A/N from shezaei neko: Not much to say this time. Only that I'm still working in my other fics. I hope to have them out soon. Also that I hope you enjoy this chapter. And thanks to leebot for being my beta and sensei.

A/N from leebot: Just want to make sure you all know that this fic truly is Shezaei Neko's brainchild. So far, I've only been along to beta and help write a few paragraphs at the end of this chapter. Once chapter 4 rolls around, you'll see a fair bit more of my influence in plotting, but Shezaei will be doing the hard work, so give her the credit, k?

Hope you like it and don't forget to review, Leebot-sensei and I really love to read your reviews. They encourage us to continue writing and give you enjoyable stories. So, be sure to leave a couple of lines.

Now, onto the fic!!

Disclaimer: Everything is property of their respective authors.

Into the another World – Chapter 3

Some days and moons had passed since the couple left the capital of Torushina. By now, Shizuru was a bit more used on riding the 'child' or 'Yafusa' as Natsuki liked to call it in short and because according to the raven haired girl, it sounded cooler; but still she had some trouble with all the movement and speed, however it was tolerable. The reason? She could press her body closer to Natsuki's giving the excuse that she was afraid; and that wasn't a lie at all; but of course Shizuru wouldn't tell the real reason.

Whenever they were near a town or ancient ruins that could provide them with information about 'the guiding star' they visited the place, unfortunately, there wasn't much they could discover or sometimes, the rumors were mere lies to attract visitors.

All that time they were traveling together, they got to know more about each other, but still there were things that Shizuru wanted to know about Natsuki and vice versa. They decided to stop to have some lunch and rest a little; after all, they'd been riding all day without stopping and it was almost midday. Natsuki stopped 'Yafusa' in a clear in the woods and took out some fruit and dry meat from the back compartment. Shizuru sat on the grass, waiting for Natsuki. The raven haired girl handed Shizuru her part of the food; soon they began to eat. It was a comfortable silence and the company of each other was very much welcomed. Shizuru looked at Natsuki and gaining some strength she asked her what she had wanted to know since they met.

- "Natsuki?"

- "Yeah?"

- "We are closer to Aries now, right?"

- "Yeah…so?"

- "Could you tell me more about it?"

- "There's not much to tell…" – said Natsuki avoiding Shizuru's gaze.

- "Please Natsuki…I want to know…" – begged Shizuru – "Since I met you, you've been reluctant to tell me about your homeland. I want to know why you want to arrive as fast as possible, why you look so sad whenever I mention it. Please Natsuki…tell me." – said Shizuru with concern in her voice.

- "Shizuru" – Natsuki said in a whisper, surprised by the tone in Shizuru's voice; that worry, that empathy, that concern.

Natsuki sighed; she knew that she couldn't avoid the subject anymore, and since Shizuru was accompanying her, she deserved to know.

- "Aries is a small kingdom surrounded by valleys and mountains" – Natsuki began to explain – "Those valleys had different kind of creatures and beasts to protect the kingdom; it'd been that way for many centuries. It was a peaceful kingdom; but in the last years we were able to discover different uses for machinery that already existed, also we were innovating in various fields, such as medicine and especially science. Of course we didn't have plans of using it outside of Aries for military purposes; everything was created for the benefit of the people. Many aspects of Aries changed during those years, especially our clothes."

- "Now I understand why your clothes are completely different from the other nations; and why you received some glances from the people in various towns we visited." – said Shizuru.

- "Well, if these clothes were not common in the past; now they are totally rare and unexpected."

- "What do you mean?"

- "That probably I'm the only one who wears them now…" – said Natsuki with a sad tone.

- "The only one?...Natsuki…you're…"

- "Many moons back, Aries was attacked by the country of Searrs; a nation obsessed with science and with experimenting in whatever they wanted. Apparently they thought that Aries was a threat to them and that we had something they could use for their own purposes; so they did a surprise attack to Aries; after realizing that there was not anything useful to them, they burnt down the entire kingdom." – said Natsuki clenching her hands into fists. – "I was doing an important task in the valleys when they attacked…I couldn't do anything to stop it."

- "Natsuki…" – said Shizuru – "was your family also……?"

- "My mother died a long time ago…but my sister Alyssa...I know that Miyu is with her but I'm still worried."

- "Miyu?"

- "Alyssa's guardian; she'd do anything for Alyssa, I'm sure of it; she's a very capable and strong warrior but… I'm not sure if Miyu could have resisted and handled an attack of such dimensions. I have to return soon; the war may have ended but there are still some Searrs soldiers around and if they reach Aries again, I don't know what they might do. Especially that filthy one…"

- "'That filthy one'?"

- "The leader of the Valkyrie squadron that coordinated the attack on Aries; she ran that time. I encountered her many times after that, but I never had a chance to finish her…and then the base where she was located blew up; she swore she'd got her revenge though…"

- "Revenge for what?"

- "I left her a small present on her face during one battle we held..."

- "So you think she's not dead yet?"

- "Is not easy to get rid of scum like that…" – said Natsuki with a small chuckle.

Shizuru let out small giggle; the tense in the air was soon dismissed thanks to it. Looking at Natsuki with a gentle and thankful expression Shizuru said.

- "Thank you Natsuki."

- "For what?"

- "For sharing this with me."

Natsuki blushed a little and turned her head to the side.

- "It was nothing…after all you asked me about it…"

- "Ara, so Natsuki will do anything I ask her for?"

- "What do you want now?"

- "Fufufu…so Natsuki really will do it?"

- "Idiot!! I won't!" – Natsuki's blush grew deeper.

Shizuru giggled a bit more at the flustered and cute expressions that Natsuki made. When the giggles and blushed stopped, Natsuki suddenly asked.

- "What about you, Shizuru?"

- "What about me?"

- "Your country, don't you miss it?"

- "A little."

- "Don't you miss your family?"

Shizuru looked at the sky and smiling bitterly she answered.

- "I don't have a family Natsuki…opposite to what many people think in my country, I don't have one."

- "I'm sorry" – said Natsuki sincerely; she knew she brought up a sore subject.

- "You don't have to apologize Natsuki." – replied Shizuru with a smile. – "My parents…they died when I was a little girl; my grandfather took care of me after that, but then some years after, he passed away too. I moved to the dorms of the school; when I moved in there everyone came near me only because of my name." – said Shizuru with some disgust at the fact – "Only one person never considered me something special, in fact, she considered me her rival; then somehow we ended having a strange kind of friendship, of course she'd never admit that, but she was my only true friend."

- "She sounds like a loud and proud person…"

- "Ara, Natsuki had just described her…"

- "Really?!" – said Natsuki with her eyes opened in surprise.

- "Yes, but even if she is, she was sincere with me. I really appreciated it." – Shizuru remembered all those times she talked with Haruka in a 'friendly way'. Then she remembered the girl in her dreams; and not knowing why she said – "but I only have one special someone…"

Natsuki didn't understand why after hearing Shizuru speak such words; her heart sank in her chest. Shizuru saw how Natsuki averted her eyes and kept very quiet all of sudden.

- "Natsuki…is…?"

- "Shh...I heard something…" – replied Natsuki.

And it wasn't a lie, indeed after Shizuru said 'those words', Natsuki had heard a strange sound.

- "I'll go check…you stay here."

Before Shizuru could answer, Natsuki stood up and taking out her gunblade, she walked inside the woods leaving Shizuru alone. But that wasn't a good idea; as soon as Natsuki was out of sight and hearing, a group of shadows stood behind Shizuru; with a quick movement, they covered her mouth, muffling her screams and immobilizing her. Shizuru's eyes were opened widely in shock and fear; the last thought that crossed her mind was: 'Natsuki!!'.

Natsuki was getting farther and deeper in the woods with every step she took; without realizing she climbed what she thought was a hill, but it really was higher than a hill. She reached what looked like a clearing in the woods; she was about to give another step when she felt no more ground under her feet; in front of her was a cliff, and a deep one and it's length extended for various kilometers all along that once valley.

- "The landscapes have changed in a short amount of time thanks to that war…" – said Natsuki while frowning at the sight – "This wasn't here before…and this is dangerous…if one ever falls it's bye-bye…"

She was about to return when something at her left caught her attention; it was a soldier; no, there were two, and she could recognize their clothes anywhere.

- "What?! Valkyries here?"

The soldiers disappeared from her sight so Natsuki began to chase them; it was difficult to track them down especially since she discovered that the land had changed. After some minutes of chasing, she arrived to a clearing near another cliff. Standing there, were the two soldiers chatting; upon seeing Natsuki, they took out their weapons.

- "Who are you?" – asked one.

- "You don't need to know, just surrender and I won't hurt you." – said Natsuki holding her gunblade firmly in a fighting pose.

- "What do you think we are? You'll have to fight us first."

- "Okay, if that is what you want, so be it!!"

The two soldiers charged towards Natsuki. The gunblade made contact with their swords, producing a metallic sound that filled the clear and ran all along the cliff near them. The soldiers were well trained but they were no match to the gunblade holder. Showing great agility and strength Natsuki sent the soldiers flying to a tree; their bodies impacting the trunk with great force making them loose their weapons. Natsuki was standing in front of them, her gunblade near their bodies.

- "I guess I win."

In that moment, a clapping was heard behind Natsuki.

- "Well done. You've been practicing I see, Natsuki Kuga."

- "That voice…" – thought Natsuki.

Natsuki turned around only to meet with the person she wanted to hurt the most coming from the woods.

- "Tomoe Marguerite…." – hissed Natsuki.

- "My…it's a pleasure that you still remember my name even after all this time."

- "What the hell do you want?!"

- "Can't I just come and have a chit-chat with you a little?"

The girl snapped her fingers; at the sound, soldiers from every direction appeared surrounding Natsuki and the soldiers that were down stood up, taking their weapons again.

- "You really have a weird definition for 'chit-chat'" – then staring at Tomoe she said – "but really, do you think your minions will be able to stop me?"

- "This time I'm sure they will because…you know? I've got an ace under my sleeve. Miya!!" – said Tomoe.

A girl with brown hair got close to Tomoe; Natsuki opened her eyes in shock, the person this girl Miya was holding in a strong grip was…

- "Shizuru!!" – thought Natsuki with panic.

- "Oh? Are you surprised Kuga Natsuki?" – said Tomoe looking at Natsuki's expression.

Even if Shizuru had a calm expression in her face, Natsuki could see fear in her watery eyes, the girl was trying to control herself.

- "Let her go!! She has nothing to do with this, Marguerite! This is between you and me!!" – demanded Natsuki.

- "Tsk, tsk, tsk…" – said Tomoe moving her finger from side to side in a negative gesture – "She has much to do with this, 'Your Majesty'…"

The girl raised her hand, and at the command, all the soldiers charged towards Natsuki. The raven haired girl held her gunblade in front of her and charged too. Tomoe was delighted watching the fight; her soldiers had many troubles fighting the other girl but she didn't care too much, all she cared about was hurting Kuga as much as she could. Taking some steps, she got near Shizuru and took her face by the chin with her hand.

- "Such a gorgeous creature…"

- "Don't touch her!!" – yelled Natsuki after slicing a soldier.

Tomoe released Shizuru's face and ordered Miya to step back still having a hold on Shizuru; then placing her finger in her own cheekbone she slid it all the way down to her chin, tracing a scar she had on her face.

Shizuru saw rage in that girl's gesture, the hatred she had in her eyes when staring at Natsuki while doing it; then Natsuki's words came to her mind…

- 'I left her a small present on her face during one battle we held...'

- "So this is that 'filthy one' Natsuki mentioned before…the one that led the attack on Aries; the one that has caused Natsuki much pain…" – thought Shizuru.

Shizuru slapped herself in her thoughts, she had been careless, and now this Tomoe girl had her hostage; she had to think of a way to release herself fast or she'd only worry Natsuki more than she already had.

Natsuki was panting slightly; she had knocked out all of Tomoe's minions; it was easy but with so many, it tired her a bit. Tomoe took her sword out from her scabbard; it was a Spatha; pointing at Natsuki with it she yelled.

- "I told you I'll have my revenge…and the time has come!!"

- "I dare you to try it!!"

They ran towards the other, clashing their weapons with force making a loud clank and producing some sparks that fell to the ground. They exchanged blows for some minutes before Tomoe realized that Natsuki had the upper hand; but she wasn't going to take defeat as result of this battle.

- "With this scar you gave me you took the beauty from my face Kuga!!" – yelled Tomoe pushing Natsuki away from the cliff, their swords still attached – "So I thought I might as well take something beautiful from you!!"

After she spoke these words; Natsuki saw how the soldier that had Shizuru was standing near the cliff. Tomoe nodded with a malicious grin splattered in her face; then Natsuki with her eyes wide open saw everything in slow motion. How that soldier Miya, in a quick movement pushed Shizuru away; how Shizuru tried to maintain her balance but the strength she was pushed with was too much, so she stumbled backwards; her body falling off the cliff; her ruby eyes meeting emerald ones for a second, a storm of emotions being shown in them before their disappeared from Natsuki's sight.

- "SHIZURUUUUUU!!"

- "HAHAHAHAHA!! How does it feel Kuga? To have something precious taken from you?" – said Tomoe laughing hysterically.

Natsuki's eyes narrowed showing pure rage.

- "Out of my way!!"

- "You won't get away that easily!".

- "I said…OUT OF MY WAY!!" - screamed Natsuki for a second time swinging her gunblade in front of her.

Her sword connected with Tomoe's so hard that it made the other girl retreat some steps. The path to the cliff was clear now; Natsuki began to run towards the cliff as fast as she could but she didn't notice when Tomoe came near and swung her sword, Natsuki couldn't avoid the attack completely; but it really didn't matter, nor the sting she felt nor the pain, all that mattered now was to jump, and she did so.

Tomoe saw how Natsuki kept running even after she had cut her with her Spatha and how she jumped off the cliff. After that happened, with a scowl in her face and an angry tone she said.

- "Miya! Time to go."

- "But, Tomoe-sama…"

- "There's no way they could have survived that fall" – after kicking a tree she continued – "That damned Kuga, she chose to die saving that girl rather than finish our fight…"

Putting away her Spatha she began to walk away from the cliff, Miya walking behind her. There was no point in staying there any longer; that kind of revenge wasn't as satisfactory as she wanted it to be.

Shizuru had her eyes closed; she could feel the air pass roughly through her hair, its coldness freezing her skin. She had many thoughts running through her head at that moment; but the ones that pained her most were not the ones of dying; what pained her most was that she wasn't able to meet the girl in her dreams and that she would leave Natsuki. She didn't know the reason but this made her heart ache; even if she had known the girl for some days, she could say that being away from her was unbearable.

- "Good bye Natsuki…" – said Shizuru in her mind.

That's when she heard a voice; that voice; 'her voice' calling her name.

- "SHIZURU!!"

- "Natsuki?!" – thought Shizuru.

She opened her eyes to gaze upwards, to the top of the cliff; that's when she saw it; a shadow coming fast in her direction in a free fall. She could distinguish the figure; it was Natsuki, who was getting closer with incredible speed.

And then something so dreamlike happened.

Shizuru's eyes shot open widely in surprise at what she was witnessing; from Natsuki's back were growing a pair of wings; pure white, large, strong and beautifully shaped wings.

- "Natsuki…you're…" – whispered Shizuru.

Once the wings were completely spread, Natsuki began to fly towards Shizuru faster than before.

The raven haired girl stretched out her hand to catch Shizuru's; Natsuki flipped her wings one more time to gain more speed. At last she could reach Shizuru's hand, holding it carefully she pulled the girl upwards to her; she placed an arm around the girl's back and the other under her knees, carrying her bridal style. With a soft gaze in her emerald eyes she asked tenderly.

- "Shizuru…are you hurt?"

- "I'm fine. Thank you Natsuki." – said Shizuru wrapping her arms around Natsuki's neck and burying her face on the girl's shoulder.

- "Hold on tight okay?"

Shizuru simply nodded.

Natsuki flew to the bottom of the cliff carrying Shizuru in her arms; once she found a safe place she landed. Cautiously, she released Shizuru to help her stand on her feet. They looked at each other for a couple of seconds before Natsuki suddenly dropped herself on her knees while clutching her side, in that moment the wings shone and then slowly molted.

- "Natsuki!!"

Hastily Shizuru knelt too and removing Natsuki's hand she saw blood staining the black trench coat.

- "Natsuki! You're hurt!"

- "It's not serious. Is just a small cut…"

- "It doesn't matter; I have to treat it at once."

Shizuru looked around her for a safe place to take Natsuki; she spotted a cave not too far from where they were. She helped Natsuki stand up and wrapped an arm around Natsuki's waist while Natsuki used Shizuru's body to support herself. They walked into the cave, and Natsuki sat on the ground, leaning her back on the rocky walls. Shizuru cleaned the wound with her handkerchief; just as Natsuki said, it wasn't a deep cut but she had to cover it with something; unfortunately, they didn't have their items with them right now, so she had no other choice. Shizuru began to tear the sleeves of her clothes, making a provisional bandage and wrapped Natsuki's wound with it.

- "Thanks Shizuru." – said Natsuki when Shizuru finished.

- "No Natsuki…thank you for saving me." – said Shizuru softly sitting in front of Natsuki.

- "It was nothing…"

She stared at those ruby eyes for a moment; then she said.

- "I couldn't afford to lose you…"

- "Natsuki…"

- "I…" – Natsuki averted her gaze from Shizuru's – "I know you have a special someone but…I simply couldn't……because I…" – mumbled the girl with a blush in her cheeks.

Shizuru smiled fondly at the sincerity and love in the young girl's silent confession. Leaning forward, she took Natsuki's face with her hands and brought her lips to meet Natsuki's. Natsuki was surprised at first, but then her eyes fluttered shut and she let out an almost inaudible moan. She pressed her own lips against Shizuru's a bit more. The kiss lasted a few minutes before Shizuru withdrew, locking her ruby eyes with the emerald green ones, she said.

- "It was you. It has always been you, Natsuki, my special someone. I love you. I've loved you since before we met."

The admission stunned both of them as it slips out, but Shizuru knew it was true, even if it might have seemed a bit early for her to admit it, and so she held firm as she gazed into Natsuki's eyes.

Natsuki, however, was quite a bit more shocked by it. Her mouth moved soundlessly as she tried to say something but couldn't figure out what. Her mind went over the past events, thinking of how crazy she must have been to nearly kill herself in an attempt to rescue Shizuru. Could that craziness be love? Maybe...

- "I think..." - Natsuki gulped down her fear. She gazed into Shizuru's eyes to fill up her confidence. When she saw the emotions in the girl's crimson eyes, all her hesitance vanished. - "No, I know... I love you too, Shizuru."

Shizuru's face lit up and a pair of tears leaked their way out of her eyes. She started to tremble slightly, and she realized that she needs Natsuki for her support. She leaned in to kiss the girl once more.

As the two girls kissed under the revelation of new love, outside, clouds drifted apart to reveal the full moon, the Guiding Star. Its light streamed down, causing a blue glow to pool just outside the cave. As Natsuki loses herself in the kiss, emotions start to overflow within her. This is all too much, and yet it's just right, she thought.

Unnoticed by the girl, the love she was feeling caused a peculiar reaction in her body. Phantom wings started to grow out of her back, formed entirely by a soft light. The light wrapped around her and Shizuru, as if she were folding her wings to protect her love. The light surrounding the two seemed to reach out to the moonlight outside the cave and pulled it back in. The rays of light from the moon bent around to encapsulate the girls. The light of Natsuki's phantom wings and the moon swirled together around the girls, pushing both of them into feeling that they were in a dreamlike state.

Eventually, the light reached a peak. The two girl's minds were filled with thoughts of each other as consciousness left the two of them. The light quickly fades to nothing. The cave is left empty, with both of the girls vanished into the light.

TBC…

There you go, chapter 3. Hope you liked it. Maybe I'll change the rating in the next chapter, so stay tuned. Don't forget to review.

See you around!!

Shezaei neko