Chapter 10: Begin Again
Sitting at the edge of the roof, Natsuki watches her brother proclaim his love to the girl she, too, loves. Briefly meeting golden irises from the distance, Natsuki keeps her post, watching her brother's retreating figure. Emerald eyes landing back on the tawny-haired girl, Natsuki watches the girl sulk in silence and solitude.
Finally, Shizuru, after an hour or so, stands back up. Calling out to Kiyohime, Shizuru heads back inside.
Hearing the front door close, Natsuki jumps down. Opting to get away, she takes off to the forest. Deep in the forest, Natsuki throws stones, wandering around nature. Halting her stone tossing, Natsuki perks up at hearing nearby campers.
Recognizing their scent, Natsuki's premonitions are confirmed as she spots Shizuru's friends roaming the campsite: There was the spikey-haired boy who had a habit of staring at her, the boy-band boy who was dating Mai, the loudmouthed, dark-haired girl with glasses, the temperamental blonde with bangs, the timid girl with glasses, and the abusive loudmouthed girl's girlfriend.
" . . . right?" the timid girl asks, roasting a marshmallow.
"Yea, Mai's been weird," the boy-band boy says, furrowing his brows. "Apparently, she's going through some family stuff."
"But is she okay?" the timid girl presses.
"Yea," boy-band boy replies. "Shizuru said she'd come to me, eventually. To give her space for now."
"That sounds . . . torturous," the loudmouthed girl with glasses comments as her abusive girlfriend smacks her.
"Chie has a point," the temperamental girl with bangs agrees, as her timid girlfriend nods in agreement. "If it was me, I wouldn't let her go through that alone. I'd make sure to tell her that I'd be there for her. And if she wanted space, I'd let her have it. And if not, I'd be ready to tackle whatever it is for her."
"AWE!" the abusive girlfriend squeals before smacking her girlfriend. "Why can't you be romantic?!"
"Mai's problems have nothing to with romance," a familiar, haunting voice inputs, sending shivers down Natsuki's spine.
Emerging from the tent, a tawny-haired girl with brilliant red eyes sits down with the group of friends.
Clenching her fists, Natsuki watches Viola impersonate a certain tawny-haired girl.
"I just texted Mai," Viola says, sighing. "She doesn't want anyone to know, okay guys?" she continues, resting a hand on boy-band boy's knee. "We have to respect her decision. And when she does tell us, we can all pitch in and help her get through this."
"Shizuru is right," the timid girl agrees.
"And knowing Mai, she'd hate for us to carry this burden," her boyfriend replies, smiling at the fake Shizuru. "Let's just try to have fun today and harass Mai into confiding with us tomorrow . . . when we have better reception."
"Not all of us can afford whatever personal satellite or cell tower our Shizuru has," the spiky-haired boy jokes.
Picking up a stone, Natsuki tosses it across the forest as Viola, as anticipated, perks up, looking in the direction of where the stone was tossed.
"I'm going to try to call Natsuki again," the fake Shizuru states, walking away from the group who smile awkwardly at her.
Humming along the way, Viola smirks upon seeing the raven-haired girl. "Finally!" she exclaims, looking the emerald-eyed girl up and down. "I was starting to get bored."
"Viola," Natsuki states with disdain.
"Try to contain your enthusiasm," the red-eyed bombshell chides before giggling. "My Na-tsu-ki . . . It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?" she remarks, biting her lower lip and then lunging at Natsuki, wrapping her legs on the raven-haired girl's waist.
"Get off me."
"But I'm bored," Viola purrs, massaging Natsuki's torso. "And I've missed you."
"Viola, as always, you disgust me," Natsuki says in a monotonic tone. "Off. Now."
"Don't be so melodramatic, love. It doesn't suit you," Viola scolds, clasping Natsuki's head, pressing their foreheads together. "We both know how this ends."
"It ends with you disappearing out of my life for good."
"That's not happening."
"Well, whatever sick game you've planned, it's not happening either."
"Oh but honey, it already is happening," Viola chides, sneaking her hands under Natsuki's shirt.
"Viola! I'm not sleeping with you!" Natsuki snaps, grabbing and pulling Viola's hands away.
"Psh. Yea. Okay," Viola mocks, full of disbelief before running her finger along Natsuki's lower lip. "I know what you like. I know how much you love it when I bite your lower lip," she comments, inching closer to Natsuki's face. "But before that you like a little tease. Like when I lightly trace your lips with my tongue," she continues, licking Natsuki's lower lip before biting it. "And when we make we love, you like it rough," she purrs, biting Natsuki's lip harder, bruising it. "You can't seriously tell me you're not turned on?" she muses, smirking and looking hungrily at the emerald-eyed vampire. "Natsuki, you know no one will ever touch you or make love to you like me," she muses, gently kissing Natsuki's lips.
Not sensing an objection, Viola leans in again, crushing their lips together, smirking when Natsuki plays along. Sneaking her hands back under Natsuki shirt, Viola massages the green-eyed vampire's breasts as Natsuki begins to kiss her more passionately. Breathing loudly, Viola strips Natsuki's jacket off. Pulling Natsuki's shirt, Viola kisses and nibbles on Natuski's bare torso, yelping when a stake runs through her chest, barely missing her heart.
"When are you going to understand," Natsuki starts, tossing Viola to the floor, "I don't want you anymore. You're repulsing. I loathe you."
Pulling the stake from her chest, the pissed-off vampire runs her hand through her hair. "You can't kiss someone like that and loathe them!"
"I can," Natsuki challenges, shrugging. "Or have you forgotten the little games we used to play? You know. The ones where I enamored some poor girl, only to break her heart for your pleasure. Remember how you used to call them pathetic?"
"I am not the pathetic one here, Natsuki," Viola snaps before smiling calmly. "You want to see pathetic?" Viola warns as Natsuki grits her teeth. "How about I kill those stupid, annoying insects!? Better yet, I'll get that shy little virgin to kill them for me?" Viola threatens, laughing. "I'm thinking an American Psycho reenactment. Wouldn't that be fun?!" she muses as Natsuki flinches, which goes noted by the crimson-eyed vampire. "I will do it. You know I will."
"This isn't about them," Natsuki starts before being cut off by Viola's laughter.
"WOW!" Viola muses as Natsuki clenches her jaw. "So sad. So tragic . . . Ironic how you turned out as pathetic as those stupid little tarts you preyed on."
"Touche," Natsuki says, both palms out in surrender. "You win."
"Good," Viola agrees, smiling evilly again. "So now comes the part where I get to claim my prize," she gloats, looking hungrily at the raven–haired girl.
Awaiting the lust-filled vampire, Natsuki watches said-vampire strut over to her.
"You don't hate me, Natsuki," Viola comments, nearing the shorter vampire. "You keep saying it, but we both know it's not true," Viola states, caressing Natsuki's face. "You love me. You always will," she continues, stroking Natsuki's body as Natsuki sighs, turning away. "What?" Viola snaps, scowling as Natsuki does nothing but look away. "Are you really gonna play the rape card?".
"You're seriously stupid if you think you can actually rape me. I'm stronger."
"I know," Viola chimes, smirking. "Just needed to see if my Natsuki is still in there."
"I'm not yours."
"Well, we're not exclusive," Viola agrees, smirking.
"And I don't want to be. Because I'd actually have to like you to commit. Which I don't."
"Here we go again," Viola drags, rolling her eyes. "You're such a buzzkill," Viola discloses in an annoyed tone. "Just hurry up and take your clothes off. We haven't had sex in like a hundred years, and I'm growing impatient."
"Are you—are you even listening to me?!"
"Oh my God! There you go, babbling and babbling. Blah blah blah," Viola chides, twirling a strand of hair in her fingers. "Can't you at least appreciate the effort I put into keeping things interesting? I mean: Babe, am I really the only one looking forward to mind-blowing sex!?"
"VIOLA!" Natsuki exclaims, losing patience. "I ONLY SLEEP WITH YOU TO GET YOU OFF MY BACK!"
"Don't you mean on my back?!" Viola counters, licking her lips. "Oh come on, Natsuki! I'm kidding! No need to get all sensitive!"
"I'm NOT sensitive."
"Good. Now take off your clothes."
"No!"
"So what is it? Are we in rut? Miscommunication? What is it?" Viola asks in an annoyed tone. "Well, whatever it is, sex will fix it. I mean: All couples have their problems."
"WE'RE NOT A COUPLE!"
"Shh. Shh. No no need to use your squeaky voice, darling," Viola teases as, Natsuki scoffs. "The woods is scary enough."
Digging into her jeans' back-pocket, Natsuki clasps the charm she had wrapped around a handkerchief. "Funny."
"Yet you're not smiling," Viola notes, narrowing her gaze on Natsuki. "Come on, Natsuki. Give me a smile. Come on."
"I'm not a child."
"Pickle-weasel."
Fighting back a snicker and growing smile, Natsuki tries to look away.
Appearing in front of the dark-haired girl, Viola, smiling coyly leans closer to the emerald-eyed girl, inches from her face. "Bbbb-uuuuu-bbbbbb-llly," she says, tries to blow bubbles while pronouncing it.
Snickering, Natsuki rolls her eyes, falling for Viola's trick.
"See? It's nothing I can't fix," Viola comforts, leaning in to peck Natsuki's lips. Retreating, red eyes targeting pink lips, Viola leans in again and kisses Natsuki more gently, slowly growing more and more passionate.
Kissing Viola back, Natsuki feels the other girl gripping and pulling on her raven strands, completely lost to passion.
Reaching for her back-pocket, Natsuki unwraps the charm, gripping it tightly, feeling her body burn. Still, she presses it against Viola's porcelain skin. Viola, as a result, recoils from her, appearing twenty feet away from the other girl, brows furrows at the emerald-eyed girl who is dangling an enchanted charm.
"Neat little trinket isn't it?" Natsuki taunts, smirking.
"Why are you doing this?" Viola demands, fangs shimmering under her radiant, glowing crimson orbs.
"I'd rather burn than feel your touch," Natsuki states, remembering how Viola broke her heart.
"That's not part of the rules."
"Well, I decided to change the game up a bit."
"Hmph. This isn't about the game; it's about her, isn't it?" Viola says in an accusatory, bitter tone, stalking Natsuki. "As soon as I saw the little whore, I knew you'd fall for that impostor."
"Viola, you're the impostor here!"
"Let me guess: Reito fell for the harlot, too," Viola spits out, smirking at Natsuki's silence. "Let him keep her. It's me you want. You love me."
"Viola, I haven't loved you for a long, long time," Natsuki says in wearisome tone. "Why can't you understand that?"
"You're the one who doesn't understand!"
"Viola . . . move on."
"Shut up! You stupid, bitch!".
"Vio—" Natsuki starts, before cringing from pain.
Grunting, Natsuki grips the branch that Viola lunged at her, pulling it from her stomach.
"I want what I want, Natsuki," Viola warns, taking the charm from Natsuki's hand and shoving it inside the raven-haired girl's open wound. "And I don't care what I have to do to get it."
Graoning, Natsuki pulls the charm out, dropping it, while never once breaking eye-contact with the tall, celestial vampire. "After all these centuries, you're still the same lying, selfish, manipulative bitch I hate."
"Hate is a bold word."
"Well, I boldly hate you."
Scoffing, Viola runs a hand through her hair. "So you hate me, huh," Viola muses, smiling coldly. "That sounds like the beginning of a love story, Natsuki. Not the end of one," she parts, picking up the same branch, ramming it through one of Natsuki's lungs before disappearing.
"Mai, you have to do something!" Shizuru urges after hearing about Natsuki's encounter with Viola and her friends.
"Trust me. I'm on it," Mai promises, walking out of the room with Shizuru trailing behind her.
"Natsuki, are you okay?" Reito asks his younger sister who rolls her eyes. "So another game, huh?" he continues as Natsuki scoffs and walks away. "Natsuki , did you two—"
"—No," Natsuki answers, halting. "But if I did, it's no one's business."
"Of course," he agrees, as Natsuki walks out, leaving him with a certain red-head who sticks her tongue out at him before walking out too.
"Well, you're in deep shit, Natz," Nao says, looking disdainfully at her sire and flipping through her comic-book. "The whole Viola parent-trap thing would have been interesting had I not gone through this with you many times before," Nao continues, rolling her eyes. "When is this crazy bitch gonna realize that you don't want her? Even if you're forced to have hot, hate sex with her throughout time."
"I didn't have sex with her."
"Really? Well, that's new," Nao remarks before shrugging. "How did psychopants take it?"
"She's pissed off."
"Obviously," Nao agrees, flipping to another page. "She thinks she owns you."
"She's pushing it," Natsuki states, jaw clenched.
"Well, she's used to having her way," Nao explains, eyeing a distant raven-haired girl. "You mentioned she said that you changed the rules. Does this mean she'll change them, too?"
"I don't know," Natsuki replies, sighing. "Normally, Viola lets me know who the players are in her new game. As of now, all of Shizuru's friends and Midori are game pieces."
"But if she's playing by the same rules, it's too early for her to start killing people, right?"
"Right. She's going to toy with them and drag their deaths," Natsuki reasons before frowning. "I don't think she'll kill anyone, soon. Not today."
"That is, if she's still playing by the same rules."
"Yea," Natsuki agrees, pressing her hand against the wounds that Viola had inflicted on her.
"I know you love her," Nao states, raising a brow at her silent, motionless best friend.
"I don't!" Natsuki whines, shaking her head. "I hate—"
"—I meant Shizuru," Nao answers, smirking. "Not psychobitch."
"Look, Nao, everything is falling apart," Natsuki admits, leaning against the wall. "And Viola's arrival isn't helping," she continues, slumping down, sitting on the floor.
"Yea. Cray bitch's timing couldn't be worse."
"I just want to finish what I started and leave this fucking town forever," Natsuki complains, scowling. "It's already getting under my skin and fucking with my head."
"Wow. This is rich," Nao comments, smiling deviously. "You always told me never to bring my personal problems back home and now look at you."
"Cute, Nao. Very cute."
"Always."
Rolling her eyes, Natsuki sighs. "Well, I have to deal with Viola first," Natsuki reasons, bumping her head against the wall.
"Yea, that's top priority shit right there," Nao agrees, licking the tip of her fingers before flipping to another page.
"I can't kill her."
"I know."
"But Shizuru . . . Nao, I need you to take care of her," Natsuki starts as Nao halts her skimming and meets worried emerald orbs. "And Midori and her friends. Please."
"Woah," Nao remarks, brow raised. "It looks like Natsuki. It sounds like Natsuki. But it can't be Natsuki because Natsuki would never say 'please'."
"Please," Natsuki repeats, standing up. "I've never brought this up because I never needed to. But remember: I saved your life once," Natsuki says, looking into green, luminous orbs that soften. "Keep them safe. Keep Shizuru safe."
Nodding, Nao closes her comic-book and glances at the open window from where her sire just escaped.
"Watch it, peasant!" a lady in a flamboyant, royal purple gown says as her servant shoves the red-headed girl out of their way.
Clenching her teeth, the young girl picks up the basket of bread and continues back home, stopping when she sees horses bearing the royal coat-of-arms outside her home. Hearing a scream emerging from her family home, she hurries to peek through the window. Spotting her drunken father passed out on the table, she turns her gaze towards her mother, kneeling, sword pointed at her throat.
"Your husband has failed to pay his debts," the knight warns, pricking the older, red-headed woman's throat. "In honor of my duty and my lord, the Emperor, I come for payment."
"I-I," the older woman starts, turning to look at her crying babe.
"Bastard?" the knight asks, using the blunt of the sword to analyze the older woman's face.
Shaking her head, the woman cringes, feeling the sting of the blade. "No," she mutters as blood emerges out of her cheek.
"I wouldn't blame you," the knight comments, eyeing the drunken husband and drawing back his sword, placing it back on its sheath and unfastening his trousers. "You will pay. One way or the other," he continues, caressing the older woman's tear-stricken face before gripping her hair and pulling her face toward his manhood.
Sickened, Nao falls back to the dirty floor. Hearing her baby brother's crying and knowing what her mother was being forced to do time and time again because of her father's reckless gambling and drinking, Nao runs back to the royal horses, knowing that knights sometimes hide short knifes in their steeds' saddles. Spotting the weapon, she pulls it out and stealthily walks to the back entrance of the house. Quietly slipping in, she stalks the knight and places the short blade along his throat.
Shoving Nao's mom to the floor and raising his hands up in surrender, the knight slowly starts to bring his hands down as Nao presses the knife closer to his throat.
"I'm just going to fasten my trousers," he says, pulling his pants up.
In a split second, the knight also draws his sword and slashes her mother's throat, blood sprinkling out of the person Nao loved most in the world.
Quivering, losing consciousness, Nao drops the knife as the knight kicks it away from the trembling girl.
Growling, the knight uses the swords handle to beat it against her skull.
Falling, Nao sees the blurred face of the man as he mounts her. "I don't rape children," he confesses, sighing. "Believe it or not, I don't take pleasure in this. It's business. It is the patriarch's job to pay debts. If not, the women are forced to pay," he continues, admiring an unmoving green-eyed, teenage girl. "It's just the way of life is," he states dismounting her and then helping Nao up. "If we go easy on people, there'd be chaos. People need fear for order. Men like me have a duty to enforce the law for the better good because the moment we lose order is the moment we forsake our beautiful country," he says, pulling a handkerchief and wiping it along the bleeding girl's wound. "I'll be back by the end of the month to collect," he states, gripping Nao chin and smiling. "I'm sorry about your mother," he parts, leaving a shock-stricken girl behind.
Curling up next to her mother's corpse, Nao begins to feel the numbness radiating from her skull grow. Her body was turning numb. So when she heard a scream emerging from outside her home, she snuggles closer to her mom. But then, the door swings open and an odd-shaped object rolls over to her. It was the knight's head. Gasping and coming back to life, Nao trembles as a figure appears at the foot of her door. It was a girl about her age, maybe a little older. She bore long raven tresses, gleaming emerald orbs, and wore an ensemble that resembled noblemen fashion.
"Can I come in?" the beautiful girl asks as Nao nods her head in astonishment and awe.
"Yes."
"I'm Natsuki," the raven-haired girl says, lending a hand to the red-haired girl.
"Nao," the green-eyed girl says, standing up, inches from the taller girl who smiles dashingly at her.
Bolting in and not finding the raven-haired vampire, Shizuru paces Natsuki's bedroom floor.
"What are you doing?" the familiar voice of a certain vampire asks as Shizuru freezes, looking up at the figure emerging from the roof of the canopy bed.
"I need to talk to you," Shizuru says, feeling herself growing more and more enraged.
"We just spoke," Natsuki states, looking curiously at the fumed, taller girl. "Too many times today if I recall."
"You just spoke!" Shizuru rebuts, crossing her arms across her chest. "It has been nothing but you all day!"
"Fine," Natsuki concedes, shrugging. "So what is so important that you had to barge into my room and act all crazy for?"
"Why can't you just kill her?" Shizuru demands, nostrils flared.
"You mean Viola," Natsuki answers, sighing.
"No. I mean the Easter bunny," Shizuru spits out, rolling her eyes. "Of course, I mean, Viola."
"I have my reasons."
"I have my reasons, too!" Shizuru exclaims, glaring at the calm and collected vampire. "She has threatened my friends! She has had contact with Midori! She makes your life miserable! Why not just end it!?"
"Are you seriously asking me to kill her?"
"What? No," Shizuru replies, realizing that she wanted Viola dead, but, at the same, she did not want to order Natsuki to kill her either. "I'm just saying . . .I mean . . ."
"I have no intention of killing her, Shizuru," Natsuki says, watching Shizuru's demeanor tense. "Now is there anything else you wanted to talk to me about? Or was that it?"
"One more thing," Shizuru starts, staring hardly into green pools.
"Goody" Natsuki states in a disinterested tone.
"I refuse to let you leave me," Shizuru states, garnering Natsuki's attention. "I'm tired of everyone telling me what to do and how to live my life," Shizuru continues, pacing, as Natsuki's eyes follow her. "First, there's my Fujino name and empire. When I was younger, they told me I had no business interfering with business affairs, and now, they want me to run it. Then, there's Midori who never wants to talk about my father's work with her, and now, I can't help but wonder if it's connected to this supernatural stuff, but she refuses to talk about it. Reito, too, never took the time to ask me how I really felt about everything you put me through. But I'm sure he also thought he was doing me a favor by staying away. And now he's being weird!" Shizuru says, pausing, recalling her last conversation with the obsidian haired boy. "And Mai. My best friend. First, she didn't tell me she was a witch. Then, she spends all her time talking up guys in school and trying to set me up with someone else when she knew that all I wanted was you. And don't get me started on your little girlfriend, Nao, who was nothing short of a pain in my ass. And you. You. The one who caused me so much pain and the one I can't help but love. You. After everything you did to me over the years. All the sick, twisted things I went through because of you. You actually have the nerve to tell me what's best for me? You have no right! I love you! I want to be with you! And I know you love me, Natsuki! I am almost eighteen, which means I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. And I choose you. Even after everything. I am still choosing you. And I refuse to accept your breakup on the grounds that it was an incredibly stupid reason. How can you live without a heart? And if I am your heart, how can you live without me?" Shizuru finishes before taking a deep breath.
"Done?" Natsuki asks, eyebrow raised.
"Done," Shizuru replies, flustered.
"Well, I have to say that was quite a speech," Natsuki starts, jumping down, landing gracefully and with a charming smile. "I don't think I've ever heard you talk like that for that long."
"Trust me, you know nothing about long speeches," Shizuru retorts, reaching for the other girl's hands. "You're the one that drags conversations."
"So you're saying I talk too much?" Natsuki asks, feeling little bolts of electricity shock her body as the taller girl grips their hands tighter. "Shizuru," Natsuki starts, eyeing their hands.
"Don't pull a Natsuki and ruin it," Shizuru warns, inching closer to the other girl.
"What's there to ruin?" Natsuki asks, retracting back her hands and taking a step back.
"Why do you keep fighting it?" Shizuru asks, taking a step forward as Natsuki takes a step back. "Our pull. You can't ignore it."
"It's not a pull. It's you being here all the time," Natsuki states, crossing her arms across her chest. "Don't get it twisted."
"We're magnetic, Natsuki," Shizuru continues, as Natsuki turns away. "Our pull. Our attraction. It keeps putting us together. You can't deny that," the ruby-eyed girl states as Natsuki continues looking away. "Maybe, we're fate's victims. Maybe, it's coincidence. Or maybe, we're just slaves to our feelings. But I love you, and you love me. It's that simple."
"It's not," Natsuki counters, closing her eyes and grunting.
"So it's complicated," Shizuru agrees, as Natsuki meets her gaze once more. "Everyone knows that an electron is attracted to a proton. But no one knows why. Yes, there's an electromagnetic force acting upon them. But if it is based upon charges, and opposite charges attract, why they do not collide? Why are they separate yet inseparable at the same time? It's like us. We're pulled to one another, yet you're trying to pull away. You foresee collision, but it's just not going to happen. You have to believe that."
"You wanna know what I believe," Natsuki starts, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I believe that you're using physics to seduce me."
"Well, you are a nerd," Shizuru mocks, smirking. "And I am pretty impressive for a blonde."
"For a blonde," Natsuki agrees, grinning. "But I don't break my promises," Natsuki warns, face falling again, furrowing her brows.
"Not even for me?" Shizuru asks, recalling the raven-haired girl's promise to disappear out of her life.
"Especially for you."
"You came home for me. What changed since this morning?"
"Oddly," Natsuki begins to explains, sitting at the edge of the window sill, "It took seeing how much I hurt you for me to realize how much I hurt you."
"I only hurt because you left. Now, you're back."
"But I will leave again," Natsuki says in a wearisome tone. "Let's face it: I'm immortal. You're not."
"I don't care," Shizuru counters, nearing the girl who looks away. "And you don't care either."
"But I do," Natsuki presses, looking hardly into ruby eyes. "And besides, I don't want you anymore," she states, looking out the window.
"You're lying," Shizuru says, smiling at the girl whose voice grew soft and who refused to look at her. "When it comes to your feelings for me, I know when you lie."
"Great. So pick a career in law enforcement. I'm sure they'd appreciate detective barbie and her lie-detecting powers."
"Maybe, I will," Shizuru plays along, smirking. "The outfits are rather sexy. And the handcuffs . . . Ooof," Shizuru muses as Natsuki flinches, still looking away. Taking a step forward, Shizuru sighs in relief when Natsuki remains unmoved on the window-sill.
"What do you want?" Natsuki finally says, still looking out of the window, tensing when the other girl sits on her lap.
Tilting the raven-haired girl's face, Shizuru leans in, planting butterfly kisses on Natsuki's neck, then up her jawline, and, then, finally, on her cold lips.
Seemingly unfazed, Natsuki gently pushes Shizuru away. "Stop it."
Ignoring the dark-haired girl's plea, Shizuru leans in again, only to have Natsuki lean back. "No."
"Yes," Shizuru whispers crushing her lips on the reluctant vampire.
At first, it's only Shizuru doing the kissing. Then, no longer being able to fight it, Natsuki reciprocates and begins kissing the other girl. Without thinking, she strips off Shizuru's shirt, running her hands all over the tawny-haired girl's torso. Passion increasing, Natsuki effortlessly carries Shizuru over to her bed, mounting the shallow-breathing red-eyed girl. Taking off her shirt, Natsuki grips Shizuru's legs and pulls the girl's lower body closer against hers as the blonder of the girls wraps her legs around her waist.
Gripping Natsuki's dark, raven locks, Shizuru pulls the girl's face down to her, meeting the vampire's cool lips with her own. Unfastening Natsuki's pants, Shizuru keeps kissing every inch of the other girl's body as the other girl does the same. Reaching for the emerald-eyed girl's bra, Shizuru finds herself gripping air. Confused and breathing profusely, she looks up to see Natsuki standing by the bedroom door.
"What?" Shizuru says, catching her breath. "What's wrong?"
"I can't," Natsuki explains as Shizuru furrows her brows.
"Natsuki, I understand playing hard to get, but you're taking this to a whole other level," Shizuru complains, still breathing shallowly.
"I'm not playing hard to get," Natsuki explains, brows furrowed.
"Then what is it?" Shizuru presses, sitting up. "Is it me?"
"What? No!" Natsuki replies, shaking her head. "It's Viola," Natsuki discloses through gritted teeth.
"Viola? Natsuki, did something happen?!" Shizuru asks in an accusatory tone.
"NO!" Natsuki exclaims, tensing. "Can't say she didn't try. But no. We didn't-."
"-Good," Shizuru remarks, calming down as Natsuki's smile broadens. "What?!"
"It's nothing," Natsuki explains, cocking her head to her side. "I just like you jealous."
"Ara," Shizuru begins, smirking as well. "Is it hot enough to get you back in bed with me?"
"I wish," Natsuki replies, no longer looking at ruby orbs but, rather, penetrating Shizuru's shirtless torso. "Props to Viola. She is quite the boner-shrinker," Natsuki comments, frowning.
"That's what guys say as an excuse to cover up for an ill-attraction," Shizuru retorts, getting up from bed. "Luckily, we don't have that problem. Do we?" she taunts, nearing the raven-haired girl.
"You're really good at seduction, you know," Natsuki remarks, allowing the taller girl to kiss her shoulder-blade and neck.
"I wouldn't know," Shizuru says, pausing her kissing and looking into emerald orbs. "I've never had to work this hard," she confesses, biting her lower lip before meeting the vampire's cold lips.
Gripping the girl's thighs, Natsuki lifts Shizuru who wraps her legs around the vampire's waist. Carrying the girl to her bed, Natsuki lays the girl down, and they pick up from where they left off.
"For a human," Nao starts as Reito continues sitting in silence, observing the fireplace's flames. "She has quite the stamina."
Tensing, the obsidian-haired boy stirs his glass of scotch before taking a sip.
Hearing the annoying, bratty girl scream and giggle upstairs, Nao snickers as Reito's feet begin twitching.
"What round are they on again?" Nao pobes as Reito exhales loudly. "You look tense," she notes as the boy narrows his gaze on the flames. "Why don't you go for a walk? Get some air?" she suggests as Reito clears his throat. "Oh, that's right," Nao continues in fake awe, "You can't leave because the girl you love is in danger."
Stirring his drink again, Reito gulps the entire glass down.
"Maybe you should reconsider," Nao begins again, smirking. "She's safe right now. Natsuki's not letting her off her sight. Nothing but hot, heavy lovin' right now," Nao chides, breaking down into laughter.
Standing up, Reito appears at the bar, taking a bottle of scotch before disappearing again.
"But I was having so much fun . . . " Nao complains, twinkling her nose. "I was getting lonely," she comments as steps near her.
"I don't have exceptional hearing," the young witch starts, sitting where Reito once sat, "But they're loud."
"Wanna fight outside?" Nao suggests as Mai smiles at her rival.
"I'm loving that you're eager to get your ass whipped!"
"As if, witch!" Nao counters, rolling her eyes.
Opening the door for them, Nao notes a serious, thoughtful look planted on the blue-eyed girl's face. "Is everything okay with your friends?" Nao asks as they walk outside.
"Why do you care?"
"Natsuki told me to keep them safe," Nao answers, matching the witch's serious expression.
"Why would she do that?" Mai asks, turning away, brows furrowed.
"I think the whole town just heard why," Nao jokes as Mai breaks into fits of laughter.
"I gave them all early graduation gifts," Mai begins as a dark-grey pup meets up with them.
"Duran!" Nao exclaims, bending down to pet the fluffy wolf who licks her face and who Nao kisses back. "What? I have a heart."
Narrowing her gaze, Mai bends down to pet the young wolf, too. "I gave them jewelry with charms masked with vervain as well as other enchantments."
"Other enchantments?"
"A good magician never reveals his tricks," Mai replies in a serious tone, avoiding green irises.
"Good to know," Nao says, face stern, "I'll keep that in mind if I'm ever fortunate to meet one of these 'good' magicians," she finishes as the other girl smacks her shoulder. "But I get it," Nao says, standing up. "You don't trust us. You don't trust me."
"This whole ordeal is—"
"—It's okay," Nao interjects, examining her nails. "I'm on your side, Mai, but that doesn't mean that it's not subject to change."
"Exactly."
"Then we have an understanding," Nao starts before baring her fangs and lunging at the witch who extends both her palms out, creating a barrier that inflicts the vampire.
Repelled, Nao stands back up, smirking before disappearing.
Smiling, Mai closes her eyes, honing in her senses with nature, letting the elements guide her. "Gotcha," she murmurs, taking off to the other side of the house.
"So much for being low-key," Natsuki comments, looking outside the window as her best friend and Mai torch and destroy her backyard.
"Seems everyone is blowing off steam," Shizuru remarks, joining Natsuki and embracing her behind, resting her chin on the vampire's cool and bare shoulder.
"Call it biased. Or health-conscious, but I prefer our method," Natsuki says, turning her head to kiss Shizuru's forehead. "I'm good if you are," Natsuki purrs as Shizuru giggles and nibbles her shoulder, taking the cold vampire's hand and dragging her back to bed.
The following day, Shizuru, eyes still closed, searches for the cool body she grew addicted to, only to find nothing. Grunting, she opens her eyes and finds the emerald-eyed girl sitting on the window-sill.
"I was getting worried," Natsuki begins, smiling at the still-sleepy blonde who yawns and runs a hand through knotted, tousled hair. "It's almost four."
"WHAT?!" Shizuru exclaims, searching for her phone.
"Here," the beautiful vampire says, appearing in front of the tawny-haired girl, handing Shizuru her phone.
"It is four," Shizuru confirms, also noting the dying battery on her cell, along with many texts from Mai.
"Anything new?" Natsuki asks, leaning in to kiss Shizuru's neck.
"Um," Shizuru starts before moaning and clasping Natsuki's head and tugging her closer to her. "No."
Pulling away, Natsuki chuckles when Shizuru grunts. "I've been thinking."
"That's not good," Shizuru jokes, sighing and falling back in bed. "Why can't you just be pretty and not think?"
"One of us has to think. And you're blonde, so that leaves thinking to me," Natsuki counters, lying next to the other girl. "But seriously," she continues, placing one hand under her pillow. "Shizuru, I need to tell you that I haven't necessarily been completely honest with you," she says, turning her face over to glimpse at the other girl.
"About what?" Shizuru asks, panic visible in her expression, pulling the sheets to cover her body.
"Relax, princess," Natsuki comforts, smiling dashingly. "I'm completely and irrevocably in love with you. I just don't want to fight anymore."
"Oh. Well, we have been fighting a lot, lately," Shizuru comments, relaxing.
"Yet you've never given up on me," Natsuki utters as Shizuru smiles warmly at her lover. "Even when I deserved it, you stuck by me. And by now, you know I have trouble opening up to people. And that it's hard for me to trust others. But somehow you trust me. "
"Because I believe in you. You can trust that. Just as you can trust me."
"I know, which is why I don't want lie to you anymore."