Author's Note: -shrug- Enjoy, have fun. Hope its worth reading it. Also, it is unbetaed.
Disclaimer: I don't own…coughcoughMaihimecough/coughotomecoughmangascough and neither do I own Loveless.
Chapter 6: The Wish
"My eyes…" Natsuki grumbled as she rubbed her eyes forcefully. "I might get blind like this."
"That will make two of us, love." Shizuru agreed as too rubbed her eyes but gently.
The Loveless Team blinked at the unusual place. There were various things like: chair, desk, portraits, doors, etc. suspended around them. That's when they also observed how their surrounding was white as a blank paper and it seemed endless. However what surprised them most was the idea of floating around this mysterious place.
Shizuru giggled when she saw her Sacrifice trying to balance herself once she was aware of the lack of gravitation surrounding them. The raven haired observed her partner's action and couldn't help but smile, happy at seeing her love enjoying herself again. The Fighter noticed the stare and tilted her head curiously, prompting a light blush from the other woman.
Natsuki cleared her throat and 'flew' next to the brunette, "So any idea of where we are?"
"Not really, but I don't mind it," Shizuru grinned childishly and giggled again at the questioning look of her love. "I say it before, as long as Natsuki is with me. I will be fine."
"You…" Natsuki muttered incredulous and blushed even further.
"My, my is not like you to blush so much," the Immortal teased with a mischievous glint on her eyes. "It seems you have remembered more than I wished to." she commented regretfully.
For a while the Sacrifice didn't say anything instead she took the other woman's hand. After that she sat cross-legged in Indian style as Shizuru did the same. At last, she took a deep breath and said. "I am not really mad at you."
"You should," The Immortal whispered harshly wanting some sort of punishment for her reckless in the past.
Natsuki muttered an inaudible curse and ruffled her hair with her free hand, "Shizuru, I told you already. No matter what, I forgive you."
"Even if I almost murdered someone?" The Fighter inquired and taunted at the same time. "Even if at one time, while watching you I almost succumbed to temptation? Even if I was the one who broke your heart by leaving? Even if…" Shizuru trailed off when she was silenced by a forceful yet tender kiss from her companion. It was simple but warm and enough to cause a faint blush from the Immortal. The brunette gulped when she saw the defiant stare of her love.
"Stop killing yourself with this guilt and enjoy life again," Natsuki pleaded softly and decided to reposition herself. Now Natsuki was almost straddling Shizuru, her legs at the sides of the brunette hips and her arms around the Immortal neck. This new position caused both women to blush again yet the raven haired kept it when there was no protest of her Fighter. Her hand soon began playing with her love's long chestnut locks. "We are only Shizuru and Natsuki now. No more Hime, no more Fighter or Sacrifice only us."
"I…"
"Please don't cry," the Sacrifice requested gently, staring at the teary scarlet eyes. "We deserve this sole moment and more, love. So please, give me one smile?"
The Immortal complied and forced a pleasant smile for her companion. However, the overwhelming emotions couldn't be held for too long and the brunette gave a small sob that with time became various loud ones. Her arms found Natsuki's shoulder and held them firmly while her head rested on the other woman's chest. Natsuki hushed her love tenderly, a hand caressing the Immortal's head as her arm wrapped Shizuru's waist protectively.
It took a long moment before the brunette stopped her cries and when it did she could only apologize. The raven haired shook her head and planted various gentle kiss. First on the forehead, then on the now dried eyes, afterwards to her love's smooth cheek and finally on Shizuru's lips.
"I got your t-shirt all wet." The Fighter mumbled with a sniff and used her hands to wipe the remaining traces of tears on her face.
"It's alright, you will just have to wash it when we get back home."
They smiled at each other warmly and it was a matter of time for Shizuru to go back to her old teasing habits, "Say, does it mean we will do this and that?"
"Shizuru!" Natsuki yelled a little annoyed but her glare showed more love than real anger. She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. "One of this day you will pay for all the teasing you have done."
"My, do you really want that?"
The Sacrifice saw the wicked grin of her companion and knew it was hopeless, "Never mind, I bet it will be even worst." Natsuki sighed in defeat while her partner laughed. "At least is good that you smile at my suffering."
"You shouldn't say that when you like to be teased too."
Shizuru's laughter soon started echoing around the mysterious place when her statement caused her younger companion to huff a breath for a second time and produce an irresistible, cute puppy pout.
"Old hag…" Natsuki muttered and her right eye twitched when the brunette a cat grin spread on her face.
"Cute cuddle puppy!"
"Pedophile!"
"My cute cuddle puppy!"
"Gah, at least retort with someone but that!" The Sacrifice furiously ruffled her black locks at the persistent grin of her lover who only giggled which in turn prompted an intense blush from Natsuki. "This is not fair!" she whined childish.
"Now, now Natsuki don't be like that," Shizuru snickered, trying miserable to cover it with her hand.
"You are impossible!"
"So I have been told, my cute cuddle puppy."
The raven haired woman sighed and chose to snuggle closer to her newfound love. Defeat wasn't something she liked but from her past memories of her ancestor and this life, she knew it was almost impossible to win against her companion. Shizuru grinned victoriously and celebrated internally.
"Hey, Shizuru." Natsuki suddenly muttered from below, where she was currently resting her head on the other woman's chest.
"Yes, love?"
"Have you thought about anyway to escape this place?"
"Not really."
"I love you, you know."
The Fighter smiled pleasantly at her companion and replied. "I love you too, my dear Natsuki."
All of a sudden a loud shriek echoed around the couple causing them to cover their ears at such horrible noise. They blinked and frowned once the sound was no longer heard however they glanced around of them only to find themselves alone. All the objects floating had disappeared and the Loveless Team felt that they were falling somehow until their lower parts hit with something solid.
"This is the strangest adventure I have so far…" Natsuki proclaimed, rubbing her sore butt.
"It seems we are now in a sort of white room." The Immortal stated, scanning the new setting they had been sent to.
A sneering sound caused the couple to abruptly turn at the noise that had come behind them. Both gasped when a clearly upset Eris walked toward them.
"You two are exasperating!" she began her mad rambling while tousling her hair. "I was hoping to at least have some fight or pain…something at least!" she glared hatefully at the Sacrifice. "But no! You had to be all noble and forgive this woman!" she pointed at the Fighter who was too speechless and astonished to do something. "Well at least I enjoyed her angst but still! If I hadn't stopped the illusion you might had as well do it in mid air!"
"I knew this entire tournament was suspicious," Shizuru growled once she overcame her shock and stood in front of her partner.
Eris gave an exasperated sigh as she waved her hand in dismissal at the Immortal. "Yeah, yeah. I planned all this, hoping to enact some kind of revenge but it seems it only forged your bonds further." The goddess made a choking sound. "You two are so lovely it disgust me."
Tentatively, Natsuki raised her hand causing both brunettes to stare at her curiously. "I have a question." she announced.
"Well, shoot it." The goddess said with an eyebrow rose.
"Is not like I don't mind it, but how come you aren't fighting Shizuru?"
"You are kidding right?" the raven haired shook her head still confused and curious. Eris sighed again. "There's this little law about not attacking the persons I have done a wish for which is kind of a guarantee for such said persons. It prevents them from being stab at the back by me."
"Oh…" Natsuki then frowned and asked again. "Then what was the point of this tournament?"
"Besides getting pretty ladies coming?" Eris shrugged indifferent. "I was bored after your girlfriend there," she pointed at Shizuru. "did her wish and my superiors found about my plans to escape my fate. I found myself in a tight spot so I though about entertaining myself. But really, I think I have changed for the better thanks…." The goddess didn't have a chance to finish as she felt a fist against her face and being thrown to a wall because of the force from the hit.
"You almost got Shizuru killed, you mad woman." The Sacrifice glared infuriately at the brunette. "All this for fun, you are sick."
Eris rubbed her cheek tenderly feeling a slight pain from it. "There was a purpose for this, you know." She pouted childish and explained. "My superiors were kind of mad at me so as punishment I was to do something for Shizuru."
"What do you mean?" The Immortal asked, still confused at the new attitude the other woman had taken.
"Let's face it, Shizuru. You don't plan on keeping this life, do you?" she glanced at the confused Sacrifice. "you are an Immortal which includes you being immortal and that means you don't die." The goddess shook her head when Shizuru tried to protest. "If you were to be decapitated, your soul will disappear and never to be reincarnated."
"So you are telling me that all the fighting during this week was for me to win and you grant me my wish?" The Fighter inquired cautiously.
"That's about right," Eris then pointed at Natsuki. "But you also had to show me how 'worthy' you were of my wish. That's why when you activated the compensation and your beloved accepted your crimes..."
"Enough already, Eris." Shizuru ordered and glared at the goddess when she felt a sudden rush around her. "You have granted my wish, haven't you?"
For the first time the goddess gave a sorrowful gaze to those old cherry eyes. "Even if that wasn't your wish, I knew you wanted it from the bottom of your heart." she smiled and gave a small shrug when another questioning look was given. "Let's say I have matured."
"Then…did you?" Natsuki asked after processing everything that had happen so far.
"Yes, don't worry Miss Kruger."
"Thank you." The raven haired said gratefully and offered one of her rare gentle smiles usually reserved for her beloved.
The goddess merely chuckled before waving farewell to the couple, her mission already done. "Enjoy yourselves!" she shouted as a bright light engulfed the Loveless Team.
"Argh! I swear this time I will be blind!" Natsuki complained and blinked a few times to test her eyesight.
"Natsuki!" Mai's voice called from a distant and the Sacrifice turned to see the busty redhead rushing toward her. Mai hugged her 'friend' tightly whining and scolding at her at the same time. "You have me worry sick!"
"Gah, come on you are more annoying than my parents!" Natsuki struggled to push the redhead away and failing miserable. A familiar giggle startled her as she turned behind to come face to face with her Fighter. "Shizuru!" she shouted when, for small moment, lips brushed against her owns.
"You are so cute when blushing," The ex-Immortal teased when the well known blush showed on her beloved's face. Her eyes looked ahead and a tiny small graced her face when she saw the others Fighters with their Sacrifices rushing to them. "It seems we have a rather big fan club, love."
"Ah, you have us really worry for a moment Kiyohime." Chie commented with a charming smile. "If the so called 'Discordia' hadn't told us you were being granted your wishes we might have as well done something really extreme to find you."
Natsuki huffed and crossed her arms over her chest indignantly. "No one asked you to."
"What ungrateful kid you are." Haruka said and glanced at Midori. "I told you, it was a waste of time to concern us of kids like this."
"Hey! I am not a kid!" the raven haired shouted before blushing furiously as a pair of arms slipped around her waist. "Shizuru…"
"Of course you aren't…" the brunette said mischievously. "You are my own cute cuddle puppy."
"Ha! Puppy!" Nao laughed along with Nina and Mikoto who were one of the last to arrive.
"You little annoyance!" Natsuki then charged at the trio as a long chase begun.
Everyone else laughed at the interactions and were even more surprised to see Shizuru freely laughing along them. The Fighter felt eyes upon on and blinked at the incredulous stares. "Is something wrong?"
"You were laughing…" Mai commented.
"Yes, is something every human does from time to time." 'Kiyohime' said still confused.
Midori came to the rescue and slipped her arm around Shizuru's shoulder. "What, everyone is trying to say Kiyohime. Is that you have a beautiful laugh, so don't hide it anymore alright?"
The brunette faintly blushed at the statement causing a range of gasp from her audience and this in turn stopped Natsuki chase.
"Hey, leave Shizuru alone!" the raven haired demanded with a cold glare at everyone surrounding her girlfriend.
The group raised their hands in surrender afraid at the now chasing figure but soon they smiled when the ex-Immortal laughed for a second time in their presence.
"Say, Natsuki." Shizuru's soft voice pondered.
"Hmm?"
"What did you wish for?
"Ah, it was nothing important." Natsuki answered nervously.
"Liar, you are blushing."
"Does it matter?" a pause and sigh. "alright, I get it…"
"So?"
"I wished for every Natsuki and Shizuru to be forever happily."
The End
Author note: That last line was soooo cheesy. For god sake…I swear I was about to strangle myself xD. Anyway, I don't even want to know what was on my mind when I wrote this chapter. I can't say I hate it, I can't say I love it. But oh well –shrug-. This is the end, hence 'The End' thing. There won't be any sequel or anything, I am leaving it like this. For those who wonder why it is so short or why did I let it like this…well:
1. I hate to write a fic with more than 10 chapters, that's why most of my fics are short(with the exception of two).
2. The point of this fic was give Shizuru and Natsuki a happier ending with the end of the manga version (the supposed original one, not the one I am writing).
3. I am currently too focused with Mai Hime Manga and future fics to concentrate more, that's why I ONLY tried to focus on Natsuki and Shizuru interactions.
4. I want to end most of my oldest fics so I can actually START with my future projects aka The beauty of Madness series. Anyway, so yeah. This fourth is kind of the strongest reason why I am –FINALLY- ending most of my fics.
I know many things haven't been explained, I myself wish I could had the time and inspiration to continue. But really, I couldn't help but end it now. Simply because this fic and how I ended it inspired me to write the other –not to say better (cough)- version of the manga. So I had to end it.
For those who actually enjoyed the fic so far, I am glad. For those who wanted more, I am sorry but ideas are drifting and inspiration is going away.
Well, don't think there's anything else to say. Thanks to everyone who took their time to read my fic (i will also be really happy to get at least 3 reviews and have 50 in there since the 60 is too far away to get -what? I am human, with selfish needs like everyone).
