Family

Ten

Michi Mishima was not quite sure what to think about the two young women who had appeared at her home, claiming to have been friends of her stepdaughter, Nao. Haruka and Yukino were polite but evasive when asked about their school life with Nao, and seemed to be fishing for information.

Michi was just readying herself to throw them out when the door opened. "We're home!" Nao yelled as she and Akane entered.

"Nao, you have guests," Michi called back.

Hurrying into the living room Nao took in the two young women, her eyes narrowing. "I wasn't expecting you so soon," she said a bit flatly.

'Hmm. Not her friends, I think,' Michi thought.

"Nao, it's been awhile," Haruka nodded. "I was hoping we could catch up."

Giving them a thoughtful look, Nao nodded slightly. "Yeah, I guess we do have things to talk about," she said after a moment. "Come up to my room, let's not bug my step-mom."

"Nao, you don't have to...," Michi started, concerned.

"It's fine," Nao smiled at her gently, "I kinda knew this stuff would follow me from my old school eventually. Best handle it now."

"If there's trouble, yell," Michi said firmly.

Haruka looked like she was going to protests that, but Yukino just tugged her arm as they fallowed Nao.

Akane looked at her half sister as she asked, "Do you want me to stick around?"

"It'll be fine," Nao reassured her, "besides, you can hang out in your room and rush in if there's screaming."

"Ha," Akane smiled faintly then went into her room.

"Screaming?" Yukino looked wounded.

"Yours or mine," Nao answered dryly, waving them into her room.

It was actually a very feminine and frilly room, which faintly surprised Haruka. Not that she was expecting leather or something, but frills and lace kind of surprised her.

"You can sit on the bed if you like," Nao waved as she put her school bag down.

"Uhm..." Haruka hesitated.

"Now," Nao glared at both of them, "What the hell do you want?"

"We couldn't just be out here checking on you?" Yukino offered.

Nao gave her a look, both of them knowing why Nagi had sent them out there. Sadly, Haruka didn't know that.

"Well, I am here trying to find out who sent me after you," Haruka surprised them both by saying. Both looked at her as she continued, "I'm not stupid, though some people might think I am. Once I had time to think about it, I realized someone deliberately planted the information on where you moved and the rumors about a local gang war, assuming I'd go after you."

"Haruka..." Yukino started.

"And I'm not blaming you," Haruka addressed her, "Whomever did this sent information through the student council too. I'm thinking Kanzaki is involved, possibly Shizuru too."

"Assuming that's true, why do you think someone sent you after me?" Nao asked, curious if Haruka had figured that out.

"I don't know," Haruka admitted, "but I suspect you do. Will you tell me?"

Nao studied her thoughtfully. "Why should I? We've never been on the same side in our lives," she pointed out reasonably.

"The enemy of my enemy is my ally, or something like that," Haruka shrugged. "And maybe, if I know what's going on, I can head another shot at you off."

"That's a point," Nao admitted. "But it's not only my secret, right... Yukino?"

Yukino GLARED at Nao even as Haruka looked at her in surprise. "Oh thanks a LOT, Nao," she growled out.

"Yukino?" Haruka asked softly.

"It's... complicated," Yukino squirmed under Haruka's gaze.

"No it really isn't," Nao said, suddenly tired of the general bullshit. She gestured, summoning her 'spider-glove' as she said, "There's a group of girls with super-powers at Fuka. I was one of 'em, so's Yukino, just before I left we successfully fought off a invasion by SEARRS."

"Holy..." Haruka started.

"Oh, and that creepy bastard Nagi implied we were going to have to fight each other to the death. Which is one reason why I agreed to letting dear old dad take me out of there," Nao added dryly.

Haruka gave a faintly stunned glance at Yukino, who nodded glumly. "Yes, I have powers, and what Nao's saying is pretty much correct," she admitted. She looked at Nao, "Though things haven't escelated any more since you left."

"And Headmaster Kazahana allows this?" Haruka asked, blinking.

"She might even be one of the ones behind it," Nao said with a shrug. At Haruka's questioning look, she continued, "How do you think so many girls with no money got into Fuka in the first place? Kazahana's scholarships."

"So why did someone send me after you, then?" Haruka demanded.

"They didn't," Nao shrugged, adding, "They sent Yukino after me. Probably hoped she'd off me to protect you, or something."

"They clearly don't know either of you that well," Haruka observed tiredly.

"Thanks," Nao thought about it, "I think."

Yukino sighed, "I think she meant it as a compliment, Nao."

Haruka got up, running a hand through her hair. "I think Yukino and I should go back to Fuka," she decided, "we have a lot to talk about, and from what you've said we're needed there."

"Be careful to watch out for that bastard Nagi," Nao warned, "and I don't think much of Reito Kanzaki either."

"I'll keep it in mind," Haruka agreed as Nao walked them to the entrance to the house.

As both woman slipped their shoes on Yukino added sarcastically, "Thank you SO much for revealing my secrets to Haruka."

"Glad to help," Nao answered dryly. "Should have told her yourself once she got dragged into our problems, hmm?"

Yukino just scowled at that.

"I am...," Haruka looked liked she was struggling with the words, "sorry if I caused you any more trouble, Nao."

"See, that wasn't too hard," Nao quipped. Somewhat more seriously she added, "Don't get yourselves killed. I want to mock you when you place second in class again."

Haruka just growled as she and Yukino left.

Michi returned from the kitchen, where she had retreated to give them some privacy. "Is everything all right?" she asked politely.

Nao sighed. "Those two were the cops at my former school, pretty much," she revealed, "they were in the area and decided to hassle me."

"If you had told me I would have booted them," Michi chided gently.

"I probably should have," Nao admitted, "sorry."

"Well, assuming evil women from your past show up again, I hope you'll tell me," Michi teased.

"Yes ma'am," Nao laughed. "I'm going upstairs, see if Akane needs anything."

"Let her know dinner will be ready soon," Michi added as Nao headed up stairs.

"Will do," Nao waved.

As she went upstairs Michi looked fondly at her wayward step-daughter. Despite her various protests of being a delinquent, she rather suspected the girl had a good heart, buried underneath the cynicism. The trick would be reaching it, before she decided to take off or something.

Meanwhile Nao thumped on Akane's door. "Can I come in?" she asked.

"Hey," Akane smiled as she let her in, "Everything OK?"

"What, you weren't pressing your ear against our connecting wall?" Nao teased, gesturing to the wall in question.

"I couldn't really hear anything," Akane sheepishly confessed.

Nao laughed at that inadvertent confession. "Well, I think I've handled things," she mused, "at the very least I dropped a secret on them that should keep them busy for awhile."

"That the shy girl has the hots for the other one?" Akane asked.

"That would probably break Haruka's brain, but no," Nao shook her head. "Anyway, Michi says dinner is soon. Better get ready."

"Right," Akane said, respecting Nao's desire not to talk about it.

To be Continued...

Mai Hime Notes: In a early episode of Mai Hime Mai is brought to Mashiro to be told about Orphans & such, so I'm assuming a meeting like that for Nao. Nao and Yukino both fought in the battle for Fuka alongside Mai, Natsuki and others, which is why Nao knows who they are.

I'm not sure either Yukino or Nao are quite in character, tho one can argue Nao has shifted a bit because of events in this story. While Haruka usually gets written dumb in Mai Hime fics, she's usually #2 in her class/grade so she can't be THAT dumb.