CHAPTER 35
The night seemed to have gone on forever that Natsuki couldn't tell what time it was until the sun began to rise. Leaning against her motorbike, she had stopped along the road that was leading down the hill. She quietly observed the red shades appearing at the horizontal line.
After a while, Natsuki flicked the cigarette away and hopped onto the vehicle. She started the engine, her grips ready on the handles. The road ahead and the direction back to downtown were familiar to her since she often dropped by to sneak a peek at her old home. Even though she used to act resentfully towards the Kuga girls, she always missed the good old time that she had there until her mother took it all away. Just when the old wound was healing, what she saw last night had completely dazed her.
Natsuki bit her lips as she aimlessly looked at the road before her. She didn't want to get back to the dormitory, dreaded that Shizuru might be waiting for her. The animal scream of the curse still thundered in her ears, its anger storming her mind. She couldn't deny that she simply feared, not the Shizuru she knew, but the face that slipped up from underneath from time to time.
Without another thought, Natsuki began to ride down the slope, heading to the city below.
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Parking the motorbike near the construction site, Natsuki took her time walking across the yard towards the library. There were large rocks the size of a car positioning around the area, blocking a full view of the construction in every angle. But she stopped as she spotted Ms. Steinberg standing next to one of the rocks. The teacher picked up a pebble and tossed it in her hand, buried in her own thought.
The woman eventually looked up and caught Natsuki's gaze. "Kuga…?"
Natsuki just waited for Ms. Steinberg to move around the site and approached her. She wasn't about to make up an excuse for being out all night. Her head was heavy and dull with the thought of Shizuru.
"What is this? Have you been out of campus all night?"
Natsuki didn't even bother to nod in response.
Ms. Steinberg looked furious, but then studied the girl for a while. "Are you all right? Did something happen?"
It surprised Natsuki that the teacher sounded rather gentle after having caught her red-handed. It became noticeable that the woman was no longer on Shizuru's back ever since they came back from Ventulus. All importance must have lied on being the sword bearers.
"I'm okay," Natsuki replied, while suppressing her yawn. She looked around in puzzlement. "What are you doing here so early in the morning?"
Ms. Steinberg just turned and walked away. "The class will start in less than two hours. Get some sleep now. I don't want you to fall asleep during the session."
Natsuki hesitated a bit, debating whether to stop the teacher. She didn't want to have anything to do with this grumpy teacher outside of classes, but this woman perhaps knew something valuable.
"What do you know about my father?" Natsuki's question came in a whisper, but it was loud enough to halt the teacher in her track.
Ms. Steinberg turned to face the girl. "Didn't Principal Kruger tell you?"
The dark-haired girl just looked away, scoffing.
"Whether he's one of them—"
"Yeah, I've heard that one before. But it's not helping, you know." Natsuki's tone was harsher than she intended to.
There was a long silence from Ms. Steinberg. "Will you fight him if needed?"
Natsuki stared hard at the teacher even if she had no absolute answer herself.
"Time will tell, I supposed," Ms. Steinberg said.
Natsuki studied the small, sarcastic smile on Ms. Steinberg's face.
Ms. Steinberg turned to look at the construction site. "These rocks are to keep the sacred door buried underneath. Even Count Krawcyzk doesn't know where the door is. I'm sure you know what it means. Enemies walk among us, Kuga."
Observing the rocks, Natsuki wondered if Ms. Steinberg had included Nao as well. Her mother's fondness for Nao did question Ms. Steinberg's claim.
"The door holds the passageway one must take in order to retrieve the Sword of Robur from the cursed land. The library was built two hundreds years ago just for this purpose—to stop all the chaos caused by the relentless search of the lost sword. I know Principal Kruger would never ask you to risk like all others in the past, but, sadly, you're the only hope we've got—"
"I'll do it," Natsuki stated. There was no hesitation if it were what Principal Kruger needed. The principal's guidance and love had shaped her into who she was today, and she'd follow her hero's path to right the wrong.
The teacher stared at Natsuki in the eyes. "Even if you might have to travel alone this time?"
Natsuki halted as the thought of Shizuru came across her mind. The teacher disliked Shizuru and the principal distrusted the girl to some extent. But Natsuki couldn't blame them now after last night. The chestnut-haired girl had cast a curse in the middle of a harmless neighborhood, but it wouldn't have struck Natsuki this much had she not caught a glimpse of a tall figure in the dark room on the first floor of her father's mansion before she left the area. A chill ran down her spine at the thought of her father being the reason for Shizuru to go berserk.
"Principal Kruger has been ill recently. With all the stress and pressure to find the last sword, I must help her through the things she dreads." Ms. Steinberg looked grim for a moment. "Your father is, in fact, one of the Children of Darkness. Born under the black star, they're ordained to serve the Army of Caligo. We now have no doubt that all of his children-in-care are of the same fate. As the Army of Caligo is on the rise again, they'll need as many recruits as possible."
Seeing the shocked look on Natsuki's face, Ms. Steinberg shook her head. The woman's smile caused Natsuki to blush. "Of course, it's one's will to decide which path to take. The problem is how many of them are strong enough to defy the power reigning over them?" Ms. Steinberg then took a look at her watch. "You should go get some rest now."
Natsuki groaned, but stopped when the teacher patted her shoulder. The unusual contact from the woman just made her squirm slightly.
"Be careful, Kuga. There's a spy among us, and…" Ms. Steinberg stopped a little before continuing. "And it could be Dr. Greer."
Natsuki froze. She was expecting a pessimist like Ms. Steinberg to name someone like Nao, but this came as a surprise. Without another word, the teacher walked away.
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As it turned out, Natsuki had stayed awake until the first period started. Mai astonished her with a small act of compassion, sneaking to get a cup of coffee for Natsuki. Food was forbidden inside the dorm rooms, but many students couldn't help breaking the rule every now and then.
For the first time, Natsuki and Mai walked to class together. The dark-haired girl didn't have the energy left to be rude at the moment. Although her eyes were wide, she stalked along the hallway like a zombie, her mind buried in the only question of whether Shizuru would be coming to class. When Natsuki slid the door to the classroom open, the girl in question was already there, occupying the seat next to her designated one.
Shizuru was looking out the window, her clasped hands were calmly positioned on the desk before her. She didn't notice Natsuki's presence until the dark-haired girl sat down next to her.
Shizuru swiftly turned to Natsuki, her gaze briefly darted to Mai, who was moving towards her own seat. "Where were you last night?"
Natsuki caught the direction of the taller girl's gaze, and assumed that Shizuru might have dropped by her room last night. "I should be the one to ask that question."
"I was worried, Natsuki. You never left the campus in the middle of the night." Shizuru looked down a bit. "Zhang didn't even know where you went."
Natsuki's eyes widened. "You talked to Nao-san?"
Shizuru slightly raised her brows. "I'd wake the principal if I had to."
"Why didn't you?" Natsuki sneered. Rubbing her face, she gave out a long sigh of exhaustion. She didn't know how Shizuru could act as though nothing had happened. Was Shizuru's concern for her so important that the older girl forgot about the horror and its consequences? She didn't need to ask to know that someone must have died under the curse.
Shizuru studied the raven-haired girl for a short while. "Natsuki…?"
Their conversation was interrupted when the door slid open again to reveal Nao at the doorway. The redhead leisurely glided into the room, followed by a few students, who were carrying stack of canvases, wooden boards and boxes of paints.
The rest of the class murmured, pondering where Ms. Steinberg was.
Nao stood in front of the classroom, gesturing the girls to put the tools on the front desk. She clapped a few times to get everyone's attention, a sly smirk on her lips.
"The principal has granted you girls an art session once a week from now on. I'll be stuck here every Wednesday with you." Nao picked up a box of oil paints and playfully tossed it. "Pick a canvas, a board, a box of these, and follow me to the yard. Up. Up. Now. Let's go."
Natsuki couldn't help but glance at Shizuru, who sat still for a moment and then got up to the front desk to get the equipment as instructed. She frowned when Nao, who was walking out of the room, turned around and winked at her. Her patience was running low, and she wasn't keen on being put to test this morning.
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After Nao led the students into the schoolyard, the part-time instructor told everyone to pick some scenery of her own choosing and start painting.
"I'm not going to nitpick you today. Paint whatever you want and express it to the full. Have fun with it," Nao said, walking among the students scattered around the yard.
Akane, Yukino and some other students moved into the garden and found different angles of the panorama of lovely flowers as the models. Haruka and the others edged closer to the construction site, looking out to the view of the forest.
In the middle of the yard facing the principal's landmark building, Natsuki was comfortably lying back against her elbows, secretly thanking the principal for the idea of an art class. She could really use a break now.
Mai took a seat right beside Natsuki. "What did she say?" she asked, opening the box.
Natsuki glanced at Mai, puzzled by the fact that the girl had been following her like a shadow today. She then looked at Shizuru, who was heading into the woods alone. "What time did she come by last night?"
"Almost four in the morning. I was so shocked because she seemed so nervous or something. She looked completely wrecked. What happened?"
"Since when do you care about my business?" Natsuki said, lying down on her back and closing her eyes. She could feel Shizuru's presence slowly slipping away even without looking, and she was scared but forced herself to lie still.
Mai chuckled. "I figured you might not be so bad after all."
"You've just won a lotto," Natsuki said, shrugging.
Clipping the canvas on the board, Mai looked out to the principal's building and started to paint. "I hang out with Mikoto and Suzushiro often lately. While Suzushiro doesn't really like you, Mikoto is fond of you. She thinks you're so cool." Mai laughed heartily at the notion.
Natsuki opened her eyes and peeked at Mai. She somehow believed that Mikoto wouldn't socialize with vile people. Mai had become friendlier towards her for a while now, and it was probably because of Mikoto.
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Shizuru found herself a spot on the large log across the damp ground. The remote area helped shielding her from the nasty, red-haired instructor. She didn't trust herself to be near the young woman, but last night was one exception she made.
Natsuki was the only consolation she could think of at that moment. She needed an urgent escape from the horror she had just done, but there was no place to turn to. She knocked on Mai's door and was terrified by Natsuki's absence, shaken by the cruel solitude around her. By the time she reached Nao's room in the next building, she frantically pounded on the young woman's door, mad jealousy raiding inside her. She was ready to attack Nao if the redhead didn't utter the words that froze her whole.
'You've found us… Ira…'
Gripping the board before her with one hand, Shizuru studied the empty canvas, a brush in her other hand. But she could see or feel nothing but recalling the instant she stood in Nao's doorway, listening to the word slipping through the redhead's lips. Without saying another word, they just stared at each other, realizing that their bond had been formed long time ago ever since they entered Kuga mansion. The same wrath in their eyes could not be denied. Every single beat of their heart yearned for revenge.
Shizuru returned to her room and stayed up for the rest of the night. Haruka was deep asleep, and she didn't want to bother the girl. The restlessness gradually disappeared by the time sunlight shined through the curtains. As the new day came, the deep guilt was replaced by sheer bliss. The agonizing fear became unfounded bravery. The ruthless crime turned into an honorable feat. With the way things were in this corrupted world, one must take action to defend justice, guarding oneself and their loved one.
But Natsuki… she doesn't understand…
"What are you doing here, Shizuru-chan?"
Shizuru's head shot up at the voice interrupting her train of thought. Akane sat down on the log and peered at the canvas.
"Who is that?" Akane asked, knitting in her brows.
Shizuru looked down at the canvas and was baffled to realize that she had actually drawn something in her inattentiveness. The messy, thick, crimson lines formed a face half in shadow and the other half in light. The eyes consisted of only rough circles and were void of any emotion. It was just any face. It was everyone's face, hidden in every broken heart.
Akane teasingly nudged Shizuru. "You were supposed to draw scenery. Zhang-sensei might pick on you again."
"She said draw whatever I want, didn't she?" Shizuru had a small smile on her face, but then looked gloomy all of a sudden as the thought of Count Krawcyzk entered her mind. "Akane…"
"Hmm?" Akane stretched a little.
"How are you and the Count doing?" Shizuru asked with a casual tone, picking up another tube of paints and applying a green color onto the brush.
"We're good. He's been back and forth between Ventulus and here since the construction started. We talk on the phone every night. Ah, he's really sweet, Shizuru-chan. He's so kind and funny!"
The taller girl just nodded, painting the eyes of the face. "I met Mr. Kuga last night."
The smile on Akane's face slowly disappeared. "Oh… I didn't know he's in town again."
"He didn't want you to know." Shizuru eventually looked up at her friend. "He didn't like that you're being friendly with the Count."
Akane immediately looked down, blushing in shame. "Shizuru-chan, I—I… Please tell Mr. Kuga that I will graduate as he wishes—"
"That wasn't what he was concerned about. The Count is one of the Dark Knights. He's our enemy, Akane," Shizuru said, gazing into the horror in Akane's eyes.
Although Mr. Kuga was disappointed and gave up on Akane without hesitation, Shizuru thought her friend deserved another chance. It was crucial to protect Akane from the cunning predator.
Staring at Shizuru, Akane shook her head. "He can't be… I… I don't believe it…"
Gently grabbing her friend's arms, Shizuru turned the girl to face her. "Mr. Kuga wouldn't lie to us. I'm afraid that he's been using you to get information, or to use you as a shield against Mr. Kuga. Can you…" She paused for a second before continuing. "Please stop seeing him, Akane. It's for your own good."
Akane freed herself from Shizuru's grasp and shakily got up. "How… how could you ask that from me? You don't understand." With that, Akane ran further into the woods.
Shizuru hurriedly followed. Deeper into the forest, she finally caught up with her friend and stilled the shorter girl with a firm grip on her arm. Akane brushed the tears away, trying to quiet down her sob.
Embracing Akane, Shizuru let the girl rest her forehead against her shoulder. "I'm so sorry. I know it must be hard for you—"
"You don't know, Shizuru-chan. I've seen the way you're with people. You don't know how I feel."
Shizuru softly, but firmly cupped Akane's face and brought Akane's gaze up to meet her serious one. "You're more than just a nameless strange to me. We are family. You, me, Mr. Kuga. All of us. We'd never mean you harm. Believe in us, Akane."
Akane tried to smile at the consolation, but failed to stop the tears from pouring down her face. She tightly held Shizuru close, sobbing against the taller girl's chest. "I don't understand… Why him…?"
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With Shizuru's absence, Nao edged closer to the log and looked down at the canvas, which was now partially stained with mud. The tubes and brushes were scattered in Shizuru's haste to trail Akane.
Lazily slumping on the log, the art instructor stepped on the edge of the canvas, pushing it deeper down in the little marsh.
"Do you hate her that much?"
Nao looked up at the familiar voice and saw Natsuki standing about ten feet in front of her. "She's my honor bound sister, but I don't have to like her," she replied with her trademark smirk.
Natsuki moved towards the log, but stopped when she got a closer look at the canvas. Even with all the mud soaking half of the canvas, the pair of lifeless green eyes were staring right back at her. The sharp contrast on the shadowy face killed all of its emotion. The face could have mirrored just any forlorn soul, but the disarrayed lines of long dark hair couldn't be mistaken.
"I'd like to see at least a few lines on your canvas, Natsuki-chan. Ms. Steinberg wouldn't be pleased if she knew that her students were napping instead of learning something new."
Natsuki shot a deadly glare at the redhead, arms across her chest. "Let's cut to the chase. What exactly happened last night?"
Snickering, Nao rested her chin on her palm. "The curse of Ira? Why, yes. Did it scare you?"
Looking down at the canvas by the redhead's foot, Natsuki studied the rushed, careless lines. She was no longer afraid, but didn't want to admit that she was heartbroken just like the face on the tainted image.
Nao might have deserted Mr. Kuga, but she must have an idea what went on in the mansion. "Tell me what happened to her…" Natsuki mumbled.
Swiftly getting up, Nao strode past the dark-haired girl. "Don't make that face. Love can't save us, and that's why we're all on the quest for justice."
"Who are you!" Natsuki shouted after the young woman.
Nao stopped and then turned around. Words were not needed. The deadly glare from the redhead said it all. Nao looked at Natsuki in utter contempt and enraged for the first time.
Natsuki bit her lips. "Do we must do this?"
"Do we have a choice?" Nao then spun around and left.
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Inside a bathroom of a motel, Mai prepared some warm water in the bathtub, smiling at the whiff of the soap's soft apple aroma.
The day had gone pretty much according to Mai's plan. She had lunch with Mikoto, Natsuki and Haruka, projecting a new image to convince Natsuki of her good nature. On the other hand, the tension in the cafeteria was greatly amusing when Mai got to observe the glances exchanging between Natsuki and Shizuru, and how Haruka always positioned herself with her back facing Yukino at all time. While Mikoto and Mai managed to entertain the cranky raven-haired girl and the nervous blonde, Aoi single-handedly handled the task of cheering up Shizuru, Yukino, and Akane.
"The water is ready, Midori!" Mai shouted, covering her eyes with both hands.
It took all of Mai's effort to induce Midori into letting her bathe the woman. Midori must have been embarrassed about the burn scars and the artificial leg, and while Mai understood fully, she didn't want Midori to hide herself behind the veil forever.
As soon as Mai heard footsteps approaching the bathroom's door, she promptly blindfolded herself with a purple, silky scarf. Midori accepted Mai's urging under this condition only. But Mai was contented with the woman's first step to get in touch with her old self.
"Turn off the light," Mai said, smiling.
"It's okay… you can't see, right?" Midori's voice came from the doorway, followed by a swooshing sound of clothing dropping to the carpeted floor.
"I might. Turn it off." Mai teasingly stuck her tongue out.
At the click of the switch, Mai could feel the warmer air approaching and passing in front of her. The water splashed as Midori eventually got into the bathtub. The woman sat down and leaned against the side of the tub, waving her fingers over the half-melted candle by the opaque window and the flame came into life. Midori had used Flamma in an attempt to murder Shizuru. However, the curse felt like magic here tonight.
Mai grabbed the warm towel and started scrubbing Midori's back softly. The woman's stiff shoulders eventually relaxed and her body movements became more natural as she played with the bubbles.
"I studied the positions of the rocks, and got you the map here. Ms. Steinberg has been checking up the site every night and early morning. If we were to find the door, we only got six hours at most, or she'd know. How are we going to remove the rocks anyway?"
Midori let out a sigh of content. "You won't be the one opening the door. It's too risky for us. But you won't be traveling alone either. You need to team up with someone to help you along the way. I'll arrange that for you."
"You've found someone for me? How long do I have to wait? Everybody knows the door is under one of those rocks." Mai became impatient, but was careful to maintain her gentle touch on Midori's back.
"Entering the door first doesn't guarantee that you'd even see the sword. We don't know what's behind the door or what would happen when the door is opened. It's best to let others take up the challenge first… Are you sure you want to do this job? It's very dangerous and—"
"I'm not going to sit back and watch Kuga and Fujino rule the world. I'm as talented and determined, if not more, and am worthy of the honor."
Midori giggled in front of Mai for the first time. "Such a brat. Why do you have to always compare them to yourself?"
Smiling, Mai let her hands slipping deeper into the water, scrubbing Midori's body. "I don't like competition." She felt Midori grabbed her wrists, slowly guiding them around. "I want what I deserve. What is mine." She leaned forwards a little more and smelled the woman's hair. "Completely."
"You will," Midori whispered. "Kruger will be the first to open the door, that I'm sure. Follow Kuga, and kill her when you get a chance." Bending a little, Midori planted a small kiss on Mai's arm. "But be careful, Mai. She's not easy to deal with if she travels with her friend."
"I caught Ms. Steinberg talking to Kuga this morning. It seems Fujino wouldn't be going with her." Mai got up on her knees so that she could loom slightly above Midori, letting the water sink into the towel and starting to massage the woman's shoulders. "I don't understand why Principal Kruger kept Fujino alive when she clearly distrusted her."
Snickering, Midori blew the bubbles. "Kruger thinks she might have a chance with this girl, but I know better. I've seen what Fujino could become… Kruger has dug her own grave, which is fine by us. By the way, Kuga doesn't have to be the only one on your list. Feel free to add just anybody who comes into your way."
Mai nodded with a smile. She wasn't one to hesitate to get what she wanted. "Can I… can I ask you something, Midori?"
"Go ahead."
"Why did you accept a trivial job of getting a student into trouble? What do you want from me…?" Those events had questioned Mai for a while now, but she never had a chance to ask. Honestly, she was afraid of the answers herself.
"You're one of us, Mai. You're just like us… Don't be afraid. It's the fate you should embrace." Midori paused when she felt a drop of warm water on her shoulder. She turned around to face Mai, studying the girl.
Mai angrily brushed the tears away from her face. Her parents never told her outright, but she caught them talking one night and learned that they adopted her long ago. Years passed by, and Mai could see fear behind their every smile. They didn't like her, and she didn't like herself. They expected something she wasn't sure of, so she expected herself to achieve everything. They sent her away from the only home she knew, so she killed all that was her true self and forgot all that ever happened.
"It's all right." Midori gently rubbed Mai's cheeks.
"I know. I know I am," Mai said as to remind herself of the fact, straightening herself up. At least, her life was still far better than that of Midori. Her life had been a façade. But, tonight, the scarred face in front of her was a reward she'd earned, and she meant to enjoy it.
Washing her hands with clean water, Midori turned around to grab the fruits on the tray on top of the toilet lid. "Kansaki bought them for me this morning. Would you like some?"
Mai felt a smooth touch of an apple skin against her lips, and then took a bite. Chewing it slowly, she smiled. The scarf was a little gift from Madam Elle, enabling her to see in the dark. She was seeing Midori in the purest form, as unveiled and beautiful as the truth itself. The woman's green eyes shone brightly in the candlelight. Caustics of water reflected upon the woman's milky skin and the creamy wall behind her. The long scar on the right cheek spanning down to the neck and the ones along the right shoulder covering down to the torso looked like nothing but tattoos of a glorious desert to Mai's eyes.
Mai only realized she was nearly caught when Midori lifted her arms up to her chest, covering herself and staring back at Mai quizzically.
"Can I have some more apple?" Mai tried to divert the attention.
"Umm, sure." Midori then continued to feed the girl.
Mai took a bite of the apple and lightly licked Midori's fingers, causing the woman to halt for a moment. This was the hand of someone who would send her on a fatal journey, but she wasn't bothered by it. She could feel Midori's hesitation in approaching her ever since they first met, and the mystery only drew her to the woman. She had followed Midori until now, and to life or death, she wasn't going to stop.
Chewing, Mai carried on the pleasurable viewing until they finished all the fruits.