Chapter 3
Don't look at me like that.
This is something I choose to do.
I'm sorry,
Because it's all for you.
You protected me all this time,
I understand how you must feel.
So that is I,
I became the shield.
Going deeper into the forest, Natsuki led Shizuru by the hand. The sun was still up, bright in the afternoon. It was probably 30 minutes since they had suddenly been invited for the picnic, but hey, they were getting grub to eat. Natsuki's stomach grumbled, and it set Shizuru into a fit of laughters.
Natsuki blushed, when Kazuya looked back and grinned also. "S…Shut up! We have only been eating scraps…"
Shizuru laughed more.
"So you let your defenses down when people you just met offer you food?"
Natsuki's head rose up.
"Not just people! You…"
Natsuki froze. Luckily, nobody in front of her heard it and was still walking forward on the trail. Unluckily, the only one who had heard it, was Shizuru.
Shizuru giggled, again. "It's only been thirty five minutes since I met you, and you've already confessed? No fair Natsuki, that takes the angst and the fun away!"
Natsuki looked down, and held Shizuru's hand completely.
"But I'm serious…Shizuru…My life is shit…I don't talk to strangers or open up this easily…but…you're gorgeous…and…Even if its thirty five minutes since we met…I really…like you…Ugh…this must be weird for me to say…but… you're different…you make me…alive…"
Shizuru blushed, for the first time in her life because of someone else.
She opened her mouth to say something, but Haruka interrupted her. "Here we are! Arika, Akane, go lie down the blanket. Come, Natsuki, Kazuya. Before you two can…play…" she glanced at Natsuki, who's eye brows crossed at the word, and quickly rephrased herself. "…I mean…uh…relax, we have to make sure your wounds don't get infected, no matter how small they are. Father Fujino already gave us permission to stay out all night, so its okay…but we can't stay too long. We must inform Father, and…erm…Natsuki, is it okay if you two take your stay here? We have many rooms…"
Shizuru smiled. "Go on Natsuki, plus, it should be my honor to even say that."
Natsuki blushed. Wh…What did she mean? Natsuki nodded and went with Kazuya, unconsciously pulling Shizuru with her. "Ah..Natsuki. I believe Haruka said you, not me, but if you're that scared of a little ointment..then…"
Natsuki flared up. "No! Not that..uh I mean…I'm not Afraid of a little ointment! I didn't mean for you to come! Jeez."
Shizuru laughed as Natsuki went to Haruka and Yukino, followed by Kazuya. Arika bounced up with Akane, taking Shizuru to the garden.
"OH GOD MOTHER FUCKING HOLY SHIT!"
Natsuki wailed out a series of bad words, earning a stern look from Haruka. "What the hell!?! That was a LITTLE ointment! IT FUCKING BURNS!!! SHIZURU YOU LIAR!!! … OH GOD STOP IT HARUKA!!! NO MORE!!! UNCLE! I GIVE!!!!"
Natsuki shouted particularly at no one, since Shizuru was at the garden where they would be headed after they were done killing Natsuki…or in Haruka's world, disinfecting her.
Kazuya nimbly stood at a tree, with a ear-to-ear grin. Natsuki glared at his smiling face, since he had Yukino to put medicine on him. And, Yukino was MUCH more better at that than Haruka….
--
Kazuya smiled at his sister's funny reactions. He blinked, since he felt the wind go into his eyes, and reopened his eyes.
But he saw nothing.
"W..wha!?!"
A dark figure appeared before him.
"…Kazuya…"
He stared at the figure, right in the eyes. He felt the thing staring straight into his eyes, no, it did not have eyes, but it was looking into his thoughts; his feelings.
"W..Who…what…are you!"
An emptiness filled Kazuya. Was it his own feelings? No, it wasn't his…
It was the figures.
It's feelings flooded into Kazuya, images before him. Even if they were too fast for him to see, he felt them all. Sounds of bullets shattered the air around him. Tears came out of his eyes.
Why…Why was he so sad?
"What…what's going on!!!" he choked out as tears started to flow faster.
The feeling of emptiness grew into pain, despair, sorrow.
No way…No one should ever have to feel this way…
"They didn't do this to me…I chose it…"
Kazuya, on his knees while gripping on to his ears, looked up. The voice was hoarse, as if it went through months and months, or even years without talking to anyone.
"Who are you?"
The shadow stayed still, its aura darker than the shadows around Kazuya.
"I…I am yo…your…no…I am a shadow. So far, I am the first one. I'd tell you everything, but I have limited time to do this…"
Kazuya gasped at the voice. It was nostalgic. But it sounded so sad…
Not only did it not talk to anyone for years, but it was crying.
"Fine…go on…"
His tears stopped, yet his heart was wrenching from the pain.
"Kazuya…You've heard of a word named Host…right…?"
"Yeah…"
Kazuya looked down. He's been hearing voices ever since they were ejected off the jet.
"Hosts…they are the commander for the Maidens. But now, the maidens are called…Project Mistake. Maidens hold desirable powers, but only their hosts can activate it fully. The only other possible way is for them to sacrifice apart of themselves, but inturn, they either…the lost item they sacrifice, is one that makes them themselves…"
Kazuya looked back up at the Shadow. His heart beated slowly, as the darkness of the Shadow spoke, especially after the word Project Mistake, because his mind went straight to his sister.
"So…I am a host?"
"Yes, but I'm warning you. The other hosts, the powerful ones, are in their own Organization. The Pact of Darkness. So far they've gathered up at least four hosts, but you, you are different. You are in contact with…Three Mistakes…"
"Three!?!"
The shadow spoke soft.
"Kazuya, there are two types of Mistakes. Those three you are in contact with, are not the prototypes. The prototype of Project Mistake are originally known as Ice, Fire, and Life. Project Ice, Project Fire, and Project Life, the three main Maidens and the first Project Mistakes.. A foundation, the one your father was in, used the word 'Mistake' still when they named the three prototypes. I'm sorry for now, but my time is up…"
"Wait! Who are they? Natsuki? Akane? Haruka? Arika? Yukino? Shizuru?!?"
The Shadow started to fade away, but stopped abruptly.
"…Shizuru…?"
A hand grabbed him
--
Natsuki noticed her brother was staring off in La-La Land. She grinned and shook him, trying to get him back to Earth. "Kazuya, we're going. NOW. Before we miss the meal."
Kazuya jumped and smiled weakly. "Whoa, scared me…mmkay let's go…"
They walked down the path Haruka and Yukino were last seen, and were in a vast field. Lilies, Violets, Roses, Orchids, were everywhere. In the middle was a plain patch of grass, where Shizuru was waving to them. Well, everyone else was there, but Natsuki's eyes were on Shizuru. The sky was starting to lose the sun, but it wasn't time for the sunset yet. Across the field a river could be heard, and even a waterful too.
"Whoa…" Natsuki mumbled when she made it up to Shizuru. She smiled, and sat down, patting next to her for Natsuki. "Will Natsuki like to sit here…?"
Natsuki blushed. "Y..Yeah…"
Akane, Kazuya, and Arika stared intently, also trying to leave an effect from their staring. Natsuki finally took notice of them, and switched glances from Shizuru to them.
"Arika."
Shizuru voice was calm.
"Kazuya!"
Natsuki's voice was pissed off, and Kazuya shuddered with a grin.
"Haruka!"
Everyone was silent.
…
Natsuki burst out laughing, and Shizuru let out fits of giggles, for the 80th time that day. Kazuya rolled over, and knocked onto Arika and Akane, while Haruka looked confused.
"Wha? What's so funny! That was one of those moments where someone buts in! COME ON! Stop laughingggg!!!"
--
After the not-so-calm prelude took place towards Natsuki and Kazuya's first real meal, it was time for Natsuki and Kazuya's first real meal.
The two looked like animated hungry wolves. "Food!" Natsuki chirped, but stopped when a hand petted her head. "Ara, Natsuki looks like a hungry puppy. But please, do not eat like a hungry wolf…"
Natsuki blushed and pulled back crossing her arms. "I…I'm not that cute…"
"Ara, I never said you were…"
"Hey!"
"Hello to you too."
Natsuki turned away. This woman! What the fuck! Does she inherit some kind of gene to be blind and a tease! Grr! With her thought, Natsuki let out a little 'grr' noise, making everyone quiet.
Kazuya smiled. "Wow. Natsuki's first actual cute noise."
Natsuki blushed. "What the hell! I swear if I keep blushing, I will kill you all right now!" She pulled out her gun, and pointed it at Kazuya. Shizuru pet her head, instantly making Natsuki quiver and go to the source of the petter.
Shizuru gasped and moved her hand back when she felt Natsuki lean against her hand. "Ah…hehe….advantage…" Shizuru said under her breath while stroking Natsuki's head.
Kazuya stared wide-eyed. "Shizuru…you…"
Shizuru looked up to his voice, and stopped. "Ah…what is it…Kazuya?"
Kazuya shook his head and said nevermind.
Haruka and Yukino stared at each other, while Akane told Arika that Shizuru was actually hesitant.
At the same time, they all said, "Whoa," and looked at one another.
Silence.
…
"Oh god is that mayo!!" Natsuki said, interrupting the moments of silence.
Shizuru turned to her. "Uh…yeah. I made lots of sandwiches, but sometimes we like it with a certain amount or mayo…so she packed us an extra bottle to add more if we want…and uh…"
Natsuki grabbed a sandwich and took a big bite, and was making chewing noises.
Arika did the same, except opened her mouth. "Look look! I'm like Natsuki! See, I'm chewing with my mouth open!"
Natsuki glared. "Shut up."
Arika giggle with Akane, and Kazuya took a sandwich.
Shizuru smiled at the chewy noises.
Soon after everyone had started to chow and eat, Natsuki finally got to talk to Shizuru by themselves. Putting in a whole spoonful of mayo in her mouth, Natsuki turned to Shizuru.
"Sooooo….uh…how old are you anyways?"
Shizuru gulped down her bite of a sandwich. "16, but tomorrow is my birthday."
Natsuki's eyes widened. "OH! Should I get you a gift? Oh noo…I'll leave to town to find something! Should I go now? OH NO!!!"
Shizuru smiled, and finished the rest of her meal. "You don't have to, I think this is the best gift I've had…meeting you…"
Natsuki blushed. "You sure…? Cause you said that confessing 35 minutes after we met takes all the angst and fun out…"
Shizuru laughed. "But now its been an hour and 47 minutes! It doesn't count…" and she tried to put and sent a few fake tears.
"Ahh! Sorry, I was joking! But does it really matter how long we just met?"
Shizuru froze. What? Her red eyes connected with Natsuki's Green eyes, and as if they suddenly knew everything they knew about each other. Natsuki finished eating, and tried to restart their conversation.
"So…who…or how did you find this place?"
Shizuru looked around, and came up with an idea. "Natsuki, you hear the sound of water? Can you bring me there?" Natsuki nodded, and grabbed Shizuru's hand, who followed with a smile. They left quietly, and Arika, Akane, Kazuya, Haruka, or even Yukino noticed them leaving.
--
After walking to the noise of water, Natsuki found a creek that looked quite clean, and a boulder that had a higher gound and a waterful a bit bigger than Natsuki. "Whoa!" Natsuki looked amazed. The water had reflected the sunset of the sky above them. Shizuru took off her hat, and Natsuki stared.
Oh god. She's stripping. Oh god. Oh. My. God.
"Kiwi, time to come out…"
A snake came out of her hat, and Natsuki yelped. "W..WHAT the hell?!?" The small snake hissed, but Shizuru gently petted its head. "Natsuki, meet Kiwi. Kiwi, meet Natsuki, and be nice to her, or Mommy will be mad."
"Mommy?"
Shizuru looked at Natsuki and smiled. "I found Kiwi a long time ago…when he was a baby."
Natsuki looked at the arm length snake, and looked back at Shizuru. "I didn't know you favored snakes..I like wolves…and puppies…and dogs…but mostly wolves. Hey Shizuru, did you do something to Kiwi or is … he originally purple?"
Shizuru looked at him. "Well, back when I could see, he was a magnificent purple…but…I don't care, My favorite color is purple…"
"Mines blue…but…your vision…"
"I'll tell you later. For now, I want to stay here with you…"
"Where'd Natsuki and shizuru go?"
Kazuya shrugged.
"Who knows…
TBC.
A//N- Yeah, I'm loosing it. Enjoy the happy chapters…this is an AU…so ShizNAt Interactions will be quite soon…