Death Row
Acumen
The low humming of the elevator was very comforting to Kruger Takeo. His innocent cabin on the other side of the city wasn't so innocent after all, with its underground labs and research offices.
Sighing, Takeo rolled up his lab coat sleeves, and glared at the steel doors in front of him. 'Natsuki was always a loose cannon, even with the autopilot sequence on.' Biting his thumb, the navy haired man was lost in his thoughts and was startled when the elevator doors opened.
Stepping out of the elevator, he was greeted by the sight of busy hallways. Before he could venture down one, a blue haired girl ran into him. She only came up to his knees, so she hugged them tight.
"Papa! I've missed you so...m-much..." The small girl was unable to continue as blood began to pour from her mouth. She lifted her porcelain face up to stare into Takeo's eyes with matching emerald. "It..it hurts..." The little girl began to sniffle, and lifted her hands to rub her eyes, only for them to come back covered in blood.
"Papa?" The small voice asked, blood coming out of her eyes as well as her ears. Takeo stared down in shock, clenching his jaw as the girl vomited blood onto his coat, before collapsing.
Two men in lab coats came rushing to the spot from on of the many hallways, picking up the girl and checking for a pulse. There was none. Takeo looked on, fury overcoming him.
Standing, one spoke with a grim face. "Sir, it would seem the experiment has failed. She lasted longer than the rest. It seems we are getting closer to achieving our goal." The two flinched when Takeo turned his cold emeralds to rest on them instead of the dead girl.
"Get it out of my sight!" He spat, backhanding one and glaring at the other until the two had disappeared with the girl. Exhaling shakily, Takeo ran a hand through his graying midnight blue hair.
Hesitantly, another doctor approached. "Sir, would you like to see the rest of the results?" The woman flinched when Takeo turned his gaze on her. Sighing, he began to walk down one of the hallways with her.
"What is this series called?" Takeo asked, his voice tired as he scanned the walls of capsules. Each held a single little girl with long blue hair. "We've named them the Genesis series."
Passing through three more rooms of the same girl in tubes covering the walls, ten to each room, Takeo sighed as the other doctor logged onto the central computer.
The data flashed across the screen at a rapid rate, before stopping. The doctor made a noise of acknowledgment, and glanced to Takeo as she typed on the keyboard.
"It would seem that a new set will be ready for testing by tomorrow morning." She spoke, filling out the new information.
Takeo glares at the screen before speaking. "Good, this better not end in failure, or I will be forced to make you useful. Even if I must run tests on you too." He glared at her, and she swallowed before nodding furiously.
Takeo was suddenly hit with a nauseating sharp pain in his temple, and he clutched his head before letting out a scream. The sound startled the doctor into standing, and she watched as Takeo hit his knees. His skin became red, and his veins shot up against his skin, as if trying to escape their bloody prison.
His eyes shot open as he returned to normal, and he spit a bit of blood up as he stood, wiping it on his bloody coat. "Sir, is it the chip?" The doctor asked, before being rounded on. "Of course it's the chip, you idiot!" He spat blood into her face and stalked off.
He had created the Ascendancy chip exactly twenty-three years ago, days before his little Natsuki was born. He had first inserted it into his head, then inserted its twin into Natsuki when she was born. He knew Natsuki was special, even before she was born he had her monitored while in the womb, from her brain activity to her growth, all was monitored.
Through the chip, he could make sure his daughter grew up to be perfect. She had to be, if she was to be a Kruger.
Running through the halls, a seven year old Natsuki was excited to meet her new sister. She was enthusiastic, until she bumped into her father. He looked furious, furious at having a useless infant added to the family.
Takeo looked down at his perfect little girl and smiled. Kneeling, he stared into eyes that matched his. "Natsuki, why are you so excited?" His little girls face lit up.
"Daddy, I'm getting a baby sister today!" She bounced a little, and Takeo chuckled before lifting her and placing her on his knee to bounce.
"Little Natsuki, you should be disgusted." Takeo crooned softly, bouncing his little girl gently. She scrunched her eyebrows together. "Why daddy?" Takeo smiled and kissed her forehead. "The baby is a waste of a being, Natsuki."
Natsuki giggled at the kiss and stared into her father's eyes. "Oh...it's okay daddy, I'll make you proud, so you won't have to worry about Nina!" Takeo blinked, before smiling. "Natsuki...you named it?"
Natsuki stared at her father, confused. "Well, no. Mommy did." Takeo glared down the hallway of their chateau. "She did what?" Takeo stood, taking Natsuki with him and hoisting her up on his shoulders, prompting her to play with his matching blue hair.
"Yes daddy, mommy named it. She can be so foolish sometimes. She said everyone needs a name to justify their being, but if what you say is true, she doesn't deserve a name, right daddy?" She hung her head upside down to look into his face.
Chuckling, Takeo kissed Natsuki's forehead once more. "Of course, my Natsuki. How smart you are girl."
Natsuki giggled and played with Takeo's hair. "Daddy, I finished reading those books you lent me, can I have more books? I promise not to associate with the waste of being unless I have to, please daddy?" She asked as they walked down the hallway.
"Of course, my perfect girl." "Thank you daddy!" Natsuki cheered as they neared the room in which Saeko had given birth. Before entering, Takeo spoke softly. "Now Natsuki, you have to pretend nothing is wrong when your mother is around, alright? Pretend like that useless infant is actually worth something, alright?" He asked, looking up. "Yes daddy, I'll pretend. It might be fun!"
Lowering Natsuki to the floor, Takeo entered the room and strode to Saeko's bed side.
"How are you doing, Saeko?" He asked, sitting in the chair beside the bed. Wrapped in a pink blanket in Saeko's arms, Nina was nuzzled and sleeping. He stared at the small tuft of blue hair.
Natsuki lifted herself onto Takeo's lap, and stared at the blanketed baby as well.
"Shes so...small mommy." Saeko smiled and let out a tired giggle. "She's just a baby, Natsuki." Bouncing the blanketed baby gently, Saeko held her out to Natsuki.
Natsuki looked at the tiny baby, but shrank back into Takeo's chest. "I don't want to hold her. What if I were to drop her by accident? No mommy, you keep her with you."
Saeko blinked, but smiled again. "Touch her head, feel her soft hair. This is your baby sister, Natsuki. This is Nina." Natsuki still looked unsure, and spoke up.
"I know that mommy, but she might wake up if I did that, and what if I where to do that and accidentally hurt her? A baby's cranium is rather sensitive!"
Takeo inwardly grinned at that. He had such a perfect daughter, he didn't see a reason why they would need a nuisance such as that infant in his home. Why couldn't Saeko be content with only Natsuki?
Natsuki didn't need a distraction such as this! Saeko was a fool to believe that Natsuki would want a sibling. He himself had already talked to Natsuki previously, and his little girl had told him she'd rather read her books than have another sibling. She saw no logical reason to have one. Little Natsuki was daddy's little girl, she was so much like her father so much so that he was able to control her later on in life...
Suddenly, the baby's eyes opened, and Natsuki's mouth fell open at the sight. Blood orange orbs stared up at Natsuki, and Nina managed a small smile. "Mommy, her eyes..." Natsuki whispered, leaning forward to get a closer look, prompting Takeo to put his hands on her stomach to make sure she didn't fall.
Fighting the urge to poke the infant's eyes, Natsuki looked closely at it. Takeo stared at the eyes as well, they were his work, after all. He had only monitored Nina once in the womb, and noticed she had all of Natsuki's characteristics. He did not want a lowly useless infant to look like his prodigy, so he manipulated the eye color, choosing a less flattering blood orange.
Natsuki thought they were beautiful. She wanted to rip them out and keep them. To draw them from every possible angle. This useless infant wouldn't need them. She couldn't survive in this world where one must be useful to succeed, she'd be doing her a favor.
"Come on mommy!" An excited Natsuki ran into a room, and waited for her mother to join her. She was nine years old, and Nina was only two, so Natsuki was excited at having been chosen to decorate Nina's new room.
"I'm coming Natsuki." Saeko smiled as she led Nina by the hand to the room. When they entered, however, they both looked frightened.
Natsuki smiled. "I thought she might like seeing all the duckies mommy. I made this ducky room for her." The room was filled with duck drawings on the walls, the floor had a picture of a giant zombie duck, and there were rubber duckies everywhere.
Ducks everywhere, on shelves and twelve rabid ducks in cages and some giant duck rocking chair moved back an forth and quacked creepily There was also a large television, showing duck attacks. The bed was duck shaped bed, with duck sheets and a duck shaped pillow.
Saeko and Nina looked on with mild horror on their faces while Natsuki presented the room to them. Takeo walked in, and stared at everything with wide eyes. Then burst into laughter.
"Natsuki, did you do all this?" He asked, wiping tears of mirth away as he picked his perfect girl up and spun her around. "Yes daddy, do you like it?" Natsuki asked as she was let down.
Natsuki's smile slightly faltered as Nina began to cry. Little Nina ran out of the room, tears blinding her, she crashed into a wall.
Silence filled the room as Saeko went to pick her little girl up, leaving Takeo and Natsuki alone.
"Natsuki, this was such an incredible idea you had." Takeo spoke, and the two burst out laughing. As soon as Saeko and Nina reentered the room, the two had stopped and looked professional.
"I'm sorry little Nina, this was just a joke!" Natsuki took Nina from Saeko and brought her to her real room.
This room was much more soothing, and no ducks were to be seen. Except for a small duck sticker on the ceiling, but Natsuki wanted to keep the trauma assured. Of course, Takeo knew of this, but wasn't going to do anything but encourage her.
A crisp winter morning left snow on the ground and thinning ice on the local pond. Natsuki and Nina, fifteen and eight, bread in their hands and smiling, fed the small flock of pigeons that gathered around them.
Scattering some bread crumbs, Natsuki looked to the side and saw a duck approaching. Smiling, she informed Nina she was going to get ice cream, and walked off. Taking an unnecessarily long time to pick out a flavor, she smiled when she heard Nina's high pitched scream.
"Natsuki! Save me, the man eating beast showed up!" Nina screamed, running into her sister and clutching onto her black pea coat. Natsuki smiled and turned to her sister. "Nina, would you like a chocolate cone?"
Nina was not one to deny chocolate. The girl was addicted, and she nodded as she hid from the duck in Natsuki's coat, snuggling in for warmth. Natsuki merely chuckled and ordered their ice cream, paying when needed. Nina momentarily forgot about the waddling menace until she heard its screech.
Nina screamed, and Natsuki turned and batted the duck away, putting an arm around her baby sister and smirking.
After handing Nina's ice cream to her, Natsuki looked around and noticed that a few girls her age had stopped and were looking her way, whispering to one another.
Natsuki raised an eyebrow, then winked towards the group. Nina noticed, and looked as the girls started giggling and blushing. "Natsuki, why are they staring at you?" Nina asked, looking up at her big sister.
Natsuki smiled down at Nina. "No one can resist the Kruger charm, Nina." The little orange eyed girl began to laugh, and Natsuki looked surprised, before laughing along and patting Nina on the head.
'How surprising...I do not think of my sister as useless anymore...I love you, Nina-chan!' Natsuki thought, as the two sister's walked home together, licking their ice cream happily.
An expensive vase was thrown to the well kept marble floor, and shattered. "Why does no one care what I want!" Natsuki yelled, standing at odds with her family as she stepped onto the broken shards of glass. Eighteen, Natsuki had dreams of becoming an artist, and she had the talent to be famous.
She could make it out in the world while doing what she loved, but her parents didn't like the idea. She wouldn't just let them control her life. She'd already spent several years helping out the company, she didn't mind...much. Their goals intrigued her, but she could not see herself working their forever.
"We will not stand for this! With your intelligence, you can bring forth a new era in both technology and science Natsuki! Do not lower yourself to mere art, you are worth so much more than that!" Takeo shouted back, glaring at his once perfect daughter. Where had he gone wrong?
"Father, I know that, but art...it means a lot to me, it allows me to show the world what I see, my views! It is my outlet!" Natsuki passionately spoke, gesturing with her hands with grandeur.
"Couldn't you just do it in your spare time As a hobby? Surely it wouldn't be that different!" Saeko laughed, as she looked to the door behind Natsuki and spotted Nina, eleven and spying on them.
Natsuki glared. "Mother, please understand! I feel more myself when creating art than when I do anything else!" Natsuki clenched her fists and took a few deep breaths.
Takeo took a step towards his wild daughter. "Don't do this Natsuki. Don't disappoint me." His steely voice matched his cold eyes as he stared into matching determined ones.
"Father please...I-" Natsuki stopped talking and her eyebrows screwed together as she held her head in pain. Takeo continued to glare as his pupils dilated. Once the pain was gone, Natsuki stood up straight once more, looking confused before she shook her head and spoke.
"I'll try...give me a year, that's all I ask. Let me experience the art filled life I crave for at least a year, and then I'll do as you wish." She surrendered, the end of the sentence becoming a whisper.
Pupils back to normal, Takeo nodded once crisply. "...Very well Natsuki, but the moment anything wrong happens, you'll stop and come back, alright?"
Natsuki smiled and ran across the room to engulf her father in a tight hug. "I will father, thank you." Natsuki broke the hug and stepped back, smiling at her parents giddily.
"Natsuki-oneechan don't leave me!" Nina ran into the room and held onto her sisters legs will all her eleven year old might.
Natsuki chuckled and places a hand on Nina's head, ruffling her hair slightly. "Nina let go, I won't be gone for very long." The older blunette reassured.
Nina lifted her face from Natsuki's shirt and looked into her sister's emerald eyes. "Where are you going?" She asked, about to cry.
Natsuki pondered, staring across the room at nothing. "Italy...maybe France. No...I think I'll travel the world." She smiled wide at that idea.
"Oneechan, take me with you!" Nina whined, crying. 'Fuck no!' "Nina, you have school. You can't just ditch a whole year of school."
Takeo chuckled. "Yes foolish child, you are not like Natsuki, you wouldn't be able to easily catch up, now go back to your room." Nina whined, but Natsuki disengaged herself from her.
"Ew Nina, you left snot all over my shirt." Natsuki whined as Nina wiped her tears away before running to her room.
Ripping off her white dress shirt, only to reveal she was wearing a second one underneath, Natsuki threw her soiled one into the fireplace. Takeo rose an eyebrow, laughing. "Why are you wearing two shirts Natsuki?" He asked, Saeko laughing as well.
Natsuki grinned, and put her hands on her hips. "I got cold, and I didn't want to wear a coat. That, and I knew I would be attacked by snot, one way or another." Natsuki crossed her arms and pouted.
Takeo stared, and began to laugh again, and soon the three of them were laughing merrily, as the fire crackled.
In Italy, Natsuki just arrived and breathed in the night air. "I can't believe I'm doing this..." She whispered, very happy as she looked up at the museum she stood in front of.
Taking a deep breath, she entered the prestigious museum.
In France a month after, a gala was being held in Kruger Natsuki's honor. "Our budding new artist is traveling the world and leaves later tonight for India. But before she can escape, she has to reveal her latest piece!" The audience laughed and eagerly awaited the blunette's reveal.
Natsuki walked onto the stage and waved, before turning to the piece which was covered with a white cloth. "May we present to you, the newest piece by the brilliant Kruger Natsuki!" The blunette ripped off the sheet and smiled.
Gasps erupted all around the large room. Collectors gathered around the stage, wishing to buy it, offering ridiculous amounts of money. Natsuki smirked, and crossed her arms.
India, one month later, a swarm of bodies mixed together on a large bed, moans emitting loudly.
"Natsuki..." "Kruger..." "Master..." The motions stopped, and two tanned skinned woman with long dark hair sat up, naked and shining with sweat. "Master? What's that about, Nisha?" One asked, as the other sat up as well, sheepish look on her face.
The triplets then looked down to the blue haired woman once she began to chuckle. "Shiva, Amala, Nisha, let's not fight when there are other ways to...settle the score." Emerald eyes twinkled naughtily and soon the four were a mesh of bodies once more.
Spain, three months later, a collection of pieces were being presented, but Natsuki was currently participating in a club. A meeting with aspiring artists, giving them tips.
Tips on how to draw the nude body. Natsuki, of course, is doing so at her penthouse while walking around with only jeans on with the aspiring artists, females she hand picked from the art school there.
She had picked only five of the most beautiful women there. Natsuki was lucky to even find that many. As she strode between them, she began to unbutton her jeans.
Reaching the front, she spoke as she pulled her jeans down. "Remember girls, you must pay close attention to every curve." She winked, and posed.
New York, two months later, Natsuki stood in front of a nightclub. "Hm, the journalist asked to meet me here. Best go in, it's getting cold." Heading inside, she noticed the lights inverted the colors, and her eyes took a second to get adjusted.
She quickly noticed the enthusiastic blonde reporter with sapphire eyes, and headed her way with a smile. Stretching out her hand, Natsuki smirked. "Hello Alyssa, I apologize for making you wait." The golden haired woman blushed when Natsuki kissed her hand.
"You'll just have to make it up to me then, won't you?" Alyssa winked.
"Yes I will." Natsuki winked back, and ordered them both a drink, getting them without being carded.
Taking a sip from her cocktail, Alyssa smiled. "Let's start this thing!" She cheered, and Natsuki chuckled as she leaned against the bar, smirking. Damn...Kruger was sexilicious.
"So, what inspires you?" Alyssa asked, pen over paper and sapphire eyes twinkling.
Natsuki thought for a minute. "Everything, especially beautiful woman like you." The blunette winked.
Blushing, Alyssa cleared her throat. "Ah...how would you describe yourself?"
"Well, I am highly intelligent, a genius actually...very charming...and great in bed." Natsuki flashed a killer smile.
The next morning, Alyssa woke up in an expensive hotel room, at a loss for what had happened. Touching her mussed hair, she tried to stand only to find her legs wobbly and useless. "What...what happened last night? Last thing I remember was meeting Kruger at the club and then...what hap- oh..."
Remembering what happened the night before, strong porcelain arms around her and an indescribable heat in emerald eyes, Alyssa blushed and bit her lip. Before panicking, remembering that Natsuki was only a teenager, and not remembering if she was legal.
Noticing a note on the other pillow, Alyssa picked it up.
'I bet you're freaking out right about now, wondering if I'm legal or not, don't worry I'm eighteen, have been for a while. Don't worry about the interview, I handed your boss an interview by a certain blonde reporter I met last night, he should be going over it as you read this. If you're ever in Japan or I happen to be here, give me a call. By the time you finish reading this, you'll have received a text from me. Save that number, it's for you and I alone to communicate. Love, Kruger Natsuki.'
Sure enough, Alyssa heard her phone go off alerting her of a new text message.
The rest of Natsuki's travels held similar results in every country she went to, until finally her year of freedom came to an end.
Nineteen, and famous the world throughout, Natsuki stood in front of her home, and smiled. The doors burst open, and twelve year old Nina ran as fast as she could, catching Natsuki in a bear hug, crying all over her.
Takeo and Saeko also stepped outside, and Nina looked to their father. "Sorry, Natsuki-oneechan." She apologized, getting off and wiping Natsuki's shirt clean.
"How were your travels, Natsuki?" Takeo asked, as the two parents walked closer. "Did you bring me any souvenirs?" Saeko asked.
"Calm down Saeko-mama, calm the fuck down!" Natsuki laughed and wiped tears from her eyes. "No mother, but I did bring home my ten new wives!" Natsuki gestured down the road.
"Natsuki!" Saeko's horror stricken face spoke volumes of her shock. "I was just messing with you mother! I did not pick up any wives, though I did bring you this elephant sculpture." Taking it from her bag, Natsuki gave it to Saeko.
"Father, I brought you gifts as well." Natsuki presented a silver and gold revolver, as well as a beautiful sword she picked up on her travels. "Thank you Natsuki, these are exquisite!" Takeo bowed and took them, examining them closely.
"What about me?" Nina asked, looking excited. Natsuki grinned.
"Oh, of course I brought you something as well!" Natsuki went and brought a duck in a cage. "I found him in France, and had him sent here right before my flight. I hope you like him. His name is Carl."
Nina shrieked and ran into the house. "What was that about?" Takeo laughed, as Natsuki also burst out laughing.
Natsuki wiped a tear, before sighing. "Oh, I forgot to mention I also brought her a necklace from Russia. Oh well, she find out in due time." Of course, the necklace was Nina's name formed into a duck...
"Natsuki, that was uncalled for! You know your sister is terrified of ducks!" Saeko scolded, a scowl on her face. "Is she mother, I thought she was over it years ago." Natsuki idly looked at her nails.
"Well she's not." Saeko huffed and went after her youngest daughter. Takeo strode forward and clapped his perfect daughter on the shoulder. "Natsuki, that was brilliant! Welcome back, my daughter!"
"Thank you father, just wait until you see Nina's other gift." Natsuki laughed once more. The two stood in front of the chateau, same cobalt hair, identical emerald eyes, smiling.
Shooting up from the cot in her dark cell, twenty-three year old Natsuki was sweating immensely and screaming for her father. Hair clinging to her forehead and her throat raw, she looked around the cell she was imprisoned in.
Wiping her forehead on her uniform sleeve, Natsuki swallowed and stood shakily, facing the bars and leaning her head against them to cool down.
A voice across from her gave her a start. "Hey kid, you alright?" Chie asked, leaning against the bars as well, seeing beads of sweat streaking down Natsuki's pale face.
Breathing in deeply, Natsuki coughed before speaking. "Where am I?" Her emerald eyes pulsed as memories of the past days flooded her mind. "Oh, right." Kruger smirked as she leaned her head back to look up at the dull ceiling. "I'm in jail." She chuckled mockingly and closed her eyes.
Looking into the cell across from her, Natsuki smiled. "Chie, was it? I'm perfectly alright." The blunette assured with a crooked grin.
Chie lifted an eyebrow, noticing that while Kruger seemed different, she wasn't being the childish girl, nor the cold woman.
"You sure about that?" The pepper haired woman asked, receiving a wider grin in response.
"As sure as a psychopath on a rampage." Kruger winked. Natsuki's playful face changed into confusion as Chie flinched at that, but she shrugged it off as an officer with blonde hair appeared, walking down the corridor.
"So officer...uh...Smith! What did ol' Kruger do to end up behind these bars, eh?" Natsuki asked, laughing playfully as the officer raised an eyebrow, before smiling cruelly.
"You seem rather joyful to be awaiting your death in a few days." He spoke monotonously, his eyes laughing at her.
"Death? This is death row? This must be some kind of mistake, even on pure Russian vodka, I never did anything that bad!" Natsuki panicked, and put a hand to her face, eyes widening as she felt the scar on her left eye. "Where did this come from!" She growled to herself, shaking her head, light dancing off of her black lip ring.
"Who would dare mar the face of a Kruger?" Natsuki growled louder, feeling the scar top to bottom before noticing the officer was still smiling cruelly. Emerald eyes scowled as Officer Smith laughed.
Down the hall, the heavy doors to death row opened and a woman with long blue hair stepped in, looking slightly fearful as she was led by a chestnut haired girl down the corridor. When they heard the sound of a conversation, they stopped, out of sight of Officer Smith and Kruger.
"Your younger sister's dyke of a lover, that's who. Not surprised, seeing as how you killed your sister in cold blood and raped her." Officer Smith smiled wide as Natsuki stared at him with disbelieving eyes.
"I...what? That...that...can't..." Natsuki sputtered, holding onto her head with her left hand as her right gripped the bars tightly, knuckles turning a ghostly white.
Shizuru placed a hand over her mouth to stop from uttering a noise, her crimson eyes shocked at the bluntness and cruelty of this officer.
"Killed your own mother too. Must have done something bad, to have just pissed you off like that, eh?" Smith smirked. Gritting her teeth, Natsuki lifted her gaze from the floor and threw her hands through the bars and around the officer's neck, tightening her grasp as she choked him.
"Liar!" She screamed as Smith began letting out choked laughs. Shizuru watched on in fear while the blue haired Matsuri glared and tightened her jaw. Running to the officer, she uppercut him, causing Natsuki to let him go.
Hitting her knees, Natsuki looked to her hands as they began to shake and her eyes welled up with tears. "No...no..." Repeating this mantra as tears streamed down her face, Natsuki stared at her tarnished hands.
Snapping out of it, Shizuru ran to the cell and knelt down as well, stretching her arms through the bars and wrapping them around Natsuki's neck, hugging the older woman as close as she could.
"Tch...bastard." Matsuri spat upon the officer, pushing her glasses up before delivering a strong kick to his face, knocking him out.
The doors opened once more, and Officer Greer took in the sight before her. Walking up to the three still conscious, Miyu looked to the downed officer, before kicking him in the ribs.
"Unneeded provocation of a prisoner." Her voice toned as she picked him up by his collar, nodded to Matsuri in understanding, and began to walk away as calmly as when she had walked in.
Glaring, Shizuru gently disentangled herself from Natsuki and ran to catch up with Miyu. "Stop, please!" Shizuru requested, and was granted.
Rearing a leg back, Shizuru kicked officer Smith in the groan, satisfied smile when she heard him groan. Nodding to Miyu, and getting one back, Shizuru returned to the downed Kruger.
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand stubbornly, Natsuki lifted her face when she felt a caress upon her cheek.
Looking up, emerald eyes widened. "Matsuri..." Kruger whispered, as the older woman knelt in front of the bars, Shizuru coming up beside her.
Matsuri nodded, determined look on her face. "Yes, it's me Natsuki. Takeo, I know you're listening." She glared into emerald eyes that turned into the coldest things she had ever witnessed.
A cruel grin spread over pearly teeth, and Kruger spoke. "It's been a long time, sister."
Review at your leisure.