The Past and Future

Chapter 11

Tardy Trouble


She looked down only to be met with hands adorned with a nauseating, vile liquid, blood; ironically the fact that it was not that of her own pushed her into infinite despair.

Again voices cried out to her, but this time its call was like the waling of a ghost, a vengeful, unforgiving scream that sent shivers down her spine, coming in from all directions.

From the ground, splits appeared giving access to the hands that shot up, trying to grasp a part, any part, of Natsuki, anything was good enough for them, they were like rabid dogs that were left out to starve, but now that the raven hair girl was there, it was chow time.

While the raven hair girl was not afraid of ghosts or ghouls or anything of-the-such, she felt an immense fear for those hands and the unforgiving waling.

She took a step back in an attempt to recede away desperately, determined not to be captured by the decayed paled hands of the dead.

"No. No! NO! Stay away!"

She cried out in attempt to seek assistance from someone, anyone at all would do, but she had no such luck as she was captured and bound by all those grasping hands that wished to attain her, desiring to chain her down and hold her prisoner.

They, each one holding a death grip that could not be pried off by even Hercules the Greek hero, pulled the HIME slowly into darkness that held unspeakable horror. However, not only did it hold horror but it also contained the truth, the identity of the killer of the fallen ones.

Natsuki knew that and yet she held no desire to acquire that knowledge, knowledge that was like the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, so sweet, so sickeningly sweet, holding the gift of knowledge that was going to lead her to her downfall.

But the saying 'the truth will always come back to haunt you' seemed to play its part as the raven hair girl struggled in vain and finally was release from those hands that once held her captive, in front of the figure that took the life of the owners of the weapons she saw on the blood-stained battlefield, a wasted land that reeked of rotten souls.

A single beam of light shone in front of her, blinding her with its intensity, as a dark figure made its way, taking painfully slow steps, toward the light, toward Natsuki with the excruciating truth.

Gradually, the features of the murderer's face were coming into view and a wide, eerie smile could be distinguished from the corners of the figure's mouth, growing larger and larger by the minute, soon passing human limits as it seemed like the face was being engulfed by the smile on it.

A glimpse of the emerald green eyes was caught under the unwilling glaze of the Ice Princess, like two peas in a pod green fought green in order to gain dominance in the single second they held each other's glaze.

She strains eyes, in order to get a better view of the dark figure.

Whether for better or worse though her legs gave way and she fell, she fell into the tender forgetting and forgiving darkness, unable to see for herself the one who killed her loved ones.

All she could remember seeing was green, emeralds that bore into her own ones, challenging them to do something, challenging them to seek out the truth and see, see the past for what it is, not just the distortion that she called her memory.


Shooting up from the bed, the roommate of Tokiha Mai was drenched from head to toe in sweat as she awoken from her dreams only to find out that it was already way past the time for breakfast and in…

3…

2…

1…

0!!!

They were now officially late for classes and for the first day assembly meeting for the new Otomes.

Getting up from her bed the HIME woke Mai up by violently shaking the poor girl as if she was wringing out a tattered rag until she got up, and presented the 'good' news to the girl.

The reaction from the busty red head was just as expected, from the wide shocked eyes to the rushed dressing, Tokiha was up and ready to do whatever she can to avoid the impending fate of being late on the first day of school.

For Natsuki, it was like she was back in the past, regaining a little bit, even if it was just a tiny speck, of what she had lost.

It pleased her so much that she even allowed a smile, though small but one nonetheless, to grace her face, the face that was still a little pale from her 'sweet dream' but that faced was mistaken by her roommate as fear of trouble because of their tardiness and the denial from the Ice HIME was just a form of embarrassment.

In truth it was far from fear of getting something like detention from being late, hey in the past she got those everyday and worse, but since long back the raven hair girl had learned to not argue so violently back against a statement because it would just be a waste of her saliva, especially against Mai and the rest of her 'gang'.

Setting aside how hectic it was inside the two girls' room, the girls did make it to the assembly just in time to hear the number one pearl wish everyone to "have a pleasant year at Garderobe".

Also there was enough time to tell the two girls that were late to the assembly to remain behind so that they could 'talk' about something.

In school, academies, and places like those, 'talk' was never a good thing to do especially with someone who held authority over you.

It was even worse when Natsuki wanted to avoid Voila Shizuru from the time being because seeing her somehow allowed pain to creep up into the Ice HIME's heart.


Just like old times huh?

Natsuki thought in remorse as she stood with her roommate and now soon to be detention partner, Mai, in the Trias's meeting room standing in front of the number one Trias's desk, awaiting her punishment for being late to one stupid assembly.

Yep, just like before.

Just like the times when we were all still together…

Before that sick messed up Carnival…

Before that happened…

The event the raven hair girl recalled sends a scowl straight to her face.

To others it may seem like an act of rebellion from the girl or defiance in her showing, but it was far from that, it wasn't even close.

Those memories just made her so sick that she would just want to empty the contents in her stomach right that second, in fact she did in the past, several times, but now she was resolute and strong-minded enough to withstand those urges.

Breaking her out of her thoughts, the oh-so-familiar voice of a certain load mouth erupted out and threatened to burst the eardrums of all those in hearing range, which was practically the whole school.

"HEY! Kid, you better wipe that scowl off your ace (1)!!! And you, bubuzeke, don't just sit there and brink (2) your tea!! Do something about it!!!!"

The mess-ups, even something as simple as that brought up memories of the past for Natsuki.

It made her feel as if there were strings attached to her heart, sharp metal strings, so sharp that upon each tug at her heart, it chips off a piece of her heart every single pull.

Sooner or later, perhaps if she was lucky, she thought, she might be relieved of such emotions, the emotions from that accursed organ in her chest, weighing her down and at the same time pushing her on, being her sole reason for living to survive in this godforsaken world.

She felt even more so when she heard that nostalgic accent from so long ago, it was like a melody to her ears, a long gone and soon to be forgotten song.

"Ara, I thought I would leave it in Armitage-san's hands but if it was perhaps a bit too much for her then I suppose I can help her out."

Just as Natsuki expected, protest was heard.

"What?! No!! I can candle (3) it; you can just go on sipping at your tea, bubuzeke!! Now, then since you decided to not wake up this morning, you should be punished!!!"

Masking what little emotion she was careless enough to let slip through her perfected mask, Natsuki scoffed but that did nothing more than just further anger the loudmouth, causing the blond to start yell and continue her attack, the 'make everyone go deaf attack, to be precise.

That is until a certain number one pearl came to everyone's rescue, or maybe she just did not want to go deaf at such a young age.

"Armitage-san, as a punishment, why not assign them the task of helping out the pearls' combat class? They do not have classes until nine and the combat class starts at seven so it would get them into a habit of getting up earlier?"

Impeccable doom befell upon the two late arrivers as the orange hair girl had on a look of disbelief, her face paling more and more by the second, and the well trained raven hair Hime held a facial expression of disinterest, not really caring about whether or not she had a punishment.

In reality though, the Ice Princess was counting down the hours of sleep she would lose because of this, not to mention the fact that she would have to face a Shizuru everyday for sure now first thing in the morning.

The number two pearl thought about it for a few seconds, and then came the judgment.

"Good thinking bubuzeke!!!! I did not link (4) you had it in you!!!"

The effect that single judgment had the impact of a rock falling from ten thousand feet high, making an immensely huge crater where it lands.

Tokiha Mai was shaking in fear at what would happen if her identity were to be discover it would all be over, she would be shipped back to her home and get locked up inside that castle, never to see the light of day as long as she lived.

Kuga, though now Kruger, Natsuki was establishing plans and excuses in her mind to avoid seeing a Shizuru look alike every single day and evaluating their chances of working, but in the end none, not a single one of them would work, well not unless she was will to do some extreme and stupid things which were not worth the effort.

In the end, she gave up and decided to just go along with it and bear the pain in her heart each time she sees Viola Shizuru, reminding her of her own Shizuru, the pain of thousands, perhaps millions of arrows piercing her heart each second.

Last and definitely not least, was the sly and cunning number one pearl herself, Viola Shizuru. And all she thought was,

Ara, a chance to meet my cute and dashing savior every morning!!

The thought sent a smirk slowly, making its way to her face, but it was gone in nanoseconds.

All of a sudden, an unpredictable event sent everyone into a state of surprise and shock.

The doors to the Trias's meeting room burst open revealing an unexpected visitor.

"Nat-chan!!! There you are!!! I've been looking everywhere for you!!!"

The visitor exclaimed while launching their body at the said raven hair girl.

In responds, emerald eyes sent a Kuga Death Glare at the person in midair and greeted it flying body with a spin kick, sending the visitor across the room.

"Think before you act you old DRUNK!!" The Ice Hime instructed harshly, but the person she was telling it to, like always, did not take it to mind.

In seconds the new arrival was up and running but before she could actually do anything the number one and number two Trias came to her side, presenting her with questions about her well being.

"You delinquent, how dare you attack a meister?!!? Never less the Justified Judging Jasper?!?!?"

"Ara, if Natsuki is so violent all the time we light have to rethink her punishment of helping out the morning combat class…"

Crimson eyes twinkled in a mischievous manner, as a classic thinking pose moved into place.

And it seems that Viola wasn't the only one thinking as the new Justified Judging Jasper smirked.

"Oh, Nat-chan! I had no idea you worked so fast!! I mean doing all this so you can be with the onee-samas, but I have to say very clever, yes very cleaver!"

The Jasper acted as if she was amazed and nodded her head at the end of her statement, adding on to the effect.

Since she wasn't as dense as she was in the past, our raven hair heroine could do nothing but blush.

"BAKA! I just woke up late that's all!!! I mean who in their right mind would actually want to spend time with them fools?!?!"

Natsuki exclaimed pointing to the pearls.

She should have known better or at least chose her words more carefully because the classic fake water works came.

"Ara… (sniff sniff) if Natsuki thinks I'm that stupid she should have just said so sooner, I… (sniff sniff) never said I was that smart, so… (sniff sniff) there was no need to insult me….!!! (Sniff Sniff)"

"… I… no… I…" Panic was evident on Natsuki's face and in the way she stuttered. However she was debating on whether or not she should comfort the chestnut hair girl because one, she knew that it was fake crying from experience, two, if she showed concern now, it would make it all the more harder to distant herself from the girl.

But as fate would have it, she fell into temptation. "That's not what I mean! You're… smart… really smart!!"

Hearing what she wanted to hear, crimson eyes peaked out from its hiding place behind the hands. "But… Natsuki said that she didn't want to spend time with me because I'm stupid!!"

"NO! I would love to spend time with you! You're smart!!" And, the trap was shut; Natsuki was caught once again by the cunning chestnut hair girl.

"Ara! So Natsuki wants to spend time with me!!"

The change in demeanor was so quick that no one could even assume that the red eyed girl was crying seconds ago.

"What!?! No, I didn't say that!!"

Upon realization of what she was tricked to say, Natsuki knew from experience that she had to get out of it and fast, but there was nearly no way out now.

Crimson eyes began watering up, causing the owner of the emerald eyes to resign to her fate and sighed.

"It's a date then! Ara, I'll pick Natsuki up at her room tomorrow after school!" The number one pearl responded and left the room so quickly that the raven hair girl did not even have a chance to argue.

Turning back to the rest of the occupants in the room, Natsuki posed her question.

"Did she just trick me into going on a date with her tomorrow?"

"Yeah, stupid bubuzeke always flirts wherever she toes (5)." The number two pearl mumbled and left as well.

"Yep, and we have class now!!! I'll go ahead ok?!" Tokiha Mai exclaimed running out of the room, not wanting to be late for another class.

"No duh! Well at least now you have a date tomorrow right, Nat-chan?!" The Justified Judging Jasper teased.

"IT'S NOT a date!!!! And don't call me Nat-chan!! By the way Midori, I didn't know you were a meister, whendid this happen?" Cleverly changing the subject, Natsuki asked the red head.

"Oh… that… I guess you haven't heard… You see, after the… well… after that, everyone went their separate way right? Well, as time passed Fumi worked with some people and came up with this Otome system and well…"

The defender of justice stopped midsentence, looking away from the striking emerald glaze of the raven hair girl for a few seconds before continuing.

"Why don't we go somewhere more private? This involves that messed up Carnival."

All Natsuki could do was nod and follow the older girl because she knew that, whatever it was, if it involved with the Carnival, it was shrouded in mysteries, a mystery that should never be leaked out to anyone who did not experience it firsthand.


Haruka's Mess-up's corrections

(1) Ace is suppose to be face

(2)Brink is suppose to be drink

(3)Candle is suppose to be handle

(4)Link is suppose to be think

(5)Toes is suppose to be goes


Author's Notes

Well, I finally updated huh? I know, it took forever and I'm really sorry! And as an apology, for everyone who reviews this chapter, in the end or beginning of the review tell me you want a preview of the next chapter and I'll send you one, since I won't update the next chapter until the reviews hit 80.

Hmm... but i guess I'll be nice and give you a sentence preview even if you don't review!

Ok, this is it:

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She had no idea how it came to this, but now she was standing in front of the number one pearl, the person she thought she was looking for, waiting for the other to make the first move.

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Once again sorry for taking so long on this chapter but now as soon as the reviews hit 80 I'll update ok? And believe me, you'll want me to update because in the next chapter the story is finally going to start explaining what happened in the past and really get into the plot!

Thanks for reading and please review.

P.S. Remember to review and tell me you want the rest of the preview if you want to know more!!!