Chapter 10... 11 is still in the making XD
Disclaimer: Must I write this? Really, I don't own anything. Yada-yada. Don't read if you don't like lesbian behavior.
THANK YOU VERY VERY VERY(!!!) MUCH both Akuma Volk and BlackRose-Death!!! you BOTH are such a BIG HUGE AMAZINGLY AWESOME help!!! Thank so muchs!!!!
R and R, Enjoy!
As a punishment to myself, I had to finish my study guide for my test tomorrow before I posted this. I'm done and here ya go XD
An eerie silence hung over the table, the dimmed lights adding to the tension. Three women sat around the dining room table; one circled her tea cup with the tip of her index finger restlessly while the other two were having a staring contest – calm, prying crimson versus jittery, uneasy lime.
"Ah," the most anxious one at the table spoke. "You said my name is Mai?" questioned the busty redhead, capturing both women's attention.
"Ara." The brunette's eyebrow rose slightly. "Yes, it is, and you've been missing for the past eight months." She shifted her inquisitive gaze back over to the other redhead, sending shivers up her spine. "However, I'm sure Nao here knows why. After all, not only does she have her resources, but-"
"He found her!" Nao blurted out in hopes to change the conversation, quickly bringing the steaming cup of liquid to her mouth afterwards.
"But Nao..." Mai whined and leaned closer; she wanted to know the truth just as badly.
After staring into pleading purple orbs, Nao sighed. "Alright, fine. I'll tell you." The edgy redhead abruptly dropped her cup on the table, spilling the contents. She then leaned back, legs crossed. "Eight months ago, we both found her on our way home." Nao's story was more for Shizuru and her piercing red eyes. Shizuru did, in fact, know that Nao knew Mai from the classes the two had together, but what she wanted to know was why she didn't say so. "She was beaten pretty badly. Her clothes were torn, as if she was dragged around, but from what I could tell, she had no other form of assault set on her."
There was a sigh of relief from both Mai and Shizuru, and they both gave a gentle squeeze on their hands that had somehow come together.
"But that's not all." Nao dropped her eyes to the floor for a second, and then continued after bringing them back up. "She was unconscious at first. When we rushed to her side, she was stirring awake, but she seemed – I don't know – like she was in a daze."
Nao sighed and took a calming breath. She turned to Mai. "We took you to our apartment and started to care for your wounds, but you fought us while we tried to get you cleaned up. I remember you saying something like 'I have to warn her. Let me go.' We tried to hold you down; you were bleeding everywhere. One minute, you were screaming, telling us to let go. The next, you pass out. After you came to, you didn't remember anything. Not even your name. I knew your name, but I wasn't there when you woke up, so Takeda 'helped you remember who you were.'" She said this as she imitated quotation marks in the air with her fingers.
"I see." Mai fell back into her chair with a sigh. "But that doesn't explain how I got there."
"Well..." Nao rolled her eyes and slouched, but readjusted herself with one glance at the very apprehensive-looking brunette at the table. "I found out what went down only just recently, at the same time I found out about you-know-who." She glanced apologetically at Shizuru.
"Do you mean-" Mai began, but was cut off.
"Yes." Shizuru spoke harshly, much more than she intended to. "That means that 'he' had something to do with you losing you memory, most likely beating you so that you couldn't come tell me." She was reaffirmed by a nod from the petite redhead.
Shizuru sighed deeply, a rare sight for the usually "masked" woman. "Okay, so that brings us up to date on some of what's going on, but not all of it. Nao." She paused. Her eyes only hinted at how betrayed she suddenly felt. "Have I been lied to this much these past few months?"
"Y-yes." Her jitteriness returned, worse than before. She looked down, slightly ashamed of herself.
"You have much more to explain." Her tone was as sharp as ice. "This time, tell me everything. If I'm going to be putting my life on the line, I think I deserve that much. Not to mention, Mai is also a part of this. In order to fix what's going on, we need the truth." She had a point.
"Fine, but there are some things that I can't say. Can't we wait-" She was interrupted by a husky voice echoing through the dinning hall.
"For me?" A slender figure leaned against the door frame, holding its side in pain. Mai jumped up from her seat to help, but was stopped in her tracks. "I'm fine. Just let me sit down."
Mai pulled out a chair next to Nao and the person pushed off the frame and limped to the table, onto the chair. All the while, ruby, jade, and purple eyes watched in case assistance was needed.
"I'll go get something for you to eat." Mai announced before walking off into the kitchen.
"Thanks, Mai." Green eyes gazed over to the other two at the table. "Let me start with my name."
--
Flashback
"Nao, that hurts," moaned the waking man, who was being lifted off the couch by the short redhead.
"Shut up, you," she mumbled in response.
"Wait, let me help you," bellowed the busty redhead, who was running to the couch.
Shizuru stood in uncertainty.
Nao's eyes widened in fear.
"Ow- ow- ow! MAI! That hurts," Takeda hissed, clearly in anguish. Mai's left hand was on top of his head, her other hand pulling on his arm. Nao grabbed onto the other arm and tightened her grip around his waist, causing his knees to buckle in pain. The bundle of three fell to the floor, the man passing out from the pain and physical exertion he should not have been involved in.
Both women untangled themselves and got to their feet.
Nao craned her neck to look at Mai. "I think we should try a different approach."
The taller redhead nodded and both hooked an arm under Takeda's upper torso and legs, something like a double-bridle style. They began down the hall when Shizuru, who finally exited her stupor, spoke. "Wait!" She ran up behind them. "There's something you're not telling me," she said, suspicious of the three.
"Now's not the time," Nao hissed, trying her best not to drop Takeda.
Shizuru, seeing sense in Nao's words, relented. However, just as she was about to walk away, her keen eyes caught onto something unusual. A bit of what looked to be raven hair was peeking out from under Takeda's green hair. Brows furrowing, Shizuru stepped in front of both redheads, forcing them to stop. Before Nao had the chance to yell at her, Shizuru laced her fingers into the injured man's dark green hair and gave it a slow tug, almost marveling as it came off of his head and into her palm. Long, dark-blue hair tumbled out of the wig, revealing he is in fact, a she.
Shizuru's lips quirked in triumph. "Is now the time?"
"Fine! Help us and then we'll talk, okay?" Nao growled in submission.
"I'll get the door." The brunette slipped past, sliding the door open.
"God-damnit, stop! This is causing me pain, dumbasses!" The newly-awakened woman gripped irritably at the unnecessary pulling of her skin.
--
"My name is Kuga Natsuki. Please, no honorifics. I don't like- ahh," Natsuki winced at the greetings of a sharp pain. "Son of a…" After trying to move her arm to shake hands with Shizuru, she found it was not such a great idea.
Nao sighed and put a hand to her throbbing head. "I still say you need to go back and lay down," she complained wearily. The past few days were really taking its toll on her.
Shizuru gave a small smile. "Ara, such a cute name for a cute girl." She was delighted at the slight coloring that erupted from her tease. "But I'm afraid I must agree with Nao; this conversation can wait. Go get some rest."
Natsuki rejected both women's demands and said to Shizuru, "I would like to say that myself as well, but to be honest, you really do need to know the truth." Natsuki's attention was now directed at the kitchen. "Mai, too."
Mai poked her head out of the kitchen."I'm sorry. Mai what?" questioned the busty redhead, having no idea of the conversation taking place.
"Mai, please sit and forget about the food," Natsuki offered the standing woman. She chuckled to herself. "Man, I'm going to have a hard time getting used to that name; I've always called you Kaede." She wore a good-natured grin on her face.
"Well, that's her name," Nao muttered, earning a quizzical look from the blue-haired woman and the busty redhead. She, however, received a glare from piercing crimson orbs.
"Ara, Nao? Would you be so kind as to tell me why you have been hiding the fact the he is, in fact, a she?" Her soft voice seeped with venom; she hated being lied to.
"I-" Nao began, only to be cut off by Natsuki's low voice.
Natsuki glared at Shizuru, a hard glint in her jade eyes. "Don't blame this on her. She had nothing to do with anything that's happening as of now." Natsuki spoke up in Nao's defense, but her voice dropped along with her gaze. She wanted to just come out and tell the whole truth, but it brought back painful memories.
"This is going to be said to all of you. As Shizuru said, you're all a part of this." Her words grew hoarse, forcing Natsuki to clear her throat.
Nao reached up with worried eyes to place a comforting hand on the Natsuki's shoulder, only to have it shrugged away.
"I'm fine, Nao, I gotta get this out in the open." She gave a reassuring half-grin, but her eyes showed the terror she was feeling on the inside.
Despite the bluenette's anxiety, Nao nodded and let her hand drop.
Natsuki's eyes travelled across the table to Shizuru. "First off, I hid my identity from only you, Shizuru. Mai already knew I'm a girl because she lived with Nao and I."
Shizuru nodded, her face as grim as all other occupants of the room.
"Let me start from the beginning. Only Nao is aware of this, but I'm the daughter of Black Wolf, the head of the Yakuza." She took in the shocked faces of Shizuru and Mai and continued. "Five years ago, my mother and I decided that we had enough of the gang life and tried to escape. Well, one of my dad's minions heard of our plan and sent some people after us to keep us from leaving. It became apparent that my dad… was very obsessive of his property, especially his family." Her voice was detached, lost in the recollections of her life.
"What happened to your mother?" The redhead regretted asking, suddenly remembering that Nao told her she died. "I'm sorry..." she whispered, looking down into her lap.
Natsuki shook her head, unhindered loss and sadness in her jade orbs. "S'alright. She was shot in the back of her head right as we were about to leave. My sister was asleep in the back seat, so she didn't see it happen." She paused, thinking back to the horrified expression on her mother's face when she died. "I didn't have time to spare, so I hopped on my dad's motorcycle and fled. When I reached Tokyo, I traded his Harley in for a Ducati so that when he traced the license plate sightings, he wouldn't find me. That's when I met Nao and..." She paused and looked away, avoiding all eye contact. "Takeda."
Mai gasped at the surprising revelation. "You mean...?"
"Yeah, I took his identity," the raven haired beauty muttered and then looked back up. "He was a great man," Natsuki continued, ignoring the shocked looks directed at her. "He took us both in, fed us, found us jobs, and helped us despite the trouble we were in. At first, I wanted to just leave Nao with him and run far away from the both of them, but Takeda had a way of comforting me that no one else had up until then." She reminisced in her fond and loving memories.
"Two years passed and with each day, Takeda and I grew closer, up unto the point when he said he was in love with me. At first, I didn't know what to say, but he told me that I didn't have to answer him..." She paused, a lone tear sliding down her face. "That night, my father's goons attacked us."
--
Flashback
Fire crackled, surrounding a blue-haired woman, a blonde, and a spiky-haired man. The apartment was in flames, and they were trapped. Hands banged against the door and shouts filtered through the cracks in the wood.
"What are we gonna do?" the blonde – Nao – whimpered.
"Damn it," Takeda hissed, frantically searching for a way out. Upon seeing the fire escape, he said, "Follow me." He grabbed Nao's hand, dragging her to the bedroom with Natsuki following close behind them.
He busted out the bedroom window and looked out. After checking to make sure the coast was clear, he brought his head back in. "Nao, you and Natsuki take my car and get outta here," he told the quivering blonde in a commanding voice.
"What about you?" Natsuki asked worriedly, wiping her sweaty brow with the back of her hand.
Takeda shook his head dismissively. "I'll be fine. Just go." He ushered Nao out of the window and onto the fire escape before he turned to Natsuki. "Go, Natsuki. I'll be right behind you."
"No, I'm staying with you!" she declared, taking Takeda's old, sheathed katana from the corner. "I'll stay and fight them off." Her viridian eyes burned in determination.
He jerked the sword out of her hands and grabbed her collar. "No, I said I'll do anything to protect you and I meant it." Takeda pressed his lips firmly against Natsuki's in a crushing, chaste kiss. "Now go!" he ordered, pushing the dazed woman towards the window where Nao was reaching in to pull her out.
He smiled a silly smile and winked, watching the stunned blunette stumble out onto the fire escape. At the sound of the front door slamming open, Natsuki was brought out of her trance. Takeda ran out of the bedroom, sword unsheathed. Natsuki struggled against Nao as she hauled her down the steps and into the alley. Yelling and gunshots were heard, and then there was an explosion that sent fire and debris out of the broken window.
In the alley, Natsuki collapsed onto her knees, staring straight up, towards where the explosion came from, with a lost expression in her eyes. Their apartment was gone. Takeda.. was gone.
Nao, being the only one focused on getting away, could only drag the shocked woman towards the car. Once they were on the road, Natsuki finally came to, only to throw a screaming fit to go back. The car wavered as Nao tried to calm Natsuki. However, she was unrelenting, leaving Nao with no choice. She went for the nerve on Natsuki neck that would end her consciousness.
--
Nao's arm rested on Natsuki's shoulder to provide a little bit of comfort. "You don't have to continue."
Natsuki had tears running down her cheeks. She let out a sniffle. "Let me finish."
The cat-like woman nodded.
--
The next few weeks were horrible for the two. They changed homes frequently to avoid the chances of any more Yakuza lackeys finding their location. Both had to change their identities; Natsuki to Takeda – she also changed her gender in honor of her friend – and Nao, who dyed her hair red, to Rei. Eventually, they settled in Kyoto, making sure not to draw too much attention to themselves. Nao got herself two jobs, seeing her friend was too emotionally unstable to handle one.
A couple of months went by and Nao attempted to get Natsuki to function. At first, she was just as hollow as before, but then she started to open up to Nao. Natsuki found consonance in the younger woman – her teases and taunts made her forget that horrible day. Over time, the two got extremely close, almost to the point past friendship.
One day…
In the shared apartment, Natsuki was slouched back in her chair in the kitchen, her head occasionally dipping when she left her eyes closed for too long. Nao, on the other hand, was making a late-night dinner for the both of them since she had just gotten home. She noted the way Natsuki would doze off in the chair with a roll of her eyes.
"If you're that tired, you should just go to bed. If not, at least help me, you bum," Nao muttered, stirring the soup on the stove.
"Oh, shut up, Spider," Natsuki groaned, shifting in her seat to make herself sit upright.
"Make me, you lazy-ass mutt," Nao growled, slamming the spoon she was using down on the counter. Now, she was seething.
"Geez, what's your problem, Nao?" Natsuki was confused; did she say something wrong?
"YOU'RE my problem!" Nao threw her hands up and stormed out of the kitchen in a fit. She didn't know why she was so upset and angry all of a sudden.
"Nao, wait up!" Natsuki cried, chasing after the angered woman down the hall and into Nao's room.
"Why?" Nao hissed, whipping around to face Natsuki. She was shorter, but she stopped the older girl in her tracks with her glare.
"What's wrong?" Her soft voice faded when Nao started to yell.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?! I'll tell you what's wrong! I work two jobs, I clean the house, take care of the bills, and clean up after you. I'm not your maid, nor am I your wife, but I still cook all the food, act like your nanny and baby you!" Nao screamed, not really knowing where all this anger came from.
Natsuki crossed her arms over her chest. "I never said you had to do all those things. I can take care of myself," she retorted, trying to subdue the argument.
"Then do it, and get out of my room!" With a strong push, Nao shoved her out of her room and slammed the door shut. She buried her face in her hands in frustration.
A few minutes later, there was a light knock on Nao's door.
"What do you want?" Nao groaned, lying on the bed with a pillow on her face.
Natsuki slowly opened the door, peeking in. "I brought you some soup." She stepped in, noticing that the younger woman calmed down quite a bit. "I'm sorry for earlier."
Nao shook her head. "Don't be. I shouldn't have blown up on you." She sighed, sitting up on the edge of the bed.
"No, it's my fault for leeching off of you all the time," she said sheepishly, lowering her eyes. Natsuki handed the bowl to Nao and took a seat next to her. "And for that, I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Nao sipped daintily at the soup, eyes averted. "I understand."
There was a peaceful silence in the room, save for the slurps coming from the redhead. Natsuki laid back on the bed, enjoying the relative hush.
Once Nao was finished, she placed the bowl on the night stand and looked back over her shoulder. "Thanks for the food. I was starving." She exaggerated a bit, but was grateful nonetheless.
"Hmph, don't mention it. It's the least I could do for you since you've taken good care of me," Natsuki muttered nonchalantly as she stretched and sat up.
"No, really," Nao's eyes glistened with anxiety and something else; something feral that Natsuki couldn't put her finger on. "Thank you." She leaned forward, glancing at Natsuki's luscious, pink lips.
"Yeah," Natsuki whispered, leaning in closer. Her heart was racing, her mind clouded over and her cheeks red.
With each passing moment, they moved in closer until their lips met in a light kiss, deepening each time they met again. Nao moved her right hand up to cup Natsuki's cheek as they fell backwards onto the bed.
--
"I see." Mai said, leaning back. She was finally up to date with all the events that led up to where they were now.
"That was quite a story, Natsuki, but what I'm wondering is what happened to your sister," Shizuru spoke up, trying her best not to think too much about the two across from her. For some strange reason, it pained her to think that Nao and Natsuki dated and had sexual relations.
Natsuki frowned. "She's still at home. From what I hear from her personal maid, our father hasn't done anything to her." There was a short pause before she added, "Yet."
"What do you mean, 'yet'?" Mai asked, her interest now as peaked as Shizuru's.
"Yet, meaning that he has plans for her." Everyone's attention turned to Nao. "My sources say that he's planning for her to take over the family business, since he hasn't been able to capture Natsuki."
Green eyes widened at that piece of information. They hardened immediately. "If that's true, then I need to get her out of there," Natsuki hissed, a wave of anger hitting her. She jumped out of her seat, but fell back into the chair when a sharp pain seared her side. "Damn," she cursed in frustration.
"Oh no, you don't!" Nao moved over to Natsuki and helped her out of the chair. "You can't do anything in the shape you're in now. You need to rest and heal."
"Nao's right," Shizuru pointed out, trying to hide the worried look that was seeping onto her face. "We can discuss this in the morning. Right now, you need rest."
"Let's get you to your room." Nao readjusted Natsuki in a more comfortable position that consisted of Natsuki's arm over her shoulder and her own arm around her waist. She glanced at Shizuru. "Oi, Fujino, a little help?" Being small did tend to have its disadvantages.
Shizuru stood from her chair and smirked in an uncharacteristic manner. She surprised all occupants in the room by scooping the injured blunette up into her arms, bridal style. Natsuki yelped, her face bright red.
"Ara, Natsuki is much lighter than I expected her to be." She grinned at Natsuki, who was still blushing.
Mai and Nao gaped at her, the latter saying, "And ya couldn't have done that any time before?"
Shizuru cocked her head to the side. "Nao never asked."
Of course.
"Oi! Put me down, woman! I do have legs, y'know!" Natsuki struggled in Shizuru's firm grasp, succeeding in getting nowhere. She did, however, manage to re-open her wound, which Shizuru noticed.
"Nao? Please grab the bandages." She turned her attention back to the woman in her arms, "If Natsuki doesn't stop moving, I will personally see to it that she stays in bed all week by all means necessary. Understand?"
Something in Shizuru's eyes led the injured patient to gulp nervously and go limp in the brunette's arms. She nodded and looked away, a pout plastered on her face. 'Kawaii!' Shizuru squealed in her mind when she noticed Natsuki's facial expression.
Once Nao was by her side, the two hurried to Natsuki's room where Nao reapplied the bandages to her side, complaining about how she was going to have to clean up the blood again the entire time.
TBC...
Ok, there. You have it. Another update. What will happen to our injured one and her sibling? Well, you have to wait until next chapter cuz I'm mean like that! XD
Omake:
Ume: So what'd you think?
*Everyone looks up from script, paper balls start flying*
Mai: You waited until the 10th chapter to bring Natsuki in?
Haruka: Why didn't you just put her in to begin with?
Chie: Wait until the Shiznat read this!
Aoi: This is gonna be a scandal! Natnao!
Ume: But it's not a Natnao fic... I've tried at one and failed.
*Shizuru over in corner whispering 'My precious' over and over again, while petting a blue face Natsuki*
Everyone: *Sweat drop*
Haruka: I still think you could have done better than this crappy junk!
Ume: Fine! If you can do better, *hands laptop over* then you can write it!
BlackRoses-Death: *Breaks down door* NO!!! *intercepts laptop* Don't let her do that. She spells worse than you!
Haruka: Do not!
Chie: Yes you do. *holds up Haruka's graduation speech covered in Yukino's hand writing*
Haruka: Heh... Fine! Mai, *points to Mai* you do it!
Mai: Me?
Haruka: Yes you!
*Everyone stares at a sweating Mai*
Shizuru: My precious, I won't ever let you go.
Natsuki: Shi- I haf a pain in my ches. I can't breaf. o_X
Blackroses- death: Since when do you watch George Lopez? O_o