Chapter 6:

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe," Rutger Hauer was saying on Natsuki's large flatscreen as various hirigana and kanji flashed on the bottom of the screen, "Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the darkness of the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in…rain. Time to die."

Natsuki offered a tissue to Miyu, who was having a very emotional moment on the sofa beside her.

"Such a tragic movie…" Miyu exhaled.

"There's a bit of an upside," Natsuki told her, "Just keep watching."

At that moment, the doorbell rang, and Natsuki went to answer it, bringing her wallet along the way. A quick peek through the peephole proved her suspicions correct. The pizzas had arrived.

"Look, Miyu, if it's any consolation, I have a series you might find more enjoyable. All Purpose Cultural Cat-Girl Nuku-Nuku. The robot-girl gets to live in the end."

Miyu looked at her, then blinked, "Your preference is for action oriented media. I am given to understand that the series you've just named is a comedy. Why do you own that one?"

Natsuki blushed, "I just…do. Whatever. Shut up."

"Ara, don't be rude, dearest," Shizuru walked into the room, setting up at the main table, then turning to Miyu, "Natsuki will never admit it out loud, but she thinks Atsuko-chan is sexy."

Natsuki gave Shizuru a smirk, "Do I tell other people about your collection of Priss Asagiri merchandise?"

Shizuru smiled, "Would Natsuki be telling stories out of school?"

"Well, if you're going to share embarrassing details about me to our friends, I feel I'm permitted to do the same for you," Natsuki grinned.

Shizuru blinked, then grinned broadly, "What's good for the goose is good for the goose, eh?"

"Speaking of goose, I see that hand," Natsuki leaned in and whispered into Shizuru's ear, "You promised, not in front of company, lover-girl."

Shizuru sighed, but smiled, "Natsuki is correct. I will be on my best behavior. For now."

"Good. Because I'm the only one who gets to see that side of you," Natsuki said, not meeting Shizuru's eyes and her cheeks flushed.

Shizuru smiled at that, "It will be nice to get back to the proper quest, now."

"Sure will. Oh, that's the door. That's got to be the others. Suzushiro was supposed to be picking up Mai, Mikoto, and Yukino."

"Is Nao not joining us, tonight?" Shizuru frowned.

"It's her Mom's birthday," Natsuki said, "She said she wasn't a part of the main quest, so she didn't mind if we finished that without her. She'll join us for the next one."

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"So," Haruka stood atop the mountain ridge, looking down, "That's the Lich King's fortress. At last, we'll have supplication!"

"That's 'satisfaction', Haruka," Yukino amended.

"The enemy can see you, Suzushiro," Natsuki pointed out, "So if you were hoping for the element of surprise…"

"Ara, but Haruka is full of surprises," Shizuru smiled knowingly at Yukino.

"So, what's the plan?" Mai asked, "Go up to the portcullis and knock?"

"We'll call that Plan B," Natsuki suggested, "But there may be something we can do to take advantage of the fact that they know we're here."

"What's that?" Mikoto asked.

Natsuki hopped onto Duran, then slid to one side, "Clinging to his flank like this, the guards on the watchtowers will think Duran is just a wolf, if he keeps his other flank facing them. We'll circle through the woods to the backside. While you draw their attention, and fire, from the front, I'll slip in over the back wall, and attack from behind."

"I like it," Haruka said.

Shizuru leaned down and kissed Natsuki, "For luck."

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"Hey, you promised, no PDAs!" Haruka protested.

Shizuru turned amused eyes on her, "Haruka, you are perfectly aware of the fact that Natsuki and I are in a relationship. Surely something as chaste as a good-luck kiss is tolerable."

"Whatever," Haruka grumbled, "Kuga, I will never know what you see in her."

"Well, she showed interest in me when the rest of you wrote me off as a useless delinquent," Natsuki said evenly.

"So did Takeda, and you're not canoodling with him," Haruka pointed out, "And HE didn't take advantage of you being out cold to pull a Sleeping Beauty."

Shizuru actually looked sour. But before she could say anything, Natsuki, though blushing, spoke up with a sappy smile on her face, "Maybe I just like the way she kisses."

"Haruka," Yukino sighed, "You agreed to let all of that go."

"Indeed," Shizuru said.

"We all agreed that nothing from that time would ever be brought up again," Mai said, sternly.

"I'm not bringing it up to antagonize Fujino," Haruka said, "I'm genuinely curious. Kuga may have agreed not to bring it up, but it's not like she could forget that it happened. So, how could she go from being repulsed, like I saw her in the garden that night, over learning what happened to deciding the person who did it was the one she wanted to spend her life with?"

Shizuru blinked, but there was a strange sincerity to Haruka's question.

"I do have to admit, it is a question that had troubled me, at first," Shizuru said, "I fully expected to never be forgiven. However, Natsuki said something that made me realize…that she was most sincere."

"I've been in love with her for a very long time," Natsuki said, "When I realized she was willing to go out of her way for my benefit. And you're right, I was repulsed that night, but that's because I'd been made to believe that what happened went a whole lot further than just a stolen kiss in the dark."

"I chose my words poorly," Yukino agreed, "If it had been that, what you thought it was, what I made it sound like, I certainly wouldn't have been begging someone like that to come back and help with the school."

"Right," Natuski nodded, "And so I reacted badly because I didn't understand the facts at the time. But I forgave her. Because she had cared for me. Because she was hurting, and I understood it after all that time. Because The person I cared about most in the world needed me. And as it turns out, her transgressions didn't come to the level that I thought they did, at first.

"In fact, I owe her an apology, for even believing for a moment that she was capable of that."

Shizuru sighed, "I may as well have been guilty of that."

There was a sharp jolt, and Shizuru yelped, "Haruka, that was my foot!"

"Got your attention? Good! Now, you listen here, and you listen good! People are only responsible for the things they've actually done. And no more than that. Yeah, you stole a kiss in the dark, and then again the next night. That's shameful. But it's not something that rises to the level of violation, damnit! So, don't say things like that about yourself.

"You're my rival, so don't go dropping unnecessary burdens on yourself, because I don't want you to have any excuses when I finally surpass you!"

Shizuru looked stunned for a moment, then leaned over on Natsuki, trying to stifle a laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Ara, Haruka is a most strict taskmaster."

"Shall we finish the game?" Natuski suggested.

"May as well," Mai said, "Mikoto just finished off the pizza while you were having your heart to heart."

All eyes turned on the wildcat girl.

"Um…forgive me?" Mikoto suggested.

Natsuki laughed, shaking her head, "I have a couple more on warm in the oven. I know our Mikoto."

"Thanks Natsuki," Mikoto chirped up.

"You've had your share," Mai chided.

"Ahhh!"

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"So," Haruka stood atop the parapet of the Lich King's castle, "That's it then. The Lich King is destroyed. His undead army is dust. And the land is safe once again."

"We did it, Haruka!" Yukino smiled at her.

"We did indeed, my faithful Bard," Haruka picked Yukino up in her arms, carrying her in a bridal fashion. She leaned forward, touching her forehead to Yukino's, "I'm glad to have shared this adventure with you."

"M-me too, Haruka," Yukino was flushed scarlet. She leaned up, and put her arms around the back of Haruka's neck. She felt something petal soft touch her lips, and she closed her eyes.

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"Hey, Mama said I should spend time with me friends while I'm young. So, what'd I miss?" Nao burst into the room.

She looked Haruka, holding Yukino tightly, favoring the bespectacled girl with a passionate kiss. Yukino's eyes were closed, and her arms were caressing Haruka's back. Shizuru was grinning ear to ear. Natsuki was leaning on the table, propping her head up in her hands, while looking on wistfully. Mikoto looked confused. And Mai looked startled.

"Haruka, ikezu! And after lecuturing me on PDAs."

"What? You're bothered by something as chaste as a victory kiss?" Haruka countered.

"That," Natsuki said with a knowing smile, "Is not chaste. Tongues are not involved in chaste kisses."

"You guys let them get that far without me here to see it?" Nao pouted, "I'm never skipping a gaming session again!"

"You can watch Nuku-Nuku with Miyu," Natsuki suggested.

"Ah, but I wanted to watch Spice and Wolf with Shizuru," Nao said.

"Hmph," Haruka sniffed, "An animal eared-girl running around naked? Why on earth would you want to watch that?"

"We…um…we watch it for the economics?" Nao suggested.

"And just what economic lessons can you expect to learn from a fantasy series with a naked wolf-girl running around in it?"

"Sex sells?" Nao offered.

"I just like wolfish girls," Shizuru grinned, looking at Natsuki.

Natsuki, for her part, sighed, "Go and get the popcorn before I start huffing and puffing."