Setting: Mai Otome Universe
"Nat...su...ki," Shizuru whispered brokenly, as she tried to find and grasp Natsuki's hand with her cold, shivering one.
"Zuru...I'm right here, Shizuru...I'm right here...just...hold on...please...hold on...you can't leave me like this," Natsuki whispered back in a devastated voice, as she held Shizuru's bloodied form against her body.
"I'm...sorry Suki...I didn't mean...for this to happen...I was only trying to protect you...they took me by surprise...I didn't see the energy bolt coming until it was too late. I'm sorry Natsuki...I'm so...sorry," Shizuru replied, as she clung to the front of Natsuki's white top, now stained bright-red with her life's blood.
"Why Shizuru, why? Why did you do it? I could have taken the shot. You didn't have to jump in front of it. You didn't have to take the shot for me. You didn't have to...oh god Shizuru please don't die on me! Akira has gone for help. Don't worry. Just hold on for me a bit longer. Okay Zuru...please..." Natsuki begged, as she clutched Shizuru's chilled body even tighter against her chest.
"Silly Natsuki. How could you ask me why I would do it? I did it because I love you, Natsuki. I love you...and I would put myself before you, and any kind of danger anytime...every time. There is nothing and no one in this world I love more than you, Natsuki. And I would risk my life to protect yours everytime. Don't you forget that, okay...please, don't ever forget that," Shizuru said with quiet desperation, as she continued to cling to the front of Natsuki's top, as the skies above them opened up and the heavens themselves seemed to weep, as cold hard raindrops fell upon them both, and Shizuru's blood seeped out of the open wound in her side, and ran in rivulets down the hard pavement.
In the distance, Natsuki could hear Akira's voice calling out to her, saying that she had found help and that they were on their way.
But the only thing that Natsuki could concentrate on was the woman in her arms, who was getting colder and colder by the second, and who had begun to tremble uncontrollably, as her beautiful crimson eyes were covered up by her eyelids, which had begun to droop as if just too heavy to stay open any longer.
"Shizuru...Shizuru...oh god Shizuru. Please baby. You've got to stay with me here, okay. Please don't close your eyes. Come on now, keep them open for me...please. Akira is almost here with help. So please Zuru...please...don't leave me..." Natsuki begged, as her body became to tremble and shake with sobs, as she pulled Shizuru's own trembling form tighter against her.
"Nat...su...ki..." Shizuru's weak voice reached Natsuki's ear, and she pulled back enough so that she could look down into the almost-serene features of the woman that she loved.
"Natsuki..." Shizuru repeated in a voice even quieter and weaker than before, as she slowly and painfully raised her arm, and with the effort to lift showing clearly on her face, Shizuru lightly and tenderly cupped Natsuki's cheek with her hand.
Then not uttering a single word further, Shizuru slowly brought Natsuki's face down to meet hers, and then tenderly and lovingly pressed her lips against Natsuki's, in what Natsuki could instictually feel would be the very last kiss that they would ever share again in this life.
Tears poured down like the rain from Natsuki's emerald-green eyes, as she closed them tightly against the heart-wrenching, heartbreaking pain of the moment.
When they finally parted from the kiss, and Natsuki looked back down into Shizuru's face, there was a completely peaceful and serene look there, and Natsuki felt her heart clench as she once again pulled Shizuru tightly against her body...never wanting to let go...never wanting to part from the woman who meant more to her than life itself.
Natsuki could now hear Akira's running feet and the footfalls of several others, and they were all just a few yards away.
So close...so very close...
"Zuru...help is here Zuru...please don't close your eyes...please...open back your eyes now...come on, Zuru...please...Shizuru...Shizuru...SHIZURU!!" Natsuki cried out in anguished horror, as she felt Shizuru take one last shallow breath...and on that last breath four words slipped out, before those beautiful lips that Natsuki loved so dearly closed forever...
"I love you...Natsuki..."
"SHIZURUU!!!"
AN: Wow. That chapter was a bit emotional to write ^_^
Let me know what you all thought about it by please leaving a review =3
And as always a BIG hearty thank you to all those who took the time to review my last chapter! You guys rock! =D
See ya next Puff =3