The memory:

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" someone was screaming in pain… the voice that only she knew so well… the voice of her beloved Natsuki.

Shizuru flung herself in the big hall, but Misa had been awaiting her.

Behind her Shizuru could see the big yet lifeless HiME star and on the floor…

"Natsuki!" Shizuru suppressed the urge to move forward. For she knew it would be unwise and that now every action she would decide hers and Natsuki's fate. However she craned her neck to see if Natsuki was ok.

"She is still alive" Misa said when she saw how Shizuru was acting, these news gave her a small jolt of relief "I borrowed some of her life force but nothing much" Shizuru's expression hardened "Soon you will witness the full glory of the HiME star and the end of this wretched world!"

"She is as dramatic as ever"

Shizuru turned around to see Mai and Mikoto

"What are you--?"

"Hey didn't think you could go act all heroic and leave us in the sidelines eh? After all Natsuki is also our friend."

Shizuru smiled.

"Your presence doesn't make any difference…" Misa smirked a bit nervously

"That is what you think!" Mai answered maliciously "Why would you want to bring the HiME star again!? Are you crazy?!"

"Crazy?" Misa repeated in disbelief "Maybe I am. There is only one thing I ever wanted in my life…Yet this world cruelly took it away from me…to look yet not to touch…"

Misa got lost in her train of thought "You're making no sense! The fact you couldn't get something is a trivial reason to bring back that!" Mai's words made Misa snap back to reality

"I don't need a world in which I cannot have her."

Shizuru's eyes narrowed; somehow this poor creature reminded her of how she had reacted when Natsuki had rejected her during the carnival.

"And by doing this you think you can get into her heart?" Shizuru asked coolly

"I don't want to be lectured by someone who has everything I ever wanted!" Misa yelled in anger

Misa turned her back to them and leaned over the unconscious Natsuki "I need some more time, just a bit more…" at these words, Natsuki's eyes snapped open, and she started to incorporate herself, though she was weak, trembling and staggering as she put her body weight back on her legs.

"Natsuki!" Shizuru said hopelessly watching Natsuki make an enormous effort to keep her body steady. "How can you make her do this! She's weak!" Misa laughed at her words then turned to face the star, and commenced to pour energy into it and slowly the star started to light up.

"We have to stop that!" Mai shouted "Leave it to us Kaichou, you deal with Natsuki!"

Shizuru didn't need telling twice, after dodging a very sloppy attack from Natsuki she summoned her element. Natsuki did the same but her aim was all over the place. She could tell that Natsuki was too weak to actually cause any real damage, and that she was only Misa's puppet to buy some time.

Natsuki lunged again, but this time Shizuru didn't dodge her attack, she got lost into those forest green yet unfocused eyes, and got hit in the face.

Natsuki unable to stabilize after she hit her target tripped and fell on top of her.

"Shizuru… Why do you love me?"

"Because…"

Shizuru shook her head not knowing why she would recall that, powerless she watched Natsuki lazily aim the gun at her.

"Natsuki…"

Maybe being killed by Natsuki wasn't as bad, she would rather die by the hands of her love, than anyone else.

She closed her eyes accepting her destiny—maybe their love was and had been always unrequited, forbidden and this was heaven's punishment.

Seconds passed, yet nothing happened, Shizuru was sure she was still alive… yet why? She opened her eyes, and the sight that was revealed to her surprised her.

Natsuki was crying, tears sliding on her cheeks and falling on Shizuru's face, but other than her eyes, nothing else seemed to show sadness. The gun was still pointing at her, shaking furiously.

"—zuru…" she breathed

Shizuru's eyes widened, Natsuki was fighting Misa's control over her. This was not the time for her to give up, seeing her lover's will to fight she was immediately infected with the same feeling.

"Shizuru… Why do you love me?"

"Because…" Shizuru looked serious as if she was giving it serious thought, but then, she pinched Natsuki's cheek "You're so cute, and it makes me want to eat you!"

"SHIZURU!" Natsuki moaned while her face turned scarlet.

No… I love Natsuki because… she is so innocent, pure, kind, forgiving… there are too many nice words to describe you, and the more I think about it… the more I am in love with this beautiful angel of mine. That is what Shizuru thought at the time but had no intention telling Natsuki.

"Natsuki… " And ignoring the gun that was pointing at her, she hugged Natsuki with all her might.

At first Natsuki didn't react, but then she dropped her gun with a clatter, "I love you Natsuki, always…"She whispered into her ear. Then Natsuki finally reacted and hugged Shizuru back, trembling and while choking back tears she said "Shizuru!! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I saw you but... I couldn't… I tried… "

"TRAITOR!" Misa yelled at Natsuki "I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU ARE a USELESS BI--"

"Ara" Shizuru said regaining her old confidence "I won't forgive anyone who insults Natsuki"

This made Natsuki recall what had happened when Haruka confronted Shizuru during the carnival, and couldn't help to smile to her insides. With Shizuru like that, this could be considered a done deal

OMAKE:

Shizuru: Ara, Ookini Asuka-Chan! You gave me lots of action there!

Asuka: yea, I promised remember?

Mai: But forgot me in the process

Mikoto: What about me?

Misa: you were so cruel to me!! Even though I am your creation! Everybody hates me!

Asuka: You're the villain, people should hate you, besides I couldn't bring myself to make any HiME characters to be the villain, picking Reito, Tomoe or Nagi would have been too much cliché.

Misa: Ikezu~

Shizuru: That's my line.