Chapter 9.
A/N: What? Miyu, Father Greer, and Alyssa together makes you nervous? Am I foreshadowing ill omens, or presenting you with a red herring? Hmmm. I wonder.
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Shizuru's legs seemed incapable of holding her weight any longer. She faltered. Fortunately, Natsuki saw, and caught her, easing her into a chair.
"Shizuru, have you fallen ill?"
"How long have you known?" Shizuru managed to say, after a moment.
"Awhile, now. Whenever we were together, you gave off the scent of attraction," Natsuki said. Shizuru looked at her strangely, "Emotions have scents to them," Natsuki said, "I suppose most of you no longer notice them. But I live or die by my senses. Fear, for example, has a sour stench to it. Whenever you were around me, you had a scent that told me you desired me.
"Takeda smells similar, by the by.
"And I couldn't help notice the attention that you paid me," Natsuki smiled at her. There was a warmth in that smile that made Shizuru shake with shame. Natsuki had sensed her unnatural attraction, and yet still did not revile her or hate her.
"I'm sorry," Shizuru put her face in her hands, crying softly, "What you must think of me."
"That you were my friend, and that you found me desirable?" Natsuki frowned, "Shizuru, I told you, I knew. You have never been improper with me.
"Do you remember that winter night that you asked me to share your bed? All you did was hold me. You've never been anything but kind with me. And unlike Takeda, you never seem to undress me with your eyes."
"Natsuki, this isn't mere friendship, you know. The feelings I have for you are impure. I do consider you a friend, but I also desire you in a way that is…indecent."
"That is one of Suzushiro's words," Natsuki smiled at Shizuru, "It doesn't sound fitting to hear it from you. And it's not like you're the only one here who desires me. Nor are you the only woman who desires another woman.
"Yukino has the same feelings for Haruka. And Tomoe has the same feelings for you, though in her case, I think she desires to own you, not love you."
"And of course, Harada for Aoi Senoh," Shizuru sighed, "Wait, Natsuki…do you have those feelings for me?"
Natsuki thought a moment, "I…don't know. I don't know what being in love feels like. However, I don't' mind you being in love with me, Shizuru. And it makes me happy when you're close. If that's love, then, yes, I do love you."
Shizuru laughed and cried at once, "I think yours is a much more innocent love than my own."
Natsuki smiled, "It was I who kissed you first. I'm…what is the word your people use? Naïve. I'm naïve. But I'm not stupid."
"Oh," Shizuru reached up, grabbing Natsuki's shoulder and puling the girl into her lap quickly, "And if I were to kiss you, now?"
Natsuki blinked, then closed her eyes, and spoke softly, "I would let you."
Shizuru cradled Natsuki's head, and leaned forward, kissing her. There was a tingling sensation between them. Shizuru probed the edge of Natsuki's lips with her tongue, and found that Natsuki opened her mouth to receive her.
There was a knock at the cabin door. Shizuru's heart skipped a beat, and her face flushed with guilt and alarm. Natsuki calmly rose and went to the door.
"Yes?" She called.
"It's Mai! Is Countess de Fujino here? I need to tell her something, urgently."
Natsuki opened the door, allowing Mai in. She spotted Shizuru in the chair, her face flushed, still.
"Are you alright, Countess? You seem…"
"I had a fainting spell," Shizuru said, "It was a trifle warm in the cabin. Natsuki was able to see me to a chair, though. What's going on?"
"Countess, it's about Harada…" Mai looked at Natsuki, "Can we speak in front of the Baroness?"
"I suspect that we not only can, but that I'm already aware of what you're going to say because of the insight of the Baroness."
"I was delivering bread to Senoh's cabin, when I saw…Harada is a woman, I think. I don't know if she's aware that I saw her. She had her chest tied down with a tightly wound cloth, but she was definitely a woman."
"Yes, Natsuki informed me as much," Shizuru sighed, "In fact, Natsuki was surprised to learn that we weren't aware."
"Wait, and it didn't bother you that she was trying to seduce Senoh?" Mai looked at Natsuki curiously.
"What are the actions of others to me?" Natsuki shrugged, "It is between them, is it not? If Harada is forcing herself on Senoh, then it is concerning. However, if what is between them is mutual, it is their concern, not mine."
"I see," Mai shrugged, "But…Countess?"
"Have you told anyone else?"
"No."
Shizuru nodded, "Then go and send for Harada. Send her to me, and tell her nothing of what you know. Treat her as if you still think her male."
"Are you sure?" Mai raised an eyebrow.
"I am."
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It was half an hour later when Harada showed up at the door to Natsuki's cabin.
"You wished to see me, Countess?"
"I did," Shizuru smiled serenely, and she realized that she could smell something distinctly feminine about the woman in men's clothing in front of them, "Please come in and close the door. Join us, Miss Tokiha."
"Um, look, I know I'm new around here, and that I may not have all the rules down yet, but if I've done something wrong…"
Shizuru held up a hand, indicating that Harada should stop speaking.
"Today, I learned that Miss Tokiha and I had been deceived. However, Baroness Kuga had not been. In fact, our innocent Baroness was so aware of who and what you were, it never occurred to her to doubt that we knew it as well."
Harada looked around, but wasn't sweating, Shizuru noted.
"What I am?"
"That you are, in fact, a woman," Shizuru smiled sweetly, "And looking at you now, I see that it is so. I'm ashamed to have missed it."
"Harada, as I'm sure you've discerned, is my family name. My given name is Chie," She bowed, "But I would like to point out, at no point did I ever say that I was a man."
"And does Aoi Senoh know that you are a woman? Answer honestly, please."
Chie sighed, "Not at first. But she learned so shortly after we met."
Shizuru closed her eyes, "And just how far have you carried this relationship with her?"
"We're currently sleeping in separate beds, if that's what you mean," Chie said.
Shizuru nodded, steepled her hands, and said, "I see. Mai, can you ask Miss Senoh to join us. Please be casual."
Mai opened the door, only to jump, as Aoi Senoh was standing outside, her hand raised to knock on the door.
"Ah, just the person I wanted to see. Miss Senoh, please, have a seat."
"Please don't punish Harada. I'm the one who…"
"No one is punishing anyone," Shizuru smiled, "Nor will we have to. Miss Harada, you've stated that you never actually told anyone that you were male?"
"That's right," Chie said.
"Well, Baroness Kuga was aware the whole time of your actual gender. In fact, she thought it so obvious, that she didn't see any reason to alert the rest of us."
Chie blinked, "That's…unusual."
"And Miss Tokiha discovered your true nature only a few days into your stay here," Shizuru added, "Meaning that before long, the truth of your gender will be common knowledge. So, this is what we're going to do.
"Miss Harada, does anyone here know where you came from or who you are?"
"Nope."
Shizuru raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, no, Countess de Fujino."
"Then we will say this. Chie Harada, you came from a remote wooded land. Your father, desiring a son, raised you in ignorance of the difference between men and women."
"Alright."
"Having learned this, Aoi Senoh has agreed to take you in and instruct you in the ways of a woman. To facilitate these lessons, you will reside with her. And you will begin to wear the proper attire of a woman of this colony."
Chie raised an eyebrow herself, looking at Natsuki, clad in animal skins.
"The Baroness' clothes are, strictly speaking, women's clothes," Shizuru smiled.
"Fine."
"Now, as to what you and Miss Senoh do in the privacy of your cabin is entirely your own business. Outside your door, please restrict your displays of affection to those appropriate to sisters."
"That…sounds fair," Chie looked at Aoi, "But…can everyone here be trusted?"
"Your affairs are your own," Natsuki shrugged.
"I don't understand what's going on," Mai said, "But I'm not prone to gossip. Unlike some people."
Chie blushed, "Uh, right."
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"You showed mercy, Shizuru," Natsuki smiled at her.
"I could hardly punish them for having feelings that I, myself, harbor in my heart."
"Alyssa will be home, soon," Natsuki said in a soft whisper.
"We must be cautious, indeed," Shizuru nodded.
Natsuki kissed Shizuru once, softly, and the Countess curtsied, before turning to leave.
"I fear, Natsuki, that in five months time, I will be wed to Duke Nagi de Artai. Our time together may well be short."
"Many things may happen, Shizuru. I will speak with you, tomorrow."