Yours will lead mine.

A/N: Hello there!! I'm glad you liked the first chapter of this story! Thank you so much for all your reviews and for giving some ideas. Also I'm impressed (well not "that" much) that most of you want to see a blind Natsuki, so, well I have this crazy idea of making two finals for the story, and you can choose the end: a happy one or a sad one, how does it sound? I'm not sure if I'll make it, it's an idea now, but just ask for it and I'll try to do it, trying not to fail miserably.

Anyway, here's chapter 2 of this fic. Hope you like it. Oh, btw, it'd be good if you prepare the "Materialize" theme.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to write a review.

Now to the story!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Otome or any of its characters. Poor me…


Chapter 2 – Memory

The signal was detected in the fields near the border of Windbloom and Aries at 10 a.m., it was an unusual signal; that only meant one thing, another unknown threat had appeared.

Garderobe reported the situation immediately to Queen Mashiro and President Yukino; with their assistance they gathered their respective otome, the five columns, Aries Delta Force and of course the legendary otome, the holder of the Fire String Ruby GEM and her master the Neko-Gami.

Upon arriving to the origin of the signal; Natsuki Kruger, Garderobe's head-mistress split the group into squads, they'd fly over the area to register and report any suspicious movement. Each squad left the temporary head-quarters and flew to their assigned area. Youko-sensei, Queen Mashiro and President Yukino stayed in the camp; it was safer, that's what their respective otome said. After two hours of searching and inspecting the zone they found nothing. In the camp, Doctor Youko was inside a tent talking with Natsuki and Shizuru.

- "This is odd. We don't detect anything in a 20 km radius. It's like whatever caused the alert had vanished."

- "Perhaps it moved from here before we arrived." – said the Graceful Amethyst.

- "Impossible. We should have detected it on our way here; it disappeared seconds before we arrived, so it couldn't have flown away or run. Nothing, not even us otome can move that fast" – said Natsuki.

- "So what do you suggest Gakuenchou?" – asked Youko-sensei.

- "Whatever it is what caused this needs to be investigated. So, some of us will stay and search a bit more, the rest will head back and continue with their own tasks but staying alert if we need some back up."

- "Alright, I'll be preparing everything." – said Doctor Youko.

- "Let's go Shizuru."

In that moment when they were about to leave the tent, the radar started to beep madly, Youko-sensei went to it hurriedly to see the monitor, her eyes widely open.

- "Youko! Where are they?" – asked Natsuki.

A scream and loud metallic sounds were heard outside the tent, as if a battle had started out of the blue. That answered Gakuenchou's question and the Doctor spoke only to confirm it.

- "They are right here…… in the camp."

Natsuki and Shizuru left the tent. Indeed a battle was being held in front of them against a giant and ugly beast with sharp claws and tusks, it didn't look like a slave; it looked different from the others but indeed it was a slave, perhaps it was a new kind. In a blink of the eye the camp was surrounded by dozens of these slaves that appeared from nowhere.

- "MATERIALIZE!!"

Natsuki and Shizuru changed into their battle robes and went to assist their friends.

- "Tch! It was about time!" – yelled Nao.

- "Don't complain Spidy! We're already here." – said Natsuki firing her canon at a slave.

Arika helped Queen Mashiro and President Yukino to get into the tent, as soon as they entered; Youko-sensei deployed a shield to protect the place. In an instant a fierce battle began. Each otome had to lead with at least with three enemies at once; it was frustrating, especially when those damned slaves healed their wounds and regenerated the part of their body that had been cut.

- "Curses!" – yelled Natsuki – "Since when they can do that!?"

- "These one are much more different from the others." – said Mai after killing one.

- "We need to make a plan and fast! Or we'll never end with this." – said Meister Sara.

- "Just blow their heads off!!" – said Haruka while doing just what she said.

- "Got it!" – said Nao and did the same.

The otome had to be fast and accurate to hit them in the right place to finish them before they could use their regenerating abilities. Arika, Mai and Natsuki were the ones in charge to finish them with their massive energy ranged weapons once the slave was injured enough unable to move.

Natsuki got close to a slave that had been cut by Shizuru. That bastard was regenerating those lost parts; so Natsuki raised her cannon and aimed at the slave, this was the best moment to finish it because they were weaker and had no defense, they'd discovered it during the battle.

- "LOAD CHROME CARTRIDGE!!... FIRE!!"

But what the Ice Silver Crystal didn't know was that also they were tricky.

Even when the energy blast stroke right in the bulls-eye it didn't kill the slave instantly. Natsuki aimed again when a part inside the slave's body began to glow in a strange shade of green and then….

BOOM!! SPLAT!!

The damned thing exploded, throwing a disgusting and lethal substance that landed in the raven haired otome. Natsuki didn't have time to cover herself or fly away, it happened so quickly. One second she was fighting the enemy, the next one she was yelling in pain.

- "GAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!"

Natsuki was bending in pain, it was unbearable. That strange gelatinous thing fell mostly on her eyes. She dropped her weapon and covered her eyes with her hands. It burned, it ached, the most painful physical damage she'd suffered.

Shizuru heard the scream of agony, looking at her love; she saw the green stuff that was splattered in Natsuki's robe and eyes glow, which was not good. Chopping the head of the slave she was fighting with she flew towards Natsuki hastily screaming her name.

- "NATSUKIIIII!!"

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders she landed them safely in the ground.

- "Natsuki! Natsuki!" – Shizuru yelled worriedly.

The girl didn't answer; she was panting and cold sweat soaked her face and robe.

- "Natsuki, let me see."

Shizuru took the girl's hands removing them from her face; the brunette opened her eyes with horror, it looked really bad. That substance was all over the green orbs, covering them completely. Not wasting another second she wrapped her arm around Natsuki's shoulders and the other around her waist. Mai arrived where they were along with Mikoto, they heard the scream too. Looking at the pair, especially at Natsuki she understood the situation.

- "Go Shizuru-san! Hurry! We'll cover you!"

- "Thank you, and be careful with this."

- "O.k.! Ready Mikoto?" – the neko-gami nodded.

- "Natsuki, come, try to fly." – Shizuru whispered gently.

Natsuki tried to stand up, for some reason her strength was fading away quickly, but did what Shizuru told her and flew all the way, overcompensating herself. Shizuru took Natsuki inside the tent. Queen Mashiro and President Yukino saw them enter, shocked at the view.

- "What happened?!" – asked Queen Mashiro.

- "It was a slave." – replied Shizuru.

- "Lay her on the stretcher." – said Youko.

- "It doesn't look good." – President Yukino said with worry.

Youko-sensei attended Natsuki right away, however…

- "We need to take her back, the equipment here isn't enough."

- "I'll take her" – said Shizuru – "you need to stay here sensei."

Shizuru was lifting Natsuki from the stretcher when Youko spoke again.

- "Are you planning to take her back flying with your robe?"

The Graceful Amethyst only smiled.

- "That's reckless!!"

- "I agree." – said Queen Mashiro – "Take the vessel I came in, it'll be faster!"

- "Thank you Queen Mashiro" – replied Shizuru with a light bow of her head.

- "Here, clean her eyes with this, I'll call Irina and tell her to prepare everything, that you'll be arriving soon." – said Doctor Youko handing a silky rag and a small bottle.

- "Thanks" – Shizuru replied.

- "Shizu… ru" – Natsuki whispered.

- "Come Natsuki, we'll be going." – said the brunette taking a half-conscious Natsuki.

The two otome left the tent and went to the ship Queen Mashiro said. Meister Sara was near the tent so she offered to take them back.

- "Don't worry, I'll be the pilot. You need to look after Natsuki-onee-sama."

And so they got in the ship, heading back to Garderobe with light speed. When they arrived Irina was already out waiting for them along with Gal-sensei. Shizuru got off from the vessel carrying Natsuki in her arms; her raven haired beauty fainted in the way back. She was taken in to be treated immediately. As soon as the other otome entered the building Meister Sara returned to the camp.

Shizuru was walking aside the stretcher, holding Natsuki's hand all the time, squeezing it. Natsuki opened her eyes for a second and saw the face of her lovely goddess; she was worried and holding her tears back, however she had "that" smile, the one she reserved only for her, the smile only she was able to see. Raising her hand, she touched the ruby eyed girl's face and whispered.

- "Shizuru……"

That image that was the most precious, perfect and beautiful became blurring, turning into a mere shadow; that was the last thing she saw as she passed out once again. The darkness had won over the light.

TBC……….


Chapter 2 done!!

As you see this one was more like a flashback. What do you think about it? Hope it turned out well.

Don't forget to write a review! Thanks!

See you soon!!

Shezaei Neko.