Disclaimer:
Not mine! This is a translation of a Chinese ShizNat fic from yamibo. For author details, please refer to the 1st page. Thanks.

Summary:
ShizNat. Post MyHime with some surprises.

When Natsuki meets Shizuru

Chapter 15 - Undercurrents: Part 2a

Authored by submerged

Translated by glowie

"Duran!"

The commanding aura and authoritative voice of the "Headmistress's" summon caused all three slaves to halt their advance; each instead fell back into a defensive stance, anticipating a counter-attack.

A glint of hope flashed across thankful emeralds; their owner grateful for the unexpected success of the feint. Not wasting the god-given seconds, Natsuki lunged herself towards the slaves and managed to slip through the gaps between them.

The lunge and subsequent forward roll were executed in uniform precision, enabling her well-trained body to recover almost immediately, before letting her powerful legs pump as much distance as possible between her and the enraged slaves.

Despite the dire situation, Natsuki couldn't help but feel sad that her trusted companion didn't emerge after all.

Her rational mind was telling her that Duran was gone for good, along with the carnival, but somewhere deep within her she was still hoping for her companion's reappearance.

Shaking herself out of the contemplation, Natsuki was determined to survive this. She didn't forget her promise to Shizuru. She' said she would take good care of this body and that's just what she was going to do.

She knew very well that the odds were against her and her only hope lay in the still-trapped Graceful Amethyst.

Her only option now was to buy time. She needed to hold them off somehow until Shizuru had taken care of the slaves targeting her.

The command to activate the robe ran wild in her mind despite being told of its dangers. Gritting her teeth, she silently prepared herself for that option.

The minute distraction proved to be her undoing as one of slaves managed to jump over her and placed itself in the front, cutting off her path to Shizuru while the other two circled around her.

"Damn!" Natsuki swore, dejectedly upset with herself for falling into the enemy trap so easily.

Helplessly she looked towards Shizuru's direction, only to be discouraged further to see Shizuru being pushed back farther from her.

The team of six slaves was quite successful at challenging the composure of the Graceful Amethyst by diligently taking turns at keeping her on her toes while ensuring they were out of her killing range when targeted. That and the fact that a huge part of the powerful Otome's concentration was somewhere else weren't helping the situation.

Meanwhile, the three slaves surrounding the yet-to-materialize Ice Column deduced that she's incapable of such a maneuver and went all out on her. With claws hungry for blood and gleaming with eagerness, they charged towards her.

Instead of the anticipated scurrying retreat, Natsuki surprised the slaves by rushing forward straight at the slave in front.

Just before impact, she dropped to a side roll, barely dodging the slave's claw that came crushing down at her before sliding between its legs to the other side. Seeing this, the slave nearest to her threw a side swipe, an anticipated attack which she narrowly cleared with a strong forward lunge. She then ran alongside the very arms that meant to pulverize her seconds ago; using it instead as a cover from the other two slaves before its owner could retract it for another attack.

Pulling a feint before doubling back with another side roll, Natsuki managed to survive yet another brush with death. In the confusion she managed to circle around to the back of the first slave while leading their hulking mass to work against themselves. Their infuriating anger at their failure to crush the human insect helped fuel the damage they caused themselves as they collided solidly against each other before falling down hard on one of the unlucky slaves.

Unwilling to allow their prey any chance to catch her breath the two remaining slaves continued their relentless assault. Left with no choice but to rely on her reflexes to keep herself alive, Natsuki kept up the risky gambits, coaxing her tired limbs to pump harder and faster, hoping that she'd be able to hold out long enough for Shizuru.

Without warning a sudden blackness hit her and she lost sensation in both her legs and crashed headlong into the ground.

Confused and dazed she might be, but giving up was the last thing on her mind. Fighting with all that she had, she managed to force herself back up before a sharp pain shot through her chest and she started coughing out mouthfuls of thick red blood.

Another wave of dizziness slammed hard into her and she fell back down into the ground. Her nostrils were invaded by the smell of her own blood and she was barely holding on to her consciousness.

Her gaze lingered helplessly at her newly sewn jacket that was now thoroughly soaked with thick red liquid that was flowing out of her reopened wound.

Even as the slave that caught up with her raised its menacing claws for the kill, her weak body was unable to heed its owner's urgent call to move.

Resigned to her fate – 'Is this the end?' – the owner of emerald orbs lamented before releasing a cry of desperation from deep within.

'Shizuru!'

As if she could feel something tugging at her heart, Shizuru turned around and took in the scene unfolding before her eyes in horror.

"No!"

A cry of sheer terror tore out of her as unprecedented fear swallowed her whole; fear not for herself but for the mistress of both her body and soul. Not caring if she had just left her back wide open, she abandoned the fight at hand without a thought and basically hurled herself towards Natsuki.

Not blind to the heaven-sent opportunity, three of the six slaves had already aimed and fired their deadly beams at the unguarded Column. Shizuru, with only Natsuki in mind, was oblivious to all this; her only wish and hope was to be able to reach her raven-haired goddess before it was too late.

"Baka!" Seeing such a reckless act, Natsuki cursed Shizuru's stubbornness. In desperation, the earlier command yet again popped into her head. "MATERIA..."

However, before she could finish mouthing the command, the sickening sharp claws of the slave had already begun their deathly descent in a powerful downward swipe.

"Clang!"

A figure appeared before Natsuki and managed to deflect the lethal blow before they could reach their intended prey.

"You're the idiot if you're thinking of materializing in your current condition!"

The owner of the voice that is so familiar that Natsuki could effortlessly equate to her faithful bickering partner followed up her earlier move with a further few swift flicks of her wrists after throwing that angry remark.

The stupefied slave could only watch helplessly as the masterful weaver drew her spidery silk of crimson around it, gathering itself into its embrace of death before they squeezed – or rather sliced – the life out of it.

Sparkles of black-colored particles that were slowly dissipating into the air were the sole evidence of the short encounter.

"Shiz..." Using the last of her reserves, a worried Natsuki turned towards Shizuru. Relief washed over her blood-deprived face as she saw a light-haired blond took care of Shizuru's back and manage to make short work of the slaves due to her surprise entrance.

Upon reaching Natsuki, Shizuru wasted no time in gathering the younger woman into her arms.

"…"

The younger woman tried but failed to voice out her relief and concerns as they were drowned by more blood that were gushing out of her mouth.

"Natsuki-chan, don't try to talk. I'll bring you to Youko-sensei immediately." Her blood-smeared hands trembled as they wiped off the lingering blood from Natsuki's ashen mouth. The sickening contrast of red versus ashen white brought about a sinking feeling deep within her already tremulous heart.

"Eh..." Forcing a weak smile, "Shizuru-oneesama... I'm sorry! I..." despite her valiant efforts to ease the distraught column's worry, the blackness that had been kept at bay, adamant to have its say, pushed forward, overwhelming even the steely resolve of our raven-haired princess, burying her deep within its murky depths.

- to be continued –

Author's omake

"Shizuru-oneesama? Natsuki-chan? ", Nao spat disgustingly as she rubbed her goose bumps filled arms.

"Ugh! Please… act your age people! How sickening can you get? "

"Thus sayeth someone who's running around in a super hero costume?"

*cough*Spiderman*cough*

Nao: "…"

Author: "… *sweat drop*… erm… forgive me?"

Author: "Ack! Forgive me! "

Notes:
First of all… let me echo the author's erm… pleas earlier… I sincerely apologize for my prolonged absence. I've decided to break the chapters to smaller chunks in favor of a more consistent update (at least that's what I hope will happen). Part of my struggle is the annoying fact that I keep reusing the same words and description again and again. So, please do excuse my lack of variety.

Also I would like to thank Leebot for helping me beta this chapter. Thanks!

Last but not least… I would like to thank those that have taken their time to review and gave their encouragement and comments. They gave me the nudge that I desperately need to keep my lazy bones going. Thanks again.

"Ga-Rei Zero" … Please watch it! Watch it without any idea of the story beforehand. Please avoid all forms of reviews and summary for the full experience.

innerglowie: You're evil…

glowie: *Whap* Shut up!