BIG NEWS! (At least for me) This story has reached 100 followers! TRIPLE DIGITS! WAAAAAAA!
*cough, cough*
Anyway… Thank you all so much for your ongoing support for this story and I am so happy you're all willing to keep reading all the crazy that comes out of my head. Your comments and reviews have helped me improve my writing for this story for you all to enjoy and I love you all for it!
Got a lot of ideas and not as much time to get some stuff up for you all right now but I have the next few chapters planned and ready to write up as soon as I get the chance. (Another reason I love you all is that you still put up with my irregular uploads)
Thank you again and I'll let you get on with reading the story now ;)
By the time the sun started to filter into the room, Shizuru had finally managed to fall deeply asleep, beyond the reach of her nightmares.
I lay there, watching the shadows creep across the room, not moving other than to breathe so as to not disturb Shizuru.
I let myself drift into a half sleep, still aware of what was around me but resting so I wasn't too tired for the day ahead.
A faint whisper of a dream slipped past me, the red light engulfing me, brightening as the room filled with morning light, voices whispering past just out of earshot.
I was startled out of the haze by a gentle knock on the door.
Slipping out of Shizuru's embrace, I crept to the door, opening it to a young lady who told me breakfast would be ready shortly if we wanted to get ready.
I nodded and thanked her as I walked back to the bed, leaning over Shizuru as I gently shook her shoulder.
I got a muffled groan as she rolled away from my hand shaking her to the far side of the bed.
Sighing, I walked round to try again.
"Shizuru, time to get ready or you'll miss breakfast".
Another mumbled groan sounded from the pillow before Shizuru rolled onto her back, settling back down.
Sighing I tried to think of another way to wake her.
One idea came to mind as I leant down and gently gave her a kiss.
She seemed to respond for a moment before moving her head away.
Well I tried being nice so I thought it would be time to get revenge.
As she lay there, I gently climbed onto the bed before straddling her, settling down on her chest to wait for her to react.
It didn't take long before she started to show some strain as her eyes snapped open.
I grinned as she moaned at me for waking her before registering her difficulty breathing was my fault.
She sat up, causing me to slip down so I was sitting on her lap as she glared at me.
"Why did you do that? You could have just shaken me awake".
I grinned at her.
"I tried a lot of other thing but none of those worked".
I copied the 'I'm an angel but not really' face she had given me when our roles were reversed.
I saw the suspicion on her face.
"What did you try?"
"Oh this and that".
I smirked at her annoyance before reminding her we had to hurry if we wanted breakfast.
I saw her remember what had happened as she let out a shaky sigh.
"You go get ready, you need to eat more than me".
Not long after, Shizuru had showered and changed so I told her to head on down without me.
"Will you be able to find us?"
"Is it where we ate last night?"
"Yes".
"Then no problem".
I sent a wink her way and got a small smile in return as I walked into the bathroom to clean up.
I quickly washed up before cleaning up and dressing, wearing some nicer clothes so I didn't look too ratty next to Shizuru and her mother when we visited her father.
I wandered out and down the hall and to the lower floor and then retraced the route we had taken to get to the giant white marble staircase than led up from the large, double-height entrance hall.
I only had to try three doors before finding the dining room again where Shizuru and her mother were still eating.
I sat next to Shizuru as I greeted her mother.
"Did you sleep well Natsuki?"
I tried not to let my smile falter but the small frown that filled her mother's face proved I had failed to hide it.
She gave me a hard look, daring me to lie to her.
"I didn't sleep last night, I wanted to be awake in case Shizuru had a nightmare and I'm quite a heavy sleeper so I probably would have missed it if she did".
I didn't even have to look to know Shizuru had tensed up beside me.
"Sorry Natsuki…"
"Don't be, I can handle it and I chose to stay up".
She nodded though still looked a little guilty.
I saw her mother was watching me again, you could see her mind working behind her eyes.
I turned back to the table, glancing over the plates of food, not sure how if they'd find it rude for me to serve myself.
I also didn't have a huge appetite as I was worried about Shizuru but she told me I could just take what I wanted so I started to pick a few bits of everything onto my plate before I started eating.
I could feel her mother's eyes on me, almost as if she was trying to learn everything about me from my behaviour.
I ate quickly so as to not hold them up, still enjoying the food, which was all amazing.
We headed off after both mother and daughter had had a cup of tea, making me smile as I saw where Shizuru had learnt a lot of her habits.
Their car was another really expensive looking thing with a driver that held the door for us to climb in.
I sat between Shizuru and her mother as Shizuru kept my hand locked firmly in hers as we drove to a fancy looking private hospital.
Her mother seemed to know exactly where to go and led us between the buildings until we reached one she led us into.
The lady at the reception seemed to recognise her and instantly picked up the phone.
When we reached the desk she hung up and turned to us.
"The doctor will be out to speak with you shortly".
She turned back to her computer, not elaborating further as I saw both Shizuru and her mother tense.
Acting on instinct, I wrapped my arm around Shizuru as she fought back the negative thoughts I could see were tormenting her.
The fact that the doctor was coming out to talk to us meant either her father had improved and been moved or hadn't made it. I truly hoped it was the latter.
No sooner had we sat down than a set of double doors opened and a flustered looking doctor came hurrying through.
"Mrs. Viola, sorry to make you wait. I wanted to meet you here so I could show you where your husband has been transferred. He is out of critical condition and should hopefully wake up some time today".
You could see the tension lift from the two women as they received the good news, standing to follow the doctor as he led us to the building on the opposite side of the square outside the intensive care ward.
I remembered how much I hated hospitals having visited them a few times when I got over confident while running and ended up hurting myself beyond what I could handle.
There was something about them that always felt off, you never came here unless you needed help and being surrounded by people in need of help always frustrated me as I could never do anything about it.
It was ridiculous, I had no power to help them and it wasn't even my place to even if I could, but the feeling always remained.
We walked through the white halls, the smell of disinfectant filling our nostrils as we took the elevator up to the third floor.
Through another maze of corridors and he finally stopped outside a room, indicating this was it.
He asked us to wait as he went in to check to see if he had woken up only to come out and ask us to be quiet as he was still asleep.
I hesitated as the Shizuru and her mother started into the room, pausing as they noticed my reluctance.
"Are you alright Natsuki?"
"Yeah Zuru, just feel a bit awkward meeting your father while he's unconscious…"
She nodded and said I could wait outside if it was too uncomfortable for me.
I thanked her and sat down directly opposite the door, ignoring Shizuru's protests and suggestion to go to the waiting room by the elevator.
"I want to be here when you come out, besides, it's no problem for me to sit here".
We shared a knowing look that her mother immediately picked up on before gently leading Shizuru into the room.
The door hadn't even clicked shut when I heard a sob that I instantly recognised as Shizuru's
I was up and waiting by the door, which opened before the catch had caught as Shizuru launched herself into my arms.
I held her firmly as she shook against me.
I saw her mum's expression and knew he was probably connected to a number of machines if the steady beep sounding was anything to go by. Sure he was out of the IC ward but he had been shot only a few days before, he wasn't going to look too good anytime soon.
Rubbing her back, I knew better than to ask about him and stayed silent as Shizuru calmed herself down.
Stepping back, she ran her hand through her hair and stepped out fully into the hall, noticing my worried stare.
'You okay?"
She nodded, smiling weakly before looking away.
She was not okay.
"I've never seen him look so vulnerable, it's just scary Natsuki".
"I know. He's going to make it though so that's good".
This coaxed a bigger smile from Shizuru as she nodded again.
I could see the hope in her eyes, mixed with relief as I suggested we go get lunch seeing as he was still out.
Shizuru nodded but her mother tried to convince us to go ahead. Just as we were about to leave though, Shizuru must have heard her stomach growl as she renewed her efforts to get her mother to join us.
Finally she relented and we headed to the small canteen with a basic buffet.
I offered to carry the tray as it could easily fit all our plates on as we kept it simple with the pasta of the day, though I went for a coke to drink where both Shizuru and her mother got tea.
As we sat, I noted her mother's gaze was wandering the canteen, seemingly absorbing as much information about her surroundings as possible before turning to her food.
I followed Shizuru's lead and began to eat as her mother addressed me.
I had to hurry to finish my mouthful as she asked me about my background.
"What would you like to know?"
"Lets start with where you were born and where you were raised".
I nodded before glancing at Shizuru who nodded her encouragement.
"I don't know where I was born, my father never told me. I assume my mother has passed away and I have lived in the same city my entire life".
"So you live with your father?"
"No. He abused me when I was a child and was arrested one night when he went too far. I lived in an orphanage from the age of 5".
"Oh, I'm sorry".
"Don't be, it's all in the past and Shizuru has really helped me".
"How? If you don't mind my asking?"
"I actually trust very few people, none of which were at my school until Shizuru arrived. She's helped me learn to trust again as well as helping me overcome some memories that used to haunt me".
Her mother nodded, clearly proud of Shizuru.
"You two look like you have found true strength and trust in each other. For both your sakes I hope nothing ever comes between you".
We both nodded, smiling as I realised we'd just received her mother's blessing for our relationship, but I knew Shizuru would still worry about her father's opinion of us.
I quickly took the finished plates to the clearing area, setting the tray down on a rack that slowly spun, taking the tray out of view into the kitchen behind.
As I sat back down, I could tell their conversation had been about me as it stopped the moment I was within earshot.
I ignored the awkward silence as I sat down, smiling to try and dispel the tension that had settled.
Checking the time I was surprised to see we'd been here for two hours and mentioned that as both Shizuru and her mother stood to go back and check to see if he was awake yet.
Once again I sat outside as I heard them talking, hearing a low rumble in place of words as I assumed her father was answering their many questions about his condition.
Their frantic questioning gradually calmed down as an hour passed by.
I waited in my own thoughts, wondering why I'd felt so comfortable telling Shizuru's mother what I had. I could only guess it was because I saw so much of Shizuru in her.
I stood the moment I saw the handle turning as both Shizuru and her mother stepped out, both looked wary which put me a bit on edge.
"Father wants to speak to you alone Natsuki".
I gulped.
Though I nodded and stepped towards the door, not wanting to make him wait as I knew he was probably exhausted.
I knocked and listened, entering when I heard him call out.
Stepping in, I immediately felt out of place but walked round the curtain to greet the man I'd only spoken to once, and that hadn't gone great.
I was shocked by what I saw.
You could tell the man screamed power and authority but here, he looked so weak.
His face looked drawn and his pale face showed large bags under his eyes that gave away how drained he was.
There were more machines hooked up to him than I'd ever seen as a few different drips filtered into different tubes that led beneath his skin.
I bowed slightly as I greeted him.
"It's nice to finally meet you sir. I'm Natsuki Kruger".
"I know".
I blushed and saw the ghost of a smile grace his features.
Of course he knew! We'd spoken before.
I waited for him to speak, not knowing what to say.
"I would like to apologise to you Natsuki for my rather rude attitude towards you during our last conversation".
I was shocked and could barely splutter out a response.
"Y-you don't have to apologise… I'm sorry too… It wasn't my place to speak to you as I did".
He nodded.
"Indeed, but I am glad you did".
I tilted my head in confusion, trying not to let my mouth hang open in shock.
"I have never spoken to a girl who was with Shizuru that was willing to stand up to me, even it was through a phone".
I couldn't think of any response, but thankfully he continued.
"I was always afraid Shizuru would find someone unworthy of her. Those that ran from me also ran from her and I knew they would never stay with her as you have. You stood up for her in a way no other partner ever has".
"I was of course furious when she told me she refused the match I had chosen for her. I wanted her to be happy and comfortable and she has the duty of upholding the family line, but perhaps the years have softened me. I can see the difference in her, caused by you. She has never looked so happy, so strong and seeing that, I could never turn you away from her".
I nodded about to thank him when he held up a hand to silence me.
"Just know this Natsuki, if you hurt her, I will make sure you regret it. I can ruin your life if I have to".
"With all due respect sir, I wouldn't need your help to regret hurting Shizuru. And my life is Shizuru now so again, I'd do a perfectly good job ruining it myself if something happened between us".
He laughed at my response before grimacing slightly.
"Are you alright sir?"
"Yes thank you, and please drop the Sir. You're making me feel old".
I hesitated, no knowing what else to address him with.
"Just call me Mr. Viola".
I nodded.
"Thank you Mr. Viola".
A knock at the door interrupted the content silence that had settled.
I turned, hesitating at the door to check Mr. Viola was ready for a visitor.
He nodded at me and I opened the door, greeting a young nurse that walked in to inform me that the visiting hours were now over and we'd have to leave.
I nodded, bowing again slightly as I bid farewell to Shizuru's father before stepping into the corridor, surprised to find it empty.
I assumed they had gone ahead or were waiting in the waiting room by the elevators as I knew neither of them would sit on the floor as I had.
I saw them both at the far end of the waiting room, deep in conversation.
"… should see how she runs, it's amazing!"
I cleared my throat to alert them to my presence.
Both women stood, waiting for the bad news about some fight we'd had.
I turned to Shizuru who looked confused at my smile.
"I think we just got your father's blessing".