Disclaimer: No, I don't own them for the gknsd3rsfd4th time.
A/N: Life has been hectic but I shall try to write during the weekends. I don't have much time but as to compensate for my lack of updates and response to your kind reviews/pms (Thanks for the support! I'm sorry too but I'll be sure to reply this coming weekend) as of late, here's a re-post of TMYN's c4. I hope you enjoy :)
Tainted
(Natsuki)
When I first heard the atrocious accent of a man, possibly an Italian, nearby the car I started to conjure with a plan. During these moments, it would have been better to have someone to brainstorm with, but seeing that the other person whom I'm with is was no longer breathing, thinking by myself would suffice.
My father is a diplomat, my brother is an agent, my stepmother is a therapist, and my late biological mother was a talented chemist. They all belong in different fields, but they'd always say the same thing in time of trouble: assess the situation.
So I did.
First, what do I know of the problem I'm in? Obviously, I'm in big trouble and with high incidence that I smell like a corpse.
Ha-Ha. Natsuki, is it really a good time to formulate a joke?
Kidding aside, from what I've gathered with my not-so-calm-conversation earlier with the crimson lady, I'm being kidnapped. The question is, why? There are a lot of reasons as to why someone or some people would like me to be held. It is important to know, but right now it won't help me in this situation. What would help me is the question, when?
When can I execute my escape?
My current location doesn't allow me a variety of options. What I have in mind is something I could utilize only once. Once, and if it fails...
Sigh.
Then I guess I should savour the last few minutes of my life. Then again, looking on my left I could see the ghastly appearance of a dead man. I was beyond scared after seeing him not too long ago, but I not anymore, as the matter of fact I got used to him. I'm relieved that someone is with me in this cramped space even if my companion is already cold blooded for quite some time.
What did Natsuo used to say in times of trouble? To calm my nerves?
Deep breathing, Natsuki.
So I did.
And by the gods, I almost choke with the inconceivable smell of my trunkmate! He stinks, that I'm certain, and I'm a hundred percent sure he'll have to agree if he is still breathing. Although after doing the little stunt, his smell increased tenfold. I yelped and pushed him involuntarily, and that produced an audible sound of 'thud'. It was loud enough for the two people outside to stop whatever they're talking about and after several seconds, I heard footsteps coming in our direction.
*sigh* I really did it this time. My last hope is gone even before I could work on it.
I need to hold my breath but the stench I've just inhaled is something I need to vent out or else I'll suffocate. Then again, if she learns I'm doing some planning she'll kill me in a second.
The steps are getting louder, it means that they're coming closer, whoever they may be.
Whatever I'm doing to eliminate noise isn't working for I can't help the choking sounds exiting my mouth, or is it my nose? I can't tell. All I know is I'm going to die if I don't get out soon here. The smell of this guy was tolerable minutes ago but now... it's unbearable.
A few more steps.
Once they open this container, I'm going to launch myself to whoever opened it and hope for the best. I have no time to strategize, I have no time to improvise, I have no time to—
The footsteps stopped momentarily and walked away from their position. I was beyond relief. Only did now, I've realized, I've been holding my breath from the moment my rude trunkmate made a noise and caught their attention.
Scratch that. He didn't, he couldn't possibly have as he is no longer living, I did... Wait a minute why am I correcting myself over something so trivial? I'm going to die and all I could think about is how to be sane? Everything else is insane!
Soft murmurs and series of conversations in a different language penetrated inside our compartment. Normally, I would be curious as to know what is going on, but considering my situation I stayed quiet and congratulated myself in silence.
Now, now what should I do?
That is the million-dollar question. Too bad I don't have any life lines.
'And you won't have a life after this.' My other self said.
'Oh, shut up, will you? You're not helping...besides, if I die, you die as well.' I retorted back.
'Oh.'
Enough of my inner-sanity-battle, I seriously need a plan here else I'll find myself in a much more compartmentalizing space, like I don't know...a trash bag?
Ugh. Way to make yourself feel better, Natsuki.
Then again, why do I have to be so pessimistic about this? What if my uptight friends decided to give me a surprise party that they hired a professional to kidnap me?
I threw a weak gaze to my buddy, and repeated my last theory.
Right. As if.
He looks so credible to be a dead guy. Not to make his head explode from praising, but if he is acting to be dead, then he really is doing a remarkable job not breathing for the last half an hour or so. Plus, I haven't seen him blink, not even once, after all the commotions.
He is the perfect example of drop-dead dead, excuse the pun. I bet even a tiger would most likely pass by him seeing...
OH!
Why didn't think of that?
Tiger. Playing dead.
I could certainly do that.
A dazzling grin is forming in my face. Without a doubt anyone would be blinded by its brightness. Too bad nobody can see it.
I let out a quiet snigger. I feel so smart. Not that I am dumb before, most certainly not for I top in my class especially Chemistry.
Yes, I know. I'm such a nerd. So what? I love how molecules react.
Enough of the science talk. I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm not even sure if the crimson goddess would fall into my little play. Not that I have much of a choice. If my plan flops, then I'm dead. Simple as that.
If my plan fails, then I'll have to force my way out. That's my plan B. Brilliant, huh? Didn't I say I'm smart?
Come to think of it, if my plan A fails, though I hope not, then at least I did something right?
Ugh.
Come to think of it again, my plan A is doing nothing.
I swear, I'm smart. I could show you my records...
Right.
Now, I'm convincing an imaginary person. With such a short span of time, I began to talk with myself. What more if I've stayed captured in this reeking compartment longer? Shall I allow myself to go crazy talking with myself just so to avoid inhaling, and eventually die because of the smell? Or gamble my life with this brilliant plan of mine?
Decision, decision.
Not that I have too much time to decide. It was time's up for me when a chain of messy brawl started near us. I was about to argue with myself again when I forceful slam came loud and clear to me.
The slam made the decision for me.
Plan A, here I go.
Silence.
It is conducive to sleeping, reading, eating and everything else I could think of with 'ing'. Sadly, it's also appropriate for the most gruesome of all—dying.
Yes, that particular event is most certainly compatible silence.
Not that I need a reminder of that. *sigh*
After the little wake-up call earlier, I initiated my so-called plan. I stayed quiet no matter happens outside or inside. Funny thing was, minutes following the disturbing scuffle outside, the car went flying. Not literally, but you get the point. And people who have basic knowledge of physics know what happens to an object residing inside a static vehicle when it accelerates instantaneously...
Everyone, please meet Ms. Inertia.
To punctuate my misery even further, Ms. Inertia was not tough enough to prevent myself from propelling myself to my not-so-friendly neighbour. But I chose plan A. I intend to see it thru so even though I'm dying to let out a string of curses, I stayed quiet.
Silence.
I think I'm ace-ing it. Not that I can include it to my numerous achievements so far. Achievements such as getting drunk, fucked, kidnapped, and...Okay, stop right there. I don't think I'd like to continue where this is going.
Or where this car will be headed.
*sigh*
Back to being silent, I think I really am ace-ing it. Throughout the ride I've been hauled to every possible space available, and believe me when I say the space is close to none at all. I wouldn't be shock if patches in color close to a puce would appear everywhere in my skin. I'd be more surprise if I won't see one. Still I prevailed in stopping myself from expressing my disdain for the world, and my suggestions as to where my trunkmate can shove his...
Now, now. Aside from being smart, I know I'm kind. So let's keep that last sentence hanging.
My captor made it clear that she is exceptionally pissed by speeding up monstrously. It aided to me being a professional pingpong ball, and somehow I feel I've known this little place and my neighbour all my life. Who wouldn't if I came into contact between them for every one second?
My captor, my captor what a way to drive.
I would have allowed myself to laugh with the ridiculous choice of songs emanating inside the car, if the driver didn't increase the speed every time the song changes.
After a couple of popular love songs, there was this sombre tune I'm not familiar with. I was half-expecting for her to change the song, and to rev further. But she didn't. She actually maintained her speed which is comparable to an average of F1's.
Color me surprise when she didn't change the song. She let it blazed out. I couldn't very well catch the exact lyrics, but I caught some of it.
Paint it black? Is she some kind of oldie?
I didn't have enough time to speculate more because I met my trunkmate forcefully once again when the car halted. A few seconds later the music stopped, and I knew what's up.
We have arrived.
Oh no.
Milliseconds turn to seconds then nearly a minute when I heard the driver's door opened. I'm not sure why but I'm becoming more and more sensitive to sounds of doors and compartments opening and closing. Must be because I'm entrapped into one?
Anyway, my captor released a mouthful of foreign words before she headed towards my current location. Even with the ominous cloud hovering above my head, metaphorically speaking, I can't help myself but take note of one surprising datum about her – she can speak in different tongues.
Holy...what can she not do?
Being a perfectly good and normal person apparently... my sullied mind supplied.
Still it was astonishing for me to know that she could speak various languages. My father is an ambassador hence I was taught to be cultured and acclaimed skills in foreign languages. But her... was she trained like me or is she a natural? What she said earlier was not even in my line of learnt language and my knowledge in regards to languages is pretty broad. I consider this field as my turf; even I surpass my genius of a brother. But what she said is out of my league.
'Coz she's out of your league. My brilliant mind said.
Really, now. Even my inner me is now allowed to trash talk me? What's next? Will it be allowed to torment me in my dreams?
That is if I am ever allowed to dream again after this ordeal.
Or would it be a long, long, long dream?
I shuddered at that thought. Get it together, Natsuki! I'll escape in this wrench and, and, and...
What will I do next?
I'm not exactly sure. I have admitted to myself that I've fallen in love with this beautiful villain of my life. But I have no guts whatsoever to pursue her if it meant endangering my life and possibly those around me. I might be sheltered and inexperienced to the realities of life, but I do know when I see a real criminal. It might be prejudice of me to judge someone based on their venomous threats and deadly red eyes, but when I see my trunkmate again, I have no doubt in my mind that what I say is true.
There's a perfect example beside me after all.
I don't need to defend myself when my mind goes whacko against me telling me that I'm basing my intuition and conclusion from movies and novels. Everyone knows that result matters more, and the result is very much visible in this case.
Once again, an example is beside me.
Funny thing about this situation is, I'm becoming more and more comfortable hanging with this guy. I mean, not so long ago I would have never thought I'll be in the same place as him nor would have thought I'd be able to tolerate being his trunkmate.
This is such a weird day...or night? I cannot really tell.
While I try to recall the minutes or hours that passed since we left the club, I heard a distinct sound I know I'll remember even if I've become a degenerate.
The melody of her voice and the sound of the trunk opening.
This is it. This is the time I've been anxiously waiting for. At the back of my mind I'm constantly wishing for this to work and a bit part of it, sadly, is fairly certain it won't work.
Typical of my mind to let me down.
I'm not sure whether I should be happy hearing another person's voice or the opening of my little cage.
But knowing that the cause of my dilemma is the source of that voice, I don't really have a choice but to choose the latter. Although I have to say, the latter isn't that good either. Because it doesn't mean that I get to escape. But my Natsuo's positivity in life must have rubbed on me for I'm having this slight tilt towards hope.
Hope that I will come out of this trouble, alive.
And without a scratch, if possible.
"Miss Kuga," I heard her say, "Are you—"
She must have seen my stilled movements and closed eyes. There was neither sound nor movement that I can hear. Even her breathing is quiet and it's unnerving suffice to say. I'm pretty much the curious child so I had this urge to take a peek and see what's going on. But I can't. Of course, I can't. My plan A will fail, obviously.
Then I heard an amused chuckle.
Shit. Am I done?
"Honestly, don't tell me you're really pretending to be dead."
Silence. I kept my mouth and limbs as it is while my mind is going haywire.
"Sooo..." she drawled, "I'll just have to test it out right?"
Shit. Shit. Shit. She knows! She knows! But I can't just open my eyes and pretend that I've fallen asleep. No one can fall asleep in this place, only a dead person can... Okay, not an appropriate observation but...
"Final chance to quit the damn act, Miss Kuga." She said in a business tone. I could still hear a tinge of amusement, but I'm guessing she's on a time clock and wants this to get over with.
Silence.
What can I say I'm stubborn.
"Seriously? I don't intend to carry you all the way inside you know. I'm giving you 3 seconds to cut the crap and maybe I'll..." She pondered a bit, even I was curious on what she'd offer if I submit, not that is going to happen. "Never mind. Get up or else..."
I clenched my teeth with that hanging statement.
Okay, so my brilliant plan is not so brilliant after all. What should I do now? I can't go to plan B, because the element of surprise is no longer applicable. I chose plan A and I'll have to stick to it till the end...
Till she ends my life?
Come on brain, work now. What should I do? What should I do?
I didn't hear her counting but I did hear her say, "You give me with no choice."
And for a moment I wanted to open my eyes and say, 'I'll do whatever you want just don't kill me!' But I didn't get the chance to for I felt a soft flesh briefly pressed onto my lips and before the feeling registered, and before I identified if it's really her lips kissing me, it was gone.
As a reflex, my eyes opened and looked for the source. And I sincerely wish I can bring back the time and go back to the time wherein I didn't have to do plan A. Then again, if I can bring back the time then I shouldn't have gone to the club at all. That would also relieve me of experiencing this cruel fate of falling in love with a kidnapper and a killer.
But given a chance, would I really forfeit this moment knowing I've fallen in love? Yes, no, yes... No.
Regrettably, the person who caught my heart in such a short amount of time doesn't feel the same way. For she is now sporting a wide grin while showing to my face her pressed thumb, middle and index fingers.
I can see humiliation befalling to me and I can only say what I meant to say under this circumstance, "Please just kill me." Then I closed my eyes again.
I cannot pretend I didn't get hurt when I saw her laughing at my expense. I know I should be more worried that my plan failed, and that would mean I'm not going to escape. But right now, I'm crushed because she's laughing at me. She laughing at the fact that I expected for her to kiss me. Of course, she won't kiss me. She turned her head when I tried kissing her when we were...
The thing is, I cared and clearly, she does not. That's why it hurts deeply.
And I know people would say I can't be serious to say I've fallen in love with this woman whom I've known for hours. How do I explain it then? How do I explain this indescribable feeling I'm having when she's around? The fact that it hurts right now only certified and cemented the fact that I'm in love with her. This is no mere crush. If it's a crush, it would have faded away once I've learned her true nature. If it's a crush, I won't be saying ridiculous things such as, 'stay with me' to her.
She must have seen the play of emotions in my face or it must have been the river of tears streaming down my face involuntarily because she suddenly stopped laughing.
"You really need to stop playing with fire before you get burned completely." She said silently before she forcefully took me by my arms and out into the open.
I was about to open my eyes to see if those words were meant for me. But I wasn't able to, for she knocked the back of my head and I fell into the world of nothingness.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
I slowly opened my eyes and was not surprised to see I'm inside of some sort of abandoned warehouse. It is filled with numerous boxes and drums. There's some broken pipes, hence the dripping the incessant droplets of unknown liquid. The floor is dirty and some of the windows are broken. I, at least, was lucky enough to be sitting on a chair. As I said, the floor is dirty and who knows what chemicals have been spilled to it.
Isn't it an irony that I'm okay with having a dead person as my trunkmate, but I detest to be situated on a soiled surface?
I scanned the place to find some sort of exit. I saw one but Pumpkin is standing right beside it. She's fiddling with her mobile phone. The warehouse is empty and the ceiling is high and the slightest sound would echo throughout the place. So I heard a bit of what she said on the phone.
"The subject is with me."
Subject, that means me.
"Yes, she's safe. Where's the file?"
File? What file? Not that I should care but I'm slightly curious as what I'm going to be exchanged with.
"Two minutes? I don't like to be the one waiting. I'm counting." And then she ended it, and went towards me.
The clacking sound of her heels is clear and ominous. When she saw me staring at her, she merely said, "So you're awake. That's good. You'll be out of here in two minutes."
"What's in the file?" I bravely asked.
She looked at me for a second then treaded to the other side, across my seat. Just a few yards away, but still away.
"What's in the file?" I asked again, feeling that she won't answer if I don't prod.
"You don't have to know."
"But I do want to know."
"It's important."
"Is it more important than my life?" I stared at her evenly wanting to get out the truth in her eyes. She reciprocated my gaze with the same intensity, and after a few seconds she dropped the truth that shattered my heart.
"Yes."
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
I shook my head in defeat. I no longer have the will to do anything in this moment. The truth has been laid before me. I am nothing to her. What I felt might be genuine but what I saw and felt from her is anything but real. I'm just the subject to be exchanged with a file.
A file.
I could struggle and yell at the top of my lungs but I did not. What was the point? She already said it. The damn file is much more important than me. Whatever it is inside of it, is more important than a human life.
My life.
In ordinary situations I would have thought that contents of the file. However, in this situation, in my situation, I cannot. Knowing your life is meagre compared to a bunch of documents can hurt you for good, and the fact that the woman whom I've fallen in love with was the one who stated it... It's the worst kind of feeling. Ever.
This is the longest two minutes of my life. It's like the time is in slow motion. I just want to get over with it like my kidnapper wanted to be. I'm no longer pretending to be scared or worried about my future. As I said, I'm so hurt that I no longer see the point of having even the slightest hope. Hope to what exactly anyway?
Then after a gazillion seconds later, or that's what I thought, have passed, I heard some footsteps. I looked up to see my new monster...master, or whatever douche of a person I'll be tossed to.
Surprise is not enough to describe whatever it is I'm feeling. For the last three hours or so, I'm not sure, it is only now that I know what hope really means.
For the man entering the facilitiy is none other than...
"Natsuo," I croaked between stifled tears.
My brother must have heard me because he immediately landed his dark eyes on me. He was beyond surprised for a second but he changed his facade quickly. He darted his hidden anger towards the woman across me.
"Crimson," Natsuo said as he slowly reaching our radius.
"Natsuo, what a pleasant surprise."
I'm shocked to learn that they knew each other.
"I can't say I feel the same way seeing as..." Natsuo shipped his eyes from her to me, and his gaze communicated to me, 'I'll let you out of this.'
"As...?" Pumpkin said or was it Crimson now? Maybe it's another of her aliases. I could care less...
"Natsuo," I called my brother again. I wanted him to get me out of here, to save me from her, to retain whatever piece of my heart that is still functioning.
I saw that Crimson intricately raised her eyebrow and looked between me and Natsuo, thinking what the connection is.
Shit. Me and my big mouth. It'll be an advantage to her if she knew!
"Agent Natsuo, what was your surname again?" Crimson asked thoughtfully. She's getting a clue of our relationship and my brother halted her thinking by procuring the file.
That file! I want to burn that file!
In an instant, Crimson held the file and switched places with Natsuo. My brother kneeled beside me and helped me get out of my binds with a knife.
"Natsuki, good heavens! What the hell are you doing here?" Natsuo questioned me while keeping an eye towards Crimson who was still gingerly holding the file like it's fragile.
"I don't know..." I looked at Crimson whose focus is on the file. She's still fidgeting and walking back and forth.
If it's that important why is she so scared to look at it?
"Wait, Natsuo... How did you know her?"
Natsuo finished freeing me and helped me stand up. "You don't want to know." Then he followed my eyes and must have seen something in them because he curse loudly which is uncommon for him. He asked me pointedly, "What happened between you two?"
"I—" I opened my mouth to say something in defence, but it clamped up in a nanosecond.
Natsuo cursed again.
"I knew this day would come, but I thought you were smarter than this Natsuki." I stared at him with mouth agape. I'm a bit of denial to say I don't know where this is going when clearly I do. My brother nailed me with, "I thought you were smarter than to fall in love with the likes of her."
I should have questioned his sudden judgement of my intelligence although I preferred to ask about his last statement. "The likes of her?"
"Yes, the likes of her."
"Her. Meaning, you're okay with it?"
"Why should your sexuality matter? But that's not the point here, Natsuki. If you have spent some time with her, you should know how dangerous she is."
"I do know."
"Then shove your feelings aside while you still can and—"
"I can't. I think I've fallen for her...for real." I said honestly.
"Listen to yourself, Natsuki. She's, she's," Natsuo, even the genius that he is, is having the hard time to conjure an appropriate adjective for my girl. Yes, my girl. I'm an idiot this way.
"—not human." Natsuo said like it was a fact.
"You—" I started to say. I wanted to defend her even after what she has done to me. I still wanted to defend her. I don't want to pursue her anymore because I know how dangerous she is and because I value my life, nonetheless, it doesn't change the fact that I'm in love with her and I cannot stand anyone who would sullied her mortality, even if it does make sense or even if it comes from my brother. I was about to defend her honor when I was rudely interrupted by a sharp scream.
It was her.
We both looked at the source only to find a pair of menacing red eyes, gripping the envelope which I assumed, held the file.
"Where is my damn file?" She shouted again. There's no room for argument I can tell, she just wants an answer and I looked also at my brother for one.
Unfortunately, his eyes are confused and scared. I can tell, he does not know though he answered rather coolly. "I handed it to you, Crimson."
"Don't fucking mess with me Natsuo Kuga!"
Hearing his full name, and realizing that Crimson already knew our connection, my brother shielded me using his body. "Leave my sister be, I already gave you the file you needed."
"Huh. Sister, figures." She rolled her eyes and threw the file at us while shouting, "File? What file? You gave me an empty file! Are you fucking messing with me? You and your bloody boss would wish you've never been born once I'm done with you. But your sister will be the first on the list of your misery." With that, she procured her handgun and pointed it at me.
In a split second I think I heard a bullet flying towards me, then the next thing I knew, I fell down to the ground carrying the weight of my bleeding brother.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
"NATSUOOOOOOOOO!" I cried with all that I have. Without thinking I took the gun attached to Natsuo's belt and pointed it at the killer. There's no hesitation, just pure anger and the bullet would have pierced to her head if Natsuo's feeble hand did not pushed my aim away.
"Don't, Natsuki." He said weakly.
I dropped the gun in an instant and held him close. "Natsuo, Natsuo, don't die on me big bro!"
He laughed, "Big bro? It has been a while since you—"
"Shut up and just don't die on me. I'll never forgive you if you did."
He threw up some blood and I cringed, "Ugh...I can't forgive myself if I did too, little sis but..."
"No buts!" I kept both of my hands in his abdomen where the bullet penetrated. The blood kept on seeping between my fingers and I cry in realization that it won't ever stop.
Shit! It's his liver.
"Listen Natsuki," I can see that his eyes are starting to waver and I unwillingly detached my hands from his abdomen to clutch his face so he could focus his eyes on me again.
A few footsteps coming closer to us made me tear away my eyes from my brother despite my protest not to.
It's her.
I can see that the bullet grazed her cheek and blood is also seeping through it, but not the way I want it to be.
"I did not—" She started to say. I'm not sure why she even bother to defend herself. Did she really think I'll buy her crap?
"Don't move closer or say anything you bitch! I'll kill you later." She was taken aback by my words and probably because I'm holding the gun once again, aimed at her. I may be a civilian but I do know how to shoot. Natsuo was the one who trained me how to use it, and I better be well proficient to take revenge.
"Natsuki," Natsuo tried again. "Look at her...She's not the shooter."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Then I made the effort to look again in her position and saw she was still planted on her feet looking baffled. She's, in fact, looking at her gun with a big question mark on her face. Like she did not know what happened.
As if I'm going to fall for that!
Then as if she heard some noise, she looked around, near the top windows and yelled, "Dammit!"
I shoot the edge of a barrel beside her and said, "Did I say you could fucking move? Stay or the next bullet released will be drilled thru your head."
Natsuo gripped my arm in protest but I disregard it.
"Natsuki, there's another..." I can tell Natsuo is losing it. I know it's inevitable, nonetheless I still say that he should hold on. It might be futile though I try.
In his last efforts to ease my temper, he placed his hand on my chest, and regrettably his dying words was, "It's not her."
It's not her?
It's not her?
That's it?
I shook my brother's shoulders again and again to see if he'll suddenly wake up and said this is all a joke. That this is just a dream, a nightmare at that and I get to wake up after this.
It's not her.
Her.
I then looked at her and saw her moving away.
My eyes are still blurry with tears, and my heart feels like it's been diced into pieces, however, when I saw her retreating back I fumbled to reach out my hands to her. Then when I felt the full weight of my brother... The weight of his death, the anger seethed again and I retrieved my hand.
"Another move and you'll die." I said this time with absolute resolute while aiming the gun at her.
"Do it." She merely said without looking back at me, and then she continued walking away.
X
X
X
Songs mentioned last chapter:
I want to know what love is by Mariah Carey
I love you by Celine Dion
I will always love you by Leona Lewis
Baby by Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris
Thanks for reading and till next time.
P.S. I skimmed through the first part of this chapter...gosh, I spotted a lot of errors. It's not even my grammar (though I guess there are a few which I missed in the past) but a few words and punctuation marks are missing or jumbled... *sigh* Sorry, I will try to edit everything this coming weekend.
Side Story:
Natsuki: Waki, we need to talk.
Waki: *looks at Crimson*
Crimson: *shoots a sorry look and walks away*
Waki: *nervous* What is this about, Natsuki? Is it this about the death of your brother? I told you eons ago, it's essential that he..."
Natsuki: *shakes her head* It's not that.
Waki: Is it because the file is more important than you?
Natsuki: *sigh* No.
Waki: Is it because Shizuru ignored you?
Natsuki: Grrr...No.
Waki: Is it because your plan failed miserably?
Natsuki: *grumble* No, it's not that. Stop listing all the negative stuff that happened to me, and listen for once!
Waki: *nods*
Natsuki: I want guns.
Waki: Pardon?
Natsuki: I want to have more action next chapter. Blazing guns and all that. It's only in your fic that I get none... Quite the opposite of most fics actually.
Waki: Ohh...action. But it's Shizuru's chapter next.
Natsuki: Ugghh! That's why I'm saying it to you now so you could formulate some war inside your head.
Waki: *mumbles* Idon'twantto.
Natsuki: What was that?
Waki: *mumbles* Ireallydon'twantto.
Natsuki: HUH? *stretching her digits*
Waki: *croaks* Guns. Action.Copy that.