Nina's biggest clue that Naruko had been abused came during her birthday.
It wasn't until after the surprise party that Nina took her roommate aside and asked her a very pointed question.
"Naruko, was that really the first time you've ever celebrated your birthday?" she asked.
Naruko ducked under her covers, refusing to come out. Nina poked her side with annoyance.
"You don't have to look me in the eyes, but I can still hear you," said Nina.
"Yes... No one ever cared enough to celebrate it with me before. I thought last year it might have been different, since I was on a team, but no one bothered to even wish me a happy birthday...not even once," she mumbled through the covers.
To be fair, her friends didn't know when her birthday was...those she associated with the most anyway. Shikamaru had considered looking it up, but he couldn't find her files anywhere.
Nina looked aghast that Naruko had never associated her birthday with anything good. She hugged the blond under the covers tightly, and didn't mind Naruko curling up next to her.
Nina had since started to collect countless evidence that Naruko was being neglected and systematically abused.
First was the fact she didn't react very well to gentle contact. She was more accustomed to full on contact associated with fighting. Seeing the way she tensed slightly when Ertsy hugged her for helping out with the chores was a big clue to that.
So was the description of her female teammate Haruno Sakura, who if Nina ever met the girl would be on the short end of a long and very painful lecture on how you are supposed to treat friends. Next to a beat down of this 'Uchiha Sasuke', who had a rather bad attitude towards women that made Nina's blood boil. In his defense, most of the girls he associated with were fan girls, but the description of how he put down Sakura when she got too clingy was inexcusable.
Nina was quick to bring these points up with the dorm matron, Miss Maria. Considering Nina was actually a better female role model for Naruko than the only other female she used to associate with she ended up giving the girl etiquette lessons and a very painful lecture on table manners.
Of course that was nothing compared to what happened when Nao decided to take Naruko with her on their free day outside of town.
"So why are we going to a bar?" asked Naruko. She lived in the red lights district...she could handle a grungy bar or two.
"To meet my contacts," said Nao. She liked Naruko, because she didn't ask too many questions outside of schoolwork.
"So...you're a spy and infiltration specialist?" asked Naruko.
"Well...not so much a spy since I am a noteworthy Otome, but I do run information rings," said Nao.
"Why didn't you just say as much before? So why did you bring me?" asked Naruko, becoming more at ease with Nao.
"As backup. You're the strongest girl in the Academy without your robes on," said Nao.
"Okay! Just so we're clear, if I get into a drinking contest don't mention my age. It's rather embarrassing for some people that a fifteen year old can out drink grown men," said Naruko with an evil grin.
"Let me have a cut of your take and I'll help you hide the fact you were out drinking," said Nao immediately.
"Deal," said Naruko, and they shook on it.
Nao walked into a rather seedy bar, and Naruko looked at the drinks menu. Considering the bar was owned by one of Nao's gang, he didn't comment on the fact Naruko barely looked sixteen.
Once she had her order, she challenged the others wearing Nao's striped shirt to a drinking contest. Nao waved them off, so they went to it. By the time they left the bar, Naruko was the only one left standing, though she was a bit giggly. Considering she had outmatched five grown men, all heavy drinkers, with some rather strong drinks, she had their respect and approval.
Nao handed her some plants that would disguise the smell of alcohol and planned to get her measurements later. As far as she was concerned, Naruko was part of the gang.
Naruko just enjoyed having an 'older sister' who would help her out when she needed it.
"I'm so bored..." said Naruko. She had read every book in the library (shadow clones) and all her homework was caught up. It had taken Nina and Nao three weeks tutoring Naruko to figure out why she had such trouble with schoolwork.
She had too many thoughts in her head, and since she believed school to be boring outside of practical applications such as combat practice she had trouble focusing.
Nao found bribery to work very well in keeping Naruko's attention. As it was, Naruko was in the ninth spot in the Corals.
Nina rolled her eyes.
"Go bother Big Sister Nao then," said Nina.
"Can't, she left to see her informants an hour ago," said Naruko.
"Go practice your jutsu then," said Nina. She was aware of Naruko's practice in shinobi arts, as the blond didn't hide anything from the girl she considered her best friend.
"Jiraiya hasn't sent anything, and learning Fuinjutsu can be dead boring when you can't understand half of it," deadpanned Naruko.
"What about a visit to the Toads?" said Nina, looking at her roommate.
"I still don't know if I can return back," admitted Naruko.
Nina closed her book, she was probably going to regret this...
"I leave to visit Artai tomorrow...I'll ask Ms. Maria if you can join me if you can't find anything to entertain yourself for a few days."
Naruko hugged her tightly.
"Thanks Nina-nee-chan!" said Naruko.
Nina blushed. She was used to Naruko calling her nee-chan after she explained the sister system in the Academy. Naruko was a like a puppy, one who had been beaten often but was always looking for someone to pet them anyway. She patted the girl on the head like she would a dog.
Though Naruko would deny it, Nina knew that a kind word or a pat on the head in just the right spot would make the girl almost literally purr like a kitten. Though according to Naruko she had sworn off all cats after several bad experiences with one named Tora who scratched the hell out of her.
She barely got along with the Princess' cat Mikoto, and that because they had a shared love of ramen.
Nina held onto Naruko's pigtail firmly as they boarded the ship, as the girl would likely wander off and get lost.
Naruko had been cleared to join Nina as she caused more trouble when she was bored than she did when she was confused. The last time she got bored, she had to clean the hall of the predecessor twice because of a rather amusing prank she played on the Headmistress. Once the older Meister had left, she had it cleaned using shadow clones, but kept a clone around to make it seem like she was still doing her punishment.
None of the other teachers could catch her at it, though if pressed Nina and possibly Nao could.
Nao seemed to treat Naruko more like a younger sister than she was supposed to. Considering Naruko was an orphan, it wouldn't be unusual if Nao were to adopt her as a younger sister once she gained her Meister Gem.
Naruko watched the scenery go by for all of half an hour before she saw a familiar face. One she hadn't seen in quite some time.
Alyssa.
She felt the curtain rise around them as she wandered over to the ghost of her ancestor.
"Having fun Naruko-chan? I hope you've enjoyed this brief respite," said Alyssa.
"Is something going to happen?"
"Arika is coming, and with her will come the sound of a war. The Otome will be called on to end the false Maidens very soon. MIYU will be coming as well, so I'll have to become more active. The Blue Sky Sapphire will be found again."
"So that's a yes. What should I do?"
"You have to help Arika survive through this. Once you make your relationship to her known to Natsuki, chances are you'll be paired with her until this mess is cleared up."
"How do I prove to her that I'm not joking? I'm known for being a prankster after all," said Naruko.
"I'll coach you through what to say. You won't be able to look at me, but you'll hear my voice from the seal you carry since birth."
"And what of the Princess that is soon to become Queen?"
"Mashiro is not the Princess. Nina is, though she is unaware of this. However Nina is too strongly tied to Artai to act as regent. Also, the Meister Gem that vanished during the attack on the castle was placed by MIYU with the former Otome's daughter...Arika. If we pull this off we might be able to bridge the gaps left by technology and allow you to take your friends home and back."
"I can reverse summon back and forth from this world?"
"It's a good thing you never tried before the path was open...you would have been stuck in the summons realm until you were to be called back."
"I was afraid that was the case... In any event, can't you help me out here? I've been bored out of my mind since I finished the library!"
Alyssa laughed openly.
"The answer lies in Artai. There is a place where a Meister Gem sleeps that is full of books. I can leave the information on how to find it, but you mustn't disturb the dragon that still sleeps inside. I don't want the being that was sent away to learn that it was breached so early."
Naruko beamed. Thank you!"
"It would also help Nina later. Nagi will seek to use her against the Otome and those who will be your allies. Once you come into possession of the Fox Fire Agate, you can activate the Meister Gem that sleeps and give the other to Nina. She can't take the corrupt Gem if she is already contracted to a lost one first."
"When do I come into possession of this Gem?"
"Soon. I believe Natsuki is planning to have you graduate early, but you'll have to hide the fact you already have a Meister Gem from everyone. Considering your transformation jutsu, that shouldn't be difficult at all."
Naruko grinned, then spotted Nina with two drinks.
"Can you talk to me more often?"
"I'll come back when you finally meet MIYU."
"There you are Naruko! Having fun yet?" asked Nina.
"You bet! Hey, while you talk to your step dad do you mind if I explore a little?"
"Going to Big Sister Nao's bar again?" asked Nina with an eyebrow raised.
"Yup."
"You're incorrigible. If Miss Maria asks, you were with me the whole time," deadpanned Nina.
"Deal. I want to get some thing new to read anyway," said Naruko.
Naruko and Nina split off as soon as they were in the city. Nina knew where the bar that Nao partially owned was, so she would go find Naruko in a few days once she was done visiting her step father. If anyone could handle themselves without using their robes, it was Naruko Uzumaki.
It was another reason why Naruko called Nina sister. She acknowledged that Naruko could stand on her own two feet when she needed to, unlike other civilians.
Naruko immediately headed deep into the icy terrain to the fortress Alyssa mentioned. It took quite a few ninja skills, but she eventually found the room with the books.
Thank Inari for sealing scrolls!
She would have opened the door, but Alyssa appeared and shook her head. So that was where the dragon slept? She looked around and finally found where the lost Meister Gem was, and put it up in her bag.
She left before the monster she sensed nearby could hone in on her location.
A few hours later she made it back to the city and hit the first three bookstores she found. She headed straight to Nao's bar and waited.
Nina showed up around ten to take her to a hotel so she could show Naruko Artai properly instead of the slums. Hearing Naruko had shared some of her hard earned cash (she had a few jobs in Windbloom thanks to shadow clones) with several orphans, Nina shook her head in amusement.
Nina and Naruko were heading back to Windbloom, and because of a drunken idiot in the bar, Naruko had to put on her uniform. Originally she wore the striped outfit Nao gave her, because it was less embarrassing in her opinion. She was just too used to hiding the fact she was a girl.
Naruko was about to take another sip of her drink when she noticed something in the distance.
There was a body with auburn red hair and goggles. The figure wore a sensible if worn cloak and was clearly out of water.
Naruko frowned. Whoever that was clearly hadn't packed for an extended journey in the desert.
Seeing Nina preoccupied she sent out a silent shadow clone (she had become quite good at those) to retrieve them.
It was a girl.
"Naruko, what...who is that?" asked Nina.
"Some poor fool who didn't pack appropriately for a trip through the desert. Could you get a glass of ice water?" asked Naruko.
Nina nodded and went to retrieve the drink. If the captain asked about the unexpected passenger she would pay for it.
The girl, who had an odd necklace that settled over Naruko with a deep feeling of trouble later, thanked her rescuer profusely.
"I'm Naruko Uzumaki. This is Nina Wang," said Naruko.
"Arika. Thanks for saving me!" she said with a bow.
"Where are you from Arika?" asked Nina. For some reason she reminded her strongly of Naruko.
"A small village. I've lived with my grandmother, but she died recently. She told me my mother was from Windbloom," said Arika.
Nina twitched. Definitely like Naruko with that voice.
"Let me guess...your mom was an Otome?" asked Naruko.
Arika nodded.
"How did you know?"
"Because those two dots in your necklace look far too much like Meister Gems," said Naruko flatly. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the reason why she knew.
Nina blinked.
"Can I see this necklace?"
Arika lifted it up, and Nina looked at closer.
"They do look exactly like Gems. Maybe the Headmistress would know who they belonged to," said Nina.
"You do realize we'll have to take her to see Natsuki-dono, don't you? She might cause trouble otherwise."
"Like you didn't last week?" snorted Nina.
"Oi, I didn't see you among those who weren't laughing at the prank I pulled," said Naruko with a drawl.
Arika giggled.
"You two are like sisters," she said.
"In Garderobe, we're encouraged to think of our fellow Otome as our sisters. Besides, I'm her roommate," said Naruko.
"Unfortunately," said Nina, though it was clear she didn't mean that.
"Oh-ho! Perhaps I should exploit the number one Coral's one true weakness!"
"Do it and I'll pour wasabi into the next batch of ramen you make," deadpanned Nina.
"Nina-chan's mean!" whined Naruko. Arika laughed.
