Author's Note: I know, I know sorry for being late –rolls eyes- but I bet you will all want more after this chapter –evil laugh- Thanks Tee for betaing this chapter!

Saikyo Saiaku no HiME: Thanks for the compliments and reviewing. Please do enjoy the chapter x3

Disclaimer: I don't own… cough cough Mai-hime cough/cough otome cough mangas cough and neither do I own Loveless. "So What" is owned by Pink.


Chapter 4: Compensation

Shizuru sighed while gazing at the back of her beloved. Yesterday's dinner and today's breakfast had been awful uncomfortable. Her heart ached as she watched the empty looks of Natsuki and the monosyllable responses. "Indeed, it's unbearable." she thought painfully.

Unknown to her, Natsuki watched the multiple emotions of the Fighter silently. "I'm sorry, Shizuru." The Sacrifice thought, "But it can't be helped. If we ever want us working, we must do this."

Steadily they continue their silent thoughts till they found themselves in front of the port. Natsuki looked around her till her eyes set on 'To Fuuka Island' sign and walked toward it with Shizuru behind her. However as soon as she stood mere meters away of the entrance a familiar glimpse of redhead caught her attention.

"Tokiha…" Natsuki muttered bitterly somehow angry at the presence of the young woman.

"Na…tsuki?" the muttered woman wondered and saw a glaring raven haired a few feet away from her and Mikoto. Immediately the Fighter stood in front of the redhead with a long sword pointed toward the glaring figure.

Shizuru hastily moved forward to protect her Sacrifice with a naginata of her own readily to strike her enemy. Nevertheless both Fighters found themselves unable to attack as two hands grabbed each point of their weapons. Four pair of eyes widened at the sight of a scolding blonde looking at them.

"Such careless behavior from all of you, do you have no shame?" The new comer demanded and pushed the weapons toward the Fighters, signaling them to dematerialize them.

"Haruka Armitage…" Natsuki whispered angrily and ordered Shizuru to retreat. The raven haired soon looked around her and noticed a light redhead rushing toward them. "Yukino Chrysant…the Fearless team."

Shizuru eyes widened slightly at the mention of the team's name and gazed at Haruka. "How fitting of you, Suzushiro-san or should I now acknowledge you as Armitage?" the Fighter thought with a hint of sarcasm. "Not only have I met Minagi-san and Tokiha-san but you too. Such a coincidence, are to be suspicious of."

"Ah, Haruka-chan did you really had to rush like this?" Yukino complained almost breathless. "You should know better than to make me run unnecessarily."

Haruka grinned sheepishly and apologized which in turn provoked a smile and sigh of her Sacrifice. Natsuki glanced at them for a moment before scolding and walking away. Shizuru sighed, bowed to everyone before following her beloved onto the ship.

"Such a rude person." The blonde Fighter commented, crossing her arms. Then she glanced at the Forgotten Team and introduced herself proudly, "It's nice to meet you, I am Haruka Armitage."

"Yukino Chrysant pleased to meet you." Haruka's Sacrifice said with a small smile as Mai and Mikoto introduced themselves too. "Ah, hmmm the person from before…"

"The ice princess was Natsuki Kruger and her companion Kiyohime." Mai filled in with a grin. "Normally, she is in a much better mood. But please do rest assured, Natsuki is a nice person."

Abruptly the conversation advance was stopped by a pair of drunks singing voice.

"So, so what! I am a rock star!" The taller redhead sang joyfully with her arm around another redhead woman's shoulder. "I got my rock moves!"

"And I don't want you toniiiight…." Her shorter companion followed sweetly and it wasn't till they stopped in front of the quartet did they blinked and finally fainted.

"What the hell?! Wake up, Midori!" Haruka yelled at the older redhead as she lifted her and shook her. Yukino's plead barely registered in the blonde's ears.

"Such strange people." Mai muttered as she watched Mikoto poke the obviously unconscious younger redhead. "Now, now Mikoto you should stop that."

Ignored by them, six pairs of eyes watched the interactions from atop of the different places on the ship.

"Oh, it seems we got some fascinating people around us." The gray haired woman said and chuckled at her companion's answer.

"The more, the better do you not agree?"

"Yes, my Sacrifice."


Shizuru gazed everywhere but those piercing jade eyes in front of her. She could feel Natsuki's intense gaze upon her and couldn't help but begin feeling uncomfortable. It was a first, if she had thought about it, how the mere stare or presence of her beloved affected her in such unpleasant way. However, her mind was too preoccupied with suspicious concerning the people she had seen on board and the fear of a familiar déjà vu. At last, the soft sigh of her Sacrifice snapped Shizuru's detailed analysis.

Natsuki ruffled her hair in frustration with a hand and groaned. The brunette blinked but kept quiet as her gaze continue around their simple cabin. The raven haired stood up abruptly from her bed and took her Fighter's hand.

"Let's take a walk," she muttered with a blush adorning her face, dragging her companion out of the cabin she further explained, "This little room is driving me nuts, we should enjoy our ride as much as we can."

"Whatever Natsuki wishes for," Kiyohime said with a pleasant smile on her face and squeezed their united hands to reassure her beloved.

Together they walked toward the sun deck of the luxury yacht. As they continued, Natsuki found strange how quiet the place seemed since they hadn't met any Sacrifices or Fighters during their walk. Once up, they were surprised to found an empty deck with the exception of a large couch-like at the edge. Natsuki was still a little suspicious but dismissed it, instead she chose to take a sit and stare at the sight ahead. The wind began blowing her black locks and Shizuru couldn't help but be mesmerized by the raven haired beauty.

"Why don't you sit, Kiyo." Natsuki requested quietly once she turned from the sea view and sat cross-legged, hands on her ankles with her view on the ground. Shizuru complied and swallowed a gasp when her companion leaned her head on the unexpected Fighter. "Please forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive, Natsuki." the brunette whispered quietly, turmoil of emotions already attacking her.

"Yes there is," the Sacrifice took Shizuru's hand with her own and interlaced their fingers. "I am sorry for forcing you to come."

"It was your choice and as your Fighter I will…"

"Will you quit that crap!?" Natsuki gritted her teeth angrily, her entire body shook in rage but their entangled hands did not receive such treatment. The raven haired shook her head furiously and gazed at her Fighter, "I don't want you thinking of us like that! Why can't we just be Natsuki and Kiyohime? Why must there always be a Fighter and Sacrifice thing!?"

"Natsuki…"

The Sacrifice growled and used her free hand to turn Shizuru's face toward her. "Look at me," she demanded but the scarlet eyes were still gazing away. "Look at me, please Kiyohime." and the Fighter did when she heard such pleading tone from the other woman, "Why must you hide from me? Why are you always stopping it when you are the one to claim to love me?"

The brunette eyes widened, "Natsuki…you have truly grown up…" she thought bittersweet.

"Why?"

Shizuru merely smiled apologetically as she raised their united hands and caressed them on her cheek. She gave a soft sigh before staring at her companion's troubled eyes. "Will Natsuki love me if she knew? If she knew everything about me, of what I have done so far?" It was a soft whisper which the Sacrifice heard thankfully to their close proximity. "Everything…everything I have done so far has never being a lie, Natsuki. Please believe me, please trust me blindly enough to not judge me."

The raven haired wiped the fresh tears of the other woman's face tenderly. Then Natsuki mustered all her strength and rapidly turned Shizuru completely onto her. A soft gasp escaped the brunette's lips as she found herself embraced by two strong arms: one around her waist, the other on her head. Shizuru inhaled the intoxicating scent of her beloved and snuggled further on Natsuki's neck while her arms held on the other woman's shoulder.

"Who says I haven't trusted you from the beginning? Has anyone told you that I, Natsuki Kruger, ever judged you?" the Sacrifice whispered softly as she caressed the blonde locks of her Fighter. "Has no one ever told you, Kiyo? Love is blind, no matter what." Natsuki backed away slightly and shook her head slowly when she noticed fresh tears on her companion. She wiped them and planted a soft kiss on Shizuru's cheek.

The brunette chocked a small sob yet Natsuki did not stop her tender caressing on the other woman's cheek. Then, the raven haired leaned toward Shizuru's ear and muttered. "No matter whom you were or what you had done. I promise to always love you, Kiyo."

"Natsuki…"

"So, I will wait for the moment when you are ready." the Sacrifice said, facing her companion as she grinned, trying to cheer up her Fighter. "I will wait till you are ready to let go…" Natsuki began whispering while leaning toward the other woman's face, "till we can be Natsuki and Kiyo."

Shizuru closed her eyes, tears stopping, and finally allowing herself to kiss the tender lips of her beloved. It was short yet warm and at last a small smile graced the brunette's face.

"That's my Kiyo." Natsuki said proudly while Shizuru chuckled at her companion's action, "Now let's go, we have homework to do."

The Fighter nodded, taking the initiative this time, she took the hand of her companion. Together they dashed downstairs, matching giggles were heard faintly from where the Loveless team had gone.


"Mikoto stop this nonsense!" Mai demanded fearfully as a spell battle began. "Mikoto!"

The called teenager glanced defiantly at her Sacrifice, "I won't allow anyone to insult Mai! There's no way I will ever allow it!"

"Huh, such annoying brat you are," the teenager redhead comment cockily, "let's finish this off," the Fighter glanced at her Sacrifice, "don't try to stop me, Midori."

"Alright, Nao." The older redhead replied with a helpless sigh, then she glanced at the busty redhead, "its better if we let them be, Mai-chan. After all, we don't want them on auto now, do we?"

"That…"

"Auto?" Shizuru thought quietly once Natsuki and she had arrived at the lower deck, "is there such thing as that?"

"What's the meaning of this?" The raven haired wondered, not expecting an answer thought she got a one from a very likely resembling double of herself with the exception of those auburn eyes.

"It seems those two couldn't help but taunt each other and this have been the aftermath." Nina Wang explained with her arms crossed and an expressionless face.

"I see…"

"Thunder…" Mikoto began chanting her spell attack before Mai could object anymore, "Like ten million arrows strike at the speed of wind!" Electric waves began surrendering Mikoto and abruptly Nao was struck by thunder.

"Hehe…that was so fast I couldn't reflect it," the injured Fighter commented and scolded herself when she noticed a scratch on Midori's cheek. "I won't do the same mistake twice." Nao lifted her arm toward Mikoto and began her counter attack, "We are Nameless, and we share the same name as one. Take a look at dreadful solitude of the unknown."

Steadily everything began being covered by obscurity as chains around Mikoto's and Mai's wrist appeared. The busty redhead fell on her knees as she felt an intense pain around her body, causing the younger Fighter to retreat slightly.

"Mai…"

"Kiyohime…" Natsuki muttered calmly while walking toward the injured Mai. Kneeling next to her, the raven haired could only shake her head, "The things you end up making me do, Tokiha."

Shizuru stood between the other two younger Fighters, an impassive look on her face. "Stop this nonsense already…" she trailed off as she materialized her naginata, "or both of you will never be able to fight ever again."

"Why you…" Nao was about to materialize her own weapon when a pair of arms slipped around her shoulder as a face leaned next to her, prompting a blush on her face. "Midori…"

"So cute, I love that blush." The older redhead complimented and whispered to her Fighter, "Let it go for this time, alright? Enough is enough." She then pointed at Mikoto panicking and apologizing to a barely injured Mai.

Nao sighed and nodded while she followed her Sacrifice toward the Forgotten Team. Her left eye twitched when the other teenager merely glared at her. Midori, seeing this, nudged the redhead ribs. The Fighter groaned and bowed as she apologized. Mikoto did the same when she saw Mai's look. Soon the quartet were grinning and laughing.

"Such carefree people, don't you think?" Natsuki commented once she was next to her Fighter.

"I suppose so." Shizuru mumbled blankly.

Suddenly a loud clapping startled the pair. Natsuki and Shizuru were faced with a short gray haired and brunette.

"Bravo, Kiyohime." The gray haired female said. "A magnificent show of control and power."

"And who might you be?" the brunette inquired impassive.

"Chie Hallard at your service," The said woman bowed with a smirk plastered at her face, she then glanced at her quiet companion, "and she is my lovely partner, Aoi Senoh."

"We are Beloved." The duet stated at the same time finally getting Loveless full attention while the rest of people gasped in surprise.

"Is that so?" Natsuki barely spared them a glance, ruffled her hair and finally walked away. "Let's go, Kiyo."

Shizuru could hardly contain her surprise at such lack of response from the other woman but refrained from commenting. It wasn't till she notice the posture of her Sacrifice did she chuckled.

A soft breeze played with Natsuki's black locks as said woman stood for a moment, waiting for her partner to catch up. When she did so, the raven haired glanced at the intrigued Beloved Team. Her eyes narrowed dangerously toward them.

"Do not think you will have it easy, Beloved," Shizuru's Sacrifice stated, "I will definitely show you. You will see Loveless' power soon enough," out of their ear shot, she muttered, "I will show you, the most loved ones. I will definitely show you our power."

The chestnut haired woman chuckled, finally feeling comfortable with such well know attitude. "For a moment I thought you wouldn't do a thing." The Fighter dared to tease.

"I won't lose, I won't allow such thing as this."

"Natsuki seems rather serious about this." Shizuru pointed out silently which in turn caused her companion to halt.

"I just don't find it fair." The raven haired gazed ahead of her, "Don't see why is fair for us to receive the resentment of others while they have all the love."

"Are you jealous?"

"No." Natsuki shook her head, "It's just painful to think how lonely both of us were before meeting. Because for Loveless, to feel love is only possible if we find each other," the Sacrifice gave a sheepishly grin, "I merely want to show them our strength of our love between us, no matter how cheesy that sounds."

Unexpectedly Natsuki felt two pairs of arms embracing her, tighten her hold on her back. Jade eyes widened for a moment before returning the hug. "It seems you are going soft, Kiyo." The raven haired teased gently when she felt moisture on her neck. She hardly restrained her chuckle when the other woman tried denying it.

"Natsuki…"

"What's the matter?"

Shizuru took a deep breath and backed away slightly to stare at curious olive eyes. "You will forgive me, won't you? No matter what, you will? Won't you?" she wondered silently while caressing her companion's cheek.

"Kiyohime?" the Sacrifice stuttered out obviously confused.

"Shizu..." The brunette gulped nervously and at last confessed, "My name is Shizuru."

"Shi…zuru…" Natsuki mumbled, her eyes widening a little before slowly closing.

The Fighter tightened her grip on her beloved once the other woman had completely fallen unconscious. A single tear dropped from the smooth face of hers when she heard a slight whimper from the raven haired.

"Please, please do forgive me Natsuki." Shizuru then picked Natsuki in bridal style as she returned them back to their room. "Please, don't leave me."


Natsuki blinked as she stared at an unfamiliar scene shown to her. It was a plain park but what truly caught her attention were two giggling and running figures.

"Shizuru! Come back! It's not fair!" A younger looking Natsuki yelled as she chased Shizuru.

"Ara? What's not fair Natsuki?" The brunette only giggled before hasting her pace.

"Stop laughing! Argh! You are impossible!"

The Sacrifice merely blinked again while watching the retreating figures. "What the hell is happening?" she wondered quietly.

"Oh my, didn't Natsuki notice?" A familiar voice startled the raven haired as she faced Shizuru.

"Kiyo?"

"Tsk, tsk" the brunette shook her head in displeasure, "didn't I already tell you? Name's Shi-zu-ru."

"What's the meaning of this!?" her companion demanded and Shizuru could only smile before looking away soberly.

"It's called compensation, Natsuki."


Omake:

Nao: wow, Haruka is actually making sense

Haruka: OH SHUT UP, YOU!

Natsuki: you are too angsty –looks at Shizuru-

Shizuru: Mou, you are so mean –sniffs-

Natsuki: will a hug and kiss do?

Shizuru: -grins- -jumps on Natsuki-

Natsuki : SHIZURU !


Ah…the only thing I will say is: expect more soon! Leave a review, say what you think or anything at all if you wish xD