Disclaimer:
Not mine. Not that I mind as long as I get to translate them without losing my mind. -grins-

Summary:
We now enter the main part of the story. It continues from Natsuki's promise in their previous lives to be the one loving Shizuru. We now move to a somewhat Mai-Otome world. Do however, keep in mind this is an Alternate Universe (AU) so do not be surprise if things are different from Mai-Otome.

Entangled Love

Chapter 2 - Loveless (Part 2)

Authored by asuka

Translated by glowie

Gently she lowered the beauty within her arms unto the luxurious and spacious couch.

Cloud-like light brown curls spread themselves on the silk-like material of the couch.

Staring dreamily into the pair of crimson orbs, "Shizuru, why? Why can't I ever see you clearly?"

Fingers gently, lovingly tracing her delicate face; leaving feather light trails over her brows... her eyes... her face... her lips...

"Natsuki, I'm right here, right in front of you."

Reaching for Natsuki's hands, she held them close; resting her cheeks against her open palms. Gazing assuring into jade green eyes are crimson orbs overflowing with gentle loving care.

That mesmerizing gaze that could draw and drown anyone that wandered into their path. But... No! This is not what I want! This was but one of the many facets Shizuru uses. One of the many that she uses on others... on myself...

She is treating me like she would anyone else... this is not special... I am not special... this is not love.

I should be special... softly she mouthed these words. As she did this, Natsuki can't help but laughed bitterly at her own one-sided assumption, arrogance even.

Shizuru had never once said that I am special... the most I could get out of her was 'most liked'. Those two words left a bitter aftertaste.

Shizuru spends most of her time with me but that's just because I forcefully and shamelessly abuse the power I had, chaining her to me; not caring what she really feels. If everything were left to run in their natural state... will Shizuru still be at my side?

Lowering her head, she claimed her lips possessively, wild with desire; desperate for assurance.

There were no resistance, no rejection. Regardless of her actions, be they gentle or rough, she willingly obliged.

It has always been like this. Even on their first night, Shizuru was as accepting, bearing, resigned?

Covering Shizuru's hands with her slightly larger and stronger hands, fingers sought and weaved with their counterparts.

Raven blue hair intertwined with light brown as if foretelling the entanglement of their love hate relationship throughout the passage of time, throughout their past, current and future lives.

Body onto body, skin onto skin, not leaving any gaps in between; they moved against each other. Wave after wave of pleasure flood their senses, the intense urgency of their actions driving them to fulfill their desire burning from within.

But, even then, even when I have you tightly locked within my arms, even when our bodies are closely joined as one, Shizuru... why? Why can't I see you clearly?

"Shizuru, Shizuru... please... look at me. Only me!"

Softly she repeated her pleas, cries of drowning person, again and again.

Sometimes both of them would, like this time, be overtaken by their sudden urge and quench their desire in the office. But more often they would enjoy their intimacy in Natsuki's room.

In each and every night, after their intimacy, Shizuru would usually fall asleep soon after. During these times, she'll call out her name again and again.

"Shizuru... Shizuru... Shizuru..."

Each and every one of those lingering syllable heavily coated with painful longing.

Tightly she held the sleeping beauty; that body which should have given warmth; the soft silky covers that should have given comfort... but...

So cold. So very cold. From deep within her heart it creeps, seeping deeply into her bones, coursing through her limbs, threatening to freeze the blood in her veins.

Unable to feel any warmth or comfort from the body within her embrace. Numbed and stiff arms unable to pull that body any closer.

She cried.

Soundlessly she wept, in each and every one of those nights... alone she spiraled within her darkness.

On rare occasions, Shizuru would awake and those beautiful crimson orbs of hers will gently look at her; observing silently.

Situated on top of Garderobe's tallest tower, the headmistress room is never in need of light.

In the day, sunlight has free access through the huge glass window decorated with intricate cravings; its rays bouncing off its curves giving one the illusion of being in a crystal palace.

In the night, soft gentle moonlight shower its gentle glow, illuminating everything in its presence.

No darkness befalls this place.

However, even when she can see a speck of dirt on the glass window, she could never make out Shizuru's face... the sole exception being her crimson orbs.

At this, Natsuki will nuzzle closer to the body beside her and she in turn would pull her closer into her arms.

Sometimes... this will be enough for the raven-haired beauty and allow sleep to finally claim her until the return of the sunlight signaling the beginning of the next day.

Other times... she would resume their love making till every last ounce of her strength had been spent before succumbing to sleep.

Throughout it all, one thing remained constant. On the very next day when she awoke; Shizuru will never be at her side. Rather, presented before her would be a neatly dressed, wearing her usual gentle smile, Shizuru. Also present, ready on her table, her breakfast.

Sometimes the breakfast will be the only thing that greeted jade green orbs. In times like these, there'll be a note explaining her absence, something urgent she had to attend to. Following that will be her daily schedule. Item by item neatly lay out, detailing every to-dos' for the day. All she needed to do was to put them into execution.

Sometimes she can't help but think ... wouldn't it be better if Shizuru was the Gakuenchou instead?

Once, she even voiced out her thoughts to Shizuru. But she only smiled and said. "Understand this Natsuki; the academy needs you as its Gakuenchou."

That wasn't a question so she couldn't press for an answer but she honestly don't understand.

What is the reason for me being here? On the basis that you have thought and planned out everything beforehand, on the basis that you never needed me in the first place... really... I do not understand at all.

Just as I don't understand why... even now when our bodies are closely joined, I still cannot see your face clearly.

Forcefully she imprinted with passionate fervor, her markings of reddish purple unto those soft white skin.

The soft faint moaning of the person below her drove her on... losing herself in her need to please.

Not satisfied, she opened her mouth and proceeds to bite down hard on her shoulders. Faint taste of iron invaded her senses, the taste of blood.

A soft whimper was heard.

"Ahh-- Natsuki... Please do not use your teeth. Softer... okay?"

"... Sometimes... I really wish you would be angry with me."

"Why?"

---- Because you are always so polite and gentle towards everyone around you, because you are never angry at anyone. No matter what I do, be it hurting you or when I am being difficult. You and that smile of yours...

Natsuki did not share these thoughts of hers. Instead, she lifted up their joined bodies and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Kneeing her legs apart, she thrusts her tongue deep into her mouth as she entered into her.

Roughly, possessively she thrust deep into her.

Her insatiable appetite drove her to claim her over and over again. As if in doing so, she could fill the void, the sense of lost she felt deep within.

Glittering beads of sweat on her well toned body trickled down, mingling with those belonging to the body under her.

Sounds of moaning and raspy breaths filled the spacious office, tinting the atmosphere with their raw scent of desire. Only until the final moment of release did the breathings slowly subside.

Removing her fingers, she gently brushes aside tousled soft brown on her lover's sweat laden brow. Fingers unwilling to depart, lingered on her face, feeling along the sides of her face, leaving feather light trails in its wake.

"Shizuru... I love you."

The beauty nuzzle deeper into her, "Hmm" softly acknowledge.

In the end... you still can't say it... couldn't you...

The taste of bitter disappointment overwhelmed her heart and swept across her being.

Gently she moved her body from hers and sat up.

"Natsuki?"

Without saying a word, she lifted Shizuru's feet while her hands caress them lovingly. Holding her ankle, she held it to her lips and started to place feather light kisses.

"I love you. I love you. Shizuru..."

She kept repeating her declaration softly as her lips continue to shower their appreciation unto her delicate legs. One after another, they placed tingling kisses wherever they roam, licking and suckling with longing before moving on to their next destination.

Those wet, soft and mind numbing teases causes Shizuru to cry out soft moans of delight. The strings of her love declaration never ending as the kisses continue their trek higher up Shizuru's leg.

Gentle and endearing kisses lingered upon every inch of Shizuru's body, no spot were left unattended.

Every spot, every part of her body must be branded with me. You are mine!

Before long, they are again lost in another session of love making... forsaking the primal fury of the previous, this time around, Natsuki's each and every act of love was filled with deliberate patience, each and every touch lovingly gentle, as they sought to bring the love of her life, her most precious to the brink of her release.

Only when she couldn't give anymore did she allow herself to sink into the other's embrace.

Foreheads touching, fingers weaved; crimson upon jade green... there they stayed.

This time, Natsuki could clearly see her own reflection being reflected upon the sea of crimson... it seemed... so lost, so restless. Panicked, she tried to reaffirm her findings but crimson orbs had turned away.

Releasing her hold, "Natsuki, we have to get up now. There is a meeting scheduled for this afternoon."

Smiling softly towards her, Shizuru left the couch which still housed their bodies earlier.

Silently she watched the perfect figure belonging to the love of her life; branded upon their pearly white skin, countless red purplish marks; her marks.

Noticing Natsuki's gaze, she shakes her head in exasperation.

"Natsuki is such a passionate person."

She slowly approached Natsuki and reaching out; she gently traces Natsuki's face.

"Natsuki is not only beautiful but is also the strongest among the five columns. In front of others, you always put up a cold demeanor, always like a mountain of ice. The others might take it that you are such because of your magical affinity but only I know the real Natsuki. You are both cold and passionate, rough and gentle, strong and weak... so very adorable. Because of this, I like Natsuki the best.

As she said this, her fingers left Natsuki's face. Taking two steps back, her hands started emitting purplish light. As the purple light expanded and engulfed the whole of Shizuru's body, jade green eyes dimmed in resignation.

Gone... gone are the markings left by Natsuki. As the purple light disappear so did all the evidence of their love making.

That is the power of the Amethyst of Charming Beauty, the 3rd of the five columns, the power of healing. Bearing the affinity of the wind; strongest of the defensive magic. The exact opposite of her own... ice.

Picking up her discarded clothing, she quickly put them on. Turning around, she saw the raven-haired beauty still curled up in the couch.

"Come on Natsuki, don't be lazy... Ara ara, did Natsuki used up all her strength already?"

"... You go ahead. I'll catch up."

"Hrmm... very well then."

Before leaving, she walked towards the work desk, picked up the bag of cookies discarded on the floor and dumps it into the bin without even a second look. She then proceed to pick up the scattered speech and arranged them neatly back unto the desk.

Smiling at the person who had been observing her all this while, "Natsuki, you have better hurry." she urge before leaving the room.

As the door closes, Natsuki slumped down in resignation.

"In the end... I am but one among your countless lovers, In the end... the only thing I manage to possess are the two words, 'most liked'.

Sharp nails bit down hard on her palms as she clenched her fist; trickling out from the white-knuckled fist, drops of warm red liquid. No amount of physical pain however, could ever rival the pain that she had to helplessly endure, time and time again, the pain of her own heart being torn apart.

Debts of previous lives; seemingly fated to be returned in full in this.

It almost seemed as if the world is fair after all.

But the destiny of these two maiden, helplessly strung along by the massive wheel of fate, when... when can their entangling tale of love and hate comes to an end?

TBC

Author's Remarks:
Shizuru's character is slightly more complicated in this fic. She is flirtatious, has many lovers, never rejecting any who approached. However, she still maintained the distant coldness from her previous life (My-Hime). She felt nothing at all about throwing away the bag of cookies. Amongst her countless lovers, Natsuki is still her favorite but it is only to the extend of 'like' never love. She never spoke of love (hurt beyond words in her previous life as if to protect herself in this, she played the Casanova true and true. Never to have her heart moved, never to have it love anyone).
This is why this piece is called 'loveless'.
As for Natsuki, her possessiveness and ... obsession to Shizuru rivals Shizuru's in their past life. She sees Shizuru as her one and only but she herself is but one of the many for Shizuru. However, I don't have it in me to really separate the entanglement of these two, so even if it's like and not love, I have made Natsuki, Shizuru's most liked.
I really do not like Natsuki's Gakuenchou's uniform. I don't like her top at all. Thus in this, I have made hers akin to what a noble would wear in Olden Europe. White coloured long sleeve shirt under a tight fitting jacket and collar-neck scarf.
(glowie: really sorry about the description on Natsuki's uniform... I have no idea what it looks like so I am doing a crappy work at describing what I have no idea about. -blush-)

Notes:
Ahh.. there you have it! The intro to their current lives. But I think I mess up all the intimate scenes (which is a lot!). Sigh... oh well... like I always says... if the translation ain't that good just concentrate on the story and use your imagination... -grins-

As usual please send me corrections, suggestions and etc...
PS: You don't even need to sound polite when correcting me. -grins-
-FLAME PROOF SUIT ON!-

And if you're one of the unluckly ones who thought the angst factor ain't that high after going thru Chapter 1... and dare I say it... LET YOUR GUARD DOWN... and err.. sort of got hurt... erm... my condolences? -grins-
(seriously... my thousand apologies)

Anyways, I hope you guys like it. For myself, if its any consolation, I was sooo hurt when I read this piece. I kept replaying it in my mind for days!
(I read the whole story in one go... from prologue all the way to the end... oh my poor heart)

IF any of you have murderous intent in your eyes right now... just let me say this... Fluff... yes... am working on it.

Hrmm... weird... I am re-reading this and somehow... I dont feel the angst at all... Did I do something wrong? -scratches head-
Either something was lost in the translation or I am emotionally numb.