VII - Two Heartbeats and a Red Sin
Where... am I...? It's so quiet... but... that sound... Where's the light? I can't feel anything... Wait, it's rough, scratchy... I'm cold... Argh! Shut up!
Nao lay semi-conscious in a hospital bed. She could not remember anything from the night before beyond passing out in the street after leaving the club. After Natsuki had attacked her, she managed to get the strength to escape. In a dizzy haze, she stumbled through the crowds and ended up unconscious again. She had lost a significant amount of blood and was only alive at this moment because that very event had also made her immortal.
The redhead's eyes clenched as she twisted back and forth in the bed, slowly waking up and gripping the rough sheets. As her senses returned she could hear a pair of doctors over her as well as different machines beeping. Nao's lime irises finally peeked out exhaustedly for a split second before opening in frightened shock. She gasped out loud upon seeing the distorted forms of the two professionals hovering above her. All over their skin were pulsing red lines, covering them both completely and radiating a loud pounding sound.
The girl sat up quickly and gripped her ears, shutting her eyes and crawling to the back of the bed, away from the hands reaching for her.
"Get away!" she yelled, "Stay back!"
"Kuga-san! Please sit still, you're still very weak!"
"I said get out!" Nao continued to scream, shaking her head side to side; trying to rid herself of what she thought was a hallucination.
Her breathing was rapid and disorderly; getting worse every time someone would try to touch her.
"Stop it!" she cried, lashing out at one of the doctors and badly slashing him. Her nails had grown into unnaturally long claws, sharp enough to leave a deep scar on this man.
The doctor pulled back and clutched his wound, looking seriously into the one revealed lime eye. His breath hitched when he saw it's distinctly monstrous shape, stepping back further and warning his colleague to do the same. It was too late for either of them though...
Nao's body was being overloaded with hunger for the blood she had spilled, the cloak of veins that scared her and the haunting sound of hearts spurring her on. Running purely on instinct, the girl launched herself from her bed and onto the man who was already bleeding. Even tearing the IV from her arm didn't faze her. The demon rabidly bit into the doctor's throat, drinking from his body as if her life depended on it. The other doctor tried to pull her off but was met with the same fate. Just as quickly as she vaulted onto him, Nao leaped away from her first victim and onto the second, not caring how many she would have to kill; she was not even aware that she was killing.
She heaved in her air, crouched over the two doctors with blood smeared around the room. Nao tried to steady herself on her palms, due to the length of her nails, but was too shaky. She trembled a little longer before falling onto her side into a puddle of the crimson liquid. Shivering and clacking her teeth together, the vampire let it flow through her lips and further down her throat.
Despite how much her mind was in disarray, she was slowly remembering what happened. What she had just done, was also done to her.
"Natsuki...? What have you... What did you do to me!" Nao choked out, trying to stand again, unknowingly making her claws shorter. The girl hugged her sides and wiped the blood away from her face.
Natsuki... Find her... If I find her, she'll know what to do! Natsuki will help me!
Before she knew it, Nao had leaped out of the window, jumping into a nearby tree. She tried to stay hidden in the leaves but eventually the large grounds of the hospital came to an end, merging with the lively city full of nightlife. The shining lights guided her path along the rooftops. However, due to her physical weakness and simple lack of practice with such acrobatics, there came a time when she fell. Nao had missed the ledge of one building by a mere foot, causing her to slip and tumble down into a decrepit alleyway.
The vampire lay on her side weakly, feeling her wounds begin to heal already. The fact that she wasn't dead yet scared her even more. When her strength replenished enough to stand again, she did so, holding onto the bricks and looking out at the people passing by. All of them had the same mysterious features that the doctors did; that pattern of offset lines covering their skin. The sight of it started to make her sick again, forcing her to her knees and to gripping the metal handle on a nearby dumpster.
She coughed, facing the ground in case she would throw up, not noticing the two boots that stepped in front of her. The sound of rubber gritting against the industrial mud may have fallen to deaf ears, but not the surprised voice of their wearer.
"You're alive!"
Nao looked up at her saviour, her anxious expression melting into a smile of utmost gratitude.
"...Natsuki," she whispered, letting herself be lifted into her sister's arms.
"I was so scared... I'm so sorry for leaving you... I shouldn't have!" she felt the other girl's head move against her chest.
"I don't care... You're here with me now... you cared enough to find me now... I... I'm..." she looked up into emerald eyes, "...Thank you..."
The navy-haired girl was relieved to know that Nao was alive, but there was still much to figure out. She handed her twin her leather coat to hide the mess across her shirt. Natsuki then lifted the girl's arm over her shoulders and led the way through the city labyrinth towards Kagayaki. She walked carefully, aware that Nao was barefoot and weak; also noting that her eyes were closed.
"What are you feeling?" the elder twin asked.
"I... can't tell... I can't sense anything except this strong smell of metal... it burns my nose it's so strong... And everyone I see looks like they're wrapped in a net of something! I just want it to stop!"
Natsuki sighed, they weren't the exact same symptoms she had, but similar enough to know her wish to turn Nao had been granted.
"It'll be over soon, once you rest alone," she felt her shirt grabbed tightly.
"Don't make me go home! I want to stay with you!"
"... I won't," Natsuki smiled in reassurance, "I'll help you through this and explain once we get there."
-0-
"I can't believe this..." Haruka sighed, lacking her usual angry tone even, "Shizuru made a demon capable of multiplying... and of all the people she chose it was that girl who was trouble from the start!"
"Are you referring to Natsuki-san or her sister?" Reito asked, reading through a scroll, "And to be fair, it wasn't fully Shizuru who made the demon."
"You know what I mean! And I was talking about her sister... Not that I like Natsuki either! It's just that I was beginning to trust her with keeping Shizuru safe, and now the one who hates and resents her has demonic abilities as well."
Reito sighed and continued reading silently. There wasn't much he could say in response, since all Haruka had said was true. Their project was not going as well as planned either. There seemed to be no way of getting Shizuru back with keeping Natsuki alive. After all this time they were still getting nowhere. No loopholes in the laws, and no spells to use force to get her back.
But maybe... we all know it... Reito thought, looking at his two companions, ...That in her heart... Shizuru might not want to come back...
-0-
A few hours later, Nao was resting calmly in Natsuki's bed. Despite the crowd outside the room, the VIP area was soundproof enough to keep the girl under control. The whole time, Natsuki was teaching her how to keep her abilities from getting away from her. How to stop hearing heartbeats from so far away, how to stop seeing veins covering bodies, how to keep her claws short; Natsuki was with her for every step.
"I'm glad..." Nao said with a weak smile, still exhausted, "We're doing something together... the two of us having something in common... I thought it'd never happen again..."
Natsuki's heart sank and she looked away. Without control over her actions she led her sister to believe they had a chance at reigning supreme again... even granted her this power to do it. However, when it came down to it there was something that pulled her from saving Nao's life.
Shizuru's happiness...
Still, such feelings confused her, even more so after having been kissed the night before. Natsuki was using Nao again. She was using her as a distraction from facing Shizuru herself, since she did not know what to do, if anything. She looked over at the angel standing at the side of the room, looking out the window; eyes captured by the sky. Surprisingly, her presence was not throwing Nao into a rage, at least not yet.
"Natsuki?" Nao asked, trying to bring attention back to herself.
"Sorry, I just thought of something, but it doesn't matter right now. What does is how you're feeling."
"I'm a lot better now that I know everything," the redhead groaned while sitting up and trying to stand, "I wish you had told me sooner. If I were a vampire before things would have been much easier," she joked.
Natsuki laughed half-heartedly at the comment, thinking about what she had done. She wanted this, but not its result. Now she and her sister were unstoppable again, together again; a renewed bond. She wanted that comfort that she would be tied to someone and always to save them, and get the same in return... but not with her. Again the demon looked over at Shizuru sadly, but successfully keeping the majority of emotions inside for the time being. She got up and stood next to Nao, who was already energized enough to move normally. The girl had eaten twice as much as Natsuki had when she first became a demon; they both knew it wouldn't be long until the weakness wore off.
"I still think you should stay here for a while, going out onto the dance floor now would only be trouble," Natsuki cautioned while looking through her closet, finding suitable clothing, "Being around people will probably drive you crazy."
"So?" Nao asked confidently, catching the articles tossed to her, "I want to go crazy! This is too awesome!"
"No," the navy-haired girl said again, more seriously, "Not yet."
"Aww! But what if I'm hungry?" the girl whined.
"Then tell me and I'll bring someone to you."
"But-"
"No!" Natsuki commanded, staring her sister in the eyes and letting her own shine with power, "You will only drink from humans I allow."
"Oh really?" Nao smirked mischievously, looking over at Shizuru, "Only humans are off limits?"
"Don't even think about it!" the navy-haired girl snapped.
"Well, I can't help thinking about it," Nao shrugged, "But if you say so I won't, even if it is really tempting. I'm surprised you managed to keep your teeth off her."
Natsuki made no comment.
"Wait! Have you-!"
"No! Argh..." she groaned, "Not that it's any of your business but I haven't."
"Fine, alright, I'll stop with the questions. This is just so exciting, I want to go experiment!"
Natsuki sighed again. Keeping Nao on a leash was probably going to be her hardest task, especially with her own growing hunger. She would have to leave Nao alone for a little while tonight, but that thought worried her. And thinking about asking Shizuru to watch over her was even more frightening. As much as she cared for her sister and wanted to enjoy their new similarity, she knew that if given the chance, she would definitely drink Shizuru's blood.
...And it's mine, She thought, scowling, I will make it mine...
Natsuki closed her eyes and calmly increased the radar her ears possessed. The club was fairly lively now; no one would notice if one dancer went missing. The girl took a deep breath and looked at Nao seriously.
"You stay here," she turned and headed for the door, "Shizuru, come with me."
The angel nodded and complied, following the vampire out of the room, eager to get away from Nao. She could sense it too, that the younger girl would certainly not be as kind to her as Natsuki was. The odds were in favour of her being harmed if she stayed. However the problem was assuring Nao did as she was told. All they could both do was trust that she would obey Natsuki for whatever reason, but the look on her face inspired doubt in Shizuru's heart. The redhead was clearly angered over the fact that she was being patronized by her sister, and even more so that the angel was allowed to go with her.
"I won't play around, so wait for me," the navy-haired girl commanded just before leaving with Shizuru right behind her and Nao alone in the room.
"Do you think she'll listen?" Shizuru asked as they descended to the dance area.
"Hopefully this will be over before she can even think to follow us."
Shizuru nodded in reply and walked over to the edge of the bar, which had become her designated waiting point. She stood idly with Natsuki for the time it took for the girl to find her prey, and then continued to wait while she would take her elsewhere. Tonight was only slightly different, as it involved no more than simply feeding. Before she knew it, the midnight-haired vampire left her side to stalk someone; enough to herd them away from the crowd before making her kill.
The angel stood back, wanting to cover her face and hide, but a part of her knew she had to watch. If she remained ignorant, she could not allow herself to love Natsuki, as it implied something could stop that love. Her heart sank in her chest. Every day, her immature outlook on love was drifting further away. It was no longer a silly crush; innocent and always happy. No, now it was a test. Could she really love Natsuki no matter what?
Even if I saw her kill?
Shizuru opened her eyes, looking dead ahead, focused on her love sliding her body over a woman slightly older than herself. She really must have been in a hurry, for it was rare that Natsuki did not choose someone significantly younger... young enough to not even be allowed in Kagayaki. Suddenly, something distracting appeared in the corner of her vision. Crimson irises gazed over at the figure descending from the stairs to their room. It seemed Nao chose to disobey, at least quicker than Natsuki planned.
Abandoning her position, Shizuru swiftly moved through the chaos of dancers and found the navy-haired girl. Just as Natsuki was about to move in for the finishing bite, the angel's appearance stopped her.
"What is it?" she asked angrily.
"Nao is here."
"Argh," Natsuki clenched her teeth, bringing her mouth away from the woman's neck, "Damn her!"
Leaving the dancer behind, the demon moved quickly towards her twin, who was happily swaying behind a boy of slightly smaller stature. Nao's eyes were closed, taking in the scent of the room, and her cheek was pressed on the side of his neck, feeling the pulse against her skin. She wrapped her arms around his waist, extending her claws slightly to get a sure grip on his clothing. Although, being new at this, the redhead missed her target and accidentally tore through the fabric and a dug into his flesh.
The boy grunted in pain and looked down, eyes wide with shock at the sight of this girl's nails becoming so long. He tried to pull away but without intervention he would not be strong enough against the demon. Luckily for him, that intervention came. Natsuki practically leaped across the room and put her arms between the two, using her own superior strength to force them apart.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she shouted, throwing the boy to the side and letting him run, "I told you to stay put! You can't eat these people!"
"And why not?" Nao glared right back, radiating her own glow from her irises, "You eat from the crowd every night!"
They were fortunate to be surrounded by such loud music and drunk dancers to not be understood.
"That's different! This is my club and these are my customers!"
"Oh... just like I thought..." Nao grit her teeth, "You still end up being better than me!"
Before Natsuki knew it, her twin leaped at her and hissed wildly with extended nails. The navy-haired girl was forced onto her back, but only due to surprise; once the situation had made itself clear, she got to her feet and easily threw away the other girl. Both snarled at each other with long sharp teeth and glistening demonic eyes, overflowing with their respective powers.
"Shut it with your damn insecurity! I'm telling you this for your own good!"
"Yeah right! You were just playing me again! Saying we'll be on top, and actually making me believe it. I'm tired of it! You said you gave me this power as a gift, but that's just a lie! You won't even let me use it!"
"Just not yet! Be patient!"
"Screw that! You're the one who messed up here, I'm a demon now, like you, I can do whatever the hell I want!" Nao's body began to tremble with energy, "...You... only betray me... Ever since you met her! I'll never be the most important person to you ever again!"
Natsuki silently listened, mentally beating herself for being so unclear, and making such irrational decisions; even if she knew she couldn't help her actions. Her gaze shifted from anger and dominance to disbelief when she saw her sister's features soften.
"You know... Even though you hurt me then... I actually believed you... Because I'll always believe you..."
"...Nao..."
"I thought you were serious when you wanted to give me a gift for being a good sister... no matter now distorted it was... I thought you were proud of me... I really did..." she seemed on the verge of tears, "I thought I had made my sister happy... that's all I was thinking when you forced me down and bit into me! But I can't ever make you happy can I? The only one who can do that is her!"
Nao hissed again, the flashing lights of the club setting creating unnatural shadows on her face, and stared at Shizuru. This time she would act on what she wanted the night they had left the house. Again the redhead darted forward, though passing by her sister and rushing straight towards the angel. She wanted to kill her for sure this time, and now had the confidence to do it.
However, confidence or not, in the end, she still lacked the skill. In mid air, when she launched her claws at full length, Nao was intercepted by Natsuki who wasted no time in tackling her down and throwing her aside upon landing. She was slightly off-timing though. Nao's claws had pierced Shizuru's skin when she raised her arms to block and there was now the scent of angel blood flowing through the air. Both vampires stopped and turned immediately to the sight, listening to each drop fall on the floor so loudly it was as if the room shook.
The twins shivered, while still gripping each other violently, frozen in time as the world around them continued dancing on. After a long moment of silence between the three, Natsuki moved first. She clenched her eyes shut and threw Nao aside.
"Everyone out!" she yelled, stopping the music from being played with her order, "Just leave! Everyone! Move it!"
The crowd muttered some curses and groans, scoffing at the apparent tantrum the owner had just acted out but slowly started heading towards the exits. Nao was last to move, slowly getting up with a smirk for her sister. She raised her hand to the height of her chest and showed off her collection of Shizuru's blood to taunt Natsuki. Just as she was going to lick it from her claws triumphantly, the navy-haired girl pulled her wrist back. Not only that, but upon contact, a thick layer of ice covered Nao's limb.
"I told you... don't even think about it," Natsuki broke off the hanging drops of frozen blood and held them in her other hand, using her advanced ability to keep its temperature low, "Now leave with them."
Natsuki let go of Nao's arm and the ice disappeared, leaving her to watch the girl's actions like a hawk; making sure she wouldn't attempt something similar again. The redhead scoffed and returned her body to its normal state.
"All the better for me. Out there they're public property and I can have as many as I want," and without another word, she turned and followed the crowd out of Kagayaki.
Natsuki continued to observe her, trying her hardest not to break out into tears. Her world was spiralling out of control, worse and worse every day. Now not only did she have unstoppable strong feelings, but she had no idea what there were or where they were coming from. When did it happen that Nao stopped being her priority? It could have been anytime, the past month or so was almost a blur. She looked down at the red crystals in her palm. When frozen they did not give off any scent, but it was still very clear that this blood was different than any other's.
"Natsuki?" Shizuru questioned, "Are you alright?"
She watched with awe as the demon extended her arm towards her, but wouldn't look her in the eye. On reflex, Shizuru met Natsuki's act by reaching her own hands out, automatically forming a cup shape. She saw the willpower it took for the vampire to let go, dropping the crystals into her hands and letting them thaw again on the angel's warm touch. Her eyes nearly melted into sadness when she witnessed tears of endurance leaking from Natsuki's.
"...I'm gonna be sick," she choked before running back to their room.
Shizuru winced and looked away. Quickly, the mess off blood on her arms and in her palms faded away into nothingness. Her skin reacted to it as if it were dirt, ridding itself of the substance to stay clean. The angel sighed and looked at where the scratches had been, but gasped when she saw it.
"... That's... that's how..." she muttered to herself, observing the supernaturally quick healing she possessed, and letting her eyes water with happiness...
-0-
Natsuki stumbled into their room, dripping sweat and gasping for air. She gripped the side of the wall to steady herself, nearly falling onto the floor. She continued to pant through her growing fangs, trying to shake the tearing feeling in her chest.
Think... Think damn it! There is always something that is most important at every moment... that's how we make decisions... What's most important to you now!
The girl remained struggling with herself for a few more seconds, but once her thoughts came to their natural conclusion, the feeling seemed to fade. She didn't even care if it was perhaps a way of tricking herself into it; she was just relieved to no longer be dizzy. The girl walked over to the glass panel that overlooked the empty club. The silence at this hour was rare, and the solitude was even rarer.
Shizuru? She asked herself, raising an eyebrow when she noticed that the angel was nowhere to be seen in the area below. The door then creaked open and said girl stepped inside hesitantly.
"Natsuki? Can I come in?"
"Mm," she nodded; even though she knew she wouldn't be seen, and listened to the footsteps enter the room.
The pair stayed quiet for nearly an hour. Neither would move from their position of waiting for the other. Natsuki's mind was so preoccupied with thoughts of what she had just done and how to prepare for the fallout, while Shizuru was thinking of the future in a different way. What if her theory was true? Then her wish would finally be granted... she had to try it.
"Natsuki?" she verbally nudged the girl.
"Hm?"
"What would you say if... If I found a possible way to save you?" Shizuru looked up into emerald eyes seriously.
Natsuki was taken aback by the suggestion. Only yesterday had Shizuru revealed her resolution, was she really that good? Was she able to find a solution so quickly when she put her mind to it? ... Would it matter? The navy-haired girl looked away, breaking the hold the older girl's gaze seemed to have on her.
Is it fate that she should ask now? On the night I hate myself the most?
"I... don't know... I want this power... but then there's this part of me that hates what it brings. While I can't help but feel happy for making myself happy, I hate that I take from others with no consideration. I know from before all this... that making yourself happy... It isn't real happiness... so am I really happy at all? I don't know..." she paused, "...Why?"
Shizuru stood up quickly, now passionate about her plan. She rushed to Natsuki's side and held her shoulders tightly, forcing her to pay attention.
"I... I may not have the magic to help you, but I can save you with my body! Natsuki, drink my blood!"
The demon girl froze with shock, gasping inwardly at the proposition. A dark shadow then formed over her eyes when she let her head drop low. She used brute force to push Shizuru's arms away, breaking lose and heading over to the other side of the room, scoffing.
"I won't," she said firmly.
"Why not? Natsuki, you can finally feel better again! Maybe this can end!"
"I don't care! You don't know what it's like to feel this way! How it feels after I feed from someone... I won't..." her voice was choking up, she finally realized why it was she couldn't, "I won't defile you like that..."
"Defile me...? Natsuki, I'm offering... I want you to! I'm willing to sacrifice myself for you! I have always been willing I just didn't know how I could help!"
"NO!" the demon shouted, hugging herself tightly, "I won't! I won't! I won't!"
Shizuru inhaled deeply, feeling a heavy pressure building up behind her eyes. Quietly, she strode over to where Natsuki was and softly wrapped her arms around her from behind. A slender finger then grazed the girl's cheek, wiping her tears away.
"Remember... I was made for you, to protect you and save you... I promise you will not be defiling me..."
The two remained in this position for a slightly longer period before Natsuki slowly but surely began to turn. Her eyes were pleading for help, for Shizuru to shove her away and force her want aside.
She's... serious...
The navy-haired girl closed her eyes tightly, keeping herself from watching any further, and brought their bodies closer together. Shizuru sighed in relaxation to prepare herself, also out of happiness for Natsuki's choice. Though she was scared after seeing what the girl had done to her own sister, somehow this was different. Though the act was the same, it was acted in such a... soft way. The demon was holding her close, gliding her nose over the angel's porcelain skin, like she could inhale the scent of blood through her pores.
Shizuru let out a gasp when she felt the vampire's lips on her neck. It was almost time. She kept herself calm when the gentle tongue traced over the vessel before Natsuki spoke.
"... Are you sure?"
The angel nodded.
-0-
Reito looked down into the mortal world, calmly observing. He looked sadly at his two female friends, sleeping peacefully in each other's arms on the sofa by his side. Haruka had put so much effort into guarding Shizuru constantly, hardly ever resting, and now that she had let her guard down, the most important event would take place. He looked back into the fountain and sighed.
The greatest sin... for an angel to help a demon... As nobility I should put a stop to this immediately... he smirked to himself, laughing mirthlessly, But before I'm a noble, I am her friend... and as such, I will trust her judgement...
-0-
Natsuki's breath was hovering over Shizuru's skin. She was waiting, waiting for her mind to give her the final push.
I have to... Because if I do this... she will be happy...
That was her only motivation for biting. When her fangs sunk into the angel's flesh, the latter shivered pleasantly, smiling to herself. Shizuru was definitely happy, no matter what would come next. She was certain this could save the one she loved, and so she would risk everything for it... that's simply who she was.
Natsuki continued to drink, trying her hardest to both keep going and stop. The taste was sweet, but sickly sweet. It was like drinking syrup. She gulped more, taking in as much as possible, not finding the strength to let go of this taste, but wanting it to end. She wanted it all to stop and be over, but there was still some more to go... just a bit more.
"...Natsuki..." the angel murmured, suddenly becoming weak in her legs.
"Just... a little bit longer..." the demon replied, using her arms to hold her up as long as she could. However after some time her body was also becoming weaker.
The vampire broke away, falling to her knees and only staying up because of being propped against Shizuru's limp body. Her eyes gazed over to her face, it was even more pale than normal: completely drained.
No... Natsuki weakly felt around Shizuru's neck, trying to both feel and hear a pulse, I couldn't have killed you... no... that's right I couldn't kill you...
The pair both fell onto the floor, exhausted from the exchange. There was no telling what could happen next, angel blood could have very well been deadly to a demon. But it was the only option left: to hope.
Natsuki reached out, cupping Shizuru's cheek with one hand, and entwining their fingers with the other.
No... I couldn't ever kill you... She started to drift off to sleep with a smile on her face.
"...Because I... love you..."
And the two continued to lay there in semi-consciousness. And while Natsuki was relaxing into serenity, a black, thorn-like pattern spread itself across Shizuru's pure white wings...
