DISCLAIMER: We do -cough- not -cough- own Mai HiME or Mai Otome.
This is our first attempt at a serious fanfic. Forgive us if we messed up. We'll try to keep the crack at minimum.
Enjoy!
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"Wars teach us not to love our enemies, but to hate our allies." -- W. L. George
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"DAMN IT!!"
Natsuki sighed. This Orphan thing was making her go nuts. Never, in all her years of power over the state, has such a thing taken place. Yes, there were wars here and there, but relatively small ones. All were quickly subsided. But this Orphan thing...
He was almost unbeatable. Many people, who travelled between some states/countries and her own had been attacked and inevitably killed by it right at the border. She proceeded to write yet another letter. She wrote these every day.
To Miyamae clan,
I am sorry to inform you that in 3/9/2065, by 5 AM, a brave man by the name of Miyamae Nobu has lost his life while fighting the Orphan. The state council shall take all the providences to recuperate the body, and shall also grant his relatives all the money necessary to maintain its economic status. Once again, I'm deeply sorry for your loss.
With
sorrows,
The ruler of the Fuka state,
Kuga Natsuki
She sighed yet again. She had written over 40 of these letters today. She was exhausted. Suddenly she almost jumped out of her chair when she heard a very faint knock on the door. She straightened herself up in the chair. "Please come in, Kikukawa-san." She called.
"Thank you, Kuga-sama." Yukino entered the bright lit, huge room. This was the royal family's office. Only three persons were allowed to work in there: The majesty Kuga Natsuki, her sister Alyssa Searrs and their cyborg, Miyu. "Sugiura-san and Suzushiro-san have finished their reports on last week's attacks." She said as she bowed to her lord.
"Kikukawa-san, don't do that." Natsuki eyed her.
"Don't do what, Kuga-sama?" She asked, raising her head slightly so she could look to the other girl's facial features.
"Bow. And do not call me Kuga-sama, you can call me just Natsuki. I trust you that much." The emerald eyed ruler said, with a fond expression. Yukino slightly blushed for having this kind of right to treat her lord that way.
"Thank you Kuga-s-" She received a fake glare from our Naki-chan, and corrected herself. "I mean, Natsuki-sama."
"You just won't drop the –sama, will you?" Natsuki chuckled lightly. "So, where are the reports?"
"They're with both Sugiura-san and Suzushiro-san."
"Why didn't they come here instead of sending you?"
"Because... well... let's hypothetically say that Sugiura-san is a tad drunk and Suzushiro-san is trying to make Sugiura-san get up..."
"Bring them here, Kikukawa-san."
"But –"
"Now." Yukino needed to hear no more, she rushed to the exit. "Wait." Yukino turned to face Natsuki.
"Yes, my l-... I mean Natsuki-sama?"
"Can I call you just Yukino from now on? I kinda hate calling people by their last name and I can't stand honorific suffixes..." That was obviously intended for the –sama Yukino always added, and it was gladly understood.
"Yes, Natsuki. Now if you excuse me..." Yukino proceeded to find the two generals while Natsuki continued to write those letters. 'Why did I have to go along with Nagi's plan?'
--
FLASHBACK
Kuga Saeko ran up the stairs as fast as she could. She was holding little Natsuki's hand, and Miyu was close to them, carrying a sleeping Alyssa in her arms.
"Quick, this way." Miyu burst through a locked door, and she told Saeko to hold onto her. Saeko did, but not before having Natsuki holding to her tightly as well. They jumped throught one of the castle's windows and onto the grass surrounding it, only to be ambushed. "SAEKO-SAMA!" Miyu gave quickly Alyssa back to Saeko, and proceeded to fight the murderers. She slashed one, two, five, ten. She was so caught up in her current opponent that she barely noticed someone behind her. When she turned around, she experienced the event she was trying to prevent.
"Miyu... please... take good care of them..." Those were Kuga Saeko's last words before her limp body fall in the grass, after being shot right in the heart. Natsuki and Alyssa, whom had woken up during the jump, were terrified.
"Mommy?" Natsuki called, shaking her mom's body ever so slightly. Alyssa was already crying herself to exhaustion. In the meanwhile, the murderer looked at both kids.
"Since we killed the ruler, might as well kill her successors!" He exclaimed before aiming his gun at Natsuki. He fired it, and the bullet was stopped by Miyu's robotic finger just before it hit Natsuki's forehead.
"You killed our lord. You shall die for it." The words from Miyu were the last things he ever heard before being slashed to bits. "And this is the last of them. Shall we return to the castle?" The children were too terrified to answer. Miyu grabbed both in her arms and jumped to the window she jumped out not very long ago.
About 5 or 6 years have past from that day, with Natsuki being greatly trained by Miyu herself. Alyssa had too of a weak body to fight alongside the army, so she could do whatever she wanted. The sisters simply loved every single second they spent with each other: Alyssa didn't even care about Natsuki's family position, since her older sister was the current ruler of Fuka. Our Naki-chan was 16 years old, but was very, very mature when it came to political matters. One day, it got worse though.
"Natsuki-sama, our enemy just invaded our frontier. What should we do?" Miyu bowed to her current master.
"DAMN IT! WHAT THE HELL DID WE DO TO GET INTO THIS WAR!!"
"It is said that 6 years ago the enemy's legitimate heir was killed in the Fuka castle, Natsuki-sama"
"So? Does that mean that the people of this state are all guilty for it? IF THEY WANT ME, THEN WHY DON'T THEY COME TO GET ME?! THEY DON'T NEED TO KILL SOME THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE MEANWHILE!"
"You know it wasn't you that killed him, don't you, Natsuki-sama?"
"I know it was you, but if you didn't, neither I or Alyssa would be here today. And that bastard deserved it for what he..." Natsuki had to stop herself from shedding a small tear that had somehow gotten in her eye. "I deeply thank you for what you've done that night, you know that."
"Yes I do, Natsuki-sama." Natsuki sighed. "Shall I move out?"
"Do not go, Miyu... The last thing I can lose now it's you!"
"But, Nats-" They were interrupted by loud voices in the hallway before the throne room.
"LET ME TALK TO OUR LORD!" A teenager shouted. "I HAVE THE SOLUTION TO THIS! PLEASE, WE HAVE NO MORE TIME!"
"Miyu, tell the guards to let them in. I don't want any more deaths to occur in this castle." Miyu nodded and disappeared out of Natsuki's sigh, later appearing again, escorting a young man. He shouldn't have more than 15 years; he had white hair and red eyes, and had a mysterious expression glued to his face. His clothes were rather dirty and ripped.
"Introduce yourself." Natsuki wasted no time in ordering the citizen, having an emotionless expression in her face. He quickly bowed.
"I'm Homura Nagi, your Highness." He said, not taking his eyes off of the red carpet. "I'm here to ask your Highness if I could help you fighting off the enemy." He finished.
"You're just 15, and you don't look well-trained. How do you expect to hold them off?"
"If your Highness accepts my request of coming with me to a certain place, I'll show you the best fighter that can kill them." He said, suppressing a smirk.
"Natsuki-sama, I don't think you shoul-"
"I will. Anything for my people. Under two conditions though: First, Miyu shall accompany me there, and second, if this is an ambush, I shall condemn you to death for playing with the citizens destiny in such a delicate time of our lives."
"I accept. Shall we go then, my lord?" Natsuki nodded, and Miyu ordered him to lead the way
After 30 minutes, they got to Nagi's 'hideout'... If you can call it that. It was more like a giant lab, with a big laboratorial pod in the middle of the lab, with a large being in it. Natsuki watched with a widen-eyed expression. "And this is...?"
"My own creation, I call it Orphan. Once it's completely done, I can control it directly with my mind." He said, smirking.
"And what happens if you can't control it?" Miyu quickly asked, suspicious that this was a scam.
"I WILL control it. I've connected both our minds, being mine superior over his. I've tested it once, it worked perfectly." Miyu eyed Natsuki. The later was contemplative.
"Do you promise you'll do this to help us?" She simply asked.
"Of course, your Highness. Anything for the people, right?"
More 4 years had flown by, with Nagi bravely battling all the enemies by Natsuki's side. But after those fateful years, he finally started to show his true colours. First, by simply quitting the force. Second, and current, by attacking anyone that dared approaching the frontier. His argument?
"I will never forget what happened to my father the night you became the legitimate ruler."
END OF FLASHBACK
--
"HEY MIDORI! WAKE YOUR ASS UP WOULD YOU!!" Haruka shouted right at the older woman's ear. Midori hiccupped.
"Haruka, why do you want my ass to wake up? It's not sleepy! Not even the spanking you gave me last night worked out..."
"WHAT! I DIDN'T SPANK YOU, YOU DRUNKEN BITCH!"
"Maybe YOUR drunken bitch is more appropriate!" Midori hiccupped once more, and was glad she was 'sober' enough to piss Haruka off. Haruka's eye twitched.
"JUST GET UP!!"
"Why won't you lie down instead? You can kiss me that way too, can't you?"
"I DON'T WANT TO KISS YOU, YOU MORON DRUNK ASS!! JUST GET UP!"
"...My ass ain't drunk. And why don't you want to kiss my ass anyways?"
"ARGH!!" Haruka punched the wall next to her, and it cracked. 'I've got to pay for that later...'
"Well, I give up. Just get up when you meal like it."
"It's feel like it, Haruka-chan." The words came from a voice near them.
"YUKINO!! Where the heck were you all this time?!"
"With Kuga-sama."
"ALL this time?"
"Yes, is there any problem with it?"
"Your Haruka-chan here is jealous!" Midori stated, after another hiccup.
"WHY THE HELL SHOULD I BE JEALOUS!" Haruka shouted again, blushing ever so slightly.
"Because you L-O-V-E her." Midori stated once again, closing her eyes. Yukino blushed madly and quickly looked away. Haruka looked like she was about to burst.
"MIDORIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!"
--
"So, what do you have to say to me when it comes to the reports?" Natsuki asked to a blushing Yukino, a mad Haruka and a black-eyed, drunk Midori.
"We had an idea, Kuga-sama." Haruka promptly said, taking over the subject.
"Which is...?"
"Tomorrow, you shall throw a party."
"...What the...?! Our population is dying, and you want me to throw a PARTY?!" Natsuki stood up, slamming her fists against the wooden desk of her study room, and her chair flying backwards. "HOW DARE YOU TO THINK OF SUCH A THING AT A TIME LIKE THIS!"
"It's not a regular party, Natsuki." Yukino dared to face her lord.
"Then what is it, Yukino?" A wave of jealousy was felt in Haruka's chest. 'They call each other by their own names, huh... Yukino...'
"In this party," she continued. "You shall make a major announcement."
"That announcement being...?"
"That you're recruiting the best warriors in your land. The one that kills the beast shall have granted any of his/her wishes, no matter the price that it has upon the state."
"That'll make us sound like we're desperate."
"We ARE separate, Kuga-sama!" Exclaimed Haruka, snapping out of her thoughts.
"...Desperate, Haruka-chan."
"THAT'S WHAT I SAID!"
"But one person can't possibly face it alone, it's too dangerous! I don't want my people to die!" Natsuki exclaimed, while Midori burped.
"Oops..." Needless to say, she was sent flying to the other side of the room by Haruka. Yukino shook her head in disapproval, and Natsuki suppressed a small chuckle.
"As Yukino was saying, the warrior that kills it shall get rewarded. But the warrior's not coming alone. That's where you, my lord, come in." Haruka grinned at her wonderful plan.
"What shall I do for this then? Besides throwing an extremely expensive party, that is."
"..." Yukino didn't dare to say anything. A small noise that sounded like a burp was heard from the other side of the huge room, and it was simply ignored. Poor burp. It shall never be the same again.
"You shall test the warriors yourself. The best of them shall be chosen, and the chosen warrior shall select some soldiers to go fight alongside him/her. Kuga-sama could go this time, if she would like." Check-mate. Natsuki could never leave the castle due to her duties to the people, and if she was to be killed, the state would fall since Alyssa wasn't trained to rule it. And besides, Natsuki was dying to kick some Orphan ass.
"Tomorrow it is. Who should we invite to the 'party'?"
"Everyone." Came the response from the other side of the room.
"And that's because...?"
"Because there may be great warriors out there that never tried to join the military or were rejected by Nagi." Midori concluded, getting up, and stubling to her former place next to Yukino and Haruka.
"I shall write an invitation letter. Print all necessary and distribute them before night. You're dismissed." The last words spoken by Natsuki that hour were enough to make the whole castle get ready with the preparations for the massive party that was about to happen.
--
The voluptuous woman sighed. She had been rejected from the military for about 30 times. At least she was rejected by Nagi, not rejected by her lord... The lord she had a massive crush on, the lord she wanted desperately to see, not counting the pictures taken from her and posted in the newspapers and such. She picked up her naginata and started training in... the middle of her living room. At least she moved everything away before – it would be troublesome if she didn't. As she was working over a kata, she heard the doorbell ringing. She dropped it instantly, cleaned the sweat out of her forehead and opened the door. A man in a state's official courier outfit had a bag over his shoulder and a letter in his hand.
"Our lord, Kuga Natsuki-sama, asked me to deliver you this letter." He informed her. 'She asked him to give it to ME?! Did she... finally saw me somewhere and saw something interesting in me or something like that?´ She thought as she gladly took the letter from the courier's hands. Her thoughts were interrupted by the man, who decided to speak again.
"Could you sign here please?" He shoved a sheet right under her nose. It was entitled 'Party Letter Delivery' and there was a hell load of names in there already. 'So, it isn't only for me, huh... I guess I got my hopes up a little bit too much...' She signer her name in the paper sheet. "Thank you, Ms..." He examined the last name signed, that belonged to the woman in front of her. "...Fujino. May you have a rest of a nice day."
"Ookini, may you have a nice day as well!" She managed to say before he ran off to the nearest house. She closed the door and walked to her room. With her heart skipping a beat, she opened the letter. It was handwritten at least. The calligraphy was beautiful. And the signature was beautiful as well.
Dear Citizen of Fuka,
I hereby invite you to be part of the party that will be thrown tomorrow at the Royal Castle, by 8 PM. The party has no celebrating objectives, but I would be glad if you could have a good time while in there. Your presence is a must tomorrow, please make your best to be present.
I
thank you for your time,
The Ruler of the Fuka state,
Kuga Natsuki
Ms. Fujino read the letter probably more than 10 times, her face slightly flushed whenever she read 'Your presence is a must' or 'I would be glad if you could have a good time'. She wondered what was the true purpose of the party though.
"Ara... I guess I should put the furniture back in its original place..." She happily said while walking to the living room.
'Tomorrow you will finally see me. The person I most admire, the only one that I loved... The only one I wish to spend the rest of my life with, either in wealth or poverty...'
'...My Natsuki...'
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So here it is. We warned you guys that it wouldn't be that funny. This one gave us a hard time, and will take us some more time to update. Just don't forget to review 'k?
