The Gakuencho

Chapter 4

Rating- T

Disclaimer- I do not own Mai-otome or any of its related characters. Mai-otome belongs to the genius people at Sunrise.

Summary- Continuation of mai-otome. Life after zwei featuring shiz/nat, haruka/yukino, chie/aoi, yohko/midori, Nao, tomoe and more. Love, romance, drama, secrets, lies and the their lives all revealed. Things really aren't that easy.

A/N :wow its been a long time! My apologies. I didn't lose the passion for this story its just difficult putting thoughts down into a structured story format. Actually what inspired me to return was the anime itself, rematched hime and otome and its still just as amazing to me as it was when i first saw it.

anyway onto the story


It is a day of celebration in Windbloom, the sun is shining, fanfare is playing and the crowds are cheering. A large decorated podium and stage area is placed in the centre, and all around, thousands of seats for officials, royals and commoners alike. It is the announcement of the otome try outs, and all the girls and their respective countries are keen to hear the results.

After careful deliberation a total of eight girls have been chosen to join Garderobe. Atop the podium, Natsuki is dressed in her official Column attire as are the other columns standing behind her. She feels hot and the buzzing of a news airship flying above distracts her for a while, but she snaps out of it as Shizuru passes her the last certificate to read out, she smirks

"Jade Faroush, from Aries" she called out. Haruka sitting towards the front row immediately jumped up from her seat and starts cheering loudly.

"Aries girls are the best!" She boasts and with a glare and a tug she forces those sitting around her to stand up and cheer loudly as well. The young girl quickly proceeds down the aisle to receive her certificate from Sara. They finish applauding and Natuski approaches the podium once more, her last speech and announcement of the day.

"Congratulations to the newly appointed Otome and their respective countries. It is with great honour and pride that I welcome you all to Garderobe." She quickly glanced around the audience, and gives a subtle smile to Nina who is sat at the back "I also take this opportunity to welcome to our school two former Meisters who have graciously volunteered to take time out to teach our future otome, I present Claire Lumee, The Blissfully Patient Howlite"

A woman dressed in a black otome uniform with shoulder length black hair stands up from the front row and bows politely, blushing somewhat at the attention of the cheering crowd. "And also Nora Shamrock, The Shining Light Quartz"

Another woman dressed in a aqua sleeveless otome uniform with long straight silver hair stands up and bows politely to the crowd before sitting down again. "Much has happened since the last otome inauguration, out country, our people and our hearts have suffered. But here we are today possibly stronger and more united than ever. Thank you for your constant support and belief in us. I now hand you over to Queen Mashiro Blan de Windbloom." She stepped back to retake her seat as Mashiro takes her turn at the podium. Shizuru sat down next to her and placed a hand on her knee, though she's looking forward pretending to be listening to Mashiro's speech.

"I'm especially proud of my Natsuki today" Shizuru exclaims

"Whys that?"

"You've worn your Otome Uniform the entire day without complaining" She laughs lightly

"Oi, why cant you be proud of something normal. Didn't you like my speech?"

"Of course I liked it, I helped write it."

"You gave me that Aries girl to read out last didn't you?"

"Yes, I just though I'd let Haruka wait for as long as possible. She was pouting throughout, it was adorable." Natsuki chuckled, and spies the crowd, she smiled at Nora as they happen to have eye contact. "Natsuki are you eyeing up your new colleagues already?" Shizuru whispers with a sly grin.

"Baka!" She says somewhat loudly, earning her a glare from Sara and wide grins from Maya and Nao. "It's just Nora, I haven't seen her in years."

"Remind me to re-introduce myself to her, I don't think she knows who I am."

"Introduce me to her" Nao adds with a nudge to Natsuki's side.

"Shut up Juliet. Shizuru she knows you're a column, and I think she remembers you from school as the groping upper-classman"

"Yes but she doesn't know I'm Natsuki's over-protective girlfriend." Natuski shook her head lightly and placed a hand atop Shizuru's on her knee. They stayed silent for a while until Natsuki turned her head to look at the brunette.

"Did I ever tell you that Nora's family collects antiques? In fact I think she owns an ancient Lutesian Tea set dating back from the Dragon war. If you play nice, maybe she'll let you borrow it." Shizuru takes her hand pushing Natsuki's knee

"Gakuencho you don't play fair." she says pouting.

"I'm dating an An Nam woman aren't I?"


"All this celebration is a waste of time!" Midori mutters grumpily as she fiddled with a large gear. She is sat at a counter in the corner of the laboratory and is watching Yohko as she flutters about from job to job; signing documents, typing in data codes, reconfiguring her latest invention, the list is endless! The doctor is definitely worthy of her role as chief researcher Midori notes.

"Celebration is good, lets the people think about something else for a change" Yohko answered back, though her face is buried in a book.

"Distraction from what? Its a waste of time. And what? No work for a day because of a big party, because the queen said so? Psh such a thing would never happen with the Aswad."

"Yes but these people are not the Aswad" she says with a smile, she takes the gear Midori is holding and hands her a screwdriver instead to play with.

"Thats why they're lazy and fat." She puts the screwdriver down, bored of it already. "Why don't you have the day off?"

"Because I like my work, and i'm on a deadline."

"For what?" she asks and leans over the counter and tries to grab Yohko's notes.

"Ah! keep your hands to yourself."

"Haven't heard that in a while." Yohko raises an eyebrow at the comment, but she doesn't press the issue, they're ready for that drama yet, well not just yet anyway.

"Well if you must know i'm working on a project the Gakuencho has requested."

"Which is?"

"Limiter Bracelets. I've designed a chip which when turned on emits a low frequency that can block out the signal that the coral and pearls receive from Fumi-Sama. They're to be worn from now on outside of Garderobe, and in tournaments, that way it prevents the girls from materializing whenever they want, not to mention tournaments can be stopped at any time, if one of the girls gets out of hand."

"Why would the Gakuencho want that?"

"There are talks at the moment of an Otome Tournament, the Shiruba Geiha occurring. The council are currently deciding upon it. We're afraid with all the excitement of the tournament the students may take things a bit far."

"Tch Whats so fun about watching a bunch of pearls in red suits battle? My Aswad kids can fight better than them."

"Its not only the students participating. Fully fledged Meisters can take part. Its a special tournament that happens once every ten years celebrating Fumi-sama and the creation of the otome, even the columns can participate. The council are just wondering whether it should be held considering the CHILD incident recently."

"The Columns? Heh this should be interesting, I'd love for the chance to battle the bewitching smile Amethyst again. I beat the Opal, why not her."

"You want to participate?" Yohko exclaims in surprise, though really its not that surprising at all for Midori to want to fight. Its a wonder in fact how she's held out for so long without going out and just hunting something for the fun of it, most of the time she's just been sat in the lab with Yohko or out sparring or in diplomatic talks, its slowly killing Midori of boredom inside so she says.

"You bet! The Aswad people have become lax recently living on the Black valley with the Neko god, if I win it might inspire them back to our old ways." Midori quickly jumped over the counter and grabbed Yohko by the hand dragging her outside of the lab.

"Midori! What are you doing? I have work!"

"Yohko i've had an idea, take a break, we're going out!"

"Where to now?"

"We're going to see the Gakuencho, you'll persuade her to let me participate."

"Just do it yourself"

"No, she doesn't like me. She likes you and will believe you, when you tell her you're researching the capabilities of my GEM." Yohko abruptly stops and pulls her hand away before folding her arms across her mid drift.

"And what do I get from this?"

"Anything, just get me in that tournament" Midori answers as she continues walking.

"Anything?"

"Anything!" Midori exclaims somewhat frustrated.

"Well how about-" Yohko pauses suddenly and sidesteps slightly to peer past Midori. Midori turns to see who it is, expecting the Gakuencho with big news, or that old woman with some annoying instruction, Yohko never ignores her mid-sentence for someone that isn't important. So it surprises Midori to see a somewhat skinny girl with black hair approach them. She has a subtle gentle beauty about her in the way she walks with such delicate footsteps. "Claire!" Yohko yells.

"Ah Yohko!" The other woman responds. Yohko jogs past Midori to give the other woman a hug, and they start talking animatedly and very quickly. Yohko also just doesn't hug anyone, Midori noted again.

Midori stood there for a while folding her arms across her chest. She starts to tap her foot, and even wonders if she should just leave. She feels so out of place right now. This girl, this Claire, she's part of the life of Yohko that she doesn't know about, she's part of the life that Yohko left her for. The thought makes her anxious, desperate almost, she knows she shouldn't have come today, she knew she shouldn't have come to Windbloom fullstop. She doesn't belong in Yohko's new and shiny life of nano-machines and otome. She spots a nearby tree and is about to jump towards it. But as if by magic or some great intuition, the doctor turns around and takes Midori by the arm pushing her towards the other woman.

"Claire this is Midori, The Aswad Leader." Claire tucks a strand of dark hair behind her ear and curtseys politely – A Florince curtsey- she's rich and proper Midori notes again.

"Nice to meet you Midori-sama."

"You as well" Midori says a bit startled, she's not used to people curtseys or calling her sama at all.

"Midori, this is Claire Lumee, The Blissfully Patient Howlite, a very good friend on mine who has just transferred to Garderobe."

"I know, exciting isn't it?" Claire exclaims. She takes Yohko's hand and they begin to animatedly talk again, and Midori swears she can see them bouncing up and down.

"You're a Meister?" Midori awkwardly asks. They both turn to her not having heard her question properly.

"Oh yes, yes. I am, well was, no actually I still am, just call it a break for now."

"Then what will you be doing here?"

"She's going to be teaching and also helping out as a researcher as well." Yohko exclaims excitedly "Clair it'll just be like old times."

"Hopefully we'll be more productive than in University though!"

"Actually Clair you must see this new device i've just created. Its a nano-machines limiter"

"Really? Thats amazing lets have a look!" Yohko nods with a smile and they begin to head back toward the lab.

"Oh Midori you're not leaving until tomorrow right?" Yohko asks. The red head nods "Ok come over in the morning wont you?" she watches as the doctor and the new otome head off into the lab, laughing and chatting the entire way. She stands there for a while outside the lab wondering how in mere seconds she could go from happy to feeling dejected and replaced all of a sudden, it seems to be a skill of Yohkos. The way they were just now, so giddy and happy, she hasn't seen Yohko like that in ages. They seemed so, intimate. They were once like that.

"Yohko what were you going to ask?" Midori mutters.


With the celebration over the crowds dispersed and the country officials and Queen mashiro headed off to a special celebration event, of course accompanied by the Gakuencho and all the relevant otome. All the columns went along of course apart from Nao, who quickly slipped out whilst no one was watching. She starting chuckling to herself as she walked backwards out of a closet holding a change of clothes in hand and a rucksack. She backs into the hallway, locking the closet door

"Man i'm a genius" she says out loud.

"A certain genius should be at a ball right now" calls out a voice. Nao raises her shoulder in shock and turns around slowly hoping that she'd hadn't been caught by in her younger otome form. When she does turn though she's pleasantly surprised to see the smirking face of one Nora Shamrock. She winks at Nao and sweeps her silver hair behind her and tucks it behind her ear. Natsuki did keep true to her word and she did introduced the two to each other, but Nao was quickly pulled away by Arika to say hi to Nina (the more serious of the two had been advised to keep quiet about the fact the Gakuencho had invited her to rejoin Garderobe, else she spark the jealousy of the other countries.)

"Looks like i've been caught" Nao says taking a step forward, she notices Nora is taller than her, but she thinks its probably the boots the silver haired otome is wearing. "Whats the punishment?" un-phased at Nao's daring closeness and teasing she mirrors Nao's grin

"Well i've never really been one to enforce punishments, I'm usually the one getting punished" she says in a cool mellow voice.

"Sounds like fun."

"Where were you going?" she asks.

"Out of Gaderobe to get a drink."

"Hmm you're not doing yourself any favours are you? First you skip out on the celebration and now your off to go get alcohol, which I'm assuming you're actually underaged for." she taps the side of her head in a thinking motion "hmm what to do with you?"

"I thought you weren't one for punishments"

"I like to change my role sometimes, I like to dish it out occasionally" she says and winks, and Nao feels a light blush come on and she coughs lightly, this woman is something she thinks to herself.

"Well what are you going to do with me then?" Nao exclaims gripping her clothes and bag tightly, maybe she can make a run for it.

"How about this, you give me a tour of Gaderobe, and then after we go out to get a drink? Do that and I wont say anything to the Gakuencho." She sticks her hand out and after a few moments Nao shrugs her shoulders and shakes it. A drink is a drink, but a drink with a pretty girl who also likes to drink is even better.

"C'mon then" Nao says and they proceed down the hallway. "You know Nora-san I think you and I are going to get along fine." the other girl chuckles in response.

"I think so too Juliet-san."

"Call me Nao."

"Ok but I may slip into a habit of calling you Juliet though, I had a crush on girl called Juliet when I was younger" she says and skips forward down the hallway.

"Well you can say it sometimes if thats the case" Nao calls out before giving chase.

"Wahh Nina its so great to have you back!" Arika yells as she twirls in the castles courtyard. Nina follows behind but smiles and nods encouragingly in response. "I have so many things planned that we can do! Like swimming, shopping and we can go visit Mai-san and eat Ramen together. I bet you havent tried it yet have you? Its amazing!"

"I'm sure it is arika and todays only the first day i'm back, i'll be staying for a while yet, so we can take our time theres no rush."

"But Nina so many things have changed since you've been gone!"

"Arika I know whats changed in Windbloom, I do read the papers."

"No, no not about Windbloom. About our friends here, the gossip, the juicy stuf heheh!" Nina raises an eyebrow at her sckeptically.

"Like what?"

"Well the other day Aoi was telling me Chie-san might move over to the windbloom army! How romantic, she's changing her allegiance of her country for Aoi! And then the Gakuencho and Shizuru-san are acting more lovey-dovey in public, we had lunch the other day and Shizuru fed Gakuencho her bento, it was so cute. Ah but you didnt hear that from me! Oh and Nao-san!" Arika jumps up and down excitedly and leans in closely "During one of Mashiro's balls she was missing the entire time, but then I saw her sneak out of a room with a minister's daughter, I think they did 'that'." Arika exclaims with a big wink "Juicy no?"

"Nao-san? Really?"

"Yeah! I knew she liked to flirt but I never knew she took it that far. She's really grown up isn't she?"

"Yeah." Nina pauses, "She is."

"Oh Nina theres a love bug in the air!"

"Careful or you'll catch it too" Nina jokes and starts to tickle Arika, who screams in protest.

"Ah! Nina! Stop!" She stops with a grin and she is about to tease Arika further but she spots a certain someone in the corner of her eye. She quickly grabs Arika's hand and drags her behind a pillar to hide.

"Nina whats wrong?"

"Shh! Look over there." Arika looks in the direction Nina is pointing in and he mouth drops open immediately. She see's Nao and a silver haired woman in a rather compromising position against a wall. Nao at first glance seems the aggressor, pressing the woman against the wall and kissing her forcefully, but looking down, the woman is just as eager as she grips Nao's back with her hands and pulls the red head in even closer. Nina blinks and she can feel her heart race at the sight, and oddly she feels a bit sad as well, but she's soon snapped out of her daze.

"See I told you! Love bug!" Arika whispers loudly.

"Shh they might hear us. And thats not a love bug, thats a lust bug." Nina states. She stands up from their hiding place and starts walking off quickly in the opposite direction with Arika following after her.

"Wah Nao's so grown up" Arika remarks.

"It's nothing to be proud off Arika, don't idolise her, its not proper that sort of behaviour."

"Nao's like one of those, casa, casa, um-."

"Casanovas."

"Yeah one of them." Arika notices her friends tense posture and walks up quickly to catch up to her "Ah Nina relax" She slaps Nina on her back "No need to be jealous she's still your onee-sama no matter what." Nina blushes bright red at the accusation.

"I'm not jealous! Who Nao does whatever with is not my business, I just don't like her showing it off wherever she goes."

"Meh whatever" Arika replies with a shrug "Cmon lets go meet up with Mashiro for some dinner, we have seats reserved for us at the ball."

"Arika! I'm not jealous!"


Yet another waltz starts playing and more couples dance on the ballroom floor, twirling and moving all in time. Waiters are diligently serving food and drink and everyone is well attended too, its a successful ball. The queen is talking animatedly with the Prince of Zipang who has afforded himself a rare visit to the country, and Natsuki and Yukino are talking with other delegates probably about some otome matter. In a different area of the ballroom Haruka and Shizuru are sat drinking wine and keeping watch on their respective partners.

"I hate that Romulus delegate, he's always so touchy." Haruka mutters, drumming her fingers against the table impatiently "Ah! Look there he goes again, his hand on Natsuki's shoulder." Haruka looks over at Shizuru curiously who is calmly drinking her glass of wine and has it refilled by a waiter "Oi, dont you care that some creep is putting the moves on your girl?"

"Ara, I didnt notice. Besides, Natuski can handle herself." Indeed at that moment Natuski turns herself to great another delegate, effectively removing his hand from her shoulder.

"You've taught your pup well."

"I know" Shizuru says and smirks.

"Neh Shizuru, how long have we known each other?"

"It feels like forever sometimes."

"Can I ask you something? And you gotta answer seriously ok? No joking, teasing, or aras ok?" Shizuru looks up and notices that Haruka is staring at the wall, and she's shifting her body weight side to side and fidgeting her wine glass.

"what is it?" Haruka looks over to Yukino briefly before looking back to Shizuru, she gulps and takes a breath

"I'm going to ask Yukino to marry me tonight."

"Haruka, thats great!" Shizuru eagerly takes her friends hand and squeezes it.

"And when she says yes, will you be my brides person or whatever?" A genuine smile graces Shizuru's lips

"It's bridesmaid Haruka, and I would be honoured to." She takes Haruka's hand and they hug.

"Thanks Shizuru."

"Oh Haruka, you know what this means? I get to help you plan, and buy you gifts, and a speech, I get a speech. Ara so many fun stories I can tell about you."

"Oi! Dont get carried away now!"

"Oh I must congratulate Yukino-san. What pretty brides you two will make!" Shizuru says gleefully.

The mentioned pair start to approach them, serious talk having finished and Haruka shushes her quickly. 'don't say a thing bubuzuke' Haruka mouths

"Hi Yukino!"

"Sorry to keep you both waiting" Yukino replies standing behind Haruka. Natsuki pulls out a chair and sits down next to Shizuru.

"Yeah Sorry the delegates wouldn't leave me alone."

"Natuski-san was most popular with everyone." Yukino explains.

"Only because they want me to choose otome from their country next year."

"Oh my poor Natsuki."

"Just one more speech from Mashiro and then we'll be done" Natsuki mutters.

"Actually, that reminds me." Haruka hits her fist on the table and points at Natuski accusingly "Why did you only choose one girl from Aries and two from An Nam? I think some cheating went on here!"

"Natuski can't help but choose the girls who are more prepared" says Shizuru.

"Your saying my girls aren't prepared? I made them jump through flaming hoops to be prepared."

"Oh hush Haruka its done now. Besides Queen Mashiro is about to make her speech" says Yukino as she too takes a seat.

"Finally I want to get out of this stupid uniform" Natuski whispers to Shizuru earning her a chuckle.


Nao runs her hand through her hair tidying up slightly as she jogs to the dormrooms. What an evening! She smirks as the memories come to her mind. That Shamrock girl, she was something else. They had a great time in town with non-stop flirty banter and laughs, not to mention that Nao was impressed with the amount of drink the girl could take! If Nao didnt already have some dinner plans she would have spent the whole night with the girl. She shakes her head, she has to focus on other things now, for one the box in her hand which is a gift and an apology of sorts as well. She arrives at the room and knocks on the door lightly. A few moments pass and she hears the door unclick softly.

"Hello Nao" Nina greets her,

"Sorry i'm late for our dinner but i had to run a few errands."

"Oh yes, about dinner-"

"I got you a gift from town though." Nao interrupts and she eagerly holds up the box she's holding. "Its those raspberry tarts you like so much, I saw the woman was making them, so I dropped everything and waited till she was done and bought the first batch." it was true, Nao smelt the familiar sweet tang of fresh raspberry jam being heated up and she ran over to the stall actually ignoring Nora for some time till she bought the tarts.

"Oh Nao thats really sweet."

"So come on let go, theres still a place open that does great Aries food and we can party there for ages and properly celebrate your return."

"Nao i've eaten already."

"Oh you did?" Nao asks curiously but continues "No matter we can still-"

"Nao i'm going to stay in tonight" Nina exclaims.

"But I thought we were going to celebrate your return and all? Didn't we agree on dinner plans?" Nao properly looks at Nina, she's dressed in her sleeping clothes and is holding the hem of shirt nervously. "Whats the matter?" she places her hand on Nina's shoulder but she shrugs it off quickly.

"I, its nothing, I don't feel well."

"Cmon thats the oldest excuse in the book, whats wrong?"

"I dont want to talk about it."

"Nina i'm your Onee-sama and you're my Room attendant, we have an unbreakable bond there. Now tell me whats wrong."

"Your room attendant huh." Nina states monotonously. "Sorry Nao i'll see you tomorrow." Quickly Nina closes the door leaving Nao outside.

"Nina!" Nao yells and bangs on the door "Nina!" She turns around and kicks the wall opposite "What the hell?" she mutters.


Omake:

Scene: New otome announcement

Natsuki: I present Carla from Aries

-gets another scroll handed to her-

N: Mikae from Aries

-gets another scroll handed to her-

N:Lumen from Aries. What the? Shizuru! Why are they all from Aries?

-turns around to see Shizuru tied to a chair and Haruka with a sack of scrolls

Haruka: Keep reading!

Shizuru: I want to be a bridesmaid Natsuki!


AN: Tadaaa and yet ends another instalment.

And so i've introduced 2 new characters here who are big to the plot. And i know this is slow paced but trust me i'm getting there and its going to be a bumpy ride. i just have to set the scene first.

I'm not giving these characters an easy time in their relationship Yohko and Midori are still not talking about that elephant in the room, and Nina feels jealous, of Nao!

I look forward to your reviews, they keep me alive, and your input is appreciated.

Regards

JustJun aka JJ