The Crimson Files: Chapter 21c
"I really don't deserve you right now," Shizuru said, turning away from the figure of Natsuki that had appeared within her dreams, coming out from behind a sakura tree. "I just need to be alone right now."
Despite her request, Shizuru heard light footsteps approach her. "You deserve me no less now than you ever did. Both other Shizurus I've known have had their problems to work through, and you're no different in that regard. I didn't abandon you when you told me about your past actions, and I certainly won't abandon you now."
Shizuru tried to think of something to say to this, but nothing was coming to her. Eventually, she felt a hand come to rest on her shoulder. She brought her own hand up and placed it on top of Dream Natsuki's hand, silently thanking her. After a while, she said, "I owe you a lot. If I didn't have you to talk with about all of this... I really think I might have snapped, or broken things off with Natsuki for fear of hurting her." Shizuru's eyes closed as she thought about this last point. "But I did hurt her, didn't I? Perhaps I should have gotten to know her. I should have left it at that one meeting in the gardens... Beyond that, it was just unfair to her."
"No, it wasn't," Dream Natsuki said. She moved around in front of Shizuru and looked into her eyes. "I was able to watch as the first Natsuki I knew grew old. She and her Shizuru had some rough times - including some very bad times at the beginning - but as she got older, the only times Natsuki really remembered were the good ones. The bad times lost their sting, while the good times retained their warmth. It wasn't just with Shizuru or her family. Even with people she lost contact with, it was the good times that she remembered. So, even if things don't work out here, you can trust me that in time, Natsuki will appreciate the good times you gave her. If you're lucky, she'll come to that realization soon enough that you two can still patch things up."
Shizuru couldn't help but let a smile cross her face. "Thank you. I don't know if I dare to hope for that... but I do thank you." Dream Natsuki smiled back at her, but a thought occurred to Shizuru. "Speaking of thanking you... In the duel with Natsuki, when I summoned Kiyohime... That was you, wasn't it?"
Dream Natsuki's smile widened. "Guilty as charged. Although I admit, I wasn't expecting you to even be able to summon another Child. I was hoping that would end the battle right there."
"That wasn't me," Shizuru said, shaking her head. "The Maiden took over for that. I've never even heard of that Child before. But still... thank you."
Despite her request, Shizuru heard light footsteps approach her. "You deserve me no less now than you ever did. Both other Shizurus I've known have had their problems to work through, and you're no different in that regard. I didn't abandon you when you told me about your past actions, and I certainly won't abandon you now."
Shizuru tried to think of something to say to this, but nothing was coming to her. Eventually, she felt a hand come to rest on her shoulder. She brought her own hand up and placed it on top of Dream Natsuki's hand, silently thanking her. After a while, she said, "I owe you a lot. If I didn't have you to talk with about all of this... I really think I might have snapped, or broken things off with Natsuki for fear of hurting her." Shizuru's eyes closed as she thought about this last point. "But I did hurt her, didn't I? Perhaps I should have gotten to know her. I should have left it at that one meeting in the gardens... Beyond that, it was just unfair to her."
"No, it wasn't," Dream Natsuki said. She moved around in front of Shizuru and looked into her eyes. "I was able to watch as the first Natsuki I knew grew old. She and her Shizuru had some rough times - including some very bad times at the beginning - but as she got older, the only times Natsuki really remembered were the good ones. The bad times lost their sting, while the good times retained their warmth. It wasn't just with Shizuru or her family. Even with people she lost contact with, it was the good times that she remembered. So, even if things don't work out here, you can trust me that in time, Natsuki will appreciate the good times you gave her. If you're lucky, she'll come to that realization soon enough that you two can still patch things up."
Shizuru couldn't help but let a smile cross her face. "Thank you. I don't know if I dare to hope for that... but I do thank you." Dream Natsuki smiled back at her, but a thought occurred to Shizuru. "Speaking of thanking you... In the duel with Natsuki, when I summoned Kiyohime... That was you, wasn't it?"
Dream Natsuki's smile widened. "Guilty as charged. Although I admit, I wasn't expecting you to even be able to summon another Child. I was hoping that would end the battle right there."
"That wasn't me," Shizuru said, shaking her head. "The Maiden took over for that. I've never even heard of that Child before. But still... thank you."