The Last Lycan

Set in an old, enchanted world, a young mage stumbles upon a reclusive Lycan, who has lost her powers of transformation. The Lycan distrusts humans because of its past and thus, the mage finds herself thrown into the topmost tower as a prisoner for trespassing.

Chapter 15

Italics – Thoughts

Natsuki didn't know if what she was seeing was a mirage – her mother was standing there before her very eyes. She looked exactly the same from how Natsuki remembered her: long wispy hair, gentle countenance and a slender body. She blinked and then squinted; causing her Aunts to turn around in confusion, wondering what on earth she was staring so intently at.

"What!" Julia screams in shock as she comes face to face with her old friend. Amber's reaction was much less rambunctious – she had merely jumped , much like a surprised cat – out of complete surprise at seeing Saeko Kruger in front of her, alive and well.

"I'm dreaming. Amber, slap me," Julia turns to face her partner, a solemn look on her face.

"No need for that, Julia," a husky voice replies as its owner emerges from the shadows, to be none other than Natsuki's father, Rolf.

Julia collapses heavily onto Amber dramatically, "That's it. I think Shizuru's spell got me too."

Saeko looks up curiously at the mention of a spell, knowing this spell was most probably the one that managed to break the curse on them. "A spell you say, Julia?"

Amber answers in her partner stead, "The young mage over there.. She was trying to save Natsuki. It seems that the spell was so powerful that it even overturned the spell that was cast so long ago. However.." her eyes roam back to Natsuki and Shizuru, "I fear that might have sapped her powers way beyond imaginable limits."

"There is no way to help her?" Saeko questions her enchantress friends.

Amber sighs, "I really, really wish there was. But I fear that not even all our powers combined could do so. Such power only exists in a few elder mages, or in ancient powers imbued in old artifacts."

Saeko nods silently, her gaze falling on her distraught daughter before her. She was no magus, but she had her fair share of encounters with them to know that this would not bode well, if nothing was done. Saeko walks up to her daughter, placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezes it lightly.

"Mom.." Natsuki croaks, her voice coarse. "I'm.. I'm sorry. I don't know how to.." A part of her was overwhelmed that her long-lost parents were now right beside her, but yet.. She stares down at the unconscious brunette, who had her hair splayed across her lap and she threads her fingers through it lovingly. Those silky strands of chestnut were no more – wiry white strands in its place. Her skin that usually held a healthy tinge of pink was now pale and cold. It was too much of a price to pay.

The older lycanthrope did not need to take a second look to know that the woman in her daughter arms held in a special place in her heart. In fact, Saeko herself was eternally grateful to her. She had single-handedly managed to restore everything that Saeko held dear, even at her own expense. "Rolf," Saeko murmurs, taking a step behind and backing up against her husband, "Do you think..?"

Rolf places a hand on Saeko's shoulders, "Anything, for Natsuki to be happy again. It might just work."

"Indeed," Saeko sighs as she gazes back at her daughter, before swiftly morphing into a stunning dark-furred lycanthrope. She bounds away toward the castle, leaving everyone looking on curiously. Saeko soon arrives by the castle and she takes a quick sniff of the place as she pushes the main doors shut. It still smelled the same even after two decades – the soft woody tones were always present. With a small, barely visible smile, she hurries up the steps and arrives at the third story of the castle and finds her way to her room.

Saeko lets out a short sound of surprise as she enters her bedroom – it was perfectly maintained and in immaculate condition. The timbre furniture was polished, the fireplace was spotless and their bed was neatly made. Saeko smiles at the pristinely maintained room; there was not a single mantelpiece that was out of place from when she last remembered. She could still sense Natsuki's presence in the room, as well as a new foreign scent, which she recognized as Shizuru's. They must have been hard at work every week, maintaining the entire castle.

Nodding to herself as she recognized their efforts, she remembers what she came for and turns her attention back to the large bookcase that was on the far side of the room. Her paws run over the spines of the books before it stops short at one and she pulls it out. Opening the book, she retrieves the hidden key and replaces the book where it belonged. Shutting the bedroom door softly behind her, she vaults off through the castle, traversing its inbuilt intricate mazes before finally arriving at a catacomb that only she and Rolf knew of its existence.

Saeko grunts as she shifts the tall statue that was keeping the metallic door hidden from view, her paws digging into the ground. It was usually far easier with both her and Rolf, but her lycan strength was more than enough to push it aside for her to slip through. Key in the lock, she turns it and enters the room where a single chest was on the top ledge. The empty space in the room was riddled with thin, bladelike wires. There were no ladders to allow one to get up all the way to the top. Instead, Saeko eyes the cobblestone walls, planning her steps carefully. She and Rolf had gone through this design hundreds of time, to ensure that only they knew of how to get up there. A misfortunate person would find himself sliced at the neck by those vicious wires.

Tail swishing as she prepared for ascent, the blue wolf sprints off with a sharp exhale, against the opposite wall. Using the momentum she gained, she pushes herself off the walls with a powerful leap. Grabbing onto a small foothold, she leverages herself up, dodging yet another trap. Close to midpoint, she vaults off the walls, alternating between each with timed precision. With a soft thump, she lands neatly on the ledge and she peers down at her prize. It was a thick, heavy chest that was forged from the strongest alloy – meant for guarding something extremely precious. Saeko opens the lock and lifts the lid to reveal a bundle wrapped in soft satin.

She picks it up with her paws and lightly lifts the cloth to reveal a copper scroll that was engraved in an ancient language. Saeko was no magician, but even she could feel the power emanating from the mysterious antique. Her eyes gleamed with determination as she catapults back down, making her way back out into the castle grounds. "This may be of help," Saeko's voice is soft as she shifts back into a human, handing over the artifact to Elvira.

The magus matriarch of the Viola family didn't need to take a second look at the object in her hand to know that it held great power. She could already feel it brimming from within even when Saeko was carrying it towards them. "Where did you get this..?"

Rolf replies in Saeko's stead, "We had an old friend, from way back. Long story short, Saeko and I were young and reckless pups back then, we ended up getting hunted. A massive group of them were our trail for the longest time before we ran into Countess Graceburt. She quite literally, saved our tails."

"Sorry to interrupt, but when you say Countess Graceburt, do you mean.. Maria Graceburt?" Aldred had a look of surprise on his face.

Rolf tilts his head inquisitively, "That's right! You know her as well?"

Aldred shakes his head, "Unfortunately, no. But she is well-known by many mages."

"I see. She left this for us before she departed, saying that we will need it in the future and under the most dire of circumstances," Rolf turns to meet Saeko's gaze. "Hang on a minute. Do you think she was referring to this..?"

Saeko's brows raises at that possibility as she studies Shizuru and Natsuki before her before she replies, "I am not certain, but knowing Miss Maria.. It may very well have been so."

"There seems to be a numerical code that we need to open the scroll," Elvira says as she looks at the metallic scroll in hand. There was a mechanism that displayed "0000".

"The code is zero-eight-one-five," Rolf replies. Maria had made sure to drum those numbers into his head before she left. Natsuki looks up from Shizuru with a curious tilt of her head when she hears the familiar numbers of her birthdate and her mother catches her look.

Saeko's eyes lights up in realization as she draws the conclusion that Maria had indeed left this to them for this particular bind that they were in now. It was a gift that she had left behind for Natsuki. A click resounded on the now silent scene and everyone's eyes were glued to the scroll in Elvira's hand as it hissed lightly. A golden sphere emerges out of the container, defying the forces of gravity and makes its way to Shizuru's form and dissipates as soon as it touches her lips.

Natsuki exclaims in surprise when she feels Shizuru take a deep exhale, her chest expanding sharply. Pale skin soon returned to one with a semblance of color and Shizuru's tawny tresses regained their color. Her hands shaking, Natsuki carefully turns her head around to face her fully. She awaits in anticipation, praying that her beloved would awaken let her see those beautiful wine colored eyes again.

As if on cue, crimson eyes blinked and flickered open.

"Shizuru…?" Natsuki ventured, the sliver of hope was so massive now that started choking her.

Once bright eyes looked past her and Shizuru murmured her first words, "You're not real." Gone was the sharp lilt that Shizuru usually had. Instead, her voice was brimming with haplessness. "You can't be. You're dead. I killed you. Everyone's dead and it's my entire fault."

Natsuki felt her heart constrict sharply at her lover's words. Had she lost her memory? "No, Shizuru, I'm real!" she cried desperately, trying to pick up her hand to touch her face, "Look at me!"

The brunette shook her head, swatting away the hand and looking obviously disorientated, her voice laden with despair, "You can't be. I couldn't save you. I was too lost.. too lost.. What have I done?"

"Shizuru…?" Natsuki's hand stretches to reach for her cheek. "It's me, honest. Look at me and you will know!" she pleaded frantically, closing the distance between their faces.

It was then when Shizuru finally locked eyes with deep viridian orbs. Shizuru's eyes study the forest green ones before her closely, before widening in surprise – they were the same emeralds that belonged Natsuki! She takes in Natsuki's new form – a long blue mane, sensuous viridian orbs.. and now, no longer furry and bestial.

Natsuki froze as Shizuru suddenly spoke, "Stop." Her voice had regained some familiarity, yet still thick with disbelief, "This is not a wicked dark trick that someone is playing on me?" She regards the lithe and beautiful human in front of her again. Shizuru raises a tentative hand, brushing a pale cheek that replaced a familiar muzzle.

"It's not, Shizuru. It's really me. You saved me and you brought my entire family back to me." Natsuki's arms wraps around Shizuru's slim frame as she pulled the brunette into an embrace. Shizuru, still in a daze, didn't reciprocate the hug and that causes Natsuki to pull away.

The brunette was still utterly dumbfounded and stricken. "But…."

Gently, Natsuki murmurs, bumping her forehead lightly against the magus, "You really meant what you said, Shizuru, that day when we had the picnic. I'm not a mirage, Shizuru. You thought I was asleep, but I heard each and every word you said. You told me that you would always be here for me, to catch me when I fall. And you did, Shizuru. You meant every word you said."

Shizuru let out a noise of assent as she remembered that day. She would never forget it. It was that faithful day when she realized that she had fallen in love with Natsuki. "You're real…" she whispered in disbelief.

"Yep," Natsuki smiled through her tears. "You came for me and saved me. I always knew I could count on you.."

Shizuru's face shifted to one with an unnamable emotion, and she grabbed her in her arms and buried her face in Natsuki's hair. She inhaled sharply - a huge, deep shuddering breath - and tears begun to streak down her face. She was dirty, disheveled and drained; but she was alive. Natsuki wrapped her arms around Shizuru's waist and tightened the embrace, before pulling away to press a kiss on her lips. Tears were mingled into their reunion but they didn't care.

"Oh.. Natsuki," Shizuru murmurs, her face buried in the groove of her lover's neck as she relishes in the scent of fresh pine that Natsuki always bore. "I thought..I thought.. I was dreaming. I didn't think that I'll ever see you again." Shizuru pulls away as she remembers everything that has happened and gives her lover an appraising look that asked: but how is it that I am still here, with you, and doing very much okay?

Shizuru had an inkling that when she decided to cast that colossal spell, that she would most probably succumb to its consequences. What she didn't expect was to awaken, perfectly safe and sound; and in her lover's embrace.

"That can be answered by us. Actually, most of it was because of an old friend of ours," Saeko's and Rolf's head pop into Shizuru field of vision and she jumps a little in shock at the fact that they were now very much alive and no longer statues in stone. Shizuru blinks, meeting the gaze of Natsuki's mother, which was holding nothing but warmth and gratefulness. Saeko smiles gently at her, before resting a hand on Natsuki's shoulder, "However, it's best if the both of you take some time to rest and recuperate first. Leave the rest to us."

"Thanks, mom," Natsuki murmurs gratefully. Arms still secured safely around Shizuru's form, she transforms effortlessly back into a lycanthrope and Shizuru feels herself being lifted gently off the ground and tucked into a tight embrace.

Leaning against Natsuki, Shizuru closes her eyes and runs her hand over Natsuki's coat, her fingers trailing over the smooth dark fur. It had been much like how they met the very first time – Natsuki bounding off toward the castle; but this time, Shizuru knew she wouldn't be finding herself in an icy prison. She was safe now and she was home.

XXX

Three Weeks Later

Shizuru ran a wooden comb through her hair, satisfied at the way it ran through her silken locks without having her tug it. The spring water was certainly very refreshing. She closed her eyes and inhaled the warm misted air as she dipped her feet into the water below.

Natsuki had brought her here a few days after Shizuru awoken from her rest and got re-oriented with everything. From meeting Natsuki's parents to learning that she had actually been saved by a friend from their past. The world was so strange in that way. She moved her feet gently, causing little splashes and thoroughly enjoying the warm serenity.

Even though it was sometime in summer, but the fact that they were on higher altitude did contribute to the fact that it wasn't blistering hot. The fact that she was clad in only a towel that was snugly tied across her breast, instead of their usual attire, did help. All in all, it was perfect for her to really rest and relax. She smiled to herself – Natsuki always knew what she needed.

It was great timing, for she did have some news to break to her partner and the peaceful place aided her thoughts. This was the third moon, almost fourth moon, that had passed and she was now fairly certain that she was…

Out of nowhere, she felt a sudden peck on her cheek and she opens her eyes to find Natsuki looking at her playfully. "Ara, ara, Natsuki is starting to get bold now," Shizuru teases gently, unable to hide the smile that was on her face.

Natsuki cast a glance at Shizuru's barely covered body and a red tinge seeped across her cheeks. Hurriedly, she unbuttons her pants and throws off her shirt, which just so happens, manages to land right on Shizuru's head, obscuring her vision. She heard a splash and then silence.

Shizuru removes the offending article of clothing off her head and folds it neatly beside her, her eyes never leaving the figure that was now enjoying the spring happily, a grin plastered on her face. Those green orbs suddenly turn to her, harboring a mischievous glint in them. Her suspicions were confirmed when the owner of those eyes started swimming toward her.

"Natsuki," Shizuru warns, but before she could complete her sentence, Natsuki had already taken a gulp of the warm water and squirted a stream at her. "Natsuki!" she exclaims, shocked that Natsuki had actually gone through with it, but then started laughing as she started to kick even larger amounts of water as payback.

"Okay, okay! You win! You win!" Natsuki raises her arms in surrender amidst the unrelenting amounts of water that were being dished at her.

Shizuru smirks evilly, but stops the punishment. Satisfied that her cheeky companion wouldn't be pulling any more sneak attacks, Shizuru allows her to wade closer. Picking up a towel, she soaks it into the water and beckons for Natsuki, "Come here, you." Carefully, she drapes the hot towel over Natsuki's head and beckons for her to turn around.

With a contented sigh at the relief that the hot towel was providing, Natsuki complies at once. The minute Shizuru's dexterous fingers massaged her shoulders; Natsuki's body immediately caves, as she knows exactly where her tensed spots were. Natsuki lets out a low rumble of contentment and Shizuru smiles as she feels the tension leaving Natsuki's shoulders and her body relaxing against her thighs.

Shizuru was perfectly happy where she was right now. She had a whole new extended family and a brand new home where she could be who she was. Most of all, she felt loved and wanted by her most precious person in the world. Who would have known that falling in love with this fearsome beast was the best thing that happened in her life? She gazed fondly at Natsuki before bending over and kissing the crown of her head.

Natsuki turns, water swishing beside her as she peers up at Shizuru curiously, before pushing herself up on her elbows to return her affection. It was a slow and deep kiss, one that Shizuru took pleasure in drawing out as she gently wrapped her arms around Natsuki's neck and relishing in her scent. Natsuki stealthily wraps one hand around her waist and pulls her closer, so much so that she was close to teetering at the edge of the water.

Shizuru lets out a muted gasp, as Natsuki moved down from her lips, settling to press kisses and tiny nips at the nape of her neck. The combination of heat from the pool, heat that was emanating off her lover's body and the heat between her legs made her feel fuzzy and she tightened her grasp around Natsuki's body. Natsuki gently broke off from her ministrations and her voice came out huskier than Shizuru remembered when she asked, "Could we try something? I.."

Holding her cheek, Shizuru doesn't wait for her to finish and nods. Natsuki somehow knew all the right buttons to push for make her succumb so easily.

Natsuki sinks back into the water slowly, her head between Shizuru's thighs as she starts to push the towel up higher. Shizuru follows her lead, leaning backwards and props herself up on her elbows. She shivers despite the warmth of the area as Natsuki's fingers traced across her inner thighs. When her lover started to press light kisses that started to near the center, the fuzzy feeling shifted into a more defined emotion – want – and her body reacted automatically, her legs widening to accommodate her lover between them. Natsuki seemed to be able to read her exact thoughts and motions, because as soon as she was granted more access, her finger lightly brushed against Shizuru's center and the small ember of want bloomed into something much greater.

"Natsuki," Shizuru breathed out shakily. Green eyes immediately shift to lock eyes and a silent assent was communicated. A digit starts stroking her folds, hovering at her entrance before pulling away to further explore her core. Natsuki's thumb found the small bump and started to stroke it slowly causing Shizuru to shake lightly from the pleasure coursing through her entire body and the pent up need burning through her.

Her lover's strokes were slow, drawing out her desire more than satisfying it, causing Shizuru to get wetter and wetter as Natsuki continued her gentle ministrations. Natsuki was now pressing soft kisses against her inner thighs, now daring to taste the sweetness of her skin.

Their eyes met for a brief second, communicating Shizuru's silent assent and Natsuki, ever so slowly, presses her face into her center and runs her tongue across the now very sensitive bump. The way Natsuki's tongue ran over her nub had her squirming but yet still wanting more. She opened her mouth to tell her lover not to tease, but swallowed any words she had to say with a cry instead.

Her lover's tongue had wandered slowly; first brushing against her clit before gradually exploring her folds. The final motion that sent her reeling from bouts of light-headedness as the pleasure coursed through her veins was when the exploratory tongue finally penetrated her depths. She'd never thought that having Natsuki tasting her like this could feel so damn good and arouse her so exceptionally. The anticipation kept Shizuru wanting more and wishing she would just slip a finger in already.

Natsuki herself was enjoying every bit of eating her lover out; savoring the warm white juices that was dribbling through her slit and down her thighs. Shizuru had thrown her head backwards, grasping a handful of dark hair as she pulled on Natsuki's head for support, all the while grinding her hips against her, searching for more to fill her wet hot center. Natsuki absolutely adored it when her tawny haired lover lost control like that and she wanted nothing more than to satisfy Shizuru's magnified libido.

"Ah!" Shizuru lets out another cry of ecstasy when a warm digit slipped inside her, her body welcoming the deeper thrust that she was desperately searching for. Natsuki continues to pump in and out of her with a steady rhythm, while suckling and licking her delicate pleasure bump. "Don't stop," she managed lift her head up to pant, through that foggy haze of pleasure derived from the combination of that sweet satisfaction of her being filled and jolts of pleasure from the pressure on her nub.

Shizuru couldn't tell if her light-headedness was caused by the soft, ethereal sound of their love-making, the warmth that the hot spring was emanating or the way Natsuki was moving in and out of her. But she soon finds herself bucking her hips into Natsuki's hand, asking for more. Her dark-haired beau seemed to know exactly what she needed, as she promptly slipped another digit into her dripping wet warmth.

The stretch of her tightness mustered a slew of pleasure that caused her to quiver and shake, her hands immediately gripping the floor. She lowered herself flat onto the ground, knowing her quaking arms wouldn't be able to hold much longer. She was at the brink and everything started swirling around her as she grabbed whatever she could lay her hands on and wraps her legs around Natsuki's head to give herself better leverage. The shift allowed her lover to push deeper and harder into her, while locking her hips in place.

A final, powerful thrust and particular lick at the right spot sent her head reeling and she cried aloud, releasing everything she had pent up inside her as her vision burst into a swirl of black and white. Throwing her head back, she slowly starts to unclench her balled fists as Natsuki continued to fuck her slowly yet steadily, drawing out her orgasm and leaving her satiated.

Inhaling deeply as she tries to get her bearings, Shizuru closes her eyes, still feeling a little giddy from the mind-blowing session she just had. Her legs were still trembling and every part of her was still tingling from the aftereffects of her climax. She feels Natsuki shifting between her legs and pulling herself up onto dry land. She quietly covers Shizuru's exposed body with the towel and snakes an arm around her shoulders. Leaning on her, Shizuru feels Natsuki's chest puffing in and out from her panting. "Mmm," Shizuru purrs as she turns to face her lover, still basking in the afterglow, "I love you, my Natsuki. So very much."

Natsuki responds with a kiss on the tip of her nose, "As do I, Shizuru." She tightens her hold on Shizuru, enveloping her in a safe embrace as she presses kisses on her forehead.

Shizuru nuzzles her neck lovingly in return, while her idle fingers start drawing imaginary circles on Natsuki's shoulder, down to her chest and slipping down her stomach. Though Natsuki was now able to shift back into her human form, those smooth ridges of muscles along her stomach remained taut and firm. Shizuru had always likened to trace them and it was no exception now.

A sudden thought strikes her and she remembers what she had been thinking about before Natsuki had arrived. "Oh Natsuki.." she began, nibbling on her lover's ear, "I wanted to tell you something, but first.."

"Mmm?" came Natsuki's reply, still winded from her earlier worship of Shizuru's body. Shizuru decided that there was no better time to inform Natsuki, considering that she undoubtedly just gave her the best time of her life and she didn't even ask for anything in return. It made Shizuru feel extremely special, loved and even worshipped. This left her in a very amorous mood and she quickly decided that she would return the favor first, before anything.

She closed the short distance between Natsuki's stomach and her package easily, closing her hand around the thickness. That action instantly elicited Natsuki to suck in her breath and she swallowed, her eyes widening and regaining focus at once. Pleased with her reaction, Shizuru then stroked her lightly, trailing a finger across the tip before clasping her hand around her hardening shaft.

With each pump, she could feel Natsuki getting harder and warmer and it was in turn, starting to turn her on all over again. Having Natsuki growing firmer in her hands because of her ministrations made her long to have that thick member buried deep inside her. She shivered as she remembers how the hard and fast thrusts felt like. In a swift motion, she clambers on top of Natsuki.

"Shi-shizuru?" Natsuki mumbles, slightly disoriented as she props herself up on her elbows to peer at the woman who was poised in front of her, a tongue darting past her lips. Natsuki shuddered as she thought of those soft, plump lips rubbing against her member. It seemed as though Shizuru knew her exact thoughts as she broke their eye contact, before as she slowly brought her head down and started to lick along her shaft, pulling her tongue across her length. Natsuki groans in pleasure as Shizuru doesn't stop there, circling the tongue around the head, before covering a third of the length with her mouth.

Shizuru was enjoying every bit of sucking her lover, loving the control she had over Natsuki as she bucked with every pump. Natsuki had given her everything she had earlier on and Shizuru was determined to make her lover cum as hard as she had. As she moved faster, she felt Natsuki's hand grasping tightly onto her head, throwing her head backwards and biting her lips in an effort to control her grunts of pleasure.

"Ah.. F-faster, Shi-shiz," Natsuki panted and Shizuru did, now taking almost the entire length into her mouth. "God, that's so fucking good, Shizuru," Natsuki groaned as the brunette continued blowing her now rock-hard lover, taking extra care to pay attention to her sensitive tip by running her tongue all around it. With a couple more incomprehensible grunts, it wasn't long before Natsuki shook from the pure pleasure of having her beloved sucking on her. She squeezed her eyes shut as her orgasm burst out from her throbbing shaft, her throat dry from howling Shizuru's name.

Shizuru swallowed, enjoying at the familiar taste of her lover before rolling to the side. She nibbled her neck softly, allowing Natsuki to take her time – her chest was still heaving and her eyes were still squeezed shut.

"Shizuru.." Natsuki spoke after a while, "That-that was amazing."

Shizuru blew lightly into her ears, "So were you, my dear Natsuki."

Natsuki chuckled, throwing an arm across her forehead and closed her eyes, still feeling the sky-high euphoria from the fantastic

"Natsuki," Shizuru began, as she sidled up against Natsuki. "Remember I had something to tell you?"

Green eyes blinked open and Natsuki looks at her curiously, "Yeah, what is it, Shizuru?"

"Do you remember when was the last moon when I had my period?"

It seemed like the question had gotten Natsuki full and entire attention. She immediately turns to Shizuru, tilting her head with a crease in her brow, trying desperately to remember. If it was too long to remember… then… Her eyes widened in surprise, before she sat upright, with a large smile plastered on her face, "You mean you're..?"

"Pregnant. That I am, Natsuki. I'm fairly positive that I'm right," Shizuru chuckles, thumbing Natsuki's cheek lovingly. She knew that Natsuki had always excited to have a child of her own and carrying it for her was something that truly brought her joy.

Natsuki was practically beaming now, a wide grin spread across her face, "Wow, Shizuru.. I'm.. I'm gonna be a father.." she expels her bated breath, "I just never thought that.. I mean, I never even dared to dream of finding someone like you, but.. now, we're going to have a baby." She places a hand on Shizuru's belly, stroking it lovingly as she looked back up at Shizuru with adoring eyes. "I'm so happy and grateful to you. Thank you, Shizuru. You mean so much to me." She planted a firm kiss on Shizuru's temple, closing her eyes with a peaceful smile on her face.

Shizuru flushes uncharacteristically from the open shower of devotion from Natsuki. It was amazing, she thought, to be finally able to find someone who made her feel so loved and at home with herself.

She would always remember this fantastic adventure of a lifetime: meeting a fearsome beast, finding out her kind and compassionate side, falling in love with someone as unique and special as her Natsuki. Now, this was the next step for them which they were to embark on together: raising a family.

Shizuru knew she wouldn't have had it any other way. And it seemed, from Natsuki's satisfied reaction, that she felt exactly the same way.

XXX

A/N: Thanks for following and reviewing the story everyone! I apologize for the long hiatus and I really hope you enjoyed the story. I will be marking this story as complete for now. However, do let me know if you readers would be interested in an epilogue. I will most definitely try to work on it!

Well then – Thank you all very much for reading and keeping up with my unpredictable updates!