I apologize for the wait, finals have been sneaking up on me and then popped up out of nowhere!
Hopefully you enjoy this chapter, it kinda took the story in a completely different way then I intended when I started this...but I hope you like it.
Again feed back is greatly appreciated!
Natsuki's head snapped toward the door. Her heart filled with dread.
Shizuru let go of her head and stepped toward the door. Glancing through the peephole she saw a young woman with flaming red hair cut short. Confused she unlocked the door and opened it.
"Hello…How may I help you?" She questioned, with a smile plastered on her face.
"Yes, my name is Nao Yuuki, and I'm looking for a young woman…She goes by the name Natsuki".
Shizuru felt her smile falter slightly. "Why are you looking for her, is she a criminal?" the taller woman questioned.
Nao put on a grave face, putting as much empathy into it as she could manage. "I'm afraid she is a patient at the mental Hospital. She has run off, and I heard someone say they saw a young woman matching her description." She hung her head slightly
"Mental hospital?" Shizuru asked in surprise.
Nao nodded "She has hallucinations. She thinks she is a supernatural being. It's quite sad really, such a nice girl. She's very convincing…you'd be surprised how many people believe her."
Shizuru froze, her smile still firmly in place. She heard the movement behind her, glancing back she saw Natsuki standing there. Her skin appeared to be more pale then usual, her eyes wide. Shizuru moved slightly in front of her.
-h-
Natsuki stared at the doorway, the shadows swirling angrily around the figure standing there.
The sickly sweet voice broke through: "Natuski…it's been a while" Nao smiled. The dark haired girl finally took notice of the tall shape standing slightly in front of her; stepping around Shizuru she narrowed her eyes at the demon in front of her.
"Now Natsuki, we can do this the hard way or the easy way…it's really your choice" Nao spoke.
Natsuki squinted in the red heads direction, making out her flaming red hair and lime green eyes; the evil glint from memory was still firmly in place. Natsuki stepped forward and brining her fist she struck. Her fist flew past Nao's ear. Bringing her other one around, she missed again. Quickly spinning she brought her leg around hoping to catch the red head on the side of the head.
Natuski felt the cold hand wrap around her ankle before she could react. Her body slammed into the ground, her head bouncing of the cold hard tiles.
The dark haired woman heard her name yelled out. Natuski rolled out of the way glancing back in time to see the dark outline of a boot right where her head used to be.
Raising her hand Natsuki concentrated past the throbbing of her head, and forced the shadows forward. They charged at Nao, swarming her, swiping scratching tugging at the red head. The exertion was beginning to takes it tolls on the dark haired girl, as she could feel her concentration slipping.
Nao felt the cold slashing carving up her cloths and skin. Growling angrily she ran at the tawny haired woman who had stepped out into the hall. Nao grabbed her around the waist. Sneering at Natsuki who was still on the floor she began to shimmer. "I guess you chose the hard way. Since you refuse to come, I'll take this lovely woman instead." Nao said, winking at Natsuki.
Shizuru watched as Natuski's face went from anger to shock and worry. It seemed like her world slowed down, Natuski leapt up off the ground and charged at them. She felt her self being knocked back as the world dimmed.
-h-
Shizuru hadn't realized she had closed her eyes. Slowly opening them she glanced around. The world was dim, only a slight orange tinge could be seen. Shizuru brought her hand up to rub her temples; a slight throbbing was beginning to irritate her.
She took a step forward, her foot splashed as it landed in a puddle. Shizuru looked down at it in frustration, feeling the water soak through her sock.
"AHHHH!"
Shizuru spun around; she felt the scream right down to hear bones. The throbbing in her head began to thump, but not an uncomfortable, it fuled her adrenaline.
Shizuru took off sprinting in the direction of the scream. Her sprint lead her to a small tunnel, quickly ducking down she shuffled through watching her head. The path spilt in two, stopping and listening shizuru heard the clank of metal and some muffled voices.
Walking quickly in the direction of the voices ceiling raised, standing up straight she moved as silently as possible. The further she got the louder the voice was getting. She saw a door up head; shadows were making strange shapes as a torch burned on the opposite wall.
There was a small grate near the upper part of the door, slowly peeking through it; she could see Natsuki hanging from chains in the roof. Her view was obstructed by a figure stepping in front of her Natsuki.
Shizuru ducked down, listening intently she heard Nao speak "hmm…you don't seem as happy to see me as usual."
Shizuru flinched when she heard a smack. "You know Natusku, you could have just killed her…if you'd done that you'd be forgiven for neglecting you duty" Nao said
Natsuki spoke, "there is no forgiveness in hell" she said quietly.
"Oh, poor Reaper…you only send people to hell, but yet you've never been yourself? How do you like it?" Nao asked. "I enjoy it myself, but then again being a demon might make me a biased party" she chuckled darkly.
Shizuru was frozen Hell! They were in Hell? Demon…everything she always brushed off was real, and she was stuck in it. Shivering from the cold coming off the metal door against her back, she tried to think of a way to get Natuski out of this.
Shizuru heard a whimper again but no sound that would explain the noise. Her imagination began to run wild with possible things Nao could be doing to her Natsuki at this very moment.
White-hot rage began to bubble within her. Standing up she glared at the offending door that stood between herself and Natsuki. The burning began to spread to her limbs, her eyesight sharpened, the shadows cast by the torch diminished till they were non-existent.
Breathing deeply Shizuru could feel her sane mind slipping away. The only thoughts that were coherent were that Natsuki was being hurt and she wasn't doing anything.
Shizuru stepped up to the door, raising her leg up she struck.
-h-
Natsuki heard the loud cracking sound and the screech of metal. Raising her head she saw a figure with burning red eyes. Her breath caught in her throat, those eyes reminded her of someone…but that's impossible, the last hydra died hundreds of years ago, I watched her die…
The tall figure stepped into the room, the closer they came the more the shadows in Natsuki vision began to scurry to and fro trying to hide. They were terrified of this person.
Nao had her back to Natsuki, just staring at the red eyed being. Before Nao could do anything the figure was attacking. They were both moving to fast for Natsuki to see what was going on.
They slowed down till the figure was holding Nao up by the throat before tossing her carelessly against the wall. They turned around slowly, Natsuki's eyes widened. Shizuru looked back at her. Her red eyes looked half crazed, and did not leave Natsuki's own emeralds as she walked closer.
Shizuru reached up above Natsuki's head and yanked on the chains suspending her from the ceiling. They broke loose causing Natsuki to fall and stumbled as her feet hit the earthen ground. Clutching her middle with her hands, she felt Shizuru's own wrap around her.
Shizuru's arms were shaking, and her head was resting against Natsuki's own.
Natuski could feel her breath against her ear "what's going on?" Shizuru whispered.
Straitening up slightly, Natsuki wrapped her arms around Shizuru's waist holding on tightly. "I couldn't control it, I wanted to kill her!" Shizuru broke in hysterically. "Why do I feel this way…." Shizru was shaking even more now, her breaths coming in shallow. "I need to protect you Natsuki, but I don't understand why I feel this way…please tell me!"
"…Viola..." Natsuki whispered
-h-
Natsuki stepped into the cave. She hadn't feared anything since she was human, but here she was trembling with fear as she walked deeper into the hydra's den.
The dark walls were sucking the little light that was filtering in from the entry of the cave, causing the interior to appear more eerie then it actually was. Up head she could hear the hesitant footsteps from the human who thought he was brave enough to slay the hydra. She shook her head at the thought…no one had managed it, not even some human man with a shiny sword.
She heard the steps slow to a halt. The cloaked figure walked up behind him, she peered around his shoulder in the narrow passage. She could see a light up ahead. Following behind the man, they entered into a large cavern with an underground lake filling the entire area, the small strip of ground she stood on spread halfway around the lake to her left and fell off into the black waters.
Natsuki stepped away from the waters edge, not having realized she'd come so close. Pressing her back to the caverns wall she stared attentively at the shiny black surface. She thought she saw a rippling come from the centre but she brushed it off as her imagination.
The foolish human who had slipped her mind took a step closer to the water, brining her focus back to him. He gripped the sword in both hands, gingerly stepping into the shallows. When nothing happened, he bent down picking up a rock he stood back up and tossed into the lake. The dark haired woman held her breath, as the echo of the splash faded away. The human smirked slightly when nothing happened. He stepped further into the water, chuckling lightly.
She watched him step further into the water. She had hoped that she wouldn't have to enter the lake to separate his soul, but from the way he was progressing deeper into the water it seemed like the fates were going to make her follow him.
Watching the ripples spreading out into the lake she noticed that not all of them were coming from his walking…some had originated from the middle of the dark water. Staring intently she saw some bubbles break the surface, then a huge head serpent like head rose out of the water. The sound of the water crashing back into the lake echoed all around, overwhelming Natsuki with the sound.
The man froze knee deep in the lake. He looked up, staring at the large head that was soon followed by more rising up to either side of the centre one. The cloaked figure on the bank stared in shock. The red slitted eyes looked at the human unblinking.
Bowing its head it came closer to the human, almost taunting it with how close it had come. The human took his chance. Jumping forward he brought his sword down, only for it to crash into the water. The hydra had pulled back just in time. Its other head had come around from behind him, grabbing him in its mouth it plunged back into the water.
Natsuki stared at the place the creature had disappeared into. The feeling of the man's life ebbing away reached the woman on the shore. She could feel herself began to walk toward the dark waters. His life was calling to her; the overwhelming erg to free his soul was becoming too strong. She felt the exact moment his body died, but his soul was still being held, if she didn't get to him soon he'd come back only to drown again.
She hadn't realized she'd entered the water till she saw the glimmer of scales near the surface not far away from her. Freezing mid-step she saw the creature raise one of its heads above the water. It stared at her, the water shining off its dark scales, causing the small amount of light in the chamber to dance along the walls. Natsuki couldn't help but think the creature was beautiful, though the fear quickly started to come back to her, as its large head moved down toward her.
The animal stopped moving about 2 meters away from her. Staring at the animal up close she could see that some of the scales were tinted purple. There was a low growl, which brought her eyes back to the hydras eyes. The animal seemed to be glaring at her. Gulping she went to move back, but it growled again.
Natsuki didn't know what it wanted, but it didn't want her to move, but it was also not happy with her just standing there either. Swallowing quickly Natsuki spoke "What do you want? I'm here to do a job…but I c-can't get it done with you just standing there!" She cringed inwardly at her stutter.
She clenched her hands together tightly, she had no idea if this would be the end of her immortal existence or if maybe she could just run and leave the human's soul where it is.
The hydra seemed to stop glaring and its eyes softened slightly. The cloaked figure moved her foot back again. This time the creature didn't do anything. Natsuki stepped completely out of the water before meeting the hydras eyes again.
Natsuki felt more confident after it didn't do anything. Pulling her hood off, she glared at the hydra darkly. "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go swimming for that body you left at the bottom of this lake!" She said harshly.
The hydra just pulled completely out of the water, and moved off to the side as if to allow her access to the dark lake. Natsuki pulled her cloak off and set it further up the shore hoping to keep it dry. The dark haired woman stepped back into the cold water. Eyeing the hydra warily, she thought it looked almost amused which began to replace her fear with irritation.
She stepped further in and swam to the middle of the lake. She could feel the human's soul calling out right under her. Glancing down she treaded water before diving under the icy water.
She swam deeper; the water felt like it was closing in on her. The darkness seeping into her vision began to make her feel vulnerable. She could see the body a little deeper. Pulling herself closer, she came to a stop right above it. She lowered her hand onto the man, concentrating on his soul; she slowly detached it from his physical body. After the process was complete she pushed off the ground and swam as quickly to the surface as she could. She didn't need to breath, but the idea of not breathing for so long was unnerving. When she broke the surface she took a large gulp of air feeling it spread through her lungs brought her comfort.
She swam back to shore, pulling herself out of the water she noticed the hydra was not where it was when she went under. Natsuki glanced around, and then finally spotted, sitting near her cloak, a woman.
This woman had long light brown hair that was let loose and flowed down her back. Her lightly tanned skin showing no blemishes. Natsuki felt herself grow embarrassed when she realized that this woman was not wearing any coverings, she was completely nude and seemed to not mind what so ever.
Clearing her throat she slowly stepped forward. The woman tipped her head forward from where it had been leaning against the wall. She opened her eyes, and smiled at Natsuki.
Natsuki's mouth fell open, when she saw her slitted ruby eyes looking right back at her. The woman had two small fangs that were showing in her smile. The dark haired girl moved to the side, trying to get to her cloak but not walk directly up to the woman. Seeing her actions the tawny haired women began to smirk.
The dark haired girl noticed that the hydra had not moved, so she took her chance and walked quickly up to her cloak. Bending down she grabbed it, standing back up the woman across from her mirrored her actions.
Natsuki froze clutching on the piece of cloth tightly. The woman tilted her head down, trying to meet Natsuki eyes. Looking down at her with a slight frown she brought her hand to the dark haired woman's cheek. She ducked down slightly, and drew Natsuki's face up with her hand.
The hydra began to gently caress Natsuki's cheek with her thumb "I've never met such a beautiful reaper before…" she said softly.
Natsuki felt warmth spread through her body that she had never experienced before. She felt the heat fill her cheeks, "umm...you are the hydra!" She felt silly with her response, 'of course she's the hydra, who else would she be' Natsuki admonished herself.
Chuckling lightly she brought her other hand up to Natsuki's wet hair and tucked it behind her ear. "Please, I would much rather have you call me Viola, hydra is just what the people have named me. I'd rather you call me by my real one." She said, looking almost hopeful.
Natsuki nodded, her heart began to beat faster then it had in a long time. Brining her hand up to cover the one on her cheek she spoke the name "…viola…"