Archer75: It's been awhile, but still hanging there, been caught up with work and life, i almost forgot about this story it's a good thing i was browsing my old files the other day, i can't believe my last update was months ago. well were almost there 3 more chapters and we're done.

You can't remember when was the last time you felt safe, like nothing can go wrong. Since that night back at the caves the moment her blood touched your lips something within you opened, something that you've been trying to hide deep within you for a very long time, you felt lighter somehow, safe.

You've been travelling south for three days now just like you suggested, your instinct tells you to take this path. Your eyes barely left her throughout your journey, you always manage to find ways to touch her making lame excuses like removing an invisible dirt from her cheek or pulling something out from her hair, she would return you with grumbles and rude responses but she doesn't pull away, you were even mesmerize when she blushed one time making your heart skip a bit, aaahhhh you miss that feeling that only she can make, somehow just a little touch of her skin gives you the strength to keep on going, to keep hoping that somehow you can find a way to stop all of these to make all things better again, especially for her.

"Stop staring"

Her voice woke you up from your reverie "How can Natsuki be so sure that I'm staring at her?" she doesn't try to hide the fact that she has been staring for hours but she just likes to tease her.

"I can feel your eyes boring a hole at the back of my head since we left the cave. If you want to tell me something say it out loud I don't like it when you go inside my head"

"I wasn't "you still sound calm.

You were about to say something else when you senses came on high alert and you can tell by the way her shoulders stiffen that she felt it too.

"We are not alone. Prepare you selves" but before any of you could pull out your weapons at least ten men jumped from the branches of the trees and surrounded you.

"We mean no harm we are just passing through" Shizuru tried to reason out she can tell by the way they dress that these are not part of the group that has been after them.

"You were not asked to talk, get down from your horses." One of the men demanded.

Knowing that they have no other option they started to dismount from their horses but even before their feet touched the ground they were pinned down to the ground. Someone took their weapons away from them Natsuki tried to fought back but someone kicked her in the head, she barely recovered when she felt her body free from her restrain the next thing she felt were bodies flying over her then she heard shizuru's voice" nobody touches her!" she immediately get up and prepared to defend her companions but before any of them can move again a voice called out from the trees above them "enough!"

Mai saw a figure slowly moving above, when it finally landed before them she was surprise to see a girl on her early teens and she seems familiar she thinks she saw this girl before.

The girl moved closer and called the men to stand their ground "How have you been princess Shizuru?" upon mentioning her name the men moved backed, it's a good thing they were stopped to make further actions it just might have saved their lives, the princess's skill in combat is legendary.

Shizuru was surprise to see her but hid her reaction well she's not sure they are completely safe yet "aaahhh Mikoto san it has been awhile."

Now Mai remembered who she is 'princess Mikoto' the youngest sister of Prince Russo Shizuru's bethrode. Oooh this is going to be ugly especially if the prince is here.

Natsuki froze when she heard the title and the name of the person before them, she can't exactly remember when she heard it before but being around a royalty brings back a lot of painful memories, it awakens an old anger that she'd been trying to control for years.

"You need to come with us it's not safe here. We are going to talk when we get to the camp it's nearly dark we need to move"

Shizuru was a little hesitant after seeing Mikoto but right now they have no choice she's hoping that her brother is not with her, which is most unlikely but one can hope. She won't be able to hold Natsuki back if she went amok again. It's a good thing Natsuki doesn't recognize Mikoto's voice, yet, but she can tell something in her changed.

The journey to the camp was silent and uneventful. When they reach the area it was already dark and the camp is active "I'll take you to our leader come with me your companions can stay in one of the tents, my men will take care of them."

Shizuru was thankful for that little mercy, Natsuki was a little hesitant to let her go alone but she convinced her that it is safe she smiled when she reluctantly follow the others, knowing that she still cares even just a little bit makes her happy. She gave out a deep sigh of relief when she was sure they were out of sight "thank you" she gratefully turned to Mikoto, she doesn't have to say more the girl automatically understands.

"I just want to make sure that you will be able to rest for awhile before she and my brother rip each other's throats. Though I was surprised to see her with you" Mikoto calmly said.

"I was surprise when I found her too, she saved my life countless of times for the past weeks that we've been together."

"Are you?"

Shizuru was not sure what she's asking "what do you mean?"

"Together?" she smiled when she saw the other princess blush it's rare to catch her speechless.

"oh" the question caught her off guard "no, we are not together" though I wish we are. "You could have had us killed for what happened then why didn't you?" she stopped when she saw her turned to her and softly spoke.

"Because princess as hard as it might be I know my brother did that girl wrong and I understand her anger. When I saw her that night I felt her pain and when my brother admits to what he did, I can't really blame her."

Shizuru was surprise by how broad and open the mind of this young vampire is, her understanding of things is beyond her years. She knows that Mikoto is an empath but she also has a soft heart for humans. She brought her to a tent in the middle of the camp.

"Wait here" It took a little time before someone came out of the tent someone she's not even sure she'll ever see again.

"Mother"

She was engulf in a tight embrace, her arms worked on its own and held her mother tight, she don't know what to say, she's flabbergasted.

Her mother kissed her all over her face "I was so worried that I'll never see you again." When she looked up her mother's face is covered with tears.

She's really happy that she's here that she'd survive, then she remembered something "father?" her heart sunk when her mother shook her head. She was not able to do anything else but hold her again. She somehow knew that her parents could be gone but having this confirmation doesn't make it hurt less.

"Come inside there's someone you need to see"

When they enter the tent she was greeted by another warm hug this time from her ex fiancé or fiancé still? Right now her mind is still in awe in seeing her mother again.

"You're alive" The prince held her close "I thought we've lost you when we get to your castle and manage to save only your mother, she said they sent you away, we were hoping they didn't get to you. Thank Goodness."

She felt awkward and happy in seeing him once again "I'm happy that you are safe as well" she returned his embrace but not as earnest as his, her mind is running different possible scenarios when the two meet, but before she could break the news to him gently Mikoto did it for her, in a not so subtle kind of way.

"The slave that tried to kill you is with her."

Before she could open her mouth to explain things she was bombard by questions both from her mother and the prince. When she can't take it anymore she did the only thing she could think of "enough!" she was not prepared for the sudden burst of energy from her though, everyone in the tent felt it, not only the one's inside but everyone near the area apparently because before she can open her mouth again, Natsuki's already beside her with her guns.

Every one fell silent both from shock of Shizuru's outburst and Natsuki's sudden appearance "this does not look good" Shizuru said to herself, she held Natsuki's arm to calm her down just in case things end up badly.

Natsuki sniff "I now that smell" she said in a grim voice before quickly raising her guns towards the prince "it smells rotten and it's stinking this place to high heavens."

"How dare you insult me in my own territory!"

Natsuki fell silent for awhile before she gave out a deep sigh and put her guns back to her holsters "you know what? I'm tired of this I've been running from this for years I've been trying to forget about my past but you know what, I can never ran away from it no matter what I do, I'm just tired." She said with resignation and got out of the tent walking away trying to remember the way they've been she didn't get too far before she felt Shizuru's hand on her arm and she can hear Mai and Takeda's footsteps coming closer.

"Where are you going?"

"I believe I have already done my part princess you'll be safe here" she tried to pull her arm away from her but she won't let go.

"Please stay" Shizuru's emotions are in turmoil, she feels angry, scared, worried, sad and confused at the same time "please I need you here."

"You no longer need me. You're with your… kind now" she's trying so hard to hide her anger in that statement she probably caught Shizuru off guard by what she said because she felt her grip loosen she immediate pulled her arm back "you belong with them they can protect you better than I can." She did not wait for any reply she used her speed to get away from that place she needs to get as far away from them as possible she just want to be left alone. The past few days made her forget about her past she got more and more comfortable about having Shizuru around again too comfortable in fact that she felt protective of her just like before. Tonight's event reminded her of their true situation and why she ended up there in the first place. Her life sucks "stop following me" she have forgotten how fast she is, they've been at least 5 miles away from the camp, she tried to lose her so many times but she failed "go back princess, leave me alone."

"No!"

Natsuki stopped "what?"

Shizuru reached out for Natsuki's hands and glad that she didn't pull away "I said no" Natsuki's cheek is still as soft as she remembered it, she was surprised when she realized that her other hand is already cupping her face she remember moving them seeing no resistance from the other girl she felt a little at ease about the situation "I – I won't let you leave" she's been trying to control her feelings since in camp but she failed to hide the quiver in her voice "I won't let you go again."

Her statement doesn't sound right on Natsuki's ears this made her angry. She brush her hands away from her face "you may have forgotten something princess, you…don't…own…me. I believe I delivered my part of the bargain."

"Natsuki doesn't understand. I can't let her go. Because the last time that I did it almost killed me. Getting into that situation again, I'm not sure if I can-" before she can even finish her plea they felt something passed by their heads, when they turned Shizuru saw an arrow embedded to the tree behind them.

"Run" Natsuki pushed her back towards the camp, she can feel them coming and they are too many for them to handle.

Shizuru grabbed her arm and ran. She'll be damned if she left her there, from now on she'll make sure that where ever she goes she'll be with her. Even her guns won't be able to stop her; she'll steel all her bullets if she has too.

They didn't go that far when arrows rain down upon them, they tried to repel as much as they could "go back now" Natsuki said while she dodge one arrow from another.

Shizuru took her naginata and used it to block, she watched Natsuki do the same with her short sword, they used the trees for more protection.

Natsuki kneel and touched the ground she needs to know where their enemies are. It didn't take her long and it made her worry, she can sense over ten vampires nearby and there's more coming they won't be able to handle it all. She moved and positioned herself in front of Shizuru "you need to go now! Warn the others there's too many for both of us to handle you need to go now!"

Shizuru how ever was torn she can't leave her here she can't take them all alone "I'm not leaving you!" she pulled her back and blocked an arrow above their heads.

Natsuki pulled her behind a tree "you need to warn the others, they are too many of them, many will die if those things get there! There are children and women in that camp Shizuru go now! I'll try to hold them off" they ran and hid behind another tree when a new series of arrows flew towards their hiding place "please go now, stop thinking about me right now and think about your people they need you" Natsuki reached out and cupped her face "please Zuru" saying those last two words woke something inside Natsuki that she can't explain all she wants right at that moment is for the princess to be safe.

Hearing the name Natsuki used to call her when they were alone sealed it for her "fine! But you have to be careful and be safe don't try to be a hero and die on me Natsuki or I'll never forgive you" without even thinking twice she grab her and brought her lips on her "wait for me" she run like she never ran before she needs to warn the camp and bring help before- no she will be back and help Natsuki. She'll be safe, she has to.

Natsuki felt her left in haste. She prepared her exploding bullets. "Where ever you are right now leader, I owe you one." She pushed herself away from the tree that she's hiding and started firing to the areas where she felt them coming.

She knows this won't stop them completely but it can buy time for the others to come. She ran and dodge and fired that's all she could do for now "of shit!" she had no idea that she's running towards a clearing there won't be any trees to hide in here now. She felt another set of arrows flying towards her, she tried to dodge it as much as she can but some of it landed on her body. She just pulled them off and started shooting again she knows she's running out of bullets and worse she's not healing fast she has not fed for days "Well at least ill die fighting and not rotting in a cell in Alamdair. "

"Natsuki better be alive when I get there or I'm going to kill her twice over" she ran as fast as she could the Calvary on toe. She felt her heart stopped with what she saw next. Natsuki's in a clearing ahead wounded and bleeding she can tell by the way she moved that she's getting weak "no…no…no…Natsuki!" she can no longer think her feet ran faster than the wind, in just a blink of an eye she was slashing and screaming her way towards Natsuki. The others followed closely. Her eyes widened when she saw an arrow hit her chest and when Natsuki pulled it off blood spurt from the wound "Natsuki!" she felt her anger rose. Her body reacted to what she saw and anything and anyone that comes in her way turns into a dust in a matter of seconds. Before she could blink again she's already beside Natsuki who can barely stand, she lifted her and carried her away from the fight scene the other can take care of the rest since she killed most of their adversaries. Her priority right now is to get her to a safer place and feed her, she's not healing and it really worries her she's losing too much blood and fast the last time this happened was when…she doesn't want to think about it. She put her behind a giant tree with its roots rose from the ground enough to cover them both. "Natsuki" she tapped her cheeks to get her attention she's starting to lose her consciousness. "Natsuki c'mon you need to feed" she said after biting her own wrist and offered it to the girl "what?" she asked when her offer was rewarded by an incoherent answer.

"Just leave me here. I'll be fine." Natsuki said again but you can tell that talking alone took much of her energy.

"No you're not fine, you are not healing we both know that those arrows are poisoned. You need the strength to get back to the camp so we can work on the antidote" she tried to push her wrist to her again but Natsuki just turned her face away from it.

"just-just leave me here" Natsuki can feel herself slowly drowning into the abyss of consciousness.

"You already know my answer to that. Now fee—No, no, no" she shook her a little when she completely lose consciousness "you are not just gonna give up on me hear me Natsuki" She held her head back. She looked at her wrist and shook her head "why do we have to always do this?" she just sighed and sucks a mouthful of her blood and feeding the other girl herself.

She watched Natsuki's throat move. It only took a moment before she saw her wounds started to heal. When she looked at the field the fight was over it seems that they've lost a few but she's thankful that her friends are still standing. "OK Natsuki we need to go now, we need to-"she felt a little worried when the other girl is still unconscious. She should be awake by now her wound are completely healed "Natsuki?" she tap her cheek a little.

"Princess is Natsuki alright?" Tate asked while breathing heavily from running.

"I-I believe so. No I mean yes…yes she's alright we just have to bring her back to the camp for the antidote her injuries were severe but she's already healed." She said while gently lifting her up.

Mia came running "We already have the antidote some of the archers have it with them. The others who were injured by the arrowed already took some I got her some for her" Mai showed Shizuru a vial.

"Good, please give it to her" She sat down and held Natsuki while Mai poured the antidote down her throat. They waited a few moments still Natsuki didn't open her eyes. They looked at one another worry evident in their eyes Natsuki should be alright by now "May-maybe she just needs a little more time she was really hurt awhile ago and she barely fed for the past couple of days her body needs a little more time to heal. Let's take her back to the camp."

Everything seems calm around the camp except for the tent of the prince "We need to do something they almost found this place it's a good thing we stopped them before it happened we need to act now!" He's been pacing since they got back from the field.

"How are we going to do that when we have no idea where their lair is brother, everyone we sent to investigate didn't come back" Mikoto said calmly.

"We need to act now before it's too late. There are only a few of our kind is left, if we fail then…" his shoulder dropped in the idea of defeat.

Meanwhile in the healer's tent…

The healer has been working with Natsuki for awhile since he's got no one else to work on others were well and good before they could even reach the camp some only needed a few drinks of blood. He's been trying everything he knows but it doesn't seem to work he could not understand why the girl wont wake up the antidote seems to work perfectly with others and he can see that it does it's work on her too her body does not show the effect of the poison those assassins used. He decided to inspect her thoroughly. He used the scissors to cut her clothing. The arrow wounds are no longer evident in her body but he was puzzled when he saw a dark patch on her chest. His eyes went wide when he touched it for inspection and a portion of her skin turned into dust.

"Natsuki. Natsuki honey wake up"

She felt something gentle touched her cheeks

"honey c'mon now"

She shaded her eyes when she was greeted by a bright sunshine, she pulled herself up was confused when she saw the person who woke her up "Mom?" she reached out and touched her face "I'm dreaming. Your warm I can feel you. But-but it's impossible I-I was…Am I dead?"

"Your highness" the healer called for the princess and waved her in.

Shizuru can tell that something is not right, but she doesn't want to jump into any conclusion especially when it come to Natsuki "How is she?" she tried so hard not to show her concern in her voice.

The healer does not know how to explain the thing that is happening to the girl at the other side of the curtain he has never seen anything like this in his 500 years of experience "Your highness may I ask some questions regarding your companion?" he needs to thread this as gently as he can he does not want to add to the worry of the princess. When she nods she guided her in a corner for a more privacy "before you were attack did she show any symptoms of any illness?"

"I cannot recall any, she seems normal…well as normal as she can be, I mean she was in a good healthy condition."

"I see. I will be frank with you princess. I don't think I can help your friend."

"Why?" She's a little unnerved by what he said.

"Her situation is new to me I have never encountered this before. Please come with me." He brought her to Natsuki's bedside." He watched her eyes wide when he lifted the blanked covering Natsuki's body. " I have never seen this thing before I am hoping that it's not contagious. Please don't-" he grab her hand before she can touch the bruise "forgive me your highness. You cannot touch it. I'm afraid if you do you might speed up the process of decay."

"Decay?!" shock is an understatement about what she's feeling at that moment.

"Yes, I don't know really but her body is slowly decaying. As if she's – she's dying."

She felt her heart lipped "dy- no…no she can't be we gave her the antidote her wounds healed-"

"I'm not sure how it is princess but when I touched her bruise part of her skin turned into dust, I'm sure the antidote worked, but it seems that her body… no it seems that she's giving up I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do."

"Where am I ?" Her mother and her are taking a walk by the river.

"Don't you recognize this place dear?"

She looked around and she felt her heart leap. Wait leap? She felt her chest, indeed she has a heart beat she looked at her mother she was about to say something when she was tackled on the ground.

"Nat!"

She can't remember when the healer left her with Natsuki but when she looked up she was alone. Dying, she's dying. She can't bring herself to say the words out loud. She sat beside her bed and gently held her hand, her heart constricted when she saw the bruise widen and the skin around it look so dry, she's slowly turning into dust "The first time I saw you with your sister, you stopped my world, I made a lot of excuses just to see you, I barely sleep during those times, my mother started to question my absence but it was always worth it seeing you laugh and play with your sister, what really draw me in was your eyes they show so much, I just look at them and I always see life, it broke me when I saw it slowly diminish, I wanted it back so bad and for awhile I did and I never knew that I would be the one to take it away again…I…please…" she wipe a tear from her eye "if you can hear me please, don't leave me, those years without you were the darkest days of my life, it's like I'm there but I'm not, I existed but I was not living. Please open your eyes, you're my strength Natsuki, finding you again made me find the part of myself that I've lost when I watch you be taken that night, I don't know what else to do with my life, everything is so meaningless. If you leave me today I don't think I can keep going, I'll have no other reason to keep on living."

"What about your people princess?'

Shizuru was surprised when she saw Mikoto standing behind her " Mikoto I didn't hear you come in" she said before returning her attention to the girl the hand she's holding.

"We need you princess, your mother and my brother need you to help them plan for our next action." She gently said.

"I can't leave her here alone, I'm afraid that if I leave her for even just a second or even when I let go of her hand she would completely turn into dust."

Mikoto saw the bruise on the other girl's chest it's bizarre she never saw a bruise from a vampire before and this bruise is different it's growing slowly as if it's eating her up, she moved closer she was about to reach over the princess's shoulder when she felt a surge of emotion run through her that made her knees buckle and light headed "wooh" she said before grabbing the side the of the bed to steady herself.

Shizuru reached out with her other hand to assist Mikoto though her other hand is still on Natsuki's "are you alright?"

Mikoto pulled herself together having her gift is not easy especially in a battle where everyone's emotion is in turmoil but she learned to control it eons ago, it's been awhile since she was affected by an emotion like this, it's so strong both Shizuru and Natsuki's emotions right at that moment creates a spiral of energy that broke her defence "what did the healer say?'

"Well, he told me that he has no idea what's happening to her and she's dying. That's about sums it up."

"No one can help her princess but Natsuki herself." Mikoto said

"What do you mean?" she asked eyes never leaving Natsuki.

"She did it to herself."

This got Shizuru's complete attention.

Not hearing anything from Shizuru Mikoto touched Natsuki's arm "She's still in there princess but she's fading fast."

So i'm already working with the next chapter hope i could upload it before Friday.