A/N: Really quick note, this story can be seen as a sequel to my first story, "Failing" but it can also stand on it's own. It takes place a year after "Failing" and after the anime "Mai-Otome Zwei" in the Mai-Otome Universe.
Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Otome or the characters here. Sunrise Does. I do own my original characters.
Believing
1.
"Arika!" Mashiro called loudly from her room waiting for a response from her otome. "Arika!" she called again without any success. 'Where is she?' "Arghh…"Mashiro growled lowly as she stood from her bed.
"Mashiro-sama! What's wrong?" Aoi called as she ran into the room fearing something had happened to the queen, since her shouting was very much un-Mashiro like. "Do you know where Arika-chan is?" Mashiro asked frustrated. "Hmm…didn't she leave to go to Garderobe earlier today?" Mashiro's cheeks blushed slightly as she remembered why she didn't remember Arika telling her she was leaving.
~Earlier That Morning…
"Mashiro…" Arika said as she shook the queen lightly. "Mashiro…"
"Huh?" Mashiro said with eyes still closed. She moved and placed her arm on her otome's waist, pulling her closer and making the sleeping queen moan slightly as their naked bodies touched once again.
Arika blushed slightly at the queen's moan and removed the arm that embraced her. "Mashiro…I have to go…" she whispered closely to the queen's ear.
Mashiro did not register her Otome's words and just snuggled closer to her otome taking in her scent against her skin. "Leave?" She asked groggily. Arika chuckled lightly. "I promised Shizuru-oneesama that I would babysit for her and the principal."
"Ohhh…" Mashiro mumbled against Arika's chest not really paying attention to what she was saying. Arika blushed as she felt Mashiro's roaming hands on the prowl. "Ma-Mashiro…I really need to go…" Arika said as she tried to pry the queen off. Of course, there was no success.
"Mashiro-sama…you okay?" Aoi asked concerned as she saw the queen blushing in a dream-like state. Mashiro quickly snapped out of it and turned to Aoi, "Yes, I'm fine…Now I remember why she left…" Aoi just nodded her head in understanding. "Okay Queen, Well you have a couple of important meetings today, so we better get you ready," Aoi walked to the queen's large walk-in closet and started to take out the queen's garments for the day.
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"Hey Arika-chan!" Chie said as she walked into the principal's office and saw the girl sitting on the couch with a baby on her arms. "Chie-sempai! How are you?" Chie smiled and sat on the couch with the girl, "I'm fine, just came by to see the principal, but it seems she's not around huh'?" Arika nodded her head as she finished feeding the bottle to the baby. "No, she's not here, she and Shizuru-oneesama left earlier today to some important meeting I think. And they couldn't take the twins." Chie looked around, "Yea, where is the other chibi?" Arika laughed softly, "She's sleeping, she is so unlike her sister Kiyo. I've been trying to get Kiyo to take a nap but no matter how hard I try, she wont go to sleep."
Chie chuckled, "Well, good luck with that, we know Kiyo is just like her mom Natsuki, stubborn as always," Arika just laughed and then she heard Duri cry. "Chie-sempai! You woke her up." Arika stood up and gave Kiyo over to Chie. "Why-What? Why you giving her to me?" Arika just walked over to get Duri. "You woke Duri up, so now you have to help me," Chie gave a low chuckle as she cuddle Kiyo, "Fine, you better be glad I don't have anything better to do right now." Arika just smiled as she grabbed Duri and sat on the couch beside Chie and Kiyo. "Aren't they beautiful?" Arika asked as she calmed Duri down whom soon returned to her previous state of sleep. Although the babies were twins, Kiyo had emerald colored eyes like Natsuki and Duri had Ruby colored eyes like Shizuru. Kiyo had brown hair similar to Shizuru's and Duri had dark hair like Natsuki. "Yea, they really are…look, Kiyo is falling asleep," Chie said in a whisper as both babies fell asleep.
"So Chie-sempai, you've been married for almost a year, when are you and Aoi going to have a baby?" Arika asked with a smirk, knowing that Chie was a little reluctant to having children, claiming it was still 'too soon'. "I-I don't know. I don't think Aoi is ready…" Chie said quietly trying not to disturb the sleeping children.
Arika gave a small chuckle, "Aoi? I think it's you who's not ready. Aoi is more than ready. You should see her whenever the principal and Shizuru-oneesama bring the kids to the palace to visit us, Aoi doesn't get far from the babies for a second. She cuddles them and is very sweet with them…to tell you the truth, she seems like she would make a good mother…" Chie just turned to hide the small blush in her face, "Well…yea but…" Arika interrupted Chie before she could continue, "I mean, it's not like you can't, because with the technology we have today, you are able to have your own biological children with her, just like Natsuki-sama and Shizuru-oneesama were able to." Chie nodded, "Yea, I guess you're right…I guess I'm just a little scared that…I won't be a good parent…" Arika's eyes widened in surprise at her confession. She would've never thought that the great Chie Hallard would be afraid of something like becoming a mother…
A smirk quickly made it's way to Chie's face as she tried to change the subject. "Well, Arika-chan, enough about me, what about you and Mashiro-sama?" Arika looked at Chie confused, "What about us?" Chie chuckled lightly, "Oh please Arika-chan, you know what…When are you guys becoming official?" Arika had a small blush on her face, "we…we are official…" Chie laughed a little too hard making Kiyo stir in her arms, "Oops…" she said trying to calm the baby down, "You are not official, almost everybody knows but it's not like Mashiro or you stood up and said, "Hey! We're a couple!" , so officially, you're not a couple…" Arika looked at the ground with a frown forming in her face, "Mashiro doesn't think it's time to do that yet. She says that when we're older…"
Chie looked at the girl with curiosity, "When you're older? You are both 17 and you are both turning 18 pretty soon. I mean…it's none of my business but, she's a queen and there are political issues also…you better make sure you guys are going somewhere, otherwise…you could lose her…" Arika was stunned by Chie's words knowing perfectly that she was right. People knew about their relationship but it was something that was not talked about. Some politicians criticized them but mostly thought it was a 'phase' or that the girls were 'experimenting'. Same sex couples were not uncommon in Windbloom, but were still uncommon in other countries, and the queen of Windbloom herself being in one made some worry about political ties.
Many kept their opinion to themselves, but a certain politician was very against the prospect of the queen being in an official same-sex relationship with her Otome. Masashi Takeda was an ambassador native from Vreen, a far away country made up of a large island surrounded by smaller islands. He was very conservative and never lost a chance to criticize the queen's relationship openly. It was thanks to him that many politicians also took to question the queen's choices in relationships.
"I…I know…but I don't want to force her either…" Chie nodded, "Yes, I understand, but just be careful okay Arika-chan?" Arika smiled, "Hai."
As Chie and Arika kept talking softly to keep the babies from waking up, Natsuki stormed into the office slamming the door against the wall. "Natsuki, please calm down…" Shizuru said as she walked in behind her trying to calm the principal down. The twins started crying as they were startled by the loud sound their mother had made. Natsuki quickly turned to the stunned faces of Chie and Arika who held the crying babies. "See Natsuki? You woke the babies up…" Shizuru said as she walked to Arika and took Duri in her arms trying to calm her down. "I…I'm sorry…" Natsuki apologized as she took Kiyo from Chie. Shizuru quickly calmed the baby and smiled to Chie and Arika. "I apologize for my wife's rude behavior," she said sending a glare towards Natsuki who just shrunk in her chair as she rocked the baby in her arms. "It's not my fault Shizuru, those retards are trying to get rid of all the Otomes!" Natsuki said in her defense. "You guys went to the SOLT meeting? What happened?" Chie asked as she stood up from the couch. "Well, some politicians are trying to get rid of the Otomes and want to close down Garderobe, saying it is a waste of resources and too dangerous for the peace treaty." Shizuru answered quietly as Duri began to fall asleep again. Kiyo of course still kept crying in Natsuki's arms.
"Close down Garderobe?!" Asked Arika a little too loudly and received a death glare from Natsuki. She quickly lowered her voice, "But, they can't do that can they?" Shizuru nodded her head, "No, not as long as we have enough support. We just have to make sure we keep our supporters and we don't lose them, or else…they will close us down and take our robes away, including our nano-machines."
Chie cringed at the thought, "Well, we just have to make sure they don't get enough support against us." Natsuki nodded her head in agreement, " And, we have the perfect plan to make sure that doesn't happen."
"How?' Both Arika and Chie asked simultaneously. "We have decided to talk to the Queen and convince her to host a formal event where ambassadors from all the countries in the peace treaty get together, giving us a chance to prove that Garderobe and the Otomes are not a risk." Shizuru explained.
"That's a great idea Shizuru-san," Chie said and turned to Arika, "You should also help convince Mashiro-sama, I bet you know ways to convince her huh'?" Arika blushed as she took in Chie's meaning. "Ara, Chie-chan, you shouldn't tease Arika-chan like that, after all, we are counting on her persuading skills." Shizuru said teasingly.
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"Mashiro!" Arika exclaimed as she ran towards the queen who sat in her desk signing some documents. Mashiro barely had time to look up when she felt Arika's lips upon hers. Mashiro blushed and kissed her back before pulling away, too fast for Arika's liking.
"Welcome back Arika, how are the twins?" Arika smiled and she sat on the desk. "They are lovely as usual, Chie-sempai stopped by and helped me." Mashiro returned to her work, "Huh' really? That's nice." Arika took Mashiro's pen playfully, earning a glare from Mashiro, which had no effect on the otome. "I'm trying to work Arika…" Arika slid onto Mashiro's lap and straddled her, "Can't you work later?" she asked as she leaned in to kiss the queen's neck. "A-Arika…I…Have to work…"
Arika pulled back to look into the queen's eyes. "I have something to talk to you about…" Mashiro was surprised at the serious tone Arika rarely used. "Hmmm…sure…What is it Arika?" Arika looked away quickly trying to think of the right words to say. "Mashiro, you know I love you right?" Mashiro blushed and leaned in to the girl's ear and said, "I love you too Arika," Arika stopped a moan that tried to escape her throat as Mashiro started to nibble on her ear lobe, "Then…Why…Why haven't we become official?" Mashiro pulled back startled at the girl's question. "Wh-Why this all of the sudden?" She asked, but before Arika could answer Aoi walked into the office and blushed when she saw the girls. Mashiro realized the position they were in and quickly stood up making Arika fall to the ground. "What is it Aoi?" she asked as she straightened her dress and Arika got up from the floor rubbing her head. "I'm sorry for…for interrupting Mashiro-sama, but Principal Natsuki Kruger and Archmeister Shizuru Viola are here and want to speak with you. They are waiting in the library,"
"Okay, tell them I will be there in a second." Aoi nodded and left. Mashiro turned to Arika, "We will talk about this later okay?" Arika just nodded and followed behind Mashiro.
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"A party you say?" Mashiro asked as she sat across the Principal and Archmeister. "Yes Queen Mashiro, we find it to be a vital element to keep Garderobe and Otome's from disappearing." Shizuru explained and took a sip of her tea.
Outside of the library Chie helped Aoi take care of the Kruger-Viola twins. She watched how Aoi played with the babies and rocked them in her arms, carrying both at a time, one in each arm. "You really like the twins huh?" Chie asked as she saw the joy in her wife's eyes. "Yes, I love them so much. They are adorable aren't they Chie?" Chie nodded in agreement. Wow…maybe Arika is right, I'm being selfish by keeping Aoi waiting for me just because I'm a coward…
"I would be glad to host the event here at the palace," Mashiro said with a smile, since she knew she wouldn't let anybody take Arika away from her. "Thank you Mashiro-sama, we were hoping you'd say that," Natsuki said with a smile of her own as she stood up. "Well then, we will contact you with the details later, since we have to go now, but we were thinking we could have the party next weekend?" Shizuru said as she stood up with her wife.
"That sounds great. I will have everything ready by then." Mashiro said as she too got up from her chair. Arika just stood silent behind the chair. "Very well, we will take care of making the invitations and making sure everybody comes, again thank you. We apologize for not being able to stay longer but the twins have a doctor's appointment today and we don't want to be late."
"The doctor? Are they sick?" Arika asked with concern. "No, they're fine Arika-chan, it's just a routine check up." Shizuru answered the girl with a smile, "Thank you for your concern." Arika nodded in relief. "Alright Principal and Shizuru-san, Thank you for coming. I will be looking forward to the event," Mashiro said as she followed her guest outside the library. There Aoi placed the babies back in the carrier and handed them over to Natsuki. "Thank you Aoi-san," Aoi smiled and said, "Anytime principal, you know how much I love the twins." Shizuru smiled as she hear Aoi, "And that is why we asked you and Chie to be the Godmothers of Kiyo." Natsuki chuckled, "You would've been the godmothers of Duri too but Armitage wouldn't stop begging us to let her and Yukino be Godmothers too, so now you have to share." Chie and Aoi laughed, "Not that we mind Natsuki-san, we love your kids and you know it," Chie said as she put an arm around Aoi's waist, "and hopefully soon we can have our own kids and you can both be the Godmothers too." Aoi turned to Chie with a confused look not believing what she had heard. "You do want kids, right Aoi?" Chie asked already knowing the answer. A large smile spread through her face. "Of course!" She said as she hugged Chie tightly.
"Yep…I thought so." Chie said with a laugh.
A/N:
Well guys, I'm back with a new story! I hope you guys liked the first chapter. Please review and tell me what you think. This story will focus mainly on Arika and Mashiro, but as you can see, I will also have many of the other couples here. I plan on having, obviously, Shizuru and Natsuki, Haruka and Yukino, Chie and Aoi (you'll see what happens with them :D ) and others. Oh, SURPRISE! I plan on making Nao pair up with someone that's not Shiho! Can you guess who?!? Thank you for reading and I hope you guys will enjoy this story :D
P.S. I know I know. Using Takeda as a bad guy is kinda...already used in many stories, but please, I can't stand the guy!
Next Chapter: The Party is held and Arika receives bad news. Will Chie keep her word or get scared? Shizuru doesn't like Natsuki's new 'friend', so what will she do about it?