Hey Y'all! I finally decided to buckle down and finish this crap up...this isn't the last chapter, but it's close. Sorry for the long waits and stuff, I hate it when authors do that, but it's just been blocked in my brain for soooo long. I reread the whole thing (and was slightly appalled by some errors I found and the overall quality of my early writing...icky...I hope I've gotten a bit better). Anyway...Here's chapter 13. I love you all and I SWEAR I will finish this soon!
P.S. Reviews make me happy, (on my other stories too!) so please do!
Disclaimer: D'OH! Sunrise owns HiME! Who doesn't know that?!
Shizuru did not see how many mercenaries she was fighting off as she dashed through the woods, away from the cabin where the noise might reach Natsuki's ears.
A roll of death followed her as every warrior she faced fell, never to rise again. The naginataglowed red in the moonlight when she finally stopped in a large clearing, panting heavily. She knew she was surrounded, and realized with chagrin that it had been their plan to drive her to this spot.
She stood still as a stature in the very center her naginata held at the ready. She closed her eyes and smiled.
The soldiers were surprised and fearful of this girl. 250 of them, just to kidnap her, and so many of them were already dead…they all felt a shiver of apprehension run of their spines when she spoke.
"I will kill every single one of you." She said it simply with a small serene smile on her face as if she had simply stated that she was going to make tea.
The first man to try to shoot her found the tranquilizer deflected by a simple sweep of her blade. Her eyes were still closed.
The first man to try a run at her found his head dislodged from his body before he could think.
After that the men tried to strategize, but no matter what they tried, their efforts kept failing. She was too fast, too graceful. Their numbers greatly depleted, they knew they had to come up with a plan.
Shizuru very nearly would have defeated all of them, if it weren't for a slight miscalculation. One of the first few men she had cut down had dodged to the side just in time to avoid death, though he was badly injured. He had passed out, but he came to as Shizuru was distracted by the remaining efforts of his comrades. He had just enough energy to raise his tranquilizer gun and pull the trigger.
Shizuru felt the prick in the back of her calf and stumbled. A lucky blow to the back of the head by another man left her out cold.
Six men stood dazed in the clearing, the rest were dead. Not ten minutes had passed since the fight had begun.
"How did she?" One managed to ask, he knew it was pure luck that he was still standing.
"I don't know." Another said, "Our orders are to grab her and bag her…but," He looked around, "All this destruction, we'd probably be doing the world a favor by ending her life."
"No." A voice came from across the clearing, "Pathetic." Smith kicked a man's decapitated head away from himself in disgust, "You have your orders." He stepped up to her collapsed form and gave her ribs a swift kick as well. He grabbed her necklace and snapped it off. "Take her to the warehouse." He said, pocketing the small silver key as he strode away.
Natsuki was shocked as a rush of cold air surrounded her and she awoke, a dark figure in the corner of her room.
"Shhh, Natsuki," A ninja. who Natsuki recognized almost immediately, stepped from the shadows, "They're trying to kidnap Shizuru. I know you're weak, but…"
"Akira?" Natsuki was almost breathless, "Who's kidnapping Shizuru?"
"Aw, what a pity." Nagi's voice filled the room, and Natsuki whipped her head to the open window where he stood. "Akira, you've just messed up my plans. Well, I don't really care, but I'm sure my associates will be very disgruntled." He shrugged, "Actually, it may work out better this way."
"What have you done Nagi?!" Natsuki felt the heat of anger fill her system, along with a rush of pure adrenaline.
"Oh, I think what you should worry about is what Shizuru's been up to." He pulled a chain from his pocket and tossed it to Natsuki, "That, is not only proof that we haveyour lover, but it's also her biggest secret." His eyes glimmered maliciously, "Her 'Meditation Room' that's the key to it, open it. After you know the truth, then I'll tell you where you can find your lover and how to save her." He chose that moment to leap from the window.
Akira said a simple, "I'll get him." Before she too leapt from the window in chase.
Natsuki held the small key tight in her grip. The adrenaline pumping through her system would be enough to get her back to Shizuru's place, she was certain. Had she been an ordinary human, she never would have got three steps. But her HiME blood allowed her to run to where Shizuru's car was parked. She put the top down and got to the highway as fast as she could. Then she floored it.
Natsuki burst into Shizuru's apartment and stood before the door. She was not sure if she really should open it.
Shizuru said…she said it was just a meditation room…to work out…did she lie? Do I trust Nagi over her? No. But…he said it was the only way he would…I could call Yamada…but his number changes so often, I don't know if I could find him…There's no time. I have to. I have to do this. I'm sorry Shizuru.
Natsuki placed the key in the lock, took a deep breath, and turned it.
A howl of horror and despair shattered the air as she took in the truth. Something in her heart broke, and Natsuki did not know if she could survive the pain.
Shizuru, only a few miles away, chained up in a warehouse awoke to the sound, and felt the pain slash her heart as well. Tears splashed down her face, Natsuki knew her secret.
Nagi stood on a tree limb outside Shizuru's apartment, a devilish grin adorning his lips.