A/N: I feel like writing since I’ve found out that Microsoft Office Word 2007 has this new feature where you can customize your page to whatever color you like and you can also insert a watermark…well I used a Shiznat Picture and my page right now looks like a stationary of sort! Hahahaha. Anyways, to all of you who have reviewed WDW thank you very much and yes! I am so going to have that night light that I’ve written in the previous chapter but it won’t spell K-I-S-S, it’ll spell S-E…okay hentai minds I’m meaning to spell SENSE! Entiendes?
Some words I borrowed from ShotgunNeko…since I liked it very much and use here without her permission…you’ll know what words I am referring to if you have been reading Strange Animal, authored by one of the great writers of all time Neko-sama! So I recommend you to read it…but really who hasn’t read it?
edited version by Wing weaver
Wolf Devil Woman
Chapter 6
Kruger was silently sitting at a chair in front of their house. Her eyes showed how many sleepless nights she had since Shizuru and Mikoto had gone missing. It has been 5 days since the two was last seen at the forest along with their other daughters Arika and Nina. Her silent contemplation was interrupted by her wife Viola who set a chair beside her wife and sat on it. The chestnut haired HiME looked at the sad Chief, sighed and puts a hand on one strong shoulder.
“Don’t look so bad Kruger, you of all people know how strong Shizuru is, and we have proven time and again that Mikoto is a strong huntress. I know within my heart that they are alive and just probably lost…” Viola stopped speaking when Kruger looked at her and gave her a sad smile.
“I’m not worried for them.” Kruger said in her low voice.
“Yeah, are you saying that to tell me or to convince me that you’re not worried?” Viola said as she shook her head to the side, “I know you too well now for me not to tell what’s running in that hard head of yours.”
Silence
“Have I told you about how I became a HiME?” Kruger said suddenly breaking the silence.
“What are you talking about?” Viola frowned, confused of what her wife was talking about.
“Haven’t you wondered why I’m so close with Shizuru? Why I am the only one who had a father in this tribe?” She asked again and this caused Viola to nod her head in agreement, “My father wasn’t really from here. He was a foreign man who was accepted by the HiMEs because of his contribution. All HiMEs are women if you’d noticed.”
“That I know of course, I might be from another tribe but I am a HiME now and I know HiME’s law by heart.” Viola said smiling.
“But it wasn’t even half of what I am.” Kruger said as she sighed deeply, “Like Shizuru, my father found me on a river. I was onboard a boat, was still a baby of around one or two when he found me.”
Silence
“The boat was floating towards where the river meets air…the falls. He said he wouldn’t mind letting that damn boat meet its end but the sound of a baby crying inside that boat made him work hard to get it out to safety…”
Viola held Kruger’s hand tightly, “Have you known your real parents?” Viola winced as she knew it was a stupid question but she didn’t have any idea of how Kruger spent her childhood.
“No.” Kruger rested her head against the wall at the back of her chair, “My father and I used to live among the animals in the wild, specifically wolves when I suddenly got sick. I think I was around 5 then. So my father looked for a place where he could ask for anything to cure me.” Kruger sighed, “He found this tribe and risk being killed for me. If not for his contribution, and that is the water system and the electricity, he would have been killed that time.” She smiled sadly, “And then the Chief of the tribe way back then, well she’s actually Elder Maria’s wife, started teaching me the HiME ways. And that’s it.”
Silence
“Don’t you have any desire to look for your real parents?” Viola asked, “…or at least know about your roots.”
“I did have that desire…a long time ago, but then I had no clue. I don’t have any leads that could tell me where I came from, so I decided to leave it at that and move on. I am happy, contented and well. That’s what matters most, right?”
Viola didn’t answer instead she leaned forward and captured Kruger’s lips with her own. They deepened the kiss and could have gone further if not for Arika and Nina barging in then yelled.
“GROSS!!”
XXX
“Okay wolf!” Nao entered the Kuga’s living room and saw Natsuki’s defeated sigh. She frowned and stepped closer to her friend, “This look of yours would have been caused by the wolf devil woman, isn’t it?” the red headed woman asked before she flopped herself on the couch beside Natsuki.
The blue haired woman looked at the red head beside her, closed her eyes and made another deep sigh before replying, “It’s been three days.” Natsuki said.
Nao looked at the other woman and frowned, “Go on continue!” she urged.
“It’s been three days and I don’t think I’m making any progress with Shizuru.” Natsuki said pouting.
“Progress? What? You’re wooing her?”
Natsuki frowned, “Baka!” she huffed and put her arms crossed in front of her chest, “I mean I wasn’t making any progress in teaching Shizuru about our language!”
Silence
“Oh…that progress…” at least all I need to teach Miyu was how to smile often…Nao thought, “Have you clearly told Shizuru that you want her to learn our language?”
The blue haired Kuga princess slumps her shoulder, “How the hell will I do that? She can’t understand me!” Natsuki shouted.
“Yeah…but you can always use an interpreter! Hello!” Nao said rolling her eyes, then she raised one arm to knock on Natsuki’s head but she stopped when the ice princess glared at her.
“I can’t get Mikoto’s service.”
“Why is that?”
“Mai’s been on her tail since she arrived here…haven’t you noticed?” Natsuki said then she turned her head to look at the wide window at the back of the couch where they were sitting. Nao followed Natsuki’s gazed and understood what the blue haired woman was telling her, “And Mai gets angry when I try to ask Mikoto to see Shizuru.”
“Ohhhh, that Mai is sure one heck of a jealous, fire breathing dragon!” Nao said shaking her head and smiling.
Silence
“So what do you plan to do?” Nao inquired.
“I don’t know…I want to be able to talk to Shizuru straight. I don’t want to do charades with her anymore…I don’t want to guess what she was saying anymore, it’s hard Nao.”
“Yeah…I know…”
Unbeknownst to the two, a certain fiery haired girl had entered the mansion and overheard their last conversation…
XXX
Mikoto was sleeping under the tree when Mai found her. The two spent their mornings playing since it’s what the smaller woman wanted. Early in the morning, Mai found Mikoto coming out of Shizuru’s room and she once again felt that fang of jealousy inside her, and to alleviate the feelings, she asked Mikoto to play with her which the great huntress welcomed happily.
The fiery haired woman felt tired later on and decided to get something to drink and that was when she overheard Nao and Natsuki’s conversation.
I can’t believe I’ve been so selfish… Mai’s invisible positive self said.
So what? That devil woman is going to take Mikoto from you! Her invisible negative self countered.
I don’t know about that…besides it’s only been five days since we’ve met Shizuru and Mikoto…and please! The devil woman has a name and it’s Shizuru!
“Now my conscience is battling inside me! God Mikoto…look at what you’ve done to me.”
So slowly, the fiery haired woman stepped closer to the sleeping huntress; she then sat beside the small woman and started stroking her spiked hair.
“That’s nice…Mai-chan…” The huntress spoke in her sleep.
“Mikoto is cute…” Mai whispered to herself as she watched the woman sleep, “…but even though you look angelic this way, I have a mission to do and I need you awake for it.” So with a heavy heart, the fiery haired woman shook the sleeping huntress awake.
It was a good 2 minutes before she finally rose up the sleeping woman. Mikoto blinked her eyes many times accompanied by her hands wiping off sleep in her eyes, and then the eyes were followed by her loud yawning and body stretching. She then looked at the woman beside her and gave Mai her best smile, “Mai…” she called out before she jumps the woman that caused Mai to fall on the grassed ground and on her back, “MAI!” Mikoto squealed, “Mikoto happy to see Mai back!” The huntress said excitedly, “We play again?”
Mai smiled but shook her head no. Mikoto pouted and straightened herself after pulling away from Mai, “But why? Did Mikoto do stupid? Did Mikoto do wrong?” she asked in her own way.
Mai raised a hand and caressed Mikoto’s face, “Can I ask you questions?” Mai asked which the huntress answered by nodding her head yes enthusiastically.
“Mai can ask Mikoto anything! Mikoto will answer!” Mikoto said smiling happily.
So Mai pushed the smaller woman a bit and sat herself. “Mikoto how did you and Shizuru met?”
Mikoto frowned, why is Mai suddenly interested in asking about me and Shizuru? Doesn’t she like me being friends with Shizuru? Will she stop liking me if I tell her that Shizuru is my best friend?
“Mikoto?”
“Mai…why Mai?” Mikoto asked frowning, a hint of sadness in her face.
Mai smiled and nudged Mikoto’s side lightly, “Hey don’t give me that look. I’m just asking you that’s all.” Mai said which assured Mikoto that she could answer and there’s no hell to pay after it.
“Well…I survive when Tribe attack by human hunters,” Mikoto started, “Kruger…” Mikoto looked at Mai to see if the fiery haired woman could understand her and she smiled when Mai gave that expression that she did understand her, “Kruger…Shizuru Nay!” Mikoto said.
“Nay?”
“I think Nay same Okaasan in your language.” Mikoto explained.
“Oh…mother?”
Mikoto nodded her head, “But Shizuru has Nay and Mother. Mother is Viola!” she said.
“Okay, okay…you mean Shizuru has lesbian mothers?” Mai asked.
Mikoto frowned, “Lesbian?”
“Yes…like me…a girl who likes or loves another girl?”
“Oh…well,” Mikoto looked up to the sky as if thinking, “But HiME tribe are all girls, no three legged human!”
Mai frowned okay three legged human…Mai’s eyes widened and her face blushed deep Oh my God is Mikoto referring to male species…and why three legged…Another shade of red colored her face as she realized what Mikoto was referring to as the third leg oh…that’s gross…I mean how can it not be gross to see a male walks with his…okay hentai Mai…stop thinking!
“Mai you sick?” Mai’s reverie was cut by Mikoto’s question and she shook her head no.
“Go on Mikoto, please continue.” She said smiling thank you Mikoto from pulling me out of…
STOP IMIGINING TOKIHA! Mai’s positive invisible self shouted.
HAHAHA! PRUDE! Her negative self said.
“So, I survive and Kruger and her hunters came to help, but they late…my village ruined by fire already.” Mikoto continued.
“Oh, I am so sorry Mikoto…”
Mikoto shook her head no, “You did not do that.” Mikoto explained then she playfully lied down and put her head on Mai’s soft thighs, “When they bring me HiME tribe, I was sleeping…they say very long.”
“Where you in coma?” Mai asked.
“Coma? Is that bed?”
“Bed?”
“Hm, Kama…bed…”
“Oh…no, coma is a term for people who fell asleep for very long.”
Mikoto nodded and smiled, her amber eyes looking at Mai’s purple ones, “When Mikoto woke up, what she see is red eyes…enchanting red eyes…”
“Shizuru?”
“Yes…and Viola. They took care of me.” Mikoto said smiling. “After I wake up, I was sad because my family died and I do nothing about it. I rarely talk.”
Mai began massaging Mikoto’s head once again, “But Shizuru persistent, she keep on bugging me to play…I don’t like because I am outside, me not HiME, then she tells me about how she too was not HiME.”
Mai frowned, “You mean Shizuru was not from that tribe too?” and Mikoto nodded in agreement, “So from where is she?”
Mikoto shrugged her shoulders, “She said Kruger found her under dead wolf.”
“Oh my God.”
“That’s when we became friends…because she is the only one who knows how I feel as outside.”
“Outsider Mikoto…the right term is outsider.”
“So is my story enough?” Mikoto asked.
Mai smiled and nodded, “So Shizuru is not your lover?”
“Lover?”
“Yes…the one you marry…”
“OH NO!” Mikoto denied fervently, “Kruger said to have hunter competition and Shizuru prize. Elder Maria want me and Tomoe fight for her hand but I don’t like.”
“But why?”
“Because Shizuru don’t like it, she wants to…I don’t know, but she said she want to be like her Nay and mother.”
Mai nodded see…Mikoto’s available! “So what happens now that you and Shizuru were lost?”
“I don’t know. But I’m sure Kruger and Viola are very worried now because we are not there with them. And I’m sure Tomoe will not stop looking for her, that woman is in love with Shizuru…”
“But?”
“Shizuru don’t like her, said Tomoe too strict and do not know how to have fun.” Mikoto then grinned, “And I think Shizuru finds Natsuki cute.”
Mai grinned, “That she is. She’s quite a catch at school, almost everyone wants attention from her but…you know being the icy Kuga. Natsuki is an unattainable, lone wolf in our school during our high school days.”
“High…”
Mai laughed at how Mikoto tried to vocalize High school, “You’re hurting my stomach Mikoto so stop that.” Mai said and laughed harder when Mikoto pouted at her, “Can you do me a favor Mikoto?” Mai asked when she was able to pull herself together. Mikoto nodded her head in agreement then she said, “Will you teach Shizuru our language? I think I’ve been keeping too much of your time and Natsuki’s having problems with teaching Shizuru.”
“You want me teach Shizuru?”
“She’ll listen to you right?”
“Yes…”
Mai looked at Mikoto with pleading eyes.
“Okay Mai but don’t look me that anymore!” Mikoto wailed
“Okay…and we are going to polish yours in return.”
“Polish?”
“Yes, so you can speak our language well.”
“Hmmmm,”
XXX
4 days later
“Where are you taking us?” Chie asked as she, Mai and Nao were dragged by Natsuki towards the mall.
Natsuki stopped walking and faced her friends, “We are at the mall, isn’t it obvious that I’m dragging you here to shop?”
Four jaws slackened.
“When the hell did you drag us out when you want to go shopping? Isn’t it always Kuga-sama and you’re kind of bonding?” Nao asked.
Natsuki sighed, “Okay first of all, I don’t do shopping with kaa’san, and you all probably know that my mother is too busy ‘impressing’ Yuuki Himeko-sama that I can’t drag her out of the house to shop!”
“So?” Mai asked, “It’s still unlikely of you to take us shopping.”
Natsuki sighed deeply once again, “Okay I give…I need opinions on what to buy Shizuru…”
“Whoa!” Nao said raising her palms against Natsuki’s form, “Wait a minute, you dragged us out to shop for that devil woman?”
Natsuki frowned, “I dragged you three out because I need your opinion! I dragged you three out because you’re my friend and for Christ sake Nao! That devil woman you are referring to have a name! And her name is SHIZURU!” Natsuki yelled at Nao causing the others to winced.
Chie looked at Mai and Nao with a teasing look, “Defensive much?”
“And…” Natsuki placed her hands on her waist, she stood with her feet apart and a deep frown on her face, “…you three are currently living in my house so you cannot say no!” Natsuki said.
“Demanding!” Nao exclaimed, “For one Natsuki-ojou-sama, Kuga Saeko-sama wanted us to stay longer in your mansion and it’s not as if I’ve begged you to let me stay!” Nao said huffing.
“I’m jut riding the trend!” Chie reasoned, “My woman doesn’t live in your mansion anyways…”
Natsuki looked at Chie, “But she’s living to the mansion next to ours…unlike your place?” she said.
“Okay!” Chie pouted.
“And you Yuuki!” Natsuki raised a finger on Nao’s face, “Don’t you dare tell me that you don’t have any agenda staying in our house! Nor when I saw you walked out of Miyu…” Natsuki’s tirade was halted by Nao jumping on her and her hand clamped tightly on Natsuki’s mouth.
“Hmmm…I think the dense Natsuki found out something we didn’t know?” Chie said grinning mischievously.
“Hey you two!” Mai shouted as she stopped the two from rolling on the mall’s floor trying to outdo each other, but to no avail, “If you two don’t stop I’m going to call Kuga-sama and Yuuki-sama, pronto!” Mai said and this threat caused the two to stop wrestling and stood up straight. They both arranged their hairs and their crumpled clothing.
“Okay…you know Nats, you could just ask us.” Chie said shaking her head.
Natsuki pouted, “I’m tired of asking, I’m tired of everything…I’m asking Shizuru to stop saying things in her language and listen to me…but no, she won’t…I’m getting frustrated and I don’t want another ‘no’ from any of you!” Natsuki shouted her reason.
“Calm down!” Mai chastised the blue haired woman.
“Okay…so what do you want to buy for Shizuru?” Nao asked, “And what does Shizuru wear?”
Natsuki blushed, “My clothes…”
Chie and Nao grin, “Including the …you know…under…”
“Well…yes but it seems they used a different type of underwear and she has no idea how to slip on our…”
Mai blushed, “Oh my God…does that mean you put on Shizuru’s…”
Natsuki’s eyes widened, “I closed my eyes! Promise!”
XXX
“That’s naughty of you Shizuru.” Mikoto said as she shook her head.
“Why shouldn’t I? She keeps on treating me like I don’t know this and that…she thought I have no idea what underwear is and how to put them on…”
“So you pretended not to know…and you still pretend that you can’t understand her?”
Shizuru grinned, “I am thankful to Natsuki that she taught me her language and to you and Tokiha for supplementing me the others, but I love to see Natsuki squirm, and I love to see her do those fancy movement to act out what she wanted to say.” Shizuru laughed, “As they say…Natsuki so kawaii!”
Mikoto stood up and shook her head, “You’re evil!”
“Ara…I’ve learned that from the best!”
“Yeah but Natsuki is already on her last straw and she’s becoming more and more depressed as time goes without you learning her language.” Mikoto said sadly, “Perhaps you should start teasing Natsuki less and less or else, she might not want to see you ever again.”
Shizuru look saddened by that thought, “But once this injury healed completely…we have to go back to the village and then, and then I won’t ever see Natsuki again…”
Mikoto looked at her friend seriously, “Tell me Shizuru…you’re in love with this Natsuki Kuga aren’t you?”
Shizuru looked in Mikoto’s amber eyes and truthfully answered with a nod, “Yes…I think I am but…”
“But?”
“She’s not a HiME and there’s no way that we could be together!” Shizuru said.
“But you’re not a HiME too and yet…”
“Natsuki belongs to this world, not in our world. I don’t think she’s that in love with me to choose to live at HiME and to accept me for who I am. Of course Natsuki would want someone in high society…like Mai.”
Silence
“You think Mai too was just playing with me? You think she’ll forget about me once we go back to HiME?”
“I don’t know Mikoto, I don’t know…”
XXX
“Can you see that?” the voice was panting, she and her pack had been running for long and they found this big thing that they thought as a very beautiful cave.
“Do you think that could be where the beast is hiding Mikoto and Shizuru?” Another voice said, also panting.
“I don’t know, but if that beast has even scratched Shizuru, I’m going to kill it!”
“Tomoe…”
The woman they called Tomoe took out dried leaves and a sharp ended feather, she then pricked herself and used her blood to write something. She then rolled it and pinned it on a messenger dove they were carrying and let the bird fly out, “Make sure Kruger gets the letter my friend…” Tomoe whispered then the bird flew out.
XXX
Natsuki, Mai, Nao and Chie arrived at the mansion late in the afternoon bringing with them bags of clothes and some snacks from the mall. They were greeted by Miyu and Fumi who gladly took the bags of food from them and led them to the living room.
Natsuki and Mai’s face lit up when they saw Shizuru and Mikoto on the couch watching ‘animal planet’.
“Are you okay Shizuru to be able to walk and come here from your room?” Natsuki asked not hoping to be answered.
“Yes, I think my leg is good.” Shizuru replied but Natsuki didn’t noticed it, instead she continued on doing what she was doing and she once again spoke.
“Then that’s good to hear.” Natsuki said nonchalantly.
Mai, Chie and Nao’s jaw slackened for two reasons…One is that Shizuru could speak their language already, though it was broken like Mikoto’s but still its progress, and two. Natsuki’s density working again…
“I bought you lots of clothes; I don’t want you wearing my clothes all the time Shizuru. You should at least have something that is yours.” Natsuki added still unaware of Shizuru’s speaking of her language.
“But I like wearing Natsuki clothes, comfy…” Shizuru said.
“Yeah but…”
“KUGA!” Nao shouted, she stepped closer to her friend and stopped Natsuki from saying anything. Nao forced Natsuki’s face to look at Shizuru whose face was now a mere 3 inches away from her.
“Shizuru wants to thank Natsuki for buying clothes for me.” Shizuru said before she leaned more and placed a peck on Natsuki’s lips.
“Oh…my…You go KUGA!” Nao shouted causing a sleeping wolf to get up and howl.
Natsuki’s eyes were wide as realization dawned on her…the realization that Shizuru talked to her in their language… “You…Shizuru…you…when…”
Shizuru grinned, “I learned it a long time…when you start teaching…”
“So you were just faking that you haven’t learned anything from me?” Natsuki asked and she pouted when Shizuru nodded her head in affirmation.
“…Because Natsuki looks kawaii when she makes silly movements, and I love it.” Shizuru explained slowly.
“You naughty woman!” Natsuki growled and then pounced on the giggling crimson eyed woman.
Everyone was laughing at the sight of the two enjoying each other, the wolf began to howl continuously. Their fun stopped and it was time for Shizuru to try on all the clothes Natsuki bought her.
And Natsuki’s eyes bugged out, her nose bled as Shizuru tried to undress in front of everybody to change…
Good thing Mai was there to tell Shizuru what to do.
And as for Nao…
“Nao-ojousama, you are being naughty…” Miyu whispered when she appeared out of nowhere.
“He-he, Miyu-chan…” Nao said after a loud gulping sound was heard from her.
XXX
Kruger was grinning when Viola saw her. The chief had a crumpled letter in her hand and it seemed that the chief received good news.
“Viola…” the chief said happily, “They found the cave were the beast took Shizuru and Mikoto…they’ll be bringing her back.”
-end Chapter 6-
Next: Tomoe, Haruka, Erstin and Ain engaged the people of the Kuga-mansion…what will happen then?