of Kruger and back to Windbloom so you can find Shizuru and talk to her."
Natsuki smiled, "I owe you Akane. I really do."
"You're family Natsuki, you know I'd do anything to help you." Akane responded with a smile, "Now hurry up, you have a party waiting for you."
With a sigh, Natsuki turned towards the door, "Let's do this."
"Holy. Shit." Haruka said in awe as she gawked at the large castle of Kruger where the masquerade was taking place. Shizuru nodded but did not allow the grandeur of the castle to intimidate her. She had a mission. It was time to find Natsuki.
The pair stepped into the ball and soon found themselves lost in a sea of people dancing to the soft music that was being played. Shizuru had on a black tuxedo with her hair tied back in a tight pony tail while a black mask covered her face. To her side, Haruka wore a dress since her breasts were far too obvious even when she had tried binding them the way Shizuru had her own. Her blonde curls fell down her shoulders as she wore a white mask.
Nobody paid any attention to the couple as they walked through the crowd but before they made it across the large ball room, the music suddenly stopped playing when a man appeared before them atop the grand case of stairs.
"Good evening ladies and gentleman. Please welcome heiress to the throne, Saeko Kruger, and her daughter, Natsuki Kruger."
As soon as the man finished, a soft music began as Saeko appeared, followed by a less-than-happy Natsuki. The heiress to the throne smiled to the large crowd, "Thank you all for joining us tonight. I would like to thank all the eligible bachelors in particular for coming and wishing to meet my daughter Natsuki." Saeko turned to Natsuki, nudging her forward, "I hope you enjoy all enjoy your night and that my daughter meets the special man in her life."
Hearing Saeko's words boiled Shizuru's blood, but she controlled herself and watched as Saeko and Natsuki proceeded down the stairs, soon to be enveloped by the hungry guests who wished to speak with the two women. The party resumed along with the music and Shizuru felt her arm being tugged by Haruka whose eyes she could only see, and they told her to be patient.
Natsuki felt like she was suffocating.
Every couple of minutes her mother shoved a new man into her face who tried to show her how he was "better" than all the other men she had meet throughout the night. She hadn't been in the party for even an hour and she already had a murderous glint in her eyes as she tried to escape from the mob that seemed intent on making her escape impossible. Moving to her side, she attempted to leave whoever it was she was talking to, not caring enough to know his name, and in the corner of her eye she saw a pair of crimson eyes that were set on her.
Natsuki whipped her head around instantly, her heart beating hard as her eyes scanned the crowd, but finding nothing. "Natsuki-sama, is everything okay?" The man whom Saeko had sent Natsuki's way asked as he noticed the girl's odd behavior. Natsuki turned back to him, "It's nothing..ah...John..."
"It's William..." He replied, slightly upset that the woman he had been talking to for at least ten minutes did not remember his name. "Oh yes, yes." Natsuki said absentmindedly as her eyes continued to scan the area unsuccessfully, "Sorry Willis, I have to go."
William looked after Natsuki's departing figure and huffed, "My name is William! William!"
Natsuki ignored the man as she moved through the crowd. 'I could swearI saw Shizuru...her eyes...it had to be her...' She looked around and frowned when she realized that it had been only her imagination. After all, Shizuru had been banned from Kruger. There was no way it was her.
Natsuki sighed as she moved towards the gardens in hope to catch some fresh air, but was stopped when an arm wrapped around her waist and out-of-nowhere, she was pulled against a warm body that swayed her to the slow music. "What the hell? Who do you think you are!" Natsuki snarled angrily as she struggled against the person who had pulled her against her will. She tried pulling away but when she was pulled closely, she inhaled the distinct smell that was forever engraved in her mind.
Her eyes widened as she looked up and through the mask's openings, saw the crimson eyes that she had needed to see for so long.
"Shizuru...it really is you."
Shizuru lowered her head next to Natsuki's ear, "Yes my Natsuki, it is me."
Natsuki felt a tear roll down her cheek, not being able to help the overwhelming happiness she felt inside of her, "Shizuru, I am so sorry, I miss you so much. Please forgive me."
The brunette smiled as she took Natsuki's hand and led her outside towards the gardens, making sure that nobody spotted them as they made their exit.
Once outside, the cool air surrounded them instantly, yet they did not mind as they moved to a secluded area where nobody could see them. Safely away from prying eyes, Shizuru turned to Natsuki and was surprised to find tears streaming down the bluenette's eyes.
"Nat-Natsuki..." Shizuru was at a loss for words, "I'm sorry I-"
Natsuki did not allow her to finish as she pulled Shizuru into a passionate kiss.
Shizuru could feel the salty taste of Natsuki's tears in her kiss and felt her heart was once more complete. After a few minutes of their kiss, oxygen became a problem and Natsuki pulled back. "Shizuru, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for getting mad at you, I'm sorry for leaving, for lying, for...for..."
Crimson eyes were set on her, waiting for Natsuki to finish, but when Natsuki remained silent, Shizuru smiled and hugged Natsuki against her, "Please don't leave me again Natsuki. I can't stand it."
Natsuki began to cry unto Shizuru's shoulder. It was now or never. She had planned on leaving Kruger the next day to look for Shizuru but now that Shizuru was here, it only meant she had to tell her now. She couldn't wait any longer. She loved Shizuru and would accept any and all responsibility for her actions.
Back inside the castle, Saeko Kruger searched for her daughter frantically, yet her demeanor remained calm as she smiled and nodded politely to all her guests. Scanning the area she felt anger grow within her as she was unable to spot Natsuki anywhere in the room.
"Excuse me, I will be back." Saeko excused herself from a guest and walked towards the gardens where she hoped to find Natsuki. She knew her daughter and knew that Natsuki did not like large crowds, much less having those large crowds all over her. The only reasonable place was the garden where Natsuki would probably be taking a break from all the people. Stepping outside, she looked around quietly, not seeing her daughter anywhere, and decided to look a bit further in.
"Shizuru, there is something I must tell you." Natsuki's voice was soft, hardly above a whisper. Shizuru nodded and waited for Natsuki. The bluenette swallowed hard, feeling her mouth become dry, "Shi-Shizuru...remember the night of your birthday...when we...you know..."
Shizuru smiled, "How could I forget it?" Nervously, Natsuki set her emerald eyes on Shizuru's crimson. "Shizuru, I...I didn't recite the spell. I'm sorry."
Natsuki's words sank slowly into Shizuru's mind as she tried to process what Natsuki was trying to say. "You didn't...I didn't either..." Shizuru knew what spell Natsuki was referring to, but her mind took an extra second to realize what exactly Natsuki meant.
"Natsuki...you...you're pregnant?" Shizuru asked as her heart pounded loudly in her heart, and when Natsuki moved her gaze downward, she knew the answer.
"I'm sorry Shizuru...I'm sorry."
Shizuru's eyes widened, her mind racing with thoughts of what Natsuki's pregnancy really meant for her, for her life and her future. But as soon as she set her eyes on Natsuki who was now sobbing quietly, none of that mattered.
Natsuki tensed when she felt Shizuru's arms around her. "I love you Natsuki. So much. I will make sure that our child is the happiest child in all of Earl."
Relaxing into Shizuru's hold, Natsuki's tears now turned into tears of joy. She had embraced herself for Shizuru's words of hatred and anger, but instead she had received Shizuru's love. "I'm sorry for not telling you, I was so scared. I thought you would hate me."
"I could never hate you Natsuki. I wish you would've told me but I understand you were scared and confused." Shizuru lifted Natsuki's chin up to look at her softly, "It won't be easy, especially with your mother not accepting our relationship, but I promise you that I will take care of you and our baby and protect both of you with my life."
Shizuru leaned in to kiss Natsuki again but this time they were pulled apart when Saeko pulled Shizuru away from Natsuki roughly. "How dare you!" Saeko yelled angrily, "You enter Kruger illegally and then come to try and take my daughter away?" She had found the pair after walking deeper into the gardens and although she had not heard their conversation, she had recognized Shizuru immediately since she had let her hair down after she was alone with Natsuki.
Natsuki ran to Shizuru's side who was glaring at Saeko, "You have no right to keep Natsuki from me, she is the love of my life and she is carrying my child." Saeko's eyes widened in shock, turning to Natsuki, "You told her? I told you that you were forbidden from telling her! You will marry who I tell you to marry! A man!"
Shizuru stepped in front of Natsuki, using her body as a shield, "Natsuki will not marry anybody she doesn't want. She is my girlfriend and we are having a child together, like it or not. I will not allow you to take her away from me."
Saeko's glare intensified, "Watch me."
A/N: Review please! Thanks :)
