Disclaimer: I WISH I DID!!!
Yay a Mai Otome story! And a couple hints from Zwei, but nothing major. I'm trying to stick to the politics and stuff as best I can, but if something doesn't match up to the story, BUT if it makes sense, let it be.
Also for the sake of easiness, Youko/Yohko is Yoko. And of course, SHIZNAT!! And others that I can try.
Retribution – Chapter 1
Nao sighed, she was bored. She stood on the high stone wall bordering the cold, quiet country of Artai. Looking out over the landscape at small town settled on the horizon, she started to count how many houses she could see. The sun was starting to set behind the small town as she tore her eyes away from it. She yawned and leaned on one arm on the wall. She wished something would happen, even though she was there to prevent any trouble, this was utter torture. There wasn't anything else alive and moving, anything to do. Without really thinking, she extended a thing red string from her index finger and swiped at one of the bricks in the wall, leaving a clean cut in its place. It fell on the outside of the wall and echoed loudly on the rocks below. Amused, Nao cut another brick free and let it clatter loudly.
"What's that noise?" Mai asked over their earpieces. Nao rolled her eyes
"I think I'm being attacked." She muttered. "Or I'm hallucinating from boredom."
"We aren't here to have a good time Nao, quit slacking off or I'll have Mikoto come to you and make sure you don't." Mai snapped. Nao sighed, the thin red string disappearing.
It might not be so bad to have her come over, she thought. Mikoto's random personality would keep her amused at least. She straightened her posture and turned around, facing away from the setting sun. A few stars were visible faintly in the sky already. And of course the Hime star next to the moon. It flickered excitedly. It made Nao think of a small child begging for candy, as a swift whack over her head brought her back.
"Ouch!" She turned around to see Mikoto smiling blissfully at her holding her staff, wearing her black and white robes. "The hell was that for?!"
Mikoto smiled even wider. "Mai said go watch Nao." Nao growled and yelled into her earpiece.
"I thought you said you'd make her come if I was slacking off!"
"And you were, or were going to anyway." Mai said pointedly.
"Tsk, whatever. How much longer do we have left till Chie comes and takes over?" Nao huffed.
"Only another half hour, so just make sure no one leaves on that side." Mai had a hint of irritation in her tone. "You know why we have to do this. And Mikoto, go over a little bit on the south side."
"Hai! Mai!" Mikoto turned on her heel and ran off, but not before whacking Nao again. She growled rubbing her head, but resumed gazing at the sun, which was almost consumed by the horizon now. Things were starting to get hectic around Windbloom. One of the Otome from Chie's squad had reported she evesdropped two men discussing the plans for breaking someone out of jail. It wasn't just any jail though, it was the highest jail in Artai, almost completely isolated on a dangerous cliff. That changed the importance of the situation significantly. Only the most dangerous criminals went there, for serious crimes. One of them, and one of the most dangerous ones there was Nagi Dái Artai, who previously tried to take over Windbloom by manipulation, then by force. He had almost succeeded as well, but with the Arika Yumemiya and the Five Columns, including Nao herself, he fell from his power and was imprisoned for life. If he were to ever be broken out of there, it wouldn't take a genius to tell you he'd be hell bent on reclaiming his power and no doubt coming back for Windbloom. With an even more sinister and deadly plan, and a blind lust for power.
How could a kid be starving for so much power? Nao thought to herself. It seemed kind of absurd for a fifteen year old boy to be blind with lust. Then again he was the heir to the throne, he wouldn't know anything else but power. She resumed her lazy position on the ledge, as the sun was now completely gone from view, leaving a beautiful sight, and the sky splashed with color. Lights were on in the small town now, lightning up streets and houses. She glanced over to the south edge of the wall, seeing what Mikoto was doing. She seemed utterly fascinated at the stars popping up in the sky now. Nao almost envied how easily amused she could be at times like this.
"Ok, Chie is on her way, we can get going now." Mai said. Nao could see her in her Meister robes flying over towards Mikoto. Nao donned her own robes and hovered off the wall.
"It's about time." She muttered. Mikoto climbed onto Mai's back, and she flew over towards Nao.
"Did you see anyone that looked like the two suspects descriptions?" She asked, referring to the two men that were talking about the prison bust. Nao shook her head lazily. "It might help if you were looking though…" She glanced back over the wall at the town, one last time. As Nao turned around, Chie and her team of three came flying up.
"Yo there!" She said heartedly. "So how'd it go?" Nao gave her a lazy glare at her cheerfulness.
"The most exciting job in the world, I almost had a heart attack." Nao gently floated past Chie.
"Wonderful." Chie smiled brightly. "Mai, thanks for waiting for us, we'll take over now."
"Thank you Chie." Mai returned her smiled. "We'll see you back later!" Mai sped off past the group and Nao followed suit, relieved of boredom. Chie waved back at them and turned to her three teammates, her face taking a more serious tone.
"Ok, you remember who we're looking for right?"
"Hai!" The three exclaimed together.
"Good, then take the positions from our previous round." The three Otome flew off in separate directions. Though as soon as they did, Chie spotted something. Below the wall. A figure moving. And then she spotted another. She reached up to her earpiece and twisted it. It sent out a beep in Morse code, and her three teammates immediately descended to the walls for cover.
Chie whispered. "There's two men walking to each other down there, do you see them?"
There was silence for a moment, then, "Yeah I see them."
"I don't-oh, there!"
"They look just like the other two! At least, the one does." Chie hovered down to the wall to get a closer look. Though it was dark, she could still make out the figure. One had black hair, wearing black clothes to blend into the night, and the other figure had a cloak on.
"Move in stealth." Chie silently descended down the wall and onto the ground. The other three did the same. "Stay frosty, we don't know if they're armed."
"I've scanned their heat waves, it doesn't look like it, unless they're concealed." Aya said.
"Don't let your guard down though." Kimiko warned.
"Sakura, move in and prepare to capture them on my signal."
"Hai." Chie could barely make out her shadowy figure in the night moving across the landscape. As she approached the two men, she reached up and took her hat off, and squeezed her hand into a fist and threw it into her hat. Suddenly a black hole popped up near the men as they were struck in the face, causing them to collapse. Sakura quickly hovered around them, tying them together and knotting it firmly.
"Go!" Chie flew over to the two men as the two other joined her. It was almost totally black outside now, and Aya held up her hand, creating a small but bright flame in the palm of it. She could see the black haired mans face now. Rough and old, with a gnarly scar across his nose and cheeks, and a nasty looking black beard. Kimiko cautiously removed the others hood, revealing an almost identical man. The only difference was this man looked much younger, he couldn't have been much older than Chie herself.
"We have pervious reports of you two meeting and talking about a jail break from the Artai prison and are here to apprehend you. Do you deny the accusations?"
"No." Came the older mans rough voice.
"Well that makes things easier. You will be taken in to Windbloom custody for questioning." Chie glanced questioningly at the younger man. A smirk now developing across his face.
"That'd be perfect." He spoke in a strange accent she had never heard before. Sakura looked completely dumbfounded at their reaction.
"Alright…then, lets get going." Chie said, as Kimiko reached down to help Sakura hold the two men bound by the rope, and hovered off the ground. They all flew high into the sky, now covered in twinkling stars.
"Even if you did catch us, it's too late" The younger man grunted. All four Otome looked at him, confused and curious.
"Explain yourself." Chie demanded. The younger man just started giggling gaily, as though he were going insane. Chie felt uneasy now…something wasn't right. She turned back to pay attention to where she was going and accelerated.
We have to get back to Windbloom ASAP…this can't be good.
Natsuki turned in her chair looking out the large window, as a strange feeling came over her. The brightly lit city of Windbloom quietly resting in the valley. Her stomach did a strange roll as that feeling hit her. Something…a feeling of prelude. She sighed as her headache returned, and she turned back around to her desk, to look back at some papers. The school year was about to end, and she had to prepare the arrangements for the fieldtrip in the summer. Natsuki had been losing considerable amounts of sleep lately, from all the reports and papers she had been dealing with. She could feel her eyes sinking, begging for sleep, but she ignored it and continued organizing her papers.
"I'll have to make this more organized next year…" She muttered to herself. "And easier to do." Organizing the papers into classes, and matching them up to their partners, it seemed it was as complex as it could be. She crossed out a couple names, a few students who wouldn't be able to make it to the field trip. She had to recreate an alternate test for them as well. She dropped her pen and dropped her head into her hands. She almost felt nauseous at how tired she was, and all the work she had to do. She looked around the quiet, moonlit room. She was alone in there. The silence greeting her ears happily. Suddenly her mind wondered to other things. Too tired to comprehend her own thoughts, she looked back down at her papers, that seemed to stare back at her like little heathens. She reached for her pen to continue her work, but felt herself sagging down. Her grip on her pen weakened as her head collided with the desk and lost consciousness on contact.
"We're back!" Mai said, as she landed back at Garderobe, as Yoko came out to greet them. Nao landed at her side shortly after, as she dismissed her robes on contact with the ground.
"Anything to report?" Yoko asked the three.
"Well a redhead tried to take down the wall but Mikoto stopped her." Mai glared at Nao out of the corner of her eyes. Nao saw Mai's irritated look.
"Honestly, what else did you expect of me? Can't you get someone else to go on these stupid scout missions?"
"Your powers are ideal for capturing suspects, you know why you have to go on them." Yoko said. "We have to keep a watch on Artai to make sure no remaining militants try to overpower Windbloom, or Aries for that matter. Nagi was a huge public icon there, and a lot of the public agreed with his ideals for 'a better world', so we have to make sure no one tries to recreate that insanity."
Nao groaned. "I knoooww, but still, someone's gotta have powers like mine, right??" Mai sighed exasperatedly.
"If we find someone else we will gladly replace you." She said, struggling with Mikoto, as she was still clinging onto her as if she were the best thing in the world. Nao rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
"I'm heading home then." Nao strode down the steps, not entirely clear where exactly she was going. Just somewhere.
Mai and Mikoto went back in Garderobe lab with Yoko. Nao glanced up at the Hime star by the now brightly glowing moon. What time is it? She had no idea since she got back. Assuming it was around midnight, she started off towards a bar on the edge of the city, not far from where she was now. Out of the corner of her eye, the blue star flickered violently, and then returned to being gentle and calm. Nao shot her eyes up towards it. Weird…it doesn't usually flicker like that. Nao stood for a moment, watching it. A strange feeling forming in the pit of her stomach now. Aa soon as this registered, she tore her eyes away from it and grunted the feeling away. She continued walking now down the back alleys.
"Natsuki." Shizuru said quietly, as she opened the door to her office. It was lovely in the moonlight. Her own desk to her right, against the wall, and the small couch on the left wall. She could make out Natsuki hunched over her desk. Smiling to herself, Shizuru stepped into the office and closed the door silently. She strode over to her desk, to find Natsuki sleeping peacefully on her paperwork. Shizuru walked around to the other side of the desk, gently placed a hand on her back and whispered in her ear, "Na-tsu-ki."
"Nn…wha." Natsuki muttered absently, her eyes still closed. Shizuru began running her fingers gently through her long blue hair.
"You really shouldn't push yourself this much, it isn't good for your health."
"I'mfinnne." She slurred her words as she lifted her head slowly and weakly. Shizuru placed her hands on her shoulders. Natsuki almost looked drunk. How fun it would have been if she was.
"Come to bed, now." Shizuru pulled Natsuki gently to her feet. She pulled her away from her desk and towards the door, Natsuki staggering along, leaning against Shizuru. They exited the office, and continued a short way down the hall. Shizuru opened the door to Natsuki's room and led her inside. Her room was almost as big as the office, two dressers against the walls, and a large window opposite them. Her bed was adjacent to the door. She set Natsuki on her bed and took her jacket off and took her hair pin out, and hung it up on the wall. Natsuki looked incredibly dazed as she sat on her bad, swaying this way and that way. Shizuru smiled as she walked back over to her.
"HeyshShizuru." She mumbled, as Shizuru gently pushed her down into the bed.
"Yes?"
"Is my suit here?"
"Yes, it's here. I'll bring it to you tomorrow." Shizuru said as she pulled the covers up on the half conscious headmaster. "Now get some rest." As if on cue, Natsuki's eyes fluttered shut and instantly fall asleep. She was unbelievably adorable when she was asleep. Shizuru smiled at her cuteness, and was about to stand up to leave, when she decided against it. Instead, she climbed under the covers with Natsuki and snuggled up against her, resting her head on the headmasters shoulder and her arms warpped around her gently. Shizuru lightly kissed the girls cheek. "Sleep well." She whispered as she closed her eyes and began to sleep.
"Erm…Yoko…I don't think you should drink that!" Mai swiped the bottle of gin out of Yoko's hands.
"Aww but it's so niiice and you're so sexy…" Yoko's cheeks were already flushed with drunk. It took nothing to intoxicate this woman.
"You become super lesbian with alcohol, and I'm not like that! That's something for Shizuru to deal with!!" Mai grunted as she dodged Yoko diving after her, trying to grab her.
"Drink some of that then!" Yoko smiled at Mai stupidly as she staggered around. Mai sighed and turned to Mikoto.
"Why in the world did you have alcohol with you Mikoto?!" Mikoto turned away from the lab screens flickering lights and looked curiously at Mai.
"Alcohol?"
"Yes! That's what-HEY!" Yoko had grabbed Mai from behind, and yanked the bottle free of her grasp. Yoko danced away taking another huge gulp of it. Mai groaned in defeat, afraid of what was to come.
"I wanna try some!" Mikoto leaped up from the floor and ran towards Yoko.
"Oh god no!" Mai launched herself at Mikoto and pinned her to the floor. "Who knows what on earth you'd do if you were drunk!"
"Hey!! Mai! Nao?!" Chie's voice echoed throughout the lab. Mai looked around, Chie wasn't suppose to be back for a few more hours…
"Chie?"
"Come quickly! We've captured the two suspects and-hey!" Chie flinched as Yoko grabbed her breasts. "Oh my." Mai stood up and ran towards Chie to help pry Yoko off, Mikoto following her. She restrained Yoko and turned to Chie
"What's going on?"
"Somethings not right…the two men we caught. They're planning something big." Chie's face was serious.
"At the castle prison?" Mai asked. Chie nodded. "Alright, Mikoto!" She summoned her robes on again, and Mikoto climbed on her back. Chie grabbed the now tied up Yoko and they both flew into the night sky towards the castle.
This isn't good…at all. Windbloom is in incredible danger now if our suspicions are correct.
OK!! It might take a while for the next chapter, but I'll keep at it! I've got it all planned out so don't fret! Though I wouldn't mind some coupling recommendations, that isn't Shiznat splitting.
If something looks funny, like a word got left out, I had some problems trying to upload this, so forgive me! Also is the big fan grave place just called Garderobe or is it called something?
