Arika/Nina Takes place after final episode of Mai Otome.
Fallen Angel: Prologue
The war was over. Thank goodness… A certain azure eyed meister thought as she stared straight ahead out of the window. She had came in the ballroom within the Queen's castle for some time alone to think. Fortunately, Mashiro didn't need any help for now, so she had dismissed her Otome to do whatever she pleases. The ballroom was, undoubtedly, huge just like all other rooms especially Mashiro's bedroom. It was sunny outside, you could see the sunrays shining through the glass and reflecting off Arika's shapely figure, giving it a some kind of glow. But then again, the azure eyed dreamer always had a type of glow radiating from her, showing everyone else's eyes that she was a strong-spirited person with a heart bigger than anyone else could imagine and not to forget to mention, unbelievably stubborn.
A month had passed since the incident with Nagi's attempt to take over Windbloom and Garderobe. Arika had already re-made her contract with Mashiro, she was now the Queen's meister Otome. Fated to stay by her Queen's side for the rest of her life and to serve and protect her as well. Not that she was complaining… but… there was a certain person she has been missing lately.
"Nina…" The name fled from her lips softly, followed by a heavy sigh.
Nina Wáng. Her cobalt blue haired companion. The very same one she fought up in space and whose life she saved as they fell into the atmosphere when their robes had dissolved. The very same one Arika first met when she first came to Windbloom in search for information about her mother, which was found out later to be Rena Sayers, a former meister Otome who fought and bled just to save Nina's life and sent her down a river in a baby carriage, leaving the Sapphire GEM with her while the city went up in flames.
"Arika? What's the matter?"A voice suddenly emerged out of no where, temporarily startling the azure eyed dreamer as she spun around to see whom the voice belonged to.
It was no one else other than Mashiro Blan de Windbloom. A lavender haired girl who was born and raised to be a princess, only to be later promoted to Queen of the Windbloom Kingdom.
Of course, it's her… Who else did you expect it to be? Arika thought to herself, inwardly chuckling at her own self for expecting a certain someone else to be there. Maybe Nina Wang? Arika blushed all of sudden, surprised that she was hoping Nina to be there.
"What's the matter with you, Arika?? You've been spacing out from time to time ever since we got back from that ceremony for the remodel of my castle." Mashiro inquired her Otome with an arched eyebrow, noticing the blush appearing across the other girl's face.
Not wanting Mashiro to know what she really was thinking about, she covered it up quickly with a carefree look which she had became accustomed to showing anyone she'd come in contact with, "Ah ha ha… I'm fine! I was just… errr, daydreaming. Yeah, that's it. Daydreaming."
Arika was always terrible at lying and covering up her true feelings. Mashiro just stared at her blankly and nodded, "Uh-huh…" The Queen really wanted to pry some more and find out what was really the matter, but she decided not to and respected her privacy this time.
"Well, stop daydreaming then! Come on. We have to go somewhere," With that, Mashiro turned and disappeared out the door and out of Arika's sight.
Arika turned back to the window and looked up at the sky, remembering that moment when she fell into the atmosphere.
--Flashback--
Their robes had dissolved, but Arika did not care. Her goal was Nina. She wasn't going to let her close friend get away so easily like that. Reaching out, it didn't last long before Arika's hands reached Nina's shoulders and pulled her close.
Dark amber eyes met with azure ones. They both shared a soft smile before Arika took her hands into her own and intertwined their fingers together.
"Arika…"
"Nina-chan."
"…I'm sorry… for being mean to you all those times."
"Shhh. I'd rather you be mean to me than not talking to me at all."
A choked sob bordering on a laugh escaped from Nina's throat, "…Baka…"
The half-smile on Arika's face widened as she let go of her hands to wrap her arms around Nina's shoulders, pressing her to the azure eyed dreamer's body close, "That's more like it, Nina…"
A moment or so passed, they had already entered the atmosphere and was heading down to the very same place where they fled to battle, the destroyed castle built in the way Mashiro did not want it to be built. Luckily, Shizuru in her Graceful Amethyst robe happened to be there by then, searching for any enemies left when she saw the two falling from the sky. In time, she swiftly flew up to them and caught them in her arms.
"Shizuru onee-sama…"
A warm smile crept it's way across the Kyoto-ben's face as she nodded softly, "I see you two have made up. I am glad. Now let's get you both back to Garderobe and dressed, ne?"
Both girls then realized that they were nearly butt-naked and blushed furiously. Nina was about to yell just when Arika decided to sneak a poke in her most weakest spot.
"GAH! A-RI-KAAAA!!!" An angry howl was heard followed by giggles from Arika and Shizuru as the trio headed back to Garderobe.
--End flashback--
A soft smile slithered upon the meister's face as a tear rolled down her cheek, "…Nina. I miss you." the whisper was uttered softly and long gone as the azure eyed dreamer turned away from the window and left the ballroom.