A/N: This chapter was not difficult to write because I've actually been thinking about these scenes for awhile. I already know how I'm going to end this story too and I will be hated for it. This chapter was written today and has not been proof read. BE WARNED! I also updated "Living Forever In You".

Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Hime or any of the characters.

Closer to Running

Shizuru came running into the living room where the couch was to see me sitting there holding my hands to face trying to stop the tears. Shizuru knelt down in front of me trying to get my attention, but it was useless. I was incoherent and wild eyed mumbling to myself. Shizuru shook me shouting my name several times until I felt a stinging sensation across my face. I looked up at her with my wild eyes and looked to either side checking to see where I was. Shizuru sat there waiting for me to return to her, but I didn't quite get there as I laughed madly until she struck me one last time. I put my hand up to my face and mouthed the word ouch. Then I turned to Shizuru again, my eyes almost normal wondering why she had hit me so hard.

"Natsuki…welcome back." Shizuru sighed. "Now tell me, what woke you to the point you had to scream my name?"

"I can't say I remember, it was a dream and I've just about forgotten what is was, but I remember that I was holding you." I said rubbing my cheek where Shizuru hit me. Shizuru got a puzzled look on her face as she thought why hugging would make me scream out her name.

"There must have been more to it Natsuki, but once a dream is dreamt it is no more." Shizuru simply said while standing up walking to one of the windows. "Natsuki, they could have followed us here." She said changing the topic.

"Don't start that, leave me behind crap again. I made a choice to be with you. I know how they interrogate prisoner, and Takeda wouldn't just interrogate you. He'd…he'd." Natsuki started stutter thinking about Takeda military investigative skills. Shizuru looked back with an unaffected face.

"He'd rape me. Natsuki, I did many horrible things for my government and I let many horrible things happen to me for my government. I can handle almost anything just not you." Shizuru merely said walking to the kitchen. I did not want to think about what she use to do so I went to the kitchen too in search of food.

Shizuru looked in the cabinets to find some canned foods; the ideal survival food. I found mine as I opened the refrigerator; mayo. I check the date, opened it up, and dipped my fingers in and feast away. Shizuru about threw up as she saw me freely consuming mayo without anything.

"What? It's a good source of cheap energy for the body, and it's yummy." I said breaking the entire seriousness of our current state. Shizuru looked away and opened up her canned item, threw the circle cut away into the wall by her, and grabbed a utensil to eat with. I glared at her. Shizuru is going out of her way to make me look barbaric, wonderful. The house made a great bunker for me and Shizuru. I figure we could stay at this house just a few more days before hitting the hospital and then going to Mai's. Chances are she isn't there anymore. She probably was in her office at work effortlessly working on her paper with or without an audience to read them.

Flashback

Nao, the Black Widow, had just finished her on the phone report and as the phone hung up; I fired. First though her head and then her phone. I did it without a second thought. The tears on my face had dried as I looked back at Shizuru who was completely bewildered by my sudden action. I stood up and walked out picking up Nao's body. Every apartment complex had an incinerator in the basement in Webstein; an efficient way to constantly provide energy for its citizen. Burn wastes and yield energy. The middle of the day and everyone would be busy, and if anyone saw me they go in with her they be joining her shortly. I got to the bottom floor and notice the size of the incinerator and realized I had to break the dead widow's body up first. I walked around the basement looking for something to help me when I saw an old manual paper cutter. I grabbed the blade arm on the paper cutter and ripped it off so I could use it to cut the dead body down to size.

Shizuru had just walked downstairs to see me swing the blade into the air and down into the body spreading blood every where around me. The dead flesh sloshed as the blade crashed down on it. I madly swung the blade several more times until I started heaving the bits into the incinerator. I paused as I saw Shizuru. She had gone pale and was leaning against the wall for balance. She must have seen the entire thing. I did not take pleasure in my work, but I did it efficiently. That is why I am the Ice Princess. Some of Nao's clothes were still on the surface I laid her on and they didn't have much blood on them so I used them to wipe the blood off my face and arms and then tossed that into the incinerator too.

"Shizuru, we have to go. The clean up crew will be here shortly. They will probably assume your dead and search the entire complex for trances and clean them up without hesitation." I said reaching out to grab Shizuru. She backed away from me at first. I don't blame her. I wouldn't want to be touched by someone who just willing hacked up a body.

"I'm sorry Natsuki." Shizuru said still not letting me touch her.

"Did you pick up my gun by any chance?" I asked ignoring the fact Shizuru was terrified of me.

"Yes." Shizuru said as she handed it to me. I guess she isn't terrified of me just that entire action. Me too.

"Let's go then." I said grabbing her hand leading the way with my 23 in my other hand. Shizuru looked out of the building first still hold my hand motioning the coast was clear. I ran out to my car that was half way over the sidewalk. I let go of Shizuru trusting, hoping, she'd stay with me after what I had just done for her. Shizuru ran to the passenger door and waited for me to signal. I nodded and we both got in. I turned on my privacy tinting so no one could see in. I started my car just as I heard the sounds of helicopters in the distance. We need to go.

The car made no major complaints as I sped through the city trying to get to my apartment that lie just on the city limits away from the bustle. Shizuru cursed silently to herself about something realizing there would be no way we could go back. I looked at her quickly and then proceeded to drive. The road waved, rose, and fell several times over as I kept my eyes fixed on it. What have I done? I am aiding an enemy. I'm…saving the life of my love. It's alright that this has happened. We weren't meant to be at odds with each other. This life is wrong something in me says it, but it also says we were meant to be together. These are my thoughts as I stare at my challenging road. I can only imagine what Shizuru's are. We got to my apartment complex. Here I didn't really care if people saw me because practically no one was ever home in these apartments. I walked to the door fumbling for my key until I found it. I walked in I violently started removing the blood soaked uniform tossing it piece by piece into my trash can walking to my shower. Shizuru could do what she wished here either that be stay and help me or kill me. I turned my shower on grabbing my bottle of soap and poured it all over me and started to scrub. I don't know how long I stood in that shower. It was as if an endless amount of blood ran from my body until finally, the water ran off my body clear. I stepped out and felt a towel being wrapped around me.

"Shizuru?" I questioned turning around. She just smiled and walked out. She's very good on sneaking up on people, but I wonder if we are still going to attempt to kill each other or not. I knew I couldn't kill her as that image went through my mind. My gun set and ready against her forehead and a simple "I love you" my heart took control then and my thoughts agreed. I sat on my bed wondering what I could do. I had to make up another story to the board. I grabbed my jammer and turned it on as a precaution. I got my BDU's and slipped them on. I walked out of my room looking for Shizuru. She sat silently on my couch occasionally looking up shaking her head and then looking back down. I paused in my walked and became downcast as I knew what I was going to do. I took one deep breath which Shizuru to turn around my way, and then I lunged in her direction. Shizuru reacted realizing I was offensively charging By catching me and throwing me across the room.

"What the hell are you doing? Did I miss something?" Shizuru yelled as stood in a defense stance. I slowly got up and smiled charging at Shizuru again. I punched at her and dodged each one refusing to attack back. I was not putting my all into this. I guess I have to take it up another step as I glared at her. Shizuru caught the glare and for second lost her concentration. I puffed and quickly turned to my side and thrust kicked her in the stomach. The clearance between us was about two feet before I kicked making the attack more painful than it should have been. Shizuru flew backwards smashing into my table. I slowly walked over to her as she was getting her bearings. I grabbed her by her hair which was quickly countered by a sweep kick. I let go of her hair as not to hurt her anymore as I crashed down against the ground. My vision flashed in and out as I hit the ground. I got up stumbling back. I knew I couldn't ask Shizuru to fight me because she was refusing to really defend herself, but all assassin have that survival instinct. I ran to my kitchen and Shizuru followed. I was head towards a wall with the bar window to the kitchen. I jump up and slide through that. Shizuru slammed her hands against the wall and ran around to the entrance kitchen by then I had grabbed a knife from my butcher's box and charged at her in such fashion she'd be able to disarm me and kill me. I knew she wouldn't kill me she'd stop herself before she'd do that. Shizuru eyes widen as she moved to the side catching me and swinging right into the wall. This is going to hurt. I smashed into the wall with the full force of my run and the push of Shizuru swing. I felt her grab the knife in my hand as I impacted into the wall. Here we go. I closed my eyes and I felt the blade enter body.

"GAHHHHH!" Shizuru had just stopped as if realizing she was on auto pilot. She dropped the knife and stood back not running. She was probably still wondering what had gotten to me. I held myself against the wall panting.

"ha…ha…you held…yourself back t-too much." I coughed and panted. "B-but thank you. I'll be home later." I continued stumbling out of the kitchen finding my keys.

"Natsuki, what's going on?" Shizuru yelled. I stood up holding my fresh wound, and smiled at her.

"Listen I don't have much time. The base is just around the corner and our doctor have had some awesome medical advances." I said think about how blood I must be losing. "I'm so sorry I attacked you out of the blue. I'm buying us some more time." I started losing my balance as I reached out to the table to hold myself up Shizuru walked towards me and I held my hand out her shaking my head. Shizuru stopped with a hurt look on her face.

"Natsuki, you're bleeding out too much." Shizuru said staring at the red growth stain my BDUs.

"I'll be fine." I said standing straight and walked to the door as if nothing happened. I look over my shoulder as I got to the door. This has to work. I looked at Shizuru and whispered, "I love you."

TBC

Mini-Feed:

Natsuki::Rubs her side and looks at Shizuru with a frown::

Shizuru::Glares at Kara::

Chuckabutt: I'M SORRY...the plot has to progress in a depressing fashion.

If you are wondering why there is a TBC instead of a Flaskback End is because...there will be no more present tense parts of the story. We are now going to catch up with the present.