Conflict
By
Angel Della Notte and Ultima- Matrixed
Author Notes: It's been quite some time since I've posted anything but that was because I was working on this project with Ultima-Matrixed. We want to have a large chunk of this story finished before we started posting. Anyway just as a warning this story is rated M it will have violence and sex in it so there is your warning. Plus if you haven't noticed it's got angst in the category so don't be too shocked when you read it. This story ties in a lot with our others stories so if you haven't read them you might be a little confused. You don't have to read them but we would recommend it. There you have it and as always we don't own Mai-HiME or Mai-Otome. Oh on a side note there will be some time jumping here and there so bear with us all will be explained as we go. The story is broken into three arcs we'll let you know when we switch between them. Almost forget a big thanks to EM PRAETORIAN for being our beta and pointing out all the parts that didn't make sense.
Arc One - Chapter One: Fact Finding
(Courtyard, Garderobe, One year after the fall)
A young girl with long brown hair, pulled into two pony tails, approached a deserted campus. The grounds were unkempt and looked like there hadn't been any students there in months. She and another girl flew towards the school both shocked at what they saw. The first girl looked down and touched her GEM.
"Nina, this is so depressing." The young brown haired girl said.
"Hai Arika it is, who would have thought Tomoe could do all this." The other girl, Nina, said flying lower to survey the grounds.
Arika pulled out a pad, checking the readings, and seeing that it was the same as every other week.
"No breaches," Arika said wearily, "There's activity down there but that is just Irina-chan. She must be starting to go nuts down there by herself."
"I still can't believe she left Adam-san outside." Nina said glancing to a small tent set up just outside a broken part of the gates. Both girls made a pass around the campus and then landed in front of the tent.
A man with shaggy hair walked out of the tent, with a hand held computer in his hands, and a full beard, not paying attention to where he was going nearly knocking into Nina.
"Kaine-san?" Arika asked as she waved her hand in front of the screen as Nina quickly moved out of his way.
He took a few steps, ignoring Arika, and mumbling to himself before he looked up.
"Ah Yumemiya-sama, Wang-sama," Adam said as he bowed to them.
"Nina-chan, stay with him. I'll have to go in and I know just the thing to get her to open up." Arika said patting the leather pouch on her hip.
Arika walked across the campus feeling sad looking at all the over growth and dirty windows before she walked around the edge of the mausoleum and tapped her GEM, knowing she was close enough. The communication system was still down, but if you were in close range to another Otome you could reach them. "Irina-chan," Arika said.
First came the static across the line, then Arika heard Irina's voice, though she didn't seem to be talking to Arika. It was like Irina was talking to someone else, which struck Arika as odd, since Irina had locked herself in the mausoleum alone.
"Irina-chan? It's Arika." Arika asked calling out to her friend.
"Arika? Can't talk busy..." Irina mumbled across the line.
"I have the vacuum tubes and the bulb transistors you asked for," Arika said tapping on the door.
"Box...place them in the box. I've no time for idle chit chat," Irina said as the sound of a saw was heard across the line, "Dimensions are wrong need to measure again. Two feet long, half an inch wide, and an inch and half for the connectors, yet it's still too long..."
"Irina, open this door, before I take these parts and give them to Kaine-san," Arika said knocking on the door again.
"Adam?" Irina said thinking briefly about her boyfriend.
When all hell broke loose and the founder had nearly been destroyed, Irina had kicked everyone remaining out, including Adam, and started repairs.
"What would he do with them in Cardair?" Irina asked looking down at her hand noticing a ring on her finger.
Irina found the ring shortly after she had thrown Adam out, still angry at him for what he had done. They had been dating seriously for a while, before the attack, but she never knew he was that serious until she found the ring on the floor, near a blood stain. She knew it was her own blood, remembering how they had tortured her in that spot. The ring was in a small box and upon opening it she knew it was from Adam.
Adam had a hobby of crafting jewelry; she owned quite a few pieces he had made, but this one seemed different from the others. Inside the box was a gold band with a diamond in the center. The inside band had the words "Forever mine" scripted along the edge. Looking again into the box, Irina found another ring, this one a simple band with the same text on it. She was still mad at Adam, though deep inside she wanted to tell him yes. They hadn't spoken since that day, Irina still wearing the ring with the other kept on a necklace she wore constantly.
"Director, under sub article seven I order you to open this door," Arika said mentioning the directive Mashiro had told her to use if Irina refused.
Arika didn't really know what it meant, even though Nina and the queen both tried to explain it. The directive stated that if Garderobe's Columns were incapacitated that the Otome of Windbloom, Aries, Cardair, Annam and both Lutesian countries were granted permission to each chose one Otome as an interim Column until Garderobe could restore their own. Mashiro had put a call out to the other nations, but so far none had responded, most having problems of their own to deal with. All of Earl was in distress; none of them had the resources to restore Garderobe.
"That directive can only be given by remaining faculty, which is me, and I haven't issued it," Irina said looking up from her ring, realizing she had walked from where she was working over to the door.
"The zero directive states, the Otome of the royal family of Wind, reserves the right to override a..." Arika said trying to remember the law clearly; tapping her head several times hoping it would come to her, "A standing protection order." She waited several minutes and when Irina didn't answer, Arika started banging her head on the door.
The door opened quickly with Irina standing there, "Will you stop that? You're going to dent it and I'll have more work that I don't need."
Arika stood there shocked, looked at Irina, and noticed and smelled that Irina probably hadn't bathed for days. Her hair was messy; there was grease all over her face and her clothes, "What is going on Irina-chan? Garderobe has been closed down for almost a year and nobody knows where any of the columns are. Mashiro-chan enacted the zero directive a few weeks ago. What is going on?"
"Some kind of pulse knocked out nearly all the components. Two and three left months ago, four followed shortly after, and then one went out searching hasn't reported in. No information on five." Irina rambled off what she knew of the Columns.
"Maya-onee-san retired and Itsuko Tsukinobi has been missing all of this time. She had just barely been appointed as fifth; she didn't really get any training." Arika said.
Itsuko was the only column they had any information on, up until her disappearance. She disappeared around the same time as Sara. Their last known whereabouts were somewhere in Aries' Capital during the attack. With the founder down there was no way of telling whether or not they were still alive. Being optimistic, Arika felt that all five columns were still alive.
Nina walked up at that moment and asked, "Do you know where any of them are?"
"The pulse fried everything; it will have to be rebuilt by hand." Irina said grabbing the bag from Arika.
Digging through the bag, Irina took out a transistor, walked over to the coffee pot, flipped the base over and replaced the one inside.
"Finally!" Irina shouted with glee as she started to prep a pot of coffee. Irina glanced up to Arika again and asked, "You wouldn't happen to have any grounds?"
"Arika, can you make sure they get some food and clean up? Inform Mashiro, I have a hunch and will return soon." Nina said as she turned around, thinking of a place that one of the columns surely was. She briefly wondered to herself why she hadn't thought of it sooner. Somehow the coffee maker reminded her of her time in Artai.
"Roger that." Arika said taking Irina by the arm and guiding her into the back.
(Outside the Township of Finden, Annam)
A young woman with long brown hair and bright crimson eyes walked down a dirt path, picking several flowers, and smelling them, before walking into a circle of caravans. It was early evening.
"Satori, don't dawdle, there is work to be done," A man with graying brown hair said looking up from the axe he was sharpening.
"Forgive me, Rokus, this meadow was just so beautiful I couldn't resist. Shall we be leaving in the morning?" Satori asked as she walked over to a line of clothes that had been hung out to dry. Satori dropped the flowers into a tin can that had water left in it from the rain several nights before. She started folding the clothes, placing them in a basket.
"That's right tomorrow morning we travel to the Northern Province. Have you thought about what I told you?" Rokus inquired as het set the axe down and walked over to help Satori fold the clothes. He had a worried look on his face that confused the woman.
Satori gave a weary sigh and said, "I have, but I don't understand why I should leave, this is my place," she then also asked, "You are my family, why should I not be with the ones that love me?"
"You are needed away from here, Shizuru. Your mother would not want you here. She would want you out there." Rokus said pointing to the west to where Aries and a large part of Wind lay in ruins.
"Although I must admit it is a pretty name, I do not understand why you insist on calling me, Shizuru," Satori said, over the last several months Rokus had been asking strange questions and on occasion called her Shizuru.
"What do you remember?" Rokus asked.
Shizuru had come to the clan shortly before Tomoe had attacked Aries and Garderobe. She seemed to be lost at first and didn't quite know who she was. She kept saying her name was Satori. Rokus had heard rumors of problems between Shizuru and her lover, but was truly surprised and confused when she showed up on his doorstep, claiming to be her mother.
"Of what? I've been with the clan my entire life." Satori said folding the last of the clothes.
"Very well, you may return to your duties. Send over my eldest daughter as you see to putting those away." Rokus said shaking his head. He wondered what could have caused her to believe she was his sister. He watched as Satori headed off and then proceeded into his tent.
"Hai," Satori said then wandered off. She stopped next to a girl around her own age, they shared similar looks, only her brown hair was dark and her eyes more brown then red, "Naomi, your father wishes to see you."
"Ah, thank you Shiz… Satori," Naomi said as she walked back the way Satori had come and into her father's tent. Rokus sat at a table, in his tent, writing the last of a letter and sealing it in an envelope.
"You wanted to see me father?" Naomi asked respectfully.
"Take this letter and one of the stallions, and do not stop until this is in Ein-hime's hands." Rokus said.
"Is it about my cousin?" Naomi asked also wondering what was wrong with her cousin.
"What have I told you about asking these things?" Rokus said sharper then he intended to. He was frustrated, with what was happening to his niece, and really had no idea what could be done. His only hope was that Princess Ein could do something to help his niece.
"Forgive me father, it's just we are all concerned about her." Naomi said bowing her head as she took the envelope.
"It's alright, child, go now." Rokus said gently stroking his daughter's hand.
"Yes, father," Naomi said squeezing his hand before leaving the tent. As instructed she took a horse and started riding towards the palace.
(Striped Lounge, Obsidian Palace, Artai Principality)
Some time later, a hooded figure fell from the sky, and landed in one of the shadier districts of Artai. She walked up to a saloon and opened the door, looking around the room. Not many people were in there and most of them wore striped shirts. She walked in and up to the bar, looking directly at the barkeep.
"We're closed, come back at ten." The man said hardly looking up from the glass he was cleaning.
Nina looked at the large man's striped shirt; she knew he was a part of Nao's stripe gang. "Where is your boss?" Nina asked, sitting down at the bar, ignoring his statement about the bar being closed.
"Gone, Ain't seen her in months. Now get out." The barkeep said looking down and to the left, his eyes glancing toward the stairs.
Nina's arm darted out from under her cloak, revealing a dark green sleeve of her uniform, as her hand grabbed the man and pulled him down to her level.
"I just flew straight from Wind, I'm tired, and I have business with your boss. I could call my robe and get you in real trouble." Nina said her hood falling to revealing her head and face.
Though she had been pardoned for her actions in the Wind Uprising many years ago, there weren't many people that didn't know Nina Wang, the former Ultimate Black Diamond. Many still feared her, even though she no longer served Nagi.
"Meister Wang, please, I know you are her friend, but she doesn't wish to be disturbed," The barkeep said as he looked down at his hand, which was bandaged from the last time he bothered his boss. She was in a foul mood and put a knife through his hand. The man looked around wondering which he feared more, his boss or Nina Wang, both could be ruthless in their own ways.
"Where is she? I will deal with the retribution," Nina said sternly as she stood.
Several others had looked for Nao, in several of her known hideouts across Artai, but there had been no sighting of her. No one could get any information out of her gang either. This was one of Nao's lesser known places. The only reason Nina knew about it was because Nao had ordered her stripes gang to bring Nina here during the incident with Yuna. Still, Nina knew how to deal with the sort of men that Nao employed. A few well placed threats, from the right person, was all it took. "However, should you refuse; I'll do far worse then put a knife through your hand."
"Upstairs, third door on the left, you can't miss it. There are several knives sticking through," the barkeep said swallowing hard as he pointed to the stairs. Nao would be furious with him, but he trusted that Nina would keep her word. Though she could be ruthless, Nina Wang was honorable.
Nina nodded and tossed him a coin before heading up the stairs. Upon arrival, Nina raised a booted foot and kicked the door open, causing the frame to splinter, and the door to fall into the room.
A red headed woman looked up from the floor, grabbed a dagger, and threw it at Nina, missing her completely. As the knife hit the splintered door frame, the red head fumbled around for something else to throw.
"Do you really want to ride this train?" Nina asked as she kicked the next knife away and looked around the trashed room.
"What are you talking about?" Nao said.
While Nao didn't bother getting up, Nina thought that maybe she just didn't realize she was on the floor. Nao recalled passing out while sitting at the desk and thought she must have fallen over while asleep.
"I suspected I would find you under some rock. Now..." Nina said as she walked forward, "You want to tell me what's going on? Or am I going to have to do something you won't like very much?"
"Bug off, Nina. I'm not in the mood." Nao said as pushed up off the ground and moved to the desk. Nao looked through the drawers and found a spoon, and then she picked a candle up off the floor.
"You always have to do things the hard way." Nina said looking at the clothes Nao was wearing; a dirty tank top, dirty torn jeans and Natsuki's blue coat.
Nina was disgusted as noticed the track marks along Nao's arms, the sleeves of the jacket had been rolled up, "The needle using you again, eh? I won't ask nicely a second time. What happened?"
"Hell if I know..." Nao said as she pulled out the drawer and dumped its contents on the floor, in order to get a better look through it.
Nina grabbed Nao by the top of her head, forcing her to look up, "You're all strung out, with no weapons or robe, and about fifty pounds lighter then I last saw. No match for a Meister who is in shape." Nina said as she reached out for and pulled over a bucket that had been collecting water from a leak in the roof, and shoved Nao's head into it roughly.
Nao pushed hard to get her head out, but couldn't get free, until Nina finally pulled her out. Nao to spit water from her mouth and then tried to take a swing at Nina, once again missing completely. The missed punch forced Nao to stagger several awkward steps, before losing her balance, and falling into the wall. Nao was pulled from the ground by Nina as she grabbed her left arm.
Nina wrenched the arm behind Nao, before she pinned her on the bed, "Let's try this again, shall we?" Nina said guiding Nao back to the bucket.
"What the fuck do you want?" Nao asked trying to take a step away from the bucket, failing as she backed into Nina, surprised that the younger girl could over power her.
"Tell me everything you know about what happened. I can feel you shaking, if you tell me everything I may let you up. Hell I may even give you the money to buy a fix. You're out by the way." Nina said.
Nina noticed Nao's stash on the table and pocketed the half full bag of white powder. Deeply disgusted, Nina steeled her disappointment, for she knew there would be more.
"I told you, I don't know anything..... I can't remember" Nao said trying to break free again.
"You're lying," Nina said twisting Nao's arm once more, "How did you get the principal's coat?"
"I know what everyone else does, Viola left, then Kruger. After that, Tomoe attacked and the world went to hell," Nao said finally standing still, admitting that she couldn't break free from Nina, "That green haired bitch, it's all her fault."
"How so?" Nina said loosening her grip slightly.
"What were you asleep? It happened in your backyard. I only know what I saw on the news, I wasn't there." Nao hissed as she remembered the insanity.
"Irina said that you took off after the Principal and Archmeister left. Where did you go? Oh, and zero directive has been issued, so you have no legal pole to stand behind," Nina said impatient with Nao's antics.
"Kruger was a mess when she left. I followed her to keep her from doing anything stupid," Nao said rolling her shoulders both stiff from the way Nina held her.
Nina still refused to let go of her, "Now we are getting somewhere. So what happened?"
"Kruger found out that Viola wasn't the perfect little trophy wife, that she was screwing around," Nao growled thinking disgustedly, that even though Shizuru had screwed everything up with Natsuki, the blue haired woman was still in love with her.
"What do you mean?" Nina asked. She had heard rumors about Shizuru. Supposedly, it was those rumors that had broken Natsuki and Shizuru apart, still Nina wanted to know Nao's version of the story.
"Kruger found out Viola was fucking Tomoe," Nao said each word laced with venom, "You know during the war."
"That rumor has been going around for years. In any case, why is it such a deal now? That's minuscule compared to what I did," Nina said lowering her voice and looking away even though Nao's back was facing her.
"Yeah, but that wasn't a rumor. Viola lied to Kruger about it," Nao said picking her words. Nao chose not to comment on Nina's statement about the war.
"You mean she never told her? Forget that, obvious answer. So you followed the principal, then what?" Nina said shaking her head to clear the thoughts of what she did in the war.
"It wasn't meant to be, so I left," Nao said closing her eyes remembering the feel of Natsuki's lips on her neck, "…been here ever since."
"So you found out that the principal was on the outs and decided to take a run at her? Why make a bad situation worse ... unless..." Nina said trailing off.
"Shut up, Wang, you don't have a clue." Nao said fiercely as she tried to turn around again.
"There is no shame in loving someone, Nao. You were trying to help her." Nina said loosening up again.
"I never loved her, so watch your mouth," Nao stated with so much hurt and anger. Nao tried to elbow Nina in the stomach, but Nina caught the move, and slammed Nao into the wall for trying it.
"You better stop lying to yourself. That's why you are here, and I am pinning you to the wall. If you don't admit it, you'll die from withdrawal, or you'll find another way to poison yourself," Nina said holding her to the wall.
"What does it matter? It wasn't meant to be." Nao said giving up again on resisting.
Nina got off of Nao and reached under her cloak. She tossed a bag of coins on the desk, disheartened, "Get your level up, detox, I don't care. I am ordering you to Windbloom by the end of the month. That gives you more then enough time. If you don't come, I'll send Arika to retrieve you."
"What's the point? I never should have been a Column anyway." Nao said turning her back to the wall and sliding down it. "Everyone knows that."
"Be there." Nina said then started to walk out.
Nao scoffed and looked up at Nina, "You really think you can fix this?"
"It's not about me. It's about the Otome. It's about how a few people can tear our world asunder if they wish." Nina said as she kept walking. "If you ask me, I think a few people can put Earl back together, but they need to get off their asses first."
Nao looked at the candle on the table, then to the sack of coins. Nao reaches up blindly, smacking the candle over, before finding the phone on the table, "Go take my robe to the cleaners down the street."
Author Notes: Like I said this story has references to a lot of the other stories I've posted and it will have some from Ultima's story Seven Days. Such as Nao's drug addiction which was mentioned in her chapter of My Past.