Chapter 4: Matches
Author Notes: Sorry about the long wait between chapters I don't write fight scenes well so I asked Ultima-Matrix to help me out and he doesn't have a stable internet connection. We had a harder time then we thought we would getting the scene from him to me. Anyway here it is.
(Principal's Office, Garderobe)
Imari and Shie stood before Natsuki's large oak desk Imari wearing the uniform of the first pearl and Shie wearing a normal pearl uniform. Last year Shie had been the number one but Imari had been holding back purposely slipping up to allow Shie to be the number one. When Shie learned of this she demanded that Imari give her all even if that meant her loosing her position. Both had their hands clasped before them and had their heads bowed respectfully but Shie seemed to twitch every so often as if standing still like that was a difficult task.
"Imari Tohika, Shie Hallard relax," Natsuki said looking up from the papers on her desk. The blonde loosened her pose but still stood with her hands linked before her while the black haired girl dropped her hands to her sides.
"Ara? Shie-kun is not number one anymore?" Shizuru said from behind Natsuki looking to the black haired girl.
"I lost the final Butou to Imari-chan." Shie said quickly glancing over to the blonde girl and smiling.
"I see, Itsuko-san has failed her summer exam and she has been dropped to sixteenth where as the current fifteenth has graciously bowed out for lack of funding. Itsuko will no longer be a Trias with the two of you." Natsuki said knowing full well that the pervious year Imari had held back so Shie would be the number one coral.
"Who will be the number three? Rine-chan?" Shie asked the next ranking pearl behind her had been quite some points behind Itsuko and had barely passed the summer exam. It wasn't uncommon for the ranks to get moved around during the summer exam many students failed to pass the difficult exam that tested how much of the information the students retained over the summer break. Usually those that attended the summer session did better then those that didn't but most students wanted to spend the break with family and having fun.
"That is why you are here. There will be new or rather old student transferring back into the Pearl class." Shizuru said from behind Natsuki.
"An old student? I thought Arika-onee-sama finished up last year." Imari said as far as she knew Arika was the only student that hadn't finished traditionally.
"The student will be ranked number three and be a member of Trias with you. She was the number one coral in her class before matters became complicated." Natsuki said looking down at the paperwork on her desk even though it had nothing to do with the transfer student it was just a habit she had picked up over the years.
"Who is it?" Shie wondered aloud.
"The former number one coral of two generations ago Nina Wang," Natsuki said bracing herself for their reaction.
"Nina Wang? I thought she was dead!" Shie said her heels coming off the ground in excitement.
"I heard she ran away with that man Sergay." Imari said there had been many rumors since the war and the attacks from Yuna afterwards.
"Contrary to popular belief, Nina-chan is quite alive she was living in the mountains all this time. She was also responsible for defeating Yuna with the help of Arika-chan." Shizuru said.
"I can't wait to see her fight. I've seen footage of her fighting Anty oh man I can't wait to her in action." Shie said excitedly.
"Which comes to our next point; you two will be her bodyguards during her time with us as you will all graduate at the same time. Seeing as you all have places to go after graduation this will not be a problem." Natsuki said knowing Shie was to become part of Aries' Echo Squad and that Imari was to become the Otome to the Shogun of Zipang.
"Nina Wang needs a bodyguard?" Shie asked. Nina had been one of the best fighters to come from this school some even wondered if someday she would rival Shizuru.
"Unfortunately, Nina-chan was the former Ultimate Black Diamond and is considered a puppet of the former Grand Duke. Even though she has been pardoned there will be attempts on her life, which can't be allowed as she is a student here and also has a contract with Queen Mashiro." Shizuru said.
"So you want us to hang around with Nina Wang? And keep an eye on her?" Shie asked amazed that she could not only meet Nina Wang but would be working with her.
"As of now your two have emergency materialize orders. We have ordered the director to allow you both to materialize at will should a situation will arise." Natsuki said regretting it as she saw the look in Hallard's eyes.
"Cool this is just awesome." Shie said her hand moving to her GEM.
"Shie..." Imari said as she shook her head.
"Mind you anytime either of you materialize the director will be monitoring you and I will be notified. Which means no screwing around Hallard," Natsuki said looking at Shie.
Before Shie could say anything Shizuru cleared her throat and said, "One more thing, the fifteenth will be leaving tomorrow and that is when Itsuko will move down the hall. Would you two mind sharing a room for the night?" The retiring student had been one of the few to take the summer session but due to a lack of funding at dropped out before the fall classes.
"We don't mind Onee-sama." Imari said bowing.
Shie chuckled then said under her breathe, "Don't have to sneak in tonight."
"Both of you report here tomorrow morning, there are things we need to discuss with Nina present, dismissed." Natsuki said thinking Nina wasn't reporting in until the next day. They had arranged to have the butou between her and Haruka in the afternoon. Despite trying to keep it quiet news had spread and everyone in Windbloom knew about their match now they had no choice but to make a spectacle out of it now.
"Hai," Shie said as they both bowed then Shie took Imari's hand both of them leaving.
"Are you sure about this? I would have been content to just let her stay at the palace." Natsuki said knowing having Nina here as a full time student wouldn't be easy.
"It will be hard for her but it will be good for her." Shizuru said. Arika had been tutored at the palace because of her contract with Queen Mashiro but Nina even though she also had a contract with the queen wasn't needed.
There was a loud knock at the door causing Natsuki and Shizuru to look up and Natsuki to say, "Enter,"
"Principal, Nina-chan is here to see you." Arika said from the door giving a light bow.
"Bring her in Arika and then show yourself out. Thank you." Natsuki said motioning them in a little surprised that Nina was here already she must have come straight from the palace after checking in with Mashiro.
"Hai principal come on Ni-na." Arika said coming into the room getting a glare from the blue haired girl. She bowed nervously again then left.
"Have a seat Nina," Natsuki said holding her hand out to the couch on the other side of the room as she got up walking to it with Shizuru following her.
"Yes principal." Nina said as she sat on the sofa.
Natsuki and Shizuru sat in a pair of chairs across from her and Shizuru started pouring tea. "Nina-chan, would you like some?"
"Yes please Meister Viola." Nina said her legs crossed at the ankles and her hands folded in her lap while her back was straight.
"I hope you realize the gravity of your situation and your position as well. We can't leave you running around out there partially trained even if you are inactive." Natsuki said as Shizuru handed Nina a cup of tea and then her one.
"I understand principal but is there no way for Sergay to stay here?" Nina asked not sure if Maya had told them of her marriage she knew that the pillar had seen both their rings even though she hadn't commented on it.
"We understand your concern but Major Wang is still a war criminal." Shizuru said the council had issued a pardon for Nina but not for Sergay.
"Meister Viola, four months ago Sergay and I were married." Nina said looking at the ground her right hand playing with her wedding band.
Natsuki nearly dropped her tea cup but caught it, "You did what?"
"He is my husband. We haven't consummated our marriage yet." Nina said still looking at the ground though she slightly looked up at the principal.
"That's obvious, or we would take your GEM and be kicking you back out on your butt." Natsuki said a little harsher then she realized as Shizuru covered her hand with her own.
"Well, that was bold move Nina-chan. Never the less, we are straining to accommodate you as is." Shizuru said it was hard enough to arrange for her to attend Garderobe. Just the month before the Council of Earl had been pressing to have Nina striped of her GEM and injected with PSA. Natsuki had been one of the strongest opposition to the measure.
"I've been out of school for more then a year am I to have to catch I don't think the work books I did is enough." Nina said knowing better then to press the subject.
"We have assigned Shie Hallard and Imari Tohika as your protection the second and first pearls respectively. I'm sure that Tohika will have no problems with tutoring you." Natsuki said.
"I would be glad to have Tohika-san tutor me but is a body guard necessary?" Nina asked taking a sip of her tea.
"We aren't taking any chances. Seeing as you will not be able to communicate with your master on the fly, we won't be letting you be unguarded." Shizuru said. "A new system called MAGICC has been designed by Miss Woods though Arika-chan does not have it due to an adverse reaction with her true robe. We also believe that it's because the queen has two contracts so you will not have it. Do not worry you will be outfitted with a phone when you graduate." Shizuru said talking about the new system that allowed Otome to certify remotely their master not having to be directly present.
"I see. If you don't mind Meister Viola the journey here was quite long and I'm a little tried might I be shown to my quarters?" Nina said putting her cup down on the table.
"Yes, you will be staying in Hallard's room tonight until we can get you settled into a room of your own. We just had a student drop out and will have a room available for you but not for another couple days." Natsuki said then touched her GEM, "Hallard, Tohkia? Come up here we need you to escort our new 'student' to her room." Natsuki said then cut off the connection.
"Enroute Principal," Shie said.
"You will be granted leave on the weekends. Otherwise you will remain her. Try to relax and act like a student and not a married woman. Which by the way, you are not to tell any others, it will only cause confusion here." Natsuki said thinking that it wouldn't be just at Garderobe but in Windbloom as well.
Shizuru walked over to Natsuki's desk opening a drawer and pulling something small out. Then she walked over to Nina handing her a small gold chain, "I imagine you don't want to take you band off but you will have too with this you can still keep it with you but be sure to keep it tucked in."
"Yes, Onee-sama," Nina said as she took the band off holding it in her hand for a minute then she put it on the chain and then put it around her neck tucking it inside of her shirt. She looked down at the tan line on her finger but imagines a few days in the sun and it would fade.
As she did there was a knock on the door, "Enter." Natsuki ordered.
"You wanted to se us Principal?" Shie said a large grin on her face knowing why they were there. Rumors had already spread across the school that Arika had escorted Nina Wang to the principal's office. As with all rumors the truth had been lost and it was being passed around school that Nina was being restrained.
"This is Nina Wang you will be escorting her to her room and be keeping her within eyeshot until further notice. You are not mention any 'knowledge' that you may have or perpetuate any rumors." Natsuki said as both girls stood before her. She glanced to Shie seeing red marks on her cheek and neck that looked somewhat like smeared lipstick which was odd being as Shie didn't wear make-up.
"Shie-kun," Shizuru said then took out a tissue and wiped Shie's face.
"What the?" Shie said as she took the tissue and wiped it off seeing the red color then looked at Imari seeing the same color on her lips. She shook her head then once her face was clean tucked the tissue in her pocket turning to Nina bowing and holding her hand out. "Nina-sama it is an honor to meet you. Shie Hallard number two pearl and this is Imari Tohika number one pearl."
"Hallard..." Natsuki said trailing off noticing Shie had missed the lipstick on her neck.
"Now that you've been introduced go to your dorms. It's nearly curfew." Shizuru said as the three students bowed then left.
Shie and Imari walked down the hall with Nina though the older girl didn't seem to be paying much attention to either of them. "Nina-sama where have you been? No one really knew." Shie asked
"Shie! Stop being a fangirl!" Imari said not at all pleased with her girlfriend's idol worship. Shie had been talking about Nina ever since they found out.
"I don't want to talk about it." Nina said remembering what Natsuki and Shizuru had said about keeping things to herself.
"Sorry. I don't imagine things have changed much around here but if you have any questions feel free to ask." Shie offered.
"Just take me to my room. You remind me of someone a very annoying insect, someone who I used to room with." Nina said causing Imari to giggle.
"Wait a minute you roomed with Anty!" Shie said, "I'm nothing like her!"
"You're a smart one." Nina said as they turned down the hall to the dorms Nina already knowing the way walking several paces ahead of them.
"I think you idol just slammed you Shie." Imari teased.
"Shut up Imari or you are sleeping alone." Shie said while Nina walked to a door reading the name Shie Hallard on the tag.
Nina opened the door, "If you don't mind, Id like to lie down. I'll leave you two to your lover's quarrel. I get up at first chime so make sure you right behind me." She said then walked though and shut it.
"First chime?" Shie asked the closed door.
"Did you ever bother to listen to Miss Maria? She means 7:00 AM" Imari said groaning.
"We don't normally get up until third chime." Shie complained.
"Correction you don't get out of bed before third chime. Some of us get out of bed before 10:00am. Anyway we do tomorrow, Principals orders." Imari said then dragged Shie into her room and closes the door.
(The next day, Otome Butou Arena, Windbloom)
"You know, this is real cheap of you. But then you never have been able to take me on out right you Mongol." Haruka bellowed as she stood on her stone perch. The rod in her hand was a testament to her displeasure. But then hurling half-baked insults and taunts was a well known trademark. The had opted to fight with rods rather then their elements afraid that between Natsuki's cannon and Haruka's mace they would destroy the arena. Not to mention as Shizuru pointed out they could do less damage to each other with rods.
"You could stop complaining. You aren't the one who has to pay for all the damage you cause!" Natsuki belted back actually pointing her rod out as if it were a spear. The crowd of students below could not even hear the pissing match going on in the center. So they speculated on whats and whys.
"I heard the principal wounded Haruka-Onee-sama's pride back when they were students." A coral said clenching her hand on a rail.
"You haven't been here long enough to know the stories so you should be more mindful of what you say. Everybody knows that it was Shizuru-Onee-sama and Haruka-Onee-sama that were rivals! Haven't you ever seen the pictures in the library archives?" Another coral said.
"You are both wrong! It's because Haruka-Onee-sama hit on the Archmeister and the principal is defending her honor." Another said in the group.
Up on the level above them the pearls were permitted to be. Imari sat next to Nina looking over to her lover, "What are you doing now?" Imari questioned Shie as she bent over the edge and tried to listen to the rumors.
"Getting some amusement some of this stuff is really funny. The general is totally dedicated to the president. She doesn't even like to be in the same room with the Archmeister." Shie said as she tightened her legs against the ledge so she would not fall.
"I thought you got over the gossip that goes around. You know better then to listen to it. Like what if they said that I was cheating on you with Itsuko-chan?" Imari asked which got Shie to stand back up right and give her a curious look.
"Imari, you can't even tell a fib with out avoiding eye contact. And if it was true, at least I can deal with you boinking Itsuko-chan. You might even teach her a few things," Said the second pearl causing her partner to gasp.
"Shie! I can't believe you!" Imari said turning and walking away. It was about the third step she felt two hands grip her hips. Just a little higher and her nose would have bled.
"Don't play with me like that and expect me to not play back. I know you couldn't sleep with Itsuko. Not forgetting that the girl is so painfully straight that she cringes when she sees us kissing. I know you are mine. Like how Onee-chan likes to flirt with the girls running the markets but she is so hopelessly the property of Aoi-san. And the very last thing…" Shie paused and slid her hand down Imari's uniform and then slid it under feeling Imari flinch. "If anybody else knew what happens when you get a fire in your belly. I doubt they could handle you." She finished getting her hand pinched. After letting go and standing next to the former she looked across at the box where her commander-in-chief was.
"You gotta wonder what is going through their heads." Shie said as she looked over
(Balcony)
"More tea? This is a special concoction that I managed to get from the silver forests of Artai. It's made from a root and Natsuki refuses to drink tea made out of something that grew underground." Shizuru offered to her guest.
"That's not all that odd. Haruka won't eat anything that was produced on the thirteenth of any month. And she throws salt over her shoulder if a coolak lands on the exact center of the Suzshiro she even has a circle painted on the deck so she knows exactly where it is. I don't get it; her father is not a suppositious man." Yukino said accepting the cup gratefully.
"The thirteenth and salt throwing? Ara, ara. It seems that all those tricks I pulled on her coral year took hold." Shizuru said sipping her tea quietly chuckling.
"For all her boasting Haruka is a good person. She just gets ahead of herself. She almost jumped at the chance to set Natsuki straight. Saeko-mama is right though. Natsuki is being a bit harsh on the situation." Yukino said setting the cup down and looking around.
"Natsuki's mother is a very strong, somewhat pushy person. She says that Natsuki has too much of her father in her. I think that she does have a lot of her father but even more of her mother. That is why I respect Saeko-sama and it makes me love her daughter even more." Shizuru glanced a moment but kept her proper posture.
"Natsuki-chan was the first up the snow mound when we were little. She and Haruka would fight for hours to keep the top of it. Then they would both have colds for a week and spend it at home in punishment. That's why Natsuki had Heart of the Otome memorized years before she even came to Garderobe. Haruka, on the other hand, had to memorize lunar charts. I still find it romantic when she arranges moonlit dinners." Yukino said with a smile.
"I think it's going to be starting soon. The looks like Arika-chan and Mashiro-sama have stopped arguing." Shizuru said looking at the balcony where the royal sat. Even though this was a Garderobe function they had still given a seat of honor to the monarch and let her be the commentator.
(Royal balcony)
"It's not my fault that Mikoto got into your candy stash Mashiro-chan!" Arika said.
"You are supposed to protect things. What good are you of you can't keep a cat out of sweets? Not to mention they were my sweets!" Mashiro railed back. "Never mind that let's get this over with. I hate being brought into squabbles that have nothing to do with me." She then walked up to the edge and began her announcement.
"I officially announce the start of this butou between the Ice Silver Crystal and the Continental Orb Topaz. Blah, blah, blah let's get this over with." Mashiro said turning before about facing to say something else. "If both of you even harm one blade of grass in one of my outer courtyards I'll have nothing nice to say about it. Now, get on with it!" Thinking of the last butou when Arika and Nina had fought and a crashed airplane had fallen nearly destroying the arena and half her palace grounds. Granted it was her own Otome's fault that the airplane had been there and that it was Haruka that saved them that day.
(Center)
"I'll end up selling my clothes if that happens." Natsuki mumbled and didn't even see a rod club her in the head as she started to fall back.
"Quit thinking about Viola's naked ass and fight me!" Haruka barked at the falling pillar. Natsuki caught her right foot on the stone and thrust her body up starting a run before flipping backwards and extended her rod catching Haruka in the stomach and continued to extend the rod until the latter hit the ground in a resounding cloud of dust and dirt.
"How long has it been since you fought a pillar other then Shizuru? I won't play with you before I attack!" Natsuki said knowing that her partner had a tendency to play coy in her combat tactics often allowing a few attacks before starting to take it seriously enjoying the flashly show of a butou. Soon after the thought she instinctively shifted left but Haruka was waiting for her and brought her rod down hard almost striking Natsuki in the temple but the latter already had her rod up in defense.
"And to think you never wanted to be an Otome. You certainly don't fight like it." Haruka taunted while loosening her grip just enough to allow both rods to strain at midpoint.
"It's an acquired tolerance. Believe me, there are times when I'd like to forget my oath to the founder and just leave my GEM on my desk and never come back." Natsuki said breaking the lock and going for Haruka's right side but was blocked less then a few inches from making the blow.
"Then why are you here? Don't feed me that crap about wanting to stay wherever Viola is. That bubuzuke would follow you anywhere you went. She is here because of you!" Haruka said pulling her rod back and hitting Natsuki over the shoulder and then across the chest before hitting her in the back causing her to float a few meters away. Until Natsuki had been assigned the role of principal the position that Shizuru was filling had been that of their first column not the Archmeister but it changed with the couple.
"I don't have to explain myself to you Haruka! You knock on Shizuru yet you are in the same boat as her. I don't want to hear it. And you dare to come into my school to impose my mother's will! You are no better then her!" Natsuki growled before charging Haruka aiming to catch her on the chin but was blocked.
"That's it you mutt! Get angry and loose your awareness!" Haruka said as she avoided the hit and struck Natsuki in her face causing her to begin a slight decent as she instinctively covered her bleeding lip. "In my eyes you are no better then your mother. You don't even know what Alyssa wants and you're already making decisions for her." Haruka said descending with Natsuki.
"How dare you say that! It's because of my mother that I don't want Alyssa here. My sister disserves to make her own choices. I never got to!" Natsuki screamed and jetted up and punching Haruka in the eye before repeating part of the same move that was used on her and lashed Haruka across the back hard causing her to wince.
"Is this what it's all about Natsuki? You taking revenge on your mother? I have never been so thoroughly disgraced in my life. It is clear that I will have to cut you down just so you can see how wrong you are!" Haruka said making the contact points on her robe radiate large amount of energy before grabbing Natsuki leg and throwing her into the ground before landing on top of her with her toes pointed down effectively ending the match.
"You … you held back on me." Natsuki said in between breaths.
"Don't speak to me or I'll break something for real. You lost, I won. You know the dice." Haruka said meaning to say deal before walking off away from Natsuki.
"Nothing good will come of this Haruka. She'll be just as miserable as I was!" Natsuki screamed as the latter walked away ignoring correcting Haruka's grammar mistake.
"Until you found Viola, Alyssa has the potential to become greater then either one of us. Her intentions are those an Otome should have, pure and selfless. She has nothing to loose like you or I. We cling on to our loves and in so have everything to loose." Haruka said quietly to herself as she walked towards the exit.
To be continued…