~Natalie's P.O.V~
I feel great! After the wholesome Sunday of boat ride and dancing, Ray and I are much closer than before. And no, we're just friends. We sort of talked it out and we agreed to stay friends. I mean I did tell him that I had feelings for him though Ray was flattered, we made an agreement to keep our relationship strictly as friends.
Ray decided to wear his old uniform to work today and he told me that everyone in the villa wanted him to give the "complete truth". Though I'm guessing that he's finally comfortable enough to show himself. "So, the uniform is a part of your apology speech that your death resulted a massacre of Lidice?" I specifically pointed out. He confidently said yes and I knew he'd say that. At least Ray still keeps some of his old personality.
"You know this better than I do that my former superiors were fooled from a false rumor." Ray gave his counter point. I countered back, "Is that the reason why you dug out my notes as a part of your "apology speech"?". "Yes." He gave another short answer. "Of course..." I sighed a smirk while shaking my head.
Then I told Ray that I wanted to drive to work today. "Are you offering to be my escort for the day?" he teased. "Trying something new for once isn't bad..." I shrugged. "And you are the Obergruppenführer after all... this is the least I can do that you outrank me.". "Oh, stop..." Ray slightly blushed. "But thank you." Then smiled. Both of us hopped on the car after locking the door and went to the villa first to drop Ray off.
"I will see you in the evening, Obergruppenführer." I formally bid goodbye. "I will expect your arrival then." And so did Ray with a smile before walking to the villa. I waved and drove to the library. Andrew was surprised when he saw me parking my car. "Is there a special occasion for you to bring your car to work?". "Oh, I was just doing a favor for the Obergruppenführer." I honestly answered and I don't know why Ray wearing his uniform just rendered me to call him by his rank. "And yes, I am actually doing him a favor." Sometimes the three couldn't tell if I'm lying or not. "Good to know." Andrew nodded and I went inside.
"Morning, boss." I happily greeted Adrien and Mika too in Japanese. "Good morning, Izumi!" Mika greeted back while Adrien nodded and I started working. Work was fine but I think it looked a bit weird for Mika and Adrien that I'm in such a great mood today. "Looks like someone had a great Sunday..." Adrien butt in while walking over to my corner. Both Adrien and Mika really curious why I was in a good mood and I surrendered, "Alright... you guys caught me..." I held up my hands in defeat, "I did have a great Sunday..." and admitted.
I told Adrien and Mika about the boat ride and the surprise dance from Ray. "That is so cute!" Mika squealed and asked if there were any advances. "Well..." I timidly said yes and Mika squealed again in excitement, "I'm so happy for you two!". "Oh, shut up..." I shrugged her. "We're just friends and we agree with that." And clarified. She was disappointed with my answer and Adrien told her not to push me about it.
The three of us continued working then I got a call. It was only a number when I looked at the screen but I picked it up anyway, "Dízy?". "Is this Natalie Midner?" it was the current owner of the villa's voice. "Yes, I'm Natalie Midner." I confirmed. I asked if I can help them with anything and they told me to come to the villa immediately. "It's about Reinhard." I nearly dropped my phone when he said Ray's name.
I asked what happened and they told me that Ray told him to contact me if anything serious happened to him then Andrew came running in, saying that he heard someone talking about a shooting in the villa. "That's what I'm trying to tell you..." said the owner and I hung up then dashed out to my car. I pushed in the key, turning the car on and stepped on the gas, speeding my way to the villa.
When I got there, I wished that what the owner told me wasn't true. I got off my car then ran to the villa and there was a crowd. "Ray!" I called out while pushing my way through and Ray was there with James and he was attacking Ray with a gun, trying to shoot him dead. "James! Stop it!" I lunged myself at James to take his gun. "Leave Ray alone!" I shouted.
James didn't flinch when I tried to stop him and tried to pull the gun back. "I told you... I'm not done with him." He menacingly reminded. James and I were in a tug-of-war with the gun and I'm really trying not to get Ray shot. "What you're doing is crazy, James! Stop it!". "Oh, like you who never stop doing crazy things!" James was way stronger than me that I almost lost grip of the gun but I'm quick enough to dodge his punches.
I kept holding down the gun but James almost snatched it from my hands then something was pulling it back and it was Ray. "Ray?" I was surprised. "Now you're joining the fight.". "Just leave Ray alone!" it was a fierce tug-of-war and as a last resort, I bit hard on James' wrist until it bled. "Agh! You little—-" my right ear was ringing and suddenly my right arm was numb. The three of us stopped and when I saw it... blood was running down from my right shoulder and I realized James shot me.
I immediately put my left hand on the wound to stop the bleeding and holding in the pain. "Du Schwein!" Ray threw a hard punch on James, almost knocking him off and the two had a fistfight. I wanted to use the gun to stop them but it would knock me out instead. "For the love of... just fucking stop! Both of you!" I shouted at the two while holding down the pain. "If you want to kill Ray then you have to kill me first!" I taunted James but I know he could never do it.
"You never seen the last of me just yet." James pointed at Ray and I with his gun and disappeared in the crowd. "Natalie!" Ray carried me to the back seat of the car and asked if I'm alright. "So that's how it feels like..." I said to myself. What an irony that I got to know the other end of the bullet. "Don't say that..." Ray then pulled out his handkerchief and tied it over the wound. "Is this okay?". "Y-yeah... I-it's okay." I winced from the pain. He took the wheel and rushed me to the hospital.
~Reinhard's P.O.V~
The car arrived at the hospital and I immediately brought Natalie in. I know the people there were surprised by my appearance but I had no time for it. I asked for help and finally the nurse took care of Natalie when she saw the gunshot wound. I still remember how many of us carelessly kill innocent people with guns back in the day.
I sat down, anxiously waiting for the result then Natalie's phone rang. It says "Boss" but I knew it's a call from Blackwater. "Natalie? Where are you? Is Reinhard alright?" he sounded very worried. "It's Reinhard." I informed. "I'm fine but not Natalie..." I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news. "Is she alright? What happened?". "Unfortunately..." I took a breath, "She was shot. We are in the hospital." I informed and added that Conroe was the shooter. "What!" I expected the reaction and I told Blackwater that I'll explain why.
"How is she?". "Currently, Natalie is under surgery to remove the bullet." I informed. "I'm waiting for the progress.". "Alright and sit tight. We'll be there in a minute." Said Blackwater and he hung up. A while later, the nurse came out, "E-excuse me..." she was quite intimidated of me. I had to lie that my uniform is a costume to reassure her and she slightly relaxed. "Are you the patient's friend?". "Yes, I'm her roommate." I answered. The nurse explained that Natalie is fine and the bullet didn't hit any major arteries. I was relieved and thanked the nurse before she left.
Minutes later, Blackwater, Connelly and Takahashi came and asked if Natalie is alright and I informed them what the nurse informed me earlier. The three of them were relieved, "She's too stubborn even though she said that she wanted it.". "That's our Izumi!" said Takahashi after Blackwater. I chuckled in relieve and I remembered something, "Though do any of you know why Natalie carved her hand like that?" I wanted to know if they knew the reason why. "We don't really know..." Connelly answered. "We thought it was some sort of protection spell since she watches over your superior's books." And shared his theory. Those runes do look similar to the ones engraved in the Death Ring.
The four of us then went inside to check on Natalie and thankfully, she looked fine. "Aww, Ray... you didn't have to call them.". "Nope." Blackwater stepped in and admitted that he wanted the three to come. She softly laughed and I asked if she's alright. "At least now I can be more mindful when I laugh." Natalie vaguely replied but the three seemed to accepted the answer. "Still... now I know what it feels to be at the other end of the bullet." I told her not to talk about that incident again and she complied, "Yes, Obergruppenführer..."
Connelly then teased if there were any awards that should be given. "Andrew!". "What? I'm just saying..." he shrugged. I chuckled, "No, he's right..." I took off my Iron Cross and gave it to Natalie, "I, Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich hereby award you with the Iron Cross medal for your bravery and sacrifice." She chuckled and thanked me, "Vielen Dank, Obergruppenführer."
"Though you should really change there, Tristan.". "What's wrong with my attire?" I asked. Connelly said that I'm scaring off people and I gave my excuse that my uniform is just a costume. "Well... did it work?" the three of them were not convinced. "Just let Ray have his fun, guys..." said Natalie, concluding the conversation and Takahashi asked what happened, changing the topic.
"It was James..." Natalie answered. The three were shocked and I explained that when I was doing my speech, there was a gunshot and it somehow missed me. "Everyone in the room then scattered in panic and ran to safety." I learned my lesson from last time to save myself instead of facing the danger. "I must've not seen him among the crowd.". "Then how did he get to you?" Natalie asked.
I sighed and shared my guess that James might have followed me and fired another shot. Luckily, it only grazed my arm. "The shot got my attention and the second I turned my attention, he was charging at me." I continued that the guards tried to stop us and the owner had called Natalie. "Then I came and I tried to break the fight and take the gun from James' hand." Natalie continued the story. I really didn't want her to continue it.
"We were in a tug-of-war with the gun and James shot me—-". "And that's how we're here." I quickly ended the story. "Ray, you know there were more—-". "We don't have to continue it." I half ordered and thankfully, the three didn't force us. "You shouldn't have come." I sighed at her. Natalie then reminded that I told the owner to contact her if anything happened to me and I cut her off, "I know what I said! But I never wanted to put you in any more harm that you already are." I felt guilty.
"She was already doomed with this since it first happened." said Blackwater. "And I've learned how to live with it from the moment I pulled the trigger." Said Natalie, accepting her fate. "And that's how she got her title!". "Please don't talk about that, Andrew..." I sighed in defeat with their answers and complied. "If that's what you want then I will not question about that again.". The four of us decided to accompany Natalie for the rest of the evening and I stayed until night.
A.N : Did you think I would forget about James? If you didn't then okay. I know this chapter looks like I'm speeding up the ending and yes, I am. But I think the progress is good enough? I'll let you guys be the judge. One more chapter left and I can finally finish the book! Hope you guys enjoy the chapter and I'll see you in the next one! RD out!! Boi!!!