Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Otome or the characters here. Sunrise Does.
I do own Takashi and Sakuria Hallard.
Failing
7.
"Hi, my name is Chie Hallard and I have an appointment with General Armitage," Chie told the receptionist at the presidential office. She had traveled to Aries after Shizuru had arranged an appointment for her with Haruka.
"Yes, one second please," the receptionist said as she picked up her phone and called the president. "President Chrysant, someone is here to speak with General Armitage…Chie Hallard…Okay." The receptionist nodded towards the door, "You may go in."
"Thank you," Chie said as she turned to the door.
Chie walked in and found Haruka standing besides President Yukino. Everyone knew that they were a couple, and although it seemed everyone supported their relationship, Haruka had decided against making it public, since she didn't want Yukino's presidential skills to be questioned due to it.
"Chie Hallard, it's a pleasure to finally see you again!" Haruka said in her booming voice. "President Chrysant, General Armitage, it's a pleasure to see you both as well." Chie replied while bowing with respect. Yukino smiled and motioned for the girl to sit.
"The bubuzuke woman told me you were looking for a job and she recommended you for my new force, but tell me, I thought you were in the forces, what happened?" Haruka inquired from Chie and before she could answer, Yukino saved her from having to explain. "Haruka-chan, she must have personal reasons, and I don't really believe it will affect her candidacy for the position." Yukino said to Haruka before turning to Chie. "Miss Hallard, did Shizuru-san tell you what the position is exactly?"
"Hmmm…not really, she just told me it was for a new force that General Armitage was making, but she didn't give me many details about it." Chie answered honestly. She was glad she didn't have to explain about her discharge again, because knowing Haruka, she would make a big deal out of it.
"Well Hallard, my plan is to make a force called, 'Delta Otome Squad'" Haruka explained proudly and continued, "which will consist of former Garderobe students who excelled in their training but don't want to or haven't become Meister Otomes, and I already have contacted a few, but I'm still missing a leader which is why I called Viola to help me find one."
"And," Yukino said when Haruka was done, "Shizuru-san has recommended you for this position due to your advanced military skills along with you having graduated as leader of the Trias."
"Yes, well I do have a lot of field training and experience which would probably come in handy in your squad General Armitage, I would be honored if you chose me for the position," Chie said hoping to get the job, since it would be perfect for her. She hoped that it would not require relocation though, although Aoi seemed willing to follow her to the edge of Earl.
"Yes, that is why I have called you. Viola sent me your file and you seem to be perfect for the job. I'm still recruiting some members but the team training should start in a few weeks, since I want the squad to be ready for any emergencies and threats ,should they occur, specially now that some terrifying groups are looking to free Nagi," Haruka said. "Terrorist groups Haruka-chan, not terrifying," corrected Yukino.
"That's what I mean, anyways, you're hired." Haruka said without embarrassment, since she was already used to Yukino correcting her.
"Really? Thanks you both so much!" Chie said with gratitude.
"Oh, and one more thing Miss Hallard," Yukino said as she remembered Chie's military status, "Since you will be leading the squad, it automatically makes you a major in the Aries Forces once more."
Chie was surprised at this and wondered what her father's reaction would be, since he had been the one to discharge her. Haruka saw Chie's tensed posture at Yukino's information and said, "and don't worry about your earlier discharge, nobody can discharge a soldier who is placed in the forces directly by the president, so whoever threw you out will have to suck it up."
Chie smiled slightly at this, for she found it quite satisfying to know that her father's power was not the top power in the world. She was glad she would be in the force again, although she was a little intimidated by the thought of seeing her father again, although she knew that she would have to see him sooner or later either way. He was her otou-sama after all.
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Chie had returned to Windbloom after the meeting with General Armitage and President Chrysant. She was eager to tell Aoi the news about her job but what she found when she returned to the palace was definitely not what she expected.
As Chie walked through the main hallway looking for Aoi, she heard some arguing coming from the Queen's office. She kept walking for it was none of her business until she recognized one of the voices belonging to her father.
"Queen, I am requesting that you force your maid to leave my daughter alone," Chie heard her father say as she neared the door. "I am telling you for the last time that what my employees do in their personal lives is none of my business sir, and I would like to ask you that you leave the palace this minute before you make me lose the little patience I have left," Mashiro stated which made Chie proud of her, That's right Mashiro-sama, you tell them!' she thought. She was actually surprised that her father did not intimidate Mashiro, but then again, she was a queen, she was not supposed to get intimidated by anyone.
Chie kept listening by the door. "If you two would accompany me to the exit please," she heard Arika say. 'You two? Who else is there with my father?" Chie asked in her mind.
"Queen Mashiro, it is an offense to throw an Aries General out from your palace, are you willing to risk political ties with Aries over a mere maid?" Takashi asked as the Queen's Otome tried to lead them away.
"A mere maid? No General Hallard, she is more than that, she is my friend and I will help her no matter what. She is happy with Chie-san, so please leave now," Mashiro said as she pointed to the door in rage. She would not allow anybody to talk about Aoi that way. Although they were not that far apart in age, Aoi had been like a mother for Mashiro and a great friend.
Arika opened the door and escorted them to the exit of the palace in silence while Takashi ranted on to the woman that had come with him. "Can you believe it? We are being thrown out of this palace, oh, but let me tell you Otome, I will make sure your queen regrets this move," Takashi said directing the last part to Arika.
Arika just rolled her eyes and ignored him. She could not believe they were related to Chie-san. She was so sweet and funny, while they were mean and arrogant, ' I guess it's true when they say one doesn't choose their own families' Arika thought and kept walking until Takashi suddenly halted along with his company. Arika looked around to see what stopped the General until she saw her. 'Oh great. This day could no get any worst,' she thought with a frown on her face.
"Look!" Takashi said to woman beside him as he pointed to a startled Aoi, "That is the maid who perverted our little girl." Aoi saw Chie's father and a woman she had no seen before. She was suddenly scared and looked onto Arika for help, who saw her plead and said, "Well, let's keep going please, the exit is a little farther down this hallway. Let's continue."
Unfortunately, Takashi was not done with Aoi. He walked towards her and grabbed her by her arm as he yelled at her, "You perverted my little girl! Now thanks to you I had to kick her out of the one place she loved the most! Do you know all the shame this has brought to our family?" Takashi asked while shaking Aoi roughly. Arika tried to pry him off of Aoi but was not strong enough without her robe. Aoi started to cry as Takashi yelled louder, "Stop crying! Those are just crocodile tears! All you did was pervert Chie-chan!"
Takashi kept yelling until Chie ran to her father and tried to pull him away. "Leave her alone! Leave her alone otou-sama!" she yelled until he finally released her. Mashiro came at the sound of all the screaming and saw Chie hold a sobbing Aoi close. "What have you done to Aoi?!" She asked Takashi with fury as Arika grabbed her hand to try to calm her down a bit.
"Oh, I see why you defend the maid so much, you are just as perverted as she is," Takashi spat at the Queen when he saw Arika holding her hand, but before Mashiro could say anything, the woman who had been watching the whole scene unravel without saying anything finally spoke up as she saw Chie holding Aoi lovingly.
"Chie…" the woman spoke softly as she walked towards her. Chie was startled as she heard the voice and looked up to the woman she had failed to notice before. "Mother?" Chie asked confused as she didn't expect to see her there. Chie had quickly escaped to not be noticed when Arika had opened the door to escort her father out, since she did not want to see him at all, and now she saw who the other person Arika had mentioned was.
Takashi was surprised his wife finally said something. She was usually a quiet woman and did not like being involved in his business, although she had asked to come since it involved her youngest daughter. Mashiro was fuming with anger but before she called the guards, Arika squeezed her hand and motioned to Chie and her mother. Mashiro understood her message and watched on, giving Chie a chance to try to resolve a family matter.
"Chie, do you really love this girl?" Sakuria asked as she came closer to her daughter and Aoi. Chie instinctively held Aoi closer and moved her behind her so that she would be between her and her mother. She did not want any more harm done to the girl. "Yes mother, I love her with all my heart and no matter what you or my father says, I will stay with her," Chie stated firmly.
Sakuria saw the determination in her daughters eyes and was surprised that not even Takashi, Chie's beloved otou-sama, could change her mind. "You love her although she is just….a maid?" she asked with a disgusted tone. Although the Hallard family was not royalty, their family was high class and important enough to want their children married to appropriate, same-class partners.
Chie sensed her mother's disapproval but decided against trying to make her understand. She had enough of her family's disappointment to try to fight it. She was going to be with Aoi come hell or high water. "I love her no matter what mother, and if you can't accept that then I guess you have just lost a daughter," Chie said with a determination and courage that scared both of her parents.
"Chie-chan," Takashi said as he went closer to his daughter, which Arika found to be too dangerous and materialized with Mashiro's approval. She quickly jumped between Takashi and the pair, "Back off General unless you're ready to fight me," Arika remarked as stood her ground in front of him. Chie was glad to have Arika defend them, but decided she had to take care of her parents before any more harm was done. Chie released Aoi and walked past her mother and Arika towards her father.
"Otou-sama, please leave and don't ever come near Aoi or me again. As much as it hurts me, if you can't accept Aoi, then you can't accept me either." Chie turned to her mother as she continued, " Mother, I'm sorry if I didn't turn out like the daughter you wanted, but this is who I am, and if you can't accept me either, than both of you can leave."
Chie was filled with pain as she spoke this words but she knew that it was necessary to keep Aoi safe from them. Takashi and Sakuria both looked at each other for guidance since they did not know what to do. "Let's go Sakuria, we don't need to stand here and take this from our daughter." Takashi said as he took Sakuria by the hand and pulled her with him. Sakuria looked to Chie and Aoi and realized that perhaps Chie really was in love with that girl. Perhaps she just needed to accept it and show her daughter her support. Sakuria realized all this things as she left the palace, knowing that it was too late, she had lost her daughter.
Chie looked at her retreating parents and then staggered weakly into Aoi's arms. She had just kicked her otou-sama and her mother from her life. She had lost her family for Aoi, but she knew that Aoi was definitely worth it as she felt Aoi's caring arms around her pulling her closer to her. "It's okay Chie…" she heard Aoi whispering to her ear trying to comfort her, "It's okay."
'Yes, I'll be okay, We'll be okay."
A/N:
Sorry for not updating until now, but here is chapter 7! Hope you like it! I dedicate this to my friend FiferRose! I told you so! Thanks for the reviews everyone! Please keep reviewing and reading! Love you all!
Next Chapter: Chie and Aoi finally have their lives back on track, but Chie still has a question for Aoi. What will her answer be?
