Thanks so much for the reviews and I'm so sorry I took so long to update.

Kukri-han: That's great to hear! I was beginning to wonder if I was doing any good what with throwing Kuma into the Mai HiME/Otome mix. As for the pairings, yes I realize I am taking a ridiculously long time in bringing them to light and I admit I do tend to focus on Kuma a bit too much for the most part, but I'm working on that. In my defense, it's incredibly hard to appropriately, what's the word?, incorporate the relationships correctly and integrate them into the story without making them seam to rushed or worse, doing it in a half-assed manner. But don't worry! I will eventually give you what I promised and hopefully do each pairing justice. Also Kuma is the only character I'm fully familiar with and the story does kind of revolve around her but hopefully the farther along I get into the story the less I'll focus on her and we'll have more fluff between the couples.

Like now for instance! At least that's what i hope? *Shrugs*


Chapter 9

Shizuru entered the bath with Natsuki but paused mid-conversation when she caught sight of the other three who were already there. "Ara, Anh-San, Sara-San, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

Anh smiled. "We arrived a little while ago and decided to take a bath before seeing the rest of you." She glanced across to the far side of the pool-like bath. "And this adorable little teddy bear has been keeping us company."

"Ara, Takehiko? I," She paused, was Kuma, blushing? "was beginning to wonder where you had run off to."

Kuma cheeks were indeed a dusky rose color though she managed to keep from stuttering. "'Lo Aneki, Aniki."

"Kuma..." Natsuki seemed hesitant so Shizuru decided to take the initiative and approached her young charge, carefully climbing into the steaming water before making herself comfortable on a lower ledge near to the dark preteen. Natsuki settled down beside her.

The others soon followed, each expressing their own surprise at the sight of their unexpected guests as well as the newest edition to the palace. They exchanged polite 'Hellos' and made small talk for a time before falling into a relaxed if slightly strained silence.

Rena and Elliot were the last pair to arrive having needed to take more time to bathe a rambunctious little Arika. Upon spotting Kuma who stuck out due to her darker coloration the little girl ran right up the older child, nearly losing her towel in the process.

Kuma quickly snatched up Red who's blade was still naked less the small child accidentally hurt herself with it.

Arika giggled brightly. "Your funny looking, Niichan!" She reached out trying to touch Kuma as if to see if her color would come off like paint.

Kuma jerked back from the touch. "O-Oi!" She nearly fell into the water fully but managed to balance herself before she could get her bandages wet. Unfortunately she wasn't able to stop Arika from taking hold of her head and rubbing her face in her short hair.

Arika giggled even more at that. "You're really soft too!"

"Arika!" Rena scooped up her wayward child offering an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry Kuma-Kun, she's just friendly."

Kuma looked at them warily. "So the little rugrats yours, huh? Figures."

Rena blinked. "Yes, her names Arika, Arika Yumemiya." Glancing down at a still giggling Arika she indicated Kuma with one hand. "Arika-Chan, this is Kuma, Takehiko Kumabushi."

Arika waved excitedly. "Hi Niichan!"

"Ah, mm." Kuma nodded uncertainly stilling watching the child with a mixture of confusion and wariness as Rena moved around to the shallow side of the bath where she proceeded to settle down with her daughter on her lap. "Well, at least she doesn't reek." Kuma scratched her head.

Rena looked up sharply. "Pa-pardon me?"

"It's not an insult Neesan. I mean she doesn't smell like chemicals. Some of you do and it reeks, I can smell you all from here." She screwed up her face, something that looked oddly cute, kind of like an upset teddy bear. "To be honest it's starting to give me a headache."

"Oh, well we use an all natural herbal soap since it's much more gentle on sensitive skin and I didn't want to take a chance incase Arika had any allergies to commercial soap."

"Well that explains the lack of obvious scent I suppose. Baby soap, right?"

"Ah, well yes."

Kuma's head suddenly cocked. "So why do I smell oatmeal then?"

"That would be mine, the oatmeal acts as–" Rena started.

"An exfoliate, I know." Kuma finished for her.

"So your sense of smell is that strong? You didn't say anything about it earlier." Yohko pointed out from her side of the bath.

"I did say that a Rogues senses are better than most humans though, it's just that MY sense of smell is even better than most Rogues."

"How much better?"

"She could smell us before we even came in here, she even knew we were female." Ahn spoke up.

"What?" Yohko looked confused but Chie leaned forward eagerly.

"You're THAT good?"

"Actually I'm better than that. My tracking skills are downright legendary among Rogues and Gypsies."

"Why's that?" Chie asked.

Kuma glanced her way thoughtfully. "You ever heard of a Rogue who managed to track a man in a mid-winter blizzard?"

Chie looked a little surprised at that. "Yes I have, why, are your as good as they are?"

Kuma smirked. "Actually you're looking at her."

"YOU'RE the Rogue who tracked the rapists!?"

"Wait, what? What rapist?!" Haruka asked looking ready to do something Haruka-ish.

"A Gypsy man from another troop sought me out and asked for my help, seemed some bastard had been going around raping the girls in their troop and they had no way of finding out who it was so I said I'd help him."

Nao spoke up next. "Wait, just like that, you agreed?"

Kuma cinnamon colored gaze turned to the red-haired HiME. "Whether it makes sense or not all Gypsies and Rogues are related by heritage so we tend to think of one another like cousins of a sort. So having a Gypsy ask me for a favor is like having a brother or sister ask you for help."

"So what happened?" Chie prompted.

"I hung around for a few nights, till I managed to trace the scents I found where the different crimes happened." Kuma's fist clenched as she growled. "Turned out it wasn't just one but three of them. We managed to catch two of them but the third one ran, it was mid-winter and a blizzard rose up in the middle of the chase. The others lost sight of him, I wasn't about to let him roam free so I tracked him down. Found him maybe five hours later way out in the middle of a frozen swamp buried under about six feet of snow in a cave beneath a hollowed out tree."

"What happened after you found him?" Natsuki this time.

"Gypsy law took over from there and the troop chose me to carry it out."

"What's Gypsy law?" Nao asked. "It's not like any of us are really well versed in it." But Chie and Elliot looked disturbed. Nao caught sight of their expressions. "What's with you two?"

Chie glanced at Elliot before explaining. "Gypsies are highly protective of a woman's innocence, they believe that all women, and men, should save themselves for their spouses so sex before marriage is completely forbidden. There isn't a person alive, save their spouse or spouse-to-be, who is permitted to touch them below the waist. The price for breaking that law through rape is high."

"Meaning?" Nao prompted further.

Elliot took over. "Any man who rapes someone is immediately castrated, their thumbs, middle, and pinky fingers are all cut off as well. Normally the consequences alone are enough to prevent a rape from happening though."

The all looked equally disturbed at that. Then Mai realized what Kuma had said before. "So wait, they chose YOU to do that!? Just how old were you?!"

"Well yeah, normally the responsibility falls on the father of the victim or their brother, but since I was the one who caught them they figured I should do I. And I'd say I was about, what, eight winter's old I guess." Kuma shrugged.

"WHAT?!"

Kuma blinked at that. "What? It was no big deal, nor was it the last one I had to do."

"So when you threatened to take care of Takeda 'Rogue Style' at Fuka palace you meant?.."

"Actually I only intended to take his thumbs and fingers."

"Why only those?" Nao asked morbidly fascinated.

Kuma shrugged again. "Castration is reserved for actual rapes, while taking away those particular fingers prevents a man from pleasuring himself at all. And the disfigurement is usually enough to frighten away most potential partners as well." All of this was said with a straight face in perfect matter-of-factness.

Silence met her statement.

"A- Ano," Erstin stuttered slightly. "so what- what were you doing earlier?"

Kuma cocked a pale blonde brow. "Say what now?"

"Um, with Anh-San and Sara-Chan." She clarified simply.

Needless to say they were all quite shocked when Kuma suddenly turned a downright adorable shad of rose making the white scar on her nose stick out even more than usual.

"Oh ho." Chie grinned mischievously. "Must of been something incredible. Who would have guessed Kuma could blush of all things?"

Kuma flushed darker. "SHUT UP, CHIE-NIISAN! And I didn't do anything!"

Chie's grin widened. "Oh really? Maybe you did 'this and that'?"

Kuma had turned downright maroon at that. "CHIE-NII!"

Chie practically howled with laughter at that with the others all joining her in her mirth.

.

"Geeze." Kuma huffed still lightly blushing even after the laughter had subsided. "Honestly I'm only going to be thirteen this winter, I'm not old enough to even begin thinking about that."

Chie was still chuckling. "Sorry, sorry, you were just too cute to resist!"

Kuma growled at that. "I am NOT cute! I'm a damn bear warrior!"

Chie just flashed a quick, cocky grin.

"Ara, if I have to agree with Chie, Takehiko blushes almost as cutely as my Natsuki."

It was Natsuki's turn to flush this time. "Sh-Shizuru!"

Nao snorted. "It's your own fault teddy bear since you were te first one to think that."

"Shut it web head, just cause I'm young doesn't mean I'm totally ignorant to certain things."

"Oh, like what?"

"I just spent three years in a contract with the showmaster of a Gypsy troop and you honestly expect me NOT to know a thing or two about adults? Gypsy are conservatively defensive when it comes to personal things but that doesn't mean they don't tease and flirt like there's no tomorrow."

That drew Chie's attention again. "Really now?" She was grinning a bit.

"You do realize that all Gypsies bathe naked, right?" Several pairs of eyes dipped down subconsciously at that in a mixture disbelief and faint curiosity. "My face is farther north than that!" Kuma growled. The eyes snapped back up, some of them even had the decency to blush a little. "Geeze, just cause I'm not such a prude that a little thing like nakedness would bother me doesn't mean that I have no sense of shame and modesty!"

"Right right, whatever." Nao brushed her off.

"I almost forgot." Ahn started. "We interrupted you earlier and I apologize for that." Sara nodded her agreement.

"Eh?" Kuma looked confused before understanding seemed to dawn on her. "Oh that." She waved it off. "It's no big deal really, most people wouldn't even deem it worth apologizing for actually."

"Oh, now what have you done Kuma?" Chie looked ready to break out in a wide grin once more.

Kuma looked at her oddly. "Nothing, I was just humming earlier before they came in."

"Again?" Natsuki looked faintly curious. "You were humming at the tailors earlier as well. What were you humming this time?"

"Same song as before actually." Kuma flicked the water with a finger.

Shizuru was a bit curious herself know. "And what song was that? It felt strangely nostalgic."

Kuma cocked her head at that. "Really? It's an Old World song so I'm a bit surprised you'd recognize it at all since Old World music is usually most popular among Gypsies. It's called Que Sera, Sera."

"Que?" This time it was Shizuru who cocked her head quizzically. Natsuki thought it strangely cute but brushed it off quickly.

"It's Old World Spanish when translated it means Whatever Will Be, Will Be."

"Are there any lyrics?"

"Yes."

"Do you know them?"

"Sure."

"..." Shizuru stared at her young Rogue expectantly.

Kuma stared back curiously. "...?"

"Would Takehiko care to sing them for us?"

"Eh? Well I guess I could..."

Pfft! "Can you even sing with that voice of yours?" Nao all but sneered.

Kuma glared at the irksome HiME. "I can sing."

"Then please, by all means, sing." Nao said sarcastically.

Kuma frowned a moment before taking a deep breath and letting out slowly, a low hum soon followed before her voice rose softly in song. Despite Nao's teasing, Kuma's singing voice was actually in stark contrast to her normal one. Rather than the childish rough growl her voice now sounded more a vocal example of raw brown sugar. It was still unrefined but it was obvious that with age and practice it would grow to be quite something.

"When I was just a little girl

I asked my mother, what will I be

Will I be pretty, will I be rich

Here's what she said to me."

After they got over their initial shock at actually hearing Kuma sing they each sat back and relaxed. Even little Arika quieted down enough to listen rather than chatter away to her mother and Elliot. The song was sung slowly almost tenderly.

"Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be."

Erstin hesitated before discreetly trying to reach for Nina's hand under the water. But she pulled back just as their hands touched, flushing bright pink.

"When I was young, I fell in love

I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead

Will we have rainbows, day after day

Here's what my sweetheart said."

Needless to say she was quite shocked when she felt Nina suddenly grasp her hand instead. She shyly looked up into the amber eyes of her childhood friend and found Nina smiling softly back at her as her hand being gently squeezed. She smiled back shyly before looking away while blushing darker, but looked wholly content as she sat back to listen.

"Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be."

Elliot glanced at Rena who looked perfectly happy to sit there with her daughter on her lap listening to Kuma's song. Glancing about she noticed Nina and Erstin sitting unusually close together with matching smiles of easy contentment. Mikoto had of course attached herself to a still towel clad Mai, the somewhat surprising thing was the sight of Mai's own arm wrapped around the slightly younger girls shoulders both of them wearing smiles of their own. Chie looked to be dreaming of a certain Fuka maid, even Haruka seemed to be thinking of her own certain someone and Yohko seemed unusually thoughtful. Even Natsuki was smiling comfortably as she relaxed beside a softly smiling Shizuru, both of them looking perfectly happy in each others company. The only ones who weren't paired up with anyone in particular were Ahn, Sara, and Kuma herself, though none of them looked the least bit upset with that.

Glancing back at Rena she hesitated to say something but decided to brush it off instead, silently berating herself for being foolish enough to still be chasing after Rena even after all these years.

"Now I have children of my own

They ask their mother, what will I be

Will I be handsome, will I be rich

I tell them tenderly."

She was understandably shocked when Rena leaned over to softly peck her cheek. Glancing over at her childhood friend and love she found Rena looking forward at nothing but smiling softly none-the-less with a light blush on her cheeks.

"Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be."

.

"You should sing more often."

Kuma glanced at Chie for a moment still humming softly and shrugged. "It's no big deal."

"You sing very well for someone so young." Yohko admitted.

"And cute." Ahn teased Kuma only blushed a little at that but then Ahn turned to Sara. "What do you think, Sara-Chan?"

Sara nodded. "I liked it, it was a good song and Kumabushi-San sings well."

Kuma's blushed darkened immediately. "Kuma." Came the low grunt.

"Pardon?" Ahn asked.

"You can call me Kuma, if you want that is."

"Oh my, we can't call you Takehiko?"

"Aneki calls me that." Kuma pointed out.

"Aneki?" Ahn looked curious at that.

"Kuma calls Shizuru 'Aneki' and Natsuki 'Aniki'." Chie explained simply.

"Oh my," Ahn laughed "how did this happen?"

There was a small hesitance before they began to explain what had happened. Shizuru disregarded it and the discussion that followed after in favor of watching the young Rogue. Kuma looked bored and uncaring on the outside but she could easily look beyond the false mask to see that Kuma was paying a large amount of attention to Sara. Looking back and forth between the two of them discreetly she also noticed how closely Sara was watching Kuma in her own innocent curiosity.

She briefly wondered if she aught to do something about them when she heard Kuma murmured something quietly to her. Turning back to Kuma she found the little Rogue gone and looking about she realized that Kuma was nowhere in sight.

.

Time passed quickly and as it passed one could often see Nina and Erstin walking about together which was less than unusual by itself but there seemed to be particular sort of air about the two of them together.

It was also noticed by Chie in particular that Rena seemed less than discouraging towards Elliot's usual advances which seemed to be slowly but surely increasing both in number and in the level of passion almost to the point where they were reminiscent of Elliot's old attempts before Arika was born. But the differences here were that unlike Elliot's early amorous pursuit of Rena which had been desperate and almost obsessive in feeling, the young Ambassador Otome's latest advances carried a much more sincere and serious vibe. Gone were the childish antics in their place was an adults true and deepest sincerity.

It also became a common sight to see Kuma padding about the palace grounds whether she prowled alone or padded along behind Shizuru like a living shadow. What struck many as odd was the fact that the young Rogue seemed to strike a peculiar sort of companionship with Nina and often times took to prowling about with the young Meister when Shizuru was busy with more private matters or in meetings during which Kuma's presence wasn't allowed.

But there were also times in which both Kuma and Mikoto disappeared for hours on end before sneaking back in to raid the kitchens while Mai wasn't looking. They would then trudge their way out into the back gardens where they pick a comfortable spot and collapsed for a short nap before getting into up to more mischief later.

Mai unfortunately seemed to take it upon herself to try and keep an eye on the wild pair since Haruka was a bit less then thrilled to find them getting into trouble no matter how minor it might sometimes be and often came up with unusual and rather senseless punishments for them.

Even Natsuki seemed to be finding fewer and fewer excuses to spend time with Shizuru when the Meister Otome invited her anywhere, even just for tea. Kuma of course was usually there as well but she was somewhat thankful for that.

Unlike Elliot and Rena who had been friends since a very early age due to their families close friendship, Natsuki and Shizuru had only known each other since their very early teens. As they grow older Natsuki had realized that her friends affection for her ran a bit deeper than most, though how deep exactly she couldn't (more like wouldn't) say for sure. Natsuki had a feeling that Shizuru was aware of her knowledge of Shizuru's emotions for her but the ever elegant Otome seemed to find it wiser to keep her thoughts to herself. In recent years their relationship had become somewhat strained, even more so when they were alone together. Natsuki had begun to feel almost desperate to repair the damage as an unnatural fear that Shizuru would abandon their friendship in pursuit of a more profound and fulfilling relationship with someone else arose from within her.

Now with Kuma's added attendance the pressure seemed less and Natsuki found it somewhat easier to push her fears and doubts aside for later. And even when the conversation laxed Kuma's presence provide a safe if somewhat awkwardness inducing distraction as she took the time to observe the dark foreigner's interactions with Shizuru as well as Shizuru's own attitude towards the youngster.

While Shizuru had never shown any sign that she disliked children she had only ever seemed to strike a bond with Nina and Erstin both of which she had personally tutored in the ways of an Otome during their training. So too did she seem to get along well with the ever child-like Mikoto and even little Arika as well. Yet she had also never expressed any desire to have children of her own. And while she cared a very great deal about the welfare of the citizens and children of Garderobe, especially those who lived in orphanages due to either war or a Slave attack, she had never shown any sort of inclination in adopting any of them, let alone one.

And yet the with the new situation with Kuma, at least as far as Natsuki was concerned, Shizuru had not merely bought Kuma's servitude. In a way Shizuru had practically unofficially adopted the young foreigner. As far as Natsuki could figure, according to Garderobean law, Kuma could, unofficially of course, be recognized as Shizuru's ward and in a way Shizuru seemed to treat Kuma as a ward rather than as some sort of employee. Shizuru displayed an incredible amount of patient for Kuma and often indulged in an affectionate sort of teasing. Natsuki also noticed that Shizuru seemed to have developed an odd habit of touching Kuma's hair.

Kuma in turn showed some odd behavior towards Shizuru. Unlike Kuma's responses to Chie and Nao's constant teases Kuma never so much as growled at Shizuru when she teased her, instead she always bore the brunt of Shizuru's gentle teases silently. Nor did she ever try to pull away when Shizuru touched her when the instant that anyone else tried she either snapped at that them or brushed them off. The most Kuma ever did when Shizuru touched her was stiffen up and bear with it, she never tried move away or push Shizuru aside. Also despite Shizuru's many attempts at friendly affection Kuma remained stubbornly adamant in her claim that she was duty bound to serve Shizuru and continued acting more like a hired mercenary, though it seemed that she was slowly but surely starting to warm up to Shizuru and all the rest of them in turn as well.

On any other day Natsuki would have been very glad to have Kuma as a distraction for both herself and Shizuru. Unfortunately today Kuma seemed to have exhausted herself somewhat before following the two of them out for a picnic the back gardens and promptly fell asleep after eating leaving Natsuki alone with her brooding thoughts and an ever attentive Shizuru.

For Natsuki the problem wasn't Shizuru and her feelings. No, the problem for Natsuki was her own lack of insight on just what exactly her own feelings for Shizuru actually were. She knew that she cared deeply for Shizuru, knew that she would do anything for her friend, knew that there was no where she wouldn't go for her sake alone. But, did she love Shizuru the same way she knew Shizuru loved her? Natsuki knew that she loved Shizuru as a friend, trusted her to have her back in everything she did, but did that honestly equal romantic love? No matter how much time she spent thinking about all this and more, she never seemed to find the answers to her ever growing questions.


**AN**

Niichan - "Elder Brother."

Neesan - "Elder Sister"

Niisan - Same as Niichan.

Nii - Shortened version of Niisan or Niichan.

As for why I decided to randomly throw a song in there it's just my own musical interests coming to the surface in this story. Also so you don't get to confused just think of it all like this, the Mai HiME/Otome world is an AU with our own cultural history though it's located on another planet. In both ethnic cultures and popular cultures as well. And if you're curious about which planet it's all on I honestly don't know myself!

Well? What do you think? Does this chapter help at somewhat curing the lack of pairings or am I going too fast with them? Or maybe still not fast enough? Opinions are much appreciated as always, so please review! I'll try to update soon for you all!