Hi there! So here's chapter 13:)
It was the well into the wee hours of the morning when Natsuki finally staggered back to Fuuka's campus. The darkness had settled long ago, perfectly gelling with her own rather dark thoughts. The few flickering room lights from the windows stood out against the dark canvas of the dormitories. The long walk back did nothing to ease her troubled mind. I should just leave… I can't be the reason someone else gets hurt. Her heart lurched at the thought of leaving everything she had just gained behind. This was the first time in a long while where she actually felt wanted, even loved. The idea that Shizuru might feel something like that about her caused her heartbeat to rapidly increase but she pushed the feeling aside. That's why I should go, I can't let anything happen. She wandered outside the large building morosely, not quite ready to enter yet. No doubt her friends would be in there waiting for her in their dorm, and maybe even Shizuru. God, what am I going to tell Shizuru... As the bluenette rounded the corner for like the third time, the rustle of hushed voices caught her attention. She observed her surroundings, realizing that she was just outside her own dorm.
"She should be back by now." Mai sounded worried beyond belief. "Maybe we should have gone after her?"
Natsuki shook her head and her motherly friend's antics. Going after her would have been stupid. They never would have caught up and would have probably ended up lost.
"Don't you start." Nao grumbled in reply. "We just got the mutt's girl to calm down. If she hears you I swear I kill you myself."
"But-" Mai started.
"Butts are for sitting. Now shut up, we know Natsuki can handle herself. She'll be back." Nao answered, sounding extremely irritated.
Mai sighed heavily. "Fine, you can't blame me for being worried. I guess I'll go put on some more tea."
"Good call, I didn't know a person could consume so much of that god forsaken stuff in such a short amount of time." Nao replied.
"Hai, hai. Poor Shizuru, I just hope Natsuki doesn't do something too reckless. She seems pretty out of it."
Natsuki finally turned away from the conversation. Shizuru… Her heart ached for the older girl. I don't want her to hurt, but I don't want her to be hurt. She turned away from the dorms, jogging to the large garage at the edge of the campus. Her only intent was on getting out of there and thereby getting her friends out of harm's way. She quickened her pace, looking around for any sign of someone being out that could possibly catch her or alert the campus security. Picking locks and hot wiring a car were useful skills but not ones she wanted just anybody to know that she had. Pulling a pin that was somehow still lodged in her hair she began her work. This is a pretty old one, shouldn't take too long. She fiddled around with it for a while until the satisfying 'click' resonated through the still night air. "Piece of cake." She muttered to herself as she swung the door open and gazed into the blackness. There's gotta be somethin' here-"
"Natsuki-chan, how good to see you."
Natsuki jumped reflexively into her defensive stance though she knew the voice was no threat to her.
"Oi! Mashiro-san, are you trying to get killed?" Natsuki said much louder that necessary, relaxing her stance.
"Of course not. I was just doing my nighly rounds and decided to check out the garage." A light finally flickered on. The principal was sitting on the far side of the vast room eyeing her student. "There was quite a fuss tonight Natsuki-chan, and I think we both know who is responsible. But running away is not the answer." The woman stood gracefully and made her way toward the bewildered girl.
"What else can I do?" Natsuki gazed at the older woman pleadingly. "I don't want anyone getting hurt for my sake."
"Natsuki-chan, don't you think your leaving will hurt them as well?" Mashiro questioned. When the young girl didn't reply Mashiro continued. "There are people here that care for you deeply. Your friends would be hurt, and Shizuru, well she would be devastated. She seems quite taken with you." She awaited Natsuki's answer with an amused grin.
"But, Wang he-" Natsuki choked on her reply. "He could hurt them." Her eye's firmly placed on the ground. "I can't put them in that kinda danger!" The bluenette clenched her fists vehemently.
"We can take care of them Natsuki-chan, we just need to work together. You have a lot of assets that you don't even know about." Mashiro's eyes twinkled mischievously as she gave her student a gentle smile. "And you should really be getting back to the dorms before I have to punish you for breaking curfew."
Natsuki pondered the principal's statement for a moment. "What do you have planned? Protection-wise I mean?" If I'm not leaving they better be doing something. I mean someone planted a bomb on my bike! They could do something worse.
"Many things Natsuki-chan. Much of which I can't go into tonight but I will tell you that due to today's happenings there will be much more preventative measures taken. Gates will be monitored, more security shifts, the whole deal. Plus a little extra on the side that I will tell you more about later. But do I really have to give you detention to get you to go back to your room?" Mashiro said still smiling.
Natsuki hesitantly returned the smile. "Okay, okay, geez." she went to leave but suddenly turned back to the principal. "You really think we can do this? That they'll all be safe?"
"Of course." Mashiro answered firmly, smiling wider. Natsuki shrugged and finally left the garage leaving the older woman alone once more. "I do hope we can Natsuki-chan, I sincerely hope we can."
Shizuru calmly sipped the very hot green tea Mai had brought her. On the outside it looked as if the Kaichou was completely serene but that couldn't have been more wrong. My Natsuki has been gone far too long. What if something has happened? From the bits and pieces I've gathered from her friends and the attack that she was involved in earlier suggests that whatever this problem is its quite serious. She could be really hurt! These thoughts plagued her mind as she tried to hold up her mask that was now firmly in place. She glanced a Nao, Mai, Chie, and Aoi that were sitting rather silently watching her every action. She had always been in totally control of her emotions and reactions but when Natsuki's friends had taken her into the dorm she had had a bit of a minor break down.
"What do you mean you can't tell me? I could have people searching the forest right now if I knew what was going on!"
"Shizuru-san we told you, it's not our place to say." Mai said as soothingly as possible. It was easy to tell that she and Nao were taken aback by her display. At that moment Chie and Aoi finally walked in the door.
"Hey I heard what happened! Is she back yet?" Chie chanced a question.
"No, she's not! And Kaichou here wants to send out a friggin' search team!" Nao growled.
"Oh, yeah that wouldn't be good. Especially cause that bastard pretty much has most of the police force in his pocket. Stupid rich prick." Chie answered earning a smack on the head from Mai.
"Hey! We are NOT supposed to talk about him!" The red head chastised.
Chie looked around sheepishly. "Ok I'm man enough to admit that's my bad. Sorry, Shizuru but it's true, calling in help wouldn't be the best option."
"I just wish I could do something…" She covered her face with her hands. Not ready to show herself without the mask to so many people. Mai walked up and gave her a comforting hug.
"We all do, Shizuru-san. But Nat doesn't like to ask for help."
She had raised her voice at them once they had reached the privacy of the dorm. Because making a scene in front of the student body and faculty would have made matters worse. And she felt extremely uncomfortable having shown a piece of her true self with these younger girls. The only ones she ever lets her guard down with was Haruka, Yukino, Reito, and of course Natsuki. She took a deep breath allowing the aroma of her beverage to calm her slightly.
She was just finished her cup when the sound of the jostling door handle broke the uncomfortable silence that had enveloped the room. Shizuru let out a huge breath of relief when the door opened and revealed her Natsuki.
"Natsuki you're back!" Chie clapped her on the back as she walked into the dorm. "Knew you would be!"
Natsuki smiled back at her friend. "Yeah, sorry we didn't get to, ya know. Go out and stuff." The rebel apologized but Chie just shrugged.
Then Nao came up and punched her in the shoulder. "Mutt, why do you always look like hell when you end up back here? Really it's starting to gross me out."
Natsuki looked down and took in her attire. Between the soot from the fire and the dirt from the forest she was definitely a mess. Not to mention the scratches on arms and face made everything look worse than it actually was. "Eh, I'll try to not make it a habit." She answered with a punch of her own to Nao's arm.
"What the HELL were you thinking!" Mai smacked Natsuki on the back of the head. "Do you have any idea how worried we were?" She then hugged the bluenette fiercely. "But I'm glad your back." As quickly as it happened the hug was over. Natsuki scanned over the dorm until her eye's connected with gleaming rubies. Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed at the older girl. The look she was receiving was intense, the emotions flashing across the crimson spheres were too complex for her to read but it was amazing nonetheless. "Well we're gonna step out for a moment. We'll be at um… Aoi's dorm, so uh yeah." She faintly heard Mai say as the rest of the group exited, but she was too entranced by Shizuru's gaze to notice much of anything.
The brunette wordlessly stood and strode up to the dumbstruck rebel. Just as Natsuki was about to speak she was captured in a bone-crushing embrace, the older girl hugging her with all her strength. "Shizuru?" She questioned.
"Natsuki," Shizuru nuzzled the place here Natsuki's head and neck connected. "You don't know how worried I was." Shizuru's grip loosed a bit but their bodies remained pressed up against each other. Ara, if feels so good to have you in my arms.
Natsuki didn't know how to respond so she settled for letting her hands caress Shizuru's back, drawing lazy patterns was they relished the moment. Natsuki's let her concerns and worries drift away as she held the other girl close.
Shizuru finally raised her head and looked into endless emerald. "Natsuki, tell me what's going on. Please." Her voice was soft and pleading and she hoped Natsuki would know the unspoken message behind the words. Trust me. Let me help you.
Flashes of the explosion, her confrontation with the thugs, and her history with Wang filled Natuski's mind. How can I bring her into something like that? She refocused and looked into her most precious person's eyes seeing nothing but adoration, concern, and maybe even love. That observation rocked her to the core. She loves me, we haven't even gone on a date and she loves me. "Okay, I'll tell you but you have to promise me something."
Shizuru looked at her curiously. "Alright what is it?"
"Don't get too involved. And please don't do anything that would put you in harm's way okay? I've lost too many people who were close to me and I couldn't bear it if I lost you too."
Shizuru cupped Natsuki's face gently. "I don't know if I can keep that promise my Natsuki. I want to help you and I can't do that if I don't get involved."
"Then I can't tell you. I won't risk you." Natsuki answered firmly. She wiggled out of Shizuru's grasp putting distance between the two of them.
"Natsuki wait," Shizuru tried to speak but there were tears blurring her vision.
"Dammit Shizuru! If you can't promise me then I can't tell you! I couldn't stand it if something happened to you! You could have died today! If you had been with me when the bike exploded you would have been hurt or maybe worse. I can't do that to someone I lov-" She stopped her rant abruptly, smacking both of her hands over her mouth.
Shizuru closed the distance between them almost immediately. Ara, did I just hear that? "Someone that you what, Natsuki?" She pried Natsuki's hands away from her mouth and held them tightly.
Natsuki bit her tongue. Baka! You shouldn't have said that! "I, uhm, err." She fumbled for words and Shizuru pulled her closer. Their faces were now merely inches apart.
"Tell me." Sultry Kyoto-ben demanded. Her brunette curls gracefully framing her beautiful face as she stared at Natsuki expectantly. Her cherry eye's now bright and almost glowing.
Natsuki could feel her resolve crumbling beneath the will of the goddess before her. "Shizuru, I…" she paused feeling extremely vulnerable under her girlfriend's passionate gaze. "I love you." Her whisper was barely audible but the reaction was instantaneous.
Shizuru released Natsuki's shaking hands and grabbed the girl's thin waist. Pulling Natsuki flush against her she kissed her hard. No feather light caresses just firm and distinctive lip on lip movement. Natsuki didn't respond for a moment but eventually returned the kiss with matching fervor. Shizuru slid her tongue across the younger girl's lip sensuously asking for entry. Natsuki gasped and allowed Shizuru the access she was looking for.
Ohmygodohmygod! Natsuki felt like she was going to pass out from the sensations taking over her body. She was on sensory overload as Shizuru's tongue meshed with her own. The heat and excitement coursing through her body was almost too much to handle. Her lungs burned from the length of the kiss. Who needs air? This is much better!
It was Shizuru who finally broke the contact but she didn't stay gone for long, leaving a few little chaste kisses in her wake. "Na-tsu-ki." Shizuru whispered her name still breathing heavily. "I love you too." The older girl wrapped her in a protective embrace. "That's why I can't promise that. I love you too much to let you do this on your own."
"But Shizuru-" Natsuki tried to argue.
"No buts. We are in this together, love." Shizuru kissed Natsuki on the nose as the bluenette's face flushed even darker than it already was from the kissing.
"Did you just call me 'Love'?" Natsuki questioned, her head cocking to the side.
Kawaii! I just love my little puppy Natsuki. "Yes, I did. Would Natsuki prefer something different? There's always 'cupcake', 'pumpkin', or 'princesss'."
"NO! Love is good, yup love is a good one!" Natsuki responded, visibly gagging from the other choices.
"Okay then love, so are you going to tell me what is going on? Or am going to need to persuade you?" Shizuru's accent thickened as she asked the last question, she gave Natsuki a smoldering look but her eye's held a teasing light in them.
"Some persuasion could help." Natsuki decided to tease back. Her hands absently playing with Shizuru's long curly locks.
"Hmm well let me see what I can do." Shizuru peppered kisses down the right side of Natsuki's face and eventually reached her pulse point. Shizuru nibbled that spot, basking in the small moan of pleasure that escaped from the younger girl. Once she was satisfied with the reddish mark she had left on the pale flesh she removed her lips and to look at her love.
Natsuki had her eye's had closed tightly and she was breathing heavily. Her hands were still buried in Shizuru's hair she looked up at the brunette with hazy jade orbs.
"So are you persuaded?" Shizuru purred into her ear before leaning back.
Natsuki nodded enthusiastically. "Hell yeah! Remind me to have you persuade me another time." She gave Shizuru a lop-sided grin which caused the older girl to return the smile. Natsuki's doubts about sharing her past with Shizuru were all but dashed at this moment. Whatever happens we can handle it because we're together. "So I guess I should start from the beginning eh?"
Shizuru nodded, "That's usually a good place to begin."
Natsuki lead them to her unmade bed and motioned for Shizuru to sit down. "Okay this is kinda long so I'm just going to go straight through it and we can ask questions after if that's alright with you."
Shizuru reached out and intertwined their fingers. "Whatever is easiest for you, love." She said genuinely.
With that small token of encouragement Natsuki launched her story. She began with the deaths of her parents and then explained her forced departure from Japan, the time spent in America living with Wang (she spared the older girl some of the unpleasant details), the clauses in her parents Will that allowed her to come to Fuuka under the supervision of Mashiro-san, and eventually ending with the more recent confrontations she has had with Wang's hired hit men. Throughout the account her could feel Shizuru's hold on her hand tighten, her thumb caressing it comfortingly. Once she was finished she looked into the eyes of her beloved hesitantly. "So yeah that's about it. Do you um… have questions?"
Shizuru looked at her, many emotions swirling in about in the sea of crimson. "Ara, there's many things I'd like to ask my Natsuki."
Natsuki sighed, not that she didn't want to communicate with the girl who held her heart, but she was exhausted. Before she could ask what they were she felt Shizuru release her hand and tenderly cup her face.
"But they can wait. I'm so sorry those things happened to you but I'm glad you shared them with me. I want to help you, and I know that we can get through this together." Shizuru spoke as soothingly as she could. In all honesty she was floored by the influx of information, how could someone as beautiful and sweet as Natsuki have endured such trials? She knew that Natsuki had a past but she never expected so many intense and saddening experiences. That just makes her even more amazing. Ara,I have so many questions but my puppy looks like she's going to fall asleep at any moment. The bluenette did look pretty haggard and the day's events were definitely catching up to her.
"Are you sure?" Natsuki's voice asked while trying to stifle a yawn.
"Yes, we can discuss it more tomorrow and my Natsuki needs her beauty sleep." Shizuru playfully poked the younger girl's cheek which was quickly reddened due to the tease. She stood and made her way to the door.
"Teasing devil woman." Natsuki countered but a look of longing crossed her features as she watched Shizuru go to leave, but she turned away quickly so Shizuru wouldn't see her moment of weakness.
The action was pointless because the ever observant Kyoto born saw the look and it made her insides melt. "Natsuki will you be alright? I could stay if you like?"
The happiness that crossed her love's face made her the feeling multiply tenfold. "If you wouldn't mind."
Ara Natsuki is just too cute. "I would love to stay and cuddle my Natsuki." The bluenette blushed profusely but didn't contest the tease. Shizuru turned off the light before walking back to the bed and lying next to the younger girl. Natsuki wrapped her arms around Shizuru and pulled a blanket over them. Though they were both still in their day clothes Natsuki had never been more comfortable. She leaned over the brunette and whispered in her ear "I love you."
Shizuru smiled contentedly in the darkness. "I love you too, my Natsuki."
Sometime later that night…
The door to the dorm was carefully opened and the dim lights of their cell phones guided them around the cluttered living space. "Damn, good thing they're done. If I had to listen to Chie and Aoi gush anymore I was seriously going to hurt someone." Nao hissed.
"Don't be jealous just cause you don't have anyone to gush with!" Chie quipped as they stumbled towards their respective beds.
Mai, searching for her sleeping shorts shined her phone light around the expanse of the room. "Where could they-" Her search was suddenly cut short as she peered into Natsuki's corner of the room. "Oh my god…" She whispered.
"Mai what's the hold up?" Chie asked but then followed the violet eyed girl's line of vision. "Oh, atta kid Natsuki."
"What are you two blabbering-" Nao's eyes widened at the sight of Natsuki and the Kaichou snuggled very intimately on the bluenette's small twin sized bed. "WHAT THE HELL!"
Yup now that Shizuru knows Wang better watch himself. No one messes with her Natsuki!
Thanks so much for reviews, they make my day!
And anybody know where the nicknames Shizuru came up with are from? Kudos to you if so!