The Blooding - - - - He was a rat faced old man who spoke no Japanese whatsoever, but that was to be expected. Shizuru was forced to switch over to Russian while Natsuki simply admired what items he had in his collection. It was far more difficult to get such things in Japan. It was far simpler to take a flight to Vladivostok, the closest Russian port city to Japan, just north of the Korean border. It had largely been Natsuki's idea, though Shizuru was in no way protesting. A beautiful woman who lived in the middle of nowhere certainly needed some way to defend herself. The biker had offered to accompany Shizuru to the city during the winter break between her classes. Why do you want to go? You don't speak any Russian beyond basic phrases, Shizuru had inquired. It was answered by a simple: Because. Because, Natsuki continued mentally, you nearly died in a car chase that ended up with you and Tanya landing in Kobe Harbor and then swimming to safety before the cops could find your sorry asses. This means you need a babysitter. "When you called with your request, I must admit I was a bit shocked. Now that I actually see you in person, I am even more so. It's rare enough I get requests for such weapons in this day and age, especially sharpened to battle ready quality, but someone of your build? The weapon is taller than you are, madame!" He protested. "Are you sure you can handle it?" Natsuki really hated that she couldn't understand anything that went on around her. She watched his behavior and body language to try and decipher tone and intent, but other than that, she was a little Japanese girl lost in Russia's far east. She shoved her hands in her pockets and continued to look at an old saber on display, letting Shizuru speak. "You would not let me return to Japan empty handed after coming all this way, would you? It's an investment alone to travel by air these days." When he started to shake his head, she managed her usual fake smile. "May I examine it, then?" The case that was resting on the table was opened. Shizuru moved aside a cotton cloth and revealed a giant sparkling blade fixed onto a partial metal shaft that was about three feet in length. The other half of the shaft was resting next to it. She pulled out the top segment and fastened the bottom on. When completed, the custom bardiche stood six feet tall. Shizuru held it in both hands and lowered it down and back up, testing the weight and balance. It was not her Element, but she would get used to it. It was close enough. "The blade is made of bulat steel, as requested," he said. "That stuff is very rare, so you're aware of the high price tag, yes?" "One hundred and thirty thousand roubles," Shizuru confirmed, her eyes never leaving the weapon. Natsuki found herself staring at it as well, also wondering if Shizuru was capable of handling it. She was not a HiME any longer. She didn't have that burst of strength that came with such powers. Then again, most muscles built up during the Carnival remained. They all still possessed amazing strength. "Came in straight from St. Petersburg from my associates there," he informed. "It's going to be awkward to use with a six foot shaft, is it not? It's meant to be far shorter." Shizuru smiled. "I'm used to such a design. Something heftier, even." She left a personal check for the bill and latched the case once again after dismantling the weapon. Task accomplished, she grabbed Natsuki's sleeve and led her back out onto the street and began to walk. Natsuki found herself the subject of a few stares, most of the residents distinctly European. Every once and a while she saw a Korean who had moved in, as the country was close to the border. That was it. She was used to Japan and being around those just like her. She'd never been abroad. Different. Strange. She still loathed that she was rendered illiterate and speechless. "The return flight leaves for Kansai tomorrow morning at seven," Shizuru reminded. "Don't stay up late tonight." "Yes, mother," Natsuki responded. She was still engrossed in taking in the sights of the city. Filthy place, really, but interesting none the less. Shizuru, who had never been there before either, didn't seem to be very interested in all of that nonsense. Getting to the hotel and up to her room was the objective. "Don't you want to go out and see anything around town?" "Ara, perhaps after I unload this? It's not exactly as light as a feather." Oh, right, the giant pointy thing. As they walked, Natsuki adjusted the sleeve of her heavy winter coat, which rested over a hooded sweatshirt and a shirt under that. She was not a fan of the cold. Shizuru, of course, was perfectly happy in a light jacket despite the freezing weather. She shook her head. Crazy Russian. They made it to the hotel, where Shizuru approached the people at the desk to request a room. Natsuki watched, again not understanding the language, as Shizuru and the woman conversed. Shizuru did eventually turn back. "I'm getting one room. Going off of movie night, would it be a waste of money to request two beds? Or will you be a big girl and stay in your own?" Natsuki glared. Wise ass. "Two will be fine, thank you." "Ara." Had she been sporting, or had it been before all their dramatic fighting as of late, she would have simply not said anything to the other woman and surprised her with a honeymoon suite and no way out. But that was once upon a time. They were speaking again, but it was still tense from their last verbal skirmish. The pair headed up to their room and Shizuru immediately placed her new weapon under the bed for safe keeping. Discarding her jacket, she fell back onto the bed, not having slept well the night before. She stretched out, resting a hand on her belly. Natsuki simply watched her. She took note of the slight amount of skin, perhaps up to the bellybutton, that had resulted from her rapidly lying down. She averted her gaze and removed her coat. "So, we're not going out, then?" Natsuki asked. "Forgive me. Perhaps in a little while. I'd like to take a quick nap, if you don't mind?" Shizuru asked, rolling onto her side, shutting her eyes. Natsuki nodded. "Of course. Rest." A nap turned into overnight slumber, clearly indicating how fatigued Shizuru had been as of late. The same for Natsuki, who had been so busy preparing herself for some kind of Searrs interaction that she'd hardly had time for socialization or rest for herself. At one point she got up to turn on the alarm for the morning, smiling fondly at Shizuru, who looked so very peaceful while she slept. Natsuki slid back into her own bed and was soon taken by sleep again. During the night, what had once been cold and terrifying nightmares after the Carnival became unexpected but not rejected proper dreams. The gray and dead vision became warm and comfortable. The hand running down her stomach tingled rather than scarred. The whispers in her ear were not dark or icy, but rather pleasing. She woke with a blush, still not wanting to even deal with such things. - - - They visited each other infrequently during the winter months. Natsuki was busy with the final stretch of school, and the distance made it harder to see each other. No computerized equipment in Shizuru's home meant no online conversations. Letters were exchanged now and again. Natsuki visited Shizuru's home with the excuse of wanting to practice firing the Desert Eagles, to get used to them. She poured led into several dead logs out and around Shizuru's home from a distance after drawing makeshift targets (a horribly drawn version of Haruka) on them. She'd let Shizuru try to fire the Desert Eagle once as a birthday present (which also warranted the buying of tea, fresh scones and assorted other things). It had largely been an embarrassing situation. Shizuru had essentially just fired blindly into the woods, not accustomed to using a weapon created after the 16th century. The gun had flown out of her hands and Natsuki sarcastically said, "You shame me." Other than that, things were largely business. Shizuru was in the process of buying all new papers for her new identity. Natsuki had school. A global organization continued to monitor Fuuka. If any effort had been made to find Shizuru, they were failing to do so. She hadn't noticed a soul in miles. Shizuru wished to return to Fuuka for one special event – Natsuki's graduation. She'd managed to pull herself out of her slump and ended up gathering near perfect scores for her final year. But, unfortunately, Fujino Shizuru no longer existed. Wandering through Fuuka, especially at a school where everyone practically worshiped her, would be disaster. When she had woken up from her hangover (thanks to Mai and another graduation party – damn, had it been a year already?) she saw a message on her machine, the number listed being from Shizuru's new cellphone. "I hope Natsuki's head does not throb too much from the alcohol she was sure to consume at the graduation party. Mai was able to properly put one together, I trust. In any case, I'm calling to tell you congratulations. I'm really quite proud of you and how much you've grown over the last few years. Anyway..." Shizuru's voice trailed off, no doubt conflicted with what she was wanting to say. "Congratulations again. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to see you." Yeah. She understood. It just stung a bit, regardless. She spent most of the day speaking with the others to, as always, stay up to date on what was happening with Searrs. Nothing too terribly much today. No one had spotted any suspicious cars or shady looking characters following them. When at least one of them had had an encounter a day, Natsuki found the sudden absence of a threat worrisome. With her father's monetary support having been dropped the moment she turned eighteen, she had been forced to get a part time job repairing bikes and assorted other vehicles at a shop downtown. She went down there for the day to earn her cash, but was caught by an unexpected question from her boss. "Our Kyoto shop is short-staffed, especially with people who know how to fix bikes. Was wondering if you'd be willing to transfer." Kyoto, huh? "I'll think about it." The rest of her day dragged on like always. Work, check in with the others, play video games, call Mai, television, and what would usually be followed by sleep. But it was just too damn hot. For some reason, an almost agonizing heat wave swept over the region that week. The first breath of spring was brought on by a flamethrower, apparently. So, in her restlessness, she grabbed her phone and dialed a number. It took a few rings before the person answered, still awake so late, even with nothing to do. "Hello?" "Hey, Shizuru." There was a slight laugh on the other end. "Can't sleep either, can you? I thought you liked the warmer months of the year?" "I like warm days, sure, but scorching sauna temperatures? No, that I can do without," Natsuki said. She played with a strand of her hair. "Thank you for the call, by the way. It was nice to hear from you." "Ara, think nothing of it. I'm only sorry that I couldn't see you in person. Perhaps Mai-san will post pictures online somewhere. I have my laptop, but sparingly use it. The generator out here is fussy," Shizuru explained. Natsuki smiled a bit, but found herself struggling whether or not to ask something she had been confused by for a while. Shizuru had called her the morning of her graduation to wish her thanks. The most Natsuki for the other woman's graduation was carry her drunk butt home and not let her be taxicab driver entertainment. She hadn't even said congratulations to her about graduating with such high honors. She felt guilty and, finally, she blurted out a few words that led into her inquiry. "Can I ask you about something that happened a few months ago?" She asked, and froze in fear. Dammit, too late to back out now. She didn't feel clever enough to make up a false backup question this late at night. "Yes," she said. She sounded, as Natsuki expected, a bit confused. "Well, maybe not ask," Natsuki stammered, feeling quite like an idiot. "Ah, I'm sorry if I act like a spoiled brat. I don't mean to. Maybe it's a side effect from being alone for so long. That was... really, what you thought, wasn't it? I don't know, never mind." There was a long sigh on the other end of the line. "Your dedication to your friends surpasses all, despite whatever socialization barriers you face." That wasn't an answer. "Shizuru?" "Ara, why do you ask questions you do not want to hear the answers to when you should be rejoicing over your entry into the real world?" Shizuru said. Yeah, that was a blessed event. No more school, just work until her death. Natsuki looked down at her blankets, her gaze hardening just a bit. "Well, I suppose that answers my question. Look, Shizuru, it doesn't take a genius to see that you've been pushing me away since just after we graduated. I did something to offend you, and I don't think it's just that-which-we-do-not-discuss. Please, tell me. Mai and the others are only entertaining for so long." "I think it's safe to say I've been pushing everyone away, not just you. Am I right in that?" Natsuki drummed the fingers of her free hand against her leg. She was dodging the question. She always did that. Sometimes she could be more stubborn than even Natsuki could. It was irritating. "Shizuru. You cannot fix a problem if you ignore it." Another sigh. "You can be very sweet at times without trying, and when you're clueless as to how to react to something, it can make me smile. After a while, though, it just started to seem like I loved you more than you cared about me." Natsuki prevented herself from groaning in frustration. Not that again. "You got a girlfriend and moved on. I thought you got over that." She was getting irritated now, Natsuki could hear it. "I never cared about that, Natsuki. I never expected that to be returned. I only mean friendship, and always have, when I meant that I cared more than you did. Sometimes it felt like we were exceptionally close, and then other times I was greeted by a cold stare and a rapid dismissal as you marched off to who knows where when all I wanted to know was if you were safe or not. Protecting your identity as a HiME is one thing, but shutting people out all together is another." "That's ridiculous." How could she think that? Who else was she close to? "Ara, perhaps you simply bonded with me because at the time I was the only one who cared. The speed at which you opened up to Mai and the rest of them felt like proof of that theory. It felt like I was clinging to something that didn't really want to be there, and I was stupid and willing enough to do anything to bring it back," Shizuru explained, beginning to rant about something she had never intended to speak of. Natsuki paused, her eyes widening. She understood full well what the meaning of that statement had been. "You can't possibly blame me for what happened to you in the Carnival. I never asked you to do anything for me. Gifts, protection, and the rest – I didn't ask any of it from you." Shizuru could be heard moving around, clearly distressed enough to get off her futon and start fumbling around with something. "No, you did not. I offered them freely, and didn't expect anything material in return. A little more compassion shown to me, perhaps, or occasionally letting me know that I was actually wanted in your life." "You're a moron if you even think the opposite," Natsuki essentially hissed. "Ara? Well, that's good to know. And I do indeed know that I'm important. But I'm not all you have anymore. You have more friends and a new start on life. If you wish to go in another direction, I'm giving you the freedom to do so. I don't want you to feel bound to me for the rest of your life just because you feel guilty about the past. That's no friendship. That's slavery. Stretch your wings, little bird." "Shizuru, stop being a melodramatic idiot," Natsuki grumbled. Honestly, now, how difficult did this have to be? "I told you to not ask questions you didn't want to hear the answer to. There's a breeze flowing now," Shizuru said. "I think I'll try to get some sleep. We'll talk later. Goodbye." Natsuki began to protest, but the line went dead, and she slammed her phone shut angrily. God damn it, she didn't want to be around anyone else and not because she was 'bound' to her or whatever the hell she had gone off about. Right? She tossed the phone onto the floor next to her and rolled to her side. Sleep. Beating a Kyoto woman into submission tomorrow, perhaps. - - - Had she grown at all? Natsuki mulled over that earlier comment for a while in her restlessness. If she had grown, she hadn't noticed it much. She still felt very much like a child. She had acknowledged long ago that that difference between her and Nao had been that Natsuki had someone to rely on, which did not prevent her from being a delinquent, but at least made her halfway content. She still couldn't really believe that she and Shizuru had become friends. Neither could anyone else at Fuuka, for that matter. They were too different. Natsuki had avoided girls like Shizuru like the plague. It took, of all things, a fight to make them friends. Natsuki was still in junior high, having just transferred in from Tokyo, where she had been staying with a foster family since her father wanted nothing to do with her. She didn't know anyone, and certainly made no effort to try. To anyone who gave her a stray look, she glared daggers at them. People were incompetent and moronic. She'd learned that long ago. So, as one would expect, when Natsuki was caught by Shizuru out in the gardens threatening innocent plants, she was none too happy. As always, Shizuru guarded herself well. Natsuki didn't see the equally antisocial woman trying to connect with someone she felt had a similar outlook on life. Instead, all she saw was the antipodal persona presented by that smile and grace. She thought Fujino Shizuru was nothing more than a rich and preppy snob who simply wanted to bother her. The harem that followed her around wasn't exactly welcomed either. Popular and sure to be airheaded, Natsuki wanted her to go away. The teasing and taunting she had been subjected to reminded her very much of a bully tormenting someone they deemed to be weaker. Natsuki... was not weak. Nor was she going to stand for such treatment, not realizing it was all in jest. So, one day in the warmer months of her last junior year, Natsuki ended up picking a fight. Shizuru was walking back to her dorm, and casually waved at Natsuki when the younger girl marched down the street towards her apartment. Natsuki snapped her head around to look at her, and in the process, dropped her mp3 player from her backpack. Not noticing, Natsuki just kept on going. Shizuru moved forward, of course, picking it up and moving to follow. But when she got a look at what was playing, something she would forget about later, she simply started laughing. "Ara, western pop rock? Duran Duran, my goodness. What else do you have on here? Ah-Ha, perhaps? Or maybe Madonna? I didn't know anyone still listened to this pathetic stuff." Eyebrows twitched in irritation as Natsuki grabbed the device and shoved it back into her bag, anger growing at Shizuru's laughter. That did it. Natsuki shoved Shizuru roughly on the shoulder, pushing her back and almost knocking her off balance. "Who the hell do you think you are to criticize me? I don't care what your rich Kyoto daddy buys you, that doesn't excuse you from acting like a human." Shizuru looked to her shoulder and back to Natsuki, her tone growing more serious. "Ara, there's no need for that kind of reaction. It's a friendly joke." "I'm not your friend. No, it's not," Natsuki hissed. She shoved Shizuru again, more prone to fighting in those days than at any time in her life. "Get the hell away." "Don't shove me." A demand, not a request, the voice growing darker still. Natsuki glared. Stupid Kyoto slut. She'd probably sue Natsuki for every penny if they got in a fight. Rich people were always weak like that. "Make me." She would soon learn never to say that to Fujino Shizuru again – because she was going to. Natsuki moved forward to once again shove her, but Shizuru slid easily out of harm's way, clearly intending to put up some kind of fight. All the rage in her life and towards this bully was channeled into her fist, and Natsuki sent a punch flying right towards Shizuru's face, not caring what those worshipers would think of their idol getting a black eye. The girl deserved it, with how conceited she acted. She expected contact and a yelp of pain. Rather, she felt Shizuru move again, and found herself face planting the concrete sidewalk below, her face slamming down against it roughly, leaving a large raw and bleeding patch of skin on her forehead and cheek. She lay there stunned for several long moments, not sure just what the hell happened. Her arm kind of hurt, on top of it all. What in the...? How did...? Natsuki had been fighting all her life. She'd taken martial arts when she was younger. She had been the unrivaled brawler on her school's playground. So how did this rich fool from the upper class manage to do that? They sat on their asses and drank tea all day. She scrambled back up to her feet, staring at Shizuru in shock over what had just happened. "Ara, ara, you shouldn't do that to someone who has a black belt in Aikido. Such recklessness." Shizuru pulled the mp3 player back out from Natsuki's bag and walked away with it, leaving Natsuki stunned and in awe. She started listening to it, claiming it as her own, walking away like a proper bully who had just won something from a victim. Natsuki charged after her but found herself hitting the ground again after a seemingly effortless toss by Shizuru. The Russian girl shook her head and kept on going. "You can have it back when you learn to play nicely with other children," Shizuru lectured. Natsuki never got it back. For some reason, however, getting her ass kicked by that otherwise lethargic woman became the very reason that Natsuki was intrigued by her. She was a walking contradiction. Calm, graceful and ladylike – yet also well trained in martial arts and the naginata to the point where she could render an enemy helpless. Slow moving but athletic beyond what most people could ever manage. Friendly, yet as introverted as she was. She hated weakness. After seeing that Shizuru was not weak willed or weak in body, that was when she started to tolerate her. She had gotten over her urge to fight anything that moved, and had welcomed the friendship after such an encounter. So perhaps she had grown a little. Even still, she felt very much like she needed to have her ass kicked again. Maybe it would knock some sense into her. - - - Still too fucking hot to sleep. She tossed and turned for a great while before she finally felt her eyes start to close. She heard a minor rattling noise coming from her open window. Probably the breeze against something or another. She yawned and continued to drift off, the blankets tossed aside long ago. Then, she heard the rattle a second time, followed by what sounded like a click against her floor. She gently opened one eye, just barely, to see what it was. She froze. Two men dressed in black, each holding a weapon. One waited next to the window while the other crept closer to her. Her eye was still largely shut, and she doubted he could even tell. Searrs, no doubt. Agonizingly slow, she stretched her arm out under her pillow, her fingers gripping warm metal and plastic. Her fist tightened as he got closer still. Her breathing stopped. One of his hands reached out to grab hold of her. His look was cold and detached, purely scientific. Fingers were mere a mere inch away from her flesh before she sprung into action. She slid a Desert Eagle out from under her pillow and fired. The man's innards were ripped to shreds as the powerful bullet raced through, smashing and tearing everything in its path. Splatters of blood landed on Natsuki's face and tank top, tainting her flesh. His body slumped against hers as he fell over dead. Seeing his cohort raise his gun, Natsuki fired again, hitting him right between the eyes. His skull and brain hit her far wall before he too slumped down to the ground. She already heard screams coming from her neighbors out in the hall. She kicked the corpse off her body and scrambled to her closet, pulling on her biking leathers and helmet. She grabbed the second Desert Eagle and her phone as well, checking outside for any more. There was a slam on the door, someone trying to kick it in. Not wanting to wait to see if it was another agent of Searrs', she leapt out the window, grabbing onto a tree branch, her lungs being squeezed free of air as she hit it with her torso. She took a deep breath again and dropped to the ground, running for her bike. She turned back, though, aiming both guns at her window. Two more had rush in to get her. As they too prepared to fire, she squeezed the triggers. One hit, killing a third man. The fourth survived, ducking back into her residence. She wasted no time getting on her bike and starting it up, racing down the street at top speed, heading to the freeway, riding off into the night to avoid capture. Where to, then? Sakomizu? No, too close for comfort. Shizuru. Kyoto it was, argument or not. After a mile of riding, she pulled over onto a side street and dialed Mai. "Tokiha, a bunch of Searrs guys just tried to kill or capture me. Watch out. They might hit elsewhere. Call the others, I have to get the hell out of here." She didn't wait for a response. She shut off the phone and just kept riding. When she got on the freeway, she thought she was home free, the shock of killing someone set aside to make way for the proper ability to flee. She checked her mirrors time and again. She then noted, some eight miles out of Fuuka, that she was being followed by a truck and another bike. The bike roared up towards her, a young woman riding it, holding a gun. Natsuki accelerated as far as the Ducati would allow, racing down the freeway at breakneck speed, dodging traffic. The other woman followed, the truck having to wait behind a ways while it tried to find a vector to follow. Natsuki felt a bullet zoom past her head, the other female taking a shot. Cars now willingly got out of their way, scrambling to move. Natsuki slammed on the brakes as one vehicle came to a screeching halt in front, the other biker flying by in another lane, hitting the brakes as well but taking more time to do so. Natsuki leveled her gun and fired at the decelerating form, but missed. She took the nearest off-ramp down to the town nearby, ducking down streets and racing down alleys to avoid being seen. At long last, it seemed like she was in the clear. The bike and its escort roared by the alley she hid in, and she backed up to go the other way once they'd gotten a ways down. She took country roads to Kyoto, foregoing the freeway. Too dangerous now, it seemed. It took her quite a while to make it to where Shizuru now lived, sailing through Kyoto itself and then heading up into the mountains. The longer ride had not calmed her nerves in the least. Her breath was shaky. Three people. - - - Dawn broke by the time she got there, the sun rising gently behind her. Shizuru clearly heard the motorcycle outside and exited her home, sliding back a thin door to her very traditional house. She froze as she saw Natsuki stumbling forward off her bike, visibly trembling with every step. Shizuru parted her lips in shock as Natsuki dropped both Desert Eagles to the ground, unfastening the belt that held them on. The guns hit the ground with two dull thumps. "Natsuki, what..." Shizuru began to ask, holding out her arms, taking a step forward. She'd never killed anyone before, if one did not count Shizuru or herself. All her fighting had been done against Orphans. When it came to the humans who had invaded Fuuka, her attacks had all been non-lethal. She wasn't a killer. She was only there to defend. She had known somewhere down the line that she might have to kill, but had not prepared herself for the wave of horror that swept over her afterwards. Her helmet was tossed to the ground, her eyes full of emotion, dried blood from her victim still caked on her face. When she unzipped her leathers, still wearing her sleeping attire underneath, Shizuru saw the large blood stain that had turned her white shirt red. Gloves came off. It was even on her hands. She silently begged and pleaded. Shizuru raced forward and wrapped her arms around Natsuki just before the younger girl sank into the embrace, her legs giving out. Silent tears fell from her eyes as hands clung desperately to Shizuru's night kimono. Shizuru just let her, brushing her hair back, caressing the side of her face, gently telling her everything was going to be all right. The Kyoto woman stood up after several long minutes, making sure Natsuki was mildly all right before going to fetch a moist rag from the kitchen. She returned, taking one of Natsuki's tainted hands in her own, wiping away the blood droplets that had dried there, turning her skin red. She moved up, then, wiping the tears and blood from Natsuki's face, still whispering reassuring things to her as she did so. Natsuki held onto her arm, still needing that physical contact. Shizuru let her. Blood was cleared away. Much like with Shizuru, however, it would never really be gone. "Come inside. I'll fetch you a kimono. We'll throw your clothes away," Shizuru said. She pulled Natsuki up, held her for a moment, then ushered her inside. Reaching into a closet, she pulled out a spare kimono, suddenly so reminded of that infamous night that it almost made her sick, and handed it to the other girl. Shizuru stepped out of the room to let her change, and Natsuki returned timidly a few minutes later, holding her bloody and ruined clothes in her hands. Shizuru took them and promptly got rid of them. While Natsuki was changing, she had been preparing a separate futon in the next room. It was dawn, but Natsuki hadn't slept at all. She needed rest. Shizuru pulled her into another embrace and held her again, running her fingers through her hair. "You should get some sleep." Like a child lectured by mother, Natsuki slid into the futon and tried to lie down, but her frantic mind couldn't manage sleep. As Shizuru retreated, Natsuki grabbed at her purple robe and pulled her back. "Please don't go. Please. Promise." Shizuru turned around and slowly sat next to the other woman, who lay back down. Shizuru continued to caress Natsuki's hair in that slow and comforting manner, watching the younger girl roll and adjust until she had come to use Shizuru's legs as a pillow, tears continuing to fall until she finally fell into slumber. "Ara, you must stop following behind me in everything I do, little girl," Shizuru whispered sadly. With Natsuki asleep, she returned the girl to the futon, and she promptly curled into a fetal position. Not breaking the promise Natsuki had wanted her to keep, Shizuru lay down next to her, holding her for however long Natsuki required sleep, kissing her brow once as a way of saying goodnight. Don't worry, Natsuki. After the first kill, it gets easier. - - - an: I could very well be bullshitting about Natsuki having never killed anyone (aside from Shizuru). I remember in the Alyssa arc that she and the others left everyone alive who attacked, but other than that, I'm not sure. The worst she ever did was accidentally gouge out Nao's eye, but I'm sure Nao-san could have made a nice life for herself as a pirate. I don't know, I haven't seen it for a long while. :P
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