The following day, Natsuki wearing an arm sling for her mending left arm walks around the magic shop with Takeda and Shizuru.
"Everyone's looking at me; I look stupid," Natsuki hisses to the werewolf and the other slayer.
"I think you look cute," Shizuru chimes in, red-eyes glinting with amusement.
"No I don't!"
"Yes. You do."
"NO I DON'T!"
"Natsuki looks cute."
"DAMN IT SHIZURU!" Natsuki exclaims, blushing when an old couple turns to look at her. "Look what you've done! I already had enough attention as it is with this thing on!"
"Natsuki, that was all your doing..."
"What a load of crap!" Natsuki says, glaring at the taller girl. "This is your doing; you're annoying me!"
"You're grumpy..."
"No; I'm not."
"Yes. You are!"
"FUJINO!"
"Your squeaky voice is cute too."
"Jesus frickin' Christ woman! Quit it!"
Laughing, Takeda walks away from the two slayers, avoiding Natsuki's open-mouthed and wide-eyed look.
"Natsuki?"
"What, Shizuru?"
"Its just that Natsuki looks so cute and fragile."
"Fragile? I'm stronger than you, sweetheart," Natsuki retorts, and instinctively, tries to cross her arms, before the pain kicks in and she remembers that her arm is injured. Blushing and ignoring Shizuru's giggles, Natsuki rolls her eyes and grunts inaudible curses at the taller girl.
Shrugging it off, Shizuru smiles coyly at Natsuki. "Ara, but Natsuki is the one with the sling..."
"YEA. Because of YOU!"
"Because you like me."
"Stop it, Shizuru."
"So, grumpy..."
"BECAUSE I'M IN PAIN!"
"And I know just the thing that'll cheer you up. Do you want to play doctor later?" Shizuru taunts, already expecting the other girl's outburst.
"SHIZURU!"
Snickering, rather loudly a couple of feet from the slayers, a blushing Takeda walks back to the two girls. Flashing the needed ingredients from Mai's list, he motions the girls forward to the cash register.
"Thank goodness! This one was getting on my nerves..." Natsuki says as they pay. "I swear I don't understand my attraction to you," the green-eyed slayer says, glaring at Shizuru. "You irritate me."
"Ara, but I strictly remember that you said you like it when I irritate you," Shizuru explains, smiling coyly at Natsuki.
"I refrain that statement," Natsuki says, turning, head held high.
"Yet your blush tells me otherwise," Shizuru counters, swooping her arm against Natsuki's good arm as they exit the store.
"Well aren't you clingy today," Natsuki says, turning her head and raising a brow at Shizuru.
"Oh shut up Natsuki," Shizuru says, rolling her eyes and snuggling in closer to Natsuki as they walk along the parking lot. "You know you like it. Plus there's the whole 'we could have died yesterday' thing."
"Riigght..." Natsuki says, wincing, recalling her ass-wooping.
"Guys..." Takeda interrupts, raising his hand in a cautious manner. "Wait."
"What is it?" Natsuki asks, shrugging Shizuru off her shoulder.
Ignoring the green-eyed slayer's question, Takeda searches the various building establishments, stopping his gaze at an empty building. "Something's not right," he says, and then sprints off.
Following Takeda, both slayers run to a beaten, red-bricked and chipped building, adorned with wood panels shutting intruders out. Kicking and breaking one of the wood panels, Takeda steps in, followed by Shizuru and Natsuki. Inside, they see a redhead, chanting as she sits on top of a wooden crate.
Sniffing and twitching her nose, the redhead wearing a pair of khaki cargo pants, a white and pink striped shirt with blue suspenders, a khaki beret, a pair of orange aviator sunglasses, and a yellow scarf, sets her gaze on the three intruders.
"Whose the pup?" the redhead asks, looking between the three friends. "One of you is the big bad wolfie."
"And who the hell wants to know?" Natsuki counters, stepping forward.
Laughing and clutching her stomach, the redhead almost falls back from the crate before she inhales deeply, only to laugh again. "Whose the cripple?" she manages to say in between laughs. "Don't tell me you're the big bad wolf!"
"Cripple!?" Natsuki exclaims, looking angrily at the redhead.
"Yes, chicken wing. Now be a good little birdy and shut your mouth. I'm the one in charge here."
"CHICKEN WING!? DAMN IT SHIZURU! I TOLD YOU I LOOKED STUPID!"
"You sure do," the redhead continues, laughing.
"SHUT IT OR I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!"
"With what? Your walking stick? Or are you going slap me silly?"
"YOU LITTLE-"
"-I'M THE WOLF!" Takeda exclaims, holding back a pissed off green-eyed slayer that looks ready to lunge at the redhead sitting on top of the crate.
"WOAH! Let's go back a sec'. Why is the werewolf holding back the little engine that could?" the redhead bursts out, laughing again. "Does chicken-little actually think she can hurt me?!"
"LET ME GO!" Natsuki exclaims, blushing from frustration while Shizuru snickers.
"Natsuki..." Shizuru scolds, trying to calm the raven-haired slayer.
Grunting, Natsuki continues to shake out of Takeda's hold.
"Natsuki!" Takeda finally exclaims, trying the shake the angered slayer back to her senses. "You're better than this."
"Careful dog, if you shake too hard, the little tyke might have a seizure," the redhead adds, laughing more loudly.
"SHIZURU!" Natsuki says, looking pleadingly at the taller girl. "TELL HIM TO LET ME GO!"
"Oh. god no. Help me. Don't let the cripple get to me," the redhead says, in a deadpanned voice.
"THAT'S IT! I SWEAR-"
"Natsuki," Shizuru cuts in, looking hardly at the green-eyed girl. "Calm down..."
Looking wide-eyed in a disbelieving look at Shizuru, Natsuki scoffs.
"Natsuki!" Takeda tries again, trying again to calm the green-eyed slayer. "Don't let her get to you...Shizuru! Help!"
Wrapping her arms around Natsuki, Shizuru rests her head on the green-eyed slayer's good shoulder. "Natsuki, be a good puppy and let it go."
Shaking the other girl off, despite her pain, Natsuki glares both at the taller girl and the redhead. "Don't 'puppy' me Shizuru," Natsuki says through gritted teeth.
"PUPPY!? THIS IS RICH!" the redhead cuts in, laughing more loudly.
"THAT'S IT! I'M GONNA STRANGLE THAT BRAT!" Natsuki says, pain kicking in again, yet sprinting, attempting to lunge at the other girl, only to crash with the crate.
This time the redhead does fall down, only, it is from her laughter.
Standing up, the redhead, composes herself, leaning to her right side, crossing her arms, examining her nails. "What are you kids doing here anyway? You shouldn't you know better than entering old abandoned warehouses?"
"We're here to ask you the same thing," Takeda says as he walks past a fuming slayer and a tawny-haired slayer helping the fuming one stand up.
"You're about to find out," the redhead says, opening the crate, revealing a pair of glowing ice-blue eyes.
"What is that?" Takeda says, cringing his nose and face. "It smells dead."
"That's because it is. This right here is an Incan princess: Yma."
"Yma? What did you do you freak?" Natsuki asks, trying to maneuver her way out of Shizuru's grasp.
"I awoke a mummy, duh," the green-eyed girl answers, still examining her nails. "Yma."
Emerging from the crate, a wrapped slim figure emerges, wrapping itself out of its bandages. Pulling out his stake, Takeda lunges at it, and pierces its heart only to the have the mummy easily push him back and remove the stake, tossing it to the ground.
"That's not the way you kill a mummy, dog," the redhead answers, eyebrow raised in amusement.
"She's right; you have to destroy the talisman that awakened her," Shizuru answers, still holding Natsuki back.
"You're pretty smart...for a blonde," the redhead says, turning her gaze and smirk at Shizuru. "Too bad you'll never get it."
Takeda, this time, lunges at the red-haired girl, landing on top of her. "Where is it?" he asks gripping the girl by the collar of her shirt.
"Easy boy," the girl answers, smiling evilly at him. "Bad dogs get crate time," she says headbutting Takeda and then kicking him inside the crate, and, quickly, springing back up and shutting the crate door at him.
The mummy now with its head unwrapped reveals a decaying petite face with little stands of black hair.
"Isn't she a looker?" Natsuki says, causing Shizuru to giggle before Natsuki scrunching up her face when she hears Takeda's screams and grunts coming from inside the crate.
"Yma," the redhead says, kicking the mummy-girl a tied up man that the redhead must have had hidden on the other side of the crate. "Eat."
Before Natsuki and Shizuru could stop the mummy, the mummy grasps the man, pulls off the duck-tape on the man's mouth and kisses him. Her decaying features liven, as rotten brown skin morphs into shinier, smoother tan skin, and ragged black hair grows, and fills up her petite head. The man, now a skeletal corpse is tossed aside as the mummy licks her lips. The red-haired girl then pulls another man from the shadows, but, before Natsuki or Shizuru could stop her, the mummy repeats the process and kisses the man. This time, her cheeks fill up, and her thinned lips fill up as well, adding more curves to her body. The beautiful dead girl with a perfect sculptured nose, full-plump red lips, high-cheekbones, dazzling blue eyes, long luscious black hair, perfectly shaped eyebrows, and long batty eyelashes stares intently at the red-eyed girl awaiting the order to suck the life out of her.
"Not her, Yma," the red-haired girl says, smirking at Natsuki. "The cripple first; she annoys me."
Takeda, now transformed, bursts the crate open and lunges at the red-haired girl, hovering, once again over her, foamy saliva spewing out and dripping on top the green-eyed girl. Growling, Takeda barks into her face.
"Takeda!" Natsuki exclaims, getting the werewolf's attention. "Don't kill her!...Yet!"
Turning his gaze on Natsuki, Takeda whines, and grips the red-haired girl by the collar of her shirt, raising her up. The mummy attempts to lunge at Takeda, but Takeda pushes it aside with his free hand, causing the mummy-girl to fall back to the ground. Turning his attention back to the red-haired girl, Takeda growls at her, bringing her face closer to his darker and much more terrifying werewolf face.
"Fi-Fine!" the beret wearing girl stammers handing Takeda the talisman which he easily crushes. The mummy, immediately, screams as she reverts back to her mummified decaying self, and then lays motionless and stiff on the floor.
Shoving the redhead down on the ground, Takeda runs back to the crate, whining, and shuts himself in.
"What, oh, what are we going to do with you," Natsuki says, walking over to the petrified redhead.
"How embarrassing is this? The cripple is gonna kill me..." the beret-wearing girl says, composing herself. "Thank goodness none of my friends are here to witness such tragedy..."
"Like I said: you won't die...yet," Natsuki says through clenched teeth.
"Natsuki..." Shizuru says reaching for Natsuki's hand and smiling warmly at her, softening Natsuki's expression. "She's just a kid. Calm down."
"I'm calm..." Natsuki answers, rolling her eyes in frustration, but tightening her hold on Shizuru's hand.
Eyeing their intertwined hands, the khaki wearing red-haired girl laughs. "Les-be-honest. You boarding school lovers with obvious daddy issues are not gonna hurt me, so I'm just gonna go..."
"You're not going anywhere," Natsuki says, letting go of Shizuru's hand, blocking the redhead's path.
"This is gonna be a long night...isn't it..." the green-eyed girl sighs. "And just so you lesbos know, I have been to prison but that doesn't mean I swing that way."
"Hard pass, Pippi-Longstocking, hard pass," Natsuki says, smirking at the offended redhead.
"Oh yeah! As if I could ever be into-into a self-mutilating emo girl with blue hair like you!"
"Ha! Is that the best you can do, Wendy's girl!"
"Shut up mutt or I'll cripple your other hand, and you could kiss bye bye to sex for a while!"
"So? I heal easily. And besides we haven't-"
"-Natsuki!" Shizuru cuts in. "There's no use in fighting."
"She's right," Takeda says, emerging from the crate with his old clothes on. "I took them off before I transformed," he explains. "Look...mummy-summoning-trouble-making girl...we don't have time for this...not with the Master coming, so our patience is low," he begins, eyeing the redhead.
"Master?!" the redhead says, scrunching up her face. "That creep! I can never go anywhere without hearing 'Master this' 'Master that...' Jesus! Talk about annoying..."
"How do you know about the Master?" Takeda questions, looking curiously the green-eyed mummy-summoner, raising a brow.
"It's complicated..." the redhead says, softening her snobby expression.
"Try us," Takeda says, smiling reassuringly to the redhead.
"I...I," the redhead stammers before scratching the back of her ear. "I was a demon, a great one too before that jerkoff-"
"-Were?" the three friends ask in unison.
"I got laid-off. Sentenced to live a mortal life with those I punished- you puny humans or...not. Actually, I'm getting weird vibes from you lesbos too..." the green-eyed girl answers nonchalantly, looking at both slayers. "Especially you, Children of the Corn," the redhead finishes eyeing Shizuru.
"Demons get fired?" Takeda asks, furrowing her brows.
"Ven-" the redhead begins before being interrupted by Natsuki.
"!WOAH! Hold up!" Natsuki says, getting everyone's attention. "Mock me all you want ginger-girl but you leave Shizuru out of this. Only I can mock her."
At this, werewolf, demon and red-eyed slayer all raise their brows, looking at Natsuki.
"Geez!" the redhead says looking at the tawny-haired girl. "Girl, she's got you on a short leash..."
"Natsuki?" Shizuru questions, ignoring but blushing at the redhead's remark.
"What! I don't like her mocking you," Natsuki answers in a 'duh' fashion, shrugging.
"Anyways, before I was interrupted by the finger sisters," the redhead continues, earning a growl from Natsuki. "Vengeance demons do get fired. We're complicated...we're like demi-demons as in we were once humans, only we were granted demon powers because of our...of our inclination towards the dark side and hatred for all human beings," the redhead says, shrugging and smiling. Now furrowing her brows and looking at the ground before laughing lightly, the redhead brushes the right side of her hair behind her ear. "You know, for other demonic freaks, being a demon is a lifestyle but for us vengeance demons, it's a job...a real drag."
"So you were once human?" Takeda asks, analyzing the redhead.
"Thousands of years ago; I am responsible for many of the wars, " the girl says and then smiles triumphantly. "Women can be quite imaginative with their vengeance you know...which is one of the many reasons that I don't hook-up with them. Plus there's the whole gay sex thing, not my thing," the khaki dressed girl says before hopping back on top of the crate. "Anyways, like a junkie, I now have to fill in this empty evil whole within my cold-cold heart. I can't let go of the supernatural; I can't help it; I miss it," she finishes, pouting.
"So why were you fired?" Takeda presses. "It seems like you were evil enough to keep your job..."
"Because I didn't want to comply to the new rules. The whole Master thing got on my nerves: Nao you can no longer do this; Nao you know that the Master doesn't want us to do that; Nao! What the hell were you doing ripping on the Master by the water cooler, blah, blah, blah..."
"Nao?" Takeda questions, walking closer to the redhead. "Is that your name?"
"Yea. It's Nao now anyway. My birth name is Naovius. Stupid right?" the girl adds, chuckling.
"Well, Naovius, you're gonna have to come with us," Natsuki says, nodding at Takeda who nods back.
Motioning for the girl to follow, Takeda turns to look at Natuski and nods.
Nodding back, Natsuki, starts leading the group of teenagers and ex-demon out of the building.
"Those lesbos aren't gonna rape me right? Or turn me into some sort of sex slave?" the girl asks Takeda as they exit, who snickers, covering it up with coughs, thusly earning glares from both slayers.
"N-No! Of course not!" he says, face stern, trying to earn the slayers' forgiveness.
"Good. You won't believe the number of butches I've had to push off at prison...always staring at me like a fresh piece of meat, which is flattering, of course, but like I said, not my thing."
"I get it. I've been eyeballed at the boys' locker room myself," Takeda jokes, making the redhead laugh.
"Sausage fest," the redhead remarks, making Takeda laugh, and Natsuki fight down a laugh, biting her lower lip.
"I'm gonna need that," Shizuru says eyeing Natsuki and her bruising lip.
"St-Stop being weird!" Natsuki exclaims, turning her head away, hiding her blush.
"How do we know if we can trust her?" Reito says, looking the redhead up and down.
"Easy dog," the red-haired girl answers, snarling at the black-haired young man.
"She's harmless," Natsuki answers, leaning further into her seat at Sakomizu's house where the group of friends gathered.
"Watch it mutt!" the redhead retorts, rising from her seat before being pulled back down by Takeda.
"Natsuki..." Shizuru scolds, making Natsuki roll her eyes but shut her mouth.
"Sorry," Natsuki mumbles, turning her head away.
"I HAD IT WRONG! THE CRIPPLE IS THE WHIPPED ONE!" Nao exclaims, looking in an admonished manner at both slayers and then the rest of the group.
"THAT'S IT! I'M GONNA KILL HER!" Natsuki exclaims, rising from her seat, flexing her jaw.
"Natsuki..." Shizuru says pulling the slayer back down into her seat and lightly kissing her scarlet pulsating neck. "She is harmless...well now anyways. She's a kid."
"An evil kid," Natsuki retorts.
"Natsuki..." Shizuru scolds, causing Natsuki to shut up, flexing her jaw.
"Whipped," Nao sing-songs, whistling absentmindedly.
"Shizuru..." Natsuki whispers at the other girl. "Your annoying ways are embarrassing me."
"No they aren't," Shizuru counters and quickly pecks Natsuki's lips, making the green-eyed slayer blush.
Gut turning and eyes nearly bulging out, Natsuki leans her head closer and quickly captures Shizuru's surprised lips in a more affectionate kiss, making everyone exchange whispers.
"So," the watcher begins, clearing his throat, and hoping to end the little feud going on between his slayer and an ex-demon, and the romanticism going on between the two slayers. "Nao, what do you know of the Master?"
"Well...he's no regular vampire," the redhead begins, still eyeing both slayers, eyebrow raised. "He's centuries old," she continues, only now she turns her attention to the plump man. "He's even older than me. And his looks, they're...different from a vampire. Less human-like. Actually," she says, shifting in her seat. "His appearance is closer to a demon. And word around the water cooler is that he'll open some sort of portal to bring over other demons and Gods-"
"-We know that wingnuts," Natsuki cuts in, scoffing.
"Look I am Sam, I have no problem kicking a cripple's ass!" Nao exclaims, fuming, and tightening her fists.
"Natsuki..."
"Oh whatever! Sorry! Please continue...wingnuts."
"Anyways, before I was rudely interrupted by the vage-muncher," Nao continues, smirking at a blushing Natsuki, blush made worse by the snickers of her supposed friends. "Not all demons, vampires and other evil creatures are game."
"What do you mean?" Sakomizu questions, taking off his lenses and cleaning them with his pea-colored coat.
"I mean, not all demons want an apocalypse. We may like to hurt, kill and eat humans but we like it here. We're our own bosses, at least not when my boss is looking. And this 'Master' wankjob is gonna ruin it for us. So there are some underground forces planning to launch a surprise attack...you know, with the whole hellmouth opening soon."
"And do you know when the hellmouth opens?" Sakomizu asks, putting his lenses back on, stern-faced.
"Halloween. Apparently the Master wants to give you humans quite a scare. An 'unforgettable holiday'."
"Poetic much?" Natsuki remarks crossing her arms.
"Well yea; he's a wanker," Nao says, rolling her eyes.
"So we have a little over a week to prepare," Mai says, reaching out for Tate's hand.
"That's good. Really good," Reito says, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Are you sure about this, Nao?" Shizuru asks, looking sternly at the ex-demon.
"Absolutely certain?" Sakomizu presses, furrowing his brows. "Halloween isn't an attractive...holiday for your kind."
"I know. It's like our labor day. But yes. I'm positive," Nao says, looking sternly at the watcher. "And let's just say that I'm the Sam Houston in this surprise attack," Nao says in a gloating fashion, wriggling her eyebrows. "I have a lot of boys on the inside. And my info is solid."
"Then why are you telling us this?" Natsuki asks, looking questioningly at their newest house-guest.
"Because, like any general, I am aware of my chances. They aren't looking so good," Nao answers, worry covering her face for the first time. "The Master is powerful and I need all the help I can get. Like I said, I'm like Sam Houston, leading and recruiting troops and allies," she says, eyeing Takeda and Reito.
"Natsuki?" Takeda says, looking at the green-eyed slayer.
Ignoring Takeda and shifting closer to Shizuru, Natsuki looks over from her watcher to the ex-demon. "So there are demonic forces planning to revolt against the Master?" she asks, looking hardly and seriously at the redhead for the first time.
"Yes cripple, weren't you listening?"
"Natsuki," Tate begins looking at his friend. "We can try-"
"-I don't know." Natsuki cuts in. "I don't know if I can trust her. Shizuru?"
All eyes on her, Shizuru looks at Natsuki, shrugging. "I don't know."
"Wait! Is Rain Man here your leader!" Nao exclaims, looking anxiously at everyone in the room, smiling widely.
"Nao, she's the slayer," Takeda answers.
"WHAT! She's the slayer!" Nao says, making an exciting and teasing face at Natsuki. "Like the slayer!"
"And so is she," Takeda continues, motioning to Shizuru.
"What!? I'm not stupid wolf-boy! There can only be one slayer..."
After explaining the situation to the redhead, everyone goes to the basement to lock and cage Reito and Takeda; it's the night before the full moon.
"Are you sure he'll be alright?" Nao asks, watching the spiky-haired boy willingly surrender his chaining and entrapment.
"We'll be fine," Takeda answers, smiling at her. "Right buddy?" he asks looking at Reito.
"We'll manage," Reito says, smiling at Takeda and then Nao. "Just, don't get all scared when we go all werewolf on you," he adds, winking at the redhead.
"In your dreams, Ken," Nao retorts, walking and seating herself between the two slayers. "So lady-lovers," Nao begins, earning a grunt from Natsuki. "What's the gameplan because I'm in. I lost my powers because of that dipshit."
"Where are your forces?" Natsuki asks, scooting away from the ex-demon.
"Easy cripple," Nao begins, smirking at Natsuki. "First things first: are you slayers really lovers?"
"NO!" Natsuki exclaims, blushing.
"Not technically," Shizuru answers, rolling her eyes. "Why?" she continues, looking at the redhead, eyebrow raised.
"No bi-curious reason. I just wanted to be sure on how you two work."
"Work?" Shizuru asks, looking at the ex-demon's luminous green eyes.
"As in reading. I've been observing you two. And now I know how you work...so I'll be able to tell if you're lying to me."
"Whatever, demon," Natsuki says, rolling her eyes. "Now that you can 'read' us. Tell us what we need to know."
"There," Nao says, pointing to an old rundown building downtown. Following the redhead Natsuki, Shizuru, and Tate look questioningly at each other.
"Trap," Natsuki says in a much to know-it-all fashion.
"It's not a trap," Nao explains, turning around and motioning them to move forward.
Entering the broken down building, they step into an empty area loitered with trash.
"It's a trap..." Natsuki says, sighing, reaching for her beretta.
"No. It isn't mutt. No wonder you're a crippled slayer," Nao answers, walking over to the center of the room and lifting a cut-out portion of a dirty and muddy carpet, revealing a trap door. "Here," she says lifting the top, unleashing jazz music and then proceeds to walking down the steps.
"Wait here," Natsuki says to the others slayer, but, of course, Shizuru ignores her and walks past her. Rolling her eyes, Natsuki follows her as does Tate.
Mid-way through the steps, all forms of demons are seen playing cards, drinking, and chatting in an underground-run bar.
"Hey boys," Nao says getting between two horned red demons, and enveloping their necks with her arms, squeezing them.
"Sup' Nao," one of them says.
"Dang girl, you look fine," one of them gushes wriggling his eyebrows at her. Laughing Nao, lets the demons go and motions the slayers and the bronze-haired boy forward.
"Nao?" they ask in unison, looking at the red-haired girl.
"It's cool; they're with me," Nao says, grabbing one of the empty stools, and noticing that they're short on seats. Rising and spotting a group of short furry demons, Nao glares at them, making them leave their stools. Smirking, Nao hands the slayers and the boy their seats.
"So, Nao...What are you doing with humans?" one of them asks, black eyes never leaving the humans. "You gonna play poker later tonight? Use your humans as currency?"
"What?!" Natsuki exclaims, tightening her good fist. "You little-
"-They're...they're on our side," Nao says leaning further into the table. "For the revolution," she finishes saying in a quieter tone.
"Of course they are! They don't want to die!" the other demon retorts, shaking his head and rolling his eyes at Nao.
"No! You moron! They're both slayers!"
"SLAYERS!" the whole room shouts back, music stopping, demons rising from their seats and fishing out weapons, and demonic glowing eyes set hard at their table.
Rolling her eyes, Nao jumps on top of the table. "IT'S COOL GUYS! THEY'RE ON OUR SIDE...SLAYERS. YES. TWO SLAYERS ARE ON OUR SIDE! WITH THEM WE JUST MIGHT BE ABLE TO DEFEAT THIS SON OF A BITCH MASTER!" Nao says giving into the moment, bending down and lifting one of the demon's beers and chugging it. Unfortunately, like a bad comedy show, the room is silent. "Ah, I tried," Nao says jumping back down and shrugging at the slayers and the bronze-haired boy.
Rising from his seat, Tate too jumps on the table, earning demonic grunts and boos. "Look, I know we've had our differences seeing as to how your kind kills and eats my kind," he begins, earning claps and whistles, for the wrong reasons, of course, and rubbing the back of his neck. "But, you could be the next humans when the other demons cross over. Think about guys' do you want to be the next...me?" he says acknowledging the room, earning loud no's. "Then let's do this! Let's kill this asshole, celebrate with some alcohol and then go back to hating each other! The good ol' times!"
Earning loud applauds, getting picked up demons, passed around the room and getting free drinks, Tate, saves the day.
As a result, the demons and the slayers put aside their differences and strategize. Agreeing that time is running short, the demons and the slayers compromise and come to a quick agreement as to not waste any further time. The demons will provide a frontal post, outside the school while the slayers stay inside the school and face the Master. If things get out of hand, and the portal does open, the demons and the freelancers that Sakomizu and Shizuru gathered will be ready outside with the demons. Drinking and shaking to it, the demons and the humans part ways, agreeing to send over their elected leaders for following future meetings.
The following morning, Natsuki awakes next to the tawny-haired girl who she had snuggled during the night. After their little rendezvous at the demon bar last night, Natsuki, after drinking a little too much because a certain ex-demon dared her and challenged her relentlessly, wound up spending the night at Shizuru's because the tawny-haired girl lived nearby.
Damn it! she says to herself as she carefully unwraps herself from the sleeping girl.
Sitting up, slowly making her way out of bed, Natsuki yanks on her jeans. "I should have accepted the damn pajamas she offered me," she mumbles, jumping and pulling on the sides of her much too snug jeans, despite the soreness coming from her left shoulder.
"I didn't take you for a morning person," Shizuru says, yawning.
"I'm- I'm not.," Natsuki stammers, now yanking on her shirt, sighing in relief as air penetrates into her skin.
"I beg to differ," the ruby-eyed girl says as she stretches her limbs.
"I'm sorry; it's these damn jeans," Natsuki explains, now pulling at the ends of her jeans and attempting to get the same result as she did with her shirt as flicks the ends of her jeans, begging for a breeze.
"You should have borrowed my clothes..." Shizuru says, sitting up on the bed.
"Don't you think I know that!?" Natsuki says, rolling her eyes, returning to yanking on her jeans.
"You're right; you're not a morning person," Shizuru retorts, rolling her eyes as well.
"Sorry," Natsuki says, halting her movements. "Can I use your restroom? And can I borrow shorts?" Natsuki asks, rubbing the back of her head. "I can't really stand jeans right now..."
"First drawer on the left," Shizuru says, yawning and rising from the bed. "Tea?"
"Umm, no...thanks," Natsuki says, picking out a pair of denim shorts from Shizuru's drawer and locking herself in the bathroom.
"I've asked Reito to train with us this morning," Shizuru says, through the other side of the door.
"So? We train with him every day," Natsuki says, furrowing her brows, undoing her jeans and taking them off.
"Today is different."
"How?" Natsuki asks, picking up, extending and examining the pair of denim shorts.
"He'll be werewolf Reito."
"Oh...That's not a bad idea. I mean, we need to train harder than ever, especially now," Natsuki says, putting on the pair of short cuttoff shorts and fixing her black t-shirt.
"Natsuki, I'm really going to fight him; no routinely exercises, just fighting while Mai seals you in so you won't jump in and save me."
"What!?" Natsuki says, reaching for the door knob, attempting to turn it, only to have it remain still. "Shizuru?"
"I'm changing," Shizuru explains from the other side of the door.
"Oh," Natsuki says, letting go of the door knob and pressing herself against the door. "Shizuru...why are you doing this? And why did you plan this without me?"
"Remember what happened last time?"
"Yea. I remember how useless I felt trying to protect you!" Natsuki shouts, walking away from the door and reaching for the faucet handle, turning it and washing her face.
"Natsuki..."
"Don't Natsuki me, Shizuru," Natsuki says, turning the faucet off and walking back towards the door, pausing. "Can I come out now?"
"Yes."
Opening the door, Natsuki searches for the other girl. "I thought you were changing?" Natsuki asks, looking curiously at a nightgown wearing Shizuru.
"I lied."
"That wasn't necessary!" she says, motioning to the door. "I wouldn't hurt you!" Natsuki says, rolling her eyes.
"I know. But you get all judgmental..." Shizuru says, walking over to the small kitchen in the small loft-like apartment with no bedrooms, just one room and a bathroom.
"Judgmental?! Really? Coming from the heiress who always has to have her way!" Natsuki says, crossing her arms and scoffing at the other slayer. "Please Shizuru! How many times did you judge me? Threaten me? All because you weren't sure if you could trust me!...No matter how many times I tried to prove myself to you!" Natsuki says, watching Shizuru's eyes darken as she grinds her teeth. "
Scoffing and looking coldly at Natsuki, Shizuru runs a hand through her hair. "You're doing it. Right. Now, Natsuki," the tawny-haired girl says, voice lowering. "You're being judgmental over something that I've apologized for and that I'm sensitive about."
"Because you're being unfair, Shizuru."
"Unfair? If I was unfair, you wouldn't be breathing right now."
"And if I was judgmental I wouldn't have given you a second chance!"
"And you just love bringing that up! Don't you Natsuki!?"
"NO! I just want you. And I want you to trust me," Natsuki says, eyes stinging a bit.
"I've told you everything. Maybe, it's you who doesn't trust me."
"I trust my life to you..."
"Maybe you shouldn't."
"Stop it, Shizuru. Don't do this now. Don't shut me out."
"Then don't push me!"
"I'm not doing anything! You're overreacting! You're acting like a psycho-"
"-path? Think what you want, Natsuki," Shizuru says, turning and walking away.
"Don't walk away from me," Natsuki says, sighing and sprinting to grab the other girl's hand. "It's a just a fight. Not the end of the world."
"A pretty big fight, Natsuki..." Shizuru says, eyeing their hands. "I want to be alone, Natsuki."
"I'm sorry, okay?" Natsuki begins, squeezing Shizuru's hand. "Don't push me away; I care about you."
Sighing, Shizuru, turns her gaze to the floor. "I'm tense," she says, shaking her head lightly. "And I'm nervous...especially now that we have a definite date as to when the hellmouth opens," she continues as she turns her red gaze on Natsuki. "I'm scared."
"I know. Me too. But don't do that; that scares me."
"Natsuki, I'd never hurt you," Shizuru says, softly.
"It's not that. I'm scared I'll lose you. Again."
"I'm working on it..."
"And I'm here for you if you need me. Even if it's just to talk."
"It's not just about me Natsuki...Boone almost killed us because we distract each other," Shizuru begins, back to analyzing their intertwined hands.
"Don't worry about him; I'll kill him," Natsuki says, but then stops to look at Shizuru who lets go of her hand. "You're too emotionally attached to him; he's my kill. I'm more level-headed when it comes to him," Natsuki explains, avoiding Shizuru's glare. "Shizuru, I'm sorry! But I'm right and you know it."
"He's mine."
"No."
"Natsuki! I asked you not to get in my way," Shizuru says through gritted teeth. "I knew this would happen," she says, turning away, rolling her eyes.
"Shizuru, don't start. Not again," Natsuki says approaching the pissed off tawny-haired slayer.
"You're pushing me again!"
"Fine. We'll leave it to faith. Whoever gets to him first, okay?" Natsuki says, reasoning with the other slayer, regretting the words as soon as they leave her mouth.
"Fine," Shizuru says, clicking her tongue, obviously pissed.
"So I'll see you later?" Natsuki asks the other girl who crosses her arms and shrugs. "Why can't you just tease to let me know your okay? That we're okay?" Natsuki asks, smiling, trying to cheer up the other slayer. "Come Shizuru...where's my brat?" she jokes, smiling.
Not replying, Shizuru continues gazing elsewhere.
"Natsuki is a temperamental puppy," Natsuki begins, smiling at Shizuru whose face cracks a little, fighting a smile. "And thinks she's badass with that big jeep and motorcycle of hers...And by god can Natsuki truly be an ice-princess! Cold isn't she?"
Turning to look at Natsuki, making a sour face, Shizuru rolls her eyes. "Yes. And really stupid sometimes."
"Go on."
"And annoying."
"Go on."
"And bratty."
"Go on."
"And reckless."
"I suppose."
"And..." Shizuru says, furrowing her brows, searching for a word.
"-And cute," Natsuki cuts in, making Shizuru fight down another forming smile.
"And cute..." Shizuru says, in a defeated tone, rolling her eyes, but smiling. "Natsuki is cute."
"And don't I know it!" Natsuki exclaims, smiling broadly at Shizuru.
"And conceded. Natsuki is very conceded..."
"Oh shut up Shizuru! You're so falling in love with me," Natsuki says, kissing the other girl's cheek quickly, and running off before Shizuru could say anything back-not that she'd say anything back since Shizuru froze and furrowed her brows upon hearing Natsuki's last remark.
Natsuki after leaving the other slayer's apartment, now parks at her driveway and makes her way inside her home.
Awaiting her, seated by the couch with Duran by her side, Saeko glares at her daughter and gestures her to sit next to her, patting the empty cushion space.
Complying and sheepishly looking down at the ground, Natsuki seats herself next to her mother.
"Out were you?" her mother asks in a calm, much too calm tone. "All night."
"No?" Natsuki says, fidgeting her fingers and pouting.
"Natsuki."
"Yea, mommy?" she asks, hopeful voice, smiling awkwardly at her mother.
"Who is it?" Saeko says, raising her voice.
"Who's who?" Natsuki asks, dumbfounded.
"THE BOY!" Saeko says, rising from her seat. "Don't think I haven't noticed your hormonal teen behavior, Natsuki! One day you're all smiles! Another day you're depressed! And another one you're all angry! So I ask again! WHO'S THE BOY!?"
"Mom," Natsuki begins, fidgeting with her fingers. "There is no boy..."
"DON'T LIE TO ME NATSUKI KUGA!"
"I swear there's no boy," Natsuki says, wincing, raising her arms in a defensive position expecting her mom's verbal rage or a smack in the head.
"DON'T PROTECT HIM, NATSUKI!" Saeko says, tapping her foot. "AM I GOING TO BE A GRAN-MAMA!?"
"WHAT!? OF COURSE NOT!" Natsuki exclaims, rising from her seat. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"
"Good," Saeko says, breathing in a calmer fashion. "Then what is it? Because I know something's going on with you."
"Mom...it's not a boy; I swear," Natsuki begins, backing away a little. "But there kind of is someone..." she mumbles before widening her eyes.
"WHO?"
"No one mommy," Natsuki says, gulping. "No boy."
"A MAN!" Saeko exclaims, clasping her hands on her cheeks. "NATSUKI! A MAN!? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?"
"EWWW MOM! IT'S NOT A MAN!"
"YOU'RE LYING NATSUKI! I KNOW YOU ARE!" her mother continues, stomping her foot hard against the floor. "IT'S THAT LIBRARIAN ISN'T?"
"OH GOD NO! IT'S SHIZURU MOM! SHIZURU!" Natsuki exclaims, and then covers her mouth, hiding half her face.
"Shizuru?" Saeko asks, scrunching her face. "What about her? What does she have to do with this?"
"No-no-nothing, Mom. I'm tired. So, I,uh, I'll shower and stuff," Natsuki says, wide-eyed, and getting ready to dart upstairs but is halted by her mother.
"Wait just a minute young lady!"
"Yea?" Natsuki says, turning and smiling awkwardly at her mother, blushing.
"Natsuki, who is this someone?" Saeko asks, looking sternly at her daughter.
"It's-it's...wh-why-why mom...do you have a someone?" Natsuki counters, internally praying that it works.
"Don't turn this around young lady! This is about you and your mystery person!"
"There-there's no mystery, mom. I'm-I'm-ga-you know what? There is a man. Jesus." Natsuki says, blessing herself and smiling quite awkwardly at her mother again.
Shaking her head, and tapping her foot, Saeko pushes the bridge of her glasses. "Jesus? Really Natsuki? How dumb do you think I am?" Saeko says, still shaking her head, scrutinizing Natsuki. "I'll just ask one of your friends about this. Shizuru. You have been hanging out with her recently. OR I could just text Mai..."
"NO! NO TEXTING! AND, PLEASE, NO SHIZURU! GOD NO SHIZURU! I'LL NEVER HEAR THE END OF THIS FROM THAT GIRL WHO JUST LOVES TEASING ME!"
"Oh my god! Natsuki! You're a vegetarian?!" Saeko says, taking off her rimmed glasses and resting her hand on her hips.
"Vegetarian?" Natsuki asks, confused.
"A lesbian, dear. An animal-lovin' vegetarian," Saeko explains, scoffing, still astonished. "Wow..."
"Wait? You're not mad?" Natsuki asks, curious emerald eyes gazing on other emerald eyes.
"I'm an art dealer, honey..."Saeko explains, rolling her eyes. "I love the gays!"
"Mom..."
"I'm just saying! I mean, how exciting to have a lesbian teenage daughter. The guys and gals at work will so envy me. Hey! I could sell more art now that I have this new-found connection with the gays!"
"Mom..."
"And my hat goes off to you sweetie. Shizuru is a looker! She's gorgeous!"
"MOM!"
"I'm just happy, Natsuki. At least now I don't have to worry that you'll get pregnant..."
"MOM!"
"Oh don't be so sensitive, honey. You need to be a tougher cookie if you want to hold on to Shizuru. Seriously, puddin', you're going to have a lot of competition to keep that girl."
"I can handle it," Natsuki says, scoffing and crossing her arms.
"That's my girl! And that's my girl keeping her girl!" Saeko says, playfully hitting Natsuki's shoulder.
"I'm gonna go shower now."
"You do that honey and invite Shizuru over more often. I want to get to know her and you and your relationship."
"Yea...I'll do that..." Natsuki says, nodding her head and smiling nervously. NO WAY IN HELL I'M DOING THAT! THEY'RE BOTH CRAZY...
"Oh! This is so exciting," Saeko says, making Natsuki smile as she makes her way upstairs. "I need to get me some pamphlets from the clinic to understand this lesbian ordeal better..."
Stopping, horror-stricken, cringing, Natsuki foreshadows a very uncomfortable 'birds and the bees' talk with her mother. Again. And with Shizuru who smiles and teases her along with Saeko. God kill me now!