Author's note: Once again, sorry but I don't plan to put the notes yet – I am between lazy and since no one has asked I won't put them just yet- so if anyone doesn't understand you can simply ask me and I will answer as best as I can xD
On another note, I won't always put everyone in the fights, too much people, too much writing and it might turn boring. So in the next battle that might come, if you want to see some of your favorites characters fighting let me know. Else I will stick with at least 3 to 4 fighting scenes per chapter.
Sohma: Yes, I know. 'Sigh' it took me a really hard time writing both this and the chapter from before. I believe last chapter good enough and worth sometime in posting it. I really apologize for the lateness, sometimes I have really hard time thinking of how to write this stuff. Besides, new stories start to get me and I can not stop the ideas till I write and post them. So I apologize for such lateness and I hope I don't take too much for the next chapter but don't worry I will surely finish this story even if it takes forever.
Ah, well seems you have a really liking to my fatherly Nagi, well he is in this chapter now so do not worry xD. You will understand more about Shizuru's past in the next chapter, hence the title, this is simply the aftermath of the battle.
Well I find Shiho funny and I did make TatexReito here so –shrug- besides Nao and Shiho aren't not really that bad. –giggles myself- Nao has no choice, she must suffer and is rather my second choice of putting some tender moments for this couple. I hope you enjoy this chapter, it didn't take me so much time but it was a little harder too. Thank you for reviewing Sohma, I am really grateful you take enough time to review.
Anonymouschick7: wow someone sounds really hyper? Here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy it once again. Thank you for reviewing.
Disclaimer: ugh I don't own Mai-otome/hime too bad BUT HEY! Nyx, Sayuri and Himerus(well…I think I wont mind saying I don't own her next time) are mine hear me SUNRISE!? THEY ARE MINE, PURELY MINE –evil laugh- cough
Aftermath
"I didn't know Himes knew how to handle hand to hand combat." Nagi teased giving a side kick to a vampire while glancing at Mashiro from time to time.
Each Otome and Hime was on a respective side of the garden outside Natsuki's castle with their own partners, fighting Himeru's minions. The purple haired woman simply ignored him and gave another uppercut, and then a side kick to the vampire.
Exuro" she said, her palm pointed at the fallen vampire. Soon as the word left her mouth, flames consumed the vampire. Nagi whistled, amused. "Stop looking at me and fight." She scolded but smiled secretly.
"Ah yes, of course Hime-san." He replied taking a stake out of his jacket and skillfully staked the vampire he fought minutes ago.
Everyone had their partners next to them except for Arika who fought next to Erstin and Nina. Each of them had wooden stakes and tried their fastest to dust the annoying minions that kept coming at them.
"Argh!" Nina groaned as a vampire jumped on her, she soon was covered in dust. Her brown eyes blinked in surprise at the silly smile of Arika.
"Nina-chan is getting old already? You depend on it too much Ni-na." Arika teased, sticking out her tongue as she went to stake another vampire ungracefully but it worked.
Erstin glanced at her lover and giggled. "Arika-chan is right; you have started depending of those powers instead of your vampire strength."
"Is not my fault, Nyx-sama kept insisting that we keep using it." She grumbled standing up and wiped the dust.
However, none of them noticed a loud growl until too late. From the bushes, a gigantic werewolf charged towards the unaware Arika.
"ARIKA!" the couple cried aloud as the double ponytailed girl turned to see the werewolf's fangs inches from her.
Suddenly, a silvery-green and bluish light covered the entire Kruger Mansion. The light continued to spread until everyone that was fighting had been encased in it. Cries of pain, both from inside and outside began to be heard. Every single vampire was starting to burn, some tried to run and hide but it was useless.
"Yohko!" Midori called, embracing her lover with her body trying to cover the light that was now burning Yohko's body.
"Nagi!" Mashiro yelled and ran next to the fallen vampire, she looked at the mansion and whispered astonished. "Hime…light…" her eyes soon found Fumi who nodded and rapidly covered Yohko and Nagi while ordering the other unaffected vampires to retreat.
"Anything on them, Chie?" the vampire shook her head. "Ah, I see you may leave then." She bowed and left quietly.
Nyx stared at the closed door for a few minutes before looking back at the unconscious vampires who were affected by the Hime Light. They were panting, sweating and groaning from time to time. Each of them had their respective partners next to them and a witch healing the now faint burns. She then felt something against her shoulder and her eyes widened at the tender look on her lover's face as she rested her head on her shoulder. The Master Vampire took Arika's hand and held it firmly.
"Forgive me. Forgive me for being such a foolish creature." She blamed herself for how everyone state of health was, it was her fault, after all.
"Do not carry such burdens and don't blame yourself so hard, Nyx-san." Mashiro said sitting across them but giving her back to them. She looked at the vampire and smiled. "I couldn't protect him either, he who was next to me. How foolish was I to believe I could have done something when I couldn't years ago."
"No one is to blame, please don't let your guilt overcome your true goal." Sayuri insisted, trying to cheer up the both of them.
"How is Shizuru?" Nyx asked instead, her hair covered her eyes while she stared at the ground, her head down in shame and defeat at the same time.
"Viola-san is yet to come out of her room, Kruger-san is just outside trying to help as much as she can. But it seems futile."
"Damn you Himerus, damn you."
The other two looked away while Nyx cursed. They had won but at what price?
Eight, dark serpent heads hissed dangerously at Takeda who by now had left his saber and backed away in fear. Shizuru, who was laying on her back facing the back of the Hydra, stared in awe at the magnificent creature in front of her. Soon the middle head, a little taller than the others turned and lowered itself to the frightened Shizuru. Natsuki tried to approach them but another head locked eyes with her and she was frozen at the warning look in its blue eyes. Takeda tried to run away but was stopped by the Hydra's foot that was currently on top of the human, it didn't stomp completely on the man but enough to not let it move or escape. Its eyes glared dangerously at his foolishness. Shizuru giggled, the serpent head was snuggling on her neck and it purred cutely.
"I wonder what is the meaning of this?" she tilted her head to one side and petted the snake's head. Suddenly the left side of her stomach, just above her hip, glowed, a red circle with a tail at the end and a point in the center of it appeared. Everyone stared quietly until a loud crash was heard.
Nyx, holding Sayuri between her arms, was tossed to the wall forcefully. Natsuki immediately went by the side of her vampire sister. Slowly, Himerus came into view wearing a wicked smile. Her eyes soon changed from pleasure to horror as she saw the creature in front of her. Her whole body began trembling in fear and soon become anger.
"How dare you! How dare you summon such bestiality!" pointing at the Hydra.
The sudden outburst of the Master vampire surprised everyone but Shizuru simply backed away in fear once again. Fearing the mad vampire that was coming towards her. However before anything could be said or done the Hydra hissed dangerously, eight heads looked up and roared loudly. Everyone covered their ears at the sound.
A loud cried from Tomoe shocked everyone and soon cries from other vampires began. Natsuki stared at the glowing Hydra, its light was so bright like the sun and for an instance, she wondered why she wasn't dusting like the others. Himerus cursed and ran to her child, using her body to cover all she could of Tomoe's body before she turned dust just like her other minions. She then turned to look at Shizuru angrily.
"You will pay! Cursed thing! You will pay for this!"
Nevertheless, the Hime didn't hear a thing so scared and tired was she that she fainted and along with her, the Hydra disappeared too. The Master Vampire used this moment and taking her saber charged to kill Shizuru however, she was stopped.
A dark haired vampire stood ready to stake Himerus with the wooden stake she had pointed at the vampire's heart. Looking around, the black haired woman noticed various humans with bows and arrows pointing at her and Tomoe. Various warning growls made her turn around to the broken door where she had come out of. There, on all fours were five werewolves all ready to jump at her.
"Do not underestimate my family, Himerus." Nyx warned, panting slightly and holding her injured arm. Her sword nowhere to be seen. "My family is not only of vampires, my army is more than simply vampires. Leave now."
The mad vampire cursed, looking away she called for Shiho who teleported herself and the others away. Soon Nyx collapsed on the floor only to be hugged fiercely by Sayuri. Natsuki ran to Shizuru, she sighed relieved as she found no injuries and then glanced at the dark haired vampire.
"Thank you, Chie-san." She thanked quietly yet gratefully.
"All for both Nyx-sama and Natsuki-sama's sake." The vampire replied smiling and bowing to leave both lovers alone.
"Shizuru…" Natsuki whispered painfully stroking one of the chestnut haired locks.
Chie smiled fondly once again after glancing at the scene behind her, and then she walked over Sayuri.
"Is she going to be ok, Sayuri-san?"
"She is just tired, using that cursed sword, fighting against Himerus and protecting me till I could call all of you here."
"Aoi and the other witches are already out helping the other vampires who were affected by the Hime Light."
"Chie I want everyone to further the investigation on the Viola family."
"Because of what just happened?"
"Shizuru Viola has a connection with Himerus and we must find out soon."
"Of course."
"Chie, Viola-san is not supposed to be one of the three guardians but she is. Nyx and I need to know but more importantly, Natsuki-chan will need to know the fate of Viola-san."
"Unbelievable! That thing is one of them! What is the meaning of this Shiho?" Himerus loud outburst could be heard everywhere near her chambers. Minions backed away slowly in fear.
"I do not know, Himerus-san." Shiho said, bowing slightly and politely. She was afraid too, after all her Sire was scary when mad.
"Well find out! Tomoe is currently in intense care thanks to that Hime Light!"
"I will do what I can, Himerus-san."
"Where is the disgusting human? That boy's foolish move cost me A LOT of minions."
"At the chamber."
Shiho simply stayed with her head bowed, not daring to look up until she heard the door close and her Mistress leaving. She sighed relieved and shuddering when Himerus laughed maniacally again. Her thoughts soon drifted to a certain redhead as she thought, concerned, about what was left between them. After all Nao and her barely ended their conversation with the abruptly call of Himerus and then teleporting all of them back to the chamber. Leaving her poor love, alone and confused.
Oh Nao, how I wish things were different. How I wish we could be together.
"Shizuru! Shizuru open the door please! Let me in!" Natsuki yelled, frantically and concerned about the Hime, she kept banging the door helpless once again.
Immediately, after the fight Shizuru had excused and locked herself in the Mistress's chambers, taking with her the only key and casting charms around the room so no one could enter.
"Please, Shizuru? Let me in, please." Tears of desperation fell from the Master Vampires face, her voice weaker and softer. Her nails scratching painfully at the door, all her left side of her body against the door as she tried in vain to make Shizuru open the door. "Shizuru…"
Inside, curled like a baby, knees against chest with her arms hugging her legs tightly. Tears streamed from the chestnuts haired girl, she was sobbing. Images of her painful childhood invaded her mind and she could not do anything but whimper. Yet her eyes wide at the pleading tone of Natsuki. She pointed with her finger at the door, whispering softly she went back to her catatonic state.
The raven-haired vampire tripped but not enough to fall. She hastily went over to Shizuru. Natsuki, not knowing what to do, simply choose to take Shizuru in her arms and hug her fiercely yet tenderly. The Hime's whimpers and silent cries stopped but from the way Shizuru twitched and her eyelashes moved violently, Natsuki knew that her companion was having one horrible nightmare.
"Hush, Shizuru it's ok. I am here, please Shizuru wake up."
Finally, for the first time in her undead life. Natsuki feared once again. The idea of losing Shizuru. The desperation of not knowing what was happening. The feeling of being helpless consumed her once again. , she continued embracing the witch, consoling her until she too, drifted to sleep.
Omake:
Nao: What's with her? –pointing at Natsuki who is rocking back and forth and being all gloomy-
Rainee-chan: -eating hamburger with a lot of tomato and staring at blog post- she is going emo, right Shizuru?
Shizuru: -drinking tea and staring at the blog too- Ah yes, she is.
Nao: Huh?!
Natsuki: -mumbles- mayo…no….mayo…
Nao: HUH!?
Rainee-chan: -sigh- see this –points hamburger but still looking at the blog- it was suppose to be hers but then she find out that China doesn't have Mayo and went all catatonic.
Natsuki: -mumbles- evil…china…evil…no mayo…plain evil…
Nao: -sweatdrops- OK…What THE HELL!? -stares at the blog-
Rainee-chan:Exactly...-nods- people are getting crazier this time...I mean Shizuru and Mai!? Unless Natsuki is dead I will not like it...
Nao: A THREESOME!? WHAT THE HELL?! what am I? second best!?
Rainee-chan: I believe you have being paired with almost every Hime I can think of...except Yukino hmm or Haruka...that will be funny.
Nao: …IS NOT! I have enough being paired with that mayo-beast! And not only her but her too! -points at Shizuru-
Shiho: Ohhhhhh Naooooooooooooooooooo
Nao: Shit…-runs away-
Shizuru: Rainee-chan? -continuous reading the blog-
Rainee-chan: Hmm?
Shizuru: People like to mix a lot of stuff, they are even getting sick of Natsuki and me -sniffs-
Rainee: -sees that Natsuki is still crying herself out- I know -sighs and stares at ripped pieces of paper- and is also getting on my nerves.
Everyone: O.o -YukinoxShizuru, NatsukixAoi, TakedaxTomoe, ShizuruxHaruka- WHAT THE HELL?
Rainee: My reaction was the same -sigh- this strange pairings are getting me too -sigh- (not trying to offending any other author but call me what you want but I like to stick with what is and could be called rightful pairings for each of the characters except for Nao xD and does ideas where simply a minute of insaneness)
Natsuki: -mumbling once again- China T-T evil T-T no…mayo T-T evil T-T –sniffs-
Important Note: I think Kiyohime has simply six heads right? Well this is half Kiyohime and half not Kiyohime. Anyway I simply took the name Kiyohime this time since we all love our lovely snakey right? Kiyohime's appearance is taken from Mai Hime game with a mix of the mythological beast: Hydra which I am sure has eight heads so...if Kiyohime just have six let's just imagine it having another pair extra xD
I am no kidding about the no mayo…there might be some somewhere here but not so much, not as far as I have been walking and going. On another note, I wasn't planning to add Chie or Aoi but circumstance asked for their appearance.
Reviews? I am pathetic and helpless. I need reviews to go on alive with my pitiful life T.T