So I had time to do lots of Shiznat interaction and a little bit of Naonat. Yeah…more action on the next chapter so watch out for it kiddies.
Dream Shadower: Yes, what a way to meet indeed! And well, there'll be a few more weird meetings after this chapter. Haha! That's more like it! A critic with a logician's mind and eye. Finally! Someone smelt the fishyness of the wind :D
Shiznats: Thank you very very much! Salamat!
Hand DJ: Actually, Babaylan isn't just a gay mens' organization, it's open to the whole LGBT community or to all homosexuals. Ahhh Philo siya sa Up...mas bata sayo?
Ahh no, it was said in Filipino. He wrote that when he was eight and it's a line from his famous poem "Sa Aking Kababata". Oo nga pala, may kanta nga pala si Florante na ganun no? ahaha! Salamat sa pagpapaalala.
Hehe…basahin mo na lang :3 The legend of the Pasig river is as ancient as the river itself. And no, she didn't get raped…she's a powerful muse so there are 0.0% chances of her getting beaten up by some guy. It's older than those 'Maria's'.
E.M PRAETORIAN: Thank you very much…maraming salamat talaga, elder master. Natsuki will gradually be demystified throughout the story.
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So, I just attended the conference on Myths and Legend in the Philippines at the National Museum and I am so…argh! Stressed out. I need my kape barako right now… argh. But anyway, now that that's done, I've had plenty of time for some SHiznat interaction. So ENJOY my friends!
DICTIONARY IS BELOW THE PAGE
CHAPTER 6
CHAOS AND BEAUTY (KAGULUHAN AT KAGANDAHAN)
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-
"Shizuru."
'Get some water here! Rapido!' 'Hurry before the fire reaches the gun powder!' 'Puta! find more men to help here, pronto!' The smell of burning wood and human flesh filled the air. CRASH! The ceiling of the garrison smashed into the pavement. Some of the guwardiya sibils valiantly threw sand and water into the flames. 'Lumayo kayo diyan!' 'Someone is still inside!!' 'Diyos ko! The children!' people ran all over the place like defenseless cattle being chased by wolves. A swarm of faces that were twisted in agony rushed through the streets, away from the burning garrison. A hundred curses, prayers, and cries for mercy, escaped a hundred lips. The kalesas carelessly darted away from the streets like flashes of neon lights.
Amidst the chaos, Natsuki Kuga found beauty.
Shizuru continued to stare at the garrison. More souls lost! More men being roasted alive! The ashes floated around the burning building like fireflies illuminated by the dusk. The sky seemed to burn as it turned burgundy upon the sun's slow descent.
-
"Shi…Shizuru?"
She turned around to face the voice's owner. The muse…
"Are you alright, Shizuru?" The voice was gentle, caring, as if she was pleading for Shizuru to say 'Yes'.
"I'm fine, Natsuki. I was just about to ride a kalesa." She covered her face with her white handkerchief to cover her blush. Natsuki looked around.
"The kalesas are all gone." They began to walk towards the open area, passing the tall grills that separated them from each other. At last, they were face to face - No metal bars to cut through each others' beauty.
"Yes…I can see that. I'll just have to walk back home."
"I-I can walk you home!" Natsuki replied quickly albeit the pretty flush of red on her cheeks.
"That is if you would want me to…" She continued with a weak voice. Shizuru's heart leapt for joy and she smiled at Natsuki.
"Ara…I would like that."
-
Amidst the terror and the turmoil, the two women began to walk away with hearts, burning like the garrison.
Going home was not in Shizuru's agenda. At least not after Natsuki approached her and volunteered to 'walk her home'. And so they strolled leisurely under the firmament's vermillion tone, secretly basking in each other's splendor as they shared pleasantries, unmindful of the sun's slow descent.
-
Shizuru was able to gather very useful information about Natsuki. She learned that the woman was a pure Filipino, an ex-remontado who had just undergone baptism and name change a few days ago. As they walked, she kept teasing Natsuki about the little name change; insisting that 'Narcissa' suited the beautiful binibini, which the young Filipina would retort to with a loud 'TAHIMIK!!!'
Soon they were in a lush garden filled with vibrantly colored flowers.
'Did she bring me here intentionally? Ara…how romantic.' Shizuru sat on the grass with her legs tucked beneath her.
'Should I pick a flower for her...Oh Bathala, that's so cliché and crappy!' Natsuki stood still as she stared at a lone purple flower that seemed to surpass all the other flowers' beauty. 'This is certainly frustrating…what the hell am I getting all flustered about?!'
Her hand reached out towards the flower and with slightly calloused fingers hooked on the flower's stem, she tugged at the pretty little thing gently, careful not to create even a modest crinkle on its petal.
"You shouldn't do that." Natsuki spun around in surprise.
"Beautiful flowers are to be loved since it's doing its best to bloom during its short life." Shizuru smiled sweetly at her. Natsuki stood still for a moment and then to Shizuru's surprise, the raven haired beauty quickly plucked the flower.
With a shy look on her face, Natsuki approached Shizuru and then carefully kneeling in front of the radiant mestiza, staring into red brilliant eyes in which all the fevers of the world burned; her slightly calloused hands gently tucked the pretty flower in Shizuru's hair. The bamboo stalks seemed to clap in delight and the grass seemed to dance in joy as the breeze blew over the plains.
Natsuki did not stand up. The desire and the strength to rise from her position was floating over some other plane of existence for as she stared into dreamy crimson eyes, redder and fierier than blood or blaze, her heart seemed to beat in rhythm with the rustling of leaves; as if singing hymns of praise. She felt as if she was drowning – pleasantly drowning in scarlet rivers filled with rose petals. A peculiar Elysian peace filled her senses as her sight fell over the whole face – the plump pink lips, the straight nose, and the neatly trimmed brown bangs. And a hundred feelings rushed from her toes, up to her temporarily limp legs, rising up to her stomach, spreading through her chest and up to her head where the warm, enjoyable sensation exploded like a super nova, sending a signal, a word, an adjective befitting the beauty in front of her: perfection.
"The flower is most fortunate." She said in a sooty, low voice. Shizuru slightly arched her brows in question. 'My my, an attempt in poetry…how very romantic indeed.'
"It's happy to be yours, to be tucked in your hair." She flicked her hair with her right hand.
"Ara…is it truly happy to be tucked in my hair, Natsuki?" Shizuru asked teasingly.
"Yes…oo naman. I would…I would be happy." Natsuki stated confidently.
"To be mine?" Natsuki's poise crumbled. She stammered for words, blushing deeply with each passing second. Shizuru giggled and Natsuki, still blushing and still unable to regain her confidence, huskily made a low growling sound as she stood up and turned away with arms crossed at her chest.
-
The wind was singing the songs of the ancients into her ears again.
"Natsuki." The music was cut short by Shizuru's sweet voice.
"What is it?"
"What are you?"
It was a strange question indeed. As extraordinary as Shizuru's crimson eyes…those crimson eyes that seemed so familiar…so unusually familiar and so peculiarly distant at the same time.
"What do you mean by that? I'm Natsuki Kuga and I'm a living, breathing, human being."
"Oh…" She was expecting to hear an obscure reply, like the one that Natsuki gave her when they first met. 'Is she hiding something from me?'
"It's getting pretty dark. It's time for you to go home."
"Oh? Is it?"
"Yes. Tara, I'll walk you home." And she flicked the raven tresses that fell on her face with her right hand as she held out the other like hand a chivalrous knight.
'A word of caution to this tale of beauty.
Shizuru took the hand. They smiled at each other as the palms of their warm hands pressed against each other, igniting feelings so strong and unbearable that not even saint nor would angel be able to suppress and resist.
'She will eat your heart.'
And so they walked as if they were waltzing under the light of the moon; through pebbled paths filled with knee-high grass until the soles of their shoes scraped against the cobble stone floors of the walled City of Manila. And they passed street after street, illuminated by flickering lamp posts, until the sweet scent of the Dama de Noches entered their noses and Shizuru bade Natsuki goodbye and goodnight, for her house was but a few steps away from the fragrant floras.
'I fear, Manang Elvira…that as I speak, my heart is already in her possession.'
And Natsuki stood still, growing more and more beautiful under the airy light of the moon as she watched Shizuru turn around the corner and disappear into the reddish brick walls of the cal y canto house. With swirling raven locks and waving sarong, she walked wolfishly away from the stylish house as her shadow danced under the caresses of the lamp lights that flickered like the stars above the night sky.
-
Dawn.
The solid walls of Binondo Church vibrated as the golden bells tolled for all the souls –lost, living, burning, and rejoicing. Shizuru gracefully exited the carriage and entered holy ground; the laces of her white Filipiniana slightly touched the ground as she went by.
"In Nomine et patri, et Fili, et Spiritu Sancti"
"Amen." The shriveled old woman replied as she bowed and kneeled even lower before the friar and the altar. With shaking hands, she lifted the black shroud that hung over her face.
The friar brought the cross closer to her lips.
"Kiss it and you shall be forgiven."
-
She faltered for a moment; licking her dried, cracked lips as she thought about her youth and the god/goddess she had worshipped faithfully all her life. 'Why have you forsaken me, Bathala?' her mind desperately sought for signs, a miracle, a confirmation that Bathala did not abandon her. But alas! What stood before her was not beauty, not Bathala and his/her impenetrable vivacity. Ay Hinde! Che! A thousand times Che! What stood before her was a man, in gore and blood imbued. A man, nailed to a cross, writhing in pure agony and bleeding for all eternity.
'This is not my God!' Her mind screamed. She wanted to slap the horrible thing away from her and run back; back to the mountains where she may worship Bathala freely.
"Kiss, witch. And thou shall be forgiven." The friar threatened her with a voice so commanding and so powerful. 'Like a god.'
And with trembling lips and teary eyes, she kissed the golden distorted figure in front of her and grimaced in disgust. The bells rang louder as the friar and the crowd applauded the old woman.
-
"She is the old babaylan that the authorities have been chasing for thirty years." Seferina whispered to Shizuru.
Shizuru covered her mouth with her abaniko and asked "Ara…when did the guwardiyas catch her?"
"Oh no, Ate Shizuru, they did not catch her. She surrendered herself to the authorities two days ago." Shizuru smiled sadly as she looked at the poor old woman who was sobbing loudly in front of the altar.
"Hear that? The witch cries in repentance!" The fat friar announced and the crowd cheered even louder, save for the wise and cunning Shizuru Viola, who knew that the old woman had nothing to repent about.
-
And then suddenly, like the gust of wind that quickly passed her by, she remembered a statement that suddenly made her joyous.
'If you wish to learn more about the old religion, seek a babaylan.'
She made the sign of the cross and exited the church.
-
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The blue green waters of Manila Bay moved like silk cloth as wind and boat moved against it; creating foamy waves that splashed against the sandy shores and brown wood of the docks. Galleons and small boats were lined up beside the port, resting on tranquil waters that shimmered whenever sunlight touched it.
The area was filled to bursting with traders and merchants from Acapulco, China, and Japan. 'You want pretty necklace? You like? See, it solid gold made!' 'Kore wa Miso-desu!' 'Punyeta, I said how much does this cost?!' Different tongues, different curses and different goods were exchanged in the harbor.
-
Natsuki was perched on top of the hill near the bay and the port.
"Hey there mutt, what's cooking?"
"Not much, Nao." The reply was dull and flat.
"Oh? Then why so serious?"
"Do you know...Shizuru Viola?" Nao grimaced at the mention of the name and Natsuki noticed this, and she prepared herself for the incoming fury of bad words that were about to be released from Nao's obnoxious mouth.
"I sure do! Ever since those Violas got here, that woman has been the talk of the town! She is Don Perfecto Viola's daughter. Why? What's up with her?"
"I met her three days ago and since then; we've been seeing each other. I think she's really nice." She was about to smile when suddenly -
"Well I don't like her."
"What did you say?" Natsuki turned around to face Nao who was grinning mischievously.
"You heard me, Kuga. I said I don't like her. Those mestizas are all the same. To you, she's a friend. But to her, you're just some brown guinea pig."
"What the fuck are you saying?" She growled.
"Use that wide forehead of yours Kuga! Why would some wealthy politician's daughter hang out with a rebel from the mountains?"
Natsuki just stared at Nao with angry, questioning eyes.
"Simple! She's spying on you!"
"Why on earth would she do that?!"
"You are so fucking slow! She has two good reasons! One: Her dear papa's life is under threat, now that you're here. Secondly, she may be working on a thesis regarding the natives of the island, entitled Las Islas de la Filipinas y los Indios –"
"She may be working on a thesis regarding the natives of the island, Such sick bullshit!" Natsuki snapped, imitating the Nao's voice.
"Well, fuck! See if I care when that ugly head of yours is hanging on the gibbets!"
"Harharhar! Well I'll be laughing my ass off while you're screaming your head off when the guwardiyas are dragging you towards the guillotine for possession of illegal drugs!"
"Hey! Shut the goddamn mouth of yours before I plunge my fucking arm right down your fucking throat!" Nao's hands were balled up into fists and Natsuki stood threateningly in a distance dangerously near Nao.
"I'd like to see you try you yellow bastard!"
-
"Ara…"
Both of them quickly spun around to come face to face with the stunning beauty that is Shizuru Viola. Nao eyed the mestiza from head to toe with malicious eyes while Natsuki straightened her dark blue sarong with her hands.
"Shi-Shizuru!" Natsuki's face frowned like a child who did something very naughty. 'Ara, she truly is adorable.'
"Magandang Umaga, Natsuki. You seem to having a good time with your friend" Shizuru said as she walked closer towards the two women.
"No! I mean…Yes! Ay! Um…Shizuru this is -"
"Nao Zhang." Nao cutted Natsuki's speech in a sinister tone. Natsuki cursed the Chinese woman under her breath.
"My name is Shizuru Viola and I'm very pleased to meet you, Miss Zhang." Shizuru lifted the hem of her skirt a little bit and curtsied in front of Nao. 'Jade…her eyes are green like Jade…Chinese Jade' She repeated the analogy in her head like a song.
"Yeah…whatever. Look, I have to go now." And with that, Nao turned away from the two women and walked towards the slope of the hill; cursing and making detestable shrill noises as she went.
.
.
They walked barefoot; feeling the white sand underneath their feet, as they strolled across the beach.
"Ara ara…Natsuki seems to be involved in a very healthy relationship with Miss Zhang."
"Well, Nao can be a real brute sometimes."
"Natsuki seems to be very close with Nao. Perhaps she would care to tell me about their relationship?"
"Well…Nao and I met two years ago, during a barter trade. Since then, we became acquaintances."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
'Muchos Gracias Santa Maria!' She suddenly felt the urge to pray the rosary in honor of the sacred virgin as gratitude for 'sparing' her from her greatest fear: To lose Natsuki to someone else.
"I saw something that I really like this afternoon."
"Oh, what is it?"
"Something that they call a…a baysikel?"
"Oh! A bicycle! Where did you see it?"
"In a shop near the Fonda De Lala. I saw some boy riding it the other day and it can run really fast!"
"So Natsuki likes fast things?"
"Yeah. I think I might just buy one for myself after I get enough money."
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Shizuru was thinking about going to that shop during the evening with her mother just to see the bicycle for herself. And tomorrow, early in the morning, she would ask one of her father's men – Perhaps that polite Currito Lopez; to buy the contraption for her. She would give him the money before entering the school's premises, and then in the afternoon, When Natsuki is waiting for her at the gates, Currito would arrive at La Concordia with the bicycle. 'Ara! Surely she would make the most adorable facial expressions!'
She gazed at the dreamy-eyed Natsuki Kuga. Her hair more fluid than the gleaming sea waters that rushed towards the shores, her eyes greener and more brilliant than emeralds, the small pink lips – 'My…I wonder how they would feel against my own' And then she mentally slapped herself for thinking of such improper thoughts.
She pinched her own cheek as a punishment for entertaining such cruel, indecent ideas. A wicked, wicked girl she truly was! Ay! How cruel of her! The devil is entering her head – tainting her mind with dirty, dirty things. Why should she fancy those lips? Those pink satin lips that gently opened and closed beautifully…Caramba! How beautifully they moved! So fragile…why, if she were to kiss them, she would kiss them gently; feeling its wetness, and careful not to apply to much pressure for she might crush the delicate thing! Why, she would savor its sweetness; feel its silken texture on her – Santa Maria! There she goes again! Slap! She mildly smacked her left cheek for thinking of those lips! Those sweet pink – Slap! Another one to her right cheek!
With all the strength within her body, she moved her eyes away from those cherry lips and towards the neck; down to the waving dark blue sarong; the sleeves were folded and agile arms were being revealed and – 'are those…tattoos?!'
-
"Natsuki, what's that on your arm?"
"Ha? Ah...eto? These are tattoos." Natsuki said as she tilted her head to look at what Shizuru was pointing at.
"What do they stand for?" She curiously inquired as she approached the young Filipina who was playing with the waves.
"This…here, yeah. This stands for the moon – buwan. The light of the night, redeemer in the darkness. These here, are the bamboo stalks from which our first parents came out of – Malakas and Maganda."
"This is my name in the Ancient script. Nat-su-ki-Ku-ga. See? It's customary to write adjectives that befit me so here we have: Ma-ta-pa-ng, brave. Ma-tu-lin, swift…Ah, Shizuru. Give me your hand." And Natsuki held Shizuru's hands in hers; enjoying its smoothness and softness as she used it to trace the patterns on her arm.
"This means ha-ba-gat, the sea breeze…and this…this.." Shizuru was stroking her arm; feeling the hard muscles underneath the soft delicately furred skin. And with each stroke, with each gentle pressing of skin against skin, she felt as if her soul was being set on fire. And she could not speak; Anak ng Tinapa! It was madness to not savor the tingling sensations that crawled throughout her body as Shizuru massaged her arm carefully, lovingly. And she was stunned by this display of affection! And she liked it – Peste! To like it was an understatement! – She LOVED it.
"And…what does this stand for, Natsuki?" The tone was seductive and the look on Shizuru's face – By Bathala and the heavens above! It was captivating!
"Shi-Shizuru…" Natsuki replied weakly; unable to say anything else but the name of the person she was currently admiring.
-
And then the wind was whispering ancient prayers into her ears.
-
"Shizuru!" She suddenly cried out with a raspy voice, pulling her arm away from the mestiza hastily.
"Na-Natsuki?" Shizuru asked. She was confused, confounded! Had she gone too far? She was only trying to get to know the girl better. Did she offend her? 'Madre de Dios! Don't let her get angry at me!'
"I must go. NOW."
"Natsuki, why are you –"
"I have an errand to do and must do it now."
"Natsuki…"
"Shizuru please. I will see you again, tomorrow. Pangako." Natsuki said with puppy dog eyes.
"I understand." Shizuru could not hide the disappointment in her voice. And the two began to walk away from the beating waves and from the white sands.
The Viola house had become quiet lately. Doña Ichigo was often left with the company of the two maids, Consolacion and Anita. Shizuru was out, as usual. And the Don had now become busier after the disaster at Plaza Dilao; spending most of his time at his office in Intramuros, and coming home let due to all the paperwork and meetings.
And now the Doña was sitting on the large sofa in the living room with the two maids. All three were staring at a curious little package on the center of the table.
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"Anita, are you certain that Currito Lopez is courting my daughter?"
"No doubt about it, Señora." Anita replied with a smirk on her face.
"Sabagay…Shizuru is truly an eye catcher." Doña Ichigo said as she placed her cup of coffee on the table.
"The señorita's charms are simply irresistible." Consolacion said as she took a sip of coffee from her cup.
"Ay! But Currito is too old for my Shizuru!"
"Currito Lopez is a kind man, Señora."
"He is twice Shizuru's age, Anita!"
"He is quite good looking, Señora. And he seems to be devoted in everything that he does."
"Anita if you like Currito Lopez so much, why don't you marry him?"
-
Knock! Knock! They turned their heads towards the door. And then the faint familiar voice was heard:
"Inay? Anita? I'm home."
"Haaay! Salamat sa Diyos!" Doña Viola said as she opened the door for Shizuru. Anita and Consolacion had gone to the kitchen to wash the cups of coffee.
Doña Ichigo Viola handed Shizuru the small package.
"Currito Lopez brought this here a few hours ago. He says that this is for you."
Shizuru stared at the package, feeling the rough brown paper wrapped around it.
"Well, open it!" Doña Viola said happily for she was excited to see whatever it is that the mysterious package contained.
Shizuru unwrapped it, slowly peeling the rough brown paper off with her fingers. After a few minutes, a purple hand bag was revealed.
"How lovely! Anita, come here! Look, Currito Lopez even has good taste with handbags."
And with that the stout Anita rushed into the living room with a wide smile on her face. "Why! A man with such good taste is a rare find!" Anita gleefully remarked.
After hearing a few more praises about Currito Lopez, Shizuru excused herself and climbed up the stairs towards her room. She quietly locked the door behind her and afterwards she sat on the bed, opened the handbag and took out the note, hidden in one of its pockets.
.
MARIA ANTONIETTA ABLAY NOW LIVES IN BUAYANG BATO, IN A SHABBY OLD HUT NEAR THE LOCAL BULWAGAN. ASK AROUND AND YOU WILL FIND HER. BE CAREFUL SEÑORITA.
.
She stood up and tore the small note into small pieces of paper. The words were reduced to letters and then the letters were reduced to small dots and swirls. She smiled sheepishly as she threw the casements of the windows open and allowed the wind to carry the bits of paper away from her pallid hand.
"Gracias, Currito."
.
.
DICTIONARY
Diyos ko - My God!
Rapido - Fast
Babaylan - Priestess of the Old Filipino religion.
Abaniko - a lacey fan with intricate designs. Usually, it has a famous painting imprinted on it.
Bathala- the creator and supreme god/goddess of the ancient religion of the Filipinos, mother and father of all.
Oo naman - Of course!
Tara - Come with me/Let's go
Anak ng tinapa - a Filipino expression used as an exclamation
Salamat sa Diyos - Thank God!
remontado - Someone who is not living in the Plaza complex. A pure blooded FIlipino who refused the spanish authorities and fled to the mountains.
In Nomine et patri et fili et spiritu sancti - The sign of the cross
Magandang Umaga - Good morning
Muchos Gracias - Thank you very much!
Pangako - Promise
Sabagay - Come to think about it.
Caramba - a spanish expression used to denote strong feelings
Las Islas de la Filipinas y los Indios - The Islands of the Philippines and the Indios
TAHIMIK! - It means silent, my it can also be used as a command; SHUT UP! SILENT! (thanks han DJ!)