Author's Note: -sweatdrops- I wasn't that late this time was I? xD Thank you Tee for betaing this chapter xD and everyone who encouraged me on the last chapter x3

mcr rox: hey, thanks for sharing your opinion xD and reviewing hope you like this chapter.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Nyx, Sayuri, Himerus, Selene, Ren and Yuuto.

Chapter 14: Closure

Natsuki sighed while staring at Shizuru, who finally stopped shaking and instead fell to slumber. Occasional the Master Vampire will soothe her beloved by stroking her dark blonde locks when the Hime whimpered during her sleep.

"It's ok, love. Everything's going to be ok," Natsuki whispered gently as she tightened her grip on the other woman. "I will always be here for you."

Together in the darkness, one on her knees while the other lay almost entirely on top of the first, as the vampire waited for the inevitable awake of her Hime. The raven haired had many questions but she feared the state at which her witch might be when she woke up and it was enough to halt her train of thoughts. Nevertheless, Natsuki wished she knew more about the relationship between Himerus and her beloved. Another whimper and it was enough to stop the Master Vampire's further questioning of Shizuru's past.

"Natsu…ki?" the Hime mumbled weakly, her eyes half open and a frown slowly gracing her face.

"Shizuru…" Natsuki let an unnecessary breath out, relieved somehow at the waking figure.

The Master Vampire began caressing the chestnut locks again and was reward by lovely purrs and soft moans from her companion. It took a few minutes before Shizuru sighed reluctantly, knowing the unavoidable was to happen now.

"It's ok if you don't," the raven haired repositioned them so Shizuru was giving her back. She slipped her arms protectively around her Hime while resting her head on top of the other's shoulder. "You don't have to tell me, I can feel how uncomfortable you are with it."

"But…"

"Shush…let's just relax, alright?"

Shizuru sighed at the suggestion but relaxed, nonetheless, her scarlet eyes reflected her guilty feelings at not being able to tell her past to her beloved. "I'm sorry," she apologized sensing that it was the only right thing she could do at the moment.

"I forgive you now and every time."

"Even if I do something really nasty?"

"No matter what."

Shizuru finally allowed herself to laugh at the playful determination of the Master Vampire yet she couldn't help but feel loved. The witch took one of her companion's hands and began stroking it gently. A giggle escaped her lips when the vampire began snuggling on her neck.

"I love you, Shizuru." Natsuki blurted out all of the sudden, shocking both of them. However the Master Vampire felt a strange but joyful sensation on her and continued. "You are the most wonderful woman I have ever met. I have been enthralled by your eyes."

One drop.

Another drop.

Shizuru's tears keep falling, slightly soaking the vampire's hand but the witch refused the help when her companion felt the salty drops of liquid. Instead, the chestnut haired took both of her beloved hands and brought them to her chest. A blush began adorning Natsuki's face when she felt the constant rapid beats of her witch's heart.

"I love you too, Natsuki." Shizuru confessed and couldn't express how rightful it felt to say those words. "I love you very much."

Steadily Shizuru turned her head to stare at the teary eyes of her beloved. The two offered a small smile at each other for their silliness that they couldn't help. Scarlet eyes' gazed soon fell upon the pale red lips of her vampire. Natsuki chuckled when she notice where her companion's eyes were. She tilted her head a bit and slowly leaned to meet her witch's sweet lips. As soon as Shizuru felt cold lips upon her, she couldn't help but turn her body a little more to passionately kiss Natsuki.

Unknown by them two pair of eyes stared at the intimate moment and at the same time, darkness turned into a brighter scenario as Natsuki and Shizuru were back to the dungeons.

"The Elders didn't interfere this time." Sayuri pointed out quietly from her spot.

"I believe, they aren't that foolish to commit the same mistake twice," Nyx suggested and began walking away from the pair with her lover following her. "They plan on being patient this time, hopeful this time peace will be achieved."

"You sound so hopeful about it."

"I am still a human, a dead one but human nonetheless," Nyx glanced at the pair one more time before whispering. "And we can't help but be helplessly hopeful."

"I see."

Nao marched around the castle between haste and deliberate pace. She couldn't help it, after the meeting with her Sire it was expected for her thoughts to turn into a certain someone. The young vampire wondered what fate will wait to Shiho tomorrow night with the announcement of the final battle. She notice how many were preoccupied with such battle plans thought a half was relieved, the defeat of Himerus meant a more steady peace between vampires. It also signaled a possible peace treaty with the Witch society, still that was for later. Abruptly the redhead stopped and blinked at her surroundings, her jade eyes were soon drawn toward the sky. Star gazing was never a pleasantry for Nao, in the contrary, if she could she will had been out of her Sire's castle and tried seduce a hopeless girl to have her way with her.

"Yeah, right" the redhead vampire scolded at herself, "like I could do such thing."

Nao sighed knowing that it was inevitable for her thoughts will keep turning to a certain mad vampire's child. She wished to have been faster, been wiser and much more but it was the past. She had failed to Shiho and now they were mortal enemies because of their Sire's connection.

"Sounds like a Romeo-Juliet thing…" she muttered and lay on the grass with roses and other types of plants surrounding her. Her eyes still on the sky but with her mind on the cherry haired vampire.

"Ah, I knew you were here Nao-chan." A familiar playful voice said. Nao hardly blinked when she felt Midori sit next to her and give her one of those childish smiles of hers. "Is Nao-chan enjoying herself?"

"I suppose."

"Heh, coming alone to Sire's tower. You sure are acting strange these days."

The redhead vampire merely blinked before blurting out. "What is love?"

"Eh?" Midori chuckled at the obviously embarrassed vampire after getting over her shock of the sudden question. "Love is a lot of things, Nao."

"I know…it just…"

"It is about Huit-san?"

Nao sighed again and looked away from the sky and her companion. She put a hand on her face as her other gripped the grass tightly. "I don't know what to do, Midori." Suddenly she sat up and gazed at ground. "I have always loved her but I didn't want to turn her. Then…then that happened and I thought I had lost her…"

"But you found her."

"As that mad vampire's child," The redhead vampire glared at the Hime. "I don't know what's worst having her as a vampire or hoping she had died to be spared of the fate she will get during this battle."

"Do you believe Nat-chan is that cruel?" the older redhead pointed out, "she didn't scold your or anything after your meeting with Huit-san did she?"

"I…"

"Nat-chan trusts you to do the right thing."

"But what I want…"

"Foolish, Nao-chan." Midori smiled sympathetically at the redhead, "you just have to follow your heart. I believe Huit-san will definitely do the same for you. So don't worry."

"Thank you, Midori."

"A big battle is ahead." Shizuru muttered quietly with eyes closed.

Natsuki blinked a few times before staring at her lap where her Hime's head lay quite comfortable. She pondered the prospect of the battle ahead however all she could think of was how well it felt to have Shizuru's head snuggling on her lap. Slowly, the Master Vampire leaned toward her beloved and gave her a soft kiss. Her witch merely chuckled wrapped her arms around Natsuki's neck prolonging the kiss much more.

"Temptation will attack me if we keep this up, love." Natsuki disengaged her beloved's arm and smiled apologetically when she saw the pout of her companion. "We are at my bedroom, alone. Rings you any bell?"

"You are no fun," the chestnut haired sighed but understood the pressure of her vampire. "But I understand, so don't worry."

"That's good."

The Master Vampire then decided to lie on her back, dragging Shizuru along. Repositioning them a little and the couple found themselves faces to face with legs intertwined and arms around waist as well as neck. Natsuki chuckled but never stopped their eternal gazing at each other.

"I love you, my vampire." Shizuru whispered quietly, snuggling closer to the raven haired. Taking one more deep breath, she continued before Natsuki could reply. "I love you very much even though…even though I am not entirely human…I"

Natsuki shook her head gently and caressed the blonde locks of her partner. "You are wrong Shizuru. You are the most beautiful and kind human I have ever met. No matter your origin, no matter what that mad vampire says. You are no thing, no monster." The Master Vampire gave her a pleasant smile. "You are, my Shizuru."

A quiet sob was what the witch could get out, overwhelmed by her emotions. She muttered various 'thank you' in between and snuggled closer to the vampire. Natsuki hoped this will help her beloved overcome her past, it was after all, the only thing she thought she could do to better the things.

"No matter what the outcome is, I will definitely protect you Shizuru. Definitely, I will be by your side for always." Natsuki thought with determination as her Hime's sob lessen.

Omake:

Natsuki: I am soooo cheesy!

Shizuru: but I love my mighty vampire like that –hugs Natsuki-

Natsuki: -blush- -grumbles- alright…

Nao and Rainee-chan: whipped!

Ah…it been too long if I try to remember when I started this fic and it feel so GOOD to be able to finish it! xD yes, the next chapter will be an epilogue and erm sorry for those who wanted more but right now I want to concentrate on my most active fics –shrug-

Review if you wish x3 I am not forcing any of you…yet –evil laugh- and yeah you can all complain about how short it is xD