This story takes place after My-Otome but before Zwei. It will have a wide range of characters from Otome but be focusing on Chie and Aoi. There will be a few other pairings but they will be the main couple.
Chapter 1: Meetings
President Chrysant, General Armitage and Captain Hallard rode on a transport sitting in the state room. Captain Hallard sat with her legs crossed looking down at a ring on her hand. President Chrysant and General Armitage were talking about the upcoming meetings with Queen Mashiro but Captain Hallard wasn't really paying attention. Captain Hallard?" President Chrysant said trying to get the tomboy's attention. Captain Hallard been invited along as part of her training under General Armitage even though she was General Boman's Otome along with the other members of the Delta Squad. President Chrysant had been given a temporary certification over Captain Hallard thanks to the new technology Garderobe and the Aswald had discovered.
"Hallard!" General Armitage shouted getting in Chie's face mere inches away from her ear.
Captain Hallard jumped at the sound of General Armitage's voice loudly ringing in her ear and fell out of her chair. She quickly regained her composure and climbed back into her chair. "Hai?" She said as her voice quivered.
"The President asked you a question." General Armitage said crossing her arms in front of her. General Armitage always seemed to be hard on the young Otome but this was just her way she knew Hallard had potential.
"Chie are you feeling alright?" President Chrysant asked though that wasn't her original question.
"Hai, was just day dreaming a little." Chie said glancing back down to her ring again a small smile on her face.
"Care to share what about?" President Chrysant said but Chie didn't really answer seeming to be day dreaming again, "That is a nice ring. I suppose it means something? You've been staring at it for the last two hours."
"It means something special a good friend has one just like it." Chie said looking up at the President.
"Ah well that's sweet but we were discussing business try to pay attention." General Armitage said getting a disapproving look from the President.
"Ah yes, I was asking what your opinion on the Otome Limitation Conferences that the council has been talking about. I know you are a newly appointed Otome but still I would like to know." President Chrysant said.
"I believe it would do some good. Hopefully it will prevent that from ever happening again. I think it would be wise to allow Otomes the ability to abject to an order from her master if she feels it unjust. In the war many Otomes were forced to fight against their friends and loved ones all because they were following orders. Many were forced to fight for a cause they didn't believe in." Chie said. "If we can prevent that from ever happening again the world would be a better place."
"It's almost a shame you choose the road of an Otome I think you would have made a good politician but then your work with the Delta Squad has been excellent." President Chrysant said. "Don't you think Haruka-chan?"
"Hai, hai." Haruka said waving her hands.
"Captain you've been down here a while perhaps some fresh air would do you good?" President Chrysant said.
"Hai, Madam President it would do me some good, arigato." Chie said standing and bowing before she left the room.
"Something is bothering her it has ever since you told her she would be coming with us." President Chrysant said.
"It's nothing Yukino, she hasn't been back to Garderobe since graduating and the war I'm sure she is just nervous about going back. I remember my first trip back I wasn't nervous more like anxious." Haruka said.
"Hai, I suppose it is even more so since the war especially after she had to fight against her friends while spying for us she even fought you. It must be difficult to face all of them." Yukino said.
"Hallard is strong she will be fine." Haruka said.
(Top deck)
Chie stood on the deck looking out at the sand dunes her hands on the railing. She glanced down at the ring on her finger and remembered back to when she got it. She had seen it in a little store in the Wind city when she was still a student at Garderobe. The ring was actually a set she had bought both rings one was on her own hand the other was in the Wind city on the finger of the person she cared most about. Right before leaving the city she had given the ring to Queen Mashiro's maid. The ring was currently on the finger of Aoi Senoh, Chie's beloved and in less then a day they would be reunited. The last time Chie had seen Aoi was at the Queen's unveiling of her new palace and plans to improve the kingdom. Then she had left for Aries promising to be true to only Aoi.
"I wonder do you know I'm coming? Do you still wear your ring and do you think of me every time you look at it?" Chie said aloud not really to anyone.
"I'm sure they do." A woman with short blond hair covered by a black cap said walking up behind Chie.
She turned to look at the woman, "Meister Gallagher." Chie said bowing her head.
"Meister Hallard, Sara will do just fine." Sara said extending her hand to shake it.
"Chie," She said holding her hand out to shake.
"So who has the other ring?" Sara asked tapping Chie's hand.
"Nani?" Chie asked looking down at the ring on her hand. "What makes you think there is another?"
"I saw one just like it one time in the Wind City I wanted to buy it but the jeweler refused to sell just one of them. No matter how much I offered he wouldn't budge I had no use for two identical rings so I passed. I figure you bought both of them. Judging by your musings I bet you gave one to someone special." Sara said.
"Hai," Chie said, "She is special more special then anything."
"Something tells me she is in the Wind City am I right?" Sara asked but Chie didn't answer. "Yeah she probably is. Make the most of your time who knows when you will be back." Sara said waving as she walked across the deck away from Chie.
(WindBloom Castle)
Yukino, Haruka and Chie walked into the throne room finding Queen Mashiro sitting on her throne with Aoi and Sakomizu standing behind her, off to her right Arika stood. Chie wanted to run to Aoi the moment she saw her and from the look of it so did Aoi but neither moved now was not the time. "President Chrysant welcome to WindBloom." Mashiro said.
"Queen Mashiro it is good to be back and in much improved conditions then my last visit." Yukino said.
"Meister Armitage, Meister Hallard it is good to see you as well." Arika said bowing.
"As it is to see you Meister Arika." Haruka said returning the bow as did Chie.
"I trust the trip here was pleasant?" Mashiro asked to which Yukino nodded. "Good well I'm sure you are tried from your journey here but please join me for dinner."
Mashiro rose and lead them into an adjoining dinning room they sat down as several servants brought them food. Aoi broke off from the group and started helping the other servants. As the meal was served Aoi stood behind the Queen refilling glasses as they emptied. "President Chrysant I'm glad to have you and your advisers here. This Otome Limitation Agreement has been the talk all over the world it is about time we all get together and talk about it." Mashiro said.
"Hai, I have a feeling coming to an actual agreement will be quite difficult." Yukino said.
Chie sat listening to them talk but in truth she was paying more attention to Aoi. She raised her glass and took a drink realizing it was empty. Someone reached around her taking her glass their fingers lingering on her own. Chie looked up seeing Aoi standing above her with a smile on her face. "Arigato Aoi-san," Chie said taking her glass back her own hand lingering on Aoi's as she realized the ring on her hand.
"No problem Chie-chan." Aoi said moving away back to her position behind the Queen.
Across the table Arika sat watching the pair a smile on her face. She had known back at Garderobe Chie and Aoi had been close friends. Ever since finding out who would be coming with the president Aoi had seemed anxious. Seeing them together now made Arika think there was more to their friendship then she thought. "Queen Mashiro this meal has been quite enjoyable thank you," Yukino said.
"You are quite welcome though you must be anxious to turn in for the night, Sakomizu will you show the President and her Otome to their rooms?"
"Of course your highness, Madam President, Meisters right this way." Sakomizu said leading them into the hallway. He led Yukino to the royal guest suite then Haruka and Chie to several other rooms. Haruka's room was next to Yukino's room and Chie lived on the same floor but down the hall and several rooms over from the President. Haruka left Chie instructing her to be at the President's room promptly at 0700hrs tomorrow morning.
Chie walked into the room and noticed her bag had been brought up for her. She opened it and started unpacking they didn't know how long they would be here, so Chie had brought enough clothes to last her a couple of weeks. She looked up feeling someone else in the room her hand went for her side arm but stopped as she noticed who was in the room with her. "Aoi," Chie said staring at the brunette who ran over to her and embraced the young Otome. "How did you get in here?"
"I'm the Queen's head maid you should know there is hardly anywhere in the palace I can't go." Aoi said leaning into Chie kissing her on the cheek. "Chie, I missed you."
"Aoi, I missed you too." Chie said bring her hand to Aoi's chin moving the kiss to her lips.
"You look handsome in this." Aoi said tugging on the lapel of Chie's uniform. Chie wore a simple gray uniform with a white undershirt and a black tie her rank tabs on the lapel being two golden bars. "I didn't get a chance say that last time I saw you. I don't remember seeing this much on your collar though."
"I got promoted I'm a Captain now." Chie said stroking her hand down Aoi's cheek.
"Captain Chie Hallard, that has a nice ring to it almost as good as Meister Chie." Aoi said cupping her hand over Chie's hand. "You have everything you wanted now."
"Not everything, Aoi I don't have you." Chie said leaning her head on Aoi's shoulder.
"Chie you have me. You'll always have me." Aoi said stroking her hand though Chie's short black hair. Her other hand brushed against Chie's chest stopping over her heart, "Right here."
"But when the President is done with her meetings I'll go back to Aries without you." Chie said holding on to Aoi tighter and leaning in her ear, "Come back with me. Aries is a beautiful country and we can be together."
"Chie you know I can't leave, I have my duty here just like you do in Aries that is why I don't ask you to stay. I love you but I know I can't take your dream away. Chie please don't ask me." Aoi said kissing Chie on the lips again. "Let's not think about you leaving. Let's focus on the here and now on our time together." Aoi reached up unbuttoning Chie's coat and undoing her tie letting both fall to the ground. "I love you."
Chie leaned into Aoi taking her hair out of its braid stroking her fingers through her hair. They kissed and caressed each other until both stood in their underwear and Aoi pushed Chie down onto the bed straddling her waist. Chie looked up touching Aoi's cheek guiding her down for a kiss, "Aoi, I love you."
To be continued…
