Chapter 10

Italics – Thoughts

Natsuki opened an eye, taking in her surroundings. She was lying on the couch in her study room. A very messed up study room, that is. She didn't recall leaving a burnt hole in the wall. The sound of someone furiously typing away distracted her and she rubbed her forehead absently, feeling a slow, searing pain to where her HiME mark used to be. It reminded her of the first time she had met Duran – it was déjà vu all over again.

She briefly recalled being injected with the nanomachines and she couldn't help but wonder if there was a chance that her metallic beast was miraculously re-summoned. Perhaps a side effect from the nanomachines? It was a long shot, but she missed Duran terribly.

"Oh good, you're up," Yohko peered at her through her framed spectacles, pausing the onslaught on her keyboard.

"Feels like I got hit by a bus. Make that ten buses. And a steam roller." Natsuki grumbled. She looked around the room, pursing her lips in annoyance when she spotted a chunk of brick missing in the middle of her wall. "Why the hell is there a large gaping hole in my wall? Did I miss something when I blacked out?"

"I don't know, Natsuki. You tell me. You blasted that hole," Yohko swiveled around, turning to face her fully.

There was a long pause as Natsuki scrunched her face, crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "I did?" she wondered aloud.

"It was huge, that gun of yours," Midori added as she plodded into the room, holding a small glass of water in hand.

"Thanks," Natsuki swallowed a large gulp before groggily placing it on the table beside her. "So what in the world happened? Since I'm not dead, does it mean I have a chance to save Shizuru?"

"Take a look at this, Natsuki," Yohko pulled herself closer, handing her a tablet.

The young woman eagerly grabbed the tablet, studying it intently, "My vitals are off the chart!" she exclaimed.

Midori nodded, picking up a pair of scissors off the desk when the girl was distracted. Natsuki jerked instinctively when the blade made contact, hissing angrily, "What the hell?!" She clutched her forearm, expecting a bloodied palm but her jaw dropped when there was just a faint line, which closed as quickly as it was inflicted.

"Undoubtedly so, it would seem," Yohko's reply sounded cautious.

Midori jumped in immediately, "As you know, the bond we have with our most important person played a large part in Carnival. It was on that, where we decided to do what we did. Logic and science didn't work in this scenario, Natsuki. I know. I was studying all there was to know about HiMEs, as you might recall."

Natsuki nodded mutely, unsure at what the ever-seventeen woman was driving at, "So what exactly happened, Midori-sensei?"

"Your body was reacting severely to the foreign injection. We had no choice but that was the only remaining theory that we had left that was unexplored. It was a long shot, but the minute we introduced the Fujino-san's blood in your, your condition stabilized."

Natsuki blinked. That was a scenario that was highly implausible. But then again, she reasoned, nothing about the Carnival could be explained in logical terms. "My most important person..?" she asked.

"I based it on that theory, yes," Midori nodded. "And in that regard, I suppose similar rules apply. There is never a free lunch."

"I die, she dies and vice versa," Natsuki deduced, the image of Kiyohime's and Duran's destruction and both Shizuru's and her death still vividly etched in her memory, "The bond to my most important person."

Yohko cast a worried glance over at Midori, who closed her eyes, knowing full well the decision Natsuki would take.

XXX

Shizuru's POV

I idly touched the wisp that wafted before me; the coolness of it left my hand feeling a tad numb.

I heard laughter in the distance and I slowly walked toward the source, crossing a large, offensively green meadow. The color was vivid, way too striking to come across as real grass. But my gaze quickly shifted to the oh-so-familiar shade of blue.

Blue was always Natsuki's color.

And there, amongst the strikingly lush plains, my Natsuki was rolling around – with her Child – the metallic sheen of Duran glittered spectacularly in the sunlight, casting the bright, white light in a multitude of directions. Her precious laughter tinkered gently and I found myself quickening my pace towards them.

"Natsuki?" I call.

The woman in question looks up at me, "Shizuru?" The look of confusion passes her face quickly, before it shifts into recognition and then into a small smile. "Shizuru."

I find myself uncharacteristically running toward her and she calls my name louder and louder.

"Shizuru!.. Shizuru!"

I suddenly collapse onto the ground, mid-run, clutching my heart as a sharp, searing pain courses through my body. It was impossible to breathe. As my body struggled to search for much needed oxygen, I writhed on the ground, curling up into a ball to try and suppress the agony.

Natsuki's voice was getting louder and more frantic. I tried to will myself to be alright, to ease her mind but the pain that was tearing through my body was too much to bear.

"Kannin na.. Natsuki," I whisper, before succumbing to darkness.

XXX

"Shizuru!.. Shizuru!" Natsuki calls, her eyes darting back and forth between the monitor and the woman lying in the hospital bed.

Her heart rate was increasing, as was the rise and fall in her chest. Shizuru grimaces, taking in quicker and shorter breaths. Her lips moves, but nothing was said.

Natsuki, however, knows. "Why are you apologizing for, Shizuru?!" she asks, as the feelings of helplessness land blow after blow on her, watching Shizuru like this.

Yohko quickly moves and pulls the girl away, while casting a worried look at Midori, who was stationed outside the room. The redhead nods and disappears.

"What's happening, Yohko? I.." she staggers slightly, before collapsed from the sudden onslaught of torment coursing through her body, gasping for breath, much like her companion who was struggling on the bed.

XXX

A/N: Yay/Nay?