Ten Lilies - Peace and War

by Mara S. S.

Mashiro put her cup down on the saucer.

Fumi was standing at her back, a reassuring and familiar presence.

They were in the room of the mansion where she spent most of her time. She lied that particular room because of its large windows.

Through the windows she could see Fuuka Academy and the surrounding area.

Mashiro sighed. That view had been marred by fires, by earthquakes, and by UFO attacks. But in reality, all the destruction was because of the HiME battles.

It was a gruesome cycle, one that she had been sworn to uphold. The fighting had seemed a necessary evil. How could she protect a dozen young girl's lives when the lives of millions of others could be at stake?

In an irony she didn't much appreciate, she'd perpetuated the fighting so the rest of the world could live in peace.

Midori had made her change her mind though.

Because of her, Mashiro had seen another way, a way they could get through the Festival without anyone else dying. At the same time, she began to feel regret for what she'd forced the HiMEs to do.

"Hey, Fumi-san. To the Himes, I'm a terrible person, aren't I?" Mashiro murmured.

"That's not true at all. Mashiro-sama is a wonderful person." Fumi swiftly replied.

"You're always so kind." Mashiro's heart tightened at the devotion Fumi had always, always shown.

Mashiro took another sip of her tea.

"Do you think we will succeed?" She asked Fumi.

Fumi's hands moved to her shoulders and rubbed her gently. She did not answer directly.

"I will always remain at Mashiro-sama's side." She answered instead, stroking Mashiro's hair to reassure her.

Mashiro smiled sadly and looked away from the window. "Thank you, Fumi-san."

Mashiro grasped the arm rests of her wheel chair. "Let's go."

-o-

Mashiro watched the pendulum of the grandfather clock swing back and forth.

"I've made Sugiura-sensei carry a heavy responsibility."

"I think it was for the best. I approve of Sugiura-sensei." Fumi said, handing Mashiro a cup of tea.

Mashiro tried not to think that it could be the last cup of tea she shared with Fumi.

She smiled up at Fumi. "Fumi-san, thank you very much for taking care of me for all this time."

"Please don't mention it."

Mashiro nodded. She drank her tea.

"This probably a trap. But we must go. That is our duty, as those who imposed this battle upon them, knowing their destiny." Mashiro spoke her thoughts out loud.

The clock struck six.

They looked at each other. It was time.

From there they would descend into the caverns below Fuuka. They would confront the Obsidian Lord and try to end the Festival once and for all.

So no one would have to go through what Mashiro did, and what the current HiMEs were going through. So that the HiMEs could live in peace with their most important persons.

For that, Mashiro and Fumi would try their luck at changing destiny.

The dolls with their blank faces stared back at them from their shelves. Fumi moved one of the shelves out of its place to reveal the passageway leading downwards.

Fumi pushed Mashiro forward, to where the Obsidian Lord was waiting. Neither of them looked back.

END

Disclaimer: Mai HiME belongs to Sunrise.