Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Hime or Mai Otome. All copyrights are reserved for the appropriate personnel and companies.

Notes: Gakuenchou – Head of the school

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Days of the beasts count from thirteen down

When crimson meets her fellow fiend

Dawn will never greet the world again

When clocks chime and never end

Silence sealed, an agreement

Sacrifice etched by day on skin

Fates clash, and a world apart

Love and death kiss that's the fin'

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Natsuki snapped her eyes open, and sat up straight in bed with one swift motion.

Bright rays from the sun filled her vision immediately, and viridian orbs narrowed to a slit as the pupils adjusted to the sudden change from dark to light. Squinting around, she tried to find her straw-haired partner but something deep down told her that Shizuru was no longer in the academy. After a few moments of struggle with the clinging bed sheets, the Gakuenchou strode off to wash up in the bathroom.

You, do not do this to me, Shizuru.

With a firm expression on her features, Natsuki headed off next to the control room where Youko was residing.

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Shizuru knew that her nano-machines were working at double the normal rate with the continuous flying and that if she fell from the current height of a few thousand kilometers without her wings for support, it would be suicidal; but that did not deter the Charming Amethyst from her goal. Only when her burgundy eyes caught sight the tiny island known only as Hidaka to a privilege few located a few hundred miles to the south of Romulus, did she slow down and prepare to land.

Retracting her violet wings at the final moment, her usually graceful stance took a stumble as she nearly crashed head-on into the soft sand on the beach. She took a short rest, calming her over-worked body and recovering her breath before tired muscles even attempted to move. Blood was seeping through her robe again, as the fresh scab on her shoulder broke with the bad landing.

Seems like this wound can't be super-healed by the nano-machines… Maybe I shouldn't have been so foolhardy to fly at full speed here without a good rest last night. But time's running out…

And Natsuki wouldn't have taken my sudden departure very well too…

Shizuru picked herself up, feeling stronger with the brief respite. Applying pressure to the bleeding as she walked, she went in search of clean water to cleanse her wound.

Despite the abundance of forested areas, the island remained in a tranquil silence. The light footsteps of the trained warrior could be heard quite plainly with the lack of nature's voices and the knowledge of this disturbed Shizuru, and her instincts screamed danger at every turn. With her injury patched up with some cloth torn from the base of her robe, the brunette made her way stealthily towards the forbidden cave, throwing caution to the wind. Her senses were on full alert for any possible creatures that exist to protect the cave; Shizuru wanted to avoid any confrontations in her current state of health.

-

"Hi… daka… That's where it lies… Bloodstone… of the heirs…"

Roused from her sleep, Shizuru thought that she had imagined shadows leaving the room, and the voice that she'd heard in her head. Wincing suddenly, she felt the not-so-foreign sensation of being cut crisply by something invisible. Instead of a double cut on her inner arm, a warm wetness was seeping through the fabric of her robe near her shoulder, escaping through a gash in the skin.

"Remember… No one… must know… of your task… Child of Viola…" ghostly whispers blew through with the night breeze, fading into silence once again.

Shizuru sighed, a sound inaudible to none but to herself, released in a drawn out breath of air.

Not again… This… reminder of my duty and obligation is getting to my nerves.

Taking care not to disturb Natsuki's slumber, the tanned-haired woman detached herself from Natsuki's warm body and headed to the public bath nearest to their chambers, not wanting to leave any evidence of her injury in their bathroom.

I don't want you involved in something like this, Natsuki. If doing this protects you, and keeps the world functioning, then I'll definitely succeed in my task, no matter the price.

Under the pale yellow lights, Shizuru inspected her new scar that was shaped like a dragon, the blood making it glow red eerily. In comparison to the lion-shaped scar she received yesterday, this was carved with greater detail. The Otome disrobed and disposed of her bloody nightgown, donning on a similar one after ensuring that the bleeding had ceased.

Is this some form of ritual? The scars are never deep, but they hurt enough and heal slow… And the creatures carved… were they not from ancient Earth?

Only eleven days left… till I find my answers.

-

Speed. I need more speed.

Shizuru ran faster and faster in her school robes, her materialized form more a nuisance than aid in the cramped conditions of the forest.

If only I could reach the beach before they catch up with me.

Blood pounding in her chest, she strained her ears as she moved, desperate for any hint to her pursuers' progress. There were no movement behind her; no roars from the beasts, no heavy thumps on the floor from the weight that the beasts should have – there was nothing to suggest anything out of the extraordinary. Adrenaline rushed to her head, and it was the only force pumping the warrior forward.

Shizuru was weary, and the wound on her shoulder was working up again. She knew the forest was full of danger, simply because her opponents were hidden and she was out in the open. Her muscles twitched in response whenever the shadows on the trees moved, and the mounting number of false alarms were taking a toll on her body.

A metallic beast abruptly appeared before her, a forceful paw came slamming down where her face would have been if the Charming Amethyst had not sidestepped at the last moment. Crimson eyes darted to her left, and moments after she had another close brush with death when a razor-sharp claw swiped over her head. Faced with two hulking opponents with surprisingly high agility, Shizuru had no time to catch her breath when the attacks came one after another, each aimed at her vital points.

With their impenetrable armor, it would be futile to attempt a fight, especially not against two of them. Even if I were to materialize, the lack of any weak points on them wouldn't shift the battle in my favor. Perhaps…

Dodging yet another sneak attack from the back with a high back flip into the air, the Otome jumped onto a nearby tree and leapt skywards, materializing as she did so. Her wings stretched outwards, preparing for flight, but a large crow-like creature assaulted her, sending the purple clad warrior to the ground again in an ungainly crash.

I should have known that trouble always occurs in threes.

"Get the bloodstone, Child of Viola… Remember your priority…"

Lips tensed into a grim line as alert burgundy eyes searched for an opening between the two land beasts; the toned body never rested, moving in reflex as if she was on auto-pilot. Panting slightly from the exertion, she put on a sudden burst of speed, dashing past the lion-like beast and rolling underneath the metallic panther. She emerged from between its paws, headed straight back towards the direction she came from.

Now to get to the cave before I lose all my strength…

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Tapping her feet impatiently, the raven-haired woman fidgeted in her seat, eyes transfixed at Youko and anxious for the results.

"I'm really sorry, Gakuenchou, but she's not on radar."

"Did you try the co-ordinates that I told you to? That was where her mission was headed for."

"I'm afraid that she's not there."

Damn it, Shizuru, where are you?

This bad vibe that I'm sensing… I can't help but be worried by your secretiveness and this sudden, wordless farewell…

I trust you, but whatever you do, please be safe, Shizuru.

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A/N: I must seriously apologize for the lack of updates! Muse-chan has abandoned me while I was busy with school and I've finally gotten it back these few days. I'll try my best to update (I'm not giving up on this fic) while I'm free during this hols! Contrary to the past chapter, this fic is going to end up much longer than I've expected, and I'll do an estimate of 10 chapters. Hehe…

Hope you enjoyed the read, and reviews as usual, pleases muse-chan. xD