Chapter 11-Beauty and the Beast side of Love.
"Thank you for the sad, bitter yet fulfilling memory of loving"
Would it be nice if I was actually a monster? That way I won't feel anything but sheer thirst for blood and fear.
That way I won't feel all soft and out of character.
But even monsters would feel a tinge of pain. Or perhaps change.
"Natsuki" a quite yet firm voice stirred the napping wolf, who feel asleep while reading a textbook inside a huge glasshouse. (Sometimes, she had to find a place where she can hear her own thoughts). For months, it seems her thoughts are getting way out of hand that she fears it would all explode all at once. The idea of Shizuru being her toy was slowly slipping away from her complicated mind. It was as if Natsuki is breaking her own established rule about herself. " Natsuki" the voice called again, Natsuki groaned.
" What a surprise for you to be here" she finally said to Shizuru with a yawn.
"I was just curious as to where was the great Boss would be" Shizuru sat beside her. Her voice was still filled with hostility but the distance between them was getting shorter. Natsuki was used to it anyway.
"Is that really all?" Shizuru looked at Natsuki, studying her. Lately, Natsuki has been, well, warm in a sense she was more approachable. More controlled, less aggressive but the authority was still there.
Shizuru then gaze upon the rows of roses. They were healthy despite the fact that it was already snowing outside. She must have ordered someone to take care for this whole place.She would have never thought that Natsuki liked such things or to even built a greenhouse, of all things in the world. Why flowers? They were not such a useful things, they were merely decorations. Just beauty but remove all those wonderful, colorful petals it would look just like a weed you'd like to burn.
Much like how she sees herself. The real Fujino, Shizuru who's rotten, selfish and a bit of twisted just like the person beside or worst.
Natsuki sensing Shizuru's sudden silence like she was in her own world, decided to bring her back"Lovely is it not?"
"Ara, I don't know"
"What do you mean?" Natsuki;s brow meet. Perplexed by Shizuru's answer. I was expecting a simple answer.
"Well, they're just flowers. Mere decorations." she almost laugh at how she was trying to describe herself from Natsuki (who was giving her confused looks)." Useless bunch I would say so myself" she continued giving Natsuki her a quick fake smile as she was expecting a tease from her from getting emotional. It was better to be prepared.
here goes..
"They're not useless" Natsuki said gazing at the roses. Her tone was comforting as if she understands what Shizuru was really feeling deep inside. As if Natsuki could actually see beyond her empty smile. " They're just like us, working hard to survive despite the harsh reality." Shizuru felt her heart beat with a strange motion. " You forget that roses might look beautiful and fragile but they have thorns to defend themselves. I personally think that they're amazing" Natsuki looked at her with a grin on her face. Shizuru could only look away. It was making her feel awkward. In a good way.
"Ara, That's a cute thought " Shizuru said as she stood and tried to leave. She was having a hard time breathing and crazy ideas came rushing through her head. Ideas that she did not expect to think when it comes to Natsuki."It was nice chatting with you but-"
"Where are you going?" now that Natsuki asked. Where was she going anyway? There was nothing for her to do since she had already completed her home works and student council papers. Or she could call Reito and talk about boring was already their winter break and here she was.
"Ara" she thought for a moment to come up with an excuse but arrived with none.
Natsuki smirked " Nowhere I bet" Shizuru sighed. She has caught me.
" It's not that I have nowhere to go.I was actually planning to sleep all day in my room" Shizuru said defensively. She would never ever submit to defeat."It's
"That's a a very fun thing to do" Natsuki replied sarcastically. Shizuru glared." How about having some tea with me?" Shizuru raised an eyebrow.
"Ara, you drink tea Natsuki?" she was flabbergasted by the sudden invitation. She was absolutely sure that Natsuki never ever, tried drinking tea, ever. It was a shock for her that her mouth was slightly parted and she was staring at Natsuki with perplexity like Natsuki had somehow morphed into a real monster.
Is she on drugs? Or did her head hit something hard?
"I don't" Natsuki casually said. "But I just thought that it's a perfect thing to do in this cold weather don't you think?" Shizuru merely nodded since she could not come up with a word a to say. "Let me call my favorite servant for a minute" Natsuki then dialed a particular number, probably Nao's number. Muttered something that Shizuru couldn't not understand.
"Ara, now this is a surprise" Shizuru chuckled plainly. leaned herself back at the chair, facing Natsuki, slightly tilting her head to the right as if to decipher Natsuki's odd behavior.
"Surprises are good" Natsuki clasped both her hands together and leaned her chin on them."Some of them that is" she smirked dashingly with a slight danger in them.
"Right" shizuru muttered with utter disgust.
After 10 minutes of waiting, Nao arrived with a cart. Nao had this bored look on her as she placed the tea cups and pots and some sweets. By the looks of it, Nao was probably forced to do this particular task Shizuru thought as she noticed how Natsuki was giving out a small chuckle. Nao on the other hand merely twitched her lips in annoyance. Definitely forced by Natsuki.
"Ara, Nao-san seems to be upset" said Shizuru," Is something bothering you?"
Nao sarcastically chuckled "Oh nothing much dear Fujino-sama" she said while giving Natsuki a glare. although she was doing it without Natsuki seeing it. She still wants to live.
Shizuru placed her hand over Nao's. This made Natsuki to frown "Ara, if that is so then you won't mind telling me" said Shizuru adding a sweet smile and clutching Nao's hand tighter, like giving Nao a sign, a message. Nao gave her a surprised look but eventually she understood what Shizuru met. The mutt was frowning and Nao can't help but smile.
Sweet revenge..
"If you insist dear Fujino-sama" Nao said dramatically and holding Shizuru's hand close to her chest " I-" Natsuki was not liking the scene in front of her that she snapped a little bit. Sending a bullet like glare.
"She" Natsuki said coldly with a smile" has other important things to do than whine" Glaring at Nao. Nao quickly removed her hands with Shizuru and gave out a winning smirk. Nao got what she wanted. Making Natsuki mad, unconsciously jealous. A little payback for making her do the maid's duty. She was a killer, a mafia and a spy for a dangerous family not a butler.
After Nao left while still giving out a knowing look at Shizuru and receiving deadly one's from Natsuki, Shizuru noticed that most of the things that Nao placed where on her side. Natsuki had nothing on her side.
Skeptically, Shizuru asked" Ara, You're not drinking any?"
"I don't like tea remember" came a straight forward answer from Natsuki. She was still quite disturbed by Nao and Shizuru's sudden closeness. She still had her brows together." It's too pale for me"
"What's the purpose for inviting me for a tea if you're not having one?" Shizuru looked at Natsuki and to the tea in front of her. Eyeing the cup in every angle then back to Natsuki with a doubtful look. Her lips were already in the rim but thankfully she noticed how Natsuki was merely looking at her.
Natsuki chuckled. her anger disappearing "It's not spiked, so relax. I don't do cheap moves like that"she said as a matter of fact way. Natsuki doesn't drug her prey, she instantly kills them. Drugging them would not sound right.
"Ara, how should I know if you're telling the truth?" said Shizuru as she smelled the tea, it was chamomile tea. It helps you sleep. " It's hard for me to believe you" She locked eyes with Natsuki, trying so hard to read the blue haired beauty's thought but all she could see were malice and enjoyment and for a second there was a small dot of warmth. Strange
Natsuki abruptly grabbed Shizuru's cup that the latter didn't have the time to react and she just watched as Natsuki took a quick sip from her tea then made a disapproving face then returned the cup from her. "Ara" Shizuru realized how cold her hands were, even though she was holding a hot cup. She always had cold hands but when Natsuki's hand brushed her ever so lightly she can instantly feel the warmth spreading like a pulse, a small ripple in a pond affecting her whole body.
"There" Natsuki said in a strained voice, she did not like the taste. " Taste like shit as ever" She added with a mocked.
"That's nice of you" sarcastically replied by Shizuru as she as well took a sip from her tea. " If you'd like, add some honey" she suggested unconsciously. She relaxed a bit, now that she had her tea. She glance back at the flowers, watching them at their best while outside the crystal clear glass things are getting colder. The trees are bare of leaves but of snow.
How lucky of you.
While Shizuru was thinking of the flowers, Natsuki was thinking of other things, they had there first kiss, indirectly. She nib her lower lip, still tasting the tasteless drink although there was sweetness in them, like cherry.
Sweet cherry..
"Did you say something?" Shizuru asked, Natsuki slightly flinched but covered" Not that I care"
"I.. give me some of that" Natsuki said with a glare and in a cold tone then looked away from Shizuru."And hand that Honey"
"Ara?"
Moody much?
Shizuru raised an eyebrow and gave Natsuki a glare. If Natsuki can suddenly change the mood so can she. Her she was thinking that she'd have a nice normal day with her warden, abductor, her supposedly bride/groom to be.
"We only have one cup" Shizuru pointed out.
"One is enough. We could share" Natsuki did not meant it to sound angry but how could she not, she did not know what words meant. How could she suddenly blurted out her thoughts. A mistake she could never have done if the person in front of her today was nothing less but a pawn but then again Shizuru was not just a pawn. She was becoming or already growing to be a part of her.
" Ara, honestly you have a bad temper" Natsuki snapped her head back to Shizuru then growled.
" And you're like a deceiving snake" Natsuki retorted.
Shizuru's eye widen in shock but then the most unexpected thing happened. She paused for a moment then gave out a sly smile towards Natsuki(the unusual friendly one). Then both of them silently chuckled, both amused and surprised.
Both beginning to feel a small change in their relationship. Both masked slightly worn down to small pieces.
Both feeling a small warmth growing from within but both are still uncertain and afraid. At a sudden swift of mind both thought that this little change was nice.
"Touche"
I almost forgot, it's almost Christmas Shizuru thought.
"Fujino, Shizuru reminds me of Eve, the first women that God ever created" His eyes narrowed " And just like Eve from the bible, she seduces Adam into a cycle of hardship" He said coldly, clutching his hand into a fist. "Look at my child, she has done something that I have never told her to, because of that girl" He growled in despair. " I cannot let my only child suffer because of a mere girl" His voice screamed with despair and anger." I need to protect her. You do understand Hallard?" The bespectacled woman merely nod. She had been called to discuss about the Demon's daughter strange behavior lately. She too was surprised that Natsuki decided to stay in Japan and on what cause? For the prime minister's daughter although it was also a good idea since one of the big Yakuza family in Japan seems quite stubborn in kneeling down to their will but that still was not enough reason for Natsuki to stay and focus all her attention. They have capable people who could do such menial task, Natsuki has other business to attend to. They were not merely just a family they were a big organization that needs to be monitored once in a while and a strong figure like Natsuki is needed.
"I understand boss" she replied with her usual stoic face when confronting the lord of the castle. " What should we do?"
He sighed " Let's... leave her for now, Let her taste the painful side of it" he frowned " She'd be stronger that way" although his voice was cold there was a speck of pain in it, like he was remembering a forgotten memory." Stronger".
Chie looked at him with sad eyes. Natsuki will suffer. Better ring Nao about it. She looked at her boss, the most feared man in their world. Pardon me Master, but Fujino Shizuru is not like Eve at all, she is more like a frog prince I once read. Relentlessly waiting for someone to save her from cursed self. While the young wolf reminds me of Cinderella, awaiting for someone to wake her up from her nightmares..
Was I a fool to give her away to her safety?
I think not, although I am the prime minister of a strong country that does not always mean that I will always be there to protect her. And she is the price to pay for what the Fujino family has become today. People might think that I rose up from the business industry clean. Their is no such things. Even as an honorable man, I still succumb to sin. I am just man after all but none the least it is not a good reason to sell your only child to the demon.
" Foolish" I said to myself as I looked straight in the mirror. Indeed I am a fool. I crunched my fist. This is the face of the man who sold his own child. I sighed in disgust. What's done is done. " It's for the best" I looked at my watch" Time for a meeting" There are a lot of things that I need to take care now, now that I am a leader. My daughter, I felt it, is in good hands. Hopefully. My child is clever enough.
"I know she'd be able to tame her way out of this" I closed my eyes as I recall the child of the demon, her cold vibrant green eyes, burned in my memories. I felt my heart ache, I know that person is not as cold as her father, I know it. I feel it inside. My Shizuru can change her. He has to put his all his faith or else he would go insane.
"Good morning Oujo-sama" rows of men in black uniform greeted, bowing their heads as a girl of 14 years of age walked briskly. Wearing an ethic stylized Kimono hakima, ensemble with Grey, Black and White. Also the girl is carrying a two handed sword which was much longer than her. In truth she always carry her sword even when she's asleep, you will never know when death knocks.
"Morning" She replied with a serious tone of voice, she was not in the mood to be cheerful, she was up all night to practice her sword skills. Perfection never sleeps. The weather was not much of a help, it was cold and Mikoto was never a winter person, cat's never do like the cold weather.
"Morning sister"
She gave a quick smile as she saw her brother approaching towards her. "Good morning brother"
"You look tired" He smiled, his usual idiotic smile. " Been practicing" It was more of a statement than a question. He knows how his sister was addictive to her training. He knows how strong and better his sister is, much better than him. But she's too childish and kind that she'd let it distract her when she's training with me.
" Correct" she replied with a tired laugh.
"Anyway, let's have breakfast together" he said.
Mikoto cocked her head and made a sly smile" You go ahead dear brother, I have to do something first" Reito gave out a surprised look. It was unusual for Mikoto to decline his offer.
" What could that be?"
Mikoto raised her sword and rest it upon her shoulder like it was her wooden sword that she uses with Reito" Just want to see someone. Reito raised an eyebrow "Someone you know" she said with a tease and then quickly walked passed Reito. Not giving him a chance to further question her. She was not in the mood to be the obedient sister that she usually shows. Reito could only wave and watch at Mikoto's back and her sword. " See you later dear brother"
See you later dangerous sister of mine. He frowned a bit as he could not read what his sister is thinking. There are times that Reito would be intimidated by her but as the older one he would not show it, his pride won't allow it.
I'm tired of waiting. I want to meet the wolf and see what this person is like. Mikoto thought as she placed her sword inside a black bag. She does not want to attract attention and scare off people with it. She was too impatient now to meet Natsuki, it has been months and she still haven't seen the lady. They had pictures but Mikoto wanted to personally meet her brother's rival (she was getting fed up by her brother's constant whining ). That is a reasonable cause to ditch her brother and breakfast.
She had told her comrades to leave her alone. No one would follow or else they'd have to prepare themselves in a dance of death. She can take care of herself if something happens.
" Time to meet the big bad wolf" Mikoto cheerfully said as she walked down a steep of stairs, the cold wind brushed against her. She shivered and held her sword closer . So she adjusted her knitted scarf. It was her mother's gift before she passed away. It was her favorite thing in the world next to her sword. It's pure white like a snow with a small black cat insignia . Her mark. She did not need any jacket, her scarf always did the magic to warm her up even in the coldest winter.
The only thing in the world that reminds me of home.
"Hey kid aren't you cold?" Natsuki asked a kid who she met while she was out with Shizuru, apparently Shizuru said something about Christmas presents and crap that she was not used to it. She did not want to go or agreed to Shizuru's request but Nao reminded her of that certain change that must took place if she wants to crack open the Fujino woman. Also she did not want to let Shizuru out of her sight, she wanted Shizuru to be at her mercy at all cost. But at the cost of it all she had to tag along with Shizuru's attics (although she prefer to sit outside the shop rather than explode inside).
"Eh?..Oh. I'm not cold at all... are you not the one who's cold?" The girl who sat next to Natsuki (they were at a bench) replied with a big smile.
Natsuki grinned."Me?..I grew up in this kind of weather. This is nothing compared to my birthplace"
"hmmm..."
"You're a weird kid. Carrying a sword and wearing that kind of clothes." Natsuki eyed the kid and noted how she was out of place with the way the kid wears and that sword bag. Interesting findings" Are you.. Are you cos.. cos-playing?" Natsuki has no knowledge regarding the fashion that had sprung up in her time.
" This is just who I am" the girl replied coldly that made Natsuki to give her a serious look trying to understand the sudden shift of mood. " I think it's cool right?" then a big smile appeared at the girl's face. Natsuki gave out a quick smile. strange kid. Natsuki was not good at kids, she seldom deal with them. In her world there were always serious, adult life. If there are kids then most likely those kids would be her future comrades. They were not kids anymore once they belong to her family.
"What makes you happy kid" Natsuki crossed her arms and looked somewhere else since she had nothing to talk about to the kid beside her. I can't handle a normal child her.
"What's your name?" Natsuki asked without thinking.
"Mikoto" Mikoto replied with a smile, an eerie smile that Natsuki knows too well. Her eyes shinning with mirth and mystery. " Nice to meet you" her voice was clear and inviting but Natsuki has a strange feeling and she can't point her finger why.
Natsuki reached out a hand" the pleasure's mine" Mikoto laughed and reached out Natsuki's hand. Giving out a firm shake.
Strange and a strong kid.
" I hate milk, I'd prefer if you'd give me something meaty like a ramen"- Mikoto
