The HiME Bride: Chapter 3.
"Ara, and where is this, then?" Shizuru found herself in a subterranean passage with a great many devices surrounding her that clearly had but one purpose.
"This is the Pit of Despair," a pale girl with light blue hair and scarlet eyes said flatly, "Captain Kanzaki likes to make sure that all of his subjects are healthy…before he breaks them."
Shizuru frowned, "Torture, then? How blasé."
The pale girl shook her head, "You survived the Fire Swamp. You have above average bravery. However, it will be impossible for you to withstand The Machine."
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Natsuki walked absently through the halls of the palace, scowling for the most part, and shooting deadly glares at anyone who even looked as though they wanted to talk to her.
"She's been like that ever since the Fire Swamp," Takeda lamented.
"She's been like that ever since you got engaged to her," Suzushiro amended, "Honestly, you sure know how to pick 'em, Majesty."
"I'm sure it's just my father's failing health that has her on edge."
"Keep telling yourself that," Suzushiro sighed, walking off.
The king died that very night. Takeda gave a speech to the subjects of the kingdom he now controlled, "My father's final words were, 'Love her, as I have loved her, and there will be peace.'"
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"Wait, are you saying that Natsuki ends up married to Takeda!" Arika looked mortified, "But Grandma, after everything Shizuru did for Natsuki, if they didn't end up together…it wouldn't be fair!"
"Life isn't always fair," Grandma replied, "Show me where that's written."
"But, that can't be right!"
"We can stop now…"
"No, no. Keep going."
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"I present to you, Queen Natsuki!"
Natsuki came out of the main gate of the palace on a red carpet, wearing a regal crown and an unhappy scowl.
"Boo! Boo!" A small girl with golden hair said at the end of the walk way.
"Why do you do this?"
"Because you had love, and you gave it up!"
"I didn't give up anything!" Natsuki said defiantly, "I told Shizuru I would find a way to join her! And since when was I queen? I don't even remember getting married, damnit!"
"Then you'd better make good on your promise," The blonde girl said, "Or this is what you're going to end up with."
Natsuki woke with a start. The king still lived. But her nightmares were growing steadily worse.
She burst into Takeda's chambers, "It comes to this; I love Shizuru. I always have. I always will. If you tell me that I must marry you in ten days time, then at least one of us will be dead by morning."
Takeda looked dumbfounded.
"You…but….Shizuru?" He said, displaying his rapier wit.
Natsuki twisted at the engagement ring on her finger, "Damned thing, come off!"
"But…but…" Takeda stood, and walked over to the window, sighing, "This always happens to me, damnit! Do I just have a knack for picking girls who aren't into men?"
Natsuki looked at him quizzically.
"I mean, first there was Chikane, but she ran off to the neighboring kingdom with a girl named Himeko.
"Then I tried to court Princess Akko, but she was in love with her lady-in-waiting, Mariko Kamikura.
"And then I attempted to court the Princess Shizuma of Hanazono, only for her to drop me in a heartbeat for a Countess named Nagisa.
"And now, you!"
Natsuki crossed her arms, "You're not getting any sympathy out of me, Prince. I told you from the get go that I was in love with another woman."
"Yeah, but you were in love with a dead woman! She was gone!"
"Yeah, well, now she's not. So?"
Takeda slumped in his chair, "Fine! I'll have my advisors send out ships looking for her."
"Begging your pardon, Majesty," Haruka Suzushiro came into the room, "But you did bestow a royal title on her in anticipation of marrying her. Since it was part of a marriage contract, the law is clear. Either a rival suitor with a prior claim must come forward by the time the priest asks if anyone can show just cause why the couple should not be united in matrimony, or she must be put to the axe if she refuses to wed you after receiving the title."
"I don't want the title!" Natsuki protested.
"The law wasn't written with that even being considered possible," Suzushiro said.
"Then change the law!" Natsuki said.
"It will take an act of our House of Lords," Suzushiro shrugged, "They won't convene for another fortnight."
"So, because you gave me a title I don't want, I either have to wait for you to fetch Shizuru for me in ten days, or I get put to death for not wanting a marriage I told you I didn't want in the first place?"
"That's pretty much it," Suzushiro shrugged.
Natsuki walked over to Takeda and grabbed his collar, "Get those ships moving, right now!"
Takeda looked at Suzushiro, "Y-you heard the lady! Ships. Letters. Find Shizuru and tell her Natsuki is waiting."
Suzushiro rolled her eyes, "Right."
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"I really wish Nagi had finished the job," Suzushiro spoke to Kanzaki as they walked through the woods, "I mean, killing her on the wedding night will be more moving for the public, but if I have to listen to that woman bellyache one more time about her position, I'm half tempted to run her through myself."
Kanzaki chuckled, "I'm starting in on Shizuru's sessions, today. Care to watch?"
"Kanzaki, you know how I love to watch you work, but I've got a laundry list of things to do a mile long. And I've got to make it look like I'm at least looking for Shizuru. Honestly, I just want to strangle Princess Natsuki! She's an ingrate, not wanting a royal title to begin with!"
"Well, to be fair, it's almost gotten her killed once already," Kanzaki grinned, "I can see where she'd find it troublesome. And you are planning to kill her in a little over a week."
"Oh, these next ten days can't go fast enough!" Haruka growled.
Kanzaki clapped her on the back, "Get some rest. If you don't have your health, you don't have anything."
He descended alone into the Pit of Despair.
"Ara, but what is this contraption that you've hooked me into?" Shizuru asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it's a work in progress, really," Kanzaki smiled, patting it, "It's designed to drain life. I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of the water pump. It's similar, except that instead of pumping water, I'm pumping life. Care for a demonstration?"
"Oh, don't go to any trouble on my account," Shizuru said sweetly.
"No trouble at all," Kanzaki smiled, "Since this is our first run, I'll start at one year."
He pulled a lever, and gears began to move and shift. Shizuru felt a sensation unlike anything she'd ever experienced before, a pain of excruciating intensity, and a strange coldness and emptiness washing over her.
And then it stopped.
"I've just sucked one year of your life away," Kanzaki sat at a table, opening a book and picking up a quill, "I might one day go as high as five, but we'll start small. So, tell me, how did it feel. And remember, this is for posterity, so please be honest."
Shizuru was sweating, and she licked her lips, "It was…cold. There was a frightful draining sensation. Time was passing without purpose or meaning, and there was no love, or joy, or hope. It was the feeling of wasted time. It was quite painful, moreso for the sensation of time passing without accomplishment."
Kanzaki noted, writing it all down, "Fascinating."
~Natsuki, I pray we have many, many years together, because I've just lost one.~ a tear rolled down Shizuru's cheek.
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"Any word about Shizuru, yet?" Natsuki asked.
"Not yet," Prince Takeda held up his hands, "Be patient."
Suzushiro came in, "Excuse me, Highness, but I have something to discuss with you."
Natsuki crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.
"Without you," Suzushiro growled.
"Fine, whatever," Natsuki walked off.
"Sire, word is that killers from Cardair have infiltrated the Thieve's Forest and are planning to murder your bride on the night of the wedding. With your permission, I'd like to form a Brute Squad to clear out the Forest."
Takeda sighed, "Whatever, just get it done."
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The Brute Squad had their hands full carrying out the orders.
Mikoto Minagi in particular was very busy clearing up the inhabitants of the Thieve's Forest as a member of the Brute Squad, but her sword proved very effective. However, it was hungry work, so when Mikoto got back to the city, she found a brand new tavern, and was surprised to find a familiar face behind the counter.
"Mai!"
"Mikoto? I thought you were off looking for your brother?"
"I'm still looking," Mikoto sighed, "But I need money to search. So, the Brute Squad gig is a good deal. What're you doing?"
"Well, that strange pirate woman gave me enough gold to take care of Takumi for a few lifetimes, so I took some of the extra money, and I bought this tavern. Takumi is taking it easy upstairs, while I make food and stuff down here. And listen to this. I saw a guy with a tattoo of an eye on his hand. He's part of the royalty. Count Kanzaki."
Considering Mikoto's lengthy search, she took the news very well.
"Where's Kanzaki? I'm going to kill him!"
"He's in the castle. But the gate is guarded by…thirty men," Mai said.
"How many could you handle?" Mikoto asked hopefully.
"You're kidding, right?"
"I need the woman in violet!" Mikoto sighed.
"The woman in violet?"
"She paid you off with a single bag of gold. She whipped me in swordplay. She left Nagi dead on the frontier. And the person who can do that can plan my castle onslaught any day!"
"Where are we going?" Mai asked as Mikoto tugged on her.
"To find the woman in violet, of course!"
"But we don't even know where she is!" Mai protested.
"Details details!"
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"You really are going to be a chore, aren't you?" Suzushiro groaned at Natsuki.
"If I do end up having to marry the Prince, I fully intend to make your life just as hellish as you're making mine," Natsuki said flatly, "I learned that it was you who directed the Prince my way in the first place. So everything that's happening to me is your fault."
"Oh, just shush. Marry the Prince. Take your place at his side. Pop out a few royal brats to squabble over the throne. Somebody's got to do it."
"I prefer to live life by my own terms, rather than by those set by cowards like you," Natsuki said.
Suzushiro glared at her, "I would not say such things if I were you."
Natsuki scoffed, "You can't hurt me. Shizuru and I are joined by the bonds of love. And you cannot track that, not with a thousand bloodhounds, and you cannot break it, not with a thousand swords. And when I say you are a coward it is only because you are one of the slimiest weaklings ever to walk the Earth!
"I WOULD NOT SAY SUCH THINGS IF I WERE YOU!" Suzushiro made to slap Natsuki. Natsuki easily caught her hand, bending the wrist painfully back.
"You're not me," Natsuki smirked at her, "And the sooner you understand that, the better."
Suzushiro growled, wrenching her hand free. She ran to the stables, where she found her horse, and tore off into the morning mists, until she found the secret entrance to the Pit of Despair. She tore into the secret chamber, and found Shizuru laying on the slab of The Machine.
"You two truly love each other," Suzushiro shook her head, "Two women behaving that way with each other. It's disgusting. You're filthy. Both you AND Natsuki Kuga. Well, you don't get to have a happy ending in the story that I'm writing!"
Haruka grabbed the lever, shoving it quickly to the maximum level.
"NOT TO FIFTY!" Reito cried out.
Shizuru let forth a wail that was the summation of everything that was excruciating and unbearable in the human experience.
"Do you hear that?" Mikoto paused in her search, "That is the sound of ultimate suffering. My heart made that sound the day that Ani-ue disappeared. The woman in violet makes it now."
"The woman in violet?" Mai blinked.
"Her true love is marrying another. So who else had the cause for ultimate suffering?" Mikoto reasoned.
They followed the sound into the woods, where they found a strange girl with light blue hair, scarlet eyes, and a pale complexion, hauling a wheelbarrow.
"Where is the woman in violet?" Mikoto held her blade to the woman's throat.
The woman remained silent.
Mai smirked, "I have a better way."
She walked over to look the strange girl in the eyes, "Try not to think about where you just came from."
There was a flicker of the scarlet eyes, and Mai saw an unusual tree nearby.
"Thanks. Mikoto, knock her out."
Mikoto hit the blue haired girl in the head with the flat of her sword, taking her down.
Mai walked over to the tree, and knocked on it, "Hollow. Probably a secret switch somewhere. But we don't have time to search. Mikoto? If you please?"
Mikoto swung her blade, slicing the tree horizontally with one stroke, causing it to fall over.
"Just as I thought. Stairs. Let's go."
They descended the steps and found…
"The woman in purple! She's dead!" Mikoto wailed.
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"Wait, Grandma! Mikoto didn't mean…dead…did she?"
"She did."
"But…Shizuru can't be dead. If she and Natsuki don't end up together…Who kills Prince Takeda. In the end? Is it Mai? Mikoto? Who?"
"Nobody. Nobody kills Takeda. He lives."
"You mean he wins!" Arika looked crestfallen, "Grandma…"
"You know, you've been very sick, and you're taking this way too seriously. Maybe we should call it quits for today, and…"
"No! No. It's alright. I'm alright. Please…"
"Alright."
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"Do you have any money, Mai?" Mikoto asked.
"I've got a bit on me. Why?"
"I just hope it's enough for a miracle, that's all. Bring the body."
They made their way to a small hut on the edge of the forest. There was a sign on the door that read, "When you need a Miracle, Nao!"
They knocked on the door, and a small window opened up, "What the hell do you want?"
"Are you the Miracle Nao who worked for the King all those years?" Mai asked.
"Suzushiro fired me. Said I was corrupting the public morals. And thank you so much for bringing it up. Maybe next time, you can poke out my eye and call me Julia. We're closed!"
Mai pounded on the door again.
"Beat it, or I'll call the Brute Squad!" Nao shouted.
"I'm on the Brute Squad," Mikoto said.
"You? Pft. Now you," She looked at Mai, "You might be on the Boob Squad…"
"We need a miracle," Mai said.
"Why would you want someone Suzushiro fired. I might kill whoever you want the miracle for."
"She's not getting any deader," Mikoto pointed out.
"Hmmmm. Interesting. Come in. I'll take a look."
They laid Shizuru's body on a table.
"So, what happened? Nevermind, I'll ask your friend."
"She's dead," Mai reminded her.
"Listen, boobs-for-brains, it turns out that your fashionable friend over there is only mostly dead. Bellows? Ah, there. Now, mostly dead, is slightly alive. Now all dead…well, with all dead there's only one thing to do. Go through their clothes and look for change," Nao pumped the bellows into Shizuru's mouth a few times, then shouted, "HEY! YOU! What you got that's so important? "
She pressed on Shizuru's stomach, and there was a hissing whisper, "Na~tsu~ki…"
Nao blinked, "Natsuki? As in Princess Natsuki?"
"Yeah. This woman is Natsuki's true love."
"Prince Takeda stiffed me on a job right before Suzushiro fired me," Nao grinned wickedly, "So I'm no fan of his. Tell you what, you give me whatever you got in your wallet, and I'll fix this gal right up."
"You can restore her?"
"Pshaw. Of course. I've seen this before. Count Kanzaki's 'Machine'. He thinks it sucks life out by year. In fact, it just drains life force. Enough rest and food, and she'd be right as rain. But you don't have that kind of time. So I've got a little something to speed the process.
"I get it from a faraway land. It's called a Senzu Bean. Now, in it's raw form, it's a bit too strong. So I've got to make a distillation. Give me ten minutes."
Nao summoned an assistant from the back, a pink-haired girl with drill-shaped curls. She whispered in her ear, and the other girl nodded. They set to work, mixing ingredients, until they had a soft paste. They dipped the paste in a molten chocolate mix.
"That'll help it go down easier," The pink-haired girl said, "But wait fifteen minutes for full potency. And she's not going to be back to her full strength for at least a day or two, so…"
"We'll take care of it," Mai said, "Mikoto, let's go."
They reached the bridge that overlooked the main gate of the palace.
"They've doubled the guard," Mai groaned.
"That's okay," Mikoto said, "We've got her. Mmm."
They put the miracle pill in Shizuru's mouth.
"How long before we know if it works?" Mikoto sighed.
"Ara, ara, who do I have to kill to get a decent cup of tea?" Shizuru asked.
"That was quick," Mai said.
"Who are you? Why am I here against this wall?"
"You fought us about a month ago, trying to rescue Princess Natsuki," Mikoto said, "You were really strong. So then, when I needed help, I thought I'd ask you."
"I remember now," Shizuru nodded.
"We had Miracle Nao make a pill to restore you," Mai said, "You've apparently had a rough time. We need to break in to the castle, stop the wedding, and rescue the Princess."
"Plus, I need to find Count Kanzaki and figure out what he did to my brother," Mikoto said.
"I don't mean to be rude," Shizuru sighed, "But may we confine our strategy meeting to one crisis at a time? Now, what are our assets?"
"My steel, your brains, Mai's courage…"
"Ara, but you do like to make things complicated. What I wouldn't give for a holocaust cloak."
"I have one," Mikoto said, "But it's a bit big for me."
"Alright, I have an idea. Now, I'll need my naginata, eventually."
"Can you even lift it?" Mai asked
"No, but that's hardly common knowledge, now is it."
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"Excited about the wedding?" Suzushiro smirked.
"I'm seriously considering just taking the beheading, at this rate," Natsuki said flatly as maids primped and preened and prepared her in her gown.
"You're a troublesome brat, you know that?"
"Shizuru is going to come for me," Natsuki said, "You can count on that."
"I highly doubt it," Suzushiro said with a smirk, then whispered in Natsuki's ear, "I killed her myself this afternoon. I listened with great satisfaction as the last breath left her body."
Natsuki turned to meet her eyes and to Suzushiro's horror, there was a fire there, "You'll be joining her before the night is out, I promise you that."
The wedding procession started, and Natsuki strolled out.
Joseph Greer stood at the pulpit, "Marriage. Marriage is like a formal contract with a strict indemnity clause. Marriage is a financial undertaking that unites two accounts for the better or worse…."
From outside they heard Suzushiro yelling, "Stand your ground! Stand your ground!"
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Outside, Mai was advancing, wearing the holocaust cloak, "I am the Dread Pirate Kiyohime! I take no prisoners! There will be no survivors! All of your worst nightmares are about to come true!"
The cloak burst into flames, and the men of the castle guard fled in terror.
Suzushiro found herself confronted with Mai, Mikoto, and Shizuru.
"A pleasure to see you again!" Shizuru said flatly, "Give us the gate key."
"I don't have the gate key," Suzushiro said evenly.
"Mikoto, cut her arms off."
"I really don't have the gate key! I threw it on the other side of the gate when you came in!"
"Ara, in that case, Mai, Mikoto, each of you grab an arm and a leg."
"Wh-what are you going to do?" Suzushiro looked worried.
"Have you ever heard the expression 'use your head'? Well, that's what we intend to do. Use your head."
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There was a terrible crashing noise.
"Uh, skip to the end, Father Greer," Takeda said.
"Oh…um…Man and wife."
"Great. Everyone's dismissed. We're heading out."
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Count Kanzaki found Mai, Mikoto, and Shizuru entering the castle, with Suzushiro laying unconscious at the shattered gate.
"I always said she was hard headed," Kanzaki sighed, "But to think she was capable of this… Kill them all and let God sort 'em out!"
"My thoughts exactly!" Mikoto roared, easily taking out the men who came at them. Kanzaki decided to display the better part of valor, and ran. Mikoto gave chase.
"Will you be okay?" Mai asked Shizuru, "I've got to help her, or…"
"Go. I'll be fine," Shizuru smiled, "I'm already regaining my strength."
Mikoto caught up with the Count, who, it turned out, was a superb swordsman.
"Hello! My name is Mikoto Minagi! You stole my brother! Prepare to die!"
Reito countered her blow, "No, Mikoto, I didn't steal your brother. For you see," he met her eyes, and she saw for the first time the familiar yellow staring back at her, and then she saw the beaded pendant as he pulled it from his shirt, "I am Reito Minagi."
"Ani-ue!"
"I've missed you, imouto-chan."
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Natsuki made it to the bridal suite, and she knew that Takeda wouldn't be far behind. She'd made special arrangements, and went over to the windowsill, where she had a box waiting. She opened it to reveal a jeweled dagger, it's blade finely honed.
"Ara, if Natsuki needs help removing that constricting dress, I can do so far more delicately."
Natsuki whirled around, "Shizuru! They said you were dead!"
She ran over to the bed where Shizuru was laying down, pouncing on her.
"Gently!" Shizuru moaned.
"At a time like this?" Natsuki kissed her, "That's all you can say, is gently?"
"GENTLY!" Shizuru protested.
"Oh. You're…um…not in good shape right now."
"Not entirely, no."
"Shizuru, forgive me. I didn't want to, but I'm married to Takeda. And…"
"You're not. You didn't say it. You didn't do it. Wouldn't you agree, Suzushiro?"
Suzushiro was staggering, and she had a massive bump on her head, "It's only a technicality, and most of the kingdom won't care once your little bird there is dead. They'll just want to go to war with Cardair. And then I'll make a killing, so to speak, on the weapons market."
"Ara, but shame on you. Plotting to kill my Natsuki for war profiteering."
"Well, you can't start a war without breaking a few legs. But first things first," Suzushiro drew her sword, "To the death!"
"No. To the Pain!" Shizuru said.
"I don't know that one."
"I'll explain. And I'll use small words, so that you can understand, you uninspired malapropism spewing third rate hack. To the pain means that first I'll leave you laying naked in the middle of the town square. Then I'll read the saucy passages of your journal out loud for the public to know just what sort of person you really are. Such a hypocrite, the things you said to me when you tried to kill me, all the while carrying on like a smitten schoolgirl with that bespectacled young thing in your guard. I'll expose you, figuratively and literally, for all the world to see. And then, when you've reached the point where you can't stand yourself, and seek to end it all, I'll cut off your hands so that you can't do the fatal deed, and leave you there, to listen to everyone laughing and jeering at you. That is what 'To the Pain' means. I strip you of your pride and dignity, and leave you broken in spirit and body for all the world to see."
Suzushiro took all of this in, then sneered, "I think your bluffing."
"It's possible, harpy. I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you hypocritical pustule. I'm only lying here because your last attempt on my life left me with no strength to stand. But then again," Shizuru rose from the bed, raising her naginata, "Perhaps I have the strength after all. Drop your sword!"
Suzushiro blinked, then complied.
"Tie her up," Shizuru instructed Natsuki. "Make it as tight as you like."
"Hell with that," Natsuki picked up Suzushiro's sword, "I might just turn her into a pincushion."
"No need. You heard everything, Highness?"
Takeda stepped out from behind the curtains, "I did. She was planning to kill Natsuki to start a war."
"And she was planting enough evidence that if that failed, it would look like it was your plan, not hers," Shizuru informed him.
"Well, we still have a problem, now," Natsuki sighed, "Because the law says that I have to marry this doofus or be beheaded for accepting a royal title without fulfilling my obligations."
"Not so," Shizuru said, "I mean, yes, that's what the law says. But it also allows a prior claim to be made…"
"You're both women," Suzushiro pointed out, "We don't recognize that as marriage here."
"True enough,' Shizuru sighed, "But the law also allows a Prince or Princess to abdicate their position if they feel unfit to fulfill their duties."
"Wait," Takeda perked up, "It does!? Where do I sign?"
"Ara, Takeda, you wish to abdicate?"
"Damned right I do! They keep trying to set me up with all these girls to marry, and all of them turn out to be into other girls. I just need to get away from the throne, go somewhere else, be someone else."
Shizuru grinned, "Have you ever considered piracy? There's going to be an opening for a new Dread Pirate soon."
The next morning, Takeda left the palace, leaving a lengthy letter of abdication. Natsuki, still a Princess, was now the designated sovereign of Fuuka. She hired Mai as a royal chef, put Mikoto on the royal guard, alongside her brother, Reito, and had Suzushiro booted from the kingdom. And on those days when things were quiet, and there was little to do, she would go for a relaxing ride on her horse, Ducati, and Shizuru would ride at her side.
Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses rated the most passionate, the most pure. And Natsuki and Shizuru were vying to claim all five spots for themselves.