Chapter 20: Evaporate

Sitting on the edge of the roof, Natsuki, smeared in blood, caresses blood-tinged tawny tresses. Natsuki had killed the general. She slaughtered the entire military base, even those soldiers who had given up arms. Alone, she looks up at the darkening sky. A storm was brewing. Rain pouring down, drowning out the fire, Natsuki flinches when the bloodied silhouette of the orange-haired girl appears. Watching the teenager walk through Natsuki's hell-fires, Natsuki hardens her gaze when Mai looks up at her.

Flying to the roof, next to the original, Mai gasps upon seeing a motionless tawny-haired girl covered in blood, gunshots plunged in her torso.

"I fed her my blood," Natsuki explains, as Mai tenses. "She's recuperating."

"Is she going to-"

"-No. She didn't die, so she won't turn," Natsuki answers, hearing Mai sigh in relief.

"What happened?" Mai asks, sitting at the edge, too.

"I killed everyone," Natsuki answers, blank expression. "I killed your father."

Crestfallen, Mai's body begins trembling. "Where is his body?"

"I wouldn't know," Natsuki answers meeting Mai's cold, icy-blue pools. "I ripped him to pieces."

"I'm going to kill you," Mai manages to say through grit teeth.

"I know," Natsuki admits, tilting Shizuru's face to see it one last time. "Tell her I'm sorry," Natsuki requests, carefully laying the tawny-haired girl down.

"What you guys did wasn't your decision to make. We agreed to be a team. And now," Mai starts, pausing, analyzing her best friend. "You're lucky she's alive, you know. . . A lot of people died. Including Midori and Nao."

Flinching and glaring at the witch, Natsuki balls up her fists. "Where is she!?"

"Dead," Mai answers, as Natsuki's demeanor cracks. "Go, Natsuki. Go before I kill you."

Disappearing, Natsuki goes back to the first base, spotting Reito carrying Viola's dismantled body and a lavender-haired girl as well. A sky-haired girl, arm ripped off, electricity sparking and running through her body meets Natsuki's face. Upon closer look, Natsuki realizes the girl was an android.

"Where is she?" Natsuki asks Reito who sighs. "Where's Nao?"

"Natsuki," Reito starts, looking solemnly at his sister, "There was an explosion, and when we woke, she was gone."

Eyes stinging, Natsuki turns her gaze to Viola. "Give me her," she demands, arms out. "Give me her."

Handing Viola over, Reito looks worryingly at his sister. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

"I'm tired, Reito. I'm so tired," Natsuki discloses, tearing up. "I can't stay here. I don't want to stay here. I just can't."

"And Shizuru?"

"She's with Mai," Natsuki answers, voice hollow. "Tell her I'm sorry."

Taking Viola's body, Natsuki leaves Fuka.

Five Years later . . .

Waking up early on a Saturday morning, the tawny-haired girl hails a cab to the airport. "Can we hurry this up?" Shizuru asks the cab driver who shrugs. Of course, as she had come to know on her various business trips, New York's traffic was the worst. Hearing her phone ring, Shizuru smiles at seeing the caller's name. "Fujino here," she answers, chuckling. "London, huh?" she repeats, gripping and fidgeting with her necklace. "I suppose I can tell my pilot of the sudden change of plans," she concedes, beaming. "I'll see you soon." Ending the call, Shizuru leans back in her seat.

Reito, as usual, was a step ahead of her, scouting business prospects. The two old friends would usually wine-and-dine their targets, charm them, all while keeping up a friendly competition to see who landed the client and who didn't. So far, the score was pretty even.

Texting Mai, Shizuru awaits her mysterious best friend's response. Ever since the day her father died and Natsuki disappeared with Viola, Mai had taken herself out of the loop. After graduation, Mai moved to Boston, Massachusetts in the United States for med-school. She had made new friends and rarely visited. If anything, Mai would go to Tokyo where Takumi recently transferred for university. Following a successful surgery, Takumi had his health back and left Boston in pursuit of teaching English to Japanese students. Shizuru, knowing the pain of losing a parent, didn't press the orange-haired girl or question her sudden urge to leave Japan. Shizuru had done the same. She traveled the world with Midori before returning, and she, too, shut her friends out.

Receiving a text back, Shizuru isn't surprised that it is short and blunt. Mai was busy and couldn't escape to London to hang out with them. Sighing and quiet for the rest of the drive, Shizuru arrives at the airport, heading towards her private jet. Hearing thunder and seeing a streak of lightening, Shizuru, like every time it was about to rain, looks up at the sky, sighing. The rain always reminded her of her past. Gripping her luggage, Shizuru shakes her thoughts away, smiling flirtatiously at the young, handsome pilot before informing him of their new destination.

"Why the long face?" the girl teases, analyzing her orange-haired girlfriend.

"Shizuru," Mai answers, skimming through her thick, medical book, while lounging on the sofa.

"Ah yes," the girl starts, opening her own thick book. "How is the brat these days?"

"Brat?" Mai retorts, kicking the book off her girlfriend's hands. "You're one to talk," she teases, as the other girl rolls her eyes.

"Just because I'm rich, doesn't mean I'm a brat," the girl counters, examining her nails.

"Nao, you're a millionaire, and you've never worked a day in your life!"

"First of all, I worked really hard stealing that money. Second of all, you have a pretty decent trust-fund yourself, witch!"

"So maybe I do. But the origin of your money comes from centuries of compelling people to write you checks."

"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah."

Narrowing her gaze on the red-haired girl, Mai remembers their strange past. "You don't miss it?" Mai asks the red-haired girl who closes her law-textbook. "Being a vampire?"

"Sometimes," Nao admits, remembering the day she renounced her vampirism and opted to run away with Mai.

Following the explosion, a dying Nao, who shielded Mai with her body, was teleported back to the sea cavern by Mai, after leaving the base's seventh floor. Opening the freezer, Mai hurried back to Nao, feeding her bags of blood, while chanting healing spells to save her. Regaining strength, Nao was surprised when the relieved orange-haired girl kissed her repeatedly, stroking her red tresses. Gently pushing the witch off her, Nao meets worried sapphire eyes. "I love you," Nao confesses, smiling at the other girl's warm and loving expression.

"You're only saying that because I saved your life," Mai taunts, laughing through tears.

"I'm bewitched."

"You're an idiot," Mai counters, pushing strands of hair off of Nao's face. "My idiot."

"Mai," Nao starts, looking softly into blue pools. "Natsuki doesn't want to be human. But I do," she discloses, eyeing the freezer where the cure lay in Erstin's flesh.

"What?" Mai asks, heart accelerating. "You-you want to be human?"

"I want to grow old with you."

Smiling and tearing up again, Mai lunges on the red-haired girl who grunts in pain.

"Um. I'm in pain here, Mai."

"I don't care! Suck it up!"

Embracing the calmer orange-haired witch, Nao kisses the top of Mai's head. "Let's run away together," Nao suggests, as Mai flinches.

"Run away?"

"This can't be our world, Mai," Nao states, as Mai's fingertips graze her face. "I know I've been giving you shit about humanity . . . But isn't it funny how we hate the things we can't have. And that's what I want. Natsuki may have saved me, but I don't need saving anymore. I need living. And I want live with you. Away from this," Nao continues, scoping the area. "I want us to have a real chance in the world."

"So you're serious?" Mai probes, feeling butterflies swarming in her stomach, echoing what Shizuru had said about Natsuki.

"I'm serious," Nao admits, smiling warmly. "No pressure on you or anything. But I want a shot. A real shot."

"Nao, I love you," Mai starts, smiling at the ginger. "But even as a vampire, we can figure it out," Mai discloses, smiling encouragingly. "Right or wrong. I don't give a fuck anymore."

"I want to figure it out as a human," Nao presses, clasping Mai's head. "This is the wake-up call I've been waiting for. Yes, I want to change for you. But most of all, I want to change for me."

"Are you sure? I don't want to be the reason-"

"-Mai, you know me well," Nao interjects, grinning. "You know I don't shy away from calling you out or saying things as they are. If you're being a bitch, I tell you you're being a bitch. Just as you tell me when I'm being a sarcastic, idiotic asshole."

"And this is what you want?"

"Yes."

"So we run away," Mai repeats, feeling immensely happy. "How do we go about it?"

"Harvard," Nao suggests, as Mai sighs. "I know you applied and that you got in," Nao discloses, as Mai raises a brow. "I have more than enough money for the five of us."

"Five of us?"

"You, me, Takumi, Miss Maria, and Duran," Nao answers, as Mai scoffs. "Natsuki and the brat can say what they want, but Duran is mine. And Miss Maria has been taking care of you and Takumi for so long. She's family."

"So the five of us?"

"The five of us."

"You're kidding," Natsuki states, looking hardly at the taller girl.

"No, my love," Viola answers, leaving the comfort of Natsuki's body and sitting up on the bed. "This isn't us," she continues, facing the naked, dark-haired girl. Prowling over to her lover, Viola hovers over Natsuki's body. "Shizuru is your ever after. I see that now. But I'm your forever after," Viola discloses as Natsuki cracks a smile. Quickly pecking the green-eyed vampire, Viola nibbles on Natsuki's bottom lip before pulling away. "I know you watch her."

"I can't help it," Natsuki admits, aware that she used her wiccan powers to spy on Shizuru from time to time.

"Just as I can't help but remind you how uncomfortable a comfortable life makes me," Viola says, standing naked by the window. "Viola and Natsuki hold hands. Viola and Natsuki go on a date. Viola and Natsuki take trips. Viola and Natsuki-"

"-are more normal than ever," Natsuki interjects as Viola turns back around, smirking.

"The boring life doesn't suit me, darling. It never has."

"I love you."

"I know. But you're not in love with me," Viola admits, strutting back to Natsuki. "At least not while the Pomeranian lives to bark."

"She hates me," Natsuki remarks, as Viola straddles her.

"No, she doesn't, love," Viola counters, wrapping her arms around Natsuki's neck. "If my doppelganger is anything like yours truly, she'll always love you."

"And if she doesn't anymore?" Natsuki presses, frowning. "What then?"

"You move on. And when you're done sulking, I'll be waiting for you. Ready to be extraordinary again."

"And for the time being . . . What will the great Viola Fujino do?"

"Oh please, pet," Viola retorts, scoffing. "Viola Fujino always finds ways to amuse herself."

"So you're dumping me?" Natsuki asks, marveling at the irony.

"I'm telling you goodbye," Viola replies, pressing up against Natsuki's body. "For now, anyway."

"Where are you going to go?" Natsuki probes, grazing her hand along Viola's bare body.

"My dearest lover," Viola starts, penetrating emerald orbs. "A big part of what makes me, me is knowing how to leave them wanting more," she teases, grazing Natsuki's body as well. "I'm a mystery, Natsuki. And I plan to keep it that way."

"So I'm guessing you've already made plans to leave."

"I leave tonight," Viola discloses, retracting her hand. "We're meant to be together, Natsuki. But it just so happens that my doppelganger's chapter in our love story hasn't found its ending."

Dressing herself, Viola grabs her already-packed bags and hails a cab to the airport. Hong Kong had grown dull, and new adventures in Brazil awaited her.

Sprinting every so often, Shizuru and Reito roam the streets of London, rushing to a cafe as rain pours down on them. Oddly, the rain that begun to form in New York had followed Shizuru to London.

Opening the door for the tall beauty, Reito's attention is diverted towards the pretty hostess.

"Table for how many?" the brunette asks, smiling.

"Um. Two," Reito answers, holding up two fingers.

"Right this way," the girl continues, leading the friends to a table at the back. "My name is Arika. This our menu. Your server will come by shortly to take your order."

"Thank you," Shizuru says, smiling at the young, college-looking girl.

"You're very welcome," the young girl beams. "Would you care to start with some water?"

"Please," Shizuru answers, smirking at a gawking Reito. "Arika," Shizuru starts, hailing the girl's attention. "My friend is a bit shy," she continues as Reito's golden eyes broaden. "But he's a perfect gentleman."

"Um. Okay?" the girl replies, smiling awkwardly at Reito who looks away.

"What would you recommend for him?" Shizuru probes as the girl smiles nervously.

"It depends," the girl answers, as Shizuru leans closer to her.

"What's your favorite?"

"The Black Périgord Truffle."

"He'll have that," Shizuru flirts, winking at the girl and gesturing her to talk to Reito.

"Is that okay with you?"

"Um. Yes," Reito says, smiling nervously and tapping his fingers along the table. "Thank you."

"So hey, I get off at eight," Arika starts, looking the obsidian-haired boy. "There's a Day of the Dead festival going on here in London. It's a Mexican holiday where they honor the dead . . . it's a wonderful celebration. I'm going with some friends, if you're interested in coming along with."

Smiling boyishly, Reito stands up, knees hitting the table, causing Shizuru to giggle. "I'll be delighted," Reito says, extending his hand out for Arika to shake. "I'm Reito," he introduces himself, shaking Arika's hand sporadically.

"Pleasure," Arika parts, amused and retracting her hand before walking away.

"Smooth," Shizuru teases, as a flustered Reito sits back down.

"I'm getting you back for this, Fujino," Reito calmly states, folding out and placing the cloth napkin on his lap. "Just you wait."

"Ara, is that a threat?"

"It's a fact."

Following their short dinner, Reito hails Shizuru a cab, as he awaited Arika to get out of work.

Rummaging through her bag, Shizuru searches for the keys to her Victorian townhouse. Going through an array of keys from her different residences around the globe, Shizuru gives up. Remembering she hid a spare in her backyard, Shizuru circles around to the back. Opening the gate, she sprints to the patio table. Checking under the cushions in each chair, Shizuru finally finds the spare. Relieved, she was anxious to get inside and take a shower. Come tomorrow, Shizuru and Reito had their big showdown to see who would win a contract with Sears Enterprises.

Walking back and closing the gate to her backyard, Shizuru stops, feeling a lingering stare. Hearing shuffling in a shaded area, Shizuru nears it, hand in her handbag, ready to pull out her pepper-spray.

Close enough, Shizuru scoffs, recognizing the silhouette of a dog.

Emerging from the shadows, the large, dark-haired dog meets the gaze of the crimson-eyed girl.

Not familiar with the breed, Shizuru steps back, stopping when the dog whimpers. Narrowing her gaze, Shizuru meets oddly, familiar emerald pools. Shaking her head, Shizuru walks away from the animal and to her townhouse.

Familiarizing herself with her London home, Shizuru, still in wet and damp clothes, stops to gaze at the frame of Midori and herself on an architectural site in Scotland. Immediately, memories of her guardian's death start pouring in.

Five years ago, the destruction of Fuka's military bases were media fodder. According to reports, General Tokiha and the demise of his bases resulted from a failed military experiment, which was partially true. It was also heavily emphasized that it was not a terrorist threat but, rather, a result of science clashing with nature.

Midori's death was negotiated with government officials: It was officially ruled as an accident. Midori, supposedly, died on an expedition. Her research was published, and her name would long survive, as long as man walked the Earth.

The government complied and published Midori's research without censorship, as per Reito's request. After all, the government wanted to keep the secrets of General Tokiha's operation under wraps. On behalf of Shizuru, Reito negotiated with the government because Shizuru wanted nothing more to do with that situation.

Now inside her tub, Shizuru tenses when she hears howling outside. Remembering the large dog, she recalls its gaze which reminded her of Natsuki.

"Mai. Mai! MAI!" Shizuru exclaims, tears pouring out. "Where is she?"

"Zuru . . . " Mai begins, pausing, hearing sirens coming to the disarray of the base's destruction.

"Is she dead?" Shizuru finally manages to say, as the rain picks up. "Natsuki . . . is she dead?"

"She said, she's sorry," Mai discloses, cringing at Shizuru's heartbroken and fallen expression.

"Sorry?" Shizuru repeats, brows furrowed. "She's 'sorry'?"

"She's gone, Zuru," Mai says, as vehicles start appearing amidst the rain. "Look, we have to go," Mai states, grabbing the injured tawny-haired girl and teleporting them to the hospital where Shizuru was in dire need of attention.

In a hospital gown and still feeling the tingly sensation of droplets running down her skin, Shizuru looks away when Mai enters her hospital room.

"I'm sorry, Zuru," Mai starts, lingering by the door. "It'll go away. In time."

"Time?" Shizuru repeats, scoffing. "People keep saying that to me," Shizuru continues, recalling visits from Reito, Mai, and her high school friends, who shared their condolences over Midori's death.

"Yea. I know. They tell me the same, too," Mai confesses, sighing. Following her father's death, Mai had been fed the same lines from her friends and family.

"Don't you hate it?"

"Hate what?" Mai asks, stepping closer to the tawny-haired girl.

"How they claim to know how I feel, and say that time will find a way to heal. But right not time is not enough," Shizuru states, meeting blue pools. "I'm not sure it'll ever be."

"You don't mean that," Mai inputs, sitting on her bedside. "I love you."

"Why? I'm just flesh and bone wrapped up in skin kept alive by oxygen. Punished to exist."

"You're Shizuru Fujino. An heiress. My best friend. Class valedictorian. And a wonderful human being."

"So wonderful, I've escaped death twice, huh?" Shizuru says, scoffing. "First with my parents and now this."

"Exactly," Mai counters, reaching and holding onto Shizuru's hand. "You're meant to fly, Shizuru. So stop feeling sorry for yourself and spread your wings. It's time to take-off and be the girl you were meant to be. Just you wait. Talk to me in five years, and you'll see I was right," Mai comforts, stroking Shizuru's hand. "You're going to be okay . . . We're going to be okay."

Lurking in the shadows, Natsuki takes one last look at Shizuru's townhouse before taking off. Dashing through the alley, Natsuki stops a couple of houses over to the townhouse she just bought. Jumping to her backyard, Natsuki changes from wolf to vampire before entering her home.

Skin bare, Natsuki heads to the bathroom for a quick shower. Following it, she dresses in pair of black jeans and white v-neck, sitting on the window-sill, admiring the rain.

"Darling?" Viola weakly says, breathing hardly and feeling pain coursing through her body. The last thing the tawny-haired vampire remembered was an explosion.

"Hey," Natsuki comforts, smiling.

"Why is the sky moving?"

"We're finally taking that long-anticipated Viola-Natsuki cruise."

Laughing, Viola closes her eyes, seeking comfort in Natsuki's body.

Five months after the General Tokiha debacle, Natsuki and Viola spent their time traveling in central America. Afterwards, they returned to Fuka, briefly. Viola got in touch with the young witch, Mashiro, who agreed to help Natsuki.

Mashiro was curious, and, if she wanted to, she believed she was powerful enough to kill Natsuki. So as a result, Mashiro and Natsuki performed the ritual that allowed Natsuki to turn into a hybrid with the help of another doppelganger that Viola and Natsuki tracked down in central America.

After turning, it took about another year for Natsuki to learn how to control her newfound powers. She roamed the world with Viola to get in tune with a pack, failing to connect with any werewolves. Sometimes, she lost her temper and slaughtered them. Other times, they shut her out, willing to die before succumbing to her leadership. More often than not, Natsuki would force them to obey before growing tired and moving on.

This continued for years, until, finally, Natsuki, thanks to Viola's bluntness, gave up.

"Are you really that dense, sweetheart?" a sunbathing Viola asks, removing her sunglasses as she basked in the sun at Maya Bay in Thailand.

"What are you babbling about?" Natsuki asks, sitting beside the tawny-haired vampire.

Slurping from her frozen margarita, Viola chuckles. "It's been years, honey," Viola starts, setting down her drink. "You can't connect with a pack because you already have a pack."

"They're not in my life anymore," Natsuki answers, knowing she meant Reito, Nao, Mai, and Shizuru.

"Because you shut them out," Viola counters, spilling oil on her skin. "The only reason you didn't shut me out is because you don't like being alone. Not that I'm complaining . . . After all, I have you under me again," Viola flirts, rubbing oil on her skin. "But if I don't cause it, I don't like seeing you hurt."

"It's this fucking guilt, Viola!" Natsuki starts, feeling her temper rise.

"Ssh, ssh, ssh," Viola comforts, reaching out for Natsuki's hand. "If you're going to be a bad puppy, don't do it here in the hotel. I happen to like it here."

"I'm serious."

"I know, love," Viola agrees, serious. "You should talk to them."

"They hate me."

"Reito loves you," Viola counters, sighing. "And Nao-"

"-Nao led me to believe she was dead. And now-"

"-Now she's a human living happily ever after with the witch."

"Yeah."

"Look baby, I love you, but your mopey mood is getting in the way of my relaxation. Of my Viola-time. And we both know how sacred it is to me," Viola states, putting her sunglasses back on and rolling over to her tummy. "Now be a doll and get these hard-to-reach areas."

Chuckling, Natsuki mounts and massages the sunbathing girl. "You're such a bitch," she muses, smiling.

"Oh pudin' pop. I just say it how it is," Viola teases, smirking. "And feel encouraged to be recreational with that oil."

"I love you."

"So excite me," Viola flirts, biting her lower lip. "I'm craving sex on the beach."

"I'm not doing that," Natsuki refuses, fighting a smile. "I don't want to be on the internet."

"Oh love," Viola starts, smirking. "Sex on the beach is a drink . . . "

"I'm 'sure' that's what you meant," Natsuki rebuts, scoffing.

"I'm not a sex deviant, Natsuki," Viola starts before bursting out laughing.

Laughing as well, Natsuki grazes her fingers Viola's bikini-bottom."So where do you want to go next?"

"Mmm," Viola ponders, as Natsuki teases her body. "Barcelona. I'm in a spicy, Latin-lovin' mood mi amor."

"Barcelona it is."

"Nao!" Mai calls out from the living room.

"Yo!" Nao calls back, emerging from the kitchen. "What's up?"

"I've been thinking," Mai begins, not being able to shake off Shizuru's text. "Maybe, we should tell them about you. About us. It's been five years."

"Aren't you happy?" Nao asks, sitting on the arm of sofa.

"I am," Mai beams, smiling warmly. "But what's the point if I can't share it with the important people in my life?"

"You're going to ruin it," Nao mutters, rolling her eyes.

"Are you kidding me?" Mai scoffs, growing angry. "The nerve of you-"

"-Here," Nao says, pulling a blue-box hidden under the sofa. "I was going to give it to you after finals," Nao explains, as Mai gasps. "I already asked Takumi for permission, and he's ecstatic about it. And I know how much Shizuru means to you, and Natsuki is my best friend. And-"

"-YES!" Mai exclaims, pouncing and knocking a human and fragile Nao to the floor.

"I didn't even ask!" Nao muses, brow raised as Mai begins to kiss her repeatedly.

"But you will," Mai chirps, calming down and admiring her big diamond ring.

"What's the point?" Nao asks, looking curiously at the orange-haired girl. "You already know."

"It's supposed to be special, Nao!" Mai scolds, clinging tightly to her ring. "So we're doing this right. By the book."

"Geez, Mai! Can you be more controlling?"

"Yup."

Rolling her eyes, Nao sits up as Mai positions herself on her lap.

"Ask me properly."

"Will you," Nao starts, as Mai's blue irises glimmer, "Stop being crazy for once."

"YES!" Mai exclaims before frowning. "Wait! You idiot!"

"Hey, you're the one marrying me," Nao counters as Mai gulps loudly. "What? What did I do now?"

Embracing the red-haired girl, Mai slides the ring on her finger. In less than a year, she would be starting her residency at one of Boston's hospitals and Nao would be finishing up her first year in law school. Things were looking up, and she couldn't wait to share the joy with her loved ones.

Arriving at Brazil, the tawny-haired vampire, as usual, made herself comfortable. Booking a penthouse quite, Viola takes a set of lovers to her room to feed on and share pleasures with. After using them, Viola steps out to the balcony, gazing at the moon that reminded her of her one true love.

Natsuki was probably in London by now. Presumably, the dark-haired princess had run off to the awaiting claws of the Pomeranian. But still, Viola clung to the belief that fate had kept them connected for centuries and would continue to do so for centuries to come. After all, Natsuki belonged to her. But like any good love story, there had to be an obstacle. And their obstacle came in the shape of a preppy, vanilla goody-two-shoes girl named Shizuru.

Sighing, Viola shrugs her emotions off, letting the demon in her come out to play. Brazil was going to be the first stop in her world tour.

Following her long bath, Shizuru steps out of the bathroom in her robe. After drying and brushing her hair, Shizuru checks her phone and sees missed texts and calls from Reito. Apparently, the obsidian-haired boy wanted Shizuru to come out and join him and Arika's friends in the festival. Curious, Shizuru changes into black jeans and a black, cashmere sweater, and black booties. Picking her hair up in a messy bun, Shizuru grabs her keys and steps out.

Arriving at the festival crowded with people in bright colorful costumes and face-paint, Shizuru searches for her friend. Gasping, Shizuru is startled by a smirking Reito, wrapping his arm around her neck.

"Fujino!" he exclaims, smelling of alcohol. "You made it!"

"Reito," Shizuru greets, smiling shyly at his date. "I may have left out that this boy likes his liquor."

"It's not his fault," Arika explains, giggling. "I'm the one that got him drunk."

Raising a brow, Shizuru smirks at the girl. "I like you."

"I like you, too," Arika answers, reaching for Reito's hand. "He is a gentleman and quite peculiar, too. I really like that about him," she continues as Reito take his arm off Shizuru's neck and wraps it around Arika's neck. "Well, come on, girl! Time to get you drunk!" Arika chirps, leading them to a stand where her friends waved at them.

Drinking in the night with the fun, youthful hostess and her friends, Shizuru dances under the moonlight. Sensing, once again, the feeling of being watched, Shizuru leaves the dance floor, spotting long, raven tresses from afar.

Stalking over to the raven-haired girl, Shizuru rests her hand on the girl's shoulder.

Turning around, the girl raises a brow. "Can I help you?" the stranger asks, looking curiously at the tawny-haired girl and then at her friends who shrug.

"Sorry," Shizuru explains, turning away before walking into a cold body.

"What are you doing?" a familiar voice asks, head cocked to the side.

Brows furrowed, Shizuru stares at the girl smiling dashingly at her. Mouth slightly openly, Shizuru takes in the features of the ageless beauty.

Emerald holding on to ruby, Natsuki stares back, admiring the older, more refined taller girl.

And just like earlier in the day, a droplet falls on Shizuru's skin. It was going to rain. Inching closer to the shorter girl, Shizuru stops when the rain picks up, pouring down on the ex-lovers. Still in shock, Shizuru caresses the girl's cold, angelic face. Leaning in, she gently kisses familiar, cold lips before stepping back. "You're really here."

"But?" Natsuki probes, eyeing a reserved Shizuru.

"It's November. Did I ever tell you how much I used to love November?" Shizuru starts, recalling holidays with her family. "It's meant to be spent with family. But I have no family," Shizuru finishes, looking up at the rain.

"I'm so sorry."

"Did you know this festival celebrates the dead?" Shizuru adds, admiring the festivities around them. "Isn't it fitting? I am, after all, facing one of my ghosts."

"Every day, every second, I thought about you."

"I haven't seen or heard from you in five years."

"I know. I had to figure things out on my own."

"You could've told me," Shizuru snaps, scowling. "But you just left. I woke up scared with Mai telling me Midori and Nao died, and you ran away with Viola."

"I had to get away."

"So I forgive you? Is that what you're implying?" Shizuru probes as Natsuki tenses. "After everything? That I forgive you?"

Flexing her jaw, Natsuki avoids the taller girl altogether and, instead, looks at the rowdy people surrounding them.

"Why are you here? Why did you come back?" Shizuru interrogates, jaw clenched. "I was doing just fine without you."

"Well, I wasn't," Natsuki answers, meeting cold, ruby irises. "You're home, and home is where the heart is, and you still have my heart."

"I've grown up."

"I can see that," Natsuki notes, admiring the older and wiser tawny-haired girl. "But have you outgrown me?"

Scoffing, Shizuru grits her teeth.

Stepping closer, Natsuki stops an inch away from the cold-exterior, poised girl. "Do you still love me?"

"No," Shizuru answers, staring hardly into emerald pools.

"So I'll make you fall in love with me again," Natsuki reasons, smoldering her green orbs as Shizuru scoffs and tries to walk away. "Don't even try, princess," Natsuki warns, wrapping her arms around Shizuru's waist. "You're not getting away that easy."

"You arrogant, smug son-of-a-bitch," Shizuru starts, as Natsuki raises a brow, amused. "This might have worked when I was a kid," Shizuru continues, shoving Natsuki's hands away, "But I'm big a girl now," she finishes, walking away.

Lingering her gaze on the tawny-haired girl, Natsuki smiles, relieved that there was still a spark between them.

Come the following day, Shizuru wakes up late, due to a raging hangover. Taking a long bath, Shizuru spends most of the day laying on the sofa, prepping for her meeting later that evening.

When the meeting is an hour away, Shizuru dresses in an all-white, snug and tailored suit with high-heels. Applying velvet lipstick, Shizuru grabs her bag and heads out to Sears Enterprises' headquarters in London. Greeted by Reito who smirks at her, the pair of friends are led to the top floor by a young woman.

Arriving, both Reito and Shizuru are escorted to a conference room as they awaited Mr. Sears' associate.

Sitting on the chair, Shizuru bites the top of her pen.

"Everything okay?" Reito asks, brow raised.

"I'll tell you later," Shizuru answers, still chewing the pen-top.

Door opening, Shizuru and Reito await their mysterious, prospective client.

Scoffing and feeling anger brewing, Shizuru glares at the raven-haired beauty strolling past them and onto the head seat in the table. Turning to look at Reito, Shizuru scoffs once more when Reito winks at her, picking up his pad and leaving the room.

"You set me up," Shizuru accuses as Natsuki sends her assistant away.

"Believe it or not," Natsuki begins, as the door closes, "Sears Enterprises is mine. I founded it a while back to ensure a future for my bloodline. Mr. Sears is a relative and the current face of the company, but it's still my company; he just helps me manage it."

"And Kanzaki Corporations?"

"That's Reito's. Aside from my strange, distant family, I started Sears Enterprises to bug the shit out of the marshmallow. To destroy him. But he's good competition, as well as your Fujino brand."

"All this time . . . You never mentioned it."

"We never had time discuss our future. Besides, you never asked me about my income."

"You're seventeen!" Shizuru argues, refusing to believe that a seventeen-year-old happened to run one of the leading companies in the world.

"I'm older than that, Shizuru. You know that."

"Wait a minute," Shizuru starts, rubbing her temples. "This is a joke, right? A rouse. A ploy you conjured to get me here."

"You're a smart girl," Natsuki remarks, pulling out her iPad. "So you know the cardinal rule in managing a business: A good business deal is a good business deal. Your proposal was interesting," Natsuki continues, going through Shizuru's proposal on her iPad. "It's promising; however, there's a problem with your subsidy graph."

"Impossible," Shizuru retorts, navigating to it on her own iPad. "What's wrong with it?"

"The world market," Natsuki says, noting a change in the formulaic sequence. "You changed the formula."

"I adjusted the formula to meet the standards of the global economy."

"Why?"

"Because of the decrease in monetary value in some countries. Just this year-" Shizuru starts as Natsuki snickers. "You're fucking with me."

"I'm sorry," Natsuki apologizes, grinning. "This is a good proposal; it really is. And I'll book you for a follow-up, so you can present it to the other company shareholders. But I can't really focus right now. You're a huge distraction."

"So clearly, I've wasted my time," Shizuru starts, standing up.

"I want another chance with you," Natsuki confesses, standing up too.

"I'm here to discuss business," Shizuru states, brow raised at the girl in tight, white slacks and royal blue, v-cut blazer. "Not my personal life."

"You kissed me," Natsuki counters, recalling their kiss from last night.

"Sometimes a kiss is just a kiss."

"Not when it's us."

"Well, that lost its appeal. I've kissed a lot of people since you literally ran out of my life."

"I had to get away, Shizuru. I had enough shit from the things I've done in my past. And then, I had to add what happened on that day to my conscience! I HAD to go!"

"With Viola?" Shizuru interrogates, as Natsuki snarls. Scoffing, Shizuru gathers her things. "I think it's best I go."

"Give me another chance," Natsuki pleads, darting over to Shizuru's side. "Let me show you that I've changed."

"I don't care. I'm done. We're over."

"There's a pull, you know," Natsuki presses, halting the other girl. "You once told me that we're like protons and electrons, inevitably attracted to each other. No matter what we do. No matter what happens. We're going to be pulled back to one another."

"Protons and electrons aren't meant to be. They can't connect. Ever. There's an external force that prevents it," Shizuru rebuts, slinging her bag on her shoulders. "That external force is called life. Maybe, it's time you get one. I did."

Narrowing her gaze on the retreating girl, Natsuki pins the the taller girl against the wall, barricading her. "If you want me to walk away, I'll walk away. And if you want me to stay away, you have to order me away."

"Here's an order: Grow up," Shizuru starts, inching the other girl's face. "Take responsibility for your actions."

"I have."

"Running away isn't taking responsibility. It's cowardice."

"Maybe. But I couldn't face you after what happened. I couldn't face anyone. So I went away to give you all, especially you, a real chance at life because everyone was right. Midori was right. I was a monster. A demon. A parasite. A black hole just sucking everyone into my messes."

"You should've discussed this with me."

"I couldn't. Not after everything."

"So you chose for us?" Shizuru starts, scoffing. "Our relationship was between us. You had no right deciding for me."

"Like I said, if you want me to walk a-"

"-What I want is for you to walk away from that insecurity that makes you weak. The one that turns you into a scared little girl running away from her problems."

Brows furrowed, Natsuki looks bewilderingly at the mature girl before her.

"Can you do that?"

Analyzing the taller girl, Natsuki realizes that Shizuru had indeed grown up. "You've changed."

"I had to."

"I missed you," Natsuki confesses, putting her arms down, no longer barricading the taller girl.

"So you came back?" Shizuru probes, frustrated. "Just like that. Hoping I'd take you back."

"Pretty much," Natsuki concedes, smiling dashingly. "But with a lot more groveling if need be."

"You're still a child."

"No. I'm not," Natsuki counters, pinning the girl against the wall again, pressing their bodies together. "Give me the chance to prove that I've changed. Please. I love you, Shizuru."

"Well, I don't love you. Not anymore," Shizuru discloses again, remembering how surprisingly easy it was to fall out of love with Natsuki, considering how much Natsuki hurt her.

"I don't believe that."

"Believe what you want."

"Viola left me," Natsuki discloses as Shizuru tenses.

"Good to know I'm a rebound."

"She knew I couldn't forget you," Natsuki adds, unpinning Shizuru. "I love you, Shizuru, so much it hurts. It's been hurting for five years."

"You're the one that walked away."

"But I came running back."

"So what?" Shizuru starts, shaking her head. "You want a treat? Or what? I don't know what you're expecting from me."

"I want you."

Sighing, Shizuru rolls her eyes. "Get lost. Run away. You're good at that."

Furrowing her brows, Natsuki gulps. "Do you love someone else?" Natsuki probes, heartbeat accelerating.

"No."

"Then give me a chance."

"No."

"Just one more chance," Natsuki pleads, as Shizuru sighs in frustration. "Just one more. That's all I ask. After that, I'll be whatever you want me to be. A friend. A pen-pal. A business partner. A business adviser. An accountant. A bodyguard. Anything."

"I don't know," Shizuru ponders, too aware of Natsuki's false promises.

"One chance, Shizuru. If I fuck up again, you can fuck me over, and I'll leave you alone."

"You say that now but-"

"-I'm desperate here."

"How about you a date?" Shizuru concedes, sighing. "We'll see where it goes from there."

"A date?"

"Like I said, Kuga, I'm not a child anymore. So for your sake, I hope you can handle a grown woman," Shizuru parts, leaving a dumbfounded raven-haired girl behind.

"Kuga?" Natsuki repeats, watching the strutting silhouette of the taller girl.

Outside of Sears Enterprises, Shizuru pulls out her umbrella. Like the day before, it was raining. Changing her mind, Shizuru puts the umbrella back in her bag and slowly steps out into the rain.

"What are you doing?" Natsuki asks, catching up to the tawny-haired girl getting soaked in the English rain.

Smiling at the raven-haired girl, Shizuru laughs. Looking up at the sky, Shizuru flinches, feeling a small electric bolt coursing through her body. Natsuki had her arms wrapped around her waist.

"It's raining, and you're wearing white," Natsuki explains, cracking a smile.

Bursting out laughing, Shizuru wraps her arms around Natsuki's neck. "You're an asshole."

"I am."

"You're a jerk."

"I am."

"You're a callous bitch."

"I am."

"And an arrogant bastard."

"I am."

"I hate you."

"I hate me too."

"You're not funny."

"Love makes a fool of us. And I love you," Natsuki replies, smiling charmingly. "By God, you're perfect," she adds, leaning in for a kiss. Instinctively and effortlessly, Natsuki lifts the tawny-haired girl up, like she used to do years ago.

Arms and legs wrapped around the vampire, Shizuru breaks away to analyze the hauntingly beautiful face that caused her so much heartache. A long time ago, when she was fifteen, she met a strange, beautiful girl who would rather look at a wall than at her. That same girl turned out to be the reason she survived the car-crash that killed her parents, as well as the reason she didn't die from the general's gunshots. Now years later, the angelic demon's return was more prominent than ever. Shizuru had grown up, and Natsuki had changed. If this was fate granting them a second chance, what better timing than kissing under the rain, diluting all the blame.

"Shizuru?" Natsuki asks, searching crimson orbs. "What's going on in that blonde head of yours?"

Rolling her eyes, Shizuru leans in to kiss the vampire once more. Tasting the rain, Shizuru smiles, realizing that time had finally set things right. For the longest time, she felt burdened, like a storm-cloud was hovering above her, waiting to rain down on her. And when it would rain, she would drown in her past, flooded with pain. Time, as people would tell her, always finds a way to heal. Breaking away from the eternal vampire, Shizuru presses their foreheads together. Time was precious. Like the rain that evaporated back to the sky, later to pour life back onto the earth, Shizuru wanted to pour life into her being with a raven-haired girl by her side, first beginning with a date.

-The End-

A/N: DONE!

Thank you for reading and for your comments. I really appreciate them. Also, I feel like I should shout out that each chapter is titled after a song, most being songs from Gabrielle Aplin's "English Rain," which was my main inspiration to write.

THANKS AGAIN! :D