I don't own these characters. Sunrise does.
21: Chivalry isn't dead yet
Nao felt a chill run down her spine as she wandered the streets of Windbloom with her gang. Something was not quite right, she thought as her nerves twitched, as if telling her that she should flee while she had the chance. She did not take her nerves unspoken advice.
The redheaded Otome stopped walking to look around the dark, clear streets. Her boys looked at her curiously for a moment, but when she started walking again, they dismissed any thoughts about her actions. They continued on their way, following the leader. Nao stopped again, her men walked ahead of her a little ways and when they turned to see why the boss halted, they were shocked to see that she was gone.
"What the hell?" Nao huffed as she found herself yanked off of her feet and dragged up to a rooftop. Her back was pressed against the cool, hard roof entrance and she suddenly felt a frosty fingertip on her lips to silence her.
"Shh…" the kidnapper hissed like a fierce snake.
Nao frowned as she took a good look as to who just abducted her. Shizuru was damn weird, the redhead concluded. She wondered what the older woman wanted with her, but she could take a wild guess.
There was a frozen, furious, "welcome-to-Hell" look in those crimson eyes that informed Nao she was not being pulled for something good. She felt her blood run cold while looking into those ruby depths. She honestly felt like a mouse caught by cobra. Nao took a moment to gulp and pray; she did that a lot lately, she noted. Maybe I am religious and never knew.
"Nao-san, I will tell you right now that the only reason I haven't slit your stomach open is because I know you were trying to help," Shizuru commented, seeming to be starting in the middle of a thought because the redhead had no clue what she was talking about. Shizuru did not really care about that since she was running the show anyway.
"What're you going on about?" Nao inquired, forcing her voice to come out normally, sounding upset. She even managed a little glare. She could only hope Shizuru could not somehow hear the way that her heart was pounding like it was going to crack her ribs.
"Natsuki saw you kiss me and now assumes we are together. She seemed to dislike the idea, but was willing to resign herself to fate. So, she's getting married when her father sends for her while I am to be left to you," Shizuru answered in a tense tone.
"You mean to tell me that stupid dog thinks we're in item?" Nao practically yelled in disbelief. Goddamn it, how goddamn stupid is the goddamn principal!
"Well, you did kiss me," Shizuru pointed out, almost nonchalantly.
"You were hysterical and if I had slapped you, you would've cut my head off," Nao countered smugly.
Shizuru was quieted for a moment because she could not call Nao a liar on that. The last person to slap her was Natsuki and even then it was done in a manner that was not to her disliking. Still, that did not excuse the mess that she was currently in thanks to Nao's "help."
"Listen to me, I'm losing my Natsuki and I had a very good chance of getting her back, until you came along. She seemed to want me out quite quickly after commenting on us being together, so I couldn't even correct her thinking. Now, if I lose her, I will blame you and you don't want me to blame you," Shizuru stated in a calm, scary tone. The near-demented look in her eyes backed up her words.
Nao was a bit insulted that the blame was suddenly being passed onto her. She was sure that there were bumps in the relationship long before she came along; after all, Natsuki had been openly walking around with Takeda for over a month. Shizuru had been gone even longer, so obviously something was up and Nao damn sure knew that it was not her fault.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there. First off, I'm not taking the blame for this, even if it is my damn fault. Second off, don't try to blame me when your relationship was on the shady side of the street for a while now and I was only trying to help. Third off, calm the hell down and chill out. We can fix this," Nao said in a calm, reassuring voice. She truly believed they could fix the relationship, no matter how screwy it was now that Natsuki thought she and Shizuru were a couple. That was something that they could easily mend. The real problem was making sure their idiot Headmistress did not get married to that guy.
"How can this be fixed? She's resigned herself to this engagement," Shizuru pointed out, sounding like she was ready to break out into a roar. She was just so frustrated she did not know what to do anymore.
"Well, you said she seemed ready to go back to you until she got the idiotic idea in her head that we're together. She's obviously misses you and you have to miss her or else you wouldn't be threatening me on a roof," the redhead explained the obvious.
Shizuru nodded to that, as it was the truth. She was at the end of her rope now. She had been so close to having her Natsuki back, only to find out that Natsuki thought she was with Nao. Everything about her was now drained from the effort and she did not know what to do since Natsuki dismissed her before she had the chance to explain what was going on. Natsuki probably would not have liked the answer much either, she considered.
"Do you have something in mind?" the fair-haired Column asked curiously. Although she felt like she did not have anything left in her, she was willing to keep going if it meant she could get Natsuki back.
"Well, I'm sure if we put our heads together, we can come up with something," Nao remarked with a devilish smile.
A smile crept onto Shizuru's face, too, looking just as demonic as her companion. The sky seemed to grow darker as the wheels in their heads began to turn. They both seemed to come up with something at the same time as their eyes sparked and they turned to each other.
"We need to keep Natsuki here for a little while longer," Shizuru started. That was the main issue. She had to make sure that Natsuki did not leave before she had a chance to clear the air and remind Natsuki of what they shared.
"Just to give you two some more time to talk things over," Nao added, on the same page with the older woman.
"So, she needs an excuse to stay here."
"Maybe I should just hit in her the head with a shovel. It should put her in the hospital for a few days," Nao remarked and then she saw the deadpan expression on Shizuru's face. "It was a joke!" Partially anyway. She doubted a shovel would do the job of even getting Natsuki's attention considering how thick her skull had to be. If she got to swing anything on the principal, she would like a pickaxe or a spiked club.
"This is no time to be joking, Nao-san," Shizuru commented dryly.
Nao huffed while folding her arms across her chest. She was just about to say something snippy, but that was forgotten for something actually helpful. "I know just what to do!" she proclaimed out of nowhere it seemed.
"What will you be doing?" Shizuru inquired with an arched eyebrow. She would like to know exactly how Nao planned to help lest she get more help like that kiss, which did more harm than good in the long run.
"That I can't tell you because you'll think I'm an idiot, but it'll get you more time with Natsuki and you don't even have to worry about the idiot she's engaged to being in the way," Nao answered with a smirk and she rubbed her hands together. The devil probably would have run off to see the expression.
Shizuru craned an eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest. "I'd prefer to know."
"You take the fun out of everything," Nao grumbled with a sigh. Her smirk transformed into a frown. She was close to teasing and saying that she could see why Natsuki left, but she was pretty sure she would die on that roof if she allowed those words to leave her mouth, even if they were a joke.
Shizuru was unmoved and merely waited patiently for Nao to tell her what was going through her devious mind. Nao did not disappoint, even though they both wanted to scoff a little at the idea. After all, it gave a certain Otome a lot of credit and as ridiculous as she was, they would prefer not to give her much.
"So, you'll tell her then?" Shizuru ordered, even though it sounded like a request. The redhead was not stupid enough to fall for what it sounded like, though.
"Why do I get all of the hard jobs?" Nao grumbled.
"Because you are Natsuki's friend and care for her happiness," Shizuru pointed out, being quite serious at the moment.
"The hell I am and like hell I do!" Nao declared, turning her nose up in indignation. She did not give a damn about that stupid principal!
Shizuru would have giggled, at least to herself, at any other time, especially since Nao seemed like a younger version of her Natsuki. But, right now, her heart did not have room for mirth and she merely took in the expression, thinking of her Natsuki. Her Natsuki that was actually so close to leaving her behind, thinking that she was with Nao, and ready to resign herself to a fate that everyone knew she did not want. She almost got caught in wondering how things had come to this, but Nao broke in, suggesting that they get started as soon as possible. She nodded in agreement.
The pair parted ways to get the ball rolling in their plan. Nao had to mentally prepare for her part in the scheme while also silently insisting she was doing things just because her life would be boring without Natsuki around. Who would she taunt, after all? Natsuki was too funny to lose.
"Still, I don't want to have to deal with this psycho just to keep an idiot around," Nao muttered to herself.
-8-8-8-8-
Natsuki frowned, which most people would have thought was odd since she walked and held hands with her fiancé. He talked about something, but she was not listening; it had become her norm. He did not seem to notice for several long minutes during the stroll.
"Natsuki-chan," Takeda said, which halted everything. Seriously, it seemed like the whole world ceased when she stopped and forced him to stop, too.
Natsuki's frown turned into a full-fledge scowl. Takeda's blood ran cold when she locked eyes with him, emerald orbs looking absolutely murderous. He had never seen such a dark look in all his days, not even when facing an enemy, so it was very disturbing to get the look from his fiancée.
"What did you just call me?" Natsuki demanded in a growl of a voice. The noise would have made animals flee, thinking a predator was around. How dare he call her that name in public! Even Shizuru was not allowed such a liberty! And only Shizuru was allowed to use that name, anyway.
"Your name?" he replied, teeth chattering in fear and his eyes darting everywhere but her eyes.
"No, you didn't call me my name. You added something unnecessary to it. Make sure it doesn't happen again," she commanded, poking him once in the center of his chest with her index finger. There was enough power behind that simple hit to let him know that he would regret it if he ever referred to her as "Natsuki-chan" again.
Takeda nodded vigorously to show that he understood and gulped when she turned away. They continued on their way after that. He trailed half-a-step behind Natsuki now. There was an aura around her that seemed to keep him at bay. It was like if he stood by her side, his whole being would wither away and he would cease to exist entirely.
They were going out to eat dinner and to discuss their future together; a future that Natsuki dreaded to think about now. When they got to the restaurant, it seemed like it was safe again to speak. Takeda waited for them to be seated before daring to open his mouth.
"Natsuki, your father contacted me and said we should be leaving for your home in a couple of days. He wants to meet me in person and then we can all start planning the wedding," Takeda informed her, thinking that would get a good response from her.
Natsuki, who was busying herself by staring at the drink menu, barely made a noise. The noise that escaped her was a rather unladylike grunt. Takeda was not sure what to make of that, having never heard the sound before. His eyebrows came in close together, wrinkling his brow. His eyes focused down for a moment before coming back to look at his future bride.
"Is something troubling you, Natsuki?" he asked while boldly leaning across the table to take her hand in his. She nearly pulled away, but caught herself.
"Nothing's wrong," she replied in a mumble. "Why would you even ask that?" she countered, trying to avoid talking about herself.
"You've been acting weird for a while now," he informed her. He noticed she had been acting weird since he told her that her father was allowing them to get married, but that was also around the time that Shizuru was suddenly back in her life, which he knew. He thought the "best friend" might have something to do with his fiancée's strange behavior.
"I'm not acting weird. This is all just happening so quickly. I mean, I had to do so much packing and I've got to figure out who'll take my job. I've got to hold a damn meeting either tomorrow or a couple of days from now to figure out who the hell the Second Column is gonna be," Natsuki groaned and folded her arms across her chest, practically yanking her hand from her fiancé.
Takeda was silent briefly and he looked away while drawing his hand back to his body. He supposed it was good reason to be distant. He had not taken into account what she was going through with having to go back home, to leave Windbloom for the rest of her life. Even now, he did not realize what a monumental thing it was.
"Well, by next week, you get to put it all behind you," he commented with a small smile. She would be happy to be his wife, he was sure. They would have a big family and she would be a good mother.
A vein bulged out from her temple while her jaw tensed, causing a vein in her neck to pulse. How could he make it sound so trivial? She was not just leaving behind the only woman that she ever loved (not that he knew that), but all of her friends and her home for over ten years! She was pretty much leaving her home all over again, except there was not much of a chance of ever coming back. How could he smile at her like that and make it seem like her life in Windbloom was nothing at all?!
Poor Takeda continued to sit there, smiling, thinking he was being supportive, and not knowing Natsuki seriously contemplated stabbing him repeatedly with a nearby spoon. She put her hands into her lap and balled them into fists to avoid going through with that. Her hands shook with fury out of his sight, though. She slowly counted to ten in her head before replying; it was a trick that Mai beat into her skull when they were Corals because Natsuki had been about one blown fuse away from getting sent home after a couple of months at Garderobe.
"How about we order?" Natsuki suggested in a tense voice. She had to take a few deep breaths after that.
"Sure. I'm sorry this is stressing you out so much," Takeda replied, not realizing that her proposal was a signal for him to let the matter drop.
"I'm not stressed," Natsuki snarled, top lip curling at the end of her statement. She knew when she was stressed and she was far from that right now. She was annoyed, pissed, even confused, but she was not stressed, damn it!
"It's understandable. You've got a lot to do—" He did not get to finish that thought.
"Look, can we just order and shut the hell up about everything else?" Natsuki demanded as her whole upper body started to quiver from her fury. She just wanted to sit there and be left alone for two goddamn seconds. Is it too much too much to ask for five fucking minutes of fucking silence?!
Takeda was taken aback by that, eyes widen and body rigid. It was like he could not believe she would say such a thing. He looked around to see that people started at them. He laughed a bit, sounding quite nervous. He turned his attention back to Natsuki, who frowned and glared at the menu, hoping it would burst into flames for some reason. She knew he looked at her, but she did not give a damn.
"Natsuki, calm down," he requested, voice trembling because he was not too sure how to defuse the situation.
Natsuki did not respond, starting to feel ill because of the rage welling up in her suddenly. I would calm down if you shut the fuck up for a second! She counted ten several times in her head and found it did not help. She tried some breathing exercises, also suggestions from Mai from a long time ago. This was also not much help. It felt like she got more upset the more she tried to get it under control, and most of her fury was directed toward the man across from her. Earlier, she could not rationalize why she was so angry with him, but now she had reasons.
Takeda was so insensitive, which probably would not have bothered Natsuki if only he was not that way toward her. He made it seem like it was nothing to leave everything behind just to marry him, like he was someone. Not that she had a say in the matter. Of course, she was pissed that he dared to ask her father for her hand in marriage without even discussing the matter with her, but that was more cultural than anything else. Still, she was not even willing to give him the fact that they came from places where guys asked fathers to take their daughters as wives, forget what the daughter wanted. She was just pissed with him over everything.
She was furious that he dared take her from her home. She had no desire to be married, especially to him. He already treated her like her opinion did not matter, which again was a cultural thing. As a woman, she was expected to defer to him, but to hell with that! She was the Ice Silver Crystal, Second Column, and the principal of Garderobe, one of the finest military academies in history! She was one of the most powerful people on the planet, in position and in strength point blank. She would bet that she could take him in a fight and, yet, she was expected to defer to him. What a fucking joke!
But, before she had those excuses, she had been feeling a slow boil toward Takeda, anyway. She hated to think of what it was and she did not talk to anyone about it because she knew they would tell her what she did not want to hear. She did not want to deal with that issue, feeling it was a lost cause. Instead, she just allowed it to simmer on her brain, unknowingly withdrawing from Takeda and getting irritated with him. He was only now starting to notice because of her snippy nature coming out to bite him with sharp teeth.
Takeda treaded carefully around the woman that he wished to marry for the rest of the night. The dinner was tense and the waitress that came to tend to the couple could feel a cloud of fiery evil radiating from Natsuki. The waitress practically ran off to get their orders and actually yelped when Natsuki merely requested a refill on her soda. Natsuki noticed, but did not have the room in her body to be annoyed with the mousey waitress because she used it all up on Takeda.
The walk back to Garderobe was not better than dinner. Takeda had been a bit tempted to let Natsuki walk alone, which she would have preferred, but he believed it would have been ungentlemanly to allow his fiancée to go off on her own. She wished chivalry was dead and she briefly pondered if she could shoot it, preferably multiple times with her cannon.
The farewell was a passionless grunt from Natsuki. She walked off before he could kiss her; lately, the touch of his lips on even her cheek made her feel dirty and she could not suppress a shudder just from thinking about a kiss from him. She really detested considering what that might mean. By the time that she got to her apartment, her anger and trying not to consider the real reason she was so upset gave her a headache.
"Shit, do I have aspirin around here?" Natsuki wondered while massaging her temples.
That was a question that Shizuru would have known the answer to. The thought of Shizuru seemed to zap Natsuki of everything inside of her and she just fell out on the couch, unable to get up. She was not going to find out if she did have aspirin.
"Shizuru… I don't wanna get married…" she whimpered and whined to the still air. Well, she did not want to get married to Takeda and that admission was about the closest she would allow herself to consider the truth of her emotions.
Natsuki lay on her sofa and actually considered that maybe if she got in touch with her father, she could talk him out of making her marry Takeda. She knew that would not go over well, though. Each time she called, her father just went on about how happy he was and how he could not wait to meet her fiancé. She tossed her arm over her eyes, as if she was about to cry and she wished to hide it from the walls. She did not want to leave Windbloom or Garderobe behind just yet.
"I'm not ready to stop being an Otome or even the damn principal. I mean, I hate the damn paperwork, but the job isn't so bad. At least I'm making a difference. I don't want to go back home yet. I definitely don't want to go back to marry Takeda. I don't want to get married to him. I don't want to get married unless…" Natsuki bit her tongue, knowing what she was about to say.
She reminded herself that goal was out of reach. It was ruined by rage, bottled up emotions, and held tongues. Hopefully, something survived it. She would need at least a piece it or else she was certain she would wither away like a rose in the dark, dying a miserable death away from the sun, away from a love she was once so certain of. Tears slid down her cheek.
-8-8-8-8-
Nao frowned deeply; really, why did she have to get all of the hard jobs? She almost would rather deal with an enraged Viola than what she had to do. Really, talking to Shiho was annoying enough, but acknowledging that her Otome power was useful and not completely stupid was even worse.
Shiho laughed smugly after Nao explained the situation to her. "So, you need my help?" the pink-haired young woman said with a look on her face that made Nao just want to punch her in the jaw.
"It's not that I need your help. Our idiot principal needs your help. So how about you not be a complete jackass for ten seconds and help?" Nao proposed through gritted teeth. It would not be so bad if Shiho did not have that damned expression on her face, she thought.
"This is how you ask for help?" Shiho asked incredulously. She turned her nose up at the Column and scoffed.
"Yes, or would you rather see how Shizuru-san asks for help?" Nao countered sternly.
For a second, Shiho did not see how that was much of a threat, but then an unexpected chill raced down her back, frosting her spine over. There was just something in Nao's eyes that conveyed a message that let Shiho know that she did not want to deal with Shizuru right now. She gulped at the thought of the Third Column just from the strange look in Nao's eyes. She never had that reaction before, but it made her rethink her position on things.
Shiho suddenly smiled brightly. "Well, it is for our beloved Headmaster, after all," she remarked.
Nao smiled smugly now. "Yeah, that's what I thought."
Shiho muttered under her breath, pretty much cursing Nao out and wishing horrible things on the redhead. She then pulled out her "voodoo" doll and proceeded to crank it. "Maki maki…"
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: what things are Nao and Shiho up to? Natsuki calls a meeting to discuss the fact that she's leaving.