Disclaimer: Author owns nothing. Mai-Hime belongs to Sunrise.
CHAPTER 32
Two days later.
Saeko and Alyssa were sitting outside the Intensive Care Unit where Natsuki was laid. The operation took more than 24 hours and none of them had even took an hour of sleep. The stress and fatigue were taking a toll on their already emotionally-exhausted bodies.
"How is she?" The approaching General Kruger inquired his daughter-in-law who was looking blankly at the floor. Only the metal waiting chair was keeping her ground.
"The doctors are done with her craniotomy. They said that we will know once she wakes up. That is if she ever will. The probability of her falling into coma is high with the kind of traumatic brain injury that she has." Saeko explained through cracked voice as she tried her best to hold in her tears.
"She'll be fine, dear. Natsuki is a strong kid. Believe in her." General Kruger said while wrapping his arm around his daughter-in-law to comfort her.
"Who could have done this to her?" Saeko asked nobody in particular as she buried her head on her father-in-law's strong shoulder. "Why would they do this? My daughter doesn't deserved this. Nobody deserves to be in her situation right now. My poor daughter."
"Don't worry about it, dear. I already took care of it. Nothing like this will ever happen to Natsuki as long as I'm here. I will take care of both of you. I will never break the promise I made to my son." General Kruger said with sincerity in his voice.
"Thank you, Dad. I hope Natsuki wakes up soon." Saeko said wistfully.
"She will, dear. She has to." General Kruger pulled her closer as if securing her from further harm and hurt.
"Ms. Alyssa, I think you should take a rest. I will let you know if there will be any update on NK's condition." Masashi sat down beside Alyssa while maintaining a formal distance between them. His general was a few seats from them. "I'm sure NK will not be happy to see you in this state once she wakes up." He said positively.
Alyssa straightened up from her defeated posture and rested her head on the wall behind her. Her eyes were focused on the white ceiling above her. "Will it be too selfish of me if I bring Natsuki to Germany without informing Shizuru? I am still her legal wife after all, am I not? Should I not be the one to decide for her now?"
Masashi stared at the wall opposite them for a long time as if looking for answers. After a pregnant seconds, he released a sigh before combing his hair with his scarred hand. "Everything is fair in love and war, Ms. Alyssa. Do whatever you think will be good for both of you."
Before Alyssa could reply, a nurse came out from the ICU with the record in her hands. The woman just simply gave them a smile before walking to her destination but as soon as she passed Masashi, her phone rang.
"If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be. Baby, just let it be."
The song stanza flooded the hallway and the nurse immediately rummaged through her pocket to find her phone in order to silence it. She muttered an apology before continuing her way.
Alyssa let out a low and sad laugh, ignoring the nurse's misdemeanor of bringing mobile phone inside the ICU. "Sometimes we make our own destiny." She said, looking at Masashi who had a little understanding of what she was trying to imply. "We will bring Natsuki to Germany once the doctors here give a go signal for her transfer. What she needs right now is a state of the art health facility and nothing more. All the people whom I believe need to know her current situation is already informed."
"I understand, Ms. Alyssa. The General is of the same opinion as you." Masashi agreed, looking at Alyssa who gave her a sad smile.
Three months later
Health Facility in Germany
Alyssa was holding a brown envelope in her hand while sitting on Natsuki's bedside. The machines attached to her had lessened as her conditioned improved. She set aside the envelope and reached for Natsuki's hands instead.
"You look better today, Natsuki." Alyssa said, reaching for Natsuki's face and caressing it. "I know I told you how I don't like presents that much on my birthdays but now, I want to ask you for one. Please wake up already. I missed your voice. I want to see those beautiful green eyes again. I want to see your smile. Even if the reason is no longer me. Just please wake up. I don't want to see you like this. It's breaking me more than when you are not with me. So, Natsuki please wake up." She said before cradling Natsuki's hands in her lap, her blue orbs were focused on them.
Unbeknownst to her, green orbs peeped from its confinement and its owner flashed a smile before speaking.
"I am afraid I can't get you one even if I wanted to." Natsuki spoke in her husky voice.
Alyssa's head snapped towards the voice's direction and her eyes couldn't believed what she was seeing.
"You- you're awake." Alyssa blinked once again. "You just spoke. You ju-st spoke. Natsuki, you're awake." She said as if convincing herself. "Wait, I need to call the doctors."
Before Alyssa could completely stand, Natsuki held her wrist to stop her using what little energy she had. "No need for that, honey. They already know."
"They knew? Why didn't they tell me? When did you wake up? Why did I not know?" Alyssa blurted out questions after questions in disbelief.
"Hey, hey. Honey, please calm down. I woke up last night and I told them not to call you anymore since it was late." Natsuki started to sit up and leaned on the hospital bed frame. "Come here." She patted the space beside her to gesture Alyssa to sit thereon.
Alyssa obliged, still trying to observe Natsuki. "How are you feeling, Natsuki?"
"Aside from being sad because my wife thinks I stink so much that she is sitting miles away from me now, I guess I'm pretty fine. Just a little headache but the doctors say it's normal and will soon subside." Natsuki pouted at her like a kicked puppy. "Will my wife come here now? I really want a hug from her."
"Natsuki? Can you recall what-" Alyssa started but was soon pulled by Natsuki into a kiss.
Alyssa was caught off guard but Natsuki's eagerness manifested in the kiss left her mind blank.
"I forgot to mention I also want a kiss. I miss you." Natsuki smiled as she pulled from the kiss, her hand was still holding Alyssa's face. "So much. Can I get a cuddle now? Please." She pouted before settling Alyssa to her side and pulling her closer.
"Ahmn, Natsuki?" Alyssa started as she rested her head on Natsuki's right shoulder.
"Yes, honey?" Natsuki looked at Alyssa's face after planting a soft kiss on the side of her head.
"Do you know why you are here?" Alyssa asked tentatively.
"I don't know much but Mom told me that I got involved in a mess and that I was in coma. The doctors said I am experiencing a temporary memory loss but it should be back. They just can't tell when, though." Natsuki explained while playing with Alyssa's hand. "Honey, where's your wedding ring?"
"Can you tell me what was your last memory, Natsuki?" Alyssa further probed, trying to confirm her suspicions.
"Your father's burial but Mom said that that was ages ago. Whenever I tried to remember, my head just hurt so, the doctor advised me to take it easy. So, where's your wedding ring, honey?" Natsuki inquired once again, kissing Alyssa's left ring finger.
"I don't wear it anymore, Natsuki." Alyssa answered truthfully.
"But why, honey?" Natsuki asked, confused.
Then suddenly, the door burst open and out came the hospital staffs with balloons and cakes.
"Happy birthday, Doc!" Everyone yelled in unison after popping a party popper.
Alyssa looked at the staffs before looking at a beaming Natsuki. "You."
"Happy birthday, honey. I love you." Natsuki said before giving Alyssa a short but deep kiss.
"Happy birthday, Alyssa." Saeko came out with a cake in hand. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter. I owe you a lot." She said approaching the women on the bed.
"No need to thank me, Saeko. I'm just doing my duty." Alyssa smiled at the older woman.
"As my wife." Natsuki added, kissing Alyssa's cheek. "I don't know what I did to have her in my life, Mom. Maybe I was a good daughter in my past life?" She asked her mother.
"If I was still you mother in the past then, perhaps not." Saeko said with a laugh.
"Mom! How could you?" Natsuki feigned hurt. "Hey honey, it's not funny." She pouted at Alyssa who just giggled beside her.
"Alright, why don't we sing Alyssa a happy birthday so, she can blow the candles." Saeko invited everyone to dismiss Natsuki's further comments.
As everyone was happily singing her a birthday song, Alyssa's blue orbs caught the sight of the brown envelope she was carrying when she entered Natsuki's room. "I guess my present can wait then. I'm sure when that time comes, I will be courageous enough to fully give it to you." She thought, looking at Natsuki's side profile. Emerald orbs met hers and flashed her a genuine smile.
Four months later.
Shizuru was looking at her reflection in the mirror while her stylist was working on her hair. She was wearing a wedding dress as per her grandmother's request. They were having a photo shoot for the editor-in-chief's new collection line. They were inside a huge make-up room but no other model was inside except for her. Counting the camera man and the photographer who were tasked to document the behind the scenes of the photo shoot, there were only six people inside the room including her three stylists.
One stylist plopped down on the sofa behind Shizuru and turned on the plasma television installed on the wall. It came to life and Shizuru's orbs bulged at the television's reflection on the mirror.
"This is Chelsea Briggs from Hollywire bringing you the latest news straight from the red carpet. Beside me is no other than the infamous NK who went MIA for months. I'm sure everyone is curious of what she is up to this whole time."
"Hello, NK. Thanks for allowing me to drag you her." Chelsea flashed a smile and held the microphone near Natsuki's mouth.
"Oh, no. Thank you for saving me from being blind." Natsuki said, gesturing towards the red carpet where a star was posing in front of countless photographers' cameras.
"Anytime, NK. So, what do you got on your sleeves right now? What are we expecting from NK this year?" Chelsea shot her questions.
"Oh, well. Unfortunately, I'm not wearing any sleeve at all as you can see." Natsuki laughed before turning around to show her dashing maroon long gown which hid almost nothing of her body. The crystals shone when hit by lights. "But I do have some projects coming up and I'm working on something special recently."
"We heard you were spotted picking up rings with a certain famous doctor. Are we hearing wedding bells any time soon?" Chelsea inquired further on.
"Definitely. I'm still waiting for the bride-to-be to say yes, though." Natsuki said, flashing a dashing smile at the camera.
"Oh my gosh!" Chelsea's mouth hanged opened and her eyes bulged in surprise like she just heard the revelation of the year. "NK, did you just give me a confirmation? That's a first and you heard it here at Hollywire for the first time ever and live at that. Oh my God, NK. Congratulations. I'm so happy for you." Chelsea said before hugging Natsuki eagerly. "Thank you so much for giving me this exclusive scoop, NK. I will not keep you long." She said before giving her interviewee a peck on the cheek.
"No problem." Natsuki said before going her way.
"Yes, you heard that right. Straight from NK herself. I'm happy and at the same time sad to say that our dear NK will be bachelorette no more anytime soon. She's definitely out of the market, guys and girls." Chelsea announced with much enthusiasm, beaming at the camera. "Let's crossed our fingers and hope that the lucky damsel will say yes to her. My bet is on the doctor, though. Well, let's see and wait for another confirmation. Hope we will get the wedding's exclusives. This is Chelsea Briggs again for Hollywire."
"Natsuki is getting married? I do not understand? Why would she not at least tell me?" Shizuru thought as she looked at the mirror blankly.
"Ms. Shizuru, are you alright?" One of her French stylists asked. "You're crying."
"What?" Shizuru asked. Coming back to her senses, she realized that she was indeed crying.
"Here's the tissue, Ms. Shizuru." Her other stylist handed her a box of tissue while looking at the one who was doing her hair with a knowing look. The two shared a mutual smile before glancing at the camera.
"Can I please have a few moments alone? I will call you back once I am ready." Shizuru said while carefully wiping her tears away.
"Certainly, Ms. Shizuru. Let's head out everyone." The camera man announced after fixing his camera on the tripod without turning it off. Everyone silently followed.
When Shizuru was sure that no one was left inside the room except for her, she allowed her emotions to just flow and just let everything out. She was too caught up in her emotions that she did not even notice someone coming inside.
The figure approached her before it spoke. "You will ruin your make up by doing that."
"I do not care anymore. Please leave me alone for a little bit." Shizuru responded without even looking at the visitor.
"I am afraid that I can't do that Shizuru. The guests are waiting and they might head home without waiting for the wedding ceremony. Come on, stop crying. You will delay the ceremony further. You know it takes forever to do your make-up." The figure once again spoke and grinned when she noticed Shizuru stiffened.
"Ara?" Shizuru picked up what remaining ego she had after knowing that the woman had just seen her weep over her. "And what is Director Kruger doing here?" She said glaring at Natsuki.
"I am here to pick up my bride-to-be?" Natsuki said with a pleading look as she held Shizuru's hands in hers. Emerald orbs glistened with unshed tears and Shizuru could not fathom the millions of emotions behind Natsuki's fragile look.
She looked at her entire appearance and noticed that Natsuki was wearing a tailored suit that matched her own wedding dress. It looked like the suit was made with nothing but fine looking lacey material adorned with gems. To say that she looked dashing and handsome will be an understatement. She looked like a poised prince fresh out of romantic renaissance novels.
"Where have you been?" Shizuru asked with obvious hurt in her voice. "One moment you are here and the next moment you are nowhere to be found. I tried to understand you because you told me to wait for you. I did what you said. I did not contact you even if I badly want to do so. I don't think I want to be in a relationship that is full of uncertainty, Natsuki."
"Hey, hey." Natsuki soothed as she held Shizuru's face in her hands. "Shizuru, I love you. Look at me, baby." She said, urging Shizuru to look at her. "I love you so much, Shizuru. This time, I will always be with you. I promise you, baby. This time it will be for real. No one will take us apart. "
"You don't know that." Shizuru said, looking at Natsuki through tears.
"Take chances with me, Shizuru. Give me one last final chance. Please, I beg you." Natsuki said sincerely while wiping away Shizuru's tears. "I am not perfect but I will try my best to be worthy of you. I can't imagine a life without you in it."
"You are married to Alyssa, Natsuki." Shizuru said as a matter of fact.
"I was, Shizuru. I was. I will be honest with you. I loved Alyssa when I was still with her Shizuru. But that love is dull compared to the love that I have for you. Call me a fuck girl or whatever but I don't want to lie to you. This is how I feel right now and this only beats your name." Natsuki answered, placing Shizuru's palm in her left chest.
"How will I know that it will not beat for another person again?" Shizuru asked though she could verify Natsuki's words through her fast heartbeats.
"Make me wholly yours, Shizuru. Marry me." Natsuki said through glistening eyes as she retrieved a ring with blue diamond on it. "Will you take this as my eternal promise of loyalty to you?"
Shizuru searched Natsuki's face as her tears started to come rushing down. She wrapped her arms around Natsuki's neck before uttering her answer in almost a whisper. "Yes."
"Are you also saying yes to marrying me, Shizuru." Natsuki asked as she held the woman tightly but all she got was a nod on her shoulder as Shizuru buried her face therein.
"Thank you, Shizuru. I love you." Natsuki said as tears started to fall down her face.
"I love Natsuki too." Shizuru responded as she looked at the dazzling face in front of her.
Natsuki slipped the ring in Shizuru's ring finger. "It suits you perfectly. Can I kiss you?" She asked the woman who just gave her a smile before pulling her into a heated kiss.
Shizuru broke the kiss for much needed oxygen but Natsuki was not yet satisfied and pulled her into another heated one.
"Ara, I believe honeymoon comes after the wedding Natsuki. Besides, didn't Natsuki say that we have visitors waiting?" Shizuru arched a playful eyebrow at Natsuki who groaned when she suddenly pulled her face away.
"Let them wait." Natsuki said before starting to capture Shizuru's mouth again.
"Alright, Kruger. Save that for later. We need you at the altar already." Director Zhang barged in pulling Natsuki by the collar. "Let them retouched her make-up so, you can eat her out later. See you in a while, Viola." She said, pulling Natsuki away from Shizuru to the door.
"See you later, my Mrs. Kruger." Natsuki said before following Nao outside. "Nao, you're ruining my suit."
The stylists and make-up artists went back on their work and soon enough they we're done retouching Shizuru.
"My my my. What a lovely bride we have here." Madam Vi came in with Shizuki in tow.
"Onee-sama, you look like a princess." Shizuki said, beaming. Her crimson orbs were looking at her sister with pure adoration and awe. The two were dressed for the occasion.
"Indeed, Shizuki. Would you turn around and grace us with your full beauty, my dear?" Madam Vi requested which was gladly obeyed by Shizuru.
"Wow." Shizuki said in awe with her mouth widely opened.
Shizuru hugged her grandmother after completing a full 360 degree turn. "You knew." She whispered.
"The young lady has requested me to keep it a top secret. I must say I am impressed with the effort that she exerted for the preparation. You don't wanna know the hell that she went through to gain your grandfathers' blessings as well as your other uncles'. And I must say that she can protect you just fine, my dear." Madam Vi said with a hearty laugh.
"Natsuki met them?" Shizuru asked in surprise while holding her grandmother at literally arms length.
"Surely she did, my dear." Madam Vi answered her with a knowing smile.
"Oh, poor Natsuki. I hope she did not have a traumatic experience." Shizuru said, cringing.
"Oh, she surely got well acquainted with them to say the least." Madam Vi laughed heartily.
"Onee-sama, are we going out already? Nat-chan is waiting for you." Shizuki tugged her sister's wedding gown to get her attention.
"Ara we will only go out once I get my good luck kiss from Shi-chan." Shizuru bent down to her younger sister's level.
"Onee-sama, you are ruining your dress!" Shizuki blurted out in panic.
"So, Shi-chan should hurry up already and give me my kiss." Shizuru said, pointing to her cheek.
"There." Shi-chan tiptoed and gave her sister a quick peck on the cheek. "Can we go now, onee-sama?"
"Not yet." Shizuru said before engulfing her younger sister in a tight hug. "I love you, Shi-chan."
"I love onee-sama, too." Shi-chan said before realizing her grandmother's presence. "I also love granny."
"Well, you two are very dear to me, Shizuki." Madam Vi smiled at her granddaughters.
Shizuru found herself walking on a well decorated aisle. She wasn't expecting to have a full entourage from maid of honor, bridesmaids, flower girls to ring bearer who happened to be her sister. Her periphery could see a lot of familiar faces on the pews. Great behind the scene work must have been done to accomplish such feat.
As she was nearing the altar, she could see Saeko and General Kruger behind Natsuki but her focus was on the woman who seemed to be overwhelmed upon seeing her walking down the aisle. General Kruger can be seen gripping Natsuki's shoulder in encouragement while Saeko was smiling at her daughter as Natsuki wiped her tears away. She could visibly see her released a deep breath to calm herself.
Shizuru smiled while her grandmother tapped her gloved hand to comfort her. "We're almost there, my dear."
Soon enough, they reached the altar. Saeko greeted Madam Vi with a cheek to cheek kiss before pulling Shizuru into a warm embrace. "I am certain my daughter has a lot of explanation to do, Shi-chan. Thank you for giving her another chance." she whispered which earned her a small nod and a smile from the young woman.
General Kruger just gave Shizuru a light pat on the head which earned her a giggle from Saeko, remembering the old man did the same to her during her wedding. "Just tell me if she fools around. I got your back." He finished with a feigned cough, being a man who did not want to show his soft side.
Finally, Madam Vi guided her granddaughter to Natsuki's arms. "She is all yours, young lady. Take care of her."
"Thank you, Madam Vi. I surely will." Natsuki promised before offering her arm for Shizuru to take. "Shall we, Shizuru?"
Shizuru took Natsuki's offered arm and proceeded to where two chairs were situated. The administrator welcomed them with a smile. "Natsuki Kruger and Shizuru Viola, the Church shares your joy and warmly welcomes you, together with your families and friends, as today, in the presence of God our Father, you establish between yourselves a lifelong partnership. May the Lord hear you on this your joyful day. May he send you help from heaven and protect you. May he grant you your hearts' desire and fulfill every one of your prayers."
The ceremonial rites went on and the administrator looked at the two women. "Dearly beloved, you have come together into the house of the Church, so that in the presence of the Church's minister and the community your intention to enter into Marriage may be strengthened by the Lord with a sacred seal. Heavenly Father abundantly blesses the love that binds you. Through a special Sacrament, he enriches and strengthens those he has already consecrated by Holy Baptism, that they may be faithful to each other for ever and assume all the responsibilities of married life. And so, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions."
The administrator then continued asking them the questions before the consent. "Natsuki and Shizuru, have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"
"I have. " Both women answered in unison.
"Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?" The administrator continued.
"I am. " Natsuki and Shizuru answered without taking their eyes off of each other.
"Since it is your intention to enter the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands and declare your consent before God and his Church." The administrator invited the two women.
Natsuki took both Shizuru's hands before uttering her consent. Her emerald orbs were focused on Shizuru's crimson ones."I, Natsuki Kruger, take you, Shizuru Viola, to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life."
Shizuru's turn came and she lovingly looked at Natsuki who started to shed tears. "I, Shizuru Viola, take you, Natsuki Kruger, to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life."
The administrator received their consent and replied to them with a smile. "May the Lord in his kindness strengthen the consent you have declared before the Church, and graciously bring to fulfillment his blessing within you. What God joins together, let no one put asunder." He invited the guests to present praise to God. "Let us bless the Lord."
"Thanks be to God." Everyone present replied in unison.
The music played and Shizuki chan came with the rings on a pillow. The administrator received it and smiled at the little girl. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Shi-chan bowed before smiling at her elder sister and eventually going back to where she came from.
The administrator held the pillow containing the rings and uttered his prayer. " May the Lord bless these rings, which you will give to each other as a sign of love and fidelity." He then gestured Natsuki to take one of the rings to give it to her wife.
"Shizuru, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity." Natsuki uttered as she slipped the ring on Shizuru's ring finger, resulting to her having two rings therein.
"Natsuki, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity." Shizuru uttered while slipping the ring on Natsuki's ring finger in return.
The rituals continued until it finally reached its conclusion. "...I now pronounced you spouses. You may now kiss the bride." The administrator announced.
"Finally." Natsuki smiled before pulling Shizuru into a kiss earning her a loud cheer from the guests. "You're officially mine, Mrs. Kruger." she grinned before pulling Shizuru into a side hug and facing their guests.
"And so are you, Mrs. Viola." Shizuru smiled when Natsuki snapped her attention back to her.
"That's a topic to be discussed later." Natsuki said before turning her attention back to their guests.
Saeko was in tears and Madam Vi was in no different mess. Everyone cheered for the newly wedded couple.
Shizuru saw a very familiar Hollywood reporter and casted a questioning look at Natsuki who followed her line of sight and started to grin. "I want the world to know that I am wholly yours." She said while giving her wife a kiss on the forehead.
The gesture melted Shizuru's heart and caused her to flash a genuine smile towards her wife.
-fin-
Authors Notes:
And we have reached the ending my dear amazing readers. It was a good ride full of waiting time. Let me know your thoughts and questions and I might answer them in the prologue. But this pretty much summarizes what happened to our favorite couple. Hope no one's after my head now that the ending is here. Law school is tough so, I don't know if I will have the time to write another fic.
PS: I cringed when I read the earlier chapters. HAHAHA. The story mode and writing style really shifted from one style to another due to long time lag. Apologies for the inconsistencies. I love you all. Hope you had a great time.
PSS: Please live your life doing whatever makes you happy at the end of the day. Society is nothing but a glass cage stopping you from being yourself. Make your own world. At the end of the day, you alone will be held accountable for your actions.