Well, I guess it took me long enough. This is the last chapter of my very first fic. It was a rocky road filled with errors and writers block, I like to think my writing has improved some, since I began this. To those of you who've stuck with me and read all my nonsense, I thank you. This chapter is a bit shorter than the rest, but it's how this ought to end. If anyone notices any continuity errors, or that I left some loose ends untied, kindly do not tell me, because I'd like to put this story behind me, at least for a while. Overall, despite al lthe headaches this gave me, I enjoyed writing it, I hope you enjoyed reading it, because that is, after all, why I wrote it.
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine, and I am insane.
Natsuki had no emotion on her face. She returned her gaze to Smith, who was staring in horror at Shizuru's limp form.
"No! This isn't…it wasn't supposed to be like this! Everything is ruined!" He began to rip at his hair.
"I have nothing to lose Smith." Natsuki aimed her other gun at Smith, "Drop the trigger." He released the device, it clattered to the floor. "Kick it here."
It skidded across the floor to Natsuki's feet.
"I can't believe…" He seemed to be in shock.
"Get on your knees."
He slid down to the floor. "Why would you…? You were supposed to deal…"
"I know what you did to me. Last year. Tripped my bike, took a year of my life, in an attempt to control her; to control me." She walked forward, until the gun was resting against his temple. "You can't control her anymore. You can never control me."
"Before you kill me, just tell me. Didn't you love her?"
"I love Shizuru more than anything."
"Why did you shoot her?"
"So you wouldn't be able to control her anymore." A single tear slid down Natsuki's cheek.
Smith stared up at Natsuki; there was emptiness in his eyes. He had nothing left. His plans had all been dashed, Nagi was nowhere in sight. He must have given Smith up and escaped, or maybe he was dead. Smith didn't care. He would welcome the death Natsuki would deliver. He would escape from the dismal world of woe, after years of unsuccessful plotting and failure. But he wanted Natsuki to suffer.
"What's left to you?" His voice was bitter, "You loved her, you killed her. You've lost a year of your life, your friends have moved on. You'll be where she was." He nodded toward Shizuru's body. "She had virtually nothing, so she turned to destroying other lives. Shall I be your first victim?"
Natsuki paused a moment. "No." She lowered the pistol.
"Too weak to kill me?"
"No, it's not my job to spill your blood." Natsuki's eyes were heavy, "I've never killed a person."
"She wasn't a person?" He was incredulous. "Help you deal with your conscious, if she isn't a person?"
Natsuki began chaining his hands up. "No, Smith." As soon as he was secured to the wall, his hands immobilized. She smiled. "I didn't kill her."
"What?!" He swiveled his head to where Shizuru's body was chained. Shizuru was looking up at him, smiling lightly.
Natsuki grabbed the key off of Smith and went to unlock Shizuru's chains.
Smith furiously tried to escape, but it was no use. He went limp, resigned.
"How'd you manage that one?"
Natsuki lifted the gun she had shot Shizuru with, pointing it just above Smiths head and shooting. He heard as splash, and felt blood tricking from the wall to his head.
"Highly condensed fake blood. Kind of like a paintball I suppose."
Shizuru was standing meekly behind Natsuki now.
"I'm sorry, Natsuki, for everything." Shizuru's mask was broken once more, tears leaking down her face, her eyes begging forgiveness
"Its okay, Shizuru," Natsuki touched her face lightly. "We're going to start over, new." She bent, retrieving the trigger.
They walked out, together, leaving Smith babbling.
"Nagi told me what happened to me. And you." Natsuki told Shizuru, as they walked down the street, to a park not far from the warehouse. "I love you, Shizuru. Nothing can change that."
"I love you too, Natsuki."
"Here." Natsuki pressed the trigger into Shizuru's hand. "Start your new life."
Shizuru's eyes rose to the warehouse, a good distance away, but still visible. She fingered the trigger lightly, for a moment. Then she dropped it and smashed it under her foot.
Natsuki smiled, and Shizuru returned the gesture.
"I'm not a killer anymore." Shizuru said quietly, "I suppose now I'll really have to go into Real Estate." They laughed together, and kissed lightly under the stars.
Nagi sat on a tree branch watching the exchange. He grinned. He'd never really liked Smith. The whole plan had been Smith's thing; he'd just helped him out to get a few kicks. It had been fairly interesting; he had to admit, though he really cared more for his book than this particular adventure. As soon as it was apparent that Smith wasn't going to be blown up, Nagi sighed and disappeared. Off to finish his book, and then create mischief and mayhem elsewhere in the world.