I don't own these characters; Sunrise does.
14: The Art of War
"I swear, those five are just overgrown children when they get together," Nadia commented as she and Shizuru watched the Kruger siblings charging off into the woods on their dirt bikes. They knew the crew would come back hooping, hollering, hitting each other, and covered in mud. Still, they could not help smiling as they watched the siblings leave.
"It's cute," Shizuru remarked, holding her arms and resting her palms on her elbows. They stood on a veranda close to the woods.
"Yes, it is," Nadia concurred with a smile that made her eyes sparkle behind her glasses. "I hope you bring Natsuki out here more often, so she can play with her brothers. They hate that she stays away for so long. They're only like this, like happy kids, when it's all of them together and they all love being together."
Shizuru nodded. "Sometimes, she has valid excuses when she puts off her visits. Running Garderobe is not an easy job and Natsuki takes her work very seriously… although it's hard to tell that she takes anything seriously watching her with her brothers."
"I tell you, they're like a bunch of ten-year-old boys when you get a few of them together," Nadia quipped with a good-natured smile.
"Yes, but now they leave us with a few hours with no one to fuss over," Shizuru commented with an exaggerated sigh, moving on hand to her cheek.
A light laugh escaped Nadia. "Yes, this is true. But, we can take the time to get to know each other better. You can tell me stories of Natsuki at school and together we can make fun of her and Shuichi when they return."
Shizuru could not help smiling. "I like the way you think."
The pair went to a lounge set in the garden. They sat down at a circular table in a portion of the garden that allowed them a view of the forest. They stared into the woods for a moment, trying to catch glimpses of their lovers. The Kruger siblings were long gone, though.
Just as Nadia was about to ask all sorts of questions about Natsuki in school, the duo's time was interrupted. Saeko strolled over and made herself comfortable at the table. Nadia rolled her eyes while Shizuru put on her best smile. Something inside of the Otome still wanted Natsuki's parents to like her.
"Slumming it?" Nadia remarked, speaking to the Queen.
Saeko did not pay the snide comment any mind. "It's a lovely day. I suspect my roguish children decided to spend it playing in the mud. I don't know where they get such behavior. Their father certainly was never like that."
"The perfect gentleman?" Shizuru guessed, which got Nadia to roll her eyes a second time.
"He was. I know our sons can be the same. I've seen them, after all," Saeko commented.
"Natsuki, too," Nadia chimed in, knowing that line would rub the monarch the wrong way. Shizuru could not help chuckling just a bit since she often teased Natsuki about being "the perfect gentleman."
Saeko frowned deeply and cut her daughter-in-law a tight glare. "Natsuki-chan just doesn't know any better. Don't you agree, Shizuru?"
"I agree that Natsuki is the perfect gentleman," Shizuru replied. She was well aware that her beloved did not mind being described in such terms, as long as they were said with affection behind them.
The frown on Saeko's face deepened and hardened her eyes. "I don't know what you and Natsuki think you're playing at, but it isn't going to work. Natsuki-chan is going to get married and have a family."
"Natsuki-chan and I are more than capable of getting married and having a family," Shizuru pointed out pleasantly. She had a feeling she knew what the Queen was talking about, but she never played her whole hand until it was necessary.
"Shizuru-san, I have to wonder how your parents would feel if they could see you now," the Queen commented.
"My parents are quite pleased. When I called them to inform them about the engagement, my mother actually screamed with joy. This is a woman who doesn't usually show excitement, much like Natsuki-chan. My father teased poor Natsuki for over an hour about how it was about time that she made an honest woman out of me and then she had to endure my sister doing the same," Shizuru stated.
"How long have you and Natsuki…" Saeko could not even finish that sentence. She spoke through gritted teeth while her face seemed so tense the younger women waited for her face to split open.
"Natsuki and I have been together for over ten years," Shizuru answered without a problem.
Seako frowned. Ten years… pretty much the entire time Natsuki had been away from home. She had known back then it was a horrible idea to send Natsuki away to that foreign school, but Natsuki had bugged Ryo about going to a school like her brothers. Ryo bent as much as he could and sent Natsuki away to Garderobe, not knowing it would change Natsuki's life forever. She had objected the whole time, trying her best to convince her husband it would be better to send Natsuki to a private school right in Saxas. This has been the one time Natsuki had sort of been on her side, but Ryo had final say.
"If I had to wait more than ten years for Shuichi to propose, I think I would have run him over with my car, more than once," Nadia remarked with a laugh.
"Well, you do have to remember that half of that we were teenagers and marriage really was not on our minds. Besides, Otome usually don't get married until we retire," Shizuru explained. She felt it necessary to defend her beloved.
"How many Otome marry each other?" Saeko chimed in, sounding quite bitter and snappy.
Shizuru smiled a bit. "I'm not sure on the stats, but I could call it in. I'm sure someone would be happy to dig up that information for you." It would seem she forgot she wanted Natsuki's parents to like her.
"And you say your parents are all right with this? They have no desire for grandchildren? They have no problem with you making a mockery of them?" Saeko demanded, barely opening her mouth to speak now. She spoke through her teeth now because she was unable to loosen her face enough to open her mouth.
"Not everywhere in the world thinks it's a mockery to be in love and show it," Nadia remarked, earning a glare from the Queen.
"Is that what you call it when you marry above your station just for a young man's money and prestige?" Saeko snapped.
"You think I put up with Shuichi for money and prestige? I can only wonder why you married your husband," Nadia returned in quite the heated tone. Like hell she would sit there and let anyone, especially her husband's mother, make light of her relationship!
Saeko hit the table with her palm before pointing a menacing figure at Nadia. "Don't you dare take that tone with me. I can easily have you removed from this place."
"You think I care? I only came to see Natsuki and the boys. You throw me out and so goes Shuichi, and I'm willing to bet his brothers aren't likely to stick around after that, no matter how much their proper wives whine. As for Natsuki, I will simply see her at her wedding, which there will be and I am willing to bet she will be there waiting for Shizuru to walk down the aisle," Nadia hissed.
"Natsuki will marry a proper gentleman, just like her brothers married proper ladies. Shuichi merely made a miscalculation that I am sure he will correct soon enough," the Queen declared.
Shizuru only watched the two go back and forth. She wondered if she would suffer the same fate as Nadia. Maybe there was no hope of Natsuki's parents liking her. Nadia was disliked just because of rank, or lack there of. Shizuru was of a much lower ranking than the Krugers, but also a woman, so it would seem she had more things working against her than Nadia did. Her usual charm was not a saving grace at the moment either.
"You need to face facts that Saxas is behind the rest of the world in more ways than one," Nadia stated, speaking to the Queen.
A snarl tugged at Saeko's lip. It was one thing to argue over Shuichi and Natsuki, but it was another thing to bring the country into it. Now, not only was Nadia trying to make it seem like the two Krugers had made the right decisions, but their parents were looking at it as wrong because the country was backwards. It was too much.
"I want you out of here, now," Saeko commanded.
Nadia rolled her eyes. "Tell my husband I will be waiting for him at the dock." She stood up and walked off as if she did not care that she had just been thrown out.
"Are you sure it is wise to chase off Shuichi and Nadia?" Shizuru asked, sounding as if she was speaking to the air. It seemed to her getting rid of one sibling would mean getting rid of them all and Saeko did seem to like having her children around, even if she did not agree with anything they did.
Saeko did not respond. She took a moment to calm herself, reminding herself that she should not let a commoner like Nadia get to her. She did not need to worry about Nadia right now anyway. Her focus was supposed to be on Shizuru and Natsuki, making sure that they did the right thing.
"Shizuru-san, you seem like a perfectly reasonable and proper lady, so I do not understand why you are going along with Natsuki's scheme to get out of marriage. If you seriously think she will marry you, you are mistaken," Saeko stated rather confidently, like she could stop Natsuki.
Shizuru smiled a bit, looking quite cocky. "You cannot take my Natsuki from me any more than you would be able to take Shuichi from Nadia. I am glad you finally understand that Natsuki and I are more than friends, but this is not something you can stop." The dark look swirling in crimson eyes spoke even more than those words ever could.
Shizuru would not let anyone stand in the way of her marrying her Natsuki. She had waited years for the shy princess to propose and she would not let anyone take that away from her. She was going to spend her entire life with Natsuki, no matter what.
Saeko's insides quivered slightly from the look in Shizuru's eyes, but settled herself easily. She regarded the Otome with cold jade eyes. "We'll see how long this little rebellion lasts," the Queen declared with a haughty aura around her.
"Rebellion?" Shizuru echoed.
"That's all you are, another way for Natsuki to rebel against any and all tradition. She fights against the fact that she must act like a lady and you are only another notch in that rebellion, but it will not last. Her rebelling always falls short. She isn't so silly to try marrying you. You'll see," Saeko said and then she stood up to walk away.
Shizuru frowned and her stomach trembled just a little. She was actually left more intimidated by the encounter than the Queen, she realized. She could not remember the last time someone was able to so easily shake off the look from her like Saeko did. She was not sure the last time someone had been able to mess with her mind in such a way, but she felt doubt barraging her brain, wondering if Saeko was correct. She tried shaking it away, dismissing it as ridiculous, but it was like a bomb in her mind and it certainly exploded before the Queen disappeared into the palace.
Deep, rust-colored eyes focused on the table beneath her. Am I just some form of rebellion for Natsuki? Sometimes, she did not know what to make of Natsuki. Sometimes, she even wondered why Natsuki was with her. Yes, she would quickly remind herself that Natsuki loved her, but then her mind would wander to another question: why? Why did Natsuki love her?
Natsuki had never shown any inclination for liking women when she first showed up to Garderobe. Well, Natsuki never really showed any inclination for liking anyone, friendly or otherwise. Eventually, Mai was able to worm her way into Natsuki's heart, but that was a friendship, maybe even a bond of sisters that went beyond even what Otome shared with each other. So, every so often, Shizuru wondered if it was ridiculous to think Natsuki could feel such deep emotions for her. Natsuki was so cut off from everyone that Shizuru had to wonder if she had managed to break through all of the barriers Natsuki put up.
"Hey, Shizuru, what you're doing out here?" Natsuki asked, breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Natsuki?" Shizuru blinked hard and looked up to see her love gazing down on her.
"Who else would it be? After all, no two Krugers look alike," Natsuki joked with a grin. People tended to have a hard time believing any of the siblings were related to each other, until they started watching behaviors.
Shizuru smiled. "Indeed they don't. Not that it matters since Nat-kun is the only one for me."
"Shizuru!" Natsuki whined and blushed deeply. There was something about Shizuru using a nickname that only her brothers used that was beyond embarrassing. But, then again, just about everything Shizuru did in regards to her with people around was embarrassing for her. It always felt like people were seeing into their little private world.
Shizuru did not say anything. She climbed to her feet and embraced Natsuki tightly. The hug was returned and it was through that touch Shizuru was able to remind herself that Natsuki wanted her, Natsuki chose her, Natsuki loved her. This is my Natsuki as much as I am her Shizuru.
"Shizuru, is something wrong?" Natsuki held Shizuru tightly, feeling that her love needed it. She could just sense something off.
"Why do you ask?" Shizuru countered, not letting go.
"I thought Nadia was going to spend the day with you while we were out in the woods, but you're out here by yourself and Nadia's nowhere to be found. Did something happen? I know you two were getting along really well, so I don't think she said something to upset you."
"How do you know I'm upset?" Shizuru asked, trying her best to sound normal, but her voice came out as a whisper. Her love knew her well, she reminded herself. Surely Natsuki would not take the time to get to know me so well just to rebel against the traditions of her land, she silently assured herself.
Natsuki smiled and caressed Shizuru's cheek. "I know you, love. Now, what happened?"
"Let's not talk about it out here."
Natsuki nodded and led Shizuru into the palace. They marched through the halls and retreated to Natsuki's bedchamber. They went to the couch that Natsuki had long ago forgotten was in the room and she sat down on the cushions while Shizuru sat down on her. Shizuru wasted no time curling into her lover's solid form.
Natsuki gently rubbed Shizuru's back. "You're going to tell me what's wrong?"
"I was just being silly, letting something I know isn't true get to me," Shizuru answered.
"Tell me," the request was just as quiet and tender as the first question. She now knew her lover was not as confident as she often let the world see and whatever was weighing on Shizuru, she wanted to make it disappear.
"Why does Natsuki love me?" Shizuru inquired in a low, almost scared voice.
Natsuki tensed from the question and the seriousness behind it. It hit her over the head like a baseball bat. She swayed slightly and Shizuru had to look up at her after a few seconds.
"Are you all right?" Shizuru begged.
"I'm fine, but why are you asking such crazy questions? You're not thinking about backing out of marrying me, are you?" Natsuki asked in a shaky tone. Emerald eyes watered and her lips actually trembled.
"No, of course not!" Shizuru grabbed Natsuki's hands and held them with both of hers. "It is my dream to marry Natsuki. I'm sorry. I was just wondering why you picked me. Is it a way to get back at your parents for something?"
Natsuki blinked hard. "What would make you say that?" I'm supposed to be the dense one, so what's making Shizuru ask such ridiculous questions? Before the silence was broken with a response, Natsuki realized something and her eyes narrowed. "What did my mother say to you?" she demanded. Only her mother could do something like this, plant a seed so easily and have it wreck havoc so quickly.
Shizuru glanced away, took a breath, and then did her best to respond. "…She might have implied our relationship was just another form of your rebellious nature…" she admitted with a slight shrug.
Frowning, Natsuki's brow wrinkled. "And what the hell is making you take any of her nonsense seriously?"
"Well, you've never really been with anyone except me. What makes you so sure I am the one? How do you know you're not attracted to men like your mother insists? How do you know this is what you want?" Shizuru inquired, clutching onto Natsuki, needing assurance she was the one.
Natsuki snorted. "You sound like my parents now. I know what I want because I know myself. I know I'm not attracted to men because when I look at them, I don't feel what I feel for you. I know you're the one because I know I can't live without you, I can't function at all without you, and I know you know how I know that one."
Shizuru was silent. She was aware her lover referred to a couple of months ago when they almost lost each other. She cuddled more into her beloved, as if the movement itself was an apology.
"I'm being silly, aren't I?" Shizuru asked.
"Not at all. I know my parents can be overwhelming and my mother opens her mouth a lot thinking she knows me and what I want, but she doesn't know a damn thing. She did this on purpose, too. She's trying to get rid of you, thinking it's best for me. You shouldn't listen to her. I love you and I'm not letting you go, so you're marrying me and that's that," Natsuki declared with a grin. "You're stuck with me."
Shizuru smiled and sat up for a deep kiss. Natsuki moaned on contact and Shizuru just went for more. By the time she pulled away, Natsuki had a dazed look on her face. This got another smile out of Shizuru.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Shizuru said.
Relationship and egos thoroughly mended, the couple spent sometime just snuggled up on the sofa. Ran and Suzume fetched them for dinner; the pair barged in as always. They yelped when they saw the couple saddled up on the couch.
"Sorry, ouji-sama!" the two servants apologized. They were not going to get used to the fact that Natsuki might be doing something other than sleeping or playing video games in her room.
"It's okay," Natsuki assured them, even though she figured she might have to start locking her door. But, then again, she knew at least one of her servants had the key. Locking the door might at least signal that they should knock.
"We were just coming to get you for dinner, ouji-sama," Suzume reported.
"Thanks," Natsuki said and then she turned her attention to Shizuru, who pretended to be asleep. Natsuki poked her lover in the side. "I'm not carrying you to the table, so you might as well stop acting like you're sleeping right now."
"Please," Shizuru begged in a soft, sexy voice that quite easily got a blush from not just her lover, but also the servant girls.
Natsuki decided not to chance anything more outrageous than that outburst, especially when she saw how Ran and Suzume reacted to the tone. Natsuki rose to her feet, easily holding Shizuru up with her. The servants marveled over the princess' strength and Shizuru would not have been surprised to see hearts in their eyes.
"Mine," Shizuru reminded the pair while wrapping her arms around her lover's neck.
Natsuki grinned and felt a pride swell into her, causing her to puff out her chest. She carried Shizuru bridal-style all the way to the dinner table. Their entrance turned heads and raised eyebrows. Her brothers laughed a little as Natsuki put Shizuru down in a chair and then sat down herself.
"Hey, where's Shuichi-onii-sama?" Natsuki inquired as she noticed two people missing from the table.
"He's dining in his room tonight," Ryo answered.
Natsuki and her brothers were silent, but they eyed their mother for a second. Saeko was the only one who could rattle Shuichi or Nadia enough to keep them from the table. Seako did not acknowledge the stares, especially since her work was only halfway done.
"Shuichi-onii-sama isn't going to leave, is he?" Natsuki asked, sounding much like a scared child. She was having such a good time with her brothers, despite how her parents were acting, and she did not want that good time ruined.
"We don't know," Hiroshi admitted with a disheartened shrug.
"Shuichi can handle himself. There are other topics to be discussed," Saeko said suddenly.
"Like what?" Natsuki huffed, glaring at her mother like never before. It was like she was trying to will the woman that she looked so much like to burst into the hottest flames Hell had to offer. Her nerves were raw now because of what her mother had done to Shizuru's mind and now Shuichi and Nadia were absent from the table. The Queen seemed to be waging war and winning, but Natsuki vowed it would stop soon. I don't lose.
"Tomorrow we are going to have a ball," Saeko informed her daughter.
Natsuki scoffed. "Another party," she spat with disgust.
"Yes, another party that you will attend," Saeko commanded in a stone-cold tone that was supposed to leave no room for argument. Her eyes dared Natsuki to disobey.
Natsuki craned an eyebrow at the order. She was about to counter, but her mind told her that her mother was onto the next battle. Natsuki decided she would assess the situation before working out a way to fight this battle and then the war because she was damn sure she would win the war.
"Sure, I would love nothing more than to attend your ball," Natsuki told her mother with a smile. This earned her all sorts of bizarre looks, even from her own lover and brothers. They had to think she lost her mind.
"You would?" Ryo asked with an arched eyebrow. He could not recall their daughter going to anything proper without putting up a fight.
"I would. I'm sure Shizuru and I will have a great time. It will give Shizuru more people to show her ring off to," Natsuki replied. She watched her mother bristle ever so slightly. Her mother finally knew and did not approve one little bit, Natsuki realized. So, she concluded the sudden ball she was ordered to attend had something to do with her mother's disapproval of her relationship.
"I doubt you will have time for such an endeavor," her mother stated.
"We'll see." The challenge was set.
-8-8-8-8-
"Natsuki, are you sure you want to go to this ball?" Shizuru asked after they returned to Natsuki's bedroom. She sat on the bed in her sleepwear, which was a simple purple teddy that she did not plan to wear for long.
"I don't really have a choice, but I need to check this out anyway. My parents are up to something," Natsuki stated. She was in her closet, searching for the perfect "uniform" for her "battle" tomorrow.
"Ara, ara, what do you think they are up to?" Shizuru inquired, even though she could guess. Her appeal seemed to have worn off to Saeko and it was probably time for her to go, like Saeko attempted to do with Nadia. The ball was an attempt to attach a man to her love.
"Hell if I know. You have to remember, I'm the dense one," Natsuki remarked with a laugh.
"Only on certain matters," Shizuru commented. "Like knowing when to get out of the closet and come keep me warm."
Getting the not-so-subtle hint, Natsuki walked out of the closet, trying not to laugh at the implications of where she was exiting. Her jaw dropped when she saw what Shizuru had on. Shizuru chuckled a bit, but was very pleased with the reaction, especially since Natsuki had seen this particular piece before.
"Standing there looking is still somewhat dense," Shizuru teased.
"Is that the teddy I always say looks so dull?" Natsuki asked as she stepped closer to the bed.
Shizuru nodded and beckoned her lover with a crock of her finger. Natsuki moved with haste and crawled on the bed to Shizuru. She planted a passionate kiss to Shizuru's waiting, wanting lips and made a vow.
"No one is ever going to take you from me, especially not my parents. You are mine, Shizuru. You are the one for me, the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, the one I want to build a life with. Nothing will ever change that," Natsuki stated in a strong, but low tone.
Tears gathered in Shizuru's eyes. "Natsuki is becoming quite the romantic," she teased as those same tears glided down her face.
"I'm trying. I don't want to lose you."
"You won't," Shizuru promised. She leaned in for another kiss, full of love and desire, but not sexual desire. The desire of making a life with Natsuki, the desire to be with Natsuki for the rest of their lives, and the desire to make it through any and everything that Natsuki's parents throw at them.
-8-8-8-8-
Natsuki ducked into the closet when she heard her bedroom door open. She poked her head out of the wardrobe and saw her two trusty servants standing in the front of the room. She smiled until she noticed what Ran held. Her face immediately shifted in a frightened and perplexed expression.
"What the hell is that?" Natsuki demanded, pointing a shaking finger at the abomination in Ran's hands.
"This is the dress your mother wishes for you to wear," Suzume answered while Ran looked ready to cry, undoubtedly because Natsuki yelled.
Natsuki scoffed. "Fat chance. Ran, just throw it on the bed and you won't have to lie to my mother that you gave it to me."
"We're supposed to watch you put it on," Ran mumbled, glancing away for a moment.
Natsuki nodded. "My mother tries to think of everything. Fine, you guys know how shy I am. I'll put it on in the closet."
The servants did not object. They knew the princess was trying to make things easy for them when they had to face her mother after Natsuki disobeyed her. Natsuki took the dress and stepped into the closet. Moments after Natsuki disappeared in there, Shizuru stepped out of the bathroom, full dressed and ready to go.
"Ara, ara, where is Natsuki? She didn't abandon me, did she?" Shizuru pretended to ponder where her lover might have gone.
"Of course not!" Suzume chimed in immediately.
"Ouji-sama would never do such a thing!" Ran declared. Both servants puffed out their chests, proud to serve someone as honest and honorable as Natsuki.
"She's joking," Natsuki called out to her overprotective attendants.
"OH!" the pair said with understanding. They then bowed in apology to Shizuru, who waved them off.
Shizuru was about to say something to them, but Natsuki emerged from the closet. The lovers locked eyes, and they could not believe what they were seeing. Upon sight, Natsuki knew she would have the best looking woman at the ball on her arm. Shizuru had her hair pinned up and decorated with pearls. The pearls matched the dress she wore, which was sleeveless and clinging to Shizuru's ample cleavage to remain up. A silky scarf with some violet mixed into the cream covered her shoulders. Elegant did not do her justice.
"Wow," Natsuki managed to mumble. She could not even remember enough words to suggest skipping the party.
Shizuru smiled. "My sentiments exactly," she remarked as she took in Natsuki, who was dressed in the gown her mother wanted her to wear. Shizuru could not help chuckling a bit.
"Don't laugh! I'm not wearing this," Natsuki huffed. "My mother wanted Ran and Suzume to see me put it on. They've seen it and now I'm changing," she declared, marching back into the closet to find her own clothes.
"I have a hard time getting Natsuki to wear dresses on occasion. It's nice to see that she's difficult with everyone when it comes to that," Shizuru commented with a light-hearted smile.
"You can get ouji-sama into a dress?" Suzume asked in awe. Ran just looked completely and utterly amazed by that news.
Shizuru nodded and smiled. It was not very difficult for her to get Natsuki in a dress, but she knew her love preferred pants. Natsuki moved better in pants and, of course, pants made it much easier to ride a motorcycle. Besides, Natsuki had a few embarrassing moments involving dresses that made her weary of the clothing.
Shizuru's thoughts were disturbed as Natsuki emerged from the closet again, this time dressed in a cream-colored suit with a very elaborate light blue-and-gold vest over her shirt. The suit jacket was long, close to the length of the jacket Natsuki wore as her principal's uniform. Her shoes were heeled, though low, and had golden buckles on them. She was dressed quite like the aristocrat, but it fit her.
"Shall we?" Natsuki proposed while offering Shizuru her elbow. Shizuru attached herself to the offered limb and they walked off to go to the ball. Natsuki was determined to deny her mother any more victories.
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: Natsuki thinks she's gained the upper hand, but Saeko shows she still has some fight left in her. Natsuki isn't allowed to leave the ball unless she's with a man, so what's the princess to do?