Chapter 20: Special day
Shizuru stood in front of the closed door, wearing a violet kimono that emphasized her beautiful and graceful appearance.
"Natsuki-chan… Are you ready?" She asked in her melodic voice and waited patiently for a sign from behind the door. A high temptation was held behind these patience, she knew that the young girl inside was alone. She would just have to open the door to peek, finding a innocent excuse for looking inside without permission. It was a temptation; a temptation Shizuru however didn't wanted to share with anyone.
"Is this really ok Miss Viola?"
Her eyes wandered away from the door to the side where Aoi stood. Shizuru smiled towards Aoi and answered to her question. "Of course and Shizuru is fine. You aren't working today Aoi-san." Maybe it was selfish of her but some things were just to tempting to share, to show them to others and so Shizuru restrained herself from opening the door.
Aoi nodded. "I understand Shizuru."
The doorknob of the closed door was pushed down from the other side and the door opened with a swing.
"Are you two finished…?" Natsuki stepped out of her room, wearing a blue jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. Her eyes lingered fretful at Shizuru even as she closed the door.
"…why don't you beleaguer someone else? ... Do you think I'm a child who needs to be mothered?" she asked quiet annoyed over the effort of the two girls to wait for in front of the door.
Shizuru and Aoi interchanged a look while Natsuki watched them riled… Aoi lost the battle against her own nature first over Natsukis question. She laughed cheerfully followed by Shizuru who drew her head to the side and giggled. Natsuki could only gape at them before her patience broke. "…what the…STOP LAUGHING dammit." She shouted. She shouldn't had done this, instead she should had known better; that it wouldn't do anything, that it would only encourage the laughs.
Frustrated, the young girl stormed past the two older laughing girls not in the mood for this now. She lacked sleep so it was natural that she couldn't stand noisy people in her tired state.
For Christ sake even on a Sunday they don't give me a break
The reason for her restlessness was secret and yet so simple, maybe it was laughable to hide it from others but not for her. Secretly she read books and learned at the midnight hours, whereby her sleep became lesser but her wisdom widened. The nights were her only sanctuary, a time in which she was alone, on which no one disturbed her after she paid her good nights to them and went to her room, out of respect or because they were tired themselves and got to sleep too.
Natsuki didn't know why they did this but was grateful in a way for this given privacy, these times where she could do what ever she wanted without being seen. It was disconcerting, disconcerting for her to admit that she Natsuki Kuga, aliases Cold Heart, who never read or learned on her own, did now this without earning anything from someone. But she did it for herself… Admit it or even tell it someone? Natsuki would rather glue her own mouth shut.
She never understood everything that she read in the book which had borrowed from Satoshi, it was hidden between her clothes in the drawer. She restrained herself from asking for explanations if she didn't get what was written inside. She was quite able to find it out alone. Like a young child who made its first step, secretly, not letting someone watch.
With a frustrated sigh Natsuki went the stairs down, not really paying attention to Satoshi who stood in front of the main door. She wouldn't have minded some more sleep but somehow it never went the way she wanted or whished it to go.
"Good afternoon Miss Kuga" Satoshi greeted her.
"What's good about it…?" Natsuki stopped speaking as her gaze went to Satoshi, her eyes popped almost out. It took a moment for her to get used to the new sight of the man in front of her. Never had Natsuki imaged that the man owned anything more than suits… he had more and the proof stood right there in front of her.
Clothed in linen pant and a white polo shirt with a pocket on which a sunglass hung out Satoshi watched her, his brows in a questionably gesture raised. His brown orbs followed her studying gaze at his clothes. The corner of his lips slowly went up into a cheeky smile. Quite the teaser he was he could not miss this opportunity.
"Never thought I could wear something else?" he asked cheekily.
"Hmpf…" Natsuki turned her head away. A click sound and a following giggles caught her attention. Her fine blue hair swayed as she turned her head around, a stern look adorned her face as she studied Aoi and Shizuru who stood together at the end of the stairs. She narrowed her eyes, noticing the small silver metallic object in Aoi's hand that revealed itself as a camera, the source of the click sound.
"What the hell did you two do now?" A vein popped up on Natsukis forehead. The answer was obvious but nonetheless she had asked.
Satoshi meanwhile went to the two girls and looked at the camera screen, his smile widened.
"You two have good timing. That's a great picture." He laughed and looked at Natsuki who didn't need long to get the hint from him. She walked to the other three to get a look herself. She couldn't believe what she saw on the screen, Natsuki looked like a huffed child right next to Satoshi who smiled at her in the photo. They really had dared to take a photo from her. In her mind she already saw herself taking the camera and throwing it against the next wall, burning the remaining trash with fire…
The camera was shut down and put back into a handbag from Aoi while Natsuki considered how she could get rid of the picture and the camera.
"So is everyone ready?" Satoshi asked the group. Aoi and Shizuru nodded. "Do you need something before we go Miss Kuga?"
It would have been actually a big surprise if she would have been in agreement with everyone else. The main reasons for this was the bugging feeling inside her that she forgot something. It was something important! There was something that she had forgotten and it was today. But no matter how hard Natsuki tried the answer remained reticent.
"How about I finally get to know what you have planned." Natsuki asked Satoshi.
"I am taking your advice." Satoshi answered while Natsuki knitted her brows together, wrinkles showed up between them, she had no clue. Satoshi smiled again at her reaction, he knew this and for now he would even let it be this way. "…We will do a family excursion."
"Oh I see…well then" With a swift motion Natsukis body turned around, she was ready to go up the stairs, to enter her room where a warm bed waited. "…I wish you fun at your excursion." She already saw herself lying again peacefully, making up the lost sleep. No one would be here; no disturbance would occur and maybe she could even finish the book after a nice nap.
A hand placed itself on Natsukis shoulder and the young girl hung her head down. It didn't seem like she could… they never would leave her alone… the world could be so inequitable sometimes and exceedingly not to her.
Satoshi led Natsuki out of the house, his arm around her shoulder followed by the girls. He had no intention of leaving her behind even if she would chain herself to a street lamp. Not after what Shizuru and he had planned for the day.
"You didn't listen to what I've said, did you Miss Kuga?"
Natsuki looked up at him. "Something with family and excursion but I don't understand what I have to do with it since it is for the…"
"…Family…" finished Satoshi Natsukis sentence, looking warmly at her. "…and that's why I take you and the other two with Shizuru and me, because you a part of our family."
Natsuki didn't reply to the last part of his statement. She would have been able to get away if he would have left it just by taking the three with him. Like always that man knew exactly what he had to say to make her quite. Natsuki hated it because she did not really understand why she listened to it. Did not understand why her otherwise easily cold spoken insults and counters stuck in her throat. She had no chance but to go with them if she wanted to avoid any more strange comments from him.
Something else clicked in her mind about what Satoshi just had said before… three? Didn't he say three people? With a turn of her head she looked behind searching for someone else… only Shizuru and Aoi walked behind them. No one else, but she was hundred percent sure that the man had just said something about three people. Turning her head back, Natsuki was about to ask Satoshi as he beckoned to someone at a red convertible which stood at the gate. The third person he had talked about was the young maid Carol.
Wearing a light orange dress, Carol stood with a small basket in her hands by the car. Before they reached the car Satoshi reached into his pants pocket. Humming happily to himself as he took a bunch of keys out.
At the car Natsuki was finally released from Satoshi. She would have been released sooner but a part of Satoshis mind told him otherwise. He knew what a sneaky little one the young girl could be if she really wanted and this was something he had to beware.
Carol greeted everyone with a bow and Satoshi took the basket from her, packing it in the boot where two other bags already were. He peered over the boot and saw Carol looking at the ground while Natsuki scowled for a moment at her and then looked away, crossing her arms.
It wasn't Natsukis fault that the young girl almost shrieked as she looked at her. She hadn't the intention right now to scare anyone not even Carol. She already had a nice chit-chat with Satoshi about the young girl and knew now why she worked in his mansion. It was enough information for Natsuki to leave her alone.
Satoshi stepped between the two girls, his brows raised. "You'll scare people away if you keep that scowl Miss Kuga…" Natsuki looked bored up, wondering what else the old man expected from her. Should she jump happily around like a five year old girl maybe?
"How about you try to smile a bit more?" Satoshi watched her for a moment but Natsuki made no effort to raise even the corners of her mouth instead her eyes narrowed. He sighed and looked over to his daughter who watched everything together with Aoi. They eyes meet and Shizuru stepped next to Natsuki, smiling first at her and then at her father.
Natsukis eyes twitched from Shizuru to Satoshi who both shared a short glance at each other before eyeing her. These two were up for nothing good again. It was too obvious for her, since her little chat with Satoshi; she felt a little change in the attitude between him and his daughter. Its was good that the two talked more often now but hell, if she would have known what kind of consequence this brought for her, she would had left them alone and shut her mouth.
"Ara is something wrong with Natsuki-chan?" asked Shizuru while studying Natsuki.
"…she won't smile..." Satoshi replied.
"… Hm maybe she is just too tired to do so, father…" Shizuru suggest a strange glimmer shimmered over her eyes.
"… I wonder what Miss Kuga is doing the nights when she should sleep? ..."
Natsuki hands slowly balled into fists, to be talked like this when she was standing right in front of them. It was not the first time that they did this but lately, the two teased Natsuki together and this was far more frustrating than to deal with just one.
Shizuru gave her father a smile, shaking her head. "…father..." The way it left Shizurus mouth it sounded to Natsuki almost like the older girl had just chided her own father. Satoshi in the meantime stood calm there, looking full of expectation at Shizuru. "…it's indecent to ask a young girl what she is doing at night. Especially in a difficult age as Natsuki-chan is…" explained Shizuru.
Natsuki had no clue what Shizuru was talking about as Satoshi's mouth formed to an ´o´, making a light bow to her and his daughter. "I'm really sorry Miss Kuga for being indecent. It was tactless from me to have asked something like this… I hope you can accept my apology too, Shizuru."
Natsuki didn't understand the world anymore. The old man had asked her what she was doing the nights over. It wasn't like she would have told him but… What was so indecent about it and not to forget what had her age to do with it anyway?
"What are you two talking about?" Natsuki asked sharply before giving the two a warning look. Satoshi coughed into his balled hand not really sure if he should laugh or tell what Shizuru had meant.
"You really don't know Miss Kuga?"
Frustrated Natsuki crossed her arms. "How about you enlighten me?"
"Now you begin to get indecent Miss Kuga. To expect this from me…"
Shizuru giggled and Natsuki shot her an insult expression. "Stop mocking me and say it or I won't come with you."
Of course she regretted these words right after Shizuru whispered the meaning of her words in her ear. These words repeated themselves inside Natsukis head before it turned red. Shameless was not the right word that would even hit the button full to describe Shizurus words.
puberty! screamed Natsuki in her mind to herself not really paying attention to the others who had enter the car. For Natsuki it was clear that this family was crazy, crazy and shameless. All their members had nothing better to do than to talk in riddles, never talking clear, tease her and make shameless comments. But who could she talk to; it was her own fault that she was in such a situation. The time to back-pedal, to get out of this had already collapsed behind her, consumed by the darkness of the past.
A light touch on her back let her stop thinking and she looked up, seeing Shizuru who made a slight gesture to the car with her head.
"The others are waiting Natsuki-chan." Shizuru softly said.
At times like this, it always pissed her off to see that always calm and polite smile that barely left her lips. But it was also at these times in which she felt the care and worry in the words which left the older girl so naturally. The way she handled her even after she had hurt her with a dagger, insults and tried to frighten her. Natsuki wasn't sure how she should think about her. She didn't want someone near her but neither did she push the older girl away.
Not saying anything she let Shizuru first enter the car and followed her right after and the car departed away from the mansion with the three older girls sitting on the back seat of the car and Carol in the co-driver seat while Satoshi drove at a steady speed along the street through the city only stopping by red traffic lights.
The warm wind whipped against Natsukis face through the window. Her head leaned on her palm. Her eyes barely taking notice of the passing surroundings, she had no idea where the trip would bring her nor did she have a clue what the man in the driver seat really had planned.
The exhaustion of the sleepless nights took the upper hand, her eyes closed slowly and Natsuki dozed away not making a fuss about where this drive would bring her.
A small part of Natsuki filled itself with relief. Relief about the change of surroundings, to be outside and see more than only ceilings and walls that had yet become so familiar. A house that let her feel like it was her habitat for years. The days, the time everything seemed to be endless inside. Minutes elapsed slowly, taking an amount of endurance to pass by. It enabled her to learn; to study all kinds of things she never had known, never had seen before. Things she had never understood. Everyone helped her to learn, to understand and the time would by each new step begin to elapse…
But all in all things never hold long enough to cover every part of the mind. Like days elapse through the time, like cold ice begins to melt under the bright sun so fade the excitement to learn more and boredom and tiredness takes over. Tiredness of the non-occur, boredom for the waiting of a sign. It made the patience thin to wait and made the standing still an unbearable torture, because it was still outside or was it not?
Natsuki still wondered if someone really was outside who wanted her life. Wondered if the occurrence was in reality nothing, and had nothing to do with each other and were mainly just a big coincidence. What kind of proof was shown to hold her where she was right now? Where was the proof that she was safe there…
It gave none just words which were told to her… nothing more…
Shizuru and Aoi schmoozed with each other about the new pictures which Aoi had taken awhile ago. As the car drove a sharp twist everyone inside the car slid a bit to the side. A thump and a new weight on Shizurus shoulder distracted the older girl from her chat and her head made a turn to the side, seeing a sleeping Natsuki resting her head against her shoulder. Hushed snores escaped the young girl.
Aoi peered over, giggling low with a hand in front of her mouth. In a gently gesture Shizuru placed her index finger on her own lips and Aoi nodded understandingly, leaning back into her seat.
After two long hours through woods and small settlements the drive ended near a big field where people had constructed some huge tents and booths. The car was parked and the motor sounds stopped.
Satoshi woke gently Carol up before he took a look at the other three in the backseat. Aoi and Natsuki slept both soundlessly while Shizuru greeted him with a smile.
"You could have also taken a short nap Shizuru my dear."
Shizuru shook her head. "I liked to enjoy the outlook of Kyoto while we were driving."
Satoshi nodded, looking at the blue haired girl who still used Shizurus shoulder as rest. Wrinkles showed between her two brows and a scowl on her face. Satoshi couldn't help but chuckle inner at this sight and his eyes went back at Shizuru.
"We have still some things to do…" Satoshi let his gaze fell over the field. "…shall we start?"
With a nod Shizuru carefully woke Aoi…
Loud music boomed over and awoke the sleeping girl from her dreamless sleep. Disoriented, Natsuki rose into a sitting position, wiping first the reminding of her sleep away with her hand and then stretching her arms into the air. It felt like she had slept for hours…
The sun stood already on the highest point for the day. Natsuki yawned a last time before her eyes scanned the area, letting them linger on the big field in front of her which looked full of booths and tents like a small festival.
People walked around, entering tents or looking at the booth. Kids ran and laughed holding balloons in their small hands. Her green orbs with the studying gaze darkened. Such a frustrating sight… for what was she brought here?
"Did you sleep well Miss Kuga?" a girlish voice came from the side and Natsuki grumbled in response.
"Where are the other's, kitty?" she asked without changing the direction of her gaze.
Carol stood next to the car, looking tensed at Natsuki who made no effort to look at her. Just like Mr. Viola had asked her she had waited till Natsuki woke up…
"Mr. Viola and the others had something to do and went ahead…"
"And left you as my babysitter here…" Natsuki jumped over the closed door of the car to get out, not waiting for a response. She took a deep breath full of fresh air. The corners of her mouth went up into a smile, an emotionless one. Her hands hide inside the pocket of her hooded sweatshirt.
Walking to the crowd of people she left the car behind… At least she wouldn't scare people away because she didn't smile.
Carol tried to follow silently. But only a single moment of inattention and she lost track of Natsuki. With a helpless expression Carol looked around trying to find Natsuki again that proved itself harder since she wasn't really big enough to see much from of her point of view.
Carols eyes caught for a second Natsuki who went into a small tent. She followed her into the tent before she would lose track again. The tent exposed itself as a horror labyrinth. It was really not the young maid's day, beside her anxiety of bullies; she also had a great fear for horror labyrinths. Her legs felt like lead but she had promised Mr. Viola that she would company Natsuki even if it would mean going into a horror labyrinth…
The labyrinth was dank, whispers and shrieks clangourous thru the dark road mixed with monster like roars. The lights went on and off at random.
A familiar shriek echoed across the road. A familiar one which caused Natsuki to listen attentively and she turned around, ignoring the appeared afterimage of an alien behind. Her legs followed the road back to the source of the shriek.
"If you scarred little girl you can come with us…" a boyish voice said.
"…don't worry we won't do anything to you." A second voice ended the sentences of the first one.
Natsuki went around a corner, her hands still inside her pockets. Her head titled for a moment to the side as she watched the show in front of her. The young blond maid pressing her back against a glass wall and in front of her two boys who looked like they were Natsuki's age maybe even a bit older.
None of the three noticed the presence of Natsuki.
Natsuki shook her head as she heard the pointless trials of the boys to get Carol walking with them. Some guys never realized when they were not needed, just like these two who scarred the blond girl more with their obtrusive affectation as anything else. Not that it bothered Natsuki to see such a thing; she wasn't involved so she couldn't care less about it.
Her smile dropped as a little voice told her otherwise. It was low to leave the girl to herself here. Natsuki grumbled to herself ´that's all her fault that I am this way´. She walked to the three and placed her arm right above Carol's head, ignoring the boys who eyed her.
"Scarred kitty?"
Carols eyes went wide as Natsuki looked down at her. It was a blessing to see a familiar face again and the same time a curse because of the not so happy expression which the older girl wore and the dim light that shadowed the face.
"I…I..." Carol couldn't say any more as the taller of the boys began to talk.
"Hey are you two friends? How about we get through the labyrinth together?"
Natsuki drew her gaze away from Carol to the boys, looking coldly.
"Sorry but I don't think that you are poised for such a trip…" she said coolly.
"What?" the two boys looked at each other before their gaze fell back at Natsuki who pointed with her finger up, smirking as their eyes went to the ceiling and the spot light got on. Something huge rushed right down on the boys…
The two hadn't really a clue what was going on as they watched the thing. The monster like roaring from the object however gave them finally a thought and they freaked out, taking to their heels and vanishing deeper inside the labyrinth.
Natsuki shook her head again, inspecting the fallen thing. Like everything else in this labyrinth it was old but nonetheless it still didn't lack the task for that it was constructed. Natsuki heard a soft whimper and turned around to see Carol crouching, her hands over her ears.
Natsuki scratched the back of her head. She didn't know what to do with such a scarred kid. Frustrated she sighed and walked back to Carol, snapping her finger on the young girl's forehead. It was a light touch and Natsuki barely used any strength. In the end she just wanted to get the girls attention.
Carol looked up from her position, touching the sniped skin on her forehead. Her eyes trailed questionable up to Natsuki. She was still scarred and not happy to be here in such a dark place.
"Don't tell me kitty is scarred of some wax figures?"
Ashamed Carol looked down. "It came so suddenly and…"
"…look closer at it." Cut Natsuki in.
Carol looked at Natsuki who patted with a smirk, the fallen down monster behind her… now that she looked at it, it wasn't that scary anymore.
"…It looks like an old shrunken man…" The young girl stated, blushing while Natsuki looked first at her and then at the small wax like cobalt that showed his residual yellow teeth's.
Natsuki resumed her walk along the road, heading to the other end of the labyrinth. She had lost interest in the labyrinths long ago and had just walked in to pass some time, peering over her shoulder for a moment she noticed that Carol was still there, looking down on the ground. Natsuki stopped with her walk.
"Do you want to stay the night here?" Natsuki asked, and resumed her walk, knowing that the young girl didn't like it here.
"N-no." stammered Carol before she followed Natsuki. Not to close, giving some space to the older girl.
As Natsuki left the labyrinth, she looked rather bored despite the fact that Carol was holding her sweatshirt on her back and had done that for the whole walk since she had been frightened again by another wax figure.
"We are outside so let go of me." Said Natsuki while looking around for something more interesting to pass time and of course to look for the others and greet them ala cold-heart art.
Carol let go of Natsuki, blushing. "I'm sorry."
"If you don't want to get lost you better go back to the car and don't hang around me."
With her point made clear Natsuki went away leaving Carol by herself. The young girl wondered what she should do now. She did not really want to follow Natsuki since she had no idea what the girl would do with her if she didn't do what she said. Without any orientation she walked around looking from side to side hoping to see anything what could lead her back to the car.
Unfortunately she looked a bit too long and bumped into the two boys she had met in the horror labyrinth before.
"I'm really sorry." Carol apologized while bowing.
The shorter boy had through the bump from Carol spilled his Cola on the ground.
"Ah I just brought the Cola." He yammered, starring first at the spilled Cola and then at Carol.
"How are you going to make up for it?" asked his taller friend.
"Nothing of the sort will she do." Said a third voice into the round and a new Cola tin flew through the air and was caught by the smaller one. He looked surprised at the tin. In the meantime Carol was snatched away from the rather confused boys.
"Mi-Miss Kuga?"
"Be quiet ok just be quiet…" dammit now I'm feeling like a babysitter
With Carol in tow Natsuki wandered through the park, looking at the different booths but not stopping for a while. On a shooting gallery they finally took a break.
"Isn't that Miss Kuga?"
Natsuki and Carol looked both to the owner of the shooting gallery and Natsuki was evident surprised to see Officer Yamamoto there.
"What are you doing here officer?" Natsuki asked while checking the guns which lay in front of them.
Nick leaned his arms on the table; no one was there right now so he was allowed to have a little chat.
"I'm helping out a friend of mine and what are you doing here Miss Kuga?" he said, smiling at the two.
"Good question… did you see the old man and his daughter?"
"You mean Mr. Viola and Shizuru-san? I'm sorry I haven't… how about you pass some time and try to hit the red points with some shots? My treat of course."
Natsuki didn't reply and instead took the second small colour gun. Nick started the machine which let the targets move up and down behind him, watching how Natsuki straightened out her arm and aimed for the targets, taking her time, scanning every up and down moving target and then she pulled the trigger…For Nick she looked like a good shot who had shooting practice before…
Bang´
The first shot rang out and the colored bullet grazed the first target barely… the gun had a slight recoil, Natsuki hadn't caught it. A little mistake on her side, out of mistakes people learn and so did she as she set for the same target again. This time prepared for the recoil.
The trigger was pulled again. It hit and she shot some more, letting the bullets fly out one after another without a break… Four times…with each pulled trigger a bullet left the gun. Four shots fell and four targets got down. Some people around the shooting gallery stopped and watched the show.
Natsuki took a moment to fix some new targets. Not paying any attention to the people around her. She knew how to shot; she had done it before with a shotgun, shooting tins from a fence. Not only a shotgun… she had shot with a small gun before too, only once. The gun was similar to the one she used then but her targets unlike now weren't a round shield or a tin, and unlike now the gun back then was real…
The triggers click sounds were drowned out by the shots…three times and each shot got one target down again.
Natsuki tried again to shot. But no bullet left the gun. The ammo was empty and so she laid the gun back at the table, receiving applause from all sides.
Natsuki looked around checking for the first time how much attention she had drawn. She didn't like it. Being the centre of attraction let her always feel uncomfortable. As fast as she could she made her way away not wanting to get any more attention.
Someone clapped as Natsuki turned around a tent. It was Satoshi who had watched from afar the whole show.
"Your talent is splendid Miss Kuga, your surprise me more and more."
"You're alone?" Natsuki asked while searching for a moment for the other two but didn't find them so she looked back at Satoshi.
"For now yes…" he said and peered at Carol who had finally caught up to them. "…Miss Ichita-san could you came with me for a moment. We will be right back Miss Kuga."
Satoshi and Carol walked away from Natsuki, talking with each other a few sentences. They departed and only Satoshi came back while Carol smiled and waved to them before she went away.
"You should enjoy it here more Miss Kuga."
They walked along the booths with Satoshi leading the way.
"Relax when someone is ostensibly after my life?"
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…" they stopped in front of a small fountain with goldfishes in it and some water white and pink lilies, which floated on the waters surface "…but over wariness can sometimes blind the owner…"
A small dragonfly flew other the water. Small circles formed as air pressed against the transparent surface by the rapid flapping of the dragonfly's wings. The wings shimmered in all kinds of colours like a rainbow as the sunlight reflected on them. Carefully it landed on a water lily.
The flower moved and swung from left to the right a bit, moved by the movement of the fishes underneath the water. The dragonfly flew up only to land again as soon as the swings stopped. Natsuki and Satoshi watched this spectacle quiet some time. Each time the dragonfly re-landed it got slower, probably getting tired.
"…and it weakens the usually high guardedness for danger…" Stated Satoshi, a coin was thrown in the fountain from a passing passant and once again Natsuki saw the dragonfly rise into the air for a moment…
for the last time…
A fast object passed by and from one of the next moment the small dragonfly vanished. Natsuki looked up; searching for it but all she saw was a bird that sat on a roof of a booth near the fountain. A closer look at it showed her where the dragonfly had vanished to, captured by the beak of the bird.
"It was to busy to watch what happened underneath the water that it completely forgot the other things that could danger it too…"
"I'm not a dragonfly." Muttered Natsuki and got petted on her head from Satoshi.
"It was just a passing by example…" Satoshi chuckled, leading Natsuki away from the fountain.
Time passed by and Natsuki and Satoshi meet Shizuru at a little café drinking tea.
"How is the tea Shizuru, my dear."
Shizuru looked up to the two approaching people and smiled.
"It's fine."
Shizuru sipped her tea out and stood up, joining the two. They reached the middle of the area where a huge campfire was prepared.
"Hm I wonder where the other two may be?" questioned Satoshi.
"If you mean the two maids they are across there at the booth." Natsuki pointed at a booth some meters away from the campfire.
"Could you two please go ahead? I have something I must arrange…we will meet later in the tent." With that said Satoshi went away and the girls walked to the other two at the booth.
- - - - - -
The campfire was started and people gathered around. Distant from all of the noise sat Shizuru and Natsuki on a bench. Sitting tacit they're, alone, watching the sky, a beautiful one colored into a red and orange shaded by the undergoing sun.
Natsuki arms were outstretched, placed on the bench's back rest. Her head leaned back. As much as she enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, she was irritated by the quietness of Shizuru who sat right next to her. "Why didn't you go with the other two?" Natsuki still starred up not taking her gaze away.
Shizuru furled the fan in her hand shut. "I wanted to keep Natsuki company…" and placed it on her chin, her head titled to the side. The glow of the flaming camp fire dancing on her fine hair. The arm on the rest behind her moved.
"… Does Natsuki-chan not enjoy my presence?" she asked innocently seeing how the green orbs peered out of the corner of the eyes to her. Natsuki kept quiet.
Natsuki broke the quietness; concerned words left her mouth. "Why do you bother to be around someone like me?" They were so soft spoken that it was a merely whisper. Natsuki let her eyes wander back at the sky asking herself why she had asked. What kind of answer did she want to get? Would expect. Natsuki wanted to slap herself, she shouldn't care why… But now that the question was out, she waited for the answer.
Don't trust anyone her mind nearly scolded her.
in the end you will be alone again it reminded her.
Her protective side was trying to keep her safe. Sometimes she wanted it to stop, to leave her alone. But it never stopped. Never leaved her alone…
you know why Natsuki knew, she always carried it with her. It was her curse, her past.
Shizuru studied Natsukis expression, seeing the angriness in these eyes. She knew that Natsuki waited for her to answer, one that had a thousand options and would take an amount of time to list them all considering among them which one was the right. Shizuru only had one, her own answer, and one that not needed to be listed, not needed to be considered. With a clap the fan opened, hiding half of her face.
"Isn't that obvious…" Natsuki watched Shizuru, taking her arms away from the bench rest. Irritated by the fan that prevented her from seeing what kind of smile the girl wore if she even smiled behind it.
"I don't know what you mean…" Her hand reached forward, taking the fan away from Shizuru without resistance. "… tell me." Her voice was demanding and her hand griped around the closed fan. The green of her eyes darkened, starring coldly into the older girls eyes.
Her patience was running thin. She wanted to know. But Shizuru kept still silent and that irritated Natsuki more and more. Looking at the fond smile, the calm expression she felt once more the mysterious aura, which surrounded sometimes the older girl. She was speechless by this presence but managed to keep her mask of coldness. She had to be.
"…because I like Natsuki." Shizuru said in a matter-of-fact statement, not hesitating not loosing her fond smile.
Natsuki could feel her pulse increasing. "Ba-Baka!" She scolded. "…don't say something like this…"
so easily
Annoyed she gritted her teeth, not liking the answer she had heard. But to her own surprise she wasn't angry at Shizuru more about the things she had said so carefree. Blood warmed her cheeks. Why was she blushing? Natsuki couldn't tell but she knew that she didn't want to have someone who cared for her, liked her. Wondering why the girl could not understand it and constantly said things like that…
Natsuki turned her head away, she wanted to hide the blush wanted to avoid looking in those eyes right now. She knew that the older girl had heard the angry tone in her voice. She didn't care.
A part of Shizuru hurt. Natsuki believed that her answer was said too easily. But it wasn't. It would never be. Saying I like you wasn't said just because it crossed the mind, at least not for Shizuru.
"I didn't mean to bother Natsuki-chan…" The younger girl snorted, her eyes closed.
"…but I really meant every word I said."
"Don't…" Natsuki tried to control the strength of her hand to not break the fan. "…come too close to me." Natsuki was the one whom people try to avoid encountering. She couldn't blame anyone. She knew that she was different. That somehow she was not the same as the people in this city…
The other girl was somehow like her, not from here. But at the same time still so very different…
"Does Natsuki-chan hate me that much?" She heard Shizuru whisper. It sounded almost as if it had hurt the older girl. Hurt by the question, by the unknown answer that could follow. She didn't know. It sounded like a concern from deep inside. Natsuki wasn't sure. Asking herself if she hated her? …
The time had passed since she had. Natsuki was sometimes pissed off or annoyed by her. It was everything but not hatred. Not anymore…
A moment passed in silence and like so often. Natsuki broke it, the unbearable quietness that lingered between them. "… I cause sorrow for everyone who gets to close to me…" she wanted to see Shizuru face, her expression. What kind of one she gave her…
But Shizuru was no longer there. Gone and she hadn't noticed how.
Out of the blue arms shot from behind encircling around Natsuki's neck and Natsukis body stiffened under the sudden embrace. She could see Shizurus head which appeared on her right side. She felt the warmth of her touch, of her breath.
"… It's ok Natsuki…" Shizurus hot breath tickled. "…you don't need to worry so much…anymore sorrow is something that can be overcome…" you are not alone
"You-you're weird." It was again one of these answers Natsuki hadn't expected. She felt lost without knowing why. Her body began to relax into the warmth. It was a touch too comfortable for her to have those slender arms encircled around her neck. On the other hand she wouldn't have minded to stay like this longer. It gave her a feeling that she couldn't describe.
Shizuru nuzzled her nose lightly in the blue mane, enjoying each moment. "You are such a good girl Natsuki-chan."
"I'm not a good…" She muttered her cheeks shading into a deeper red, her eyes closed as she leaned her head back. "…stop hugging me. People will get the wrong idea when they see us." Even if her words were meant to make some space between them, Natsuki didn't move away. Her body refused.
Through the embrace Natsuki felt Shizuru chuckling. Her body shivered slightly as Shizuru nuzzled her neck, her breath caressing the skin.
"I thought Natsuki-chan doesn't care what other people think." Natsuki could hear the teasing tone.
"I don't care." She stated catching one of the hands with her own. Her head turned slowly to the side and their faces were only an inch away from each other, their foreheads touching. They stayed like this… so close… for a moment…
Shizuru sighed inwardly. It was a pity that time was running out. She had to get Natsuki ready.
"Close…" She inhaled the air, which Natsuki breathed out, her free hand travelling to Natsuki's neck. "… your eyes."
Natsuki breath stopped. The air had stuck on its way from her lungs to her mouth somehow. It felt awkward to be so close right now with the older girl, they noses slightly touching. Like so often Natsuki couldn't get what Shizuru was thinking or what she wanted to gain from such a request. Not even the look into these red orbs helped her to figure it out. The hand in her own squeezed her.
"Please." Shizuru added to her request, making sure that their eyes looked into each others, capturing Natsuki with her gaze.
Sensing that Natsuki wanted to get away from her, she guided her hand which lay on Natsukis neck slowly to the shoulder. Natsukis body tensed and a sharp breath escaped her.
"It won't be long." Shizurus hand wandered further down along the arm and down to Natsukis other hand, which was desperately gripping the fan.
"If you try anything funny…" It sounded so weak. She was captured but not unable to move. Her own hand left Shizuru's and grabbed the collar of her kimono. "…you will regret it." Her hands dropped back to her lap and she didn't know why she did it, but just like Shizuru had asked her she closed her eyes.
The last thing that came into her view was the fond smile from the chestnut haired girl. And then it turned all dark around her. The warmth on her forehead left as Shizuru moved a bit away, taking her hands from Natsuki and unbinding the red sheet from her wrist.
Something was placed over her head and Natsuki shifted away. She tried to open her eyes but the softness followed her and was placed over her lids before she could. It encircled around her head and was knotted there.
"Relax…" Shizurus soothed Natsuki right before the hands could reach the red sheet that was bound over her eyes. Natsuki hands dropped and Shizuru moved around the bench, pulling Natsuki on her feet, the fan taken and packed away.
She followed the hands on her own which lead her somewhere… anywhere without resistance, without knowing where. The sound of talking and feting people distanced more and more, they walked away. Natsukis nose smelled the jasmine scent, the scent of Shizurus perfume that lay in the air, her nose refused to smell anything more than it.
"How long are you going to play this stupid game?" questioned Natsuki grabbing the hand to give her question more enforce.
"Just a bit more Natsuki-chan." Shizuru replied squeezing the hand back.
It took more time than Natsuki liked it to take. Her mouth opened again and she wanted to say something but a slender finger on her lips stopped her. They had stopped walking, standing somewhere alone.
"I will now loosen the blindfold but Natsuki-chan has to promise not to peek till I say so."
what am I, a pet?
Shizuru felt the disapproval in Natsukis voice as the corners of her lips went down.
"It won't be long Natsuki-chan please just this once." Pleaded Shizuru, her hand pulled away from Natsukis. They stood in front of a huge tent of which the entrance was behind Shizuru. She would lead the young girl in a few moments inside.
Shizuru snuck silently behind Natsuki, feeling the surprise in the little jerk as she touched her shoulders. The young girl was so tensed under her touch that Shizuru had to fight hard to not just take this opportune to hug her again. One of her hands travelled forth over Natsukis eyes while the other unbolted the knot of the blindfold.
"You can open them as soon as were inside."
Even with cloth away from Natsukis eyes she was blinded. The hand over her eyes trailed down over them and then further to her cheek, sliding along the soft skin, trailing even further to the shoulder where it finally stopped.
The curtain of the entrance was pushed to the side and the two girls entered the tent. Nobody spoke.
"You can open your eyes now Natsuki-chan."
Natsuki wasn't so sure if she really wanted to open them, she had no idea what awaited her. She opened them on her own risk and fell almost backwards at the loud applause that welcomed her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Satoshi, Aoi and Carol, Mr. Kamaji and his daughter Yuri and even Nick and his wife Hirumi stood there clapping with their hands.
Natsuki blushed. This was something she had never expected to happen, something that had never happened before.
"Happy birthday Natsuki-chan." She heard Shizuru soft voice from behind. All eyes were on her as she was dragged further into the tent. Her ears were ringing from all the congratulations she received and her hand was getting numb from everyone shaking it. How could she forget her own birthday? Wasn't it something people celebrated every year? Maybe that was why. She hadn't done it. It interested no one outside if you got a year older or not. So why bother to remember. It was only a day like every…. wasn't it?
Standing here between these people let Natsuki think otherwise. It felt good. She laughed with them; they talked with her and she listened. They accepted her the way she was.
The birthday presents from everyone were stowed inside the small drawer. A driver license card from Satoshi and Kamaji, a first aid kit from Yuri and from Nick and Hirumi she got a string with a white and black ring as trinket. On the drawer stood a brown book with the inscription Memory, a photo album with a dedication, a present from everyone. The photos in it were mostly taken secretly by Aoi.
But all these presents couldn't match the one Natsuki had secretly come from Shizuru. That certain present that was sitting right now on her pillow. Natsuki scowled at it, lying on her stomach. Her arms stretched forward, taking the present with her two hands, carefully as if it would break if she would use any strength. Two small black knob eyes starred at her while she drew it closer to her face, her nose touching its black one. The fur of the present felt soft and sleek.
Natsuki growled. "traitor." She scolded, starring, taunting the plush dog in her hand. It was the same plush dog Natsuki had studied at a booth at the festival secretly. It had caught her interest from the beginning, from her first glance. She was sure that she hadn't slipped anything. She had made sure not to look interested in anything no matter where she had gone. But somehow Shizuru had managed to get, to find out that she looked at, what she liked.
Natsuki couldn't tell when or how, she had never noticed the other girl as she had walked with Carol around. She could still smell her. The only one who was closer to her as no other one ever was. Natsuki fell asleep with a small smile on her face and the plush dog hugged within her arms.
- - - - - -
The cell phone ringed steadily for a minute before Satoshi finally picked it up. On the display shone the name Kamaji Tamai.
"Hello Kamaji did you forget something?" He answered the call friendly. Satoshi kept still for a while listening to Kamaji on the other end of the line.
"How interesting… I will be right there." He ended the call and dialled right away another number. The line kept silence for a moment till someone picked up and answered.
"I'm really sorry to call you at this hour. But I have a favor to ask of you."
Walking out of the lounge Satoshi went to the hall the cell phone pressed on his ear. "How long until you arrive?" Reaching the hall stand he took his jacket. Smiling at the wished answer he received from the other end. "I will be waiting at the gate." With the cell phone closed Satoshi opened the front door ready to go out. Making a short glance up the stairs, the girls were all in their rooms sleeping.
With a low click sound the door fell into the lock and Satoshi was gone, going to the gate where his pick up would wait.
- - - - - - - -
Small water drops fell down from a broken pipe. A puddle spread on the ground, formed from the drops. Splash, the only sound what echoed through the nearly empty hall. More drops fell and the puddle grew, reaching for the few stacked boxes.
What a beautiful night. A full moon, no stars. A perfect night wouldn't you agree my student?
The splashes stopped as the dark, haunting and distant voice came out of nowhere.
Something moved on a big box. Clothes slid over the old wood from it and someone sat up, keeping away from the moonlight that leaked inside the hall from the half open ceiling.
"It is my master…" The student said gazing up at the night sky.
… be ready… the voice commanded vanishing again into nothingness. The dripping of the water began anew.
Taking out the hand under the cloak the student reached with it into the moon light. A black metallic glove clothed the hand. The hand looked like a sharp claw. Balling and turning it, a black crystal was exhibited, craved in the glove.
"I can't wait…" he whispered to himself…
- - - - - -
The blanket rustled as Natsuki rolled on her back. Her chest rose steady up and down. Her heart pounded slowly and calmly. Deeply drowned in a slumber she slept.
A sharp breath escaped the dark haired girl as pain infested itself in her head, a short prick. It weren't painful enough to wake he and only caused the young girl to roll on her side. The pain was gone but not the strong and unknown urge that it had left behind, the urge which remained there even as the pain was gone.
It grew and spread without any hindrances.
Natsuki's breathing calmed down again and the moonlight pierced through the window which curtains were shoved to the side.
In the silent room the sound of the rustling blanket sounded again. Natsuki had rolled back on her back, holding the plush still with her hand. Not leaving it for a moment. The small alarm clock ticket soundlessly on the bed drawer, counting up the seconds to the end of the day. It was drawing nearer and nearer to its end. Minute to minute, second to second…
And then there it was…
The clock showed 0:00 and the day had ended. It was midnight.
Natsukis heart skipped a beat and her lids instantly opened, the emerald orbs starring blankly at the ceiling. Neither cold nor warmth just a blank, two green eclipses without a sign of a soul behind them.
So empty…
…So cursed…
Chapter 20 end