A/N: I'm sorry, I did not mean for the story to take this long. But, I can say that it is almost done. I hope you will enjoy this chapter and the next one is already completed, so it should be up in a couple days.
Please enjoy!
Natsuki, pulled away from Shizuru. The sound of someone crashing through the bushes turned her attention away. There, standing at the edge of the clearing was Takeda.
The dark haired woman's mouth dropped open in shock. How was he alive? Shizuru turned to look in the direction of this person.
Shizuru cocked her head to the side. Glancing down at Natsuki, she saw the pale face look on with a mix of fear and shock. Shizuru fearing for Natuki's safety placed herself between Natsuki and the new person.
Takeda spotted Natsuki, a smile spread across his face. "Natsuki… I'm so happy to see you" His eyes narrowed. His face was screwed into a strange smirk and a sneer.
Natsuki felt herself tense up. There was no way that he could be back, unless they were actually in hell, which would make Viola actually dead. Was she wrong, could they not be on the mortal plane? She looked at Shizuru's back. What should she do? What will happen?
The air around them was thick with tension, with both sides watching the other. Takeda took a step forward, lifting his hand in invitation. "Please Natsuki, let me embrace you. It has been so long"
Takeda stepped forward, staring intently passed Shizuru. Natsuki was stuck in her mind, flashes of her old life, so long ago rushing past. Natsuki felt her body betray her. She stepped around Shizuru as if it was natural for her to accept the contact that Takeda was offering.
Shizuru grabbed Natsuki's arm, pulling her to a stop. "Natsuki" She hissed at the other girl. Shizuru watched the girl shrug from her grip, not pausing to look back. Takeda's smile widened. His Natsuki was coming to him. That monster didn't hold a candle to him.
Natsuki came up to him, not looking him in the eye. Her face tipped down, he closed the remaining distance. He brought his arms up and pulled Natsuki against him. The power he felt spread through his body. Natsuki felt the shadows cover her vision completely. Shizuru wasn't near; they were controlling her movements. Natsuki was trapped in her own mind. 'Shizuru, help' Natsuki's mind cried out.
Shizuru felt lost, did Natsuki want Takeda back, she had seemed so fearful at first. Her face already so pale had turned an ashen grey the minuet he was standing with them in the clearing. Shizuru stepped closer, her hand reaching out for the dark haired woman. She was so confused, what was happening.
Natsuki, did not move her arms up, she knew Takeda was holding her, knew his arms were wrapped around her back. "Natuski?" She heard Shizuru call out. 'Shizuru!' Natsuki thought. She struggled up from the dark; taking control of her limp arms she pushed Takeda away. The shadows screamed in annoyance. Swirling in and out. Natsuki only catching glimpses of light.
"You are dead!" Natsuki said shakily. Her voice was not as firm as she'd hoped. She felt the shadows reach toward the man, trying to grasp at his soul. Realizing the shadows wanted to end his life. Natsuki delved into his mind, she felt his life force hanging on, but it felt wrong. He wasn't supposed to be here at all. Natsuki's eyes widened in realization, "you were brought back!"
Shizuru watched as the dark haired woman spun around, staring into the trees. Shizuru walked up to her, keeping a wary eye on the one called Takeda. "Come out Reito!" Natsuki yelled.
Shizuru glanced toward where Natsuki had yelled. She saw movement and watched as a tall, dark haired man stepped out of the woods. She stared at him, 'how had I not sensed his presence'. She watched him intently, she felt a stirring of memory. She'd seen this man before.
Natsuki lay on the banks of the large underground lake. She was waiting for shizuru to emerge from the water. Something about someone having tried to kill her again that she had to take care of. Natsuki heard the sound of water pouring back into the lake. Opening her eyes, she saw the large serpent like head hovering over hers. Natsuki sat up with a start, not expecting Shizuru to remain in her Hydra form.
"Ara ara, Natuski, you still fear me?" Shizuru asked with a sad voice, shifting to her human form.
Natuski stared in shock, "What! No! Never, w-well, maybe at first, but not now." She leapt up wrapping her arms around the taller woman. Shizuru placed her arms around the dark haired woman's shoulders, placing her head upon the dark hair.
They stood there for a few minutes before Natsuki pulled back, she had a large smile on her face. "I have a surprise for you Shizuru!" Natsuki exclaimed.
"A surprise? You didn't have to get me anything my Natsuki, your presence is gift enough" Shizuru's smile widened when she saw the blush on the other woman's cheeks.
Natsuki turned away quickly, she ran over to her bag. She pulled out a large burgundy cloth. Standing up, she brought it back to the other woman. Letting it unfold, she held it up. The cloth stretched out until it hit the ground.
"Oh, what is it?" Shizuru asked her, head cocked to the side. Stepping closer she ran her fingers along the cloth.
"It's a cloak!" Natsuki exclaimed, I thought the colour would match your eyes. I bought it in a market; I even dressed in the modern clothes and spoke to the vendor! I tried it before, but I wore this" She fingered the black cloak hanging from her shoulders "they were a bit shocked and wouldn't sell me anything" she said self consciously.
"Natsuki does appear to be very scary wearing all black" Shizuru said, smiling at the other girl, before lowering her head to the other woman's ear "very mysterious… I wonder what's underneath" Shizuru felt the heat rise off the other's skin.
"Sh-Shizuru!" She exclaimed, turning her face away. Before turning back "You could if you wanted" She muttered, almost too quietly for Shizuru's keen ears to pick up. Her smile grew. Natsuki looked up, seeing the smile she couldn't help back smile back.
Natsuki turned her eyes back to the cloak she held up, "hold still" she said to Shizuru. Stepping around the other woman she placed the cloth on the taller woman's shoulders. "Put your arms in here" She said, while guiding Shizuru's right arm through the sleeve. Shizuru did the same to the other side. Natsuki came back around to her front. Where she buttoned it up at the top. Stepping back, she let her eyes roam down the other woman's body, before quickly looking back up at the vibrant red eyes.
Shizuru ran her hands down the cloth; she felt her heart swell emotions. Natsuki had thought of her even when she wasn't around. She even made herself be seen by mortals. She knew the young woman had a hard time doing that; the young girl already had a hard enough time seeing things when in her invisible body. "Thank you so much, Natsuki." Shizuru stepped closer, bringing her hand up to cup the smaller woman's cheek. She leaned in, brushing her lips across Natsuki's. The other woman leaned into her, her hands finding their way to the taller woman's hips. Natsuki wrapped her arms around her.
"I love you Shizuru" She spoke softly.
Shizuru couldn't help the wetness from her eyes as she whispered back. "I love you as well".
Sitting back down on the rocky beach Shizuru looked up. Natsuki would have usually sat next to her, telling her about her weeks or months and they'd spend the night talking. But, this time, Natsuki seemed to have other ideas.
"Shizuru come with me!" Natsuki said, her eyes hopeful
"Natsuki" the sitting woman said, "I can't leave"
Natsuki's face-hardened into determination
"No, you can, you just don't want to. I want to show you all these wonderful things outside this cave. There's more then just this lake!" she said, motioning to the water.
Shizuru stood up, "Natusuki this cave is where I belong. You know this! I cannot just go gallivanting off into the mortal world. I'm not mortal I'm noticeable" She said, her tone a bit harsher than she intended.
Natsuki glared up at her "You are so stuck in your own world, I want you to be with me. Not just once or twice a month." Natsuki spoke, her voice rising in tone.
Shizuru stepped closer "Natsuki, I will not leave. And maybe if you came more often you wouldn't feel so upset about this. Or if it's such an inconvenience you don't need to come back." Shizuru realized what she'd said, her anger getting the best of her. Natsuki's face scrunched up in hurt anger.
How did it come to this, they were sharing a moment only a little earlier. Natsuki dropped her head. She realized she was not worth it. Why would Shizuru not come with her? She'd protect her, take her somewhere with less people.
"Fine, I see how it is. I'm only here for your entertainment, but not good enough for you to leave"
Shizuru's eyes widened "No, Natsuki!" She ran after the other woman, who had walked over to the opening in the wall. The dark haired woman stepped out, "Natsuki!" Shizuru cried the other woman glanced over. Her emerald eyes were filled with tears. "Please don't leave," She pleaded, "I didn't mean what I said, and I love you. I just know nothing, but this." She motioned to the large cavern.
Natsuki came back "then why not come with me? I thought you'd want to"
Shizuru reached through the opening, grabbing the smaller girl's hand and pulling her back. She sighed, "I'm afraid Natsuki"
Natsuki's eyes widened in shock "afraid… afraid of what?"
"The largeness of the world. You always speak about it being so huge and being so small, so powerless in such a large place scares me." Shizuru hung her head in embarrassment
"But, Shizuru… you're the Hydra. You are a large creature, larger than anything I've seen. Why be afraid?" She placed her hand on the other woman's shoulder. Giving it a comforting squeeze.
"Because in this cavern I am the most dangerous thing, but out there it's unknown"
Natsuki nodded. She realized the fear she had was very real. Natsuki pulled the taller woman into a hug. "It's alright Shizuru, you don't have to come. I'll come here more" Shizuru nodded.
They embraced, both too preoccupied to notice the presence behind them.
"I'd never thought I'd find you here Natsuki." A cold voice spoke behind them.
Letting go, they both spun toward the intruder. Natsuki's mouth turned into a scowl "Reito, what are you doing here?"
With the man so close Natsuki could feel the shadows swooping in and out of her vision in frenzy, almost as if they were trying to escape this man's presence. Natsuki stepped forward, dropping her hand from Shizuru's arm. She stared at him, waiting for a response.
"I've come looking for the Reaper of course. You have a job to do, if you've forgotten" He said calmly. Stepping into the cave, he turned his eyes to glowing ruby orbs. His smile growing, "and is this the Hydra?" He said "Natsuki has been keeping her to herself I see"
Natsuki felt her stomach churn in disgust. "You are not welcome here Reito!" She growled out.
"That hurts! I'm only trying to be helpful, the souls are crying out for their dear Reaper" His voice dropped at the last word.
Natsuki's shadows obscured her vision, casting her into the shadows at his tone. She felt her body tensing, the shadows wanting her to attack this man and his smooth voice. Right before she could act on the urge she heard him gasp. Blinking, tried to understand what was happening. A bit of light spilled in, enough for her to see him staring over her shoulder. Quickly turning, she saw Shizuru had become the Hydra. Her multiple serpent like heads lowering down, hissing at the intrusion. Reito took a step back into the passage, away from the creature.
Reito felt his heart race, 'so much power!' he thought. He wanted it. He needed her power.
Retio, turned to Natsuki, still edging away from the large beast. "Natsuki, you cannot forsake your duty."
She nodded slowly. "I have not forgotten. But, you must leave, I will be out shortly."
Nodding, Reito turned and walked quickly away.
The darkness had left the minuet Reito was out of sight, the shadows calming and disappearing altogether.
"Shizuru…" Natsuki called softly. The serpent like creature continued to glare at the dark opening. "Shizuru" She called a bit louder. Natsuki watched as one of the heads tipped down in her direction, lowering itself to her level. Natsuki reached up, running her fingers along the cold hard scales of her cheek. "Thank you, Shizuru. But, I must go." She looked down in sadness. She glanced back up when she heard the hiss. "Do not worry, he will not hurt me, he's just…" She struggled for a way to describe what he was. Shaking her head "he's nothing I cannot handle"
Shizuru, seemed to calm at that statement. Her body slowly shrunk down, Natsuki bent down and picked up the discarded cloak. Draping it over the other woman once again. Smiling, she leant up on her toes, placing a kiss on the other woman's lips, before stepping back. "I love you Shizuru, so please wait for me"
Shizuru nodded, but before the dark haired woman could leave, she grabbed her arm spinning her back around, she folded the smaller woman into her arms. "Please, be careful. I do not like him, there is something very off" She spoke into the other woman's hair. "I do not want you to be hurt. Promise to be careful?"
Nodding her head, enjoying the feeling of Shizuru's arms wrapped around her.
Pulling back, she glanced into red eyes, "I promise" She smiled, before turning and walking out of the large cave.