Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime/the characters they belong to Sunrise.
Warning: This fic contains blood, gore, action and the works (in case no one has noticed already) hence the M RATING.
Apologies for any errors.
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Chapter 10
A Losing Battle
By GrimaThanEvil
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In Natsuki's dream she leapt at the broken glass in the window frame. Her hand hit the jagged edge purposely and her skin sliced open. She felt the blood run along her skin and managed to look up just as blood red eyes were upon her. Shizuru had leapt at her; their bodies colliding with a bone shattering force. The attack propelled the both of them out of the window and into the light. Hands clawed at her with a wild animalistic need as she fought them off.
The brightness of the sun blinded Natsuki and all she could feel was a searing heat against her.
The sun incinerated Shizuru's flesh but the craver continued to lunge desperately at the Hime.
Teeth sunk into flesh as they hit the cold snow but Natsuki barely felt a thing.
Her mind told her what was happening but all her body could do was stare up at the sun.
Splotches appeared in her vision as her blood escaped from her veins. Tendrils of smoke covered the both of them as Shizuru's flesh flaked away into the air. It slowly disappeared as the crackling of ice began to spread across Shizuru's burning body, ceasing the heat and turning the craver into a porcelain corpse.
Natsuki blinked out of her slumber staring up at the ceiling's light which had once been the sun in her dream.
''Shizuru'' she was not sure if the name left her lips or if it was a ghost in her thoughts.
She thought back to her actions and what she was willing to do to rid Shizuru of what she had become. Natsuki flexed her fingers, studying the lines in the palm of her hand. Exposing her blood to the air had just been a spur of a moment idea, but the look of alarm on the cravers face had said it all.
If Natsuki had achieved her goal, then her dream would have been reality. Shizuru would have bled her dry and burnt in the light just to taste the blood of a Hime. The brunette was really one of them and although Natsuki had told herself that a million times, living with the reality of it never truly sunk in. She felt like she was stuck in-between two sides of a coin. Meshed into the middle and unable to bridge the gap between her goal. Unable to choose either side.
Slipping out of the sheets she made her way to the bathroom. She felt the water slip through her fingers before her hands formed a cup and she splashed the liquid onto her face.
After cleaning herself up she left her bedroom and made her way into the kitchen. She opened up the fridge and reluctantly shut it out of habit. A part of her was hoping to see something appealing inside even though she wasn't hungry. She walked over to the sink grabbing a glass of water from the tap and placing it on the counter.
Natsuki stared at the liquid for a long time. It wabbled from side to side for a moment, shimmering in the light, before going still. She wrapped her entire hand around the glass in concentration.
Dark blue eyebrows knitted together as the surface of the water changed. If one was to look close enough one could see small icy splinters as the surface of the water began to freeze over.
Tightening her jaw, the ice Hime pressed a finger into the glass feeling the thin sheet of ice collapse with a small amount of pressure. The tip of her finger submerged into chilled water. She quickly emptied its contents down the sink ridding the room of any evidence. She had been trying for the last two days now but to no avail. Her recovery was slower than ever before. If all she could muster was that then there was no chance in hell she was going to get out of here.
Natsuki ended her morning routine and collapsed onto the sofa gazing up at the ceiling in thought. It had been approximately thirteen days since she had tried to escape. Time was difficult to keep track of. She was sure it was thirteen days or was it twelve? It did not seem to matter anymore. This was her prison now. A well decorated prison but a prison regardless. In that amount of time Shizuru had not made her presence known to Natsuki, besides the occasional gift, her eyes shifted to her right then, eyeing the brand-new plasma tv screen; the third item she had received thus far. The emerald eyed girl could not deny that there was a spark of hope in her chest when she opened the large cardboard box. She would finally have something to pass the time.
Natsuki picked up the remote and pressed the red button in with her index finger. The screen turned on and greeted her with black and white static, the noise unpleasant to her ears and crawling across her skin. Unfortunately, it didn't work. However, Natsuki continued to check every now and then in the hopes that she would catch a glimpse of the outside world.
The static filled the room as emerald eyes stared into the tiny black and white specs. She wondered how long this would go on for. How long it would take before her powers finally returned in full bloom. Natsuki told herself once that happened she would try and make another escape. The route she had previously taken was the most she had seen of the building so it would be safer to do the same again. Security may be tighter, but she would be running around blindly if she were to take a different path.
She closed her eyes and events replayed in her mind, she wished she could, for once, just see the back of her eyelids, but her mind was full of too much conflict. The words Shizuru had spoken to her so clearly without hesitation, the hand Shizuru had offered her to take, the alarm in Shizuru's voice, the fear, when Natsuki leapt for the glass… her voice almost quivering. Natsuki put her hands on her face rubbing her cheeks and eyes. Was she just imagining it or did it happen like that? She grumbled and sat up telling herself to stay strong.
Idiot, she inwardly growled. The more she thought about what happened the more the little details seemed to change. She rubbed the back of her neck and allowed the back of the sofa to catch her as she threw her head back. She remembered hearing Marguerite speaking, and the soft tone of Shizuru's voice when they spoke to each other. Something about it bothered her. She was tired. She should rest and save her energy she told herself closing her eyes.
Was this her life now?
Would she ever get out?
The door hissed open and Natsuki felt something hit the sofa waking her from her nap.
She opened her eyes and found the face of an upside-down Marguerite staring down at her from behind the sofa. Her arms were crossed and she had a sour look on her face. Natsuki sat up straight losing sight of the girl for a moment before twisting herself around on the sofa to get a better look at her visitors.
Tomoe was wearing her usual attire; thick boots, a belt, pants, a shirt and a bulletproof vest, all the same colour; black, black and black. The girl was not quick to forget the kick Natsuki had delivered to her in order to escape and Natsuki was not quick to forget the taser sitting at Tomoe's belt. Emerald eyes locked onto it for a moment before glaring at the teal haired girl, "What?" growled Natsuki.
Ever since her attempt at escape, Tomoe had been a thorn at her side, testing her at every turn, hoping she could have an excuse to use her favourite toy again. Natsuki had knocked a chip off of Tomoe's shoulder and the teal haired girl did not let her forget it. Fortunately, the ice Hime did not plan to fall for the girl's tricks.
Many times now, on her unwelcome visits, she would tempt Natsuki with rude remarks.
A few times the ice Hime found herself clenching her fists or tightening her jaw but she bit her tongue nonetheless. Her main priority was to get out of this place and return to her team wherever they may be.
As for Senoh Aoi, who was standing in the hallway avoiding Natsuki's gaze, well she was another story. Natsuki could feel Aoi's distrust in her; it was hidden in polite conversation but it was there.
"Fujino-sama would like to know if you have any requests that would help make your stay here…." She pulled her lip tight, "…more accommodating"
"No" replied Natsuki in a dull tone.
The question was routine. Every day the two women would visit Natsuki. Tomoe would ask the same question. It only started a few days after Natsuki's official confinement. The ice Hime guessed the teal haired girl was caught in a lie and forced to converse with the midnight haired girl albeit reluctantly. When Tomoe had first asked the question, she had walked in looking pale and shaken. She could only guess that it was Shizuru's doing. Natsuki's reply would always be the same. However, she did receive a few items without asking for them.
Natsuki refused to give the craver the satisfaction of a response.
"Good" smiled Marguerite with mirth before barking an order at the brunette behind her, "Senoh-san, finish up quickly"
Aoi seemed to be in her own little world, she scurried into the kitchen when she realised Tomoe had been speaking to her. Natsuki watched her for a minute as she began to clean and restock the cupboards.
"You know Kuga-san" Tomoe began, pulling Natsuki's eyes away, "I still don't see what's so special about you" she tapped the weapon at her belt in thought, "Trouble" concluded the girl, "Trouble for Fujino-sama" her eyes narrowed fixated on Natsuki's blank stare. She eyed the television, its screen now black before stepping away. She made her way towards Natsuki's bedroom. Likely seeking out any suspicious activity.
It was a rare moment where the ice Hime would be able to talk to the brunette in the kitchen alone. Emerald eyes caught Aoi's stare, the girl looked away quickly hoping she had not been caught. Natsuki felt a sense of guilt. Aoi had been kind to her; the only friendly face she had thus far encountered. The ice Hime doubted the brunette would help her now. She would have to test the waters first. Find out more information.
The brunette was spraying the kitchen bench with disinfectant when Natsuki approached her. Aoi attempted to ignore her presence by concentrating harder on what Natsuki presumed was an imaginary smudge.
"Senoh-san" spoke the Hime leaning against the kitchen bench and resting her elbows on the cool surface "I can't apologise for trying to get out of here"
The brunette paused in her actions for a moment before continuing to wipe down the bench. There was a long silence between them before Aoi finally spoke, "To be honest Kuga-san" she smiled weakly, "I do not condemn you for your actions. If I was in your position I may have tried the same thing"
Natsuki grunted in response looking in no particular direction.
"Being somewhere you don't want to be, no matter the circumstances, is not appealing" she spoke turning to face Natsuki with a kind smile.
Natsuki blinked raising her eyebrows, "What about you? Are you telling me you want to be here?" with these monsters? The ice Hime was shocked. She had assumed Aoi was a prisoner; here against her will. Was she wrong?
"Where else would I go?" she smiled sadly looking to the side her eyes glimmering in the light.
"Anywhere" the words escaped Natsuki's lips as if the answer was obvious, her eyebrows knitting together and her eyes meeting Aoi's blue pools, "Anywhere but here. Here is the last place you or anyone else should be" she stared at Aoi with conviction, hoping, hoping her words would trigger an act of bravery within the girl that lay dormant deep inside.
The girl sighed, "I suppose it is strange" she started, "…but my circumstances aren't at all bad, not here anyway, my life before this had been much worse"
Natsuki frowned looking Aoi up and down. Nothing could be worse than being here. Being a servant to these monsters. Unable to escape and see the rest of the world. Yet Senoh Aoi here was grateful for being here. The ice Hime did not understand how this life could be better than any other life.
It was then she noticed Aoi's hand shaking, her feet unsteady, her complexion pale and pasty, much like Tomoe's when Natsuki had attempted her escape. She grabbed Aoi's wrist steadying her hand. When Aoi looked up at her, she spotted it, a mark marring the brunette's soft neck, red and angry, hidden behind brown locks of hair. Natsuki flicked the hair back with her fingers so the wound was in plain sight. Aoi pulled her hand away, stepping back and covering the mark as quickly as it had been exposed.
The ice Hime put two and two together but before she could say anything the girl across from her spoke first, "Everyone here is used to this lifestyle" explained Aoi quickly turning her body away from the Hime.
"Being a personal juice box?" snapped Natsuki feeling a surge of anger brew inside of her, "That isn't a lifestyle that is a food source"
Aoi laughed sadly, closing her eyes and tilting her head to the side, "When you put it that way it sounds morbid"
"It is morbid" muttered Natsuki surprised at how comfortable Aoi was with the fact. It was as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"I suppose…" uttered Aoi, "…it isn't normally like this" she explained, "Normally its less, but..." she looked at Natsuki with guilt, giving her the answer, "I just stood there"
Emerald eyes widened as the Hime realised what the girl was referring to. She was being punished because of her, because Natsuki had attempted to flee and she had done nothing. Before the midnight haired girl could say anything, Marguerite's voice interjected, "I warned you about any insubordination" she chided, arms crossed, "Let's go" she spoke to Aoi then, and the brunette followed giving Natsuki a meek smile as she passed.
"Don't worry Kuga-san" she spoke, "It isn't as bad as you think"
The door closed behind them and Natsuki stood there gripping the edge of the counter, her knuckles going white.
She didn't feel as guilty as she thought she would but she suddenly had a bad taste in her mouth. Her grip tightened and she clenched her jaw. She had to get out of here.
If she could, she would take Aoi with her, if the girl was willing. Maybe. She wasn't sure anymore.
She made her way to the lounge, searching for the remote, she turned the television on; static.
She didn't bother turning it off as she walked into her bedroom.
She fell onto the mattress, air escaping her lungs.
She didn't want to think anymore and after tossing and turning, she welcomed sleep.
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The teal haired girl was sitting on the sofa, her boots on the coffee table, flicking through a magazine with a bored look on her face. Whilst Natsuki and Aoi were sitting on the floor, legs crossed and staring down at what Aoi had brought along with her; a game of chess. Three empty plates sat on the bench.
Natsuki frowned at her current predicament. She picked up a chess piece and placed it.
''A bishop can't do that'' corrected Aoi with a smile. Picking up Natsuki's piece and showing her where it could move. The girl had a bit of colour back in her cheeks today and her hands no longer trembled. The conversation they had yesterday had been forgotten and the ice Hime decided not to bring it back up until Aoi chose to. There was no doubt the brunette knew how uncomfortable it made Natsuki. Bringing it up again would mean the ice Hime would lecture her about how wrong it was. But Natsuki did not want to push any of Marguerite's buttons. The girl was eagerly waiting for any excuse to use her favourite toy on the ice Hime.
Natsuki scowled as Aoi continued to give her a lesson in chess.
"If I may ask…" began Aoi, "How does it work?"
Natsuki looked up from the chess board, "What?" she questioned not sure if she heard the question correctly.
"I heard from Marguerite-san that you made five cravers go through the change without a single drop of blood" explained Aoi curiosity all over her face, "You are the first Hime I have ever met and I've only ever known cravers to change like that when a newborn over feeds"
Tomoe grimaced but said nothing as Natsuki looked between the two of them, "Well, you're the first craver-hugger I have ever met" grunted the ice Hime moving a pawn on the board.
Natsuki watched as Aoi countered her move taking her pawn out of the game without a second thought, she smiled taking the girls comment lightly, "So Kuga-san does have a bit of humour under her rebellious exterior"
The midnight haired girl scratched her cheek, "Cravers can't resist Hime blood" explained Natsuki, "It's irresistible, but poisonous, a perfect way to fight against them"
"I see" uttered Aoi, "Is it true that Hime's have...well... magic abilities then?"
Emerald eyes flicked up to meet blue, did she know that Natsuki was slowly regaining her power?
She watched Aoi for a moment with suspicion but reluctantly gave a nod. The brunette smiled.
"Wow that's amazing" she stated, "May I ask what you can do?"
Before Natsuki could say anything, Tomoe interrupted the conversation.
"There is nothing amazing about that Senoh-san" chided the girl, "Searrs created the Hime from human experiments. Their abilities just make it seem like they're special, when in fact they're abominations" she sat up staring Aoi down, "Searrs culled their failed experiments with gas like infected rodents. Children that didn't have a choice in what they were forced to become. Remember that. That is how far they will go to get what they want" She shot Natsuki a glare, "Kuga-san here thinks cravers are the monsters, that we're here working for the enemy, when in fact, the real monsters are the people sitting behind a desk. I recommend not asking anymore questions before she brainwashes you".
"I highly doubt I'm the one that is brainwashed" retorted Natsuki moving another chess piece.
"Is that so?" smirked Marguerite, ''I know all about Searrs and what they claim to stand for. They act like they are so full of justice, that they are fighting for such a great cause 'the survival of humanity'. Everyone believes their little ruse and turns a blind eye to everything that they have done to get where they are now. Hime's are just their weapons, tools, in a war"
"And you're nothing but a walking piece of meat to a craver" muttered Natsuki looking Tomoe up and down before smirking. Marguerite flinched taken aback by the comment more than Natsuki had anticipated.
"How dare you…!" growled Tomoe standing up her fists clenched. Natsuki leapt up in turn anticipating an attack as the teal haired girl pulled out the taser, "I think you have forgotten who is in charge here, maybe I should remind you" there was a wild look in her eye as she spoke.
"Marguerite-san" gasped Aoi looking between Natsuki and Tomoe.
"I really don't see why Fujino-sama is interested in you" she smirked, pleased at the expression on the ice Hime's face. Emerald eyes nervously locked onto the end of the taser.
Natsuki felt uneasy; her heart raced in anticipation.
Tomoe had provided the bait and Natsuki had to bite. She had tried to be careful since their last violent confrontation. The words slipped out even though the better part of her told her to remain silent.
"That seems to be your favourite sentence" uttered Natsuki, "Are you bothered by it? That she isn't interested in you?"
Tomoe's smile fell then, her face growing hard, her lips thin, jaw tight. She went to pull the trigger and Natsuki dived low, tackling her to the ground.
She heard the taser clatter onto the floor and felt the teal haired girl's elbow jab into her back as they both crashed onto the floor.
Natsuki felt the girl lock her arm behind the back of her neck, holding the Hime in place.
Suddenly she was flipped and Tomoe had the upper hand, she punched Natsuki back onto the ground, before kicking her in the stomach. The emerald eyed girl felt the air leave her lungs and gasped. Pain.
The next kick came. Pain.
Then another. Pain.
"You think we need your pity!" huffed Tomoe as she struggled to keep up the intensity of each blow, "You have no idea!" she continued.
Natsuki could hear Aoi saying something in the background but couldn't make out the words. She could only focus on the pain. Her lungs gasping for air, her body trying to shrivel up to avoid the blows as Tomoe continued to beat her.
"She gave me no choice Fujino-sama" cried Tomoe innocently, her body taking on a completely different shape, she transformed from the cruel watchman to an innocent victim in seconds, "S-she used Senoh-san as a human shield - threatened to kill her if I didn't open the door"
Pain. Each blow worse than the last.
Pain.
"Marguerite-san!" cried Aoi's voice.
Emerald eyes dared to open as the brunette rushed to her aid, grabbing the teal haired guard's arm in a meek attempt to stop her.
It only fuelled Tomoe's anger. She flung her arm free throwing the weaker girl back.
Aoi hit the ground hard, clutching her nose as it began to bleed. Aoi's fall seemed to break Tomoe's assault, giving Natsuki a moment to catch her breath. However, she could not muster the strength to get up and didn't have it in her to continue.
Her attacker cursed at the scene, looking from Aoi back down to Natsuki. Her eyes narrowed and a satisfied smile shaped her face as she watched the ice Hime curl up in pain.
A thick boot crashed into Natsuki's side, grinding into her ribs and sinking into the soft tissue of her abdomen. The blow came a second time. Tomoe unrelenting in her assault.
"Stop!" yelled Aoi's voice with more conviction than ever before.
Natsuki anticipated another blow but it didn't come.
There was a deafening silence and she dared to open her eyes again.
"Be careful Senoh-san" growled the teal haired guard, "We don't want to do anything that we will regret now do we?"
Natsuki lifted her head slightly, her hand gripping onto her side for support, she took in the sudden turn of events.
Aoi stood a few meters away, her arms outstretched and gripping the taser in both hands pointing it directly at Tomoe.
The teal haired girl seemed unmoved by her current predicament she simply outstretched a hand and glared at the anxious girl across the room, "Give it here" she beckoned taking a step forward.
Aoi took a step back gripping the taser tighter.
Tomoe smiled and increased her stride until she was a meter away from the brunette. She wrapped her hand around Aoi's quivering grip and slipped the taser out of her hand with ease. Once the weapon was in her hand she lifted her hand across her body, slap, and backhanded Aoi across the face. The girl bent over in shame holding her cheek.
Emerald eyes closed in defeat.
It hurt to breath; the pain was shooting across her chest.
She heard boots stomping towards her and half expected another kick. She winced in anticipation and heard a satisfied grunt from her attacker above, before the boots continued passed her.
Another set of shoes followed, their steps uncertain, coming to a stop in front of Natsuki. The door hissed. Natsuki's eyes peeled open and she locked eyes with Aoi who had tears in her eyes and a hand over her mouth.
"I'm sorry Kuga-san" she whispered
"Senoh-san!" snapped Tomoe. Aoi flinched and followed the teal haired girl's command.
The door closed.
Natsuki gritted her teeth wrapping her arms around her body.
God damn it.
She winced as pain erupted in her centre. She could hear Nao's voice in her head, telling her she had asked for this.
Baka, baka, baka! Cursed Natsuki.
Why did she do that? Why did she antagonise her? Tears slipped through the ice Hime's eyelids, she tried to fight them, but everything hurt. Her body, her mind, her heart.
She just wanted to get out of this place. She tried to relax pressing her cheek onto the cold hard tiles. She didn't want to move. She just wanted the pain to go away. Her body would soon heal itself; the perks of being a Hime.
So, she waited and waited… but it still hurt.
She gripped her chest. Her heart still hurt and she didn't know why. She squeezed her eyes shut, teeth grinding together.
If she slept, she told herself, she would forget. Forget everything. So, she lay there until she lost consciousness.
Time disappeared and something touched her shoulder. She tried to open her eyes but couldn't shake the sleep that was sealing them shut. She blinked once, sensing a shadow looming over her and felt her body lift off the cool tiles, two slender arms slipping underneath her.
A groan escaped her lips and whoever it was that carried her stopped. Natsuki felt her body sway at the abrupt halt but she was too far gone, her senses were obsolete and she lost track of what happened next.
The soft familiar mattress embraced her body and without hesitation she succumbed to slumber once more.
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...
When Natsuki awoke, she noticed two things; the pain was gone and there was a familiar smell.
Sitting up she touched her forehead feeling her ribs constrict against an unfamiliar material. When she looked down she noticed a firm bandage wrapped around her torso. She rested her hand on the mattress and felt something wet and plastic. She picked it up and recognised it immediately. It was a packet of…peas?
She crinkled the packet in both hands the moisture damp on her fingertips. She recalled Aoi restocking the freezer with the same thing the other day. She tossed it onto the floor and slipped out of bed her feet touching the cool, now familiar, tiles.
Emerald eyes blinked.
She was half naked aside from the bandage around her torso and…. Thankfully lacy underwear around her hips.
A set of clothes sat on the end of the bed catching her attention. She quickly put on the white shirt and short black shorts. She looked to her right as she dressed herself; someone had sealed off the bedroom from the rest of the apartment. She found the switch and the shutters opened and drew back, opening the room to the rest of the penthouse.
That smell worried her. It reminded her of a rainy day when the air carried a fresh scent, like the world had just been washed of all its ugliness. It reminded her of her second home. Of cold wet weather and the comfort of being sheltered inside whilst drops of water fell from the sky like music to one's ears. The smell used to carry a warmth, a comfort, a sense of safety, but now it put Natsuki's senses on edge. Now it raised the hair on the back of her neck.
Her heart pounded and she cautiously stepped out of the room, her feet ghosting on the floor as softly as possible. She found the source of the smell. A freshly brewed pot of tea and a familiar face sipping at said brew on the sofa. For a moment Shizuru looked alive. As alive as she once was. Like a familiar memory.
Natsuki recalled walking into a room and seeing the other girl sitting there with her tea; calm and serene. She would always notice when the emerald eyed girl stepped into the room no matter how hard Natsuki had tried to sneak up on her. Much like this moment, except… Shizuru wasn't human. Not anymore. She was a monster and at Natsuki's entrance those eyes opened reminding the Hime of that fact. They were blood red gazing into the depths of the teacup.
It had been over two weeks since the Hime had seen her.
Her jaw clenched and she slowly tightened her fists, feeling the nails dig into her palms.
Natsuki's gaze did not falter, she continued to stare at the craver intensely, projecting all the hate and anger she had into one intense stare.
It was Shizuru who broke the silence between them.
"I see Natsuki received my gift" spoke the craver looking at the television.
"It's broken" snapped the ice hime glaring at the older woman. She half expected an amused smile, knowing full well that the craver would be pleased with a response but instead Shizuru's expression didn't change. It was almost unreadable. A blank stare as if she was lost in a long-forgotten memory.
The ice Hime swallowed when no reply came. Shizuru rose to her feet and Natsuki stepped back prepared for an attack. Those deep crimson eyes bore into Natsuki, the blood-craver stepped forward, making her way towards her captive, long legs smooth in their stride, but those eyes; those eyes that swirled with a deep truth weren't the same. They were different looking passed Natsuki's hostility.
Shizuru came to a halt in front of her, a mere breath away.
Natsuki felt the wall against her back as she was engulfed by the smell of tea leaves and of the faint yet familiar smell of the old Shizuru. A lingering memory of the past that still surrounded her.
A cold hand softly cupped Natsuki's chin, tilting her face from side to side before she jerked her head away. The red eyed craver made no attempt at stopping her as she ducked away stumbling back on her heels towards the hallway. Emerald eyes shot daggers at the creature, who stared at the wall hand in the air as if in contemplation. Slowly that pale hand dropped to Shizuru's side and her eyes shifted to meet angry green, body unmoving, expression unreadable. Those red eyes slowly looked her up and down.
"Let me go" demanded the ice Hime unclenching her jaw her body remaining taught.
"Natsuki" uttered Shizuru the sound of her own name crawled up the ice Hime's skin, she wanted to tell Shizuru never to speak her name again, but something stopped her,
Shizuru turned away from her.
Natsuki's words falling on deaf ears as emerald eyes watched the woman take her seat once more. She lifted the teapot with delicate fingers and poured herself another cup of tea. Crimson eyes closed as the porcelain was brought up to her smooth lips, a welcomed taste.
"Tomoe told me what happened" red eyes flicked to Natsuki observing her for any signs of weakness, "It's in Natsuki's best entrance to remain here…"
"I highly doubt that" retorted Natsuki, "Whatever this twisted game is…" she fought for the words unsure of what she wanted to say, "If you're not going to kill me – then do whatever you need to do right now and get it over with!" she waved her arms in anger her blood boiling.
A long ten minutes passed before the ice Hime realised Shizuru had no intention of leaving.
Being the defiant type, Natsuki just wanted to stand there, staring the blood-craver down, ensuring that her presence was unwelcome, but her legs began to ache. She wiggled her toes and shifted her weight onto her left leg but to no avail.
The only thing that could save her now was a welcomed interruption from the last person she wanted to see; Marguerite. She wondered what became of her and Aoi. Is that why Shizuru was here alone?
At the thought of the two women Natsuki recalled Aoi's bite wounds and pale complexion. Her punishment. The reality of why humans were lingering in a den full of creatures of the night. She glared at Shizuru eyes shooting angry daggers at how calm and collected the monster was. How comfortable she was. It infuriated the ice Hime.
"You want to use me as your own personal snack box like Senoh-san?" she snarled trying to elicit some sort of response from the craver, some sort of emotion.
Natsuki wanted answers.
She wanted a reaction out of the ex-Hime. This unmoving and unreadable version of Shizuru made her nervous. It was unsettling. She hated how controlled the monster was in front of her and remembered the shock on the ex-Hime's face when she had threatened to expose her blood to the air.
She wanted to catch her off guard again. To see what else there was in there; besides an empty blood thirsty beast. Maybe… maybe Natsuki could get an upper hand. It was uncharted territory but what other choice did she have. If Shizuru did not want her dead then what could she want?
Everything.
The word echoed in the forefront of Natsuki's mind. A scary and confusing confession.
The chestnut-haired vampire paused in taking a sip of her tea. Eyes opening for but a moment, "Is that what Natsuki would prefer?"
"Yes" the word slipped out of her mouth without a second thought.
Then just like that Natsuki was pinned to the wall.
"Don't lie to me" snapped Shizuru losing her calm controlled demeanour instantaneously, "Natsuki does not understand-" she hissed, her grip growing tighter against Natsuki's wrists as she held them in place on the wall.
Her head tilted to the side; eyes narrow and dark as she stared into Natsuki.
Natsuki could feel the cold radiating from Shizuru's skin as her body pressed against hers, all remnants of the old Shizuru gone, even the hint of tea. Suddenly that serene appearance had been replaced by what Natsuki knew all too well; an unrelenting force craving for death.
Shizuru continued her sentence her words dripping delicately into Natsuki's ear "…- how agonisingly painful it is to be near her"
Shizuru's head dipped down and her nose pressed into the ice-Hime's neck, she felt the craver inhale sharply, "so close" she hissed pausing to hover above Natsuki's neck, her breath trailing up to her ear, lips millimetres away from skin "how difficult it is for me not to…"
Shizuru licked Natsuki's ear then, sending shivers down the ice Hime's body, unable to resist the taste of her skin. "...give in to it"
"Let…" Natsuki swallowed trying to find her voice, she closed her eyes trying to ignore how close the craver was and the feeling spreading throughout her body, "…g-go of me"
Shizuru pulled her head back and smiled darkly, "It is quite fitting" crimson eyes stared into Natsuki's own, "…that we are both lying to ourselves"
"Get…" Natsuki growled beginning to panic "…off!" she tried to shove Shizuru away but her efforts were met with unwavering resistance.
Eyes trailed down the Hime's body hungrily, "Natsuki asks me to bite her then let her go; it is very confusing" came the cruel dark tease.
The ice-Hime felt the cold grip release her and caught herself against the wall. Shizuru stepped away her back to Natsuki now as she spoke.
"I ignore it... every whisper in my head, every scream of excitement, of hunger, of need that is telling me to sink my teeth into Natsuki's flesh" uttered Shizuru her words dripping with disgust "…and here Natsuki is, tempting me, again - how cruel"
The emerald eyed girl in question stood up straight her eyes unwavering at Shizuru's confession.
"Every part of what I am now only wants one thing Natsuki and that is you. Your blood…it calls to me" the blood craver turned around crimson pools narrowing "The only thing stopping me is…" She was suddenly close to Natsuki again, their bodies almost touching, the ice Hime had no time to react when her face was cupped once more by long fingers.
Crimson eyes stared into rebellious green, "-that look-" she tilted her head to the side taking in Natsuki's face, "The front Natsuki puts up. It pulls me out of what I am now and back to what I once was – but it wavers and that sickens me. It leaves me with an undeniable satisfaction. A pleasure that will be sated eventually. A knowledge that even in darkness, even as a monster, you care for me"
Natsuki flinched at the word, but Shizuru continued "I have my doubts but I see it - deep within Natsuki's soul"
Natsuki ripped her face away from the craver her body shaking at the words, she clenched her fists.
"You don't feel anything" she spat "You're a monster and I'm going to do what I'm destined to do, as a Hime, and end you. For your own sake and for the sake of humanity" As she spoke the words something inside of Natsuki hurt; it twisted inside of her making her feel ill.
The craver's lip twitched, it was the first time the ex-Hime reacted to Natsuki's harsh words so boldly.
Shizuru's composure snapped, she let out a frustrated snarl, vanishing in front of Natsuki's eyes.
Suddenly the glass table flew across the room into the piano.
Glass shattered in all directions. The piano slid into the wall, the organ making an uncomfortable sound as the wood splintered and scraped along the tiled floor. The sound rang in Natsuki's ears and she held back a wince.
The tea set that had been on the table lay there broken on the tiled floor and Shizuru stood over it, her boots breaking the shattered porcelain even further, grinding the delicate shards into a fine dust, "Very well then" she hissed, "If that is what Natsuki believes then so be it!"
If the door could slam, it would have, but it did not stop Natsuki from hearing it along with the loud silence in the room.
She stood there, alone, wondering what Shizuru meant by her words and why she suddenly felt so hollow.
...
...