Treasured
Chapter III:Condemned
Disclaimer: Don't you wish I did own it now? Joking D:
A/N: I know I'm taking hell of a long time to update but I have a liiifeee.
Haha guys I know it's confusing- I do, but stories are meant to develop further on, so explanations will come. I hate leaving people hang there.
I also forgot to mention how old or how tall Nagi really is. He's not the little shorty stubby thing you see in the anime. I decided to make him look like how he does in the manga, tall, cool, and handsome. Even if he's all good-looking, Shizuru and Natsuki own him infinity times.
Aaaand
I'm too lazy to make a skit so you'll have to deal with more quotes.
The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
- Bertrand Russell
"What is it you're most afraid of?"
"Huh? Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
"That's because everyone has something they fear, including you."
"That's not true. I am no one. I fear and feel nothing."
"How can you be so sure? Follow your heart. What does it tell you?"
"Are you stupid? Hearts don't fear. They love. Besides, I don't have one."
.
Natsuki woke up with a start. Her forehead gleamed with sweat as a wave of nausea overwhelmed her body. Digging tightly into her bed sheets the girl looked around, chest heaving up and down taking in the warm and familiar aroma of her room. Everything was perfectly normal as she had expected it to be, but the unsettling feeling deep within her chest was becoming harder to support.
It happened almost every morning, but today felt different. Her head spun, every muscle in her body ached, and worst of all, the nagging feeling at the back of her head had become unbearable. She felt nervous, anxious, and certainly not very content.
What was happening to her? Could it have been because of yesterday's event?
Yesterday had been one of those crazy days where people popped out of nowhere, saved you from the supernatural then claimed to be a pirate and your best friend at the same time. Natsuki's logic and rightful mind did not believe that woman's story yet deep inside, the pain in her chest was possibly trying to convince her otherwise.
Was it guilt then? The guilt of standing there while the pirate just raised her hands in the air in defeat? The guilt for letting her get captured by Nagi- the man she hated? Or was it the greed and sorrow that desperately clung for freedom that had arrived at her doorstep waiting to carry her out.
"Pull yourself together. That pain in your chest is just a bruise." Natsuki growled to herself as she swung her aching legs to the side of her bed before getting up. "Damn it!" Her legs had suddenly given in as she had to cling onto the night table before dropping to the floor. This was usually normal after some intense workout but this had to be the worst timing of all. Natsuki's last wish was to stay in bed all day to recover while her mind ran amok. Each time that happened, her internal struggles fought epic battles and if it were to happen now, she'd die a miserable death.
With great effort, the dark haired girl reached out for the wall and slowly made her way towards the bathroom for a quick shower. Today's schedule consisted of training her troops but that was not what Natsuki had in mind. She'd call for a substitute and lie around all day, thinking and killing her brain with the confusion party that had already commenced. Whatever the pirate said must have all been a lie, but then what was her true purpose? If it meant stealing Natsuki away thus leaving her country behind, then Nagi must be behind it and she'd kill her on the spot.
"Please think about it with an open mind," Shizuru's voice echoed within the walls of her skull. Her subconscious was picking a fight with her yet again which meant that another nasty headache would soon add to her feeling-like-worse-than-shit mood.
"I am thinking about this with an open mind, damnit," grinding her teeth together, the girl had finally reached the bathroom. The cold ceramic tiles of the floor were a relief to Natsuki's aching feet. At last, the girl proceeded to undress herself and step into the shower.
Unfortunately, showers also counted as contemplative time where Natsuki would lose herself yet again in thoughts. As much as the Duchess refused to believe, the added guilt of leaving her possible "best friend" in the hands of the man she hated re-enacted yesterday's event so vividly in her head that it felt like it was being re-lived over and over on end.
The very last part of the previous day's drama had ended quickly subsequent to Nagi's appearance and did not leave enough time for Natsuki to think it over. That chestnut haired lady surely knew this was going to happen- but then –if- ever she decided to free the pirate and run away with her, then she'd have to go against the whole nation. This was like suicide for both her country and herself.
Sighing, the dark haired girl turned the knob to the newly adjusted device her dear "fiancé" had nicely set up in her bathroom to ensure maximum comfort. Ironically, his intentions of keeping her here did not have the same aim, but who was she to complain. Highly placed in society, wealth, "family"… A lot of people would kill to be like her- but Natsuki would kill to lose it all and find real happiness.
This ultimately brought even more complications. To go with the pirate, or not to go.
"She's good." Natsuki muttered to herself, "not only did she make me suffer back there with a good fight, but now she's attacking my sanity with her mental-AIDS."
The soft drumming of water and the warmth it provided made the girl groan in relief.
Unfortunately, her mind was not at ease as it decided to replay the scene yet again.
.
The sloshing of hundreds of feet had come to a halt leaving a distorted mirror beneath. Students of the Artailka and the soldiers themselves were standing menacingly, brandishing weapons of all sorts. Even Natsuki's troop of gunmen had come to fight if ever the fearsome pirate decided to resist.
Excitement, and whispering amongst the younger and even some of the soldiers sounded throughout the docks. Some of them were even pushing each other to get a better glimpse of this said pirate.
"I-it's really her!"
"She's even more beautiful than on the wanted poster!"
"W-w-woah."
The excited whispers were growing louder by the minute.
Natsuki's eyes quickly traveled over to Shizuru to see how she was faring with this sudden outburst but to her surprise, the chestnut haired lady seemed almost ethereal. A gentle smile graced her lips as her expression turned unreadable. The whip-like sword that had once binded her had returned to its original form as its significant other lay motionless a couple of feet away.
Abruptly, the buzz of voices stopped as fast as it had commenced as clicking boots interrupted through the dispersing crowd. Only the monotonous drizzle of light rain and crashing waves could be heard in the background now.
"What have we here?" A male voice called out through the symphony of nature, destroying the ocean's ambient song. It was like dragging nails on a piece of chalkboard- well to Natsuki anyway.
Shizuru looked up to meet Nagi's eyes, a sign of disrespect but bravery towards the higher up, especially for a lowlife pirate like her. "Ara, so we finally meet your Majesty." Her tone of voice was as unreadable as her ethereal elegance.
"Yes, at long last. It has been a while Fujino-san. I must say you still look as dashing in pirate clothes than in dresses." Nagi's lips curled into his trademark smile so many were used to. Though people around them started to wonder why they were having such a friendly conversation particularly Natsuki who took sudden interest in what Nagi was saying. "Quite in style too."
Shizuru matched his smile with her own. "Ara, thank you your Majesty. On the other hand, you have grown into a handsome man with matching intelligence and cunning befitting of a Duke. Though perhaps it would be best if you considered how the people around you feel."
"I will keep that in mind. Alas things must be done so my people don't get hurt from meaningless battles. Do understand." The tall boy adjusted his gold-rimmed black, long coat. Soldiers were still in place and guns were still raised at the foreigner. "What I did was for the best, I am sure you are aware of that." He paused briefly to glance at his "lover" before turning back and sighing. "So you told her."
"What?" Natsuki's eyes darted back and forth between her fiancé and the captain. Had Shizuru told her the truth? This was all too much to take. There was no way Shizuru Viola Fujino could be the Mashiro she knew.
The pirate remained silent, her eyes closing as to confirm Nagi's statement, but at the same Natsuki could've sworn she saw her lips slightly quiver. Was she hoping Natsuki would believe her?
"Unfortunately Fujino-san, it would seem that you have walked into my property. I therefore arrest you of trespassing Artai territory and condemn you to death for all the sins you have committed in society as a pirate."
Natsuki knew this was what a pirate's fate consisted of- every single crook that marched into Artai always received this as punishment, but her heart stopped when those words rang into her ears. Why was she feeling panic-stricken when countless pirates had died before her. She felt strange, something wasn't right, as if someone else's emotions surged through her body.
Everything worsened when Shizuru had dropped her sword and raised her arms in defeat. The sickening sinking in the pit of her stomach and the rage that built up in her chest had resulted in an involuntary objection. "What are you doing?!"
Every single pairs of eyes were now turned to her, murmurs and whispers breaking the silence.
"What is Natsuki-sama saying?
"Defending a pirate. She's betraying us."
"Hey, who wouldn't want to defend her?"
Natsuki's reputation would surely get tainted in black but she never cared for status. "Why aren't you resisting?! I thought you came to get me! Are you giving up?!"
Shizuru was surprised at Natsuki's sudden outburst but all she was smile at her warmly, and without another word the authorities cuffed her wrists and led her away leaving Natsuki in her wake.
Later that day back at the castle, Natsuki had gone to Nagi to ask him what all this was about, but all he said had left the Duchess in greater confusion.
"I thought you'd be the best at deciding whether to believe it or not. Besides, she'll be the least of our troubles after her execution tomorrow. Another sinner out of our world."
A statement clearly avoiding a clear answer of whether he knows the truth or not.
Something in Nagi's answer must be leading her to believe Shizuru. But if he wanted her to believe the pirate, then it meant that he also wanted her to leave his country, thus leaving the North behind… however why would Nagi need the North? Artai had the strongest military power. Nagi could've taken the North anytime he wanted even before his alliance with Natsuki. The only continent that currently sought to take over the North was the South. Both those areas of the world had been in dispute for the longest time in history and the only thing that stopped them from eating each other alive was Artai- whose Artailka maintained peace.
This started to hurt the young woman's head as she turned the dial to the shower to a close. Politics and the like never interested her since they involved no logic whatsoever.
The girl slipped out of the shower and quickly dressed herself in her usual navy blue uniform. Her hair had been wrapped tightly in a towel and she would have to wait for it to dry before leaving her room.
The weather outside had not improved at all. Dark clouds still hung loosely in the sky as the dreary fogs settled in once more in town thicker than usual. Another depressing day.
.
It was dark and damp like one would expect of a normal dungeon cell. The stench of rotten corpse lingered sickly in the air adding to the atmosphere of death amongst prisoners. Luckily for Shizuru, she happened to be the current and only prisoner to occupy the dark chamber at the moment if she excluded the pile of bones with pieces of flesh still hanging onto it.
Her arms and legs were bound by chains that painfully rubbed her skin raw but she had been used to this kind of treatment already. Pirates were to be treated like pirates, it was inevitable.
The wait was long but Shizuru didn't mind. After all, everything she had said was for her beloved Natsuki to figure out and believe her would take some time. From the expression that washed over the Duchess' face when Shizuru spoke to her proved to be unexpected. It seemed that Nagi hadn't told her about the tragedies that struck the South these past years but it was normal in some sort. In Artain culture, the King's wife and family had no right to meddle within his affairs and knowledge and so the Duke probably made sure Natsuki wouldn't find out about the things that have been going on in Shizuru's continent. About how the real princess had been found in the orphanage she was supposed to be in and about how she had been labeled as an imposter when nothing had been her fault.
"Natsuki must still think I'm still the princess. So she is trying to convince herself this pirate is up to no good." Shizuru's voice held a hint of sorrow but her train of thoughts were soon interrupted.
The sound of clicking boots against the cold stone of the staircase that led to a dungeon below the large castle had alarmed Shizuru of a new arrival. Her eyes slowly glimpsed at the battered door which screeched while being pushed open as a figure stood in its wake, eager eyes scanning the dimly lit dungeon. Only when they reached the outline of the chestnut-haired victim had they stopped swiveling about from cell to cell.
The shackles that binded her to this cell lightly jingled as the pirate slowly turned to meet the greedy stare that approached her. Soft flickering light provided by the torches had finally revealed to the pinned woman who had come to visit her.
It was a woman clad in the Artain uniform consisting of the national colours, black and red with a particular symbol waved onto the bosom of her vest. The symbol had the national Artai emblem carved in the middle, but what had caught Shizuru's attention was that broken circle that encircled the emblem. The wearer of that symbol had been particularly known to pirates as their reputation had them marked for life. They were known as the official pirate torturers and executors.
"My name is Tomoe Marguerite. I am honoured to finally meet you Fujino-sama." She approached Shizuru, a shy smile appearing on her lips as a whip, now fully visible was tightly clutched in her hand. "Please allow me to perform my duty. I will make sure that you get the most out of it before your execution tomorrow."
"Ara ara." The pirate smiled at her which successfully made Tomoe madly blush, "it is a shame to have a cute girl like you perform such a hand-staining duty."
"O-on the contrary, I enjoy having to do this. But please, do tell me information The Duke requires so I am not obliged to hurt you more than I want to." The whip in her hand had been stretched menacingly as the girl proceeded in giggling giddily at whatever thought crossed her head. "First of all-" Tomoe placed her whip under Shizuru's chin and brought her face closer in hopes of seducing the pirate. "What do you plan on doing if Natsuki refuses to go with you?"
The taller woman pondered for a minute before smiling again. "Well I would assume that I would get executed. It is in a few hours is it not?"
Tomoe's expression softened in admiration but her mouth twitched slightly. "Shizuru-sama! I have the authority to get you out of this cell! And from there on, you can live by my side and… and…"
The chestnut haired woman chuckled lightly but her expression became unreadable. "Who would want a pirate to serve them. I am a scum of this world." Hopefully she wouldn't have to reject her so blatantly, it would certainly worsen her case at the moment.
"What?! Oh no, no, you most certainly are not!" The bluish-green haired girl's hand softly caressed Shizuru's well-toned abdomen. "I promise I'll be a very-"
"Tomoe-chan what are you doing?"
A voice from behind had caught Tomoe off guard whom had swiftly spun to face whoever had interrupted her. "Who goes there!?"
The figure stepped closer revealing her short, flame-red hair and her maid attire. Her busty figure hugged her clothes perfectly as a cat hung from her shoulder adding to the style. A tray of food was balanced in her hand as her other rested on her hip. "It's me, Mai. You aren't supposed to be down here until noon." She cast a quick glance towards Shizuru who simply smiled at her.
"M-Mai-sama. My deepest apologies but Nagi-sama has requested me to-"
The flame headed girl quirked her eyebrow, "Oh? I don't think he requested such an order. I am the leader of your division and I am the one to make orders."
"Yes ma'am." Tomoe dejectedly trudged away from Shizuru who gave her an encouraging wink. Almost at once, the blue-haired girl's face lit up with admiration. She trailed slowly along the cold stairs of the dungeon as if to savor every single second left to gaze at the pirate beauty before her. With a long, and dreadful sigh which no doubt served as a hint to her superior that she wished to stay, the girl slowly opened the door, walked out, and hesitantly closing it behind her, hoping Mai had changed her mind which didn't happen to be the case.
Once all was silent again, the redheaded maid apologetically smiled at Shizuru. "You've got one too many fans Graceful Amethyst."
"As do you General Mai, I hear about you a lot from foreign countries to my own ship. They say you are quite skilled with chakrams, a hard weapon to master."
Mai only shrugged at that statement. It was something she had been praised for during her whole military career. It was actually what had gotten her to such a prestigious position in the Artailka. "Ah, it's not that great. I mess up a few times you know, and so does everyone. I'm actually surprised you've been caught by Artai."
The pirate gently chuckled before looking deeply into Mai's eyes. "I believe human emotions would drive anyone to the extremes." A mysterious smile followed the riddle but before the General could ask her about it, the noisy creak of the door announced the arrival of another person yet again.
"General Mai-sama. You are asked at the main court where his Majesty wishes to speak with you." A curt and handsome voice elegantly asked for both women's attention. Eyes downcast at the cement floor and hat lowly tipped, the darkness of the dungeon made it almost impossible to tell who this man was, but Shizuru recognized him.
"Sure, sure, coming right away. That guy's so needy." Mai set down the tray of food by the pirate's feet. "Well soldier, care to give some to the young lady who's helplessly shackled? If you'll excuse me." The cheerful woman gave the boy a wink and a long glance before turning back to Shizuru with a quick nod. Silence soon settled back into the darkness of the cellar but not for long.
"Ara, ara, are you worried for me Raito-san?" came Shizuru's usual carefree and teasing voice.
"Hmm, I'm not sure." The boy clad in soldier uniform casually walked to his imprisoned captain and looked up. His lips curled upwards into an unreadable expression. "Your reckless new-found habits are a little risqué, don't you think?" he ran took off the navy hat that topped his head and ran his fingers across his perfect hair. "The crew's not ready to act if this does not turn out like the way you planned it. What if she doesn't change her mind?" Shizuru looked thoughtful but Raito knew she was still not taking the matter seriously.
"Well then I die, and you get to be captain." Despite the boy's lack of enthusiasm, Shizuru smiled at him and even managed to chuckle a little at her own "joke" if it even was one.
"Mhm, I'm sure the crew that looks up to you like a Goddess would be thrilled to hear that. Anyways, shall I feed some of this delectable looking pie? Unfortunately it would seem that this great cooking General forgot the tea."
"Ara, what a disappointment." This time, Raito knew she was being serious.
.
The day passed so quickly, it almost seemed unreal. Natsuki couldn't believe she had fallen asleep while in the midst of another epic inner struggle against her subconscious and her reasoning, nor could she believe how tired she was. Even after a long night sleep after the battle with that pirate, she was drained of energy and thus slept through another gray day, and another night without even stirring.
She was also late. Terribly late for today's special event.
The execution of Shizuru Viola of the Southern Seas.
Normally, Natsuki would be insensitive to events like these but this proved different. Her heart pounded heavily against her chest as she raced down the long and vast corridors of her mansion, hair in disarray while a panic-stricken horror-struck expression replaced her normal, and serious composure.
The servants that stood in her way immediately jumped back at the sight of the running chaos. They whispered amongst themselves, unsure whether to try and stop Natsuki from embarrassing herself in public. In the end, all of them decided against it as the girl stampeded from floor to floor, descending as quickly as she possibly could. It was a wonder how she hadn't just jumped off the balcony outside in the first place. Natsuki was practically flying off the flights of stairs.
"Damnitall, damnitall, damnitall-" the incoherent mutters uttered from the black-haired girl's mouth sounded like the engine's chuga-chuga of the girl's powerhouse. No one dared stand in her way- all except for one.
A busty figure clad in orange and red general clothes stood flamboyantly in front of the main doors that led to the court where the execution was being held. Her fiery red hair seemed to enhance her angry-state of mood. The frown that creased her forehead and her scowl that warned Natsuki to stop had kept at least everyone at least a couple of dozens of meters away from the doors.
Satisfied with Natsuki's disheveled look, Mai bellowed at the dumbfounded girl, "Dammit Natsuki! I thought you were already there- waiting to stop the execution from taking place!"
"What?!"
"It's a little late now, they're about to behead her like- NOW. They've already delayed it for your highness who liked to sleep in on people's death days!"
Natsuki's shocked expression turned into one of panic, "now?!"
"Yes now! Well what are you waiting for?!"
"What are you pressuring me for?! What do you want me to do? She's a pirate, she raped my best friend, and what now? What do you want me to do?" Natsuki was now leveled with Mai. Neither of them noticed how the distance closed between them in less than seconds.
"Are you blind?! Oh my lord, Natsuki, don't you realize who she is?!"
"She's not Mashiro-hime if that's what you're trying to tell me!"
"Then why are you killing yourself over who she is?!"
"That's because she was trying to deceive me!"
"And how are you so sure?!"
"Because- Because… JUST BECAUSE."
Throwing up her arms in frustration, Mai grabbed Natsuki by her collar and pulled her so close to her face they could feel each other's ragged breaths on their cheeks from all the screaming.
"Well what are you going to do now? Let her die and see if she's really her or not?"
Natsuki's expression must have softened- or at least gone through millions of different weird phases because Mai's grip loosened, and soon the gunwoman found herself facing the largest crowd crammed into the court. Every pair of eyes turned to her, and even that of Nagi and his smug smile.
In the center of this quiet arena, was a wooden podium where a man whose face had been covered with a black hood stood stiffly, sharpened sword gleaming furiously. At his feet kneeled the pirate Natsuki dreaded and perhaps loved at the same time. Her expression was serene, and calm, almost as if this was just some small ordeal that would leave her unharmed in the end. Even her eyes were closed, and she didn't even budge at the sound of Natsuki's arrival. The woman was going to make this Natsuki's choice entirely.
"Ah, I see my wife has finally decided to show us. I have delayed this a bit for you my love." He smirked. Natsuki had seen this smirk so many times, particularly when he was mocking her or the North. "I thought you'd like to see your beloved friend's violator die before you, for satisfaction." He rested his head on his hand in a bored manner. "And now that the party's all here, we can proceed." -and with a small motion of his free hand, Nagi ordered the man to execute the woman.
A dreadful sound of metal clashing resonated through the stadium.
.
A/N: It's moving too fast? D: Well blah- I don't feel like spending 100 chapters in Artai.
Chapter preview?
Hehehe, let's play a game.
Guess my gender correctly and I'll reply to your review providing a chapter preview. You may look at my author profile though I doubt that will do you any good.
Idea no. 2 has won. And for that, I've changed and tweaked idea no. 1 with better ideas so it'll be more original than you everyday Buffy vampire slaying. I actually recently went through some of the vampire fics such as centauri2002's Halloween Special, and it would seem my idea was a little similar's to hers so I decided to change it. And frankly, if you're looking for a good vampire fic, I would definitively recommend that one. My writing abilities will never surpass centauri2002's. I can never hope to be as good as Leebot nor Centauri2002 D: their fics blew me awaaays.
I still haven't thought of a good condition Shizuru could impose on Natsuki for idea 2 though. Ideas here and there could prove useful, and credit will be given.
Have no fear, Idea no. 2 will be here. Soon.