Chapter 10

Location: Garden Robe

Yukariko was out of energy as she was leaning against a wall. Kagura was slightly jumping side to side with her hands in a fighting position. Yukariko readied an arrow at Kagura. The intruder smiled and seemed so full of energy.

"Come on, you can't hit me. I'm way out of your league."

Yukariko fired upon Kagura who quickly dodged the arrow. Yukariko ran back and began to fire more arrows at the intruder. Kagura seemed to enjoy herself as she dodged the arrows and ran after her.

"I have to keep her away from the students."

Yukariko ran off, Kagura pursued.

"Running away, huh? Well go ahead!"

Yukariko didn't respond as she quickened her pace. She led Kagura to the outside arena where she stopped and faced the intruder.

"The arena, huh? Reminds me of the gladiators, a fight to the death! Come on!"

Kagura dashed forward as Yukariko fired on her. Kagura dodged the arrows and was an arm's length away from her target. She brought a fist into the air and reached her target. Her target had disappeared. Kagura was confused but heard the bow string make a twang sound. Without turning around Kagura pushed her body to the left. An arrow that was targeting her head lay deep in the ground. Kagura turned her head and looked up at Yukariko who was on top of the tall pillars.

"Nice disappearing trick, teach me that sometime?"

"Why are you attacking this school?"

"Orders from the top. Let's have fun! Fight me all you want, I'll still win anyway."

Yukariko aimed another arrow at Kagura. The intruder got into her fighting stance and waited for the arrow to release. Yukariko fired, Kagura dodged the arrow again. In the time the arrow was still in the air Yukariko jumped down from the pillar. The moment Kagura moved Yukariko fired again. Kagura didn't see this coming and slightly moved to the left. The arrow then split into 10 arrows and made their mark towards Kagura. The intruder yelled out in pain as she backed up into a pillar. Out of the 10 arrows 3 had pierced Kagura in the left shoulder, the right thigh and the right arm. Yukariko readied another special arrow.

"Anything you would like to repent from?"

"You bitch…I'm going to kill you…"

Kagura tore the arrows from her body. The wounds instantly healed and the once green eyes of Kagura turned red with a cat like feature. Yukariko fired again but before they reached Kagura they burned to ashes. Kagura slowly made her way to Yukariko who felt a shiver go down her spine.

"Anything you'd like to repent from?" Kagura mocked.

Yukariko didn't respond as she watched Kagura's fingers turn to claws and her teeth grew fangs. Kagura dashed towards Yukariko with a full murderous intent. Yukariko didn't see it coming.

XXXX

"It's done." Kai said as she dropped the bullet in a glass of water.

"Good, I have the blood ready to be donated." Dr. Youko wrapped Shizuru's arm to stop and continue the blood circulation.

Dr. Youko attached the blood packet to the IV stand and attached it to Natsuki. Dr. Youko sighed and turned to Kai and Shizuru.

"Natsuki will be fine. Now please explain what the hell is going on!"

"All you need to know is that Garden Robe will be under the control of someone else." Kai responded.

"What?"

"Doctor, keep the headmaster away from Sophia and Kagura. They attempted to kill her and if they find out she's still alive then they'll come here and finish the job. They'll probably kill you too for keeping it a secret."

"I…I don't understand! What are you talking about?"

"You'll understand soon. Shizuru…let's go." Kai walked towards Shizuru.

"Where are you taking Shizuru?" Dr. Youko began to reach for Shizuru.

"Youko please don't bother. I promised I would follow Kai once she helped me save Natsuki. This is my will."

Kai looked at Shizuru whose glance was on the floor. Shizuru rose from her seat and looked up at Kai.

"Can I…can I at least say goodbye?"

A few tears were running down her face. Kai turned her face away.

"Alright but hurry up, the other two are probably already making their way here."

Shizuru walked to Natsuki. She placed a hand on Natsuki's cheek and caressed it. Dr. Youko turned away and left the two alone. Shizuru lowered her head to whisper something in Natsuki's ear.

"I love you, Natsuki. Please don't forget about me."

Shizuru raised her head a little and lightly kissed Natsuki on the lips. A couple of tears fell on Natsuki's face as Shizuru rose up. Slightly against her will she walked back towards Kai.

"I'm ready."

Kai put a hand on Shizuru's shoulder. Before Kai said anything she took a small booklet filled with extra papers out of her jacket pocket and tossed it to Dr. Youko.

"When the headmaster wakes up, giver her that. Tell her I promise I'll look after Shizuru."

With that Kai and Shizuru disappeared in a blink of an eye. Dr. Youko was still confused and afraid of what was going to happen to Garden Robe.

XXXX

A clang rang out in the arena. Yukariko looked and saw a young blond otome standing in front of her.

"Honestly Yukariko, I thought I taught you better than this."

"Miss Maria!"

Kagura growled at Miss Maria who was pointing her sword at the intruder.

"I don't who or what you are, but I will not allow you to take over this school or hurt my students."

Kagura dashed at Miss Maria. With claws in the air Kagura attacked Miss Maria. The otome swiftly dodged and parried the attacks. This caused Kagura to go further into rage. With a howl Kagura charged after Miss Maria who was calm and steady. Kagura kicked and punched at Miss Maria who dodged every attack. An opening appeared and Miss Maria took it. She did quick work with her blade and put several cuts on Kagura. Kagura backed off but Miss Maria perused. She kicked the girl down to the ground and raised her sword into the air. She began to bring the sword down when Kagura reverted back to her original form. Miss Maria saw something in the girl's green eyes and immediately stopped her attack a few inches away from her chest. For a moment the world was still.

"Kagura…you shouldn't let anger get the best of you. Otherwise you'll end up dead."

The otome and the girl turned their head towards Sophia who was holding Yukariko and held a blade to her throat.

"Another intruder?"

"You didn't think one person would attempt to take over a placed filled with otome's by their selves, no?" Sophia brought the sword's edge closer to Yukariko's throat.

"I won't let it happen again, I swear." Kagura spoke up.

"Good. Because I might have to let the enemy kill you next time."

"What do you want?" Miss Maria asked.

"If you could so kindly turn off your otome power, then this woman might live."

Miss Maria sighed and turned back to her original state. Kagura was shocked to see the young blond turn gray and older.

"I had my ass handed to me by an old lady. I might as well be dead." Kagura groaned.

"Now what?" Miss Maria ignored the "old lady" part from Kagura.

"Kagura, take this one. I will escort Miss Maria."

Kagura got up from the ground and glared at Yukariko. She grabbed the prisoner's arm and began to walk. Sophia took Miss Maria's gem and motioned her forward.

"Where are we going?"

"To the headmaster's office. My boss is waiting for us."

Location: Windbloom, Mashiro's Castle

"What is she still doing here?" Chie asked.

"She's been appointed the royal doctor, you didn't know?" Arika was surprised.

"A royal doctor? What the hell?"

"Mashiro was impressed by Kara's skill and hospitality towards you that she asked her to stay as a doctor here."

"Well, at least I get to keep an eye on her."

"Come one Chie, it's your turn to be checked up on." Aoi reminded Chie.

"Okay, okay."

It was a week later and Chie's arm was healed, but Kara wanted to make sure the arm was still functional.

"Please, please, please let my arm be good." Chie hadn't forgotten about Aoi's promise.

When Aoi and Chie entered Kara's medical room, Kara asked Chie to sit on the medical bed.

"So how have we been doing since the last time I've seen you?" Kara began to check Chie's medical record.

"I've been good, but I really want this arm to heal up." Chie smiled when she saw Aoi blush.

"Okay let's see then."

Kara made Chie move her arm in certain ways to see if the arm caused her any pain. Kara began to write something in Chie's medical record. She sighed as she opened a cabinet.

"Is everything alright?" Aoi asked.

"Well everything's fine," Kara brought out a hand saw, "Except that I have to amputate the arm."

"WHHAAATT?" Chie and Aoi yelled.

"Naw, just kidding! You should have seen the look on your faces." Kara laughed as she put the hand saw away.

"That wasn't funny." Chie seemed upset.

"Okay, okay. In all seriousness, your fine. You'll be able to get it on with your girlfriend." Kara winked.

"Oh I will!" Chie hugged Aoi by the waist.

"Ch-Chie!" Aoi blushed.

"Dr. Xu!" Arika busted into the medical room.

"Oh, hey what up Ari-chan?" Kara began to put her medical equipment away.

"There's someone here who wants to see you."

"Unless their bleeding all over the floor or puking up their guts; tell them to set up an appointment. I'll get back to them later." Kara closed the cabinet doors, loving the power she had as a doctor.

"They said it's pretty urgent, it's a man in a lab coat and the other in a green coat."

Kara froze all her motions. The three ladies stared at the doctor, waiting for her next move.

"Shit, I forgot about him. What am I going to do?"

Kara began to move again. She straightened her white coat and turned towards Akira.

"Where are the men?"

"With Mashiro, I'll escort you."

When Arika and Kara were out the door, Aoi looked at Chie.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

"Come on, let's go see."

XXXX

"I am not about to give control to my country to you."

"Unfortunately, you have no say so in this matter."

The doors to Queen Mashiro's office opened and Arika and Kara entered.

"Gentlemen, I was not expecting you so soon."

"Dr. Kara, you know these men?" Mashiro raised an eyebrow.

"Unfortunately I do," Kara turned her attention to the men, "Now gentlemen, can we take this into a more private place."

"Kara, what are-" The man in white began.

"Of course we can. Queen Mashiro this is Dr. Kuro, Dr. Xu's assistant," the man in green seemed amused when he said Dr. Kara, "If I may have a moment with Dr. Xu? It deals with medical issues."

Mashiro looked at the man in green skeptically, but nodded her head in approval. The man in green smiled and motioned Kara to follow him. Arika looked at Dr. Kuro with suspicion. He looked back with his black hair and grey eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Kara and the man in green were walking out of the queen's room when Chie and Aoi arrived.

"Dr. Xu, who's this?" Aoi asked.

"This man is head of the medical field where I'm licensed at. We're just going to be discussing my staying here."

"Well…good luck."

Kara and the man in green walked on. Chie watched as the turned the corner. She didn't realize how intently she had been staring until Aoi caught her attention.

"Chie, is everything okay?"

"I'm not so sure…"

XXXX

"Dr. Xu? Honestly it sounds ridicules to begin with. Still playing doctor are we?" The man in green chuckled.

Kara remained silent as they entered a room. She took a deep breath and turned herself around to face him. A hand slapped her face hard. Her eyes lost their luster as the sting settled in.

"You were supposed to take control of Windbloom! Not be their doctor! Honestly you're not even smart enough to obtain that title."

Kara brought her face back up and had her eyesight on the floor. A rough hand grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him.

"Do you realize how much time you've wasted here? Get it together Kara; you're not here to make friends. We're on business. Your other sisters are doing as they should, why have you not done the same?"

Kara didn't respond as she tried to avoid his icy glare. He pushed her to the ground and tried to calm himself down.

"I should have you killed for treachery, but you're much too valuable to me still," the man in green glanced down at her; "I suppose I'll have to punish your new friends."

Kara quickly jumped up from the floor and blocked the door. The man in green slapped her again. She didn't budge from her spot.

"Are you disobeying my orders again?"

"I…I don't care what you do to me. But leave them out of this! Take it out on me! I started this, me!"

The green man seemed surprised at first, but smiled as he gently caressed her hurt cheek.

"You're willing to take their punishment?"

"Yes, just leave them be." Kara felt a chill go down her spine.

He moved his face closer to her and touched her lips with his. She looked away as the kiss continued. He roughly grabbed her and turned her around. He quickly unzipped her pants and brought them down along with her underwear. Her legs felt cold as the blood began to leave her face.

"Well at least this way I'll also get to see if any of my hypotheses are true."

She heard the zipper on his pants open. She clawed at the wall underneath her.

XXXX

"They really have been gone for some time." Arika began to worry.

"Receiving a medical license approved usually takes some time." Dr. Kuro said.

Mashiro was silent. Chie and Aoi were sitting near the door way waiting for Kara's return.

"Something's up…it's been at least 45 minutes since they left…what's going on?"

Mashiro rose from her chair and began to make her way to the door.

"Queen Mashiro, where are you going?" Dr. Kuro followed.

"I'm going to look for Dr. Xu. I don't feel so well."

Chie knew what Mashiro was doing and decided to help her.

"I'm a doctor, let me examine you." Dr. Kuro grabbed Mashiro's arm.

"I only trust Dr. Xu." Mashiro shrugged Dr. Kuro's hand away.

"Wait, listen to me-"

"Are you disobeying Queen Mashiro's wishes?" Chie glared at Dr. Kuro.

"I am not. I can check up on her if she really is sick."

"Whether that's true or not, Queen Mashiro wished to see Dr. Xu so back off." Chie continued to glare Dr. Kuro down.

Dr. Kuro backed down. Arika followed Mashiro along with Aoi.

"Stay put and don't do anything that might make your head roll." Chie followed the other three.

Chie had a rough idea of where Kara and that man might be. She walked down the same hallway she saw them and turned the same corner. The four arrived in another hallway filled with doors.

"Okay, I guess we'll just have to check each and every room." Arika smiled.

They agreed and began to open the doors in search for Kara. Chie didn't know it but she grew more and more worried about Kara with each empty room she entered. She was about to give up when she heard a muffled scream down the hallway. She quietly walked down the hallway to see if she could pick up anymore sounds. She heard a thump in a nearby door, like something was dropped on the floor. She quickly opened the door and had the shock of her life.

"KARA!"

She was on the floor with pants down and blood trickling down her legs. The man in green smiled and disappeared within a blink of an eye before Chie could get her hands on him. She soon forgot about him and turned her attention to Kara. Aoi, Mashiro and Arika arrived at the scene and gasped in horror.

"WHERE'S THAT BASTARD! I'LL RIP HIM TO SHREDS!" Mashiro was going on a rampage.

"Don't bother, he took off already." Chie picked Kara up.

"How?" Arika asked.

"It doesn't matter now. Aoi, Mashiro, Arika, go to the medical room and prepare a bath of warm water and lots of rags."

The three took off as Chie began to walk after them.

"You almost sounded like a real doctor there for a moment."

Chie looked down at Kara whose eyes were lackluster.

"I'm so sorry, if I had stopped that bastard-"Chie began to blame herself.

"What's done is done, even if-" Kara winced in pain.

"Stop talking and just rest somehow."

Chie carried Kara all the way to the medical room. After taking off Kara's clothes and wiping away most of the dried blood, Chie placed her into the tub. Not much was said after that. Kara had tears running down her face from her lack luster eyes.

Location: Outskirts of Windbloom

Kai and Shizuru appeared on the outskirts of Windbloom, they could see both the castle and Garden Robe.

"Perfect aiming." Kai slightly smiled when she saw her motorcycle a few feet from where they we're standing.

"Where are we going?" Shizuru asked.

"Somewhere south, that's about all I can reveal." Kai handed her an extra face helmet.

Shizuru took it without a word and placed it on her head. Once Kai sat on her motorcycle Shizuru followed. The engine started and they sped away towards the setting sun. Kai was amazed that this Shizuru, who had every right to angry at the world and at her, still kept her promise of going with her. Kai vowed that such honor in her promise would be repaid 10 times back. She would protect Shizuru though it was slightly against the plan set by the man in green.

Because she knew that Shizuru knew that she wouldn't return to Garden Robe.

R&R please! We're finally in the double digits!