Chapter twelve: Summer storms
Note: why this update took so long: first I was grounded. (Reasons… I' not quite sure…) second I re-wrote this chapter at least four times till I was happy with it. I blame Natsuki.
Natsuki: OI!
Three days had passed, and Shizuru's sister, Alyssa, returned to England leaving the princess slightly downhearted. However her sister promised that they would see each other soon.
Despite her sister's departure Shizuru was looking forward to something, as well as Natsuki. The princess had promised the knight to take her outside when she had recovered and the day had come to fulfill that promise.
"I didn't expect the castle's lands to be so vast…" Natsuki said while looking out the carriage's window.
Shizuru gave her knight a warm smile.
"Thank you Shizuru" Shizuru's ruby eyes widened almost undetectably in surprise
"Ara, what are you thankful for Natsuki?"
"For taking me out of the castle… I have to admit I felt a bit... confined… staying indoors is really not in my nature."
Shizuru chuckled "You're welcome then." I agree it doesn't suit you.
For a while both women remained silent, enjoying the landscape and the clopping of the horses pulling the carriage with an occasional jerk upwards as the carriage wheels hit a rock.
As the knight was distracted staring in deep thought through the window Shizuru dared to sneak a peek. She watched as if hypnotized, how the sunlight reflected on her midnight blue hair, and revealed the whiteness of her skin, if she didn't know better she would never have suspected that someone as fragile looking as her would be a fierce warrior on a battlefield.
A sigh escaped her lips which caused Natsuki to snap out of her thoughts and turn her head towards Shizuru.
"What's wrong?"
"No-nothing" Shizuru answered taken slightly off guard, then once she had recovered herself she repeated in a more confident voice "It's nothing" Both women gave each other a polite smile and immersed once more into their own thoughts. The princess didn't dare to look at Natsuki again till they arrived to their destination.
The first thing Natsuki did was stretch out her arms she looked upon the blue sky and looked around.
"You know, this place is beautiful" The knight's eyes fell upon the tall green grass swaying gently with the wind "For a moment one can think they have died and gone to heaven"
Shizuru tried not to chuckle. That's a strange metaphor Natsuki… "This place is one of my favorites, and it is a great place for picnics… though it's a bit too far from the castle for me to come every day" Shizuru took a basket from the carriage and Natsuki soon rushed over to carry it for her. Shizuru tried to refuse but in the end she let Natsuki take care of it.
When they reached under the shade of a big oak tree, they began setting the picnic up.
"I noticed… it's only the two of us here… no servants, except for the driver, who by the way just left" Natsuki looked around for the carriage
"Well about that… I have to confess that I just want to spend some quality time with Natsuki alone"
"We usually ARE alone" Natsuki laughed
"Ara, what does that mean? Natsuki doesn't want to spend quality time with me?" The princess pretended to sob which caused the knight enter in panic. The same reaction every time…. I wonder when she will ever learn that I love teasing her this way. Well its best that she never finds out, where the fun would that be?
"No! I was just—don't cry!" Natsuki, look what you did!
Shizuru's sobs quickly transformed into laughter "I was just joking Natsuki"
"Shizuru!" Jeez… she's the worst…
Shizuru laid down so Natsuki proceeded to the same. Two pairs of eyes watched the sky and the clouds float by.
"Oh look a rabbit." The princess said suddenly
Natsuki frown at these words. "A what?" she turned her head to see where Shizuru was looking but she was still looking up the sky and was pointing to a small cloud on the left.
"That's just a cloud…"
"No, look, you see? There's the ears… the cotton tail…" Shizuru moved her finger outlining the supposed bunny looking cloud
"All I see it the cloud!" where the hell did she get the bunny form from?
"Natsuki you have to imagine it"
"Why do I have imagine the cloud is a bunny?" she said stubbornly while Shizuru tried not to laugh. I just don't see it!
"I'm not saying you have to… I'm just saying it looks like one"
"All I see is an ordinary white, vapory water, cloud." God... I feel stupid…
"You don't see anything when you look at clouds? Tell me Natsuki what do you think when you see a cloud in the sky?"
"It might rain today."
Shizuru bursted into laughter while Natsuki felt her face go red in embarrassment
"What did I say wrong?"
"Nothing" Shizuru wiped a tear that streamed down her face "I guess Natsuki is one of those practical people"
"Well I'm sorry Shizuru" she said pouting slightly.
They both went silent again.
"What's on your mind Natsuki?" Shizuru asked as Natsuki got lost in thought once more. She's doing that a lot lately.
"I was wondering…" the knight started hesitantly "…About Mai."
Shizuru's heart gave a small pang on guilt, but the princess ignored it.
"Mai?"
"I can't think of a reason for which Mai left to England… and the more I think about it the less sense it makes… did Mai tell you anything?"
Shizuru shook her head her heart beating hard in her throat. I hate to lie to you Natsuki… but I promised…
(A few days back)
"Go have some rest princess"
"But Natsuki-"
"Now." Youko told Shizuru sternly. The princess sighed knowing that the nurse wouldn't allow her to stay any longer by her knight's side and obliged.
Closing the door behind her she heard someone call her.
"Um… Princess…"
Shizuru turned around and saw Mai approaching her with caution. The princess faked a smile
"Ara, Mai… was it? Are you feeling better?"
"Yes" Mai gave Shizuru a short bow of courtesy "But there is something I would like to talk to you about."
"What would that be?"
Mai gave a nervous glance around. "Could we talk to somewhere a bit more private?" Shizuru nodded and led her to one of the unused castle rooms.
The room looked like a small study; there were a few bookshelves and a desk with a chair behind it. Shizuru sat on the chair and looked at the red haired woman who remained standing in front of the desk.
"So… what is that you want to tell me?" The French woman asked observing the younger woman
"I want to… make a deal with you."
Shizuru rose a slender eyebrow. "A deal?"
"How much do you know about Joan sending Natsuki to France?"
"She was sent as… an offering of good will."
"Well that's a polite way of saying prisoner." Mai scoffed, then realizing she was within the princess's presence she continued "You are aware that King Richard died… correct?"
"That is correct."
"What about the details of his death?"
The princess frowned at this. Now that I think of it, both my father and I are unaware how King Richard died.
"So Natsuki didn't say…?"
Shizuru's crimson eyes widened. Natsuki… doesn't lie… but it doesn't mean that she tells everything… I believe Natsuki has always evaded me when I talk about England…
"I guess not… The real reason that Natsuki came to France was because Joan wanted to get rid of her. Natsuki the greatest knight England has seen in a long time is a great influence among the people, not only is she popular but she had a close relation with King Richard who took care of her like his own daughter."
"Get rid of her…" Shizuru repeated
"Yes. Joan wanted the throne for himself, however if the king gets to choose who will inherit the throne after him and obviously he would not pick his brother. So Joan killed Richard and blamed the murder upon Natsuki getting rid of two birds with one stone."
Shizuru remembered when she had talked to Natsuki in her bedroom and when she offered her the job of her bodyguard.
"I give up. I guess I'll serve you… I have no other reason for living anyways…"
That is what Natsuki said before falling unconscious.
Shizuru gripped the edges of her chair tightly in rage though her face revealed her usual calm smile.
"But wouldn't people think it is odd that Natsuki who was so close to the king would do such a thing?"
"Only the people who stop to think about it. Because being so close to the king could also be a reason for her to kill him. Maybe for the throne. But sincerely only fools would believe this. The people, who voiced out this, are… probably dead or being hunted…" Shizuru stared at Mai who looked away "anyways we are silenced… so one could think that Joan's conspiracy has been perfect."
The princess's eyes widened at her last words and Mai smiled.
"Yes, the greatest flaw… is that Natsuki is still alive and well… and hasn't been killed by the French as Joan hoped. In fact, all he has done was buy some time and give your country, our greatest weapon of success."
Mai approached the table "What I'm trying to get to by explaining all this… is… that I plan to get the people who believe in Natsuki's innocence and Joan's betrayal"
"In other words you are planning a coup d'état"
Mai flinched at these words. "You make is sound even worse than it is…"
"Just calling things by their name." Shizuru let her grip loose once more "So, why are you telling me this? It doesn't benefit you at all."
"It's not about me."
The princess nodded her head in understanding "So you mean Natsuki…"
"I don't want her to know what I am about to do… she would be against it. Despite it all. That's why I want you to make sure Natsuki turns a blind eye towards what goes on in England from now on."
Shizuru stared at Mai in silence but the red haired woman understood what the princess was thinking "She trusts you; probably she'd ask you first about the situation of her country if she needed to know. And if you pretended you didn't know she would believe you and not go around asking other people…"
"Wouldn't it be best not telling me anything then? You are asking me to lie to Natsuki."
"No. I told you because Natsuki will have to know eventually. And she must be told by you and by non other when the moment is right."
Shizuru flinched; she didn't like the idea of lying to Natsuki and then eventually have her realize she had been lied to.
"It's for her own good. Trust me" The English woman pleaded. "I will keep you up to date everything I am doing."
The princess looked into her sapphire eyes and sighed in resignation which made Mai smile.
"I'm surprised you regard my relation with Natsuki so highly."
"Can you blame me?" Mai stated bluntly surprising the princess "I know how she looks at you, and if it is not to daring to say, I know how you look at her." Mai's grin widened "Natsuki is a bit stubborn when it comes to affection beyond friendship, not that she needed to worry about it till now."
Shizuru's eyes widened more.
"Patience has a limit, and Natsuki is very dense it could take ages for her mind to catch up to her heart. Sometimes a little push… can't be harmful." Mai gave Shizuru a thumbs up and walk out of the study while her words lingered in Shizuru's mind.
A sigh escaped Shizuru's lip which caused Natsuki to look at her. "Something wrong Shizuru?"
"No, I was just thinking about something" the princess sat up and looked down at her knight. "Natsuki… do you miss your country?"
Natsuki looked surprise but then replied "I guess… I do miss it at times. But the England I loved, served and protected might be no more." Then realizing what she had just said she turned her head and remained silent.
"And what do you think of France?"
Natsuki chuckled "Apart from the fact that the French used to be my sworn enemy, I guess I'm comfortable here…"
Shizuru flinched unnoticeably. I'm treading a dangerous ground… Natsuki is probably still hiding from me the fact she still has conflicts between her duty and where she is now…
Natsuki suddenly sat up which caused Shizuru to jump.
"W-what's wrong Natsuki?"
"I felt… it's going to rain"
Shizuru felt it too, tiny rain drops falling innocently upon them.
"When is the carriage coming back?" Natsuki asked I knew it was a bad idea to have the carriage ride away…
"It was going to come in a few hours…"
The rain started to fall hard and Natsuki took Shizuru and dragged her under the oak tree to somehow protect themselves from getting totally wet.
"So we are stuck here…" Natsuki stared up at the sky which had darkened revealing some lighting activity going on as well.
"Or, we could try to reach the hunting cabin." Shizuru suggested "My father has a cabin around here so whenever he took too much time hunting he would sometimes spend the night there."
Natsuki face brightened up "Really? Where is it?" Yay safe!
Natsuki rubbed the two stones together, and eventually managed that the sparks landed in the fire place, starting a warm and comforting fire.
Shizuru sneezed. The knight quickly made sure that a thick blanket was wrapped around the princess.
"Are you ok?"
"Mhmm… How about you Natsuki?"
"I'm fine" Natsuki gave Shizuru a brave smile "This is nothing compared to anything I felt before." I'm freezing… actually.
But Shizuru noticed that Natsuki was not being entirely honest. Anything I felt before? She means the poisoning… a nice way to avoid lying Natsuki… though this time it will not work with me.
And without warning she enveloped her knight with her arms making sure the blanket were covering them both.
"I said I was-" Natsuki blushed
"But I'm cold… I want Natsuki to warm me up too" Shizuru pouted
"Fine." Natsuki managed to say while her face was going hot. I can't think… and… my hearts is beating so hard… I can feel it in my throat…
Hrmm Natsuki's heart is beating fast… Maybe what Mai told me… is true?
Shizuru felt her hands sneak a bit lower Natsuki's body and quickly stopped herself. Ara? Bad hands! What were you doing without my approval? Did Natsuki notice?
But Natsuki was too busy dealing with her confusion to have noticed anything. "Umm Shizuru?" Natsuki turned around to find her face inches from the princess. This caused both girls to blush.
"Ye-Yes Natsuki?"
"Shi-Shizuru… I-"
Sometimes a little push… can't be harmful
And Shizuru's taking Mai advice pushed Natsuki upon the floor gently and trapping her in a passionate kiss.
When both parted their lips to get some air, Shizuru looked into those intense emerald eyes.
"Natsuki… I… love you."
Note: The next chapter… What to do… What to do…. Should I be cruel to my readers or give them what they want…? I wonder… *evil grin*
And now… behold! Something totally unexpected… an OMAKE! *fakes surprise*
OMAKE:
Shizuru: Ara, Asuka-chan were you writing another joke about Natsuki and her passion for mayo?
Natsuki: Again with the mayo meme? I don't like Mayo that much!
Asuka: Oh really? Prove it. *crosses arms*
Natsuki: What?
Asuka: I said prove it. What would you choose mayo or Shizuru?
Natsuki: Uh… uh… uh…
Shizuru: Natsuki?
Natsuki: Uh… uh… uh...
Mayo: (in Natsuki's mind mayo talks!) Natsuki-chan!
Natsuki: Uh… uh… uh…
Asuka: Come on Natsuki… I'm waiting.
Natsuki: I…. I can't pick! I want a Shizuru dipped in mayo!
Shizuru: Ara… I'll keep that in mind Na-tsu-ki *evil grin*
Asuka: *face palm* Please keep your fetishes in your bedroom.
Shizuru: Ara would Asuka like to join in to what I am planning?
*Asuka gets up and walks away*
Natsuki: Oi! Where are you going?
Asuka: To take a looong and cold shower!
