Muse of The River Chapter 8, a mai hime fanfic

AUTHORS NOTES:

This goes to anyone and I mean ANYONE who is searching about the city of MANILA in the internet. Please do not believe the information written in WIKIPEDIA about the PRE COLONIAL HISTORY of manila. It is such sick crap.

Kieli: Salamat for everything! I'd hug you right now if only my arms could stretch towards the other end of the planet….okay, that would be freaky *erases the idea*.Thanks for the nitpick! I just thought it was cool to always have the phrase at the end.

Han DJ: e-eng! wrong! something much deeper :3. Acutally, di ko pa napapanuod yung tenchi muyo e. haha. Pero pramis, di ganun yung kwento.

Blue IV- Whoa! a review from you? awesome! thank you very much

Shiznats: aha...yes..it means.. *coughmalereproductiveoragencough*. Salamat for reading :)

DreamShadower: I am very very grateful for all your comments! Yes you're right about duran and that's why I applauded you for noticing the wind in the past chapters.

E.M PRAETORIAN: Elder Master, your fics and your kind words truly inspire me to continue. Once again, thank you very much.

WARNING: DRABBLE HEAVY due to tons of Shiznat interaction. DICTIONARY IS BELOW THE PAGE.

CHAPTER 8

THE PASSION AND THE FURY (PAGIBIG AT GALIT)

'So this how it feels like to be blind.' She said to herself as she lied down – she supposed she was lying down for she felt the coldness of the jagged stones against her back. She tried to move her hands but something was holding her back – hands? No. She struggled against the restraints, feeling the roughness of the material against her wrists. Ropes, then.

She heard the solid walls of the cave whisper to one another strange, strange words that she could not understand. The words slipped through unseen mouths like the dark liquid that gushed underneath the somber, cold floor of the cave. She rolled on her side and felt the frosty kisses of the rocks on her cheek. She wanted to scream out, to call out for help. But who was she to call? Currito? He was gone! There were too many hands and poor, poor, poor Currito would lose to them. Papa? The poor old man does not stand a chance against these – these vile hands! And then she remembered her face, those glorious eyes that sparkled dreamily like the stars, the face that outshone the beauty of the moon.

'Natsuki…please save me.' The hands reached out to her again. She could not see them. She could only hear their quick movements – their arms swooshing like birds in flight and she felt the cold icy breath of death on her face; her throat soundlessly shrieked when the hands fell on her body; a multitude of cold fingers wriggled against and encircled her body and she was being lifted off of the ground; she was being carried away from the somber embrace of the cold walls of the cave.

They continued to whisper amongst themselves. The whispers got louder, louder, Louder, LOUDER --

"Shizuru." Her heart wanted to sing out in praise. 'Natsuki' The horrible darkness that engulfed her had now turned into a vibrant shade of viridian; the hard, cold, rocks of the cave had dissolved into soft, damp green grass whereupon she was now lying comfortably, staring into the green eyes of her savior. She did not even know if her eyes we're closed or if the darkness simply melted away from her vision.

Slightly calloused fingers began to undo the ropes around her wrists. She felt the coldness of their tips, the sharpness of their nails on her skin. And she was stunned, she was petrified! she suddenly felt the need to feel those pliant fingers, she needed to feel the warm palm of the hands against her face and just…just-

"Shi-Shizuru! Are you alright? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Natsuki I-" She sputtered out, recovering from the trance. Suddenly the slightly calloused fingers were on her face, brushing away the dark brown tresses that fell on her forehead, and then gently massaging her cheeks. "Natsuki…" She wanted to melt underneath the soft gentle action.

"I was just on my way home and then I passed this cave and I thought you might be here so I came to check on you but –"

"You were unconscious." Natsuki said with a soft caring look on her face. The hands were still there – kneading her soft cheek gently: lovingly.

"…Hands…there were hands everywhere, Natsuki, and they grabbed me! Just like the ones that took you away when we first met at the river." Shizuru continued as she straightened the wrinkled and soiled fabric of her white Filipiniana.

"You must've been dreaming. Come now, I'll walk you home. All this talk of nonsense doesn't suit you." Had she been dreaming? She could not believe it…it felt so real: the coldness of the rocks, the strange whispers, the gushing waters underneath the cave, the hands – the HANDS! It was real! There was no denying it! They had grabbed her – then darkness! But then she thought about it again and after a few minutes it all seemed to be a fading memory, a mere vision in her sleep; nonsensical objects that dreamers see in their visits to their own minds. Perhaps she had been sleeping all along. But how did she get there?

It did not matter anyway. Not now- not now that Natsuki was standing before her and offering her hand in a chivalrous fashion! God, My God! if that was a dream, then now – NOW was to good to be true! And their palms pressed against each other as she took the hand in hers and stood up gracefully.

They walked through the muddy plains; crushing the knee-high talahibs and kataka-taka's as they went. The dark clouds shrouded the moon; preventing it's other worldly light from spilling on the sky. The stars were not present either; slumbering beneath the vast formless blanket of ghostly gray that hid their mother from the mortal earth.

"Shizuru…don't look for me." Natsuki's husky voice broke the stillness of the night.

"And why is that, Natsuki?" Shizuru asked, perplexed by Natsuki's odd request.

"Just...don't get too close to me. I-it's not safe."

"Why so?"

"It's just not…" Shizuru giggled at the serious expression on Natsuki's face. "Oi! Stop laughing! I'm serious!"

"Patawad, Natsuki, you make the most adorable facial expressions and I cannot help myself." Natsuki simply grunted at this and Shizuru covered her mouth with her right hand to put an end to her snickering.

"But I understand. Natsuki simply dislikes me and she thinks I'm a bother." She continued; faking a frown which caused Natsuki's face to twist in distress.

"You are not a bother and I do not dislike you!" Natsuki said aloud as she turned around to face Shizuru.

"Oh? Then why doesn't she want me to be close to her?" She asked with puppy-dog eyes.

"Because!" She paused; taking in a huge chunk of the chilled midnight air before continuing with her speech. "Because it just isn't right. Shizuru, you…" Natsuki could not continue. It was too much! She could not bear to say such cruel, cruel words to this person. 'You're supposed to be my enemy…'

"You were saying?" Shizuru asked; interrupting Natsuki's thoughts.

"Oh nevermind! Just don't get too close, do you understand?" Natsuki asked in a sharp tone.

"Frankly speaking, I do not understand. But yes, I shall try my best not to get too close to Natsuki."

"Good." Natsuki remarked with a smirk.

"Yes, great." Shizuru sarcastically replied as she flashed a confident smile at Natsuki

"Excellent!" Natsuki replied with twitched brows and an annoyed smile on her face.

"Mhmm! Mahusay!" Shizuru nodded in agreement. She continued to smile innocently at Natsuki.

"Indeed!" Natsuki spat out as she continued to make her away through the tall grass. For reasons that she herself could not comprehend; she felt annoyed by Shizuru's reply. Why is she being so amiable? She was supposed to say no! Natsuki knew that she should be happy that Shizuru agreed to her request, so why was she angered by Shizuru's consent?

"Oi Shizuru! What's wrong with you?" Natsuki asked when she realized that Shizuru was now two feet away from her.

"Nothing is wrong with me, Natsuki. I am simply distancing myself from you." Shizuru calmly replied. A vein wanted pop out of Natsuki's forehead.

"Why the hell are you doing that? Oi! Get back here!" She barked in frustration.

"Because Natsuki told me to!" Shizuru replied cheerfully.

"I did not!"

"Yes you did! You instructed me not to get too close to you."

It was then that Natsuki realized that Shizuru had once again pinned her against a wall. Shizuru had once again made her eat her own words. Ah! Such a sly, sneaky woman Shizuru truly is! She could not tell the difference between sheer amusement and simple frustration right now and she swallowed her pride and sighed in exasperation.

"Oi! It's dangero- Ah! Fine! Shizuru, please come here."

Shizuru smiled mischievously and took a step.

"closer."

Three steps

"closer."

Six steps.

"Darn it, I said CLOSER!"

A flash of chestnut hair; white laces and-

"Ack! Shi-Shizuru!" Shizuru was right behind her; hugging her tightly. The pert red lips were pressed against Natsuki's left ear and she could feel and hear Shizuru's breathing.

"Is this...close enough, Natsuki?" The perfectly shaped lips arched into a devilish smile – Natsuki knew this for she felt the moist, satin flesh slightly press against the skin of her neck. She could feel the heat coming from the pale voluptuous body pressed against her back; the breasts, although covered by the silky white dress, were brushing against her arms. She shivered under their touch. 'Such temptation…'

"Y-Yes! T-too close! Too close!" She blurted out as she struggled free. Her face flushed a bright shade of red and Shizuru, as usual, laughed heartily at her.

The soles of their sandals scraped against the cobble stone streets of the Walled City of Manila. 'Guwardiya Serano!!! Alas dose y medya!!' The low voice broke the solemn, sacred silence that lingered in the midnight air. And Shizuru and Natsuki made their way past the tall ancient walls, across the cobble stone streets that buried the voices of the ancient kingdom underneath its heavy pressing weight, passing the stylish cal y canto houses that loomed over them like tall towers, disappearing under the shades of the medieval shadows that spilled upon the cobble stone floors like gigantic raven feathers, and reappearing under the faint light of the veiled moon.

"Shizuru what time does your father go to work?"

"Why do you ask, Natsuki?"

"W-well…I just…" Shizuru arched her eyebrows in suspicion and Natsuki blushed a deep shade of red as she stated her reason. "I just wanted to see you more often and well…if he sees me he might get angry at me for hanging out with you and he might forbid you from seeing me so…" And immediately, upon hearing that sweet, sweet confession, all her qualms faded away into oblivion and she wanted to kiss, kiss, kiss those lush, lush pink lips that indirectly spoke words of endearment to her.

"He leaves the house at five in the morning and he usually goes home at eight in the evening. But nowadays he's become very busy and so he often comes home between eleven and twelve o'clock in the evening"

"Oh…so I'll…" Shizuru knew what the next question was going to be.

"Natsuki may me see in the morning at seven before I go to school, and in the afternoon she may wait for me at the gates of La Concordia at exactly five o'clock."

"Okay then…doesn't your father get angry at you for going home at this hour of the night?"

"He trusts me and besides, I rarely go home late."

"So…who else lives in your house?"

"My mother and our two maids, Anita and Consolacion."

"And do they leave the house? B-because they shouldn't! It's dangerous to leave the house alone!" Natsuki furiously blushed again, earning a gentle laugh from the beautiful Shizuru Viola.

"I cannot agree with you more, Natsuki. Thankfully, although mother often visits her friends, Anita and Consolacion hardly leave the house.

"Good."

"Ara…my Natsuki is concerned about my safety…how very, very touching."

"Well of course I – wait. My? MY?! I'm YOUR Natsuki?!" Natsuki said in a voice that would put the guwardiya serano to shame.

"Aren't you?"

"To hell with you!" Natsuki growled and Shizuru pouted in reply.

"My Natsuki is so cruel!" Shizuru said as crocodile tears started to form in her crimson eyes.

"Shi-shizuru! I…" But Shizuru had covered her eyes with her hands as her shoulders rose and relaxed. 'She's crying?! Ack! Shit no…'

"Shizuru, your Natsuki is sorry." Natsuki said in a gentle tone as she placed her hands on Shizuru's shoulders. And suddenly, the hands removed themselves from the 'teary' crimson eyes and before her mind could even register what was happening – Shizuru had pulled her into a deep embrace.

"I humbly accept my Natsuki's apology."

And she could not help smiling at this. 'After all, she can't see the smile on my face…'

"Ara...A cute smile is plastered on my Natsuki's pretty face."

"I AM NOT SMILING!"

The lampposts flickered like dying fireflies as they continued to trudge down the dark, streets of Manila. One blushing, the other laughing, but both unmistakably in love.

Sunlight bathed the houses with its blazing rays of light. The city of Manila was once again awake; different faces, different races fill the cobble stones streets. Shizuru made her way through the thick crowds of busy city people; constantly nodding her head and smiling at everyone who greeted her with a 'Buenas Dias'.

She took a turn by a small garrison and was greeted by a woman's husky deep voice.

"Magandang umaga, Shizuru." Natsuki came out of her hiding place. A devilish smile crawled on her face. She was confident that she had taken the cunning woman by surprise.

"Magandang umaga, Narcissa." Shizuru said in a calm voice.

What? No shock? No widening crimson eyes? And Natsuki growled in disappointment as she crossed her arms on her chest.

"Narcissa told me that she wanted to see me during my free time so I am not the least bit surprised by her sudden appearance." Shizuru explained cheerfully. "But I am truly happy that she is true to her word. Perhaps she would like to accompany me to the Music shop?"

Natsuki nodded in agreement and they began to walk side by side towards the music shop near San Juan De Letran in Intramuros. They passed wave after wave of smiling, staring faces, clearly mesmerized by the remarkable beauty that both women possessed. And Shizuru, ever polite, ever perfect, smiled back at them while Natsuki, cold and unfeeling as always, scoffed and glared at the tides of faces that engulfed them as they turned corner after corner, passed street after street until they had reached the quaint music shop.

The little black bell on the door rang, announcing the arrival of two fine-looking customers. Guillermo rushed towards the entrance of the music shop, fixing his bow tie as he went.

"Buenas Dias señorita! How can I help you?" He asked breathily, trying to make good use of the mint chews that he had consumed a few minutes ago.

"Buenas Dias, ginoong?"

"Guillermo, señorita. Guillermo Flores at your service." He replied with a quick bow and to his delight, Shizuru gracefully curtsied back.

"Ginoong Guillermo, I would like to inquire abut the Stradivarius violin displayed at the front of your shop."

"Oh! The Stradivarius! Please wait here señorita." And at once Guillermo began to call out for his co-worker who quickly entered the room from the shop's backdoor, straightening her simple baro't saya as she approached the three standing figures.

"Florentina, please assist Señorita Viola." And the two women walked towards the back of the shop.

Once they were out of sight, the joyful smile on his face faded and Guillermo spun on heels to face Natsuki, who was fully clad in blue sarong and puruntong. He stood up straight, raised his right hand, and with eyes shut tight and face solemn with respect, bowed before the proud young woman.

"Magandang umaga ho, Datu Kuga." He said before raising himself from his courteous position.

"Magandang umaga rin, Guillermo."

"So its true! You did set her free! "He continued; covering his mouth with his right hand as he spoke.

"How did you know? You did not attend the meeting at the sacred grove last night."

"Harada told me." Natsuki's eyes rolled in annoyance.

"Ah…sabi na nga ba e. Harada as always."

"I trust that you have your reasons?" He asked as his eyes scanned the room for the return of the mestiza customer.

"Of course I do! Do you question my judgment?"

"N-no! I'm sorry…I'm just concerned about you and the kapatiran." He bowed before Natsuki again to ask for forgiveness.

"Change topic Guillermo - She's swinging this way." He scrambled to his feet, leaned against the marble white aisles of the counter as his mouth twisted upwards to recreate the joyful smile on his face.

"So you will be ordering it from Ilocos? I assume that it should be ready after six days."

"Make that eight days señorita. The tobacco monopoly has become a burden for the wood carvers. Instead of working in their shops, they just plow, plow away in the fields with their carabaos."

"Those poor people…Forced to toil under the sun; burning their backs underneath its merciless gaze. Only the wily alkalde mayor profits from this cruel, dirty business; farmers never reap the fruits of their labor and the government itself doesn't get anything back from those disloyal alkaldes. These monopolies should be abolished as soon as possible. They are but minor tyrannies."

"Truly señorita, I am both surprised and delighted by your sentiment. To hear those words from a mestiza such as yourself is very moving.

"Ara…miss Senoh, I am human, after all."

"So when will you be making the purchase señorita?" Guillermo asked; the smile on his face grew wider with each passing second.

"When the darker colored violin has arrived.

"Ah yes, good! Good! I shall reserve the violin for you. I shall send a telegram to your house when it has arrived. Thank you very much, señorita."

"No – thank you, Ginoong Guillermo and Binibining Florentina, for your time and wonderful company."

"You're very welcome, señorita!"

"We must get going now. Paalam, Ginoong Guillermo, Binibing Florentina." And the two women exited the small establishment; Shizuru first and Natsuki following her, watching her every movement and tracing her steps as if they were dancing to the tune of some gay, romantic fandango.

"Paalam ho, señorita Viola and may Bathala smile upon you always, Datu Kuga." Guillermo said breathily as he tapped his finger on the marble table.

"Ayoi, I suppose a little barter trade with the Ilocanos wouldn't do us any harm now, would it?" He asked as he walked towards the end of the room, took his mandolin case and took out a few copies of the newspaper from the pocket inside one of the case's pockets.

"Certainly not, Guillermo. How many kalayaans should we give them?"

"Five hundred copies should be enough." And they smiled at one another gleefully.

"Narcissa walk with me, not behind me."

"Sorry…I forgot that walking side-by-side is considered civil in your culture."

"And walking behind is the proper way in yours?"

"As a sign of respect for women, men walk behind them."

"So Narcissa sees herself as a man?"

"No! I-it's just that I respect you a lot."

"And I thought you just wanted to get a look good at my bu-"

"SHIZURU!!!"

Natsuki's sharp voice caught the attention of a pack of guwardiya sibils who immediately turned their heads to get a good look at the passing couple.

'Those Indias…tsk tsk…so very unlady like' 'A race of barbarians they truly are! Why the women act as if they are men!' 'Because all the Indios are just a bunch of pussies – they act like dogs, slaves to women! Why it makes me feel ashamed as man!'

'But why is the beautiful señorita Viola hanging around with that monkey?' 'Must be her new slave.' 'Well shame on us for not seeing that India in the marketplace…she's pretty for an India, wouldn't you chicos agree?' 'Si hermano."

Pack of Bastards.

"What time does your class start?" Natsuki asked as she stared angrily at the guwadiya sibils.

"Nine o'clock. Are you in a hurry?"

"No! not at all! I have plenty of time to spare."

Soon they passed the local bakery and Natsuki took the opportunity to buy two freshly baked pandesals, munching on one and handing Shizuru the other. Shizuru declined the offer, stating that she had already eaten her breakfast. 'Suit yourself.'

"Narcissa, what do you do for a living?"

"I make copper strings for musical instruments." She replied before biting down into the crispy, sweet crust of the bread.

"Are you happy with this profession? Or is there another occupation that you'd like to pursue?"

"No, not really. I actually hate the job. In fact, I've always wanted to make guns. I really don't know how to make them but given proper training, I'm sure I can manage." They began to walk again where there were only a few people; mostly dirty, jobless Filipinos who sat down the cobble stone streets, gazing out with sad eyes as the sun continued it's formidable task of burning the earth with it's rays.

"Narcissa, you are truly eccentric. But be grateful that the government did not force you to plant rice, just as they did to the other Manilenyos."

'Alms for the poor…' Shizuru opened her purple purse; the one Currito bought with her own money, took out a few coins and handed them to the old beggar.

"I guess you're right…What about you, Shizuru? What do you want to be after graduation?" Natsuki asked as she tore a huge chunk of bread from the one she was eating and handed it to one of the vagabonds.

"I fare well in the field of political science. So, if only it is possible, then I would like to become a lawyer."

"If only it is possible?"

"That is correct, Narcissa."

"Why the hell isn't it possi- Oh yeah! After graduation, they'll ship you over to some rich guy's mansion and leave you to rot for the rest of your nightmarish adult life. Of course, going to church is an exemption - How truly wonderful it is to be a woman in your dominant culture!" Natsuki laughed sardonically and Shizuru, surprised by her companion's sudden derision, looked intently at Natsuki with curious, curious eyes. The trickle of Spanish blood within her wanted to rise up in protest but she knew that there was some truth in that statement, and she could not help agreeing with Natsuki. So instead of countering Natsuki's rather valid argument, she turned to diplomacy.

"Is it not like that in your culture, Narcissa?"

"Hell no! At least not before you bastards landed on our shores!" And seeing the hurt in Shizuru's eyes Natsuki immediately felt ashamed of herself. How careless, callous, and brutish she truly was! She wanted to cut off her tongue then boil the cruel thing in oil! Shameless! Hmph! Tanga-tangang inutil!

"I'm sorry…you're not a bastard, Shizuru. Talking was never my forte and I-"

"It is all right, Narcissa. I understand your feelings – sincerely. To tell you the truth, my plight saddens me. I often feel that I am studying for nothing." Once again, the smile of perfection was on Shizuru's beautiful face and this added more to Natsuki's guilt.

"Another great mind gone to waste, thanks to your father." But this comment – Santa Maria! Insult her, spit on her culture, call her motherland a tormenter – it was all true to some extent! But to insult her father, her dearly beloved papa, that kind, kind old man whom she loved, whom she grew up loving all her life: it was too much.

"Narcissa, my father is doing what he thinks is best for me. I wish you wouldn't speak about him like he is ruining my life." She replied tonelessly. She still could not find the strength to spit out venom at Natsuki, no matter how spiteful the previous comments were.

"Isn't he?" Natsuki asked with conviction.

"He certainly isn't. He is in fact providing me with quality education –"

"For nothing! If he isn't going to let you pursue your dreams, then this education that he is giving you is useless!"

"I am quite sure that papa will not forbid me from becoming a lawyer. The problem is España ." She calmly explained. "You've already said it yourself; it truly is 'wonderful' to be born a woman in my country." She continued happy that she was able to defend her father without insulting her companion.

"Have I offended you?" Natsuki asked when she noticed that Shizuru had fallen silent.

"No, Narcissa. I just find it amusing that for the first time in my life, someone is talking to me about social issues rather than topics about cooking, why we should repent before the second coming, what kind of cloth should be used for sewing!" And then she laughed gently. Ahay! Such sweet music it was to Natsuki's ears that she could not help joining in the merry sounds that Shizuru was making.

"Those things that you people brand as "girlish" or "feminine" or what women should talk about."

"Yes…yes you are positively correct! Silly, silly norms, aren't they?"

"A more proper term would be: A huge pile of bullshit." And they laughed again, unmindful of the merciless hit of the morning sun as they walked without a care in the world through the busy, busy streets of Manila by day.

It was already three o'clock in the afternoon. The cal y canto houses were furnaces while the stylish wooden ones were like pandesals slowly being baked underneath the sun's unforgiving gaze. The little town of San Nicolas was merely peeing distance from the walled city of Manila and it was here that the less privileged natives were hauled together; the houses enclosed the towering church like frail wooden fences.

Here in San Nicolas, during this hot, hot tropical afternoon, they walked in a straight line: five brawny Chinese men dressed in shirts with pink and white stripes and baggy black pants. Their eyes were covered by dark colored sun glasses. They were carrying huge crates that were packed ever so tightly that even the sunlight could not penetrate through the boxes' wood.

They stopped upon reaching a small wooden house: its roof evidently weathered by the comings and goings of a hundred storms, the wooden walls chewed off my the sands of time.

Knock knock knock!

The dark wooden door swung open and Harada peeked out to see who the visitors were.

"This is delivery for Narcissa Kuga."

"I'm sorry but she's not here."

"She no here? Then we'll leave this delivery here. You tell her she go get other delivery from Miss Zhang, all right?" He winked at her and Harada could not help laughing at the ludicrous smile on his face.

"I guess so…um, please leave it here."

"What you name?"

"Harada, Cheruvina Harada." She replied as she adjusted the glasses on her eyes.

"Okay, Harada, you go tell Kuga that stripe gang deliver already o-kie?" The six men began to leave the heavy packages inside the picturesque house just a few inches away from the door.

"Oh! I almost forgot! Eto…" And the tall Chinese man began to search his pant's pockets for something "Miss Zhang say no one else open except Kuga, o-kie? Bye-bye now! good day."

He handed the note to Harada who looked at it with probing, mischievous eyes.

Natsuki stood outside the gates of La Concordia; tapping her foot impatiently as she constantly checked her long black hair for split ends. The sea breeze began to replace the warm land breeze. It was five o'clock – time for her and Shizuru to meet. The bells of the school chapel rang five minutes ago and wave after wave of young girls clad in neat Filipinianas poured out of the gates enthusiastically; kalesa after kalesa, carriage after carriage left the area: filled with fresh, prim gleeful faces of young mestizas and rich Filipinas.

After a few more minutes of keen waiting she was greeted by sweet, soft peck of familiar satin lips on her cheek and a chirpy familiar 'magandang hapon, Natsuki'. She also responded in a familiar fashion: a blush and a grunt: and both earned that single familiar reply: sweet, sweet laugher.

They were walking again, underneath the crimson setting sky, towards the thick grasses that the cobble stones did not reach; out, out into the lush greenery outside the walled city of Manila. They sat underneath the shade of a coconut tree.

"Natsuki, are you the muse of the river?"

"I…I'm not really sure if I am the muse."

"I do not understand, Natsuki. How can you not be sure?" She asked as she rested her head on Natsuki's shoulder. Natsuki did not mind.

"I feel different whenever I'm submerged into the river… like I'm still me but a different kind of me - Argh! I know it's all too confusing Shizuru! I'm sorry if I cannot explain it properly."

"You're under possession?"

"No! Not possession. It's just like I'm another 'me' and this other me is my powerful, hidden, side."

"My Natsuki is such an enigma." She remarked, playing with the long jet black hair that fell on her face.

"Do you know the feeling of being misplaced? As if you're supposed be somewhere else. Everything's running smoothly but you feel, you can sense, that something's not quite right and you know that you're the one that's 'not quite right' because for you reality is but a dream."

"You mean to say that you feel as if life is but a dream?"

"Yes…well that pretty much sums up how I feel when I'm in the river. It's as if when I dream, I'm in reality and when I wake up, I wake up to a dream. I feel like this is not my life…like I'm supposed to be living another life somewhere else."

"Perhaps Natsuki is in this world to settle an unfinished account?"

"Maybe. I mean, that's what they all say right? In all religions- that humans are born in this world so that they can transcend to another plane of existence."

"Precisely. Perhaps there is an obligation that you must accomplish, a sort of 'calling' or a way of life that you must pursue in order to reach enlightenment."

A pause

"I presume that you are now planning to enter a monastery?" Shizuru asked.

"What?!"

"Kidding!"

"That's not my calling!"

"How can you tell?" She asked sheepishly.

"I just feel it."

"Your intuition is truly astounding."

And slowly, Natsuki began to stroke the chestnut colored hair, relishing the delicate velvety texture. They inhaled each other's scent: Shizuru smelt of tea and sampaguitas, Natsuki on the other hand, possessed a peculiar natural sweet scent.

They watched as the golden disk descended from the throne slowly.

"Beautiful…" Said Shizuru.

"Indeed." Natsuki added. "Very beautiful"

Neither one of them was referring to the sunset.

The wind was singing the songs of the ancients into her ears again.

She did not mind though. She was too happy, too intoxicated by Shizuru's scent, too mesmerized by Shizuru's beauty to even realize that it was night: that they had already parted from each other's company an hour ago when the sun disappeared from the darkening heavens completely.

And she smiled as she walked wolfishly across the dusty ancient streets of San Nicolas; instinctively turning corner after corner, passing through dark unlighted alleys, until she had reached Harada's small weathered house.

And she knocked on the fragile wooden door loudly for she was filled with spirit; she was full to bursting with energy. And when Harada opened the door she was shocked to find a smiling Natsuki Kuga instead of an angry guwardiya sibil.

"Why Hello Datu Kuga! You seem to be very happy today."

"No I'm not." Natsuki scoffed as the smile on her face turned into a grimace.

"Oh? The smile on your face tells a different story. You met with our secret weapon today, no?"

She was not in the mood to beat Harada to death - Perhaps another time. She was too happy: fully loaded with positive thought and upbeat feelings. She did not want the sensation to go away.

"The Stripes Gang delivered the gun powder at exactly three o'clock this afternoon. We've already stored them in the bodega downstairs."

"Mahusay."

"Oh, and Nao has a little 'love' letter for you. Enjoy reading it"

"Katahimikan!"

She isolated herself from pesky Harada and began to read the small note by candlelight.

Dear Mutt,

This is all I can do to help you and the kapatiran in your pathetic little war. Honestly, I like it that you've got the guts to stand up to the Spanish army. Don't feel good about yourself. I still think you're one hell of an idiot. I used to speculate that your large forehead is a waste of space and Holy SHIT, I can't believe that I was fucking right all along. Eat lots of brain food, alright? Hopefully you're peanut-sized brain (If you can even call that a brain) would grow. Then you'd be able to at least think like a sane human being.

P.S. Stop Fucking the Mestiza. It's not safe.

With a growl, she ripped the paper to tid bits.

The door creaked open and heavy footsteps were heard through the house. 'Tuloy po kayo!' 'Salamat, is Natsuki there?'

"Datu Kuga, it's ka-Andres." Senoh's cheery voice interrupted her thoughts and Natsuki straightened her sarong, combed her hair with hand and exited the small room to face a fine strapping young man in a white kamison de tsino.

"Natsuki, magandang gabi."

"Magandang gabi ho, ka-Andres." She greeted as she slightly bowed before the giggling man.

"Oh come now Natsuki! You make it sound as if I'm an old man." She blushed upon realizing that she was indeed being to formal with her friend.

"Haha! Well that blush on your face never fails to brighten up my evening. On to business?"

"Yes, please go on." She motioned for Andres to sit down but the strapping young man refused, insisting that he will be leaving shortly.

" is planning to release another volume of the kalayaan after we've finished shipping the copies through out Luzon. Unfortunately, the paper caught the attention of the authorities, particularly that of the Spanish friars. Some of our members have been imprisoned at Fort Santiago and I fear that some of them may confess under torture. "

"Bathala forbid it." She said huskily.

"These things are unavoidable, Natsuki. Fear of death and pain makes even the bravest of men weep and beg for mercy like helpless children. I hate to admit it…but we are running out of time, ka-Kuga. Come to my house at Tondo tomorrow at exactly seven o'clock in the evening."

"Masusunod ho, ka-Andres." She replied as she bowed once again. They shook hands and Andres began to walk towards the front door But then his eyes widened and he stopped in his tracks upon remembering something.

"Oh and by the way, what is this 'secret weapon' that Harada has been talking about?"

"HARADA!" Natsuki shouted.

"Sorry! I couldn't resist!" Harada said as she quickly exited the room, removing herself from Natsuki's sight. She was in deep trouble and she knew she was going to get beaten up as soon as the other revolutionary leader left.

"She says the kapatiran 'caught a fish alive' yesterday at the sacred grove." Andres replied in between laughs.

"It's really nothing, ka-Andres. Some mestiza just came snooping around the cave and we took care of her."

"She said you set her free."

"Y-yes…I believe she's not a threat to the Katipunan."

"Hmm…very well, I trust your judgment ka-Kuga. See you tomorrow at Tondo. Oh! My wife is making dinuguan so be sure to come in with an empty stomach."

"Yes, Ka-Andres. Fare thee well."

The wind was kissing her cheeks again.

DICTIONARY:

Mahusay! - Outstanding!

Talahib - tall medicinal weeds abundant in the Philippines plains

Kataka-taka - tall green bushes

Buenas Dias- Spanish for good morning!

magandang umaga - Filipino for good morning: maganda - beautiful/good, umaga- morning

Patawad - forgive me; I'm sorry

Katahimikan - SHUT UP!

Sabi na nga ba e - I knew it!

pandesals - soft round bread baked in the Philippines

sampaguitas - white, very very fragrant flowers - The Philippine national flower

Eto - here

Tuloy po kayo! - enter sir/ma'am

Ka - shortened kapatid meaning brethren. So ka-andres means brother andres and ka-kuga means sister Kuga

Tanga-tangang inutil! - useless moron!

Ginoo - Sir.

Binibini - Miss

*Ka Andres is of course none other than Andres Bonifacio. He was a Filipino revolutionary leader and one of the main rebel leaders of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century. He is regarded as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution" and one of the most influential national heroes of his country. A freemason, Bonifacio was the founder of the Katipunan organization which aimed to start an independence movement against Spain.

*This chapter is meant to show how smart Natsuki truly is. She was not able to receive what we now consider as 'proper education' and yet she has excellent logic. And so, I am not sticking to those fanfics wherein Natsuki is only capable of doing blue-collared jobs. During the Spanish occupation, most of the Filipinos were sent to farm the fields for the alkalde mayors. Very few were given blue collared jobs and attaining blue collared jobs was the highest occupation that an 'INDIO' can attain. In reference to a certain episode in Mai hime wherein Natsuki somehow gets to show her...*ehem* hidden skills in logic: episode 22 wherein Mikoto goes berserk and Natsuki is somehow able to put some sense in her head via short speechifying. haha XD EDIT: Sorry Elder Master, I think I went overboard with the Philosopher thing. But yes, Natsuki is far from dumb.

*The early Filipino women (in reference to those who existed before the coming of the Spanish forces) enjoyed something that later generations did not (in fact now, their sisters are still oppressed to some extent) - EQUALITY. they were treated as equals. And the common misconception that Datu (rulers) are only limited to the male sex is a colonized view of Ancient Filipino politics. In fact, the term datu is applicable to both sexes. Anyone can become a leader as long as you've got the brains, the courage, the sword fighting skills beffiting a datu/rajah/hari - you can become one even though you don't have a stick and two balls dangling between your legs. haha.

EDIT: HAN DJ! NAHIYA NAMAN AKO! buenas tardes ako ng buenas tardes na parang tanga! hahaha. Salamat ha.