Hey guys! Actually I already finished this chapter few days ago but Document Manager seems to be gone into berserk or something. It didn't allow me to upload this chapter. (Curse you, Document Manager!!!)
Same goes with my e-mail… Sorry I couldn't reply to any reviews on 'The Fuuka Girlz: Second Stage'. I'm really-really sorry… But thanks for reviewing though!! Really appreciate it! :D
Anyway, happy reading and have a nice day!! ^_^
X-HiME
Chapter 10
She narrowed her eyes as she watched few students walked along the path to the academic block. She leaned her arms on the window frame, still looking at the giggling girls. Suddenly, her eyes brightened.
Pressing the button on her wheelchair, she maneuvered the chair to turn it facing the entrance door. And as she expected, there were soft knocks on her office door. Just a shift of her eyes, the door opened by itself, revealing a certain red head who stood behind it. Midori's face was contorted into mild surprise as she watched the door opened.
"Mashiro-sama… You shouldn't do that… You just freak me out…" Midori frowned slightly as she made her way into Mashiro's office. The lavender haired woman chuckled lightly and she maneuvered her wheelchair, moving to the small table near the other window.
"Have a seat, Midori-sensei…" Mashiro gestured at the vacant chair across the table. Midori nodded and she walked to sit on the mentioned chair.
"I wonder why you calling me… Not to mention, during weekend…" the red head leaned her back on the chair, exhaling a soft breath calmly.
Mashiro smiled as she threw her sight outside the window. "I'm sorry for interrupting your weekend, Midori-sensei…"
The red head professor just sigh and she smirked. "Don't worry about it… I'm doing nothing at home anyway… So, what's this meeting for…?"
Mashiro inhaled a deep breath and she shifted her gaze to look at the calm feature of Midori, "Higurashi-san… She met me this morning and she told me she had this dream but she couldn't remember what it was…"
Midori frowned slightly. "Akane-chan…? She dreamed about something…?" and Mashiro nodded.
"Like usual… When she has a dream, she would sometimes forget about it unless she let me recover it for her…" Mashiro took a deep breath.
"What kind of dream…?" Midori asked again. Mashiro leaned backwards, resting her back into the comfort of the soft cushion behind her.
"It was too hazy… not so clear and I barely decipher the image… But all I could pick out is this…" Mashiro pressed the button on the armrest and she moved the wheelchair closer to the red head.
"Just close your eyes…" Mashiro whispered as she reached up, placing her fingers tentatively on both sides of Midori's head. Midori complied and her eyes fluttered close.
Mashiro also followed to close her eyes and her head lowered. After a few minutes of serenity between them, Mashiro slowly pulled away her hand and Midori snapped her eyes open abruptly as she gasped in shock.
"T-that place… That was the abandoned nuclear plant we went last week and also the place where we found Tomoe-chan…" Midori frowned again. "B-but… what it has anything to do with Natsuki!?"
"That's what I've thought too when I saw that image this morning… That's the reason I called you here, Midori-sensei…" Mashiro entwined her fingers and she rested her chin on it. "…You know that Higurashi-san has an ability to see future through her dreams…"
"I wonder if we missed something important there, Midori-sensei…" she sighed. Midori took another deep breath as her brows furrowed.
"We got to tell Natsuki about this… I'll go call her!"
"Wait, Midori-sensei… You don't have to…" Mashiro smiled as she tapped her index finger on her head. Midori blinked in confusion for a moment, later on she smiled when she comprehend with what Mashiro meant.
"Ah, yes. Forgot about that…" she chuckled as she settled on her chair again. Mashiro smiled, shaking her head slightly.
"Just wait for a moment…" Mashiro said as she slowly closed her eyes.
---
~Knock! Knock! ~
She abruptly spun her head around when she heard the knocks. Slowly putting down her pen, Shizuru pushed her chair backwards slightly and she stood up. I wonder who that is… Suzushiro-san wouldn't knock since she has her own key to this room…
Shizuru's eyes brightened instantly. Maybe it's Natsuki! She hastened her steps towards the door and she turned the knob.
"G-good afternoon, Fujino-san…" a stuttering teal haired girl was standing at the doorway as she smiled to the older girl.
Shizuru widened her eyes slightly, a bit surprised to the fact that this girl here was absolutely unexpected to be appear at her doorway. "Ara… Good afternoon, Marguerite-san…"
"Am I interrupting you, Fujino-san…?" Tomoe smiled warmly to the brunette haired girl. Shizuru just smiled again as she shook her head.
"Not really… I was in the middle of finishing my homework… Is there anything I can help you with, Marguerite-san…?" Shizuru folded her arms casually as she stared at the younger girl.
Tomoe seemed nervous as she tried to match Shizuru's stare but somehow, the older girl's gaze was too intimidating and she barely looked at Shizuru's eyes when she talked.
"My friends said that you're a new student too, Fujino-san…" she muttered it softly.
Shizuru arched her brows, "Ara… Yes I am, Marguerite-san… For almost two months right now…"
"I saw you fight with Kuga-san the other day and it amazed me… I was wondering if it wouldn't be a burden for you to help me with combat techniques, Fujino-san…" Tomoe uttered it carefully.
"Of course, Marguerite-san… It would be my pleasure to do so... But don't you think that there are other students who are a lot better than me…?" Shizuru smiled. Tomoe just shook her head as she curved up a pleading smile.
"I know but since you're also a new student, I prefer to have you to help me out since I think you could assist a beginner like me…"
Shizuru nodded her head slightly, "I understand. Well… I would be more than glad to help you, Marguerite-san…"
"Thank you, Fujino-san… I'm sorry for taking your time… When can we start…?" she asked excitedly. Shizuru chuckled to Tomoe's excited face.
"What about 5 pm this afternoon…? I got some free time during that hour…" Shizuru put a finger under her chin.
Tomoe grinned widely, "5 pm would be great, Fujino-san! I'll see you at Campus Park…?" she asked again. Shizuru nodded and she smiled.
"Okay. 5 pm at the park…"
Tomoe bowed her head. "Thank you so much, Fujino-san… I'll see you later…"
Shizuru also followed suit, bowing her head slightly to the younger girl. "I'll see you again, Marguerite-san…" she waved her hand. She could notice a faint blush on Tomoe's cheeks when the girl waved back. Ara… So easy to blush… Just like my Natsuki…
Tomoe quickly walked back to her dorm on the 3rd floor after Shizuru closed the door. Her lips curved into a sly smile as she strolled along the corridor.
---
"GAHH!!" she groaned as she tossed the book over her head.
"Shut up, Nao… I'm trying to focus here…" a certain raven haired girl was lying on her stomach on Nao's room floor, doing a calculation for Algebraic questions. Meanwhile, Chie and Aoi were at the study desk, sharing earphones while finishing their homework.
Nao grunted faintly as she collected her book again and she crawled closer to Natsuki, "Do this question for me…" she pointed at the Mathematic question.
Natsuki simply gazed at the page through the corner of her eyes and she turned to focus on her work again, "…I don't know. Ask Chie." she wrote down the answer on her book.
Nao sighed, resting her head on the cold floor, "Why are we learning all these craps anyway…? We got powers! We mutants don't need all these knowledge!"
Natsuki exhaled a heavy breath as she flipped her book close, "Well, apparently… We're still students in this school and Mashiro-sama wanted us to learn all these craps…"
"Yeah, Nao… If you wanted your monthly allowance would be cut to half, you can go and talk to Fumi-sama about how crappy this mathematic stuff…" Chie said without looking at her two friends on the floor.
"Shut up…" Nao tossed an eraser to Chie's head and a soft whimper could be heard from the short haired girl. Natsuki just chuckled when she saw Chie scowled at Nao.
"Kuga-san…"
Natsuki silenced abruptly. She glanced around the room, searching for the source of the voice that called her just now. "Oi, Nao… Did you call me…?"
Nao tilted her head up, glaring at the raven haired girl. "Why would I call you, mutt…? I got better things to do rather than chanting up your name…" she said nonchalantly as she focused on her book again.
Natsuki twitched her brows to Nao's irritating answer. "I'm just asking, dammit…"
"Kuga-san… This is Mashiro…"
Her eyes widened when she heard it. "M-Mashiro-sama!?" she mentally replied.
"Yes… Are you done with your homework…?"
Natsuki looked down on her books, "Just a little bit more, Mashiro-sama… Is there anything I can do for you…?"
Her other friends in that room were not aware that she was having a telepathic conversation with Mashiro. Natsuki slowly pretended that she was focusing on her books.
"Well, yes. There is something I would like to tell you, Kuga-san… But could you come over to my office…? I would prefer to talk with you personally…"
"Sure… Just a minute…" She quickly collected her books.
"Where are you going, mutt…?" Nao frowned slightly when she saw Natsuki got off the floor rather hasty.
"And don't tell your friends about this…"
Natsuki gulped down as she stared into Nao's questioning gaze. Later on, Chie and Aoi also turned to look at her.
She scratched her head awkwardly. Dammit… what am I going to say to them…? "W-well uh… I'm going to Shizuru's room… I want to ask her to help me with these few questions…"
Nao arched one brow as a mischievous smile curved on her lips, "Oh… You want her to 'teach' you, eh…? Okay… Just go, mutt… Tell me the 'detail' later…"
Chie and Aoi already laughed. Natsuki frowned again and she shook her head.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Nao… Anyway, gotta go now. See you guys later…" she quickly got out the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Natsuki walked back to her room and she made a quick enter to put away her books on her study desk and she walked out again.
"Natsuki…?" a soft, accented voice called her from behind. Natsuki abruptly spun around and she saw Shizuru was standing behind her, smiling.
"S-Shizuru… W-what are you doing here…?" she stammered. Shizuru arched her brows when she heard Natsuki's nervous voice.
"Ara… I thought I hear someone got into your room and I figured it was you… So, I just want to see my Natsuki…" she chuckled.
"Don't tell this to Fujino-san too…"
Natsuki rubbed her neck slightly. "A-ah yeah… Anyway… I gotta go now, Shizuru… I'll see you later…?"
Shizuru unconsciously twitched her brows, "Where are you going…?" she quickly asked when she saw Natsuki started to walk.
"I gotta go… um-go see Midori… She asked me to see her…"
Shizuru slowly closed her door, "Can I go with you~"
"NO!" Natsuki suddenly barked, making the older girl froze on her spot. Realizing that she just made a stupid thing, Natsuki quickly moved closer to that brunette and she pulled her into her arms.
"I'm sorry… But I really need to go now… I'll tell you everything later…" she let go of the older girl and she walked away.
Shizuru was still stunned with what happened and she just watched Natsuki's departing figure which slowly gotten further and further from her.
What is going on with Natsuki…?
---
She made her way to Mashiro's office with a slight discomfort in her chest. I wonder what is so secretive about this thing…
She turned to one corner towards Mashiro's office which located at the far end of that corridor. She strolled in silence to the large door and she was about to knock, the door opened by itself.
"Please come in, Kuga-san…" Mashiro's soft voice echoed from the large room. Natsuki idly stepped into the room and the door closed again.
"Midori…? What are you doing here…?" Natsuki furrowed her brows when she saw a certain red head inside that room. Midori grinned as she waved her hand.
"Yo, Natsuki… Mashiro-sama called me here too…"
Mashiro smiled as she moved her chair closer to the navy haired girl. "Please have a seat first, Kuga-san…"
Despite her head was full with questions that need to be asked to that red head professor, Natsuki walked to sit beside Midori. Mashiro joined them later on, sitting from across the table.
"No one knows you're here…?" Midori asked the younger girl. Natsuki shook her head slightly.
"Nope… Shizuru – almost. But I'll take care of it later… I said that I want to go see you… never thought that I would really see you here…" she grinned. Midori just chuckled while Mashiro smiled softly to Natsuki's remark.
"Anyway… Why do you want to see me, Mashiro-sama…? I don't think I did anything bad or break any rules lately…" Natsuki scratched her head sheepishly.
Mashiro chuckled as she shook her head. "No, Kuga-san… Don't worry. You're doing fine ever since you befriended with Fujino-san… I think she's doing a pretty good job in restraining your behavior, am I right…?"
Natsuki didn't answer anything as she lowered her blushing face, earning another loud laugh from the other two occupants in that office.
"Okay… Enough with this. Natsuki! We have something to tell you…" Midori cleared her throat, quickly brought the room into silence again.
Natsuki clamped her mouth tightly as she waited for Midori to continue. She tilted her head to look at Mashiro's solemn face then she looked at Midori again. Whoa… I'm sure this thing is damn serious… I never see Midori looks so stern like this…
Midori inhaled a deep breath, scratching her head frantically. "I don't know how to put this… um…"
"Just say it, Midori… You're starting to irritate me now…" Natsuki folded her arms in annoyed manner as she glared at the older woman.
Midori took a quick glance to Mashiro and the lavender haired woman just nodded curtly. Midori slowly turned to face Natsuki again.
"Natsuki… You're going to die tonight…"
---
Shizuru stared out her window as her thought wandered aimlessly. I wonder what's happened to Natsuki… She never talks to me like that before…
She glanced at her wrist watch, 4.45 pm already… Maybe I should go to the park while waiting for Marguerite-san to come…
She let out a heavy sigh as she got off her bed.
---
Natsuki blinked blankly at first, and then slowly her brows creased. "Okay… I know it's early but are you drunk, Midori…? Why all of the sudden you said that I'm going to die tonight!?"
Midori sighed and she tilted her head, looking at the lavender haired woman from across the table pleadingly. Mashiro just smiled.
"You think I'm joking with you…? I got other things I could make a joke with rather than telling someone that she's going to die, dammit!" Midori barked angrily to the younger girl.
"But… It is totally ridiculous!!" Natsuki shouted.
"Higurashi-san had a dream about you, Kuga-san…" Mashiro cut in, and the other two women quickly turned to face her.
"A-Akane-san…?" Natsuki had her jaw dropped. Mashiro and Midori nodded.
"You know what Akane-san's ability, right…? She had this dream last night and earlier this morning, she came here to ask me to help her regain that dream since she totally forgotten about it… I helped her to recover…" Mashiro took a deep breath as she stared deeply into confused pair of emerald eyes before her.
"Wait, Mashiro-sama… If Akane-san already recovered the dream, don't you think she might tell this to other students…?" Midori twitched her brows in worry.
Mashiro simply smiled as she shook her head. "Don't worry about that, Midori-sensei… I already erased that dream out of her memory… She won't remember a single thing about it. Besides, if she did remember, don't you think the entire school would go into riot right now…?"
Both Natsuki and Midori nodded their head in agreement. "Yeah… You got a point there…" Midori grinned.
"Anyway… You said you erased Akane's memory about that dream… That means you have it with you, right…? Mashiro-sama…?" Natsuki leaned her arms on the table, studying Mashiro's calm face intently.
Mashiro paused for a moment, "Yes. I have…" she replied hesitantly.
"Let me see it…" Natsuki said as she walked over to stand right beside the lavender haired woman.
"Oi, Natsuki… Are you sure!?" Midori quickly stood up. Her face was contorted in worry.
"I'm sure… Besides, maybe I could figure out something when I see what happened in that dream… Maybe we could avoid it…" Natsuki smiled reassuringly and she turned to face Mashiro again, "Mashiro-sama… Please let me see that dream…"
Mashiro exhaled a heavy breath and she slowly smiled, "Very well, Kuga-san… I'll let you see it… Please sit in front of me…"
Natsuki quickly bent down on her knees, facing the lavender haired woman. Mashiro reached up her hands and she placed them on both sides of Natsuki's face.
"Close your eyes and calm down…" Mashiro spoke and Natsuki shut her eyes tightly. Midori just watched as silence slowly engulfed the atmosphere around them. After a few seconds, she could notice sweats slowly formed on Natsuki's forehead and sometimes, that girl would contorted her face and winced like she was in pain.
Mashiro opened her eyes and she slowly pulled away her hands. "Kuga-san… Are you okay…?" she asked, patting Natsuki's sweating face.
Natsuki was breathing hard as she already sweating from head to toe. "T-that is so real…" she spoke breathlessly. "I-I will burn to death…?"
"Calm down, Natsuki… It's only a precognitive dream… We can still work on something to avoid that..." Midori walked to stand beside the younger girl and she held Natsuki's shoulders comfortingly.
"B-but… If it was Akane-san who dreamt about that, it would come true sooner or later, Midori…" Natsuki started to panic.
"I said, calm down… Sure we can figure out a solution for you…" she patted the girl's head.
Natsuki slowly took a deep breath, calming herself down. "Yeah… We can figure out something…"
"Relax… Okay? Anyway, did you recognize that place in that dream…?" Midori asked, and she earned a surprised look from the younger girl.
"Now you said it… Wasn't it the place where we picked that Marguerite girl…?" Natsuki asked back and Midori nodded in anticipation.
"I'm going to dispatch a team tonight… We're going to investigate that place all over again…" Midori smiled. Mashiro also nodded her head in confirmation.
"Can I go along with you…?" Natsuki asked as she looked at both women back and forth.
"I don't think so, Natsuki… It might be dangerous for you…" Midori scratched her cheek.
"But if I'm not there, how are we going to find the answer for that dream…?" Natsuki frowned slightly.
"We'll keep you safe here, Kuga-san… I prefer you're not going anywhere tonight…" Mashiro said with a stern voice.
Natsuki gritted her teeth as she clenched her fists tightly. "You think I'm going to sit here doing nothing while knowing that I'm going to be dead soon…? No way! I'm going!!"
Midori and Mashiro exchanged surprised look and Midori sighed. "Okay! Okay! I'll take you together with me… That means I need to take Mai-chan too…"
Natsuki raised her brows. "Mai…? What for…?"
"Mai-chan is immune to any kind of fire or radiation, Natsuki… I'll have her to protect you… And I'll bring Mikoto-chan too… In case we're stuck, she can take us back here while Mai-chan can always fly…" Midori grinned widely.
"Nice!" Natsuki chuckled.
Mashiro also smiled. "Please keep this to yourself, Kuga-san… Don't tell anyone about this yet… Not even Tokiha-san or Minagi-san…"
"But they'll come along with us… How are we going to keep this from them…?" Natsuki shot a questioning look to the director.
Midori laughed as she patted on Natsuki's shoulder again. "Just leave that to me, okay…? You just need to prepare yourself before we depart to that place…"
"Yeah… Okay!" Natsuki replied.
"I'll inform Mai and Mikoto-chan later… Meet me at the basement at 6…"
---
They had started with few explanations on basic movements and they were going to perform a simple sparring match afterwards.
Shizuru slowly put on her gloves as she was being watched by a certain teal haired girl in front of her.
"Why are you putting on those gloves, Fujino-san…?" Tomoe asked curiously. Shizuru just smiled as she put another glove on her left hand.
"Just a precaution, Marguerite-san… I don't want to harm you…" she said nonchalantly.
Tomoe blinked in confusion. Come to think about it, I didn't know what kind of power she has yet…
"Anyway, what kind of power you have, Fujino-san…?" she asked with a bright smile.
"You don't want to know about it, Marguerite-san…" Shizuru chuckled, clapping her hands together.
Of course I want to know everything about you, Shizuru-san… "I don't mind…" she retorted with an excited face.
Shizuru simply arched one brow and she giggled. "Okay… Let me show you then…" she said while pulling off her right glove as she walked closer to the younger girl.
Tomoe was frozen on her feet when Shizuru brought her bare palm up and touched her face. W-wh-what!? What is she doing!? Oh my god!
Shizuru could feel a mild surge of electricity running through her fingertips and all over her body when she touched Tomoe's skin. I think my ability to control my death touch is getting better… She's totally fine when I touch her… And I guess I've just absorbed her power…
After a few seconds, Shizuru pulled her hand away, leaving the teal haired girl blushing heavily. "Are you okay, Marguerite-san…?"
Tomoe was dazed, staring intensely with unblinking eyes into Shizuru's depth of crimson. "Y-yes, Fujino-san…" and she quickly lowered her head.
"B-but nothing happen…" she spoke when she noticed nothing had change on her.
"You'll know it soon…" Shizuru smiled and she slowly closed her eyes. Focus on the power that I want to use…
Suddenly, Tomoe could feel her head started to ache. "A-ah!" she quickly clutched her head when a sharp, buzzing sound echoed inside her brain.
"That is my power…" Shizuru exhaled and Tomoe felt the pain slowly dissipated.
Tomoe widened her eyes in pure shock, "B-but that was~"
"Your power? Yes. I absorbed it…" she smiled, putting her glove back on. Tomoe frowned slightly to the unexpected revelation.
"Y-you absorbed it?" she asked back, a little unconvinced with Shizuru's statement. Shizuru nodded, taking a few steps back from the younger girl.
"And I also have a death touch… But I managed to control it after a few training with Natsuki…" Shizuru smiled widely after her spoke the name of her beloved one.
Tomoe could notice how Shizuru's face changed when Natsuki's name was mentioned. Damn it… That girl…
"Anyway, shall we start now, Marguerite-san…?" Shizuru brought up her arms into defensive stance. Tomoe quickly shook the thought out her brain and she nodded.
"Yes, Fujino-san…"
---
She tilted down her head, the small gap under Shizuru's door was dark. Where is she going…?
"Oi!! What are you doing?" a sudden bark almost made her jump on her feet. She quickly turned around and she saw a certain blonde haired girl stood a few feet away, glaring at her with a questioning look.
Damn… Just Suzushiro… "Nothing… Anyway, did you see Shizuru…?" Natsuki rubbed her neck sheepishly.
Haruka just twitched her brows as she moved towards her door. "No… I just got back from my Prefect Meeting… Last time I saw her, she was doing her homework…"
Natsuki blinked and she quickly nodded. "O-oh… Okay… but if she got back, could you please tell her that I'm going out the town with Midori…? There's something she asked me to help her with…"
Haruka paused for a moment and she nodded curtly. "Yeah, sure… I'll tell her that later…"
Natsuki curved a small smile to the older girl. "Thanks, Suzushiro… I'll be going now…" she waved her hand slightly and she walked away.
Haruka just watched the departing figure with arched brows. Thanks? She never says thanks to me before… I think something is off with that girl...
---
Shizuru peered at her wrist watch as she panted slightly. Ara… It's already 6.15…? Maybe Natsuki already back to her room… I should ask her to have a dinner with me…
"Marguerite-san… I think we should call it a day… It's getting dark now…" she took a deep breath as she slowly took off her gloves. Tomoe lowered her arms and she nodded.
"Yes, Fujino-san… Can we do this again sometimes…?" she smiled.
Shizuru chuckled and she smiled reassuringly. "Of course… I'll see you again next class, Marguerite-san…" without wasting more time, Shizuru walked towards the dormitory.
"W-wait, Fujino-san~" Tomoe's voice couldn't reach the older girl since Shizuru was already far from her.
I thought I'm going to have a dinner with her…
---
She walked hastily towards Natsuki's room. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw the room was dark. Is she sleeping…? She was about to reach up to knock,
"Oh, hey… Shizuru-san!" a sudden voice called her from behind. A certain short haired girl and a red head were standing behind her.
"Ara… Chie-san! Nao-san… Did you see Natsuki…?" Shizuru asked with a slight worry in her voice. Nao and Chie turned to look at each other with a confuse expression.
"We're about to ask you the same thing… She said she want to ask you to help her with her homework earlier this afternoon…" Chie frowned slightly.
Shizuru furrowed her brows, "Homework…? She never comes to me to ask about homework…"
"She went out the town to help Midori with something… She asked me to tell you before she left earlier…" Haruka suddenly appeared at her doorway, yawning widely. The other three girls quickly spun around to look at the blonde.
"Out the town…? With Midori…? What are they going to do out there at the time like this!?" Chie twitched her brows in disbelief.
Nao gasped loudly, "Oh my god… Now you said it, I think I didn't see Mai and Mikoto around either… Are they out for karaoke without telling us!?" and it was Chie's turn to gasp.
"Oh… I'm so going to kick their asses if they went to karaoke without us!" Chie punched her palm in angry manner. Haruka just sighed.
Shizuru stared blankly at the cement floor underneath her feet. She didn't know why but her heart couldn't stop pounding wildly inside her chest.
I got a bad feeling about this…
---
They glanced around the pitch black area in front of them.
"So… this is the place you guys went to get that Marguerite last time, ne? Duran-san…?" Mai looked around the abandoned nuclear plant with the night vision mode. Natsuki just nodded her head as she also looked around the huge building. Nothing suspicious… I wonder if Akane's dream is going to happen… Her heart started to pound rapidly.
"It looks creepy…" Mikoto hugged her sword tightly. Midori just laughed, patting Mikoto's spiky hair.
"Hey, don't tell me you're scared, Nekogami-sama…" she chuckled. Mikoto let out a soft grunt as she hugged her sword tighter.
"Let's go…" Natsuki slowly walked towards the building, followed with her other teammates behind her.
"Where's the place you fought with this fat mutant, Duran…?" Midori asked as they walked along the pitch-black, empty corridor.
"At the eastern wing…" she replied but suddenly she halted her steps. She sniffed slightly and her brows twitched in the speed of lightning.
"…someone's here…" she muttered faintly. The others quickly prepared themselves into fighting stance as they glanced around the area with awareness.
"How close is that person…? I didn't see anyone through this night vision…" Midori asked as she looked around.
"I'm not sure… She could be close or far from us… I can't tell…" Natsuki narrowed her eyes as she tried to focus her senses.
Suddenly,
BANG!!
Mikoto was thrown to the closest wall. Both Natsuki and Midori turned around abruptly and they saw smoke already gathered around the spot where Mikoto fell.
"Argh!!" Mikoto grunted loudly when her back hit the floor violently.
"Mikoto!!" Natsuki quickly ran to the girl but she instantly backed away when another swing of fist was directed to her. Her claws extracted automatically and she brought her arms up to block the second blow from the attacker.
"Mai!?" Natsuki blurted out in shock when she saw it was Mai who was attacking her.
Mai didn't reply a word but instead she swung her right leg to Natsuki's face. Luckily Natsuki managed to tilt her head and the attack just swept her mask off her face. Natsuki's mask dropped on the floor.
Natsuki quickly made a few back-flips, distancing herself from the orange haired girl. "W-what is going on with you, Mai!? Why did you attack me and Mikoto!?"
Midori twitched her brows when she saw Mai just remained quiet and immobilized on her spot. Mikoto slowly got up from the floor, rubbing her sore head.
"Mai…?" she called but she received no response. Mikoto twitched her brows as she watched the older girl stood there in silence. She held her sword tightly and she quickly vanished.
Mikoto reappeared between Natsuki and Midori as she raised her sword high, pointing at Mai. "She's not Mai…"
Both Midori and Natsuki turned to face the smaller girl in the same time. "What?"
"That's not Mai!" Mikoto repeated, wielding her sword firmly. Natsuki couldn't believe what the younger girl had told her and she turned to look at Mai again.
Slowly, Mai lifted her right arm and she combusted a flame around her right fist, brightened the whole area with orange glow. She also raised her other hand to take off her mask.
Under the bright glow from Mai's flame, their eyes widened at the sight of Mai's dark eyes. Her eyes were totally pitch-black, not like her usual violet ones. Even the white area also black, making Mai's face a bit eerie to look at.
They were totally speechless when they saw Mai's eyes. "W-what is going on…?" Natsuki swallowed nervously.
Midori's jaw was dropped in shock. "I-I also don't know…"
They quickly brought up their arms into fighting stance when they saw Mai pulled back her right fist. Suddenly, the flame around Mai's right fist intensified into larger size. A wicked smile appeared on Mai's lips.
They backed away a few steps. "S-shit! She's possessed by someone!!" Midori hastily took a few steps backwards.
"Possessed!? By who?" Natsuki asked in shock.
Mai swung her right arm, discharging the huge orange flame towards them.
"Talk later!! RUN NOW!!"
---
"Oi, Fujino… You don't want to have your dinner…?" Haruka stood at the doorway, looking at the brunette haired girl who was lying on the bed.
"It's okay, Suzushiro-san… I'm not hungry anyway…" Shizuru replied curtly without looking at the other girl.
Haruka sighed heavily and she stomped towards Shizuru's bed. "You better get up now or I'll drag you to the dining hall by myself… I don't want that Kuga blame me if you gotten sick for not having a meal tonight…"
Ara… Suzushiro-san is right… Natsuki might get angry with me if I skipped a meal… Shizuru chuckled and she slowly got up from her bed.
"Okay, Suzushiro-san… I don't want Natsuki get angry with me either…" she reached for her jacket and she put it on.
"Good! Let's go now…"
---
The whole area was brightened with numerous fireballs that being thrown all over the place. They stormed out the building with difficulties since Mai was chasing them while triggering few huge flames towards them.
"Dammit, Mai! Wake up already!!" Natsuki yelled as she dodged the fireball that was directed to her. Mikoto simply vanished herself to avoid Mai's attack while Midori froze the flames in the mid-air with her stop-time ability.
"She's not going to wake up unless we find the person who caused this stupid possessing thing!!" Midori shouted as she ducked her head from Mai's fire.
Natsuki pivoted her body so she could face the orange haired girl. "Midori! Stop Mai now!" she yelled.
Midori was about to hold her hand up to Mai but a fireball was flying towards her in rocketing speed. Luckily enough, Midori used her time-control power onto herself so she could hasten her speed to dodge the fireball. But the flame caught her left arm and it burnt the flesh in within seconds.
"Argh!!" Midori groaned in pain as she clutched her burnt arm. Natsuki quickly caught Midori from falling to the ground.
"Oi! Get hold of yourself, Midori!!" Natsuki grabbed the older woman close. Midori whimpered in pain as her hand clutched tightly on her wounded arm. Natsuki studied the wound and it was burnt pretty severe.
God! What I should do now… Mikoto!! Yeah! She could teleport Midori back to campus… "Mikoto!!" she glanced around to look for a certain spiky haired girl but Mikoto wasn't around.
After a quick search, she spotted a black smoke appeared right behind Mai. Mikoto emerged from the smoke and she instantly locked the older girl with her arms and legs wrapping around Mai's body
"Mikoto!!" Natsuki slowly put down Midori's weak body on the ground as she dashed towards the other two girls.
"Mai! Stop attacking your friends!" Mikoto yelled to the older girl. Mai flinched slightly after she heard those words from Mikoto. Her eyes shifted its color and it returned into her original violet ones.
Natsuki could see Mai started to relax as she lowered her arms and the flame on her right hand slowly disappeared. "Mai…"
Only in few seconds, Mai stiffened and her eyes darkened again. A wicked smile slowly crept on her face as she clenched both her fists tightly.
Mikoto who thought Mai was already awake, didn't realize that the older girl already being possessed again.
Natsuki widened her eyes when she saw Mai's body started to glow in intense orange beam. Don't tell me… Her heart started to pound wildly inside her chest again. S-shit!! She's going to do 'that'!!
"MIKOTO!! GET AWAY FROM MAI!!" she yelled. Mikoto widened her eyes when she heard Natsuki yelled at her and she could feel blazing heat slowly emitted from Mai's body. Oh no…
Mai's triggered full body combustion and Mikoto merely escaped as she vanished into black smoke when flame started to flicker around Mai's body.
Mikoto reappeared beside Natsuki, with her body was scorched with second degree burn. Her trench coat was completely burned to a crisp.
"Mikoto!!" Natsuki quickly grabbed Mikoto's body when the girl fell on her knees. "Oi! Mikoto!!"
"N-Natsuki…" Mikoto whimpered as she sometimes winced in pain when Natsuki accidently touched her wound.
"C-could you teleport back to campus with Midori…? There's nothing we can do right now… Take Midori back and ask for help…" Natsuki held Mikoto's head tenderly.
"Y-yeah… I could manage…" Mikoto nodded her head weakly and she reached for Midori. Natsuki slowly stood up as she turned facing the orange haired girl who slowly putting off the flame around her body. Natsuki frowned slightly when she saw Mai gave her a wide, wicked grin. Damn it, Mai…
"Midori… Let's go!" Mikoto hugged Midori's waist tightly despite the pain she had to endure when Midori's body made contact with her wound.
"N-Natsuki… what are you doing!? Come with us!" Midori spoke with ragged breath.
Natsuki just smiled as she looked down at Midori. "I won't leave her alone here…"
Midori widened her eyes when she heard it. Her head made a quick recall on the dream that Mashiro showed to her earlier that afternoon. Don't tell me the person who killed Natsuki in that dream is…
"NATSUKI!! NO!!" but she and Mikoto already vanished into the thin air, leaving a thick black smoke on the ground.
---
Mashiro snapped her eyes opened. Oh my god… This is really happening… and she quickly pressed the button on her wheelchair to move out her room. Fumi who was about to walk into the room with a tray of food for Mashiro was stunned when she saw Mashiro had this panic expression on her face.
"Mashiro-sama…?"
"Fumi-san! We got emergency!!"
---
The dining hall was loud and noisy with students chattering while having their dinner.
"Damn it… They're still not coming back from town, eh? Geez! I'm sure they're having fun with karaoke while we're stuck here with such a boring night…" Nao grumbled as she spun the tray in her hands. Chie just laughed as she moved forward along the line to get her food from the counter.
"KYAAA~" a loud shriek came from outside the dining hall. All eyes instantly turned to look at the doorway.
"What is going on!?" Nao dropped her tray and she quickly dashed towards the exit. Chie also didn't wait long as she put away her tray and she ran, trailing Nao from behind.
Shizuru who sat a few feet away from the door also stood up when she saw Nao and Chie ran towards the door. She quickly walked to follow those two.
"What happened, Fujino…?" Haruka hastily jogged to follow the brunette.
"M-Mikoto-chan! Midori-sensei!!" Arika kneeled down as she tried to reach for two immobilized bodies on the corridor's floor.
Nao and Chie had their eyes bulged out its sockets when they saw Mikoto and Midori's wounded body. "Mikoto! Midori!!"
Other students already gathered around when they heard such distress yell and they gasped in shock when they saw Mikoto and Midori sprawled on the floor, barely breathing. Some of them started to panic, especially the younger students.
"Someone call Youko-sensei now!! And others please step back! Give some space here!!" Haruka quickly stepped forward, trying to keep the situation under control.
"I'll go!" Aoi suddenly yelled and she ran through the wall to the direction where the infirmary was located.
"Oh my god… Mikoto… What is going on…?" Nao kneeled beside the barely conscious girl. Her brows twitched at the sight of Mikoto's burn wound.
"M-Mai… S-she… N-Natsuki…" Mikoto muttered with difficulties as she winced in pain.
Shizuru's eyes were widened in pure shock when she heard Natsuki's name was being mentioned. "W-what happened to Natsuki!?"
"Calm down, Fujino-san…" a soft voice broke the commotion and Mashiro appeared from the crowd with Fumi behind her.
Mashiro narrowed her eyes to the two of weak bodies on the floor as her brain slowly deciphered everything inside Midori and Mikoto's head. Her face slowly contorted in panic. Tokiha-san is possessed!? That means in that dream… "I-I never thought it would be Tokiha-san…" she muttered faintly.
"What!? What is going on with Mai!? What are you talking about!?" Nao kneeled in front of Mashiro as she gripped on the armrests tightly.
"P-Please… Someone save them… They're at the nuclear plant we went the other day, N-Nao…" Midori spoke weakly as she clutched on her severely burnt arm.
Nao, Chie and Shizuru turned to face each other as their eyes widened. That abandoned nuclear plant? What are they doing there!?
Tomoe who was in the crowd also could hear the conversation. It seems like that damn Kuga is in danger… Her lips sneakily curved into sly smile.
Shizuru could feel her heart started to pound rapidly again. N-Natsuki is in danger… Her fists clenched and she quickly kneeled beside Arika who was already crying. "Arika-san… You have the ability to move and fly in the speed of light, right…?" she muttered softly to the younger girl.
Arika seemed startled for awhile and she nodded. "Y-yeah, Shizuru-san… Why…?"
Shizuru smiled apologetically as she took off the glove on her right hand. "I'm sorry but I need to borrow your power right now…" and she grasped Arika's bare left arm tightly.
Shizuru stiffened slightly when a surge of electricity ran through her body as her skin met Arika's. After a few seconds, she quickly let go of the younger girl's arm and she dashed out the corridor.
Mashiro quickly noticed Shizuru's intention, "Fujino-san! What are you doing!?" she yelled.
Shizuru just smiled as she looked at the director. "I'm sorry, Mashiro-sama… But I can't just stay around doing nothing while Natsuki is in danger…"
Within a blink of an eye, Shizuru was already flying to the direction of the abandoned nuclear plant with a speed of light.
Mashiro gritted her teeth as she banged on her armrest. "Arika!! Take me to that place! Follow Fujino-san!!" she yelled to the younger girl.
Arika blinked in surprise at first and she quickly nodded her head. "Yes! Mashiro-sama!" she kneeled in front of Mashiro and she let the lavender haired woman piggy-backed her.
"Fumi-san! Take care of the rest while I'm gone!" Mashiro looked at the pink-haired lady and Fumi simply nodded her head.
In a split second, Mashiro and Arika disappeared from their sight.
---
She was panting heavily. Some parts of her clothes were already burnt to ashes, revealing her bare arms and shoulders. D-damn it… This is the first time I ever fight with her seriously…
Her left cheek was burned slightly but it was slowly healed, same goes with other few burn wounds on her arms too.
Mai descended to the ground while her left hand triggered another intense orange flame. Natsuki breathed calmly as her claws slowly extracted within her knuckles.
"TOKIHA MAI!! WAKE UP, DAMMIT!!" she yelled thunderously.
Mai stiffened as she halted from her advance towards Natsuki. Her flame slowly disappeared from her hand.
Natsuki noticed that her words reached Mai. She slowly took a step forward. "It's me, Mai… Natsuki! Please wake up!"
Mai's black eyes slowly changed into her violet ones and she blinked. "N-Natsuki…?" the first word that came out her mouth as she tilted her head up to meet with the girl in front of her.
"Yeah! It's me, your damn friend Natsuki…" she quickly walked to the orange haired girl and she pulled her into an embrace. "…calm down, Mai… Don't let your mind being controlled again…"
"I-I what…? W-what did I do…?" Mai asked in confusion as she tilted her head to look at the girl in front of her. Natsuki's clothing was partly burned and there were few burn scars on her arms that slowly healed by itself.
Mai gasped in panic. "D-did I…"
"Shhh… It's okay… You're controlled by other people… Don't worry about that…" Natsuki chuckled. Mai already cried as she brought her hands to cup her mouth.
"I-I'm sorry…" she rested her head on Natsuki's shoulder and she cried again.
"It's okay… It's over now… Let's go find that jackass that turned you into a crazy flame bitch…" Natsuki laughed again. Suddenly, she felt Mai stiffened in her arms.
"Run, Natsuki…"
Her eyes widened when she heard it and she pulled her head back slightly to look at Mai's eyes. She was completely speechless when she saw Mai's violet eyes slowly darkened into pitch-black.
"RUN!!" Mai harshly pushed the navy haired girl away and she clutched her head tightly. Natsuki took a few steps backwards as she watched Mai struggled to fight the darkness that slowly consuming her consciousness.
After a few minutes, Mai slowly relaxed as her arms went limply on her sides. Natsuki took a deep breath as she moved a step closer. "Mai…?" but she quickly halted her steps when she saw Mai's body started to glow again. Not with the previous orange glow but something much intense, more like crimson.
T-that glow… Don't tell me… That's her most powerful flame!! "Mai!! Stop it!!" Natsuki yelled. She could see how Mai smiled at her with her eyes that darkened with evil. I-I'm dead…
And the dream Mashiro showed her earlier quickly displayed inside her brain. T-that dream… Does this mean that Mai was the one who killed me in…?
Mai slowly hovered from the ground as the glow around her intensified. A smile crept across her face again and she clenched her fists tightly.
"GRAHH!!"
A loud scream echoed and Natsuki just watched waves of crimson flames moving towards her in rocketing speed. The heat was unbearable and she could feel her skin started to char.
Her eyes slowly closed. Shizuru…
Suddenly, she could feel her body was being snatched and quickly embraced by two pair of cold, metallic arms. What the…?
She opened her eyes when she felt a wet trickle on her face. A pair of glossy silver eyes stared back into hers as tears slowly trailed down the metallic face.
She quickly recognized that face. "S-Shizuru…?"
Shizuru chuckled lightly between her sobs. "I thought I'm going to lose you, Natsuki…" she pulled the younger girl into her embrace again as she slowly shifted into her original form.
Natsuki was still stunned with everything that happened. What more surprising to her that they were hovering in the mid-air. "Since when you have the ability to fly, Shizuru…?"
"Ara… It was Arika-san's ability, Natsuki… I borrow it from her…" she chuckled again.
Natsuki smiled softly as she wrapped her arms around Shizuru. "Oh my god… I thought I won't be able to see you again, Shizuru…"
Shizuru didn't reply anything, instead pulling the younger girl closer as she sobbed on her shoulder.
Natsuki peered down to look at the ground 100 feet below her and she saw crimson flames engulfing the entire area. She also could spot Mai floated above the waves of flames, staring at her and Shizuru with her dark eyes.
Mai slowly lifted her arm, pointing up at them and crimson glow started to appear on her palm. Shit!! She's still possessed!!
"Tokiha-san! Stop this at once!!" Mashiro suddenly appeared with Arika as she clung on the girl's neck tightly.
"Mai-san!!" Arika called the older girl but Mai paid no heed as she pointed her other palm to them.
Mashiro twitched her brows when she received no reply from the orange haired girl. This is so bad… I got to find the mastermind behind this… She slowly closed her eyes, letting her brain do a quick scan to trace the presence of any other mutant around the area.
"Find anyone, Mashiro-sama…?" Arika whispered softly as she also glanced around the area. Mashiro sighed heavily as she shook her head. Damn it… It seems that person who possessed Mai-san also has the power to hide from my tracking ability…
Slowly, she opened her eyes. She glanced down to look at Mai again. "She gave me no choice…" she muttered softly.
Arika twitched her brows slightly as she watched Mashiro narrowed her eyes to Mai.
"SLEEP NOW!!"
And like being hit by a lightning, Mai flinched as her body jerked backwards slightly. She almost fell to the wave of flames beneath her but Mashiro quickly held up her hand to stop the girl and Mai was hovered in the mid-air, completely unconscious.
Natsuki exhaled a relief sigh when she saw Mai went unconscious as Mashiro slowly tilted her hand and Mai's immobilized body went to follow Mashiro's hand movement.
"Let's go back to the campus now…" Mashiro smiled to the other girls. Natsuki and Shizuru quickly nodded their head. Within second, Mashiro, Mai and Arika disappeared and they already flew towards the campus in the speed of light.
"We should get back now, Natsuki… Everybody is worried about you…" Shizuru smiled to the younger girl in her arms. Natsuki just grinned and she nodded. She slowly moved to Shizuru's back and she hugged the older girl from behind.
"Now I'm the one who piggy-backing you, Shizuru…" Natsuki laughed and Shizuru just chuckled to the statement.
"Ara… Since Natsuki let me did the same when we secretly went out that night… I'm just returning the favor…"
"Yeah right…" she snorted and Shizuru laughed, louder this time.
They flew in the fair speed, holding each other close.
"Shizuru…"
"Yes, Natsuki…?"
"Thanks for saving me just now…"
A long pause. "I will always protect you, no matter what happens… Natsuki." she replied and she received a soft kiss on her cheek afterwards. Shizuru blushed almost instantly.
Natsuki laughed as she rested her head on Shizuru's shoulder and they flew back to campus.
It did happen just like in the dream but never thought in the ending, it was Shizuru who would come to save me…
Gosh! I'm stuck with my goddamn thesis and assignment that needed to be done and I'm sorry for being so late in submitting this chapter. T_T
Anyway, thanks for reading and review anyone…? Thanks again! ^_^