Chapter Ten: Then so be it.

"Hurry!"

Quickly the two guards placed a blue haired girl upon the bed as Youko examined her. The girl was completely unconscious her breathing was ragged; her body was sweaty and hot.

Shizuru could only watch from the side lines as she saw her nurse ordering medical supplies from the two men and started working on the girl.

Once things had calmed down Youko approached the princess to give her report. "Well, it's not looking very well, apparently she was poisoned."

"Poisoned? How-" Shizuru stopped talking when she remembered that earlier the younger woman had drank from her glass in order to prevent herself from choking. That poison was meant for me… She drank my cup on purpose?

"Anyways, right now the main problem is her fever… but I'm afraid that there is nothing more we can do either than cool down her head with some cold water." Youko tilted her head signaling the small bucket next to the bed.

"Can I-?" Youko nodded as Shizuru wetted a towel in the bucket and placed it on Natsuki's forehead who groaned slightly when she felt the sudden coolness.

The nurse observing the scene couldn't help a smile "You seem very fond of her…"

"I am." The princess replied not bothering to look up.

"Do you… love her?"

"Ara, I wonder…" she evaded cleverly

Youko sighed. "You know I wouldn't blame you if you did… despite being English… she's a very honest and kind girl."

"Ara? Does Youko have a crush on my bodyguard?" Shizuru asked playfully causing the nurse to blush.

"Don't you ever say that in front of Midori or she will kill us both!"

The princess chuckled. "Anyways, you think you can handle this?" Shizuru nodded.

"Yes, you can go now"

The nurse gave a short bow before excusing herself from the room.

Natsuki…

And as if the knight had heard her thoughts she shifted slightly causing the towel to slip slightly. Shizuru placed the towel back in its place and watched her breathe. Slowly her eyes focused on her lips. And the princess felt a blush creep to her face as she remembered the kiss as two fingers traced her own lips.

Do I really love you?

She didn't know what had gotten into her but she had kissed her knight… and Natsuki seemed to have responded in the same manner… or at least it seemed so.

Natsuki was floating. Or that is what it felt like. She opened her eyes to see she was floating in a black space. All she could see was herself, floating in mid air, defying all law of physics.

Soon she saw a light, and her body being sucked in. Next thing she knew, she was in a field. The tall grass was grazing her legs as they moved in harmony with the soft calming breeze. The sun was setting into the horizon displaying reddish tones upon the sky.

"Natsuki!" called a familiar voice.

Natsuki spun round to see a woman whose face was unfocused at first who was waving happily from the other side of the field.

"I'm coming!" yelled a voice that didn't come from her. Confused the knight turned to see a little raven blue haired girl running past her towards the woman.

The woman received her into her arms as the little girl laughed happily.

"Is daddy coming back today?"

"Yes he is."

The scene dissolved and Natsuki found herself in front of a large mansion, illuminated by the moonlight. The air had become cool and if not dead, filled with the chirping of crickets.

"This way Duran!" yelled the little girl who was playing with a dog who was barking happily.

Until the sounds of horses were heard then the girl rushed towards the entrance "Mommy! Daddy is here!"

A group of knights approached the little girl's mother and said something into her ear which caused the older woman to clutch her chest tightly while gasping for air while the little girl was watching her mother curiously.

Then in an attempt to regain control the mother faced her daughter with teary eyes. "Natsuki… daddy is dead."

The girl remained motionless for a few seconds processing her mother's words when she started punching the knight's leg. "You're lying! My daddy isn't dead! My daddy is a good knight! Good knights don't die!"

Soon a pair of arms wrapped around the girl and she stopped assaulting the knight with her small fists. And cried her heart out.

Once more everything melted away.

Natsuki remained in the dark dreading what she knew should come next. Her heart and mind were telling her what was going to happen once more. And she begged into the darkness to spare her.

But images were forming again…

"No! Please…"

Natsuki stirred violently, as her body was shaking due to the fever. Shizuru quickly took her knight's hand trying to see if the contact would calm her down. The knight started thrashing her head violently as if in a fit. As the princess started to panic. Is she having a bad dream again?

She was in the mansion, forced to follow the younger version of Natsuki. The younger girl was happily playing with her dog when she heard voices.

"Understand why I cannot let this be Saeko" said a male voice.

"No… please… I beg you…"

"I'm sorry…"

Natsuki followed the voices to a room with a door that was cracked slightly open. The older Natsuki knowing what she was planning to do, tried to stop her. "Don't look!" she said hopelessly as her hand went through the girl's body. The small Natsuki peaked through the crack and saw the back of a man who thrusted his sword through her mother's body. While the older looked away

The girl fell backwards in shock and screamed. The man hearing this turned to face the door, but a hand gripped his ankle.

"Run… Natsu-" But a sword sung down and her mother talked no more.

The man strided to where the smaller Natsuki laid, as Duran growled and lunged in order to protect his master.

Natsuki reacted and ran as fast as she could, ignoring the yelp her dog made when the man made contact with the animal with his blade.

Soon she was caught up and the man slashed her back with his sword. And she fell to the floor motionless.

Shizuru watched hopelessly as Natsuki twisted and turned groaning as if in pain. The princess felt the pressure on her hand increasing considerably to a point it almost was hurting.

Remembering how something similar had happened before Shizuru pulled her knight into an embrace. Natsuki struggled at first but soon calmed down. Ah… déjà vu….Well I didn't expect this opportunity to come again…

The knight's eyes opened slightly but they were unfocused. They stared at a spot somewhere below Shizuru's chin as she said: "Thank you Shizuru…" before falling back to her previous state.

Shizuru felt her own temperature rise and was glad that no one could have seen that.

But Youko's question still haunted her mind.

She slowly laid herself beside the bed her arms still wrapped around the English woman's body.

Is this really love that I feel for you?

This lack of control on my feelings, the need to comfort you when in pain…

Shizuru closed her eyes leaning her head against Natsuki's chest listening to the beating of her heart.

If it's love… then so be it.

Note: ok I have a lot of things to say about this chapter, first, it's not my best work, so sorry if you don't like it much (cries in a corner) second, it's a bit violent, my only excuse is that Natsuki is having nightmares (if you didn't realize it yet I mentioned that Natsuki has a huge scar on her back a few chapters back so it might be the story about her past? Hint Hint), third Natsuki is delusional due to the high fever, and forth… I thought I had more things to point out… ah well…

OMAKE:

The knight's eyes opened slightly but they were unfocused. They stared at a spot somewhere below Shizuru's chin as she said: "Thank you Mai…" before falling back to her previous state.

"MAI?"

Asuka: That would have been hilarious

Shizuru: Don't even joke about it.

Asuka: *sweat drop*