A/N: Thanks, guys.

I'll update my profile often for the current progress of my stories (just in case you happened to wonder).

Chapter 23: Surrender

Against the rays of sunlight shining down through the narrow gap between the sections of the roofing, Midori was holding up the counterfeit, ruby bracelet, scrutinizing the adorning gem. Then, for a long moment, she compared it with the authentic one she had brought with her.

"This is most remarkable, Tamura-sama. Most sublime work I have ever seen." Midori was in absolute awe. She studied every details on the fake bracelet, which copied from the original to perfection. She sighed with satisfaction.

It had been only two weeks since Midori had come to the famous craftsman for help, and he had produced such a stunning work. Surely, the cost would be heavy, but Shizuru had granted Midori a large sum for this particular errand. It was only their luck that Yumi hadn't asked for the bracelets from Shizuru; the woman must have been stricken by her daughter's near death experience, the corpse in her husband's room, the nasty rumors among the aristocrats, and the chaos in the Fujino household that was growing each day past since the masters of the house were not available.

Midori carefully placed the counterfeit pair of bracelets into the original box she had brought with her. Then, she put the genuine, ruby bracelet into the silky, black pouch. She patted the pouch a little as it was now kept safe in her inner pocket. A long, heavy sigh escaped her lips as she recalled the night that she had almost lost the ruby bracelet in the forest. During her trek in the deep woods after leaving Izumo shrine, she had accidentally dropped the pouch during her pushes and shoves with Natsuki. If it hadn't been Natsuki who founded it, whilst the woman was lying on the ground, Midori would have lost it to the darkness forever.

At the dire thought, she patted the treasure in her pocket again. After losing the emerald one, she couldn't quite imagine the state her master would be in if the ruby one had gone missing as well. But, what struck Midori was those angry, pained tears on Natsuki's face as the woman held onto the ruby bracelet as if her life depended on it.

She was crying… Midori remembered the state of grief Natsuki had been that night. Seeing Natsuki suddenly curling up on the ground, clutching the bracelet to her chest, Midori had been frightened, or scared even, thinking that the woman had been possessed. She hadn't dared asking Natsuki for the reason since then.

Midori wouldn't believe that Shizuru had shown the family treasure to Natsuki, a complete stranger to them only two months ago. However, Midori wasn't going to rule out any assumptions concerning Natsuki now. Odd occurrences kept happening since the appearance of the foreigner. But, the oddest occurrence of all, in Midori's humble opinion anyway, was her master's willingness to tolerate, and even embrace, Natsuki's presence.

Are they in love? She grumbled at the question that had been gnawing at her for quite some time now.

Midori handsomely rewarded Tamura for his splendid work, and headed back to Fujino mansion.

All the while, many thoughts clouded her mind. It was no denying that her master was attracted to the foreigner, against all the reasons Midori could come up with. And, to make matters worse, Natsuki seemed to be equally fervent in her response. Consciously or unconsciously, the foreigner had gone out of her way to save Shizuru.

Oh, heaven… Midori tiredly rubbed her face as soon as she spotted Natsuki at the wide intersection that connected all four, main passageways of the Fujino mansion.

The wind was cold, but Natsuki had been as adamant as ever. Sitting on her heels, she had been occupying the tiny spot in front of the North Wing, where she had been prohibited to enter (on Yumi's order). Every day she would come to this particular spot as if waiting for Yumi's mercy.

Midori walked up to Natsuki, staring down at her, who glared back up, unimpressed. She didn't like Natsuki, or the dangerous influence the woman had on her master. She didn't like the color of her eyes. She didn't like the woman's odd demeanors, or her strange accent. She just didn't like Natsuki at all. But, to see how Natsuki had agonized her own health just to earn a chance to see Shizuru did eventually soften Midori's stance.

"Shizuru-sama regained her consciousness three days ago and has made some extraordinary improvements on her health," Midori said. She didn't know what had gotten into her to make her say it, or perhaps her walls had slowly crumbled around Natsuki's perseverance.

There was a pause from Natsuki, and Midori considered it as 'relief'. A huge relief. "Extraordinary as in holding on for two more weeks instead of dying within two days like you said she would?" Natsuki shifted in her spot. Sitting on her heels for hours must have numbed her legs. "Well, thanks for telling me that… that she's out of danger now." Her voice softened. "May I see her?"

Midori noted the paleness on Natsuki's face, and groaned in frustration. She knelt down on one knee and growled in the woman's face. "I hate you, Krurujer."

"Our feelings are mutual." Natsuki looked away.

"The funny thing is that you were the first thing Shizuru-sama asked for when she woke again. But Yumi-sama didn't find it funny. Yumi-sama does not want you here. The only reason she has not kicked you out because her daughter is still alive, and would probably be furious if she woke to find you gone. But, anyway, Krurujer, give it up! What are you trying to do here? Shizuru-sama has her own life to live. She has certain obligations to fulfill, her family name to serve. You should go back to wherever you came from." Midori lowered her voice at the last words. "…To the Protectors."

"They're not my family. Not even friends. I told you that I was forced into it."

"Whatever." Midori sighed. Whoever Natsuki really was or where she came from was another matter, but what happened at Izumo shrine was something Midori couldn't ignore. It was something crucial—something much deeper than what companions would normally do for each other. "Are you in love with Shizuru-sama?"

Natsuki snapped in shock at the question, and then blushed furiously. "What are you—what are you talking about? I was just—I was worried because she's been very ill. I, well, I am still worried about her, that's all."

All right. That is a 'yes'. Midori thought to herself.

Against all odds, it somewhat relieved Midori, making her more willing to trust Natsuki. At least, she knew now that Natsuki would not harm her master. And, she knew from her own experiences that The Protectors were not all that bad of a group of people. She knew Shou, and particularly, one of his disciples, Youko. She even thought that they had been too generous for their own good at times. One risked their life for rewards, but The Protectors seemed to nurture the idealistic side of honor and glory for far too much. It could blind them. It could get dangerous.

Midori glanced around for a bit. Yumi's room was only a few rooms away from the room Shizuru was currently occupying. There would be maids along the hallways, but there was always the garden route as an alternative.

Shizuru took a few deep breaths in as she attempted to sit up. The pain was still heavy, effectively dulling her, but it seemed more bearable each day past. She had wakened for more than an hour now, refreshed and washed, and now the maids had left to retrieve her brunch.

They told her that she had been unconscious for nearly two weeks after the relapse. Or, to straightforwardly put, after she was kicked by her father. Given her worsened condition, her imminent death had been expected. There had been a preparation for her funeral up on Fuuka Island even. For them, to see her waking up again had been nothing short of a miracle.

A miracle…? I wish I knew what it is. Shizuru bit her bottom lip as she struggled into a poised sitting position. Thankfully, she had been out cold for most of the torment; she wasn't sure if she could endure all the pain with her consciousness clear.

The doors slid open, and Megumi appeared, moving about on her knees. She was holding a tray of hot food, two maids behind her. "You did not wait for us. You are pushing yourself too hard, Shizuru-sama! Yumi-sama would be very worried. She would be, I tell you."

Shizuru offered a weak smile. "You have come just in time. I am starving."

Megumi set up the low table over Shizuru's lap, while the other maids were helping behind her back to keep her sitting up straight. It had been difficult to all of them, and Shizuru was grateful for every help she had received. Shizuru began her meal, and hummed lightly when her hunger was appeased. "The fish is really good, Megumi-san. And, the soup, too."

The old head maid smiled as she watched Shizuru eating like a mother to a child.

Out of the blue, the doors to the garden side slid opened. Shizuru looked up, knowing that Midori liked to use the passage instead of the corridors. She had been expecting some news over the progress on the counterfeit bracelets, but she was rendered speechless not by Midori's presence, but the raven-haired woman trailing behind her.

The four guards by the garden side reluctantly glanced at one another. Although Shizuru had instructed them to let Midori in, they were unsure if the order included a stranger Midori had brought as well. The guards turned as white as a sheet when Shizuru almost dropped her bowl, but steadied her hands just in time.

Megumi opened her mouth to holler, but no voice came out, while Midori ducked her head down as if to avoid the muted scold at her.

Slightly out of breath, Natsuki, however, looked disconcerted after having crawling through the bushes after Midori, some leaves on her hair.

Shizuru composed herself, and turned to Megumi. "That would be all, Megumi-san," she said softly.

"B—but Yumi-sama—" Megumi began, but Shizuru waved her off.

"Please."

The head maid grudgingly obeyed, and, with the other maids, they left through the doors to the hallway side.

Midori and Natsuki then entered, and moved to Shizuru's side. One of the guards slid the door to the garden closed behind them.

Midori beamed as she noted the food on the table. "Shizuru-sama, you're eating now. You look much, much better today. The color on your cheeks is back!"

Shizuru tried her best to receive Midori's enthusiasm, but her gaze couldn't seem to leave Natsuki at all. Emerald eyes were staring back at her, and in the hazy moments that followed, she could no longer tell what Midori was saying, or what was happening around her. Through her darkest hours, she had held on tightly even to the physical pains because she needed to 'feel'. If feeling the pain meant that she was still alive, she had welcomed it. She had held on only because she wished to see Natsuki again. But, when she had wakened from the coma, Megumi had told her that Natsuki was gone. The thought of Natsuki disappearing again, or worse, returning to her own world, had frightened Shizuru, terrorizing in her restless dreams.

To see Natsuki present before her now, Shizuru didn't exactly know how to react. She clutched the hem of her blanket, her hands trembling. "…tsuki… Natsuki, you are still here."

"Of course, I haven't gone anywhere." Natsuki sounded strangely calm, yet elating all at once. A look of immense joy—the look that could have brought tears out—filled the green eyes. Carefully, Natsuki moved on her knees closer to Shizuru, and rubbed her thin shoulders. Natsuki's touch was light, gentle and reassuring in contrast of her usually rough and awkward one.

Softly chuckling, Natsuki brushed the hair from Shizuru's eyes. "Even if I did, I'd always come back to you, Shizuru."

Shizuru kept staring, still unable to believe her eyes. The idea of her mother chasing Natsuki away hadn't escaped her either. Between the relapse and the painful, waking hours, she wasn't sure which fragments of her recollections were real. Had she been dreaming? Was this just another vivid dream, Natsuki so close to her that she could feel the woman's body warmth? If so, she wouldn't want to wake from this dream at all.

"But they said—" Shizuru started, but mellowed when she felt Natsuki's lips on her temple. Her eyes blinked slowly before sliding shut in a bliss. By then, everything was fine, her world turning again. Strangely, she now felt alive for the first time in years. She had wondered for a while now how a mere stranger could have such power over her, effecting her this much. But 'Natsuki' happened.

Natsuki moved behind Shizuru, using her shoulder and chest to support Shizuru's back. Her right arm snaked around Shizuru's waist, tugging the frail girl closer to her. For some reason, Natsuki seemed to be much stronger than her womanly, slender figure had shown. At such intimate contact, Shizuru involuntarily stiffened. Natsuki seemed to notice at once and said, "You can lean back. It'll be more comfortable—"

"Ahem!" Midori cleared her throat. Only then both women broke from the trance they were in.

Natsuki instantly paused, while Shizuru straightened up, but was still leaning against Natsuki's shoulder. She needed the support, but managed to appear casual in her posture as not to worry Midori and Natsuki for far too much.

Shizuru raised her brows in mild amusement when she saw how red Midori's face was. She turned to glance at Natsuki, who was also blushing madly. If there was a blushing contest, she wouldn't know who would win between the two.

"Yes, Midori," Shizuru finally said, breaking the awkward silence among them.

Midori scratched the back of her head. "I—I'm glad that you seem much healthier now, Shizuru-sama."

"Thank you. I am glad, too." Shizuru smiled, and then another thought hit her. "Ara, Midori, have you gotten them? It is supposed to be due today, isn't it?"

"Err—uh, yes, I have." But Midori reluctantly glanced at Natsuki.

Shizuru noted the anxious look in her servant's eyes, but quietly nodded. Her mind was lucid. Her body was warm. Her wounds were still painful. But, there was a newfound feeling—a new sense of security that she had never felt before. With Natsuki next to her now, Shizuru felt stronger than she had ever been. "Let me see them," she said.

Midori shifted uncomfortably on her heels. "But Krurujer—"

"It is all right. From now on, there will be no secrets between Natsuki and me. She has my complete trust, and you should, too." Shizuru briefly glanced at Natsuki, but was worried if she was actually harming the woman's health; Natsuki's face was so red now, the shade rivaling an exploding volcano.

Growling, Midori glowered at the seemingly euphoric Natsuki before looking away. She carefully took out the wooden box from her sack and presented it to her master.

Shizuru placed the box on the low table. She opened the lid and studied the pair of bracelets inside. She picked up the emerald bracelet, scrutinizing it. Very detailed. Such a marvelous work, indeed. When she heard Natsuki's gasp, she looked up at her, a corner of her mouth lifted up.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Shizuru asked.

"Wow, are these the—the pair?" Natsuki's brows came together in one harsh line. She even glanced up at Midori in suspicion. The look had Midori looked away in discomfort.

For a short moment, Shizuru studied Natsuki. Was it just a coincidence? Natsuki's tone seemed to suggest doubts, and the green gaze was untrusting.

"What do you see?" Shizuru couldn't help but wondered.

Her frown deepened, Natsuki reached out and graced her fingers along the counterfeit, emerald bracelet. "I think it's beautiful, but it doesn't tell me anything… Nm—no, nothing. I got nothing."

Shizuru was unsure what Natsuki had meant, and looked again to scrutinize the pair of fake bracelets. The details on the gold were explicitly done. The gems were clear and cut to the exact shapes. To her knowledge, the new pair looked remarkable like the ancient one, and she would be very surprised if her parents could tell that they were counterfeit.

"Tell you what?" Midori asked. "How come you knew about the Fujino bracelets? You are just a commoner."

Shizuru looked up. She, too, was surprised and scared the first time she learned that Natsuki knew about the family bracelets. But, everything that Natsuki had done afterwards eventually weighed out all doubts in her heart. She turned to Natsuki, and reminded the woman, "I believe that you once told me about a missing bracelet in your world, Natsuki."

Midori's face screwed up in confusion. "Your world? Yours? What?"

"Are these the bracelets you mentioned?" Shizuru held the bracelet up closer to Natsuki. She wanted to know. She needed to know if it was the very thing that had called for Natsuki's presence here—if it meant anything to both of them finding each other in this world.

A few moments of agonizing silence passed, and Natsuki shifted a little, uncertainty in her eyes. Her voice was hoarse when she spoke. "They didn't feel like the one I found in the forest. That one… it called out to me. I can still hear its whisper now, o—or in my dreams. Somehow, it doesn't go away."

Slowly, Shizuru looked down. She softly placed the counterfeit one in the wooden box. They were beautiful. They were as close to the original ones as possible. But Natsuki could still tell that they weren't the authentic ones. Midori had reported her about the accident of nearly losing the ruby bracelet in the woods, but neglecting any details concerning Natsuki.

Midori seemed to catch the cold air from her master. She sighed in defeat and confessed, "I dropped the ruby bracelet in the woods…, and Krurujer founded it. That was how she had seen the real bracelet."

Shizuru cared nothing for the story behind the occurrence, but what Natsuki had said. She moved her hand to the box, her fingers lingering over the ruby one. "You said that you heard its whisper?"

Natsuki shook her head. "Not this one."

At the response, Shizuru turned to Midori, and only after a long, harsh stare that Midori eventually gave in. The servant fished out the black pouch from her inner pocket and placed it on the low table.

Shizuru grabbed the pouch and studied it on her palm, her thoughts warring with one another. "You may go now," she finally said.

For a brief moment, Midori looked reluctant, and then she looked away. "If you should need anything, I will be right outside." She bowed and left the room through the garden side.

When Shizuru and Natsuki were left alone, Shizuru loosened the golden, woven cord, opening the pouch. She carefully lift the pouch and let the genuine ruby bracelet slide down to rest upon her left palm. Turning to look at Natsuki, Shizuru counted the seconds for Natsuki to react. She waited for Natsuki to say something—anything. She needed any kind of confirmation, but no words came.

Then, a tear rolling down her cheek, Natsuki reached out and touched the bracelet

Shizuru turned her gaze back to the gem that its color very much matched her own eyes. "What did it tell you?" she murmured. She, too, was mesmerized by its beauty and mystery.

Natsuki traced her fingertips along the golden surface. Her eyes glistened with tears, watching the gleams reflect upon the gem. "I've touched it before that night in the forest. No, long before that. It feels so familiar, Shizuru. I'm sure I'd seen it somewhere before… Long… long ago, it belonged to me…"

"Belonged to you?" Shizuru echoed. The notion should have frightened her. The bracelets belonged to the Fujino family, and no one else, especially not some stranger from a foreign land. However, with everything that had happened around them; the notebook, the ghost writer, the lavender scent and the missing bracelet—everything was connecting them together, simply making it hard for Shizuru to brush aside Natsuki's impression.

Beyond her defensive mind, Shizuru mused if 'Natsuki' in the past was really the owner of the bracelet like she claimed to 'feel'.

Natsuki shook her head, blushing in embarrassment. "Nah, it couldn't be, right? That's just silly. It couldn't have been mine." She picked up the empty pouch and lightly shook it. "Eh, where's the emerald one?"

Looking down in distress, Shizuru carefully put the ruby bracelet on her left wrist. It felt heavier than she had thought; she wasn't sure if she was imagining it, or its weigh actually came with responsibilities. If anything, she should keep it with her at all time now. She couldn't afford to lose both of them. "The other one went missing two weeks ago. Someone intruded the mansion, killed two guards, and stole it from my room. That was why I had Midori make a counterfeit pair. I cannot let my parents know."

"What!? The emerald bracelet was stolen!?" Natsuki's eyes widened for a moment, and she frowned. "Wait… wait, it was the ruby one that was missing in my world. How come?" Natsuki scratched the back of her head in frustration. "And why didn't the thieves take it as well?

Shizuru unconsciously mirrored the suspicious look on Natsuki's face, her hands clasped tightly on her lap. "Very good question. But, Natsuki, I am confused. Shouldn't the missing bracelet—this ruby one, be the thing that brought you here? If it wasn't this, then what was it?"

All these questions had been eating Shizuru up inside. She feared that all the hopes she had had to solve the riddle of why Natsuki was transported back into the past—or what exactly had triggered it—might never be answered. But what she feared the most was that every time Natsuki disappeared, she found her heart at the bottomless pit of despair. She wasn't sure why, or she wasn't sure if she was ready to face the true reason behind it.

When Natsuki saw the troubled look in Shizuru's eyes, she smiled in reassurance. "Hey, it very well could be. I feel that it is. In my heart." Her tone was softer than usual, with a gentle clutch on Shizuru's hands. Then, a raised brow. "Or, are you so eager to find out how to send me back?"

Bewildered, Shizuru stiffened at Natsuki's implication. "Of course not. No, I would not want you to go. I—uh, I mean…" Blushing, she looked down. It had to be her first blush in a long while. Or, since another life—another time. Or, perhaps her psyche was just as weak as her body now, allowing Natsuki's words to affect her this much.

"I'm glad, Shizuru." Natsuki's words came so easy, and Shizuru looked up, curious.

Underneath the layers of sleeves, her fingers nervously trailed the bracelet around her left wrist. As she studied the contemplative, green eyes, she kept telling herself that she wasn't dreaming—that she was still alive, and Natsuki was sitting right next to her. Foolish as she felt, there was a touch of hope in her heart.

"You do not want to go back to your world anymore?" Shizuru couldn't believe her own question. She didn't like the way it was going.

"Well, yeah, I want to see my father and my friends again, but then… I don't know if I can do that now even if I was given a choice." Natsuki looked torn. Her gaze dimmed, heavy with conscience, and the look troubled Shizuru.

Shizuru bit back her heartache. She steadied her voice and assured, "I am fine now, Natsuki. You have nothing to worry about. If you want to leave, then do it. You are free—"

"It's not that. But, you see, I don't even know. I'm just… To tell you the truth, I'm not sure what it is." Natsuki shook her head, almost furious at herself. "You can't imagine how I had to watch you lay dying for days, weeks of uncertainty. It hurt just to see you hurt. I really thought that you were going to die. Well, everyone thought that. But I had to see you well again, and I… I did everything I could." She sighed heavily, rubbing her face with both hands. A hefty thing in Natsuki's mind that Shizuru couldn't decipher yet. "But now nothing else seems to matter. Not where I came from, or what I'd done. Jeez, I don't even know what this is, or what I'm doing, but I just want to be with you."

Shizuru involuntarily clutched the bracelet. She was surprised that she had been able to sit upright for this long today, a marvelous sign for a start. She wished for better things to come in the days to follow. But, she was even more amazed by Natsuki's blatant confession. Poor woman was blushing, mumbling more incoherent words. It was neither the first confession Shizuru had ever received, nor the most romantic one, but it was the first time her heart truly bloomed from hearing it. Like butterflies in her stomach. Like how comfortably a mermaid breathed under the sea. Like a walk in the clouds. With Natsuki next to her, somehow everything seemed possible.

I even managed to rise from death, didn't I? Shizuru mused.

She clutched Natsuki's hands on her lap.

"And I want to be with you, too, Natsuki. I was…" Shizuru tried to recall the darkest days she had been plunged into, the abyss of nothing but pain, but no words could have described all the things she had felt then.

She had been in pain. She had been through torturous hell. Yet, she wakened to this new day and managed to find some light at the end of the tunnel. "I was in a very, very dark place. It was so cold. I called out for help, but nobody heard me. I was in such a great pain that I wished to die a thousand times over, but I held on only because I wanted to see you again. I do not know why myself, but you were the only thing that could penetrate the black walls around me. In my dreams—or—or my nightmares, you were the only one I thought of… You kept me alive, Natsuki." Shizuru breathed. "It is very selfish of me to feel this way, but for all the gods' love, I would not know what to do if you left."

Natsuki had halted. Her eyes widened at the words pouring out of Shizuru. Her hands were cold and unfeeling in Shizuru's grasp.

And, humiliation was all Shizuru felt now that she had to look away. Had she misinterpreted Natsuki's innocent goodwill into something of earthly, filthy desires that matched her own? Shizuru bowed, but inwardly grunted at the pain shooting through her wounds at the hasty action. She bit her bottom lip, a bead of cold sweat rolling down her forehead. "I—I am so sorry, Natsuki. I should not have said that. You do not belong here—"

Shizuru hadn't the chance to finish her words when a hand lifted her chin up, and a pair of warm lips capturing her own. She froze, staring blankly at the wall and the door behind Natsuki's shoulder. Natsuki was kissing her, deep and hard, feverish in desperation that drowned them both. Shizuru couldn't tell where the ardent affection came from, but it was starting to overwhelm her in absolute bliss. Before she knew, Natsuki had laid her down on the futon, most careful not to disturb her wounds. Their lips met again, needing each other, mingling and sharing their warmth.

Lying on her back, Shizuru whispered between their warm and wet kisses. "I… I am in love… with you…, Natsuki."

Her body tensed at the arousal, but her senses eventually slipped. Her mind began to focus on the bracelet again. It was burning her wrist like a hot, iron shackle. It pulled her back and deep, chastising her, locking her in the endless, dark, cavernous past that she saw no way out.

Long ago…I have always been in love with you…