In the Darkness
A Mai Otome ShizNat Story
Chapter 16
"Thank you for your promptness about this, I know it's very last minute…"
As Natsuki sat on her comfy chair, talking on the phone, Mai and Youko entered the room, gently closing the door behind them. They walked over to the large, brown couch with a tray in hand and made themselves comfortable there, quietly talking while preparing their morning tea.
Emerald eyes never left sight of the lively city as she talked, "Hai, three p.m. is perfect" and then, "Arigato…" she swirled her chair around. She didn't do so completely but midway, partly facing the two women, "Hai, we'll be waiting" and after four seconds of silence she gently hung up the phone.
She let out a soft sigh and stayed there for a few seconds, sitting quietly, staring at the view of the city again. She was going over and over in her head the events of this morning, of what had happened just two hours ago in her quarters. Going over and over in her head Shizuru's proposal, every single one of her words.
…How long was this on her mind?… She wondered.
She still couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that Shizuru had done that, had asked for her hand in marriage.
And she still couldn't believe what she had said to the brunette after hearing that heartfelt declaration. Couldn't erase Shizuru's expression from her mind. She herself, couldn't believe she had said that, couldn't believe the words that had slipped from her mouth after that long moment of staring and silence.
What was she thinking?
Had she gone insane?
"I smell diamonds…"
That naughty voice pushed Natsuki out of her thoughts. She was now facing the incoming Column's direction.
"Oh, good, you're finally here" Natsuki softly let out. She had been so deep in thought that she didn't hear what Nao had said.
But Mai, on the other hand, raised a curious, bushy brow, for Nao was not known to throw empty jabs at someone. Her words always had some truth in it, there was always a meaning behind them.
Natsuki continued, "Before we start our meeting, I'd like to ask you-"
"Natsuki, could you wait a moment?" Mai interrupted the Headmistress mid-sentence, "What do you mean you smell diamonds?" She then asked the youngest occupant in the room. She had joined them on the couch and was now sitting next to her with both of her feet on the coffee table.
And as Youko tapped on Nao's leg, silently scolding her for her very bad manners,
"Oh, haven't you heard? Word around Garderobe is someone is tying the knot" Nao said in her typical teasing voice, crossing a leg over the other as her feet were now touching the ground.
"N-Nani?" And Natsuki's heart stopped, "H-How?!" her Emerald eyes widened, and her face, her beautiful face turned twenty different shades of red in under five seconds.
There was no doubt about it, not one. Someone had to be spying on her, someone had to be! There was just no way, no way someone could've found out about this already. It just happened!
She was going to have to check her office, her quarters, the whole damn Academy and see if there were hidden cameras somewhere. It just didn't make sense to her how things spread in this place so soon.
"Natsuki, what is Nao talking about" The way Mai had said this, so fast and with such a commanding tone, it didn't sound like a question at all.
By the way Natsuki had reacted, her nervousness, her reddened face, it could only mean that Nao was talking about her. And to her knowledge, Natsuki wasn't going to ask Shizuru the marriage question, not yet. She was sure the blunette would share this news with her before actually doing it.
"Go on, Gakuenchou, tell us how she bent on one knee" Nao then smirked at the Headmistresses' dumbfounded expression.
Nao was still not over what Shizuru had said to her a week ago. Natsuki was still paying dearly for this. Every day she was. Nao always found a way to aggravate her.
And no, the news wasn't actually out there. The news of the proposal hadn't spread, not yet at least.
Late last night, when she was about to sneak out of Garderobe to meet up with her gang members, she had briefly crossed paths with Shizuru.
The woman had just stepped out of her old bedroom at around three a.m. with a bunch of candles on her hands. They didn't really exchange words besides the normal pleasantries. Okay, and maybe a little teasing from Shizuru, especially since Nao was leaving Garderobe at such a time. But the moment she saw all those candles, along with a very small box, she knew. She knew that Shizuru was going to pop the question early morning. It was so obvious.
"W-Wait a minute, she proposed to you?!" Mai eagerly asked the frozen blunette. This was certainly a huge surprise, a huge turn of events.
She then turned to Nao since she was getting no answers from the woman, "Did Shizuru propose to her?!"
"Ara, Ara~ Candles and everything…" Was Nao's witty reply. "I bet it was very romantic~"
And Natsuki stood up so fast and glared at the redhead, her eyes involuntarily twitching and hands turning to tight fists.
Was she ever going to get any privacy in this place?
Why was her business always out in the open?
Can't she have a freaking break?!
Natsuki wanted to scream.
"Go on, Gakuenchou, show us the tiny white rock" Nao then teasingly continued, a hand covering her lips, "Or did you have the courage to decline Shizuru-san's marriage proposal?" and after a brief pause, and a lot more silence, "Oh my, things are going to get so interesting around here~"
Youko and Mai turned to face Natsuki's direction, waiting for her to do something, to say something. To deny this.
But when nothing came,
"Natsuki…" Mai warily began, "You didn't actually-"
"Do you think me an idiot!?" Natsuki yelled at her friend, aggravation at its highest point. "Of course not!" She then crossed her arms and looked away, blushing and pouting, the diamond ring, and no, it's not a tiny, white rock, now in view. Its brightness blinding.
Did they actually think she would do that to Shizuru? Decline her proposal after such a loving and heartwarming declaration?
No way.
No way!
She loved her, loved that woman with all her heart. There was no way she was going to say no to her, no matter how frightening the topic was.
"Omedeto on your engagement, Natsuki" Youko softly smiled, congratulating the blunette.
And Mai, she jumped in pure enthusiasm. She immediately hugged Nao who could only cringed from the contact.
"I said I would marry her, b-but- but under one condition" Natsuki then timidly added, muttered. She was still lightly blushing and looking away.
And all eyes were on her again, even Nao's curious ones.
Natsuki giving conditions to Shizuru? That was a first.
"Natsuki, what on Earl did you do…" Mai let out in horror, fearing the worst.
And Natsuki swallowed, shyly saying, "I… I said that we had to get married today, that I didn't wish to wait"
Once she had heard Shizuru's proposal, had heard Shizuru's thoughts that came straight from her heart, she just didn't want to wait anymore.
They had been dating for almost four years, had known each other for over a decade now. And for most of that decade, she had loved her. It was mostly in silence, but she had loved her. She had loved her for so, so long. It might've sounded crazy, and perhaps she was rushing this, but she wanted to marry her right away, wanted to start marriage life with her right away. She no longer wished to wait.
There was silence in the room for a long, long while. Had you dropped a pin, you could hear it loud and clear once it had hit the floor.
At least until,
"SAY WHAT?! COME AGAIN?!" Mai's heart couldn't take so many ups and downs in under five minutes. She felt like she was on an emotional rollercoaster ride, she felt like she was about to pass out.
"Did you hear that?" Mai then asked Youko, wanting to make sure she had heard the woman right. "Did she really say that?"
She could only imagine Shizuru's expression when she heard this herself. The woman was probably mute, speechless, deaf, and blind for a good minute.
And yes, Shizuru was. This had totally caught her by surprise.
Youko smilingly nodded, "You heard right, Mai-san. Looks like there'll be a wedding today"
"Huh, I honestly didn't think you had it in you" Nao, on the other hand, let out, totally amused. "Why the rush though? It's not like her parents are pointing a gun to your head for defiling her every night…" And then, "Ara, Ara~ Don't tell me you're afraid she might change her mind and give the ring to one of those cute Pearls?"
Shizuru had a lot of fangirls in the Pearl year this year. A lot. Every year they seem to multiply somehow.
Natsuki narrowed her eyes at the young Column. …One of these days, I'm going to make her eat her words… Maybe it was time to send her on a very long mission. A long mission to somewhere extremely secluded and extremely cold. That would teach her to bite her tongue, to remind her who she was talking to.
Natsuki brought a hand to her lips, clearing her throat. Her face was now back to its natural color, blush and shyness gone. Then, she slowly walked towards their direction.
"Before I got interrupted," Her Emerald eyes narrowed at Mai. Hadn't she interrupted her they would've found out about her engagement in a different way. She was going to tell them herself. "I was going to ask if you didn't mind being our witnesses. Shizuru and I would really appreciate your presence" then, softly added, "The ceremony will be in the Moon Garden at three"
Originally, since it was such a sudden decision, they were just going to head to Wind Bloom's city hall and get married there. Just sign the papers and they would officially be married. But after the scent of Jasmines hit Natsuki's senses, she suggested to have it in the Moon Garden, and that she would have the minister come to them. That's who she was talking to earlier, he had agreed to stop by at three.
And all three women agreed about being their witness.
There was a soft nod from Youko, an excited thumbs-up from Mai, and a shrug from Nao.
Once Natsuki got there, she joined them by sitting on the adjacent couch. "We've already called Haruka-san, she said she can make it as well"
When they had called Haruka, the woman seemed to be in shock at first, and then barked at them for not following etiquette about these things. It was too sudden, she had to change her imaginary plans around. But she said she wouldn't miss it. She said she'd be there for Bubuzuke.
Natsuki gracefully crossed one leg over the other, "And we talked to my father… Unfortunately he can't make it since it's a very long trip from Duran, but he gave us his blessing" a warm smile grazed her lips thinking of the conversation they had had with him on the phone.
The man had congratulated them, had given them some fatherly advice about marriage and responsibility. Had also asked for many grandchildren, and for frequent visits to Duran. To which Shizuru happily complied.
And as Mai sat next to her on the couch, grabbing her hand to admire the beautiful ring adorning her finger, she continued,
"It's very sudden, so we are thinking of having the ceremony today, and then after I come back from Aries, we will plan for something bigger and formal. We will plan a reception and invite everyone, family and friends"
"Sounds good!" Mai was so excited for her friend she was about to cry a river of joy. "I can't believe this is really happening. I'm so happy for you, Natsuki!" And she hugged her so, so tightly, "Really, omedeto" and after she had let her go, she asked, "What did Shizuru-san think of the ring?"
"I didn't know she was going to do this. I didn't have it with me"
Did Mai forget that it was Shizuru who proposed? The ring was still locked in the safe, it was still right here, in her office.
"I'll give it to her in the ceremony" The blunette continued.
"What about the honeymoon? You will have a honeymoon, right?"
Mai was asking way too many questions and Natsuki didn't have answers. They had just gotten engaged, had just decided to get married today. They didn't have a chance to talk about all of this, there was no plan, nothing concrete, not yet.
"You two haven't gone to the cabin in a while…" Youko spoke her mind, "Why don't you spend tonight there? You can come back before you head out to Aries… Spend some alone time"
Natsuki softly nodded, liking that idea. She knew that Shizuru would agree with this as well. She really loved it there. And not too long ago she had asked her when they would return. They haven't gone back since that weekend, the weekend they had made love for the first time in over two years. The weekend that she discovered that Shizuru still held feelings for her, despite the amnesia.
"Can you handle Garderobe on your own until we come back, Youko?" The blunette asked, and she immediately received a nod from the woman as a response.
"Alright" Then, her features became serious as she reached forward to pour warm tea into her teacup. It was time to talk business, to get serious. The real purpose of today's meeting.
"Nao, were you able to find out anything about the four unidentified bodies the authorities found in the desert? Do you know how they disposed of them?"
"Since no one claimed them, and they couldn't be I.D.'ed or returned to their families, they ended up cremating them" Nao inspected her nails as she nonchalantly said this.
"I see…" Was the husky, thoughtful reply, "I was hoping they would've buried them…"
Had the authorities kept the bodies, buried them, Garderobe could've claimed them and ran tests on what was left of them. It's been many years since the police had found them, but there was still viable DNA there. DNA that could tell them, give them an idea where they were from.
"Youko?" Natsuki then eyed the woman, wordlessly asking her what she had found.
"The autopsy reports didn't show any drugs or chemicals present in his blood" The woman calmly replied, referring to the man who had committed suicide in the mental institution after he had recovered his memories. "If he or Shizuru-san were given a drug of some kind, then it is undetectable, untraceable…" adding, "I ran extensive tests on her the night she returned, her blood tests, toxicology and chemical tests came back negative, Natsuki"
The blunette let out a groan, a hand now rubbing her eyes in frustration. "Can anything explain the similarities in their symptoms, then? If a drug didn't do this to them, then what did?" And finally, "What did they do to her, Youko?" She was having a hard time processing this, the similarities this man and Shizuru had.
The amnesia,
the sleepwalking,
the screaming and the nightmares,
And now, let's add to the list the fact that Shizuru wasn't sleeping.
Oh yes, Natsuki was well aware that Shizuru wasn't sleeping. She was aware of her change in habits.
She had awoken a few times in the middle of the night and had found her reading. After she had caught her doing this two nights in a row, she had asked her if she just wasn't comfortable in her new bed, if she wanted to switch the mattress with her old one. But Shizuru had said that she just wasn't tired or sleepy yet, and it had been like, four a.m. already.
Natsuki didn't believe that, more so when she could clearly see how tired Shizuru was.
She couldn't understand why Shizuru had opted not to sleep. Why she was doing this. Wondered if it was a psychological thing.
So, one night as they got ready for bed, she had asked her if she was afraid that she would have nightmares. But Shizuru had said no, that the nightmares had stopped. And she believed her when she said that. She could tell she was being sincere.
Then, what was it?
Why was Shizuru not sleeping?
She wished she could get it out of her somehow, make her open up to her somehow. She was hoping that by now Shizuru would've talked to them, told them what she's been through. She's been back for almost three months now, she knew that Shizuru remembered, if not all, at least something, she just knew it. It would be easier for them to figure this whole thing out had Shizuru just talked to them, shared something with them…
The only thing missing from the list of similarities with that man was the voices. It didn't seem like Shizuru was hearing voices yet. At least not to her knowledge.
"I don't know what to say, Natsuki" Youko sincerely answered. "In all honesty, I'm as puzzled as you are"
And Natsuki pursed her lips, her hand still covering her closed eyes. She felt so helpless. "This is a nightmare" She could only let out.
"Shizuru-san is nothing like that man, Natsuki" That, was Mai, trying to console her friend. "She is strong, and she is improving so much" She grabbed Natsuki's fisted hand, "There might be similarities between them, but it doesn't mean she'll end up like him. She's nothing like him"
Natsuki nodded once, her way of showing that she was listening.
"And I doubt she'll try to murder you in your sleep" Nao casually chimed in, reminding Natsuki of the horrible things that man had done to his wife and kids. "We would've found you dead already, that woman doesn't miss"
And all Natsuki could think of right now was what Shizuru had said to her a little while ago. She wondered if it counted that Shizuru had already murdered her probably a million times in her nightmares.
"Nao" Youko couldn't help and groan because of this. Because of Nao's insensitiveness towards the topic.
"You're not helping!" And Mai, in turn, hissed at her, reprimanded her.
And after a moment of complete silence,
"Alright, I declare this meeting adjourned, we'll continue this another day" Mai said as she stood, "Today's a happy day, Natsuki's getting married!" and tried to cheer up the gloomy inhabitants in the room. "Come on, Natsuki" She quickly grabbed mentioned woman by the arm,
"Oi, be careful!" And then, "Where are we going?"
"To your quarters. Let's search your closet and find you something white to wear"
And with those words said, Natsuki found herself being excitedly dragged out of the room by her energetic friend.
Meanwhile…
And while this was happening, Shizuru was in her old bedroom, her opened diary in hand. She was sitting in her long, sofa chair by the window, writing some notes in neat, cursive letters.
She had already picked out what to wear for the ceremony, she had neatly placed it on the bed.
Since it was still warm for early fall, she picked out a white, knee length, flowy dress, together with white heels. It was the same dress she wore the day they had gone to the cabin. It was the only white dress she owned, but it would do just fine since it was a very small, very intimate ceremony.
"In the Darkness, find the source…" Shizuru read aloud the words she had written down.
She had heard this sentence before, had remembered it before, but she didn't think much about it until it came to her again today.
"Find the source…" Kyoto-ben whispered again, "The source" repeated absentmindedly.
"Source of what?" Shizuru thought aloud. "Power?"
Ruby eyes scanned her notes. She had a lot of random words there. Words that came to her from time to time from her captive days. Words she had picked up while being tortured.
Her Ruby eyes settled on one of the words, "Particles…" and then, translated it to, "Nanomachines" that's when she guessed, "Perhaps they're looking for what powers the nanomachines? What helps an Otome transform into her Robe?"
But what powers the Nanomachines is the Gemstone, and she knows that they already know this, she had caught it in conversation once. That's why they removed the Gemstone from her ear, that's why they removed the Nanomachines from her system.
"Perhaps they're looking for the source of the Gem's power…" She had been so far away from the source, billions and billions and billions of miles away, that she couldn't transform into her Robe.
They must've noticed it, must've noticed that they needed something more, because she was equipped in her Robe before the darkness pulled her in and she could no longer do that afterwards.
"The source of the Gem's power…" Yes, and the source of the Gem's power was the Shinso, "Ara~ They're looking for Himeno Fumi-san"
That's what they're looking for. The powerful Himeno Fumi-san. She is the Shinso, the source of their power. She is what powers up their Gem, what enables them to transform into powerful, deadly warriors.
"What is the purpose of this? Why are they looking for this?" Were the questions on her mind. "What do they need this for?"
Shizuru then sighed, closing her diary. Things were getting so complicated now.
She tilted her head to the left, her Ruby eyes eyeing her closed closet. In the closet, she had a few items she was hiding, keeping secret. Items that had to do with her plans of going In the Dark.
Shizuru realized that, the hit on the head had made her lose consciousness for a little while. It had helped unlock something in her mind, which made her possess Ichiro that night somehow.
She was going to try and do that again, try and reach that level of unconsciousness with the help of medicinal herbs. That's why she was reading botanical books, hoping to find a way, a safe way to reach that level without having to hit her head again. If she could help her muscles relax, take something that could help her pass out for a little while, she was sure she could possess him again. She was sure of it.
She had thought about using anesthesia at first, but anesthesia was too dangerous, too strong. If she took that, she might not feel pain, her body will be completely numb, she might not wake up. And she needed to feel pain, she needed to wake up. She needed to come back to Natsuki at all cost.
In her closet, she had all her books, the ones that were helping with her research. She also had a small defibrillator. She had sneaked the defibrillator out of the infirmary the other night. She was going to strap it to her chest, leave it on a timer setting so it could shock her back to Earl after a certain time. She was going to allow herself three hours at most to go in, find out what she can, get the job done and get out.
If three hours wasn't enough, she could try and go in again on another day. But she was hoping to settle this in one possession. The more she did this, the higher the risk, the higher the probability that her mind might not come back.
Ruby eyes then faced the bed's direction, settled on her white dress. …Natsuki… She couldn't help and feel anxious now, knowing the risks, knowing all that she could lose if something went wrong.
She let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes, hugging her knees tightly against her chest. Trying to calm her nervousness, her anxiety, trying to calm the fast beat of her aching heart.
Today was supposed to be her wedding day. Today was supposed to be a happy day. She shouldn't be thinking about this. She needed these negative thoughts to go away.
"Hi, Miracle"
Shizuru stopped breathing for a moment and raised her head.
She had heard a voice in her head. She recognized that voice. It was his voice.
Shizuru hadn't realized it yet, but whenever she was anxious, she could hear him. Could hear whatever he said.
"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you, I'm here to help you"
She heard him say, her hands turning into fists,
"My name is Ichiro, it's very nice to meet you…"
And after that, she could no longer hear him, the voice was gone. Anger had trumped anxiety, and since she was no longer anxious the connection was lost.
Not too long after that, Shizuru had a visitor, or, well, several visitors, so she ended up having a very busy morning.
Arika had stopped by to see her first, to ask her if it was true what she had heard, that she and the Gakuenchou were getting married today.
Shizuru had told her yes, and had asked her to please keep it quiet, that they didn't want the whole school to show up at the Moon Garden to watch their nuptial. That the ceremony would be intimate, just a few guests. And told her she was more than welcomed to join them on their happy day.
Then, not too long after that, Mai had stopped by to chat with her and see if she needed any help. Natsuki had mentioned that Shizuru still had most of her clothes in her old bedroom, that she hadn't completely settled into her quarters yet, so that she'd probably find Shizuru there, and she did.
Youko had stopped by some time later to congratulate her on the engagement and the fast approaching wedding.
And Haruka and Yukino had joined them not too long after that.
The seven of them, subtracting Arika and adding Nao, had lunch together by the garden, telling jokes and stories before parting ways to get ready for the ceremony.
And then, in the blink of an eye, the time came.
Three o clock came around and both girls were in the Moon Garden clothed in simple yet beautiful white dresses, a crown of white Jasmines adorning their heads, a light blush on their cheeks, and loving smiles on their lips.
They voiced a few affectionate sentences to one another while holding hands, said, "I do", slipped their wedding rings on the other's ring finger, and sweetly kissed in front of the minister and close friends.
And then, to finalize the ceremony, signed the marriage certificate with their new last names, Kruger-Viola. They were now officially married, they were now wife and wife.
It was a simple wedding, a simple ceremony, but it was perfect for them. They wouldn't have pictured it any other way.
They married in the place where they had first met, where they had first kissed, where their love came to bloom, where they had confessed their feelings for one another, and now where their new life began. They married at the perfect spot.
After the ceremony, the couple said goodbye to their friends, mounting the vintage motorcycle with helmets that had 'Just Married' written in the back of them. Their friends eagerly waived goodbye to them and cheered for them as they drove out of Garderobe still dressed in white. Mai was crying the whole time.
The newlyweds stopped by the local supermarket before reaching the cabin. Purchased the most expensive bottle of champagne the place had, along with some groceries to make tonight's dinner and tomorrow's breakfast and lunch.
And when they reached their final destination a little after seven, the moment the door had closed behind them, the bags of groceries dropped to the floor. Hands immediately reached for skin and lips desperately locked, moans and gasps escaping their throats.
They hastily made their way to the bed were clothes quickly came off. Expressing through kisses, expressing through touch the love, adoration and devotion they felt. Consummating their marriage and professing everlasting love through the act.
"I can't believe you're now a Kruger" Natsuki said to her wife minutes after they had finished making love. "Kruger-Viola, Shizuru… It sounds really nice"
"It does, doesn't it?" Shizuru smiled, her hand caressing the woman's cheek. She was still on top of the blunette, staring at those Emerald eyes she adored.
"I love you, Kruger-Viola, Natsuki" She leaned down and sweetly captured her wife's soft lips.
And before things got heated again, before it got to the point of no return, she parted their kiss, saying, "Let's make a toast"
And when Natsuki nodded, she left the bed, not bothering to cover her naked body when she left.
And Natsuki, she used her elbows to prop herself upwards a little, and shamelessly watched with raised brows and blushing cheeks as Shizuru walked way. She watched everything the woman did, every single movement that perfect, naked body of hers made.
About a minute later, after Shizuru had put the bags of groceries in the refrigerator, she returned to the bedroom area with two glasses in hand and the bottle of champagne.
"Ara~, there's some drool on Natsuki's face" Shizuru teased once she had joined her wife on the bed. Natsuki was still openly staring at her.
"H-Huh?" And Natsuki blushed, quickly facing to the side, a hand instantly going for her lips to wipe the drool off her face.
"Fufu, just kidding~" Kyoto-ben happily sing-sang.
"Mou, Shizuru!" And the blunette groaned, narrowing her eyes at her wife.
"Kannin na, love, I couldn't resist" And Shizuru finished that apology with a short peck on her cheek.
She handed the blunette the two glasses so that she could open the bottle and pour the champagne for them. And once she had done that, she put the bottle aside on the nearby table.
"What should we toast for?" Came the husky question.
"To us" Was the soft answer. "To you and me. To a lifetime of happiness together"
This made Natsuki smile, she raised her glass, "To us"
And the mood came again, the newlyweds made love again, manifested by the giggles and kisses, by the whispers of love and the effects of the champagne.
A Few Hours Later,
Planet Earth
"Is this chemical safe?" Ryo, Miracles father, worriedly asked the young man. He wanted no harm to come to his little girl, so he was full of questions.
They were in the lab. The little girl was sitting on a bed, holding her father's hand tightly and watching him talk.
This lab, it looked like a scary place to her. There were so many weird things, so many strange looking machinery. And this Ichiro man, his aura wasn't as nice as before. She didn't trust him. He seemed nice, he didn't seem that bad, but there was something wicked about him. She could feel it.
"What will this do to her?" Ryo then asked.
And Ichiro, he didn't have an accurate answer to the man's question, "I'm hoping to see a spike in her vitals… a positive reaction"
"You're hoping?" Ryo repeated, "You have no idea what this will do to her? What if this kills her?"
"It won't" Was the immediate answer. "We've tried it on others and it didn't harm them"
Ryo sighed and then stared at his daughter's innocent, pink eyes.
"This could be good for her…" Ichiro whispered to the man. He then stared over to his father's direction, he was a distance away, silently working on something.
"If this works" He continued, "She could cross to the other side, unharmed"
"She wont die, like the others in the past?"
"No, she won't…" Ichiro then wavered, "I mean, it's not certain. I'm speaking in hypotheticals" And then, added, "But there's a very good chance she will survive"
Ryo stared at his daughter again. He was torn with this decision, he didn't know what to do. He just wanted what was best for her.
And Ichiro, he just wanted the man to approve this, because with his permission or not, his father would do what he wanted. His father would kill Ryo if necessary to get his hands on the little girl.
"Okay…" Ryo answered,
And Ichiro sighed in relief.
"Son, we have a stable connection"
Upon hearing this, Ichiro's heart jumped in excitement. It's as if his prayers had been answered, he'd get to see Deadly Beautiful tonight. …At last!...
"I'll be right there, father!" He couldn't say this fast enough, excitedly enough. He hurried and prepared the injection with the particles. The sooner he was done with this, the faster he could see his lovely and very beautiful crimson eyed brunette.
"This won't hurt, please stay still" He said to the little girl once the injection was ready. And then he wet a white cotton strip with rubbing alcohol and gently rubbed it on her arm.
Seconds later, the needle went in, and seconds after that, he slowly pushed the bright, red liquid into her bloodstream.
After he was done, he immediately placed the empty syringe on the table and ran towards the bed where the helmet waited for him.
"Father, please monitor her, I'm going in before the connection is lost"
"Yes, son" The father acknowledged, walking towards the little girl. "Remember, go to the structure we talked about. When you've arrived, let me know"
"Yes, father" Ichiro secured the helmet on his head and then lay down on the comfortable yet cold bed. His fingers went for the little button on the side and pressed it, turning it on.
The helmet did its job, it awakened specific parts of his brain, made it release certain toxins that would allow him to achieve a level of unconsciousness and yet he could stay lucid, in control of his body and actions.
He closed his eyes and felt himself leave. Saw the bright lights that would lead him to the brunette's body, to Deadly Beautiful's mind.
And once he was there, he slowly opened his eyes and waited a few seconds for his sight to adjust. And once it had adjusted he wasn't pleased by the sight at all.
That woman, that cobalt haired woman was sleeping with his beautiful brunette again. That woman was always in his way. He could clearly see her, could clearly see her sleeping face. Her face was always so close to the brunette's.
Always.
He commanded the brunette to slowly raise. And once she had done so, he realized that they were at that place again, the place in the woods.
He took in his surroundings, saw the nearly empty bottle of champagne on the nearby table, along with two glasses that were still half full.
…Could they be celebrating something?...
He then saw the white dresses on the nearby chair, along with a bouquet of white flowers.
And then, his sight fell upon the helmets, and he had to command the brunette to tilt her head a little so he could read what it said.
…No…
It said 'just married'
…NO!...
He looked down at her delicate hands. There was a ring there, a gorgeous sapphire ring there. And then he looked at the other woman's hands, and she was wearing a ring as well.
…This can't be happening…
And then he looked at the sleeping blunette's face again.
…I hate you…
He really did.
…I hate you! I wish you were dead!…
He really, really did.
Jealousy, anger, took over. He was slowly losing control, all rational thoughts gone.
He gently left the bed, making sure not to wake the blunette. Then, slowly walked over to the kitchen, and once he had gotten there, he quietly opened a few drawers until he had found what he was looking for.
He then slowly walked back to the bedroom area.
Slowly made his way to the bed.
He slowly straddled the blunette's hips, and then, and then, the sharp knife made its way to the blunette's neck.
Sametime,
Cabin
"Shizuru, not again… I'm really exhausted" Natsuki sleepily let out, suddenly awakening when feeling her wife's weight on her.
And then, she felt something else, felt something metallic, something cold. Felt something sharp on her neck, digging, cutting through her skin.
She gasped in pain, her Emerald eyes suddenly opening.
She was wide awake now.
Wide awake.
She couldn't move, not an inch, if she did she was as good as dead.
"S-Shizuru… What are you doing?" Her lips trembled as she looked at Shizuru's expressionless face hovering above her. Her face that was void of emotion, of feeling.
And then she noticed that her eyes weren't hers. Her beautiful, Ruby eyes were replaced by bright, blue ones.
How?
How could this be?
She swallowed, remaining totally still, not moving a single muscle.
She cringed, feeling the knife digging slowly, digging deeper.
And then, it suddenly came to her. Something the brunette had told her in this very cabin a few weeks ago:
"Everything is a mess in my head, Natsuki… Sometimes I feel as if there's someone else in there"
Shizuru had said to her that night.
And then, two days later, in the Healing Chamber:
"I… I think they're watching"
"W… Who? Who's watching?"
"I don't know. I-I'm scared, Natsuki"
And the night she had asked Shizuru to move in with her, Shizuru had made her promise something, something so improbable that she didn't give it much thought and conceded with her. The idea, the thought, was crazy. Bizarre:
"If my nightmares come true, if I try to harm you in anyway, promise me you won't hesitate... Promise me you will prevent me from hurting you, even if it means ending my life"
"Shizuru…"
"Promise me, Natsuki… Please"
"…Okay, I promise"
The signs weren't very subtle, but they were there. They were.
…I should've noticed… A tear escaped her Emerald eyes, …Gomen, Shizuru. I have failed you… and she closed them, completely surrendering, waiting for the knife to take her life.
That's when she felt something land on her face. Something moist, something wet.
So, she slowly opened her eyes again.
And that face that was void of emotion had tears on them.
There were tears on them.
Shizuru was in there somewhere.
And it made Natsuki realize, that whatever had taken control of her, she was fighting it, she was trying to fight it. Otherwise, by now, she would've been dead. She was certain of this.
"W-Who are you?" After a moment, Natsuki asked, her hand slowly reaching for the nightstand to open the top drawer.
"W-What do you want?" And when she opened the drawer, she felt her way to her hand gun.
Once she had reached it, once her fingers had felt it, had surrounded it, she swallowed yet again. This movement causing the blade to dig a little deeper into her neck, so she cringed slightly from the pain.
She licked her dry, trembling lips and slowly brought the gun to view. Her hands shaking, terribly shaking. She never thought she'd be pointing this gun on the woman she loved.
"Why are you doing this?" She unlocked the safety lock with her thumb,
- Click -
hearing the click sound.
Then, she brought the gun to the brunette's face, right between the eyes.
"I-I don't want to do this" She then whispered, "P-Please, I beg of you, please let her go…"
If she was going to die tonight, if this was her fate, she couldn't leave Shizuru like this, to have someone controlling her like this. She'd rather kill her first and then take her own life afterwards.
She wasn't going to leave Shizuru like this.
She couldn't.
She wouldn't.
Never.
"I love you, Shizuru..." She whispered to her, fresh tears escaping her, "I will always love you" And then, "I'm sorry" And her final whisper to her, "Don't be scared, we'll be together soon… I promise"
She was going to ride this as long as she could. Last as long as she could. She was losing a lot of blood, and fast. And she was feeling light headed, so, so light headed. She wasn't sure how much longer she would last.
Same time,
Planet Earth
"This is truly remarkable" The father whispered in awe, watching as all the little girl's stats raised one by one.
The curious particles, they worked on her, they really worked! Radiation levels were going down. Her vitals were healthier, improving by the second, her heart and lungs were stronger.
"Papa"
And she had found her voice!
Ryo could hear her voice!
"This is a miracle!" Ryo reached out to his daughter and hugged her tightly. "I'm so glad" And when he let her go, his eyes caught sight of something. "Um..." Something very interesting was happening on the screen behind them.
"General, sir" Ryo cautiously let out, "Is Ichiro-kun supposed to be doing that?" It looked like the young man was about to kill a beautiful woman.
And the father left his eyes from the screen with the girl's vitals to look at the large one behind them.
His eyes widened, it took him a moment to react, "Son… Son. Son, stop!" And he immediately ran to his side, ridding him off the helmet right away.
Back at the Cabin
Had Shizuru not dropped the knife and had lifelessly fallen on her, Natsuki would've pulled the trigger.
In a few more seconds she really would've.
She was just about to lose consciousness and could barely keep her eyes open. Everything was starting to become blurry, to spin in the room. She had lost a lot of blood. Had she passed out like that she would've died. Bleed to death.
"Shizuru!" The blunette quickly raised and lay Shizuru on the bed, lay her on her back.
She quickly brought a hand to her own neck to stop the bleeding.
And then hastily opened Shizuru's eyes for her, inspecting her, only to find that they were no longer blue or red. They were black, pitch black.
Black as coal,
black as night.
Her ear immediately went for chest, for her heart, only to find that it was pounding strong, pounding very, very fast.
"What the hell is happening" Natsuki let out in panic, her heart and mind trying to make some sense of the situation, of what she had just discovered.
This must be the reason Shizuru had stopped sleeping in the night.
Because she realized that someone could control her in her sleep.
"Shizuru, come back to me" She gently patted the woman's cheek,
"Can you hear me?" She said to her,
"Wake up"
Natsuki had a very bad feeling about this.
- 0 -
Thanks for Reading!
And thanks for the Reviews/ Comments
Did I do a good job at fooling anyone in the beginning? LOL
I blame the night on the champagne, just saying.
Also, I needed something significant to make Ichiro snap the way he did.
Okay! One more chapter to go! Chapter 17 is the Final Chapter. Then comes a short Epilogue.
As always, let me know your thoughts!
"For the love of ShizNat"