Monster

by ShayP

Shiznat/AU Natsuki Kuga is running away from an abusive home. She finds herself at Garderobe Military Academy where she meets her teacher, Shizuru, her rival, Tomoe, and her friend, Nao. She can only pray her past doesn't come back to haunt her.

21. Payback

Chapter 21: Payback

Mm. Yeah. Not much to say. Thanks again for all the reviews…I can't believe we hit 900+ guys…I wish I could do something for you guys to celebrate this fact but—oh wait. I can.

Here's a new chapter for you ;)

I squished 2 days into this chapter sooo yeah.

In case anyone was wondering, I'm feeling much better. Sorry that I seemed to have scared people. I didn't mean to haha ^^;

Alright. To the chapter!

Enjoy.

---

"In revenge and in love, woman is more barbarous than man."-Friedrich Nietzsche

"Jealousy is a tiger that tears not only its prey but also its own raging heart."-Unknown

---

Jin yawned as she walked up to the front of the Academics building. She wasn't sure why exactly she got this idea now. She should've done this forever ago. Well, whatever. It was rather early in the morning and no one was around, she could get the stuff now and have it ready by tomorrow.

The brigadier general opened the heavy front doors of the Academics building and strode through the hallways nearly silently. The only sound was the rubber soles of her army boots against the hard floor of the building's corridor. No one would be in the Academics building now, besides maybe Youko. It was the first day of the week-long break before the one-one-one matches so the building should be empty. She doubted even the nerdiest of kids would be in the Academics building when no classes were going on.

She didn't hesitate to open the door to Shizuru's classroom, though what she saw when she opened it stopped her in her tracks. Jin blinked. "Tomoe?" She asked in surprise when she was sure she wasn't imagining the disturbed girl sitting on Shizuru's desk. Jin walked in, closed the door silently behind her, and turned around again to face Tomoe. "What are you doing here?"

Tomoe, who had slid off Shizuru's desk in surprise, blinked at Jin and tilted her head. "Me? What are you doing here?" She countered, her arms folding over her chest and her eyes narrowing.

Jin smirked, shrugged, and headed to the back of the room where she crouched down and opened a cabinet full of the supplies she'd need. "You'll know soon enough," Jin answered as she began digging tiny containers of chemicals and pills out of Shizuru's classroom cabinet. Her eyes scanned the labels on each one carefully. This was something you didn't want to mess up.

Tomoe watched Jin suspiciously, though she was curious beyond belief. She leaned her bottom against the desk again and crossed her ankles as she peered at Jin from across the room. "Why are you looking in there?" she asked after a moment.

Jin found the container she was looking for, gave it a shake to hear the contents splash around inside, and then closed the cabinet doors before standing up and tucking the container into her pocket. She turned around again and smiled at Tomoe. "Stop being nosy, I'll show you tomorrow since you're the one that'll be helping me out."

Tomoe, trying to not shudder from Jin's smile, unfolded her arms and instead curled her fingers around the edge of Shizuru's desk. "What the hell are you talking about, Higa?" Stormy gray eyes clashed with the golden suns framed by Jin's black hair. Tomoe tried not to think of what had transpired between the two the day before. It was…weird. She knew she had pushed the general too far the other day. She knew better than to repeat the mistake.

Jin rolled her eyes and took a few steps forward so she could lean her hip against one of the student's desks. She watched Tomoe through narrowed eyes before she said, "I've helped you out with Kuga, so you're going to help me with Shizuru."

Tomoe huffed. "You've barely helped me. Kicking Kuga around is nice and all but I told you I can do that by myself."

Jin lifted a brow. "Bullshit," she said. "As much as I like hanging around with you, little girl, I think I'm going to go put this," she tapped the pocket above her breast, "to use." Jin headed towards the door.

Tomoe frowned, then a thought struck her. She stood straight and watched Jin reach for the door handle. "You're killing third years," she said quietly. "You've been poisoning them haven't you? That's why you went in the cabinet…that's where all the chemistry supplies are." Tomoe wasn't afraid of third years but…she had to admit…having them killed off was helpful. The faster she got to Kuga the faster she could end that stupid girl's life and get her revenge. And her woman.

Jin slowly turned around, amusement sparkling in her eyes. "Interesting, Tomoe, so tell me, what are you doing here then?" she folded her arms and smirked when Tomoe's eyes widened.

Tomoe avoided the annoyingly smug gaze of Jin and looked at the floor. She noted Jin neither denied nor admitted to being the killer. "I was hoping Shizuru would show up," Tomoe admitted quietly. Jin found it slightly cute, oddly enough, but she wasn't going to say that.

Instead, the general snorted. "Typical fangirl," she sneered. She glanced at the clock. She had nowhere to be, really, but she made a show of looking rushed so that she could ditch this girl and work on her idea. "Anyways, I want you to come by my room tomorrow morning to pick something up. If you don't show up, you won't get to give the present to Shizuru."

Tomoe looked up at that and blinked. "Present?" She'd ignore the 'fangirl' comment. For now.

Jin smirked. "Yes. I have an idea and you get to give it to Shizuru in the form of a…gift." She'll never suspect it if it comes from Tomoe. The girl is simply infatuated with her.

Tomoe and Jin locked eyes. Finally, Tomoe spoke. "Fine," she said. "I'll show up tomorrow morning."

"Good. I'll tell you the rest of it there," Jin nodded, turned, and made to leave the classroom before pausing as she was halfway out. She slowly turned around again, causing Tomoe to lift a brow as if to ask 'what?' Jin smiled and added, "And…bring a camera I can use. Preferably a digital camera." Jin smirked at Tomoe's angry expression (cameras, like most items from the Garderobe store, were ridiculously overpriced) and then turned and left.

Tomoe glared at the door a few seconds more before giving up on waiting for Shizuru and leaving as well.

---

Natsuki headed over to the Academics building. She really wanted to see Mai and make sure she was alright. She was damned thankful it was a day off. She wasn't sure her body could take any more beat downs. And a week is all I need to fully recover and be ready for a one-on-one match, Natsuki thought as she walked up the stone steps. She reached for the handle and nearly toppled backwards when the door already began opening. When she caught herself from a near neck-breaking incident, Natsuki looked up with a glare at whoever had opened the door when she was about to.

"Kuga," Jin said with a smile. "Good morning," she said with a nod as she shoved by Natsuki. Natsuki lost her balance again and toppled backwards off the steps, though luckily she missed the stone and instead landed in the snow at the base of the stairs.

Jin looked down at her, scoffed, and continued walking away, her boots crunching the fresh snow beneath her feet.

Natsuki felt the snow sink into the back of her uniform and whimpered. Goddamn it. She should've worn her jacket after all. She really couldn't though, it reminded her of Mai's condition considering Mai had practically stolen it from her a few days ago. She couldn't walk around in something that still smelled like Mai or she'd just…feel horrible all day.

The next person to walk out of the Academics building was, as luck would have it, Tomoe. The star student paused at the top when she saw Natsuki groaning in the snow. A small, satisfied smile found its way to her lips as she began descending the steps again and stopped in front of Natsuki.

Natsuki groaned as she sat up. She rubbed her head and then shivered when she felt the cold wetness that had sunk into her back through the cloth uniform. Again, goddamn it. Jin was a bitch and would pay for that eventually. Among other things…like marring Shizuru's cheek. Natsuki hadn't forgotten about that.

"Good morning, Kuga," Tomoe said with a sly smile as she peered down at Natsuki, who finally realized Tomoe was standing above her.

Natsuki looked up, glared when she realized who it was, and then hurriedly moved to stand up again when she realized she had the unfortunate luck to be in the vicinity of two psychopathic demons in such a short amount of time. Really. How did that happen? First Jin and now Tomoe? Just what the hell were they doing in there anyways…?

Unfortunately, Tomoe saw this coming, and easily shoved Natsuki back into the snow. "Don't get up on my account," she said with a smirk as Natsuki landed on her butt and yelped when some snow got in her pants. Cold, cold, cold!

Tomoe tilted her head back and let out an evil villain laugh before walking off in the same direction Jin had headed off in. Natsuki stood up again and turned around to glare at Tomoe. "Bitch," she muttered. She then twisted her body around to examine the damage. The entire back of her uniform was soaked, and she was freezing. Well, at least she was certain Shizuru could fix that.

Natsuki, now in a much, much worse mood than she had started her day off in, headed up the stairs again and made sure to open the door as fast as possible to avoid any similar incidents.

---

Natsuki knocked lightly on the door of the infirmary before entering. Youko looked up and smiled at her. To Natsuki's surprise, Nao was there as well. The redhead was sitting by Mai's bed, her head tilted over the back of a chair with her eyes closed. Natsuki blinked then glanced at Youko who lifted a finger to her lips and said, "Shhh…she's sleeping."

The infirmary was a pretty large room. Most things were colored white or silver. There was a lot of metal. Lots of machines, cots with curtains around them to hide the student within, countertops, cabinets filled with medicines, tables with tools on them, and in a corner were Youko's desk, a file cabinet, and a swivel chair. The whole thing was slightly eerie, Natsuki never really liked hospitals. It weirded her out that it had no smell. Well, did the smell of…clean count?

Natsuki smiled and walked towards her two favorite redheads. She had wondered where Nao disappeared to this morning. Nao really cared about Mai…and all her friends. The thought made Natsuki smile warmly at Nao's sleeping face before she moved towards Mai's bedside and ran her hand across her other friends forehead. She sighed and felt a pain in her chest. Why did she somehow feel like this was her fault? It wasn't, of course, but she should've…she should've at least been there.

Youko watched Natsuki's face with interest before turning and walking over to her desk. "She's fine, Private Kuga," Youko said quietly as she rummaged through some things in her file cabinet. She seemed to find the file she wanted, and slipped it out.

Natsuki smiled weakly and nodded. "I'm…relieved…" she replied, her eyes flickering over to make sure she hadn't woken up Nao. She hadn't. She knew she wouldn't. Nao slept during the day like Natsuki slept at night: a lot and very deeply.

"Mhm," Youko murmured, her eyes scanning the file in front of her, "she should wake up soon…hopefully sometime before the one-on-one matches start so she can watch you."

Natsuki looked up. "She won't be competing?"

Youko knew she mentioned this yesterday, but perhaps Natsuki wasn't really paying attention. Actually, she was sure the dark haired girl hadn't been paying attention at all. Understandable, considering Mai's condition. Youko smiled, though her eyes were sad. "No, she won't be well by then I'm afraid. The medicine is working slower than I thought. The poison must've been really potent. Whoever mixed it…got it right…but may have put in too much of a certain chemical." Youko sighed and turned her sorrowful gaze on Mai. "That's the problem with home-made poisons. You put too much of something in or not enough of another to counter it…" Youko was now mumbling to herself about something that Natsuki didn't understand.

Natsuki remembered she had a training session with Shizuru, and cleared her throat.

Youko stopped rambling and looked up. She blinked. "Oh, I apologize, Private. Was there something you needed?" Youko placed the file on the desk and strode towards Natsuki so fast the girl had no time to decline. Youko turned Natsuki's face this way and that. "You should get some of these looked at," Youko murmured in a concerned voice as she looked over some healing cuts on Natsuki's face and then the bruises on her neck. She shook her head sadly. "These damned competitions…"

Natsuki smiled and took a step back. "I'm fine, thanks. I just wanted to check on Mai."

Youko frowned, but nodded. "Alright, well, if you need any medical attention you know where to find me."

Natsuki nodded. "Right, thanks again…take care of Mai and…" Natsuki glanced over at the lightly snoring Nao and smirked, "Nao." Natsuki blinked, remembering Nao had seemed rather friendly with Youko the other day.

Youko watched Natsuki curiously. The girl's face looked thoughtful. "Is something the matter?" She asked after a moment.

This snapped Natsuki out of it and she shook her head, an apologetic smile on her face. "Uh, no, I was just curious about…well…how well you know Nao." Natsuki fidgeted with her fingers. She was a little antsy now that she remembered she had to go see Shizuru. She mentally berated herself. They were kind of sort of dating now right? So why was she still nervous to see her teacher? Honestly…I'm pathetic…

Youko smiled and looked fondly over at the redhead. "When Nao was at Garderobe Prep…I guess the three years before this year, she would come over a lot and complain about being sick to get out of class." She let out a laugh, and Natsuki realized just how close the school doctor and her best friend were from it. Youko continued, her blues eyes never leaving Nao's sleeping form. "At first I was cold to her." She turned to Natsuki. "Fakers annoy me, you know?"

Natsuki nodded dumbly as Youko walked towards Nao, her white lab coat billowing behind her. The doctor bent slightly so that she could lovingly brush some hair out of Nao's face. Natsuki blinked again.

"But she grew on me, I suppose," Youko said as she straightened again and turned to face Natsuki. "I rather enjoyed her company and stopped sending her back to class." Youko let out another happy laugh. "I guess I wasn't a very good, uh, discipliner when it comes to Nao Yuuki." She shrugged and leaned her back against the wall. "But this year she must've met someone, since she never comes by anymore." Youko's face looked slightly pained. And Natsuki blinked. Again.

"Oh," the girl uttered quietly.

"She didn't have many friends…or any…but I guess this year that all changed," Youko smiled again. "I'm glad too. The girl needed friends her own age."

Natsuki smiled and flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Yeah, me, Mai, Aoi and Chie got that covered."

Youko nodded. "I'm glad." There was a silence for a few moments before Youko cleared her throat. "Well, I'll let Nao know you came by when she wakes up."

Natsuki smiled and gave a curt nod. "Alright, thanks Dr. Sagisawa."

"Don't mention it," Youko said as she waved and watched the girl turn on her heel and stride out the door. Youko blinked. Either Natsuki fell in snow or she pissed herself a puddle and then laid down in it. Probably the former… Youko thought before turning and getting back to work.

---

Shizuru rolled her eyes as Colonel Anh Lu and Officer Harris Rauschenberg continued bickering in her ears. Anh was pounding her fist of her right hand into the palm of her left hand and spouting out more nonsense while Rauschenberg was pointing to Shizuru's cheek and cursing a lot. Shizuru inwardly groaned, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples. Natsuki, save me.

Tap, tap, tap, came the soft sound of Natsuki's fist lightly knocking on the door to the Teacher's Lounge. Offices. Lounge. Whatever. It really depended on which teacher was in there. Reito referred to it as the Teacher's Offices while Anh referred to it as the Teacher's Lounge. Everyone else alternated between the two names.

All three teachers turned to face the doorway where a very, very good looking girl was standing, a sheepish grin on her face. Her eyes weren't looking at Anh or Rauschenberg though, they were firmly planted on the Kyoto-beauty. Shizuru smiled back and gestured for Natsuki to come in.

Natsuki took one timid step into the room and waited with her hands behind her back. "Uh. Hi," she said cutely.

Rauschenberg and Anh exchanged amused looks. Anh stepped forward , grabbed Natsuki's sleeve, and tugged the girl fully into the room. "Don't be so shy, Private Sexy-Pants! You know we're all family here."

Natsuki blushed and sent Shizuru a desperate plea for help with her wide green eyes. Shizuru merely gave her an apologetic smile back. There was nothing she could do to stop Anh with the 'Private Sexy-Pants' thing. She knew, she had tried.

Rauschenberg chuckled and then remembered what they had all been arguing about before. She turned back to Shizuru and frowned. "Really, Shizuru, you can't let Jin get away with that," she nodded to the bruise on Shizuru's cheek.

Shizuru sighed and placed a hand over it. "I didn't," was her simple response.

"I don't see a bruise on her," Anh pointed out.

Rauschenberg nodded in agreement. "She's right, you know, Jin's face looks crystal clear to me."

Anh nodded along with Rauschenberg. "Of course I'm right. I'm always right," she declared.

Natsuki blinked at the conversation. She wasn't sure whether to be amused, angry at Jin, or drag Shizuru away to training. When silence hovered in the air for too long, Rauschenberg glanced down at Natsuki. Natsuki tilted her head. "Uh, what?"

Officer Rauschenberg pushed Natsuki towards Shizuru and then said. "You talk some sense into her, Private Kuga."

Natsuki was pushed practically onto Shizuru, who stood up in order to receive Natsuki's body as if she were a package. Shizuru placed both hands at her sides before they reached Natsuki's waist. Bad, bad, bad.

The girl blushed and mumbled out an, "I agree." She set those beautiful green eyes on Shizuru's crimson. "Jin needs to pay."

Rauschenberg and Anh both cheered. "See!" They both yelled in unison.

Shizuru's eyes narrowed at Natsuki as if to say, traitor. It caused Natsuki to involuntarily whimper rather cutely. And it took every fiber in Shizuru's body (and, okay, Anh's and Rauschenberg's) to not hug her right there. So cute. Natsuki seemed to sense the urge in the room to tackle her so she gulped and took a step backwards towards the door.

"I am highly in favor of someone kicking Jin's ass," Harris Rauschenberg said after the cute-spell had worn off. "In fact, Kuga, you should teach that woman a lesson."

Natsuki grinned. "I want to," she admitted.

Rauschenberg patted Natsuki's shoulder. "Good girl." Natsuki beamed.

Shizuru rubbed at her temples again. "Bad role model…" she warned, and Rauschenberg just huffed and crossed her arms in response. Shizuru sighed again and smiled at Natsuki. "There's no need for this. Besides, Natsuki needs to be recovering and training now, not seriously fighting." Not that she could win against Jin anyways. Shizuru really didn't want Natsuki chasing after the brigadier general either. The older woman would surely use it as an excuse to cause some serious damage to Natsuki.

Natsuki watched Shizuru with an unhappy expression on her face. She looked tired. Again. "Shizuru, have you been getting enough sleep?" Natsuki asked, her voice laced with concern. She didn't see the point in calling Shizuru by her title considering Anh and Rauschenberg were very good friends of Shizuru and Natsuki had a feeling they had an idea of what was going on anyways. Fair enough, she figured, since she had told Nabatame. Or well, Nabatame had figured it out really.

Rauschenberg blinked. "Damn, that is cute."

Anh nodded, her hands on her hips as she watched Shizuru and Natsuki. "Isn't it?" They were too damned cute for their own good.

Shizuru glared at both of them, but couldn't help but give them a small, mischievous smile. She then turned her red eyes on her concerned student, who was now blushing. Shizuru smirked and strode forward to gently grab Natsuki's hand in her own. It never stopped surprising her how well their hands fit together. They were certainly made to be this way. She saw this as proof. Natsuki was hers, and she was Natsuki's. It was just…perfect.

"Come," Shizuru said quietly as she led Natsuki to the door. "Time for training."

Anh and Rauschenberg watched as Natsuki and Shizuru left the room. They exchanged glances and smirked.

"Training my well-shaped ass. More like sexy-time. Shizuru is totally the top," Anh said, as if they were picking up a passed conversation.

Rauschenberg snickered and whacked Anh over the head with a rolled up newspaper. "Behave, Colonel," she demanded, though her tone was playful.

Anh looked shocked. "Never!"

---

"Sh-Shizuru!" Natsuki barked when Shizuru had pinned her to the matt below. They were in the training room they usually used and the workout so far has been tougher than the last training sessions. Maybe it was because Shizuru really wanted to make sure Natsuki was prepared for the one-on-one matches…

"Ara, ara, Natsuki should know that if she loses a fight I get to do anything I wish to her…"

Or maybe Shizuru really just wanted to touch Natsuki.

Natsuki narrowed her eyes as she stared up into the joyous face of Shizuru. Her teacher was straddling her hips and had both hands on Natsuki's shoulders, as if she had just pounced on her like some kind of tiger. "Shizuru…" she said, her eyes locking with those of her teacher. "I always lose the fights."

Shizuru, sensing Natsuki was no longer 'angry' and seemingly entranced by something, lowered her face to meet Natsuki's lips in a slow, but beautiful kiss. Shizuru idly noted that Natsuki had gotten very good at kissing. She was still nowhere near as forward as Shizuru was, and Shizuru usually found herself taking control of the situation more times than not. That was fine by her, and she wasn't complaining. Natsuki would eventually not be so shy, so Shizuru should savor the cuteness while it lasted.

Natsuki whimpered when Shizuru pulled away, and lifted her head off the ground to follow those perfect lips before they were too far out of reach. It worked, and Shizuru blinked in surprise before following Natsuki's back down again. Dear god if she doesn't let me stop then I won't be able to… Shizuru thought in the way back of her mind, possibly the only place that wasn't high on Natsuki's pure essence.

After a few more moments of this, Shizuru managed to pull away, this time fast enough so that Natsuki couldn't catch her lips again. "Ara…" Shizuru breathed as she stared down at her now panting student. She was definitely not panting from the…training. "Natsuki needs to…not do that…"

'Natsuki blinked and then her cheeks blossomed with color. "I—I'm sorry you were the one—" Shizuru caught Natsuki's lips again, and Natsuki figured that what she was about to say would've been ignored anyways. She wondered how long Shizuru would be okay with…just kissing. Ever since last night…in Shizuru's bed… Augh…stupid mind stop!

Shizuru ran her tongue across Natsuki's lower lip before trailing her kisses down Natsuki's chin, down her throat, and to her collar bone. Natsuki stared up at the ceiling, eyes closed, and moaned. Shizuru pulled back again to stare at Natsuki's face. Natsuki had already recovered from her moan though, and was now just breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling and her heart beat drumming in her ears. Shizuru wanted to see Natsuki's expression when she was experiencing…whatever had made her moan. Pleasure I suppose. Thrill, bliss…ecstasy. And she knew she wouldn't be able to see that until…that happened. Whenever that happened. That was certainly not allowed to happen! Natsuki was, what, seventeen still? Not like that mattered really, considering Natsuki was her student and that already made it ten times more off-limits.

"Shizuru," Natsuki breathed, "L-Let's stop…I…we should be training and what if someone comes in?" Natsuki turned her head sideways to glance worriedly at the door. Shizuru took the opportunity to dive for the exposed skin on Natsuki's neck. Natsuki let out a surprised whimper when she felt Shizuru's lips slowly moving up and down the side of her neck. A hand went to her belly, where it began tracing those damned scars again. She's going to kill me, Natsuki thought as she let out another throaty, involuntary moan when Shizuru began sucking on one particularly tender spot. It was right where her shoulder met her neck. "Sh-Shizuru someone will…ah…" Natsuki squeezed her eyes shut and tried to calm her racing heart when that hand lowered to the waistband of her pants. Bad. This was bad. This was good. This was very, very bad.

Shizuru, remembering Natsuki had come to school with hickeys on her neck, pulled back instantly. Natsuki shuddered beneath her but it was from instantly missing those lips, not from pain or fear. Shizuru then mentally noted that it was the left side of Natsuki's neck she had kissed. The right side had been the one with the hickeys. She wondered what would've happened had she gone for that side instead.

Accusatory green eyes peered up at her, as if she could scold Shizuru with the look in them. Shizuru wore a smug expression. "Kannin na, Natsuki. I stopped rather suddenly didn't I?"

Natsuki was about to say something along the lines of, Damn right you did! But instead remembered that it was good Shizuru had stopped. She sighed and brought her arms up to wrap around Shizuru's neck. She stared upwards, wondering yet again how this had happened, and then smiled. "We should get back to training," Natsuki said with a devilish smirk when Shizuru pouted.

"Ara, I thought Natsuki was about to say something cute…" Shizuru pouted and rolled off Natsuki. Natsuki sat up and moved a hand to her neck, which now felt it was on fire. A good fire.

Something cute? Natsuki huffed, and Shizuru giggled. Natsuki wanted to tell her she loved her but…would Shizuru be okay with that? Shizuru loved her too right? This wasn't some kind of…fling for Shizuru was it? Obviously it isn't, stupid. Don't ask such dumb things. But Shizuru was known for being a flirt wasn't she? And they had never spoken about what they were. Technically they were just two people that really liked to make out with each other since the exact 'girlfriend' label hadn't been mentioned by either. Were they exclusive? It's times like these when I miss mom. She'd know something about relationships…

Shizuru, of course, didn't put that much thought into it. She figured she loved Natsuki…and when she thought Natsuki wouldn't freak out about 'it' she would tell her 'it.' 'It' being the love thing, of course. "Is something the matter?" Shizuru asked when Natsuki looked distant, her eyes unfocused. She sidled closer to her student and kissed her lovingly on the cheek. "Natsuki should wake up now. We have to train for the one-on-one matches."

Natsuki snapped out of it and blushed. "Right, sorry." Natsuki, feeling brave, brought her gaze to Shizuru's. "Shizuru I…" Natsuki froze when Shizuru's eyes met hers, a questioning glint in them.

"Yes?" Shizuru asked, her head tilting slightly.

"I—um…" Natsuki frowned at her inability to say it. Why? Why was it so hard to say something so obvious. So…real. "Never mind," she mumbled as she looked away. She felt defeated. Pathetic.

Natsuki felt Shizuru's searching gaze on her and ignored it as she continued staring at the matt below them. Eventually Shizuru stood up and held her hand out to help Natsuki up. Natsuki accepted it and was tugged into a hug. She was surprised but she instantly embraced Shizuru back. The scent of Shizuru mixed with the smell of sweat, want, and need. Natsuki loved hugging Shizuru. She knew she could get over her fear of Shizuru's bed if it meant she got to go to sleep holding Shizuru every night. No one…no one made her feel this safe and secure. So loved. She pitied anyone who had never felt this way and she wondered how she had ever gone through life without it.

"Natsuki knows she can tell me anything?" Shizuru whispered into Natsuki's silky hair.

Natsuki hummed in response, much too intoxicated by Shizuru's presence to say anything. A memory flashed through her mind of making a pillow fort in Shizuru's room during Parent's Days. She blushed in embarrassment at the memory, yet she remembered how both she and Shizuru had been too afraid to move lest they touch one another. The thought seemed too ridiculous now. That night Shizuru had also kissed her on her cheek…or was it the side of her mouth? The memory made Natsuki absolutely ecstatic. Shizuru had loved her even back then and Natsuki knew it now. Natsuki must've loved her too. She had been so blind.

"Natsuki is sure she's alright?" Shizuru asked when Natsuki hadn't moved from their hug. Usually she backed out of it by now. Not that Shizuru minded, she would stay holding Natsuki forever if she were allowed.

"I'm fine," Natsuki said as she pulled back just enough so that she could plant a kiss on Shizuru's mouth. She deepened it and then pulled back just when they were getting into it again. "Wait. We're being too…" Natsuki struggled to find the right word, "obvious."

Shizuru blinked. "Excuse me?"

Natsuki backed away from Shizuru and averted her gaze. "I think people are…suspicious. Some may, uh, know even…"

A slender brow lifted. "Oh? And who would know our secret?" Shizuru stepped closer and held back a giggle when Natsuki looked guilty beyond belief. She should probably be worried about whom Natsuki told, but she couldn't when Natsuki looked so damned cute standing there.

"N-No one but…" would Shizuru be mad if Nabatame knew? And, well, Nao had suspicions. Hell, she probably knew too. Well, Shizuru had no right to be mad! Even her Council-friends seemed to know! "Uh. Listen I just think we should stop doing…what we've been…doing…" Natsuki was now confusing herself, and her eyebrows furrowed as she continued staring at the floor. "No more k-kissing, at least…for now, since we can't lock the door." Natsuki's face turned bright red with the strain of trying to say all that. It was safer in Shizuru's room…or any room that had a lockable door and no or few windows.

Shizuru was silent for a minute as she processed what Natsuki had just said. After thinking it through, she found she regrettably agreed. "Alright. No more losing control around Natsuki…when the doors don't lock." Shizuru smirked when Natsuki looked up at the last part. "Is something the matter?" Note to self. Get Natsuki in a room where doors lock…oh right. My room.

Natsuki, afraid she had upset Shizuru, leaned forward to give her one more apologetic kiss. She didn't let her lips linger long, however, and quickly pulled back with a worried glance towards the door. "Shizuru we should—ah!" Natsuki found herself flipped on her back on the mattress again.

Shizuru looked down at her and smirked evilly. "Natsuki should never kiss her opponent." Or kiss her and then stop just like that.

"Wha—?!"

"Unless," Shizuru added, "that opponent is me. And she shouldn't be so cruel to stop what she started." Shizuru extended her hand to Natsuki, who took it with a grumble. "Now let's work on your blocking. Private Kurisutaru got too many hits on you yesterday. Anymore and you would've been knocked out."

Natsuki grumbled again and nodded. She did need to work on her defense. The training started up again, but this time it actually was training.

---

"You think you're better than me? You ARE me…" Akio growled out. He dragged an unconscious Natsuki towards Shizuru, who was standing there in shock. "Would you like to know what I've done to her?" He asked as he dropped Natsuki's body to the ground and gave Shizuru a crooked smile.

"No…" Shizuru murmured in her sleep. The shock of whatever happened next in the nightmare sent Shizuru sitting upright in bed. She sat there, eyes wildly moving around her dark room. The only light came from around the less-than adequate blinds on the window. She hugged herself and closed her eyes. Stupid nightmares. That man…no…that monster. He plagued Shizuru's mind just as much as Natsuki's. She remembered he was probably rotting in some high-security prison and that Natsuki was safe at Garderobe with her. She felt better.

Just a nightmare. Shizuru let out a relieved sigh and wiped at her eyes which were moist, as if she were about to cry. Running a hand through her chestnut tresses, Shizuru got off the bed and headed to the bathroom to shower and get changed. She had another training session with Natsuki today. The one they had yesterday had been fun, but now they had to really focus and keep the kissing to a minimum.

Breakfast was fine, if a bit boring. She ran out of tea somehow. How odd. I always have tea… Shizuru thought as she frowned at her depleted stores. Hadn't I just bought some more?

Shizuru gave up on the tea, deciding she could make it through at least one day without her daily dose. Besides, she was sure Natsuki would give her enough energy to make it through a training session. The girl always made her feel awake and alive, no matter how much sleep she was losing.

There was a knock at the door. Shizuru frowned, it was pretty early for visitors and she really just wanted to go see Natsuki. Forcing herself from her comfortable chair, Shizuru glided to the door and opened it up. She blinked in surprise. "Tomoe?"

Tomoe Marguerite stood there in front of Shizuru's door. She had a small, shy smile on her face as she took Shizuru in with those gray eyes filled with nothing but adoration and worship. Her hands were held behind her back, as if she were hiding something.

Shizuru blinked and then gave her a polite smile. "Tomoe…students aren't allowed in the Teacher's Residence Halls. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Tomoe's smile faltered slightly but she stepped closer to Shizuru, who quickly took a step backwards. She hadn't forgotten Tomoe…kissing her. The corner of Tomoe's lips twitched as she tried not to frown.

"I don't mean to bother you," Tomoe said sadly. "I just," she pulled her hands from behind her back, revealing a sunflower in her right and a mug of something hot in her left, "wanted to give you this."

Shizuru smiled at the sunflower, finding it somewhat fitting Tomoe had picked that flower of all flowers. She delicately plucked it from Tomoe's hands. "Thank you, it's very nice," Shizuru said with a small smile. She noticed Tomoe seemed to be looking passed her for some reason. "Tomoe?" she asked.

Tomoe pulled her eyes away from the window in Shizuru's room, where Natsuki stood, arms folded and glare in place. "T-Take the tea too," Tomoe said as she remembered what Jin had told her. The tea is the important part of the plan. Without it, Jin might not get what she wanted.

Tomoe glared passed Shizuru again at the window when Shizuru had hesitantly taken the tea from her. What in the hell was Natsuki doing outside of Shizuru's window? Was Jin…right? She had thought this idea was stupid. Jin would never catch Shizuru or Natsuki doing anything like…that. After all, Shizuru was hers. Not Natsuki's.

Tomoe smirked at Natsuki and then wrapped her arms around Shizuru's waist.

---

Natsuki frowned. This really wasn't how she wanted her morning to go. She was excited to train with Shizuru again, especially now that it would actually be training and not...unsafe, uh, practices. Although, to be honest, she really had liked that too. She just felt it was a good idea to maybe focus on not dying so that she could go on the mission or whatever with Shizuru. Surely they'd make up for the non-kissing training sessions on a mission right?

And what the hell is Tomoe doing in Shizuru's room? Natsuki wasn't allowed in there except through a window, yet Tomoe gets to waltz in whenever the hell she wants? And where does she get off on hugging my—uh…my…WHERE DOES SHE GET OFF ON HUGGING SHIZURU LIKE THAT? Natsuki decided that she was really going to enjoy kicking the crap out of Tomoe in the competition.

Tomoe's hands were clasped around Shizuru's back and she tugged the older woman into an embrace. Natsuki couldn't see Shizuru's face, but she was pretty sure she couldn't have been smiling, which set her heart at ease a little more than the fact that Shizuru wasn't hugging Tomoe back. She had seen Shizuru hug Tomoe before, so she wondered if Shizuru would hug her now had she not been holding the…gifts in her hands.

Natsuki watched as Tomoe left the room, but not before giving Natsuki a smug look. Bitch, Natsuki grumbled in her head as she instantly slid open the window and crawled in. "Shizuru," she said, and she laughed when Shizuru jumped in surprise and turned around.

"Natsuki!" Shizuru said in surprise. She was still holding the sunflower and the…tea? Yes, this was definitely tea. She smiled when Natsuki started laughing then decided to scold her. "Ara, ara, Natsuki shouldn't scare me like that." She had such a happy laugh. She would've never laughed like that a few months ago. Do I have something to do with that?

"Couldn't have been scarier than Tomoe at your door," Natsuki mumbled under her breath as she strode towards Shizuru.

Shizuru blinked and opened her arms for Natsuki as usual. "You saw that?"

Natsuki huffed and embraced Shizuru tightly, just as Tomoe had done before though Shizuru hugged her back with the arm holding the sunflower. "Whole thing," was the muffled response. Muffled, because Natsuki was speaking into the crook of Shizuru's neck.

Shizuru frowned slightly. So that's what Tomoe was looking at. "She saw you…"

"Huh? Oh yeah, I guess."

"Outside my window."

"Yea—oh. Oh. Shit." Natsuki pulled out of the embrace and gave Shizuru a guilty look. "I hadn't thought about that…all I saw was her…hugging you," Natsuki looked away.

"It's alright," Shizuru said as she walked towards her table and placed the tea down. "She's not Jin, so she can't really do anything about it," Shizuru assured Natsuki as she turned around again to watch the now very stoic girl. She brought the sunflower to her nose and gave it a sniff. "Now I wonder where she got such a thing during the winter…" Shizuru mused as she pulled the pretty flower away from her face to look at it again.

Natsuki glanced in her direction to see what she was talking about then strode forward, grabbed the sunflower from Shizuru's hands, and crushed it. "Who cares? It's probably a fake," Natsuki grumbled and then wiped her hands together to get rid of the petals on them. "Stupid," she mumbled as she averted Shizuru's gaze. She wondered, for a split second, if Jin and Tomoe maybe were working together. After all, she had seen them both the other morning, one right after the other. Suspicious, but she was probably over-analyzing things.

Shizuru watched as the now crushed sunflower fell in pieces to the floor. She wasn't going to miss it. "You know I found it a rather fitting flower," she commented when Natsuki looked up. Seeing the quizzical expression on her face, Shizuru continued, "Sunflowers are known for following the sun. They turn to follow it in the sky, yes?"

Natsuki nodded, not seeing where Shizuru was going with this or why she put so much thought into something Tomoe gave her. She remembered some rumors she heard (and vigorously denied) about Shizuru and Tomoe, causing her to fight back a growl.

"On the positive side," Shizuru lightly tilted up Natsuki's face with her pointer finger, "it is representative of devotion." She brought her lips down to Natsuki's and kissed whatever bad thoughts were going through her mind away. She broke the kiss but stayed so that they were only a breath apart. "On the negative side, and this is the side I find fitting for Tomoe, it represents the silliness of blind infatuation," she whispered in that sexy Kyoto-ben, her lips still dangerously close to her student's.

Natsuki couldn't stop herself, and frankly, she really didn't want to. So she closed the already tiny gap and wrapped her lips over Shizuru's. Her eyes fluttered closed and she eagerly allowed Shizuru entrance into her mouth almost immediately. Maybe it was the 'Tomoe is clearly blindly infatuated with me and I think it is silly' talk, but whatever it was, Natsuki liked it. She liked it enough to give Shizuru some payback by pulling the woman's tongue into her mouth and sucking gently.

Shizuru moaned into Natsuki's mouth and broke into a smile when they pulled apart a few moments later. Maybe she should talk crap about Tomoe more often. Natsuki seemed to like it.

Natsuki blushed under Shizuru's adoring gaze. The older woman wrapped her hand in Natsuki's hair and gently pulled through her silky mane, loving the feel of those dark locks slipping between her fingers. "What did my Natsuki do this morning? I'm surprised you are up…I was about to go get you."

Natsuki shrugged. "Me and Nao went to go visit Mai. Then we hung out there for a bit until we decided to go get breakfast, and then we went to the Rec. room to watch a movie," she answered nonchalantly.

Shizuru's hand stopped playing so enthusiastically with Natsuki's hair and slowly slipped off the girl, who didn't seem to notice. "Ah…what movie?" she asked, her voice oddly quiet.

Natsuki shrugged again. "No clue. Some romantic comedy. Sucked but we weren't paying attention anyways," she replied, not really caring much about this conversation and wanting to go train already.

The corner of Shizuru's lip twitched slightly. "What…what were you doing then? If you weren't paying attention to the movie?"

Natsuki looked up at Shizuru with confusion etched into her features. Shizuru's tone and the way she asked that question was…off. Natsuki blinked then began shaking her head rapidly. "Shizuru, no, it wasn't—"

"A date?" Shizuru offered, slight malice in her tone.

Natsuki's eyes widened slightly, before narrowing. "I told you yesterday…it was one time and it wasn't even…I told her no. I think she's over it now…" Natsuki suddenly felt very guilty. She gripped Shizuru around the waist and rested her cheek against the base of Shizuru's throat. She waited for Shizuru's arms to wrap around her as usual, but they never came. Something inside her soul let out a strangled whimper.

Natsuki gripped tighter onto Shizuru, her fingers digging into the uniform as she desperately clung to her teacher. She tilted her head to look upwards at Shizuru, who looked down at her and blinked as if she just came to her senses. She instantly wrapped her arms around Natsuki as well. "Kannin na, Natsuki…" Shizuru whispered as she leaned down to kiss her student one more time.

Natsuki felt her heart beating fast, but in a bad way. What the hell had that just been? She hadn't even considered ever not being with Shizuru…unless it was because she lost the competition. But now she realized there could be other reasons for not being with her. She could mess up things with Shizuru. Because of Nao? But I like Nao…not like that, obviously, but…she's still my best friend. On the bright side, Shizuru getting slightly angry over Nao meant that they must be exclusive, and this wasn't just a fling of the legendary flirtatious Shizuru Fujino. But still…what else could screw things up between them? Nothing…nothing. She said…we said…there's no way that'd ever happen…

Shizuru instantly felt horrible for what she had just done to Natsuki. She realized Natsuki felt stiff and her mouth was fairly unresponsive to their kiss. Shizuru pulled back and gave a dazed looking Natsuki a sad look. She did that to Natsuki? Those eyes…so lost and confused looking. How did this happen so fast? "Natsuki…please…are you alright? I didn't mean to—Natsuki, I will never let you go." She squeezed Natsuki to her and kissed the girl's forehead repeatedly.

Natsuki almost snapped back with, 'How can you let something go that you didn't even hold?' But she knew that would make things worse, and Shizuru was clearly sorry. I'm overreacting because she didn't hug me. I must be losing it. She's not a teddy-bear. And, uh, teddy-bears are for kids anyways…Duran doesn't count. Natsuki smiled up at Shizuru and kissed her lightly before pulling away and walking towards the window. "It's alright," she said without turning around, "I'll meet you where we normally train in five minutes." And she was gone.

Shizuru frowned as she watched the window Natsuki just crawled out of. "Alright…" she said quietly, though no one could hear her. She replayed what had just happened in her head. She didn't hug Natsuki back? After…after pining over her for months? Ara, ara, what's wrong with me? I have learned something about myself. I must not only control my desire for her, but my jealousy. I am cruel. Does it hurt her more or myself? Nao is not a threat…she's Natsuki's best friend. I trust Natsuki.

Shizuru sighed, grabbed the tea Tomoe had brought her, and headed out the door.

---

She had chugged the tea by the time she reached the room they usually train in. For some reason, she felt like she had been followed. She was feeling a bit dizzy, a little lighter, and her mind kept going to very, very dirty places, but she shook the weird thoughts off as she entered the room.

Natsuki was already there, clad in only shorts and a sports bra. She had already started stretching, and Shizuru found it very interesting. Not that she didn't normally find it interesting, but she realized her eyes were blatantly zooming in, as if she wanted Natsuki to know she was being checked out. Sometimes she did that on purpose to tease her and make her blush but right now she was really just doing it for her own satisfaction.

Natsuki stopped stretching and eyed Shizuru warily. "Are you okay?" she asked when Shizuru didn't move and continued staring at her like some kind of zombie. A perverted zombie. Natsuki frowned and waited.

Shizuru blinked. Natsuki's voice sounded slightly different. Or really, really sexy. Sexier than usual? Ara...

Her student approached her, concern evident in her face. "Shizuru?"

"Yes, sorry," Shizuru murmured quietly. Her dizziness now turned into full-on 'lightness,' like she was walking on a cloud. A really hot cloud. "Are you hot?" Shizuru asked as she fanned herself with her hand. Of course you are.

Natsuki blinked. "Actually it's freezing. As in, there's snow outside and this room doesn't have a heater? And I'm in shorts and a sports bra?" Natsuki gestured to her attire and Shizuru took, yet again, another five whole minutes in examining it.

What is up with this woman? She's acting like she's drunk.

Shizuru gave a rather uncharacteristic, carefree shrug and began unbuttoning her top. The whole while she locked eyes with Natsuki and winked seductively, causing the other girl to blush madly. She made quite the show of pulling her uniform top off slowly before flinging it to the side and then bending down to remove her boots.

Natsuki watched. She was torn between feeling confused about Shizuru's behavior and turned on. How about both?

"Alright," Shizuru said as she approached Natsuki. "Today we're going to work on sneak attacks," she informed the young student, who nodded. Shizuru grinned and wiggled her finger. "Turn around."

Natsuki did as told and turned her back on Shizuru. Shizuru grabbed Natsuki from behind, wrapping her right arm around the girl's stomach and then the left across her chest. Natsuki struggled to get out of it. This was how most of their training sessions went. Shizuru would try the move first and see Natsuki's natural reaction or response to it and they'd work from there.

Natsuki tried knocking her hips back into Shizuru's, like how she was taught to get out of the chokehold, but Shizuru's arms were wrapped too tightly around her, so this failed. Natsuki then decided maybe this was one of those 'dirty tactic' moves, where you have to poke someone in the eye or stomp on their foot to get out of the hold. She didn't like it, but sometimes it was the only way.

She placed her foot gently over Shizuru's, as if asking if that was the right way to go. Light laughter rang softly right next to Natsuki's ear, making her realize just how close Shizuru's face was. Natsuki growled. "So that's a no to the stomping thing?"

To her surprise, Shizuru placed her mouth gently on the side of Natsuki's ear and nibbled. Natsuki went still and then let out a cute whimper. "Shi-Shizuru…remember what we decided ye-yesterd—ah…" the lips moved down Natsuki's neck again, but it was her right side of the neck so it wasn't really…as enjoyable as the other side. This is weird. I have favorite sides? Is it because…Akio…? "Shizuru," she tried again in a more serious tone. The lips stopped moving, but they were still firmly planted on her neck, right above her jugular. "We agreed yesterday that it was too dangerous to—HEY!"

Shizuru merely pushed her knee into the back of Natsuki's, sending the girl to the floor where Shizuru eagerly followed. "Kannin na, Natsuki," Shizuru murmured when Natsuki grumbled something and tried to get up…only to realize Shizuru was already pulling her up and making sure she was basically kneeling. Shizuru giggled when Natsuki cursed, but it wasn't her usual giggle. It was…a more childish giggle. It was strange and Natsuki wasn't sure she liked it.

"Shizuru what are you doing?" Natsuki asked when she felt Shizuru's hands slide around her and meet right where Natsuki's bellybutton was. "Shizuru…?" Natsuki decided to just stay silent. Whenever Shizuru was done playing with her or whatever the hell was going on, maybe she could ask what's up.

Shizuru had no idea what she was doing either. Her mind had gone completely fuzzy and all she saw was Natsuki. All she wanted at that moment was Natsuki. Or, hell, Tomoe would be fine too. She just wanted someone. I've been drugged… she idly thought as her right hand began tracing the scars on Natsuki's stomach. Natsuki's breathing hitched and her hands flew to the ones tracing the scars of her past. "Shizuru…not…not now…" she whimpered but her hands on Shizuru's were barely trying to stop them, so Shizuru continued.

"Just…tell me to stop and I will…" Shizuru murmured as she used her left hand to gently tug the hair over Natsuki's shoulder to expose the creamy skin on her neck. Shizuru wasn't sure if she would be able to stop, since, really, she didn't mean to do what she was doing at that moment. She didn't feel like her, but she had an insatiable desire for Natsuki at the moment and it was driving her mad. All her inhibitions went out the window, and caution was the last thing on her mind, a common effect of certain drugs.

Natsuki was about to suggest they get back to training, like they had agreed yesterday, when she felt for the second time that day, Shizuru's lips on her neck. The words died in her throat and she leaned her neck a little to the left to give Shizuru easier access.

And then. And then Shizuru's right hand slowly trailed up Natsuki's stomach and landed over her right breast.

Her student gasped and then moaned, and Shizuru found she really didn't mind it that much anymore. The being drugged thing. She couldn't bring herself to care when Natsuki arched her back slightly as if to press herself more into Shizuru's open palm. It fit perfectly into her hand, even more proof they were made for each other.

Shizuru smiled and lightly nibbled on Natsuki's neck when she slipped her hand under Natsuki's bra and began kneading the soft mound of flesh there. Natsuki gasped, and then let out a throaty moan again. Shizuru could really get used to that. Her self-control, which she had promised Natsuki she'd keep in check just the other day, was completely gone. Something in her told her to stop but she couldn't…she just couldn't. Not when Natsuki sounded like that. Oh yeah, and not when she had drugs in her system that apparently made her libido go (even more) out of control.

Natsuki had never felt this before either. What was it with Shizuru and making her feel something new every day? And what is up with Shizuru in general?! Surely she wouldn't have normally done this without first asking or…after they had been going out longer. Well, Natsuki wasn't sure since she really had no clue how relationships worked. All that was important right now was Shizuru's gentle fingers lightly tracing around her nipple, Shizuru's mouth on her neck and the sounds she couldn't stop from coming out of her mouth as she titled her head back over Shizuru's left shoulder, eyes closed. She tried to bite her lip to prevent the embarrassing sounds from escaping when Shizuru went back to kneading her breast again, this time less gently and sending jolts of pleasure through Natsuki's body. "Nnn…"

They didn't hear the door slide open. They also didn't hear when Jin's brand spankin' new digital camera took a snapshot. Hell, they didn't even notice when the flash went off and lit up the entire room long enough for Jin to get a pretty good quality picture that would hold up well in court as evidence.

Jin stood there staring at the camera's screen with an interested face. "Wow, you guys are really photogenic," she said after a moment.

Natsuki shrieked and toppled forward, Shizuru jumped backwards, and Jin burst into laughter.

What happened next was slightly fuzzy. Natsuki froze to the spot. She had just experienced awesome pleasure and that had been (too) quickly replaced by intense fear and embarrassment. The surge of new emotions put her in a shocked daze. Shizuru, on the other hand, giggled again and stood up slowly. The non-fuzzy part of her mind was in absolute horror, and the adrenaline seemed to overpower the effects of the drug as her mind began clearing. Jin lifted a brow at Shizuru when the Kyoto-woman had stood up and was now staring at Jin with a mix of confusion and fear plastered on her face. She knew she should be thinking seriously and not about Natsuki so she tried her hardest to focus.

"You don't look happy to see me," Jin said with a pout and a faux-surprised tone. It was amazing how good she was at the whole interrupting thing. She was pretty smug with how her plan worked out. Drug Shizuru so that the Kyoto-woman loses control, loses caution, and goes overboard with her student then follow them and take a picture. Easy. Sure the drug itself could've killed Shizuru by mistake if she had done one little thing wrong but apparently she got it right so it was truly a perfect plan. Now she had a picture on the camera's memory card that would tear both Shizuru and Natsuki's life to threads.

Shizuru's gaze glanced at Natsuki, who was still in shock on the floor and glaring at Jin…but also trying to catch her breath and still completely flustered. At another time, Shizuru may have taken the time to admire Natsuki in such a way, or tease her, or continue where they left off….

But right now she was screwed. Jin had taken a picture. Of her. And Natsuki. Of her and Natsuki. Together. With my hand on her…ara…

"Jin—" Shizuru tried.

"Nah, ah, ah," Jin waggled her finger at Shizuru, effectively silencing the younger woman. What could she say, really? Nothing. There was nothing she could say to Jin that would erase the contents of that picture. "Let me bask in this moment." Jin continued smiling smugly at Shizuru and a still flustered Natsuki. You couldn't blame the girl, she just got felt up by Shizuru for the first time and they had really just barely gotten started before being interrupted by pure evil.

Shizuru swallowed. Her throat suddenly felt parched and she was fighting to keep her hands from shaking at her sides. She could still practically hear Natsuki's breathy moans and cute gasps and whimpers in her ear. Goddamn Jin. Damn her to hell.

Crimson glanced to the side again. Natsuki was still on the ground but she seemed to have recovered slightly and was now attempting to get up. Shizuru grabbed her arm and helped her stand and they both stood straight glaring at Jin. Waiting to hear their fate.

Jin was still smiling. Finally she held the camera up in the air and shook it around. "I have a great picture in here." She took a step forward, both Shizuru and Natsuki flinched. Jin was highly amused by that and she laughed again. "Well, it was nice knowing you, Kuga. I'm sure Shizuru will have a grand old time kicking your ass around the arena when she has to punish you. Like Anh and Kagami-chan." Jin smiled fondly at the memory of Anh's punishment all those years ago. That had been her doing of course, and she enjoyed every moment of it.

Natsuki looked at Shizuru but Shizuru was focused straight ahead on Jin. Shizuru wouldn't…punish her would she? If anything, both of them were at fault. Why do the students get blamed and not the teachers?

Shizuru shook her head. "We don't do that here at Garderobe anymore. Not under Haruka's system," she bravely defended, though she knew Jin could make anything that she wanted to happen. She had witnessed it first hand after all.

Jin shrugged. "Whatever. Doesn't matter because once I show these to everyone, you will be fired or…jailed considering Kuga is underage. Then Kuga will also be kicked out of Garderobe and maybe if we're lucky they'll let daddy out of prison to watch over his precious child," she went on and on and on and Natsuki's heart stopped in her chest whilst Shizuru's sped up to dangerous speeds. "Chances are," Jin continued, "you guys won't be able to be within a hundred feet of each other."

Natsuki was frozen to the spot. Shizuru cleared her throat and tried to say in the most level voice she could muster, "Isn't there…a deal we could make, Jin?"

Jin snorted. "Nope," was the simple response.

Shizuru stepped forward and said as seductively as she could with her panic, "Please, Jin?"

Jin blinked. Natsuki frowned at the way Shizuru said Jin's name and then glared at Shizuru. This was all really her fault, to be honest. First she shows up to training drunk or something, then she decides training time (which Natsuki really, really needs) is time for…er…whatever that had been…and what made it worse is that Natsuki and her had decided the day before that training should now be for training and not fooling around or…again…whatever that had been.

To be fair though, Natsuki hadn't told her to stop. It had felt much too good for that. And she loved Shizuru. I love Shizuru. I don't…I can't let this happen. She then set her eyes on Jin, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. She'd get that camera or die trying damn it!

Shizuru stepped forward again so that she was closer to Jin. "Please," she tried again, her voice calm and, to Natsuki's surprise, not shaking in the least bit. How did Shizuru do that? "Jin, I will do anything for you to give me that camera."

"I'll give you the camera but the memory card in it is mine," Jin said with a smirk.

Natsuki frowned. "That's bullshit." Jin needs to be sent to hell….was Shizuru's hand up my shirt a moment ago?

Jin just stared at her with an expressionless face as she deadpanned, "You moan really sexy."

The effect was instant and Natsuki shut up, her face turning bright red as she averted her gaze from Jin's to stare at the floor instead. She chewed cutely on her bottom lip and inwardly cursed Jin with the most colorful words she could think of. Shizuru agreed with Jin's statement, but she didn't like that Jin was the one to say it.

Jin, satisfied with her handiwork, turned back to Shizuru who didn't look pleased at all. "I'll tell you what, Fujino, you do something for me and I'll give you the memory card and the camera," Jin offered as if they were making a business deal.

Shizuru blinked in surprise and a feeling of relief washed over her though she knew to be on her guard…Jin wouldn't give that up for just anything. What could it be though? "Anything," Shizuru promised. She waited nervously, and got even more nervous when the Cheshire cat grin spread over Jin's face.

To Shizuru's surprise, Jin looked over at Natsuki. "Kiss me like you'd kiss her and you get the camera," Jin said in a quieter voice. The tone of her voice was very familiar to Shizuru. It was like a different girl, a girl she used to know a long time ago. Jin turned back to her, the fire returning to her eyes. "And you have to make her watch it."

Shizuru couldn't believe what she was being asked to do. A kiss? For evidence that would surely destroy hers and Natsuki's current lives drastically? She doubted they could trust Jin. Jin might take the kiss and leave with the camera anyways. But, it would be a good distraction and possibly give them more time to distract her or steal the camera. "Why must Natsuki watch?" Shizuru asked quietly, and she resisted the urge to turn her head and look at her student, who gasped as she asked this.

"Shizuru, no," Natsuki growled, her glare set firmly on Jin. "I won't let you do that."

Shizuru sighed and turned to Natsuki. "It's just a kiss…that won't mean anything."

Jin watched the two with an annoying smug smile on her face before clearing her throat to get their attention. "Revenge, Shizuru. Payback. For what you did to me."

"What did I do to you?" Shizuru asked in disbelief. Her mask was in shambles now. There was no way she could keep her emotions hidden inside, there were much too many much too fast.

Jin growled. "Don't act stupid, you demon."

And Shizuru remembered that. She remembered, 'Shizuru Fujino, you are a demon.' It was before Jin forcefully kissed her and then Alyssa and Jin got into a fight all those years ago. Was this somehow related? "I don't know what you're talking about, Jin," Shizuru said calmly and honestly. "Why are you seeking revenge on me?"

Jin shook her head and laughed a villain's laugh. "No questions. Will you do it or won't you?" She lifted her eyebrow and gave Shizuru a pointed look.

Shizuru frowned but nodded slowly. "Yes…" she said finally. "Do I have your word you will give us the camera?" She didn't think Jin would…but hopefully she or Natsuki would grab the camera from Jin during the kiss or something.

Jin glanced at a pissed off Natsuki, who was practically fuming. She smirked and turned back to Shizuru. "Oh yes, it is definitely worth it and I have the rest of the week and the competition to get more evidence," Jin explained.

Shizuru glanced at Natsuki. "I don't want her here," she said after a moment. Emeralds locked with rubies and the intensity was suffocating. "Please."

Jin shook her head. "Then there's no fun in that."

Natsuki growled. "If you're going through with this, I'm staying." She wanted to make sure Shizuru would be safe. She clearly was slightly…intoxicated or something and Jin could take advantage of her. She also wanted to make sure they did little more than kissing. She'd just have to look away for most of it or something. She was sure she'd be mad at Jin and not Shizuru. After all, Shizuru was only doing this to protect their relationship.

Jin clasped her hands together and strode towards Shizuru. "Great, she agrees. Ready?"

Shizuru's eyes narrowed at Jin and she slowly nodded. "Fine," she murmured.

Jin placed one hand on Shizuru's cheek, causing the Kyoto-woman to flinch, and then the other hand on the small of her back. She tugged Shizuru to her so that their fronts were touching and grinned when Shizuru looked really uncomfortable. Jin passed a glance over at Natsuki, who instead of looking angry like before, instead looked like she was in pain.

Jin looked back at Shizuru and pressed their lips together. Shizuru's eyes stayed open and she looked bored as hell. Jin, however, tried her best to kiss Shizuru but the fact that she was so unresponsive ruined it. Jin pulled back and glared. "Did you not hear me? I said kiss me like you'd kiss your pet over there." Jin pointed to Natsuki, who was digging her nails so hard into her palms that she was sure she was bleeding. "You don't kiss her like you're dead."

Shizuru glanced sadly over at Natsuki, who hadn't said a thing or made a sound. Shizuru then turned back to Jin and nodded. This time, she leaned forward and caught Jin's lips with her own. She then pulled Jin's face closer to her and allowed the older woman to explore her mouth. It was nauseating and Shizuru felt so wrong and horrible for doing it.

Natsuki watched on and felt her heart breaking. She knew Shizuru didn't feel anything for Jin except maybe immense dislike or loathing but…Shizuru was true to her word and really was kissing Jin like she kissed Natsuki. Seeing it was heartbreaking and frankly, Natsuki was pissed off. No matter how hard she tried to pull her gaze away, she couldn't. Her mind built up these elaborate scenarios with Shizuru leaving her or abandoning her and…there was just nothing good or fun in seeing your girlfriend, yes, her girlfriend, kissing another woman. Especially JIN, who happens to suck. I hate her. I hate her, I hate her. I feel like she's leaving me but I know she only agreed to this to protect us. Natsuki felt abandoned and forgotten, and it pissed her off because she knew she shouldn't feel this way when Shizuru was only doing it for her. For them.

But, god, the way they kissed, as if they were in love.

"Stop!" Natsuki yelled as she managed to move her hands to cover her eyes. "Please, no more," she whimpered. She loved the darkness. It was so much better than watching…that. She was shaking all over. That had been a lot worse than she thought. Shizuru…her Shizuru kissing someone else was not…was not okay. It wasn't even bad it was just plain awful. She suddenly understood Shizuru's early attitude when she had brought up Nao.

Shizuru pulled back instantly from Jin to stare at Natsuki. "Natsuki…" Shizuru whispered in her soothing Kyoto-ben. She'd rush over of course, but Jin was still holding her tightly. Shizuru looked at Jin. Her face was that of someone who reached their ultimate goal. It made Shizuru sick, and she wanted to wipe the floor with the brigadier general. Of course, that was a bad idea considering Jin could take on Alyssa and probably win. Shizuru couldn't even take on Alyssa, she never could.

Jin eventually released Shizuru and smiled when she looked at the hurt look on Natsuki's face. "People just keep breaking you over and over and over again, don't they?" Jin cooed. "This is what you get for loving her, Kuga. It's only pain. You'll thank me later."

Shizuru shot dagger eyes at Jin and then ran over to Natsuki, who backed away from her, tears in her eyes. Shizuru felt her heart ache. She tentatively reached out a hand to Natsuki, who shrunk away from it and whimpered. "Natsuki, please…I didn't…you know that meant nothing…"

Natsuki nodded. "I know, I know, I'm not mad…" she whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek. Eyes that reminded Shizuru of emeralds at the bottom of a stream peered at Shizuru from a distance. The girl hugged herself and shook her head. "Just give me a moment, Shizuru." It wasn't so much what had just happened but the feelings it sprung, the scenarios that could possibly play out, the thought of someday losing Shizuru to someone that caused Natsuki so much pain. "I'm not mad," she repeated when Shizuru had a helpless expression on her face. She wanted so desperately to comfort Natsuki.

Jin watched on and smiled as she approached the two again. "How does it feel, Kuga? Does it burn? It burns doesn't it?" She then turned to Shizuru. "See? You are a demon. You play with people's hearts that are foolish enough to believe that you love them. I mean what do they think, really?" Jin turned to face Natsuki, who was staring at her with such an intense hatred it was almost scary. Almost. "She's a Trias member, kid. Why do you think she knows what to do so well with you? What feels good, where to touch you? You're just another silly little girl to her. Blindly infatuated. You're another victim, just like me."

Natsuki's eyes widened. She hadn't even thought of that. Shizuru did seem to know everything there was to know about giving pleasure. She was an amazing kisser and she knew…she knew everything intimately. Natsuki looked at Shizuru who was staring at Jin in just as much shock as she felt. "Y-You're wrong…" Natsuki growled out, now stretching her arms down to her sides and clenching her fists. Her eyes fixated on her target.

Jin snorted. "Am I? You've heard the rumors about Tomoe right?"

Natsuki blinked. Shizuru blinked as well. Tomoe? What did she have to do with this?

Jin strode over to Natsuki and pulled out her phone. She clicked around on it and then held the screen up to Natsuki's face. On the camera was a low quality picture of Tomoe straddling Shizuru's hips and leaning down, kissing her teacher. They looked like they were in an identical training room to the one they were in now. It might even be the same one, and the thought made Natsuki feel sick. Natsuki recognized the outfit Shizuru was wearing as the one she wore the day before the competition started. The day of the invasion when Shizuru went to go train Tomoe one-on-one.

Shizuru watched Natsuki's face carefully, wondering what the hell Jin was showing her and hoping Natsuki's reaction would be a clue. The reaction was Natsuki looking up and staring at Shizuru with hurt clearly evident in her eyes. It caught Shizuru off-guard and she widened her eyes before taking a step towards the girl. "Natsuki, what—?"

Natsuki knew she was just playing into Jin's hands. She knew this is what Jin wanted. "You kissed her?" she asked in disbelief. She couldn't help it. She couldn't help falling for it even though she knew it was there. Her voice was strangled, as if it were hard to speak. "You…you gave me shit for hanging out with my best friend and you fail to mention this?" She grabbed Jin's phone and held it up so Shizuru could see it.

Shizuru squinted to see it and then narrowed her eyes at Jin. "How did you get that?" This caused Natsuki to growl in her throat. Shizuru didn't even attempt to deny it or explain, she just asked Jin where she got it? Really?

Jin smirked then pointed to the only other door in the room besides the entrance. It was a wooden door with those blinds that you could open and close to see through. "Equipment closet. Each training room has one." Another one of Jin's plans. She was on a roll today. Shizuru frowned. Jin and Tomoe had been working together this whole time? Or did Jin talk her into doing something and then waited around until she did it? Shizuru wouldn't be surprised if Jin told Tomoe to make a move, and then hid in the training room to catch it on camera. This woman needed to get a hobby besides tormenting Shizuru.

Shizuru instantly turned to Natsuki, who now looked completely confused and lost. Shizuru sent her an apologetic look. "It wasn't like that," she said softly.

"It sure looks like that," Natsuki growled out. Now her hurt and sadness had turned into anger. She may not have been mad at Shizuru before for the Jin thing, she had understood that. Even if it was gross. This…this she did not understand.

"It wasn't…" how does someone explain this? "She kissed me. You know Tomoe is in love with me," Shizuru desperately tried to explain, but she kept her distance. She knew that look in Natsuki's eyes and it was anything but good.

"Obsessed," Natsuki corrected coldly. "There is a difference. Tomoe is obsessed with you. I'm the one in lo—" Natsuki shook her head, and took this opportunity to snap Jin's phone in two pieces. She did this for two reasons. One, was to piss off Jin, which she successfully did if the gasp and cursing was any clue. Two, was to get rid of the picture of Shizuru kissing Tomoe. Tomoe was a student too, after all, and if Jin wanted to increase the damage to Shizuru's reputation, all she had to do was pull out the Tomoe picture. She may be angry, but Natsuki was far from stupid and saw a good opportunity when she had one.

So Natsuki then grabbed Jin's camera from her hands when Jin was distracted with grinning at a broken Shizuru. Natsuki yelled, "SHIZURU!" as she flung it to her girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend? Girlfriend? Jin's eyes darted to Natsuki as she moved to fling the camera, and she moved to tackle the girl before it would leave her fingers. She was too late, however, Natsuki had already thrown the camera with the evidence on it to Shizuru. She and Natsuki toppled to the floor.

Shizuru blinked in surprise, but caught it and instantly opened it. She took out the memory chip and snapped it like a twig. She smiled triumphantly. She had just destroyed the evidence of their teacher/student relationship. It was good too, because Shizuru doubted Jin was going to really give it up even after their deal. Shizuru only went along with that because she figured it would buy them more time. It worked, since it gave Natsuki an opportunity to steal the camera. There was a loud smacking noise heard.

When she turned back to look at Natsuki, she realized Jin had tackled her student to the ground and was already done. Done, meaning Jin had already tackled Natsuki to the ground and punched her unconscious. It only took one punch from Jin and Natsuki was out like a light bulb. Great.

Shizuru dropped the two halves of the ruined memory chip to the ground and then ran to Natsuki's side and instantly pulled the girl's head into her lap. "Natsuki!" she called as she lightly tapped Natsuki's face. Natsuki stayed unconscious, but she mumbled something incoherent.

Jin slowly stood up. From her ragged breathing and clenched fists it was obvious she was furious. She held her hand out towards Shizuru. "Give me the memory chip for the camera," she snarled. She couldn't believe Natsuki had taken it from her. She was so stupid for not paying attention.

Shizuru glared at her and then pointed towards the floor where the memory chip lay in ruins. Jin rushed over to it and knelt down. Shizuru turned back to Natsuki and continued to gently caress the girl's cheek. "Natsuki…I'm so sorry…" I should've told you about Tomoe. "My Natsuki…"

"This means nothing!" Jin shouted angrily when she realized her precious evidence was gone. She should've just taken the camera and ran but noooo she had to have her revenge on Shizuru. "I'm still writing down what I saw you two doing! I might not have the evidence but I have an eye-witness account," she warned angrily, her face turning red. At least she succeeded in screwing around with their relationship, but she would've much preferred having the evidence which she did plan on showing to General Mazuka even after their deal.

Shizuru ignored Jin and continued trying to revive Natsuki. She would, of course, go kill Jin right now but she knew she didn't stand a chance nor did she want to leave Natsuki like this. Shizuru hugged Natsuki's body to her chest and whimpered. This meant war. Jin and Tomoe were going down. Or well, just Jin because Shizuru didn't think Tomoe knew that Jin had taken a picture of them when they were training before the competition. Natsuki can take Tomoe down in the competition.

"Natsuki…" Shizuru cooed down to her student. "My Natsuki…wake up…" Jin rolled her eyes and stalked out of the room cursing. She was going to grab Tomoe and tell that girl they were starting training so Tomoe could cause some serious pain if she ever met Natsuki in the competition.

Natsuki's eyes slowly opened. Emeralds met with concerned crimson. "Ow, my head…" she mumbled out. She snuggled closer to Shizuru's bosom and reached a hand up to the side of her own face that was throbbing. Again. "What happened…?" She asked as she looked around. She didn't remember much, but her jaw sure hurt like hell.

Shizuru wrapped her arms around Natsuki and kissed the girl's head. "I think Jin tackled you to get the camera back but you threw it to me in time…Natsuki is such a good girl."

"Geez, Shizuru, you make me sound like a pet…" and then Natsuki remembered Jin had called her Shizuru's pet. And then Jin had done all these other things, like kiss Shizuru, tell Natsuki about Shizuru kissing Tomoe. Tomoe. Natsuki glared at Shizuru. "I'm fine," she mumbled as she shoved away from Shizuru's comfort and made to stand up. She was a little dizzy at first, and she only barely remembered Jin's fist coming down to her face, but she was okay for the most part. She just really needed to get out of there. "You destroyed the chip?" Shizuru nodded from the ground as she continued watching her student sadly. "I'm leaving," Natsuki said slowly. Slowly, because she wanted to make sure she said everything correctly. Jin had really knocked her out and she felt a little disoriented. What was that? One punch? Really? Lame. Jin sure was tough.

Shizuru stood up and watched Natsuki with sad eyes. "Natsuki , Tomoe means nothing to me," she said clearly and firmly. Her eyes begged Natsuki to believe her, to trust her.

Natsuki believed Shizuru. "I know," she said softly. "Just…give me some time." She trusted Shizuru, she knew that…she just…didn't understand why Shizuru had kept the Tomoe-kiss a secret, and if she did that unintentionally, how did she not feel the need to mention it when she was giving Natsuki a hard time about Nao? If it's like what Shizuru said then it's basically the same thing. They've both been kissed by people they feel nothing for…so Natsuki would've forgiven her and added Tomoe to her hit-list. Okay, she was already there, but she didn't mind listing her twice.

Shizuru's mind was still a little fuzzy, but the adrenaline, panic, and now relief were slowly ebbing the last effects of the drug away. "Natsuki, please don't be angry with me," she pleaded softly. This was all Jin's fault. Jin must've given Tomoe the tea to drug her and now because of that she lost control and lowered her defenses.

"I-I'm not…I just…I'll see you later, Shizuru. I just need to think for a bit. I need to convince my mind that you still…" love me. Because right now it's telling me you don't and I know it's lying to me and being irrational. If I stay…I'll risk getting angry and ruining something. It's better if I cool down. Natsuki gave up on finishing that and just shrugged and headed towards the door.

"Natsuki…" Shizuru called after her. Hurt, concern, and need were still thick in that Kyoto-ben.

The sound of desperation caused Natsuki to stop as she was halfway out the door. An image of Tomoe and Shizuru kissing flashed through her mind. She frowned, closed her eyes, willed the dull ache of pain in her chest to disappear, and then continued walking away.

---

Shizuru snail-walked over to Rauschenberg's tent sector. Her legs felt like lead and she felt exhausted, the aftereffects of the drugs leaving her system perhaps. How exactly had this happened? I knew I had just bought tea…so whoever gave Tomoe that tea to give to me, Jin probably, knew I would drink it. She probably broke into my room and stole everything else I had to drink. Clever woman.

She had no idea where Natsuki had disappeared to. She had looked everywhere all day but to no avail. Natsuki had successfully run away. Runaway. That's what Natsuki was. Shizuru shuddered. She never wanted Natsuki running away from her. She understood what Natsuki was feeling though, and frankly, Shizuru knew Natsuki was right and should take as much time as she needed. I will not force her to see me. I shouldn't have looked for her today. Too much has happened. Shizuru inwardly groaned as she remembered Natsuki's pained expression. She knew taking this path with Natsuki would be dangerous and painful but seeing Natsuki like that broke the Kyoto-woman, especially knowing she had partially caused it.

At least Natsuki was being mature about it. She wasn't…angry…she just needed some time to work out her emotions. Understandable, considering Natsuki always had a hard time with those. It must not have been easy seeing Shizuru with Jin, despite knowing it was a good idea to distract her. She can't help her thoughts. In her mind, I betrayed her but she KNOWS this isn't true at the same time. Then the thing with Tomoe…that didn't look good at all.

Shizuru sighed and ran a hand through her chestnut tresses. What a mess. She didn't know why she never told Natsuki about Tomoe, probably because she didn't think it was important. And I got on her case today about Nao…I am a fool and a hypocrite. She had underestimated Jin. Jin was probably manipulating Tomoe to do as she says as well. Ara…my head hurts.

Finally she stopped in front of Nabatame and Tanaka's tent. Voices stopped her from entering.

"Push it harder," Nabatame growled. Shizuru blinked, blushed, and wondered if maybe she should come back at another time.

"Oui, I am doing that, can you not see?" Tanaka said back, her voice slightly strained.

"I am watching," Nabatame muttered. "Here, let me help you with that." The sounds of movement were heard.

Tanaka gasped. "Oooh…try that again…"

"It's not going in," Nabatame said with a whimper.

"Harder!" Tanaka demanded.

"I'm pushing as hard as I can!" Nabatame yelled back.

"Oh no…" Tanaka let out a groan. Or was that a moan?

"…It's stuck…" Nabatame said quietly. "Why did you accept this giant thing anyways? How does it work?"

"The pretty Kuga girl gave it to me. She said it's a little bit of a pain at first but it starts working after a few minutes of messing around with it." Nabatame let out another frustrated growl. "Mm…this is why I'm usually the one in control," Tanaka said with a sigh.

Nabatame huffed. "Maybe we should go see if Kuga or Sasaki want to join in…I'm sure they could help us out with our little issue."

"Good idea," Tanaka agreed. She paused as she realized something. "Only good idea you've had all day. Kuga knows how to work this thing, since it is hers."

Shizuru blinked. Natsuki would certainly not be joining whatever the hell the Private First Class and Specialist were doing! Shizuru entered the tent, about to yell about Natsuki not being perverted when she saw both students hunched over a table…fully clothed. "Ara…"

They both looked up and exchanged glances when they saw the lieutenant standing there, surprise evident on her face.

Tanaka lifted a slender brow. "Bonjour, Lieutenant Fujino," the French woman greeted with a salute.

Nabatame gave a mock salute and tilted her head slightly. "Uh…hey, Lieutenant."

Shizuru's eyes were drawn to the stereo they both had been hunched over. There was a tape sticking out of it. People still used cassette tapes? "Ara…what were you two doing?"

Nabatame blinked then pointed to the stereo. "Trying to put an old tape into this giant fucking thing. Apparently Kuga stole it from the Rec. room and we were trying to shove in a tape but it got stuck in there…" Nabatame frowned and then glared at the blasted machine. Stereos were ancient but she was sure the Rec. room wouldn't miss it, and Kuga didn't have any room since the first years' tents tended to be smaller.

Tanaka smirked devilishly when she realized what it must've sounded like from outside the tent. After all, she and Shizuru had similar mindsets so it wasn't too hard to guess what Shizuru had been guessing was going on. Nabatame hadn't quite caught on yet, and was still confused. "Oui, we were just about to go get some help with it…" Tanaka said after a moment. She smiled over at Nabatame, who was still glaring at the machine.

Shizuru cleared her throat and clasped her hands behind her back. "Ah…of course." Natsuki stole something from the Rec. room? Shizuru inwardly giggled. Natsuki is such a bad girl. She then remembered the current state of their relationship and frowned. Her eyes moved to Private First Class Nabatame, who was now looking at her curiously with bright sapphire eyes.

"Was there something you needed, Lieutenant?" Nabatame asked when the silence had gotten awkward. She noticed Shizuru wasn't as…happy as she normally seemed. Wonder what Kuga is doing. It's the week break so I figured they'd be training for the one-on-one matches every day or something. She wondered.

Shizuru looked sadly at Nabatame's long ebony hair and fought to keep a whimper from escaping her throat. Natsuki's hair was just like that.

Tanaka followed Shizuru's intense, sorrowful gaze to Nabatame and lifted a brow before snaking a possessive arm around her girlfriend. She pulled Nabatame to her side and smiled pleasantly at Shizuru, who snapped out of whatever the hell her issue was and smiled pleasantly back.

"I just want a word with Private Nabatame," Shizuru said quietly.

Tanaka met Shizuru's crimson with her brown with a question, and a mutual understanding was sent between the two. Shizuru had her own, she was not interested in Nabatame. Tanaka gently pushed Nabatame forward. "You can have her. Lazy girl can't fix the stereo," Tanaka said with a small smirk.

Nabatame shot Tanaka a glare over her shoulder and then sighed and followed Shizuru out of the tent and into the night.

"What do you need, Lieutenant?" Nabatame asked as she folded her arms and watched the sad woman curiously. I wonder if this has to do with Natsuki telling me about…them.

Shizuru took in the pose and now understood why Natsuki and Nabatame got along so well and had similar combat styles. They had the attitude in common. This instantly brightened Shizuru's mood a little. "I just wanted to thank you for taking the dart for…Natsuki two days ago for the competition," she explained. The pause before she said Natsuki's name didn't go unnoticed.

Nabatame slowly nodded, still giving the lieutenant a searching look. "Uh-huh. No problem, Kuga's a cool girl and she…" Nabatame smirked, "had better reasons for being in it anyways, don't you think?" She gave the teacher a knowing look.

Shizuru blinked. "Ara…I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. Natsuki has no reason for joining this," unless her reason is to worry me senseless and scare me, "the reasons she gave me weren't very good."

Nabatame lifted a brow. "Oh…well…she's not doing it for herself. She's doing it for you guys," she explained rather matter-of-factly. She figured this was obvious but then again, Kuga had probably told Shizuru the same thing she told Nabatame before round three that day. Something about 'proving she could do something' blah, blah. Who was she kidding, though? Natsuki was in the competition to win Shizuru and prove she was worthy of her love. It was fairly simple.

Shizuru's mouth suddenly felt very dry. "Natsuki is…what?" Shizuru let out a nervous laugh before saying, "Kannin na, I do not understand…what do you mean?"

Nabatame sighed, what is it with this couple? "Well if she wins the competition she gets to go on a mission with you, right? She probably can't bear the thought of not being with you…" That is, if their relationship is anything like mine and Tanaka's.

The Kyoto-woman needed to find Natsuki and she needed to find her soon. I need to tell her I love her, and that I am not worth dying for. "I see…" she murmured.

"Did…did something happen?" Nabatame asked. The blank look Shizuru was giving her was slightly freaky and Natsuki had seemed really quiet and angry earlier that day. Nabatame figured it was over Mai, so she didn't bother asking why.

The focus came back to Shizuru's lost eyes. "No…everything is fine, thank you for your…concern. Ookini for being such a good friend to Natsuki, though I have something to ask of you."

Nabatame blinked, but nodded. "Sure, what is it?"

"Train her," Shizuru said quietly. Nabatame's eyes widened at the request, and Shizuru continued. "I cannot anymore…it's gotten—never mind that." She inhaled deeply before sighing and running a hand through her hair. Nabatame had never seen this woman in such a mess. She was always so…sure of everything. Now she just seemed confused. "You are the top third year, you are her friend, you have knowledge of your classmates' special weak points, and I have no doubt you could train her to help her overcome the one-on-one matches…"

Nabatame straightened as she heard this. This was serious. She felt like she was getting some important mission. Her sapphires flashed in the darkness, and Shizuru knew she was getting her point across. "You…are asking me to train Natsuki?" Nabatame asked, just for clarification.

Shizuru nodded. "Yes."

"I wouldn't know where to start. I don't know what she knows, what you've already taught her, and…I don't think I'd be a very good teacher," Nabatame explained as she nervously rubbed the back of her head. This was an honor for sure, and she certainly liked Natsuki enough to train her. Tanaka would probably help too, Nabatame wouldn't do it alone.

Red eyes looked left, then they looked right, and then Shizuru did a full 360. She leaned in closer to Nabatame and whispered, "I will explain to you what we've done so far and I will…give you the names of her opponents. You will then teach her the best way to take down her competitor."

Nabatame's blue eyes widened. "Isn't that cheating?" She asked.

"I do not want Natsuki to win this," Shizuru said honestly as she straightened. "But I refuse to let her get harmed, and the one-on-one matches almost always end in permanent injury. If I give you the names of her competitors…because I know ahead of time who the next match will be against…you can teach her how to take her opponent down. You know this person, yes?" Shizuru reached into her front pocket and slipped a piece of paper to Nabatame.

Eyes moving across the small slip of paper, Nabatame eventually looked up and nodded. "Yes I know this student. My grade. Is this who Natsuki is going up against first for the one-on-ones?"

Shizuru nodded solemnly. "You have no doubt defeated him before, yes?"

Nabatame nodded and smirked slightly. Who hadn't she defeated? "Yeah, he's good so it's not surprising he made it to the one-on-one matches. Natsuki wouldn't stand a chance under normal circumstances but…" she broke into a grin, "I can teach her this guy's style of fighting inside out so she's completely prepared for when she gets in the ring."

Shizuru smiled, glad Nabatame was definitely willing to go along with this. "Thank you. Just don't…tell her. Natsuki is very noble and wouldn't like to know that she's being trained to fight her opponent before she is even supposed to know who it is….you understand?"

Nabatame yawned, it was getting late. "Yeah, yeah, sure thing, Lieutenant. Leave it to me, Kuga will beat the competition no problem, though…" she frowned slightly, "I don't know what I can do about Tomoe…I've never fought the girl before and I heard that if we did ever get in a fight she'd be quite the challenge, even for me."

Shizuru's eyes narrowed as she heard that name. That name could cost her Natsuki. "I…think I can help with that, yes, leave Tomoe's match to me…but first things first. The one-on-one matches are more important right now than the finals. She won't even go against Tomoe if she doesn't make it through her one-on-ones."

Nabatame nodded. "So you don't want Natsuki to win, yet you're going to help her win?"

The Kyoto-woman swallowed. She had thought about this before. But what could she do? Either Natsuki walked into the competition and was killed by someone during the one-on-one matches due to lack of experience and skill or by Tomoe……or Natsuki would make it through the competition healthy and win. Shizuru figured once Natsuki won she could try something else to prevent Natsuki from actually going on the mission. Maybe she could somehow convince Tomoe to not kill Natsuki but instead use a tranquilizer. Tomoe would go on the mission instead and Natsuki would be safe at Garderobe. Alive. She could also bring up Natsuki's age if the girl won and see what that did. She wanted Natsuki to make it through the competition alive. She'd have to deal with the mission when it got to that. If it got to that.

"I apologize, for I cannot explain it," Shizuru said after a moment. "I do not know how, but I promise you it makes a bit of sense in my mind."

The private first class just stared at her warily before finally shrugging. "Alright, your plan, not mine. I know just how to train her to take on her first opponent. We sparred a lot and were in the same class." Nabatame held the slip of paper in the air and then ripped it in half. "I'll start with Kuga tomorrow."

Shizuru grinned. "Glad to hear it, Private."

"So…we're all set then?"

Shizuru nodded. "Yes…ookini again."

The student gave Shizuru a dismissive wave. "Don't mention it, as I said, I like Kuga. I wouldn't do this for just anyone." And Nabatame was a huge supporter of the couple. She would do anything to make sure they stayed together.

"I like her too," Shizuru said with a smile.

"Is that all?" Nabatame asked with a lifted brow. Yes, this girl definitely knew about the relationship.

"Love. I love her," Shizuru said in a smaller voice. It felt amazing to admit it to someone…and she suddenly felt a few years younger, gossiping about a crush or something.

The grin on Nabatame's face was smug. "That's what I thought. Tell her I say 'hey' next time you see her…now, if you don't mind, I have a French woman waiting for me," Nabatame saluted Shizuru, a real one this time, and it was duly returned.

Shizuru watched Nabatame head back into her tent and then, with a content sigh, Shizuru turned and headed for her room. Maybe, if she was lucky, Natsuki would turn up.

---

Tanaka lifted a brow as Nabatame came in with a big grin on her face. The specialist was sitting on a chair next to the table with the stereo on it. "What was that about, Akemi?" she asked.

Nabatame headed straight for Tanaka. "We're training Kuga."

Tanaka blinked in surprise. "We're training…Kuga? Someone put you in charge of a child?"

"Yes. And she's not a child." Nabatame huffed and paused a few feet away from her girlfriend.

Tanaka smiled. "I like Kuga," she commented.

Nabatame's eyes narrowed. "She's taken."

"Oui, and so are you. Come here." Tanaka patted her lap.

Nabatame grinned and was all too happy to comply with her French woman's wishes.

---

People avoided Natsuki like the plague. She gave off an even more intense 'leave me alone' vibe than usual, and people went out of their way just to make sure they were not within six feet of the angry looking girl.

Each step she took pounded into the snow between her feet. Her hands were clenched at her sides, and she could almost feel Shizuru wrap her hands around them, uncurl her fingers, and whisper, 'Why are your hands always making fists?' in her ear. No. Not thinking about her now. I won't. I will even ignore the feeling of being watched again. Wait. What? No I won't.

Natsuki spun around and glared at the…where was she? She looked around and finally found that she had walked rather far away from the Academics building. Well. Stomped, not walked. She wasn't that far away. There were some people nearby, but most of them were busy hugging or kissing or…what the hell? What is with the public displays of affection? Had she just walked into some popular make-out spot?

Someone was sneaking up on her. She could hear his footsteps in the snow. Was he stupid? Natsuki spun around, just in time to see Kato knock some other kid to the ground. "Kato?" Natsuki blinked in surprise and then looked down at the downed boy. "Who is that and why did you do that?"

Kato blinked then blushed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "He was stalking you…and he was sneaking behind you holding this," he bent down and picked up a knife from the kid's hand. He held it up in the air to show her. "Just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Natsuki's eyebrows furrowed. "How did you know he was following me?" Unless you were following me too.

Kato looked confused. "I saw you walk by and was about to come say 'hi' when I noticed him. I followed just to make sure he didn't try anything."

"Oh…" Natsuki looked back down at the boy and frowned. "A knife, huh? Do you think you just saved me from being the next victim of the killer?" Natsuki shuddered when she realized she could've been killed had Kato not been there.

Kato shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'm going to go get a teacher though…so, uh, catch you later."

Natsuki nodded, not really caring. She felt that if her heart wasn't distracting her she might've been freaking out about the killer guy but she couldn't bring herself to feel much else but anger and a slight feeling of betrayal. She watched Kato lean down to get the boy's ID. He then waved it at her, a smile on his face, before turning and walking to go get someone to investigate and find out just who the kid was and what he was doing with a knife like that.

Natsuki sighed and headed back to her dorm. Maybe she should just get some sleep.

---

Shizuru couldn't sleep. She had just gotten off the phone with Haruka. Apparently they had another suspect. She didn't much care. She stared up at the boring white ceiling of her room and just continued staring. It wasn't a very interesting ceiling, but that wasn't what Shizuru was thinking about anyways. She was thinking about her student, as usual. Natsuki…I cannot find you, I do not know where you are. I stopped by your tent twice and couldn't bring myself to walk in. I want to talk to you, kiss you, touch you, but I need to be patient. It's so…hard without you.

It had only been a few hours and Shizuru already felt like she was suffering withdrawal symptoms from some type of drug. Well, I had been drugged today. But not that drug. Natsuki. She couldn't believe it hurt so much just to not be with her, to not know if she'd come back anytime soon.

How had she gone so long before without being with Natsuki? Was it…was it because she was so used to admiring and loving from a distance? Now that she had touched Natsuki…kissed her, felt her reciprocated love…now it was ten times harder with her gone. It was reciprocated love, right? It was love. It had to be.

Crimson cast a sorrowful look at her window. The covering for the window was pulled down, though the moonlight outside was so bright that she could make out a few shadows out there. She blinked in surprise when a shadow figure stepped in front of her window. She sat up in bed and watched it, wondering if it was Natsuki. The figure was definitely a human being. A girl, if the long hair was any hint. It certainly looked like Natsuki.

The shadow then disappeared. Shizuru frowned and slid under the covers again. She turned her back on the window and buried her face into the pillow that always seemed to have Natsuki's lingering scent on it.

Come back to me.

---

Natsuki thought this was a stupid idea. She and Shizuru had gotten caught today, so Jin knew for sure…all she needed was hardcore evidence and Natsuki and Shizuru would be screwed completely. Still, Natsuki couldn't sleep with her chest aching the way it was. So uncomfortable, this longing. It was so…unwanted. She didn't want to long for Shizuru's touch. She didn't want to think about Shizuru because then she'd just remember how everyone in her life had betrayed her at some point.

Despite this, Natsuki found herself outside Shizuru's window in the middle of the night. She was dressed in her warmest clothes and was holding a blanket in one hand. She stood in front of the window for a few minutes. She considered going in, but she…couldn't. Not yet. She needed to re-convince her mind that Shizuru hadn't done anything wrong and that she was just being irrational. Deep down, she knew Shizuru hadn't betrayed her, yet her mind was thinking other things automatically and she didn't want to let them interfere with her and Shizuru's relationship. Once these irrational feelings went away…she would be back with Shizuru. Hopefully.

Natsuki spread the blanket over the snow right outside Shizuru's window and sat down on it. She pressed her back against the building and rested her head on it. She tilted her head up and looked up at the stars. Shizuru really likes the stars.

So beautiful, but so far away.

Natsuki sighed and made herself comfortable. If sitting outside Shizuru's window made her feel slightly better, she'd do it despite the freezing temperature. She'd go back later when she began to feel tired.

Natsuki saw the sky begin to change color as it got lighter. It was cold. She was wide-awake.

---

Blah. I guess being in pain makes you write depressing chapters. Kidding. Anyways. Yeah, drama in Shiznat world. Jin's a bitch (please don't hate me for their kiss), Tomoe's a bitch, Shizuru's not a bitch but she was kind of one for parts of this chapter, and Natsuki…ooooh Natsuki…the angst! You can't say you didn't see this coming. They can't constantly make out and have everything be perfect, especially when they only just started out. There will always be obstacles in a relationsh—why am I giving relationship advice? Oh god. Okay, never doing that again.

Hm. Anyways, I'm in Florida until Monday…and then I'll have a week left before I go to college ('holy freakin' shit,' is usually what I'm thinking these days).

I'm not sure if this was obvious or not, but I feel the need to mention that the weekly update thing will no longer take place once September 5th rolls around. After that date I am in college for my first year and will probably be way too busy to update on a schedule like this.

I will NOT be giving up on Monster. I'll write it when I have the time and update whenever…I know the news sucks but…real life comes first (if you have one) and I do, in fact, have one. But I promise to announce when this will actually be taking place, so that you know when to stop checking every Friday haha.

In other news, please check out my newest fic, Siren of the Sea. (SoS, and yes, I leave out the 't' purposefully haha. I don't like it.) Hopefully you guys like that as well. I was actually surprised that its first chapter got more reviews than chapter 20 of Monster. Not that I'm complaining haha. So right, please check that out and give me some feedback! There are pirates, blood, violence, battleships, action, adventure, a hot lesbian pirate queen, and a resistant Natsuki. Did I mention pirates and Shiznat? I did? Good.

Chapter Songs:

Can't Sleep by Above and Beyond

and

Running Away by Three Days Grace

I'm thinking to myself
That I've done something wrong
That I've crossed the line
Have you found out this time
What led you to believe
It's only you and me
Do you see it in my eyes
Have you found out this time

You see right through me
Cause you're running away
You keep turning your back on me
I tried so hard
But you're running away
Please don't turn your back on me

I'm drinking by myself
And oh, I'm going down
But will you pick me up
Will you leave me on the ground
I led you to believe
It's only you and me
I can see it in your eyes
That you found out this time

Don't just turn and walk away
I can learn from my mistakes
Don't throw everything away

Thanks, as usual, to my awesome beta, Andrea. I've had an eight hour long conversation with this girl and she never gets boring. I'm not exactly sure how…since…people in general tend to bore me on a daily basis but…whatever.

Oh, and the real life Tanaka is sick :( so I hope she starts feeling better soon!

Have a nice weekend!

-Shayp