The Last Lycan

Set in an old, enchanted world, a young mage stumbles upon a reclusive Lycan, who has lost her powers of transformation. The Lycan distrusts humans because of its past and thus, the mage finds herself thrown into the topmost tower as a prisoner for trespassing.

A/N: I'm trying to keep the updates within the week, but it seems like there's just too much going on after New Year's. I'll try my best to keep to bi-weekly updates. Thank you guys for leaving those nice reviews! It really serves to inspire and make for muse. Happy reading and hope you guys like it!

Chapter 6

Italics – Thoughts

She was awakened from a dull throb coming from her left shoulder. Dying embers lit the small cavern she was in and she blinked a couple of times to get used to the light. As she stared up at the granite ceiling, she briefly recalled that one of its many spiked spears had embedded itself into her. The said pain from that accident was getting more amplified with each passing moment and she decided that she should just remain prone. She tilts her head a little to the side and sees Shizuru sleeping just beside her, her dress ends ripped and the ground littered with blood-stained cloth. She glances down at herself, to find the missing pieces of the dress ends bandaged neatly across her chest and puts two and two together.

She had just risked her life to save a human. The greedy and selfish species that had killed her entire lineage. Humans that she vowed never to trust again. She hated them, but it seemed that deep down, she knew Shizuru was different and she knew that her body had reacted automatically to save her. The fact that she had decided to get speared for Shizuru without a second thought scared her.

Briefly, she wondered if her parents would blame her for falling for a human and forgetting the pain that the brought. Natsuki closes her eyes, as the sadness of remembering her parents washed over her. And yet when she turned to look at the woman beside her, she felt as though a large gaping hole in her heart had been plugged and replaced with happiness. She enjoyed every waking moment she had with the brunette and she did not remember laughing quite as much without her. To top it off, Shizuru was kind, understanding and a fantastic listener.

She didn't want to lose her.

Natsuki knew that the instant that spear-like stalagmite was headed Shizuru's way and she chose to take the hit instead. But now came the issue of admitting what was in her heart. How could she reign in these tumultuous feelings?

Exhaling lightly, she turns her head again to look at the sleeping brunette. She was beautiful beyond words. Lovely honey tresses matched with a pair of striking crimson irises. Her knowledge was vast and she was such a charming lady. Yet now, she looked so exhausted and worn; her hands caked with dried blood, probably from spending hours making sure that the wound was fixed up nicely.

Why would she reduce Shizuru to this? The girl had a much brighter and happier future ahead than staying as her captive, in a deserted castle and with such a hideous monster like her at that. And yet, if she'd allowed Shizuru to free.. would she stay? Natsuki shakes her head and turns her head back to stare up at the ceiling, feeling a colossal headache coming up. She closes her eyes, allowing sleep to take over.

XXX

"Shizuru!" Natsuki jolts up from her deep slumber, hissing in pain as her left shoulder throbbed in protest. She raises her paw to touch it instinctively, only to find her paw stopped and she turns to find Shizuru beside her. Shizuru turning her back and leaving forever was just a dream. She scanned the area quickly. The cavern was dark now.. What happened to the fire?

"Ara, Natsuki. I'm right here," Shizuru replies smoothly in a gentle, calming manner.

Natsuki blinks and gets her bearings, "How long was I out?"

"About five hours," Shizuru replies, helping Natsuki to the canteen of water she had in her satchel, which she gulped down hungrily. Natsuki was about to reply when a loud growl interrupted her and she clutches her stomach in embarrassment.

Shizuru's lip twitches upwards and pulls out a small ration from her satchel and passes her guardian some food. Natsuki's furred paw brushes against Shizuru's slim fingers as she takes the package from Shizuru. "Shizuru?" Natsuki grabs the mage's hands, "Why are your hands so cold?" The brunette retracts her hands from Natsuki's grasp and Natsuki looks at her worriedly, "What were you doing, Shizuru?"

"Natsuki, please lie down," Shizuru instructs her companion, who was starting to get up. She immediately throws caution to the wind and forgets about hiding her frostbitten hands when Natsuki stumbles, panting from the pain that her wound was inflicting on her.

"Shiz-" the lycan wheezes, "Frostbite.. Give me your hands."

The brunette obeys, unwilling to drive Natsuki into standing up again and settles beside her. Natsuki places the icy hands against her neck, burying it under her thick fur. "Were you trying to dig us out, Shizuru?"

Shizuru's eyes meet hers but she does not respond. However, Natsuki knows and she looks down on the ground. "You shouldn't put yourself at risk, Shizuru," she mutters.

Those cold fingers leave the lycan's insulated warmth immediately and Natsuki finds herself at the end of a piercing gaze. "Natsuki should speak for herself. A little cold, that is nothing, Natsuki. Does Natsuki know how worried I was?" Shizuru speaks quietly, her voice barely a whisper. "It hurts to see Natsuki battered up like this."

The wolf wanted to reply, but there were no words left for her to say. Both heart and mind were at war and it was still giving her a tremendous headache. Exhausted and worried for the brunette, she reluctantly allows her body to take charge as she abandons all conflicting thoughts from her head and picks up the cold hand again. She guides Shizuru's hand to her furred cheek, nuzzling into it gently. In response, Shizuru thumbs the smooth fur gently and presses her head gently against Natsuki. The midnight wolf feels her heart thumping against her chest so hard, it felt like it was about to burst out of her ribcage. The result of her action sent adrenaline pumping through her veins. She grits her teeth as she feels her accelerated healing kick in and a sharp pain through her shoulder as the wound starts to close.

"Is Natsuki alright?" Shizuru asks, noticing the grimace on the wolf's countenance and a sudden hot flush from the beast's body temperature. Gulping, Natsuki was unable to explain that the surge of restorative powers that stemmed from Shizuru's touches and she mumbles something incoherent instead. Concerned, Shizuru doesn't press Natsuki further and helps her settle down on the ground gently. She runs her fingers through Natsuki's long mane, hoping it would soothe Natsuki and relief washes over her as she feels Natsuki's breathing slowly even out.

The exhausted beast beckons for her to sit beside her and Shizuru complies without a second thought. "I've tried digging us out, but it seems like the snow is packed rather tightly. However, I've managed to create a sizeable opening. I was afraid of using magic.. Just in case the cavern decides to collapse on us," Shizuru starts a conversation, hoping it might distract Natsuki from the pain. "Natsuki just has to rest here until she feels better, alright?"

".. I just need some time. I'll be fine soon, just keep talking to me, please?"

Shizuru nods, "Remember I was telling you a book that I read.. Where was it when I left of..? Ah! So, I was reading this fantasy story, called Beauty and the Beast. My father had just gotten me this as an early birthday gift."

"It's your birthday?" Natsuki tilts her head from her leaning position to look at Shizuru curiously.

"Ara, it will be, in a few days actually. It's on the nineteen of December," Shizuru smiles.

"Ah.." Natsuki shifts, "Why didn't you tell me..? Or Mai.. Or Julia?"

Shizuru shakes her head in response, "Do not worry about it, Natsuki. Birthdays come and go, once every year after all."

"Huh.." Natsuki grunts.

Shizuru chuckles at the wolf's response and continues her story on the fairy tale, "So you see, the Prince was cursed by a fairy to remain as a beast."

Natsuki scoffs, she knows that story and it perturbed her that an almost similar thing happened to her, a long time ago. The pain of losing her family was something that she had lived with and her hatred for the ones who had caused it had been drummed into her. She recalled that she had spent oh so many nights awake, missing her mother and father, crying by the corners of her room as loneliness enveloped her.

"Natsuki.. What is wrong?" Shizuru probes gently, noticing the depths beneath those deep viridians held much emotion and aware that she was treading on thin ice. However, she really wanted Natsuki to talk to her, hoping she would be able to share some of her burden.

The lycan regards the girl quietly. She hadn't wanted to talk about it much, not even to Aunt Amber and Julia. Yet, the honest concern that was emanating from Shizuru's eyes and the comfort she found in Shizuru's arms crumbled her stubborn resolve. She lowers her gaze and took a long inhale, "I was cursed as well, Shizuru. This story you speak of rings a bell for me. It's just that, we're not in a fairy tale. There isn't something called 'true love' that breaks the curse in this reality."

Shizuru looks at Natsuki sadly, understanding the truth in her words for she herself was versed in the Arts and she was sure that Natsuki's magical family had tried all means and ways to reverse the curse.

"At that time I was barely six," Natsuki continues quietly, "There was a shaman who used the villagers to raid the castle. He wanted the treasures that we had and so did those greedy villagers. We were about to drive them out of our lands, but he cast this spell that turned all of us in the vicinity into stone. I was just lucky to get away because Aunt Amber and Julia were with me to counteract the spell. But, as you can see.. I've lost the power to transform back into a human."

Shizuru leans her head on Natsuki and musters her courage to speak truthfully, "Lycanthrope or human, meeting Natsuki was the best thing that has happened to me." Sadness reflects off her eyes at Natsuki's painful past, Shizuru now knows why Natsuki was so guarded.

Natsuki gulps audibly, feeling a tug at her heartstrings, "I'm sorry I treated you the way I did. I just.. didn't trust anyone.. then.." Natsuki feels an uncomfortable feeling rising up her throat and she represses it, but it starts to fester within her. Thoughts of hatred and anger that had been her sole accompaniment in the past were coursing through her, clashing hard and fast with feelings of contentment and warmth with Shizuru. Natsuki felt tired, more tired than she had ever been her entire life.

Shizuru wished that she could burst out and tell Natsuki that she could trust her, but she controlled herself, knowing that would only drive her away instead. Shizuru had already decided to wait patiently beside Natsuki to watch over her. She wasn't going anywhere, as long as Natsuki needed her. She settles for closing her eyes as she leans against Natsuki's frame, "I understand, Natsuki."

A silence passes between them and Shizuru observes as the lycan wrestles herself from her emotions, the look on her face torn and confused. She wanted to relieve Natsuki of her mental pain, but she didn't know how and instead, settles for burying her head on Natsuki's warm and uninjured shoulder. Natsuki feels Shizuru's body pressed up against her and her touch was so comforting. She wraps an arm around Shizuru's slim waist and Shizuru reciprocated it by snuggling into the nook. Shizuru quickly fell into a dreamless slumber from sheer exhaustion, but it was an entirely different matter for Natsuki. Her rest was plagued with chaotic memories and intermittent sleep; and when her sharp hearing picked up familiar anxious voices of Mai and Julia; she had stumbled up groggily, her head feeling heavier than ever.

"Natsuki? Natsuki, are you alright?" Shizuru quickly moves to support the werewolf, concerned about Natsuki's wellbeing.

Natsuki grimaces. She feels strange. Her wound had already stopped throbbing and she was unable to put her finger on what was wrong. "I'm alright, Shizuru. I heard Mai. We need to get out there and signal for her," she stubbornly picks herself up and starts for the cavern's entrance.

Shizuru follows beside wordlessly. Something was wrong, but she knew better than to probe the issue. She would have to wait for Natsuki to say it when she was ready.

"Mai!" Natsuki hollers, trying her best to get her friend's attention as soon as they reach the small opening that Shizuru had dug open.

Silence.

"Damn it," Natsuki curses in frustration, running her hands through her raven locks. "Julia!" Another few seconds of silence passes but her face suddenly brightens and she turns to Shizuru, "She heard me, Shizuru! I hear them turning back!"

Within the next few minutes, Shizuru soon picked up on their voices as well and it wasn't long before they spotted the redheads waddling through the thick snow.

"What happened guys?" Mai immediately drops to her knees, peering at both of them through the little hole. She had been worried sick when they did not return and they had split up in pairs to search for the missing duo.

"We had to take shelter here because of the avalanche," Shizuru explains, "Natsuki's shoulder is injured and I was afraid to use my powers because the cavern might have caved in on us."

Julia nods, "Hang tight guys, we'll start digging. Suki, you just leave it to us."

Shizuru expected Natsuki to retort, for she knew the werewolf disliked having to sit by and do nothing, but started to get extremely worried when Natsuki nodded wordlessly and slumped by her side. This wasn't good. They had to get home as soon as possible. Her eyes meet both Mai's and Julia in silent agreement and they started to get to work quickly.

Natsuki's condition had started to worsen along the trek home and by the time they'd returned to the castle, Natsuki had started burning up without warning, falling into her aunt's arms at the front gates. It took everyone's effort to be able to carry the large lycan back to her room. The remainder of the day was spent by Shizuru's staunch refusal to budge from Natsuki's bedside. The result was her collapsing beside Natsuki, wearied with worry. Amber sighs as she closes the door to Shizuru's room. Her daughters had gently lifted Shizuru and helped her back to her room. The girl was exhausted, but otherwise fine, so she tucked the young mage in and returned to Natsuki.

She finds Julia awaiting her return, back in Natsuki's room and they exchange glances. Both knew that the intense fever was not a result of the injury Natsuki sustained. They had checked. Natsuki had healed up nicely and there was no plausible way for an infection of any kind. Julia bows her head, "What's wrong with her, Amber?"

Amber squeezes her shoulder, "I think that Natsuki's going through a difficult time. I believe that she has come to the realization of her own emotions, one that's far more rooted in her past. It would seem like she's accepted Shizuru, but that decision was in such conflict with the belief she has held for over a decade."

A tear leaks out of Julia's eye as she recalled the painful past and she grasps Natsuki's hand tightly, "Oh Saeko.. I'm so sorry." The redhead was feeling extremely apologetic. It was under their watch that Natsuki had turned out this way, but Julia really did not know any other way to raise Natsuki. The world was just not ready to accept Natsuki like this and Julia had to do whatever to protect their dear wolf child.

"It's not your fault, Julia," Amber reminds her partner softly. "Natsuki is now at war with her mind and body. It is not a pleasant experience for her, but at the end of it, she will come out of it and realize what is important to her. She has to do this on her own."

XXX

And as expected, throughout the duration of Natsuki's illness, Shizuru had kept watch over her the minute she awoke. Amber and Julia had wisely left the care of Natsuki to Shizuru, though they did drop by often to make sure Natsuki was alright. Shizuru had noted diligently when Natsuki would feel hungry and a hot bowl of soup was always ready when Natsuki awoke. She had helped the lycan change out of her sweat-soaked shirt thrice a day, making sure Natsuki was always comfortable. The exhausted lycan always had a shoulder to lean on when taking a sip of water.

It was just after dinner time when Shizuru had reappeared in Natsuki's room, holding a clean white shirt. "Natsuki," Shizuru calls softly, "I'm going to help you out of your shirt, alright?"

Green eyes open slightly and Natsuki nods weakly in response.

Shizuru places the fresh shirt beside her as she took a seat next to Natsuki's form. Pulling aside the blankets gently, Shizuru huffs lightly as she hoists Natsuki's large frame up. Natsuki leans on her, half asleep as Shizuru removes the shirt on her back and pulls the sleeves of a clean shirt over her arms gently. She lays the lycan back down, smoothing her shirt before turning to leave the room.

She returns shortly after with a small book in hand and takes her seat in the armchair by the bed. Natsuki opens her eyes and smiles when she notices it was the brunette. Shizuru returns the short smile as Natsuki closes her eyes. "So, Natsuki, where were we at?" she muses as she flips through the pages. "Ara.. there we go." Shizuru begins reading the book aloud, occasionally casting Natsuki a side glance and she smiles when Natsuki's breathing gets deeper – signaling she had dozed off. There was something soothing about the calmness in the room and Shizuru finishes the chapter, closing the book, placing it on the bedside table before standing up from the chair. She covers the quilt around Natsuki before heading towards the door, casting a final longing look before she leaves.

Many hours pass before Natsuki finally awakens again and she immediately searches the room for Shizuru and her melodic voice. The brunette was dozing by the bedside and Natsuki gently lifts her paw, running her hand lightly through the long golden tresses. She had enjoyed the bits and pieces of the story Shizuru read to her daily, more so with that soothing voice of hers. Despite short, waking moments, Natsuki could see the sincerity in Shizuru's actions and she slowly feels as though a heavy burden that she had been carrying lifted off her. "Shizuru," she murmurs, "I.. I think I.. love you," unaware that admittance alone would be a significant turning point in her life.

And by the end of the third day, Amber noticed that Natsuki was looking a little better and her fever had fully subsided. She looked exhausted but seemed more relaxed than she usually was. For that, Amber was grateful to Shizuru and it seemed like Amber's words were starting to come true. The next day, Natsuki was up on her feet and Shizuru beside her. Feels great to be finally up, Natsuki smiles inwardly, feeling the stretch on her muscles. She looks down at Shizuru, who was concentrated on supporting her and clears her throat. She had to say something to her wonderful caretaker. "Shizuru.." she begins quietly and exhales as Shizuru's crimson gaze focused on her curiously. "Erm.. I'm sorry I was such a burden. And thank you for watching over me the past few days."

Shizuru smiles, warmly and gently as ever, happiness radiating off her eyes, "Ara, anything for my Natsuki. After all, Natsuki was the one who got injured because of me."

"Oh," Natsuki furrows her brows. Should I tell her that it wasn't because of that that I fell sick?

"Natsuki?" Shizuru notices her pause and darting emeralds.

Natsuki licks her chops nervously. How on earth was she going to tell Shizuru that her illness was not because of the wound, but rather due to her own internal conflict over the feelings she harbored for Shizuru? "It wasn't because of my wound, Shizuru," she mutters quickly, eyes cast on the ground.

Shizuru eyes widen a little but her calm expression returns almost instantly, "Ara, whatever does Natsuki mean? For the time that I've known Natsuki, she seems like a very healthy wolf, not one who falls ill suddenly."

"I am!" Natsuki grumbles, "I was just.. I mean, uh?" Natsuki scratches her cheeks absently, trying to piece her words together. Exasperated, she sighs dramatically, "I think I sort of like you, Shizuru. But I tend to overthink things and the stress was just.."

"Natsuki.." Shizuru trails off, "Was it because..?"

"It's not because of you, Shizuru!" Natsuki replies firmly then falters, "Actually, technically, yes. It's because of you. But! Not in that way! I mean, it was just me?" Natsuki throws her gaze upwards, thinking, "I just needed some time to accept this. I had a hard time accepting my feelings, mostly because of what happened in my past, but you really showed me what it was like to just be happy with you, Shizuru. And through few days, I really feel that you're really important to me and I.." Natsuki continues in her jabbering, unaware that her hidden, romantic self was shining as bright as a bauble in Shizuru's eyes.

"Natsuki is very important to me too," Shizuru cuts in, her lips turned upwards and her eyes shining.

The lycan is now confused and she looks at Shizuru quizzically, "I am?"

"Of course, Natsuki," Shizuru laughs, a light, melodic one that Natsuki found extremely pleasing to the ear. "Natsuki had already intrigued me the day we met. Being with Natsuki has changed my life so much and made me so happy. I'm just glad that Natsuki thinks that I'm important as well."

Natsuki gapes at her, thoughts running wild in her mind. She had found me intriguing the day we met? Had she felt the same all the time? How could I not have felt it? "But.. Shizuru?"

"Natsuki.." Shizuru whispers, cupping the lycan's muzzle and snapping Natsuki's attention back on herself. She gazes up into those mysteriously dark green eyes and gently picks up Natsuki's paw, threading her fingers through, "You're my most important person. Don't forget that, alright?"

The saying of having the heart in the mouth was underrated, as Natsuki practically felt it making its way up her throat. Having those dazzling carmine eyes looking at her with such fondness left her dealing with all kinds of positive emotions she didn't even know how to identify with. So she gulped.

Shizuru giggles at her immediately, feeling rather satisfied with Natsuki's response and her lips quirk up. She tiptoes, pressing a peck onto her handsome lycanthrope's cheek, before tucking Natsuki's paw firmly around her neck for support. "Come, everyone's probably waiting for us at the table," she whispers into Natsuki's ear before leading her out the door and down to the dining hall.

The table bubbles up at once at Shizuru's and Natsuki's arrival, both Amber and Julia had a pleased look on their faces when they spotted the pair pressed up against one another. Nao was waggling her eyebrows and Mai was just grinning like a Cheshire cat. Ignoring her family, Natsuki takes her seat and studies Shizuru carefully as she bustled around the table, their eyes meeting for a brief second as Shizuru set a plateful of Natsuki's favorite dish in front of her. "I know Natsuki misses this," she smiles warmly.

Natsuki's eyes light up immediately at the sight of the piping hot dish and looks at Shizuru with nothing but gratitude in her eyes, "I can't thank you enough, Shizuru."

Amber and Julia exchange relieved glances. Thanks to Shizuru, Natsuki was now on the fast track of recovery. It seemed like Shizuru's genuine care and concern for Natsuki did not go unnoticed and actually helped in Natsuki's conscious acceptance of Shizuru. This was fantastic news for Natsuki's family. No one had ever reached this level of understanding with their charge. No one. Natsuki would find her happiness one day and that exemplary someone that would be beside her would be Shizuru.