Hello to you all!!! I am back with the next chapter!

I am so glad that all of you like my story so much and I would like to say that I haven't abondoned it, it's I just don't write so much as I used to do.

Hmm what else? I really loved your reviews and I would love to read more for this chapter as expected :P

I really hope you like it

My special thanks to my beta reader Corona for his help as always

And I should stop talking now and make you wait no more...

How It All Began

Chapter 11 -舞☆Maid / (Mai-Star Maid)

The title is the original suggested title of Mai Otome

Mai was smiling as the wind made her hair flow. She glanced at the key in her hand, the one Natsuki gave her then turned her attention to Mikoto who was eating the last fish.

'Last fish? When did she eat all those fishes?'

So much time with Mikoto and she still managed to surprise her! Mikoto's face showed satisfaction. Mikoto wanted as much as she wanted to come to this school, both for different reasons. Mikoto's brother was attending Fuuka Gakuen too. Reito would be very happy to see his little sister again. He was the one that arranged everything so they could attend this school; the one that talked to the headmistress about them. Mai liked him, especially because he treated Mikoto in such a nice way, although this wasn't her reason why she wanted so desperately to go to this school. Fuuka Gakuen meant civilization to Mai. She had lived for so long in the mountains, her only companions being Mikoto and the numerous cats that would follow her. Mai couldn't wait to make new friends, spend time with them. She would finally get to live in a place with electricity and all the comforts that people were enjoying! Ahh! Fuuka Gakuen!

As the school became visible in the distance she ordered Kagutsuchi to land. Mikoto smiled at her and picked up Miroku. The rest of the way should be traveled on foot. It would be better if the students didn't see Kagutsuchi.

"I think we should keep it a secret that we are HiME, don't you think?"

Mikoto nodded in agreement before walking ahead of Mai. Mai picked up the huge suitcase and followed her, but when she passed the school gate she stopped and looked around her in awe. It had been years since she had seen so many people. A quick look at Mikoto's face made her smile. Mikoto looked so excited!

Mai approached two girls who were laughing at something she couldn't see on a mobile phone screen.

"Good evening!"

Mai hoped that they would show her where the school dorms were.

"Good evening!"

The two girls sounded as if they had one single voice. They looked at each other and laughed again. Mikoto came closer. The girl with long brown hair smiled to her and she received a similar smile from her.

"I was wondering, could you please show us where the school dorms are?"

"You are new here, aren't you?"

"Yes we are."

Mai caressed Mikoto's black hair before returning her gaze to the girl she was speaking with.

"Then welcome to Fuuka Gakuen! I am Harada Chie, I call myself the dictionary of school gossip, also known as reliable source."

"And I am Senou Aoi!"

"I am Tokiha Mai and this is Minagi Mikoto! Nice to meet you!"

Mai looked at the two girls excitedly! Mikoto came a little closer to Aoi.

"Mikoto is so cute!"

"Isn't she? She's my little angel."

Mai looked lovingly at Mikoto who started sniffing at Aoi. Mikoto proceeded with sniffing Chie who started laughing. Mai was sure that they haven't seen a person like Mikoto, who was checking people by sniffing them. She wondered if Mikoto would like these two girls. Mai liked them that was for sure.

Mikoto turned to face Mai, her smile showing that she approved their new acquaintances.

"I guess you're tired. Aoi let's show these two girls the dorms."

"Sure! On what floor is your room?"

"Third."

Aoi started walking ahead, the rest of them following her. As soon as they reached the dorms she stopped and looked at Mai.

"This is it. My room is here."

She pointed at a door a few meters away from Natsuki's.

"Thank you very much! I guess we'll see you around."

"Of course!" Chie said. "We'd be happy to keep you company!"

Mai got the key and after a little searching she found the right door. She put the key into the keyhole and before she had the chance to unlock the door she stopped looking at the frown on Chie's face.

"Is something wrong?"

"I think you've mistaken the room."

Mai looked more carefully at the number on the door. Yes it was exactly the number that Natsuki said. She turned the key into the keyhole.

"No, I haven't. The key fits perfectly."

"But that's Kuga's room! You can't stay with her!"

Mai wondered why Chie was acting like that. Well, she had seen Kuga and she knew she could be scary. There was a great possibility that she scared the girls that's why they seemed as if they didn't like her. She smiled.

"Kuga-san gave me the key to her room. We haven't met with the headmistress yet so we needed a place to spend the night. Kuga-san and Fujino-san were kind enough to give us this room. Kuga-san will stay at Fujino-san's place."

"I knew it!"

Chie had a victorious look on her face.

"So that's where she's been the last few nights!"

'Harada is keeping an eye on Kuga? Why?'

Mai decided not to say anything about it though, she felt a little tired and a quick look at Mikoto's face was enough to know that the girl was tired too.

"Harada-san, Senou-san, thank you for your help."

"Please it's Chie and Aoi."

"You can call us Mai and Mikoto too."

"OK Mai-kun! Go have some rest! I'm sure we'll meet soon!"

The girls waved goodbye before entering the room that Aoi said that was hers.

"I think it's time for some rest don't you think?"

"Tired!"

Mikoto yawned and Mai opened the door.

"You'll get some sleep now. Whatever my wild girl wants!"

Mikoto wasn't looking at Mai anymore. Mai followed Mikoto's eyes and got the first look of Natsuki's room.

"What is this?"

Mikoto let out a small shout and ran into the room. Mai was still standing by the doorframe, as if she was afraid to get in.

"How does Kuga live in here? This is a dump!"

Mai dared to take the first step into the room. There were clothes all over the floor, empty food packages lying around for who knows how long.

"Mai look!"

Mikoto was already on one of the beds, bouncing on it. Mai laughed amused seeing her like that. Mikoto got off the bed and walked towards the basket full of clothes. Mai closed the door and walked to Mikoto, who bended over the basket and now she was holding a bra in her hand. It was the same transparent bra that Shizuru bought for Natsuki a few days ago. Her golden eyes that were looking at Mai puzzled were preparing her for the question that would follow.

"Why is it like that?"

Mai looked at Mikoto amused. Of course she would ask. Mikoto was seeing for the first time a bra like this, Mai never wore this kind of underwear.

"There are different types of them."

Mikoto examined closely the underwear. She smiled and looked at Mai.

"Get one!"

Mai laughed out loud.

"You want me to buy a bra like that?"

"Yes!"

"You like that heh? OK I'll ask Kuga where she got that one from."

"Happy!"

Mikoto continued searching through the underwear. When she had checked almost all of them, she stood next to Mai. She watched her taking things out of the suitcase. Just then Mikoto yawned. Mai placed her hand on the girl's black hair. Mikoto hugged her tightly.

"Mikoto you get some sleep. I will clean up the room a little and I'll join you as soon as I finish. I don't think I could sleep in such a place anyway, no matter how tired I feel."

Mikoto was almost asleep on her feet so Mai led her to the bed. As soon as Mikoto's body lay on the mattress Mai was sure she had fallen asleep. She placed a kiss on Mikoto's cheek but this wasn't enough to wake up the sleeping girl. Almost nothing could wake her up.

She straightened her body and looked around her. It seemed that she would have some work to do in order to clean this mess but she didn't mind doing so. This was a way to thank Kuga-san for helping them.

In less than an hour she had cleaned the room. The dirty clothes that were tossed all over the floor were inside the basket, the clean ones neatly folded and placed on the empty bed. Mai noticed pleased that the room even had a kitchen area where she could cook breakfast in the morning, although it seemed that the owner of the room had never used it herself.

Mai examined the area around her one more time and smiled proudly to herself. She had managed to turn the dump into a decent room! Her smile was interrupted by a yawn. Maybe she overworked herself a little but the result was worth the effort. Now it was time she got some sleep. She opened her suitcase and took out her pyjamas. Just before she lay down she thought that she should probably change their sleeping habits. All this time that she was living with Mikoto they were both going early to sleep but now it would be inconvenient since none of the other students would do that.

Mikoto was sleeping silently. She lay next to the sleeping girl but soon she found herself under Mikoto's body.

"Mai."

Mikoto whispered her name in her sleep as she was taking her usual place, resting her head on Mai's breasts. Mai's hand went over Mikoto's hair and she ended playing with her ear. She looked at the room's ceiling, lots of different thoughts running through her mind. Thoughts about the days that she would spend inside Fuuka Gakuen, plans for their future. She looked at the girl sleeping on top of her.

"Mikoto tomorrow will be the beginning of our new life."

She closed her eyes and fell asleep, dreaming about the mountains, a feral girl and her cats.

------

Elsewhere, inside Shizuru's kitchen:

"Shizuru what are you doing there?! STOP!!! SHIZURU!!!"

Shizuru was looking amused at Natsuki's purple face and the two hands that were raised to cover her eyes!

"Natsuki?"

"No, Shizuru you can't do that!"

"Of course I can! It's easy! You have to unhook-"

"STOP!"

Shizuru's hands stopped moving.

"I thought you wanted to see my mark?"

"I don't want to see it! I was only wondering where it was but now I know!"

Shizuru started laughing.

"Will you ever stop?!"

Natsuki sat at the table, when Shizuru continued preparing the tea. After a while they were both sitting, sipping their tea.

"I still can't believe that you are a HiME." Natsuki stared at Shizuru over her cup.

"You know I've suspected that you were a HiME since the time that you started borrowing my laptop. You have to admit Natsuki, homework is the worst excuse you could have used."

Natsuki laughed!

"I know! I don't know why I thought of that excuse in the first place! Especially to use it to hide from you, who knows how much I hate studying."

"I know you too well Natsuki! You can't hide from me, no matter how hard you try."

"I don't think there is anything more to hide from you anyway."

Maybe Natsuki didn't have anything else to hide but she had. Shizuru was glad that she was always good at hiding her feelings from others. Although lately she wasn't so sure that she could hide them quite so well. No, Natsuki was here! This wasn't the time for depressing thoughts!

She stood up and picked up her cup from the table.

"Let's drink our tea in the garden."

Natsuki watched her pass the kitchen door and frowned. She followed her, although she thought that Shizuru was acting weird.

When she reached the garden Shizuru was already sitting on the bench. She sat next to her and drank some of her tea. Shizuru was silent. It was awkward when Shizuru didn't speak.

"Shizuru"

"Yes, Natsuki."

"How long have you known that you're a HiME?"

"Since the time I was a small girl. My parents always thought that being a HiME is a gift. I was trained for almost every type of enemy since I could first carry a weapon."

"My mother died because I am a HiME. She was trying to protect me from the First District when she had that accident."

Shizuru felt the need to comfort the girl.

"I don't know if this means anything to you but I will always be by your side Natsuki. No matter what happens."

"It does."

Natsuki was staring at her cup but she knew Shizuru was looking at her. Indeed it meant a lot to her to have a person like Shizuru by her side. They didn't speak again until it was time for them to go to bed. They changed into their night clothes and they lay down.

"Natsuki."

"Yes?"

"Why don't you sleep in my bed just like last night? I feel kind of lonely."

"Shizuru!! Just go to sleep already!"

Shizuru's laugh made her smile. This girl and her jokes! Always trying to make her feel awkward.

"Goodnight Natsuki, Sweet dreams"

"Goodnight"

Within a few minutes they were both asleep. Another day ended.

------

Mai opened her eyes first as usual. She didn't need an alarm clock to wake her up. She had already all the sleep she needed and now she was feeling fresh and full of energy again. She felt Mikoto's weight on her body, her eyes reaching for the girl's face. Mikoto was so cute when she was asleep!

She softly pushed the sleeping girl aside and she got off the bed. Within a few minutes she was cooking breakfast. Mikoto would be hungry when she would wake up. As soon as she finished cooking she approached the bed. She sat next to Mikoto and started speaking to her.

"Mikoto wake up!"

No response. Mai smiled, Mikoto never woke up with the first try. She stood up and took a deep breath. This worked every time.

"WAKE UP!!"

Mikoto opened her eyes in an instant. Her face took on an angry expression as she quickly sat up on the bed, but her characteristics softened when she realized that it was Mai who woke her up.

"Good morning Mikoto!"

"Mai!"

With a quick move Mikoto embraced Mai's body. Mai welcomed Mikoto. This was her reaction every morning she woke up and found Mai next to her.

"You know Mikoto we have a lot of things to do today."

Mikoto looked at her, her eyes glittering with excitement.

Something moved under Mikoto's blanket and cute little face appeared. A tiny black cat climbed on Mikoto's pillow and stretched itself.

"What's this? Another cat?!"

Mai sounded surprised if not desperate. Mikoto was now holding the small animal with care, petting its head. Mai came closer and touched the cat's fur.

"Mikoto it is cute I must agree with that, but I don't think you can keep it."

"Why?"

Mai thought that it would be better if she said nothing more. She would ask Fujino-kaicho later if they could keep it in their room.

"Are you hungry?"

The girl nodded yes and then she noticed breakfast on the table.

"Food!"

She quickly jumped off the bed onto the floor and raced to the food. By the time Mai joined her at the table Mikoto had already started eating. Soon they both finished and Mai stood up and opened the suitcase. She got out their uniforms and stared worried at Mikoto. She knew it would be hard to make her wear these clothes but it was the schools policy that all the students should wear a uniform. First she would make Mikoto have a bath. Well this wasn't so hard anymore. She may not have managed to change some of Mikoto's habits during the time they spent together but at least she managed to convince Mikoto that she shouldn't be afraid of water.

"Mikoto, time for a bath!"

Mikoto took off her shirt and stood naked in front of Mai.

"Ready!"

Mai felt proud of this change in Mikoto. She remembered the first time she tried to make Mikoto have a bath. The girl was screaming, desperately trying to get out of the water, yet now she was spending so much time in it!

Mikoto got in the bathtub playing happily with the water until she noticed that Mai was standing there still dressed. Mikoto's face showed disappointment. She obviously wanted to have a bath with Mai, like they usually did.

"I had a bath when you were sleeping."

Mikoto stared sadly at Mai.

"Please?"

Mai couldn't take that look. No matter how much she tried she couldn't resist those eyes when Mikoto looked at her like that. Well, a second bath wouldn't hurt, would it?

"Oh all right! I'll take another bath!"

Mai started getting undressed and Mikoto let out an amused shout. The moment Mai got in the bathtub Mikoto started throwing water her way and soon they were both playing with the water and laughing.

After they finished their bath they were standing in the bathroom. Mai, having put a towel around her body, was using another one to dry Mikoto. Now the difficult part; it was time for Mikoto to get dressed.

"And now that you're all dry you're going to wear that beautiful school uniform like all the students here do."

Mikoto frowned.

"No."

"You must wear your uniform. You can't run around in your shirt!"

"No!"

Mikoto's determined tone made Mai frown too. It was very difficult to get Mikoto to do something like that, but she had to insist. Mikoto got away from her and stood by the door.

"Please Mikoto, do me this one favor."

"Catch me!"

Mikoto's face took on a playful expression. So she wanted to play heh?

"Of course I will!"

With these words Mai started running after Mikoto who was incredibly fast and was already standing on the bed when Mai entered the bedroom. She ran towards the girl but Mikoto didn't wait to get caught. No matter how much Mai tried to catch her it seemed impossible! Soon Mai was standing in the centre of the room panting, Mikoto running around her in circles.

"Mai catch me!"

Mai decided to give it a second try, but she was already feeling tired after all this running. She thought that even if there was a chance to catch up with her, there was no way she could do it now. She stopped and looked around her.

'Where is she?'

Just then Mikoto popped up in front of her and pushed her to the floor. Mai landed on her back, Mikoto on top of her, rubbing her face in between her breasts. Mai started laughing, mostly because Mikoto's breath was tickling her, but also because instead of catching Mikoto it seemed that Mikoto caught her. In all this noise she didn't hear the sound of the key turning in the keyhole nor notice the figure standing in the open door.

Natsuki had a second copy of her key, one that she had made in case she lost her original one. The first thing she noticed was the room was clean and tidy. She even checked the key in her palm, just to make sure she had entered the right room and then she noticed it! Those two girls were lying in front of her on the floor! Mai wearing nought but a towel and Mikoto on top of her completely naked, her face buried between Mai's breasts! Natsuki didn't know she could feel so much embarrassment. She face felt like an inferno as she turned around in an instant, hurrying to get out of the room as quickly as possible, but this wasn't her lucky day. She bumped into someone and when she got a look at this person's face she froze in her place. Shizuru.

"Ara ara, where is Natsuki running to in such a hurry?"

Natsuki just looked at her friend, silently praying that she wouldn't enter her room, that she wouldn't see what she had just seen, but Shizuru already noticed the blush on Natsuki's face and she was now curious to know what had made Natsuki act so weird. She entered the room.

Natsuki had no other option then following Shizuru inside. It was her room after all. She found Shizuru standing next to the door.

"Shizuru!"

Mikoto stood up and jumped on Shizuru, wrapping her arms around the girl's body. Natsuki glanced between Mai, who was barely covered by that tiny towel, and the naked Mikoto hugging Shizuru. Her eyes were wide open and she could feel heat, her face getting warmer and warmer rapidly returning to its previous dark red. Mikoto was rubbing her face in Shizuru's breasts now, they weren't as big as Mai's but big enough for Mikoto to like them.

'What the hell am I thinking?'

That was it! Shizuru couldn't hold it back anymore. Natsuki's face was so funny! And almost purple! She started giggling and Mai laughed too. What was so funny? Natsuki wasn't amused at all. She turned her head to the side annoyed, mostly because this way she wouldn't have to watch the naked girl anymore.

"This isn't funny! And dress this girl already!"

"Natsuki don't be so embarrassed! Besides it's not like it's something you haven't seen before."

Shizuru couldn't miss an opportunity to tease Natsuki. In fact she was glad that she had followed Natsuki when she saw her walking in the school yard. It was such a funny sight to see her like that. She looked down at Mikoto, her face still buried in her chest. This was a little inappropriate but it definitely felt nice.

"Mikoto you should get dressed. Come here."

Mikoto looked at Shizuru's smiling face. She loosened her grip on Shizuru and turned around. Her eyes fell on Mai who was standing next to Natsuki and she ran towards her. She didn't look too happy that she had to wear the uniform.

"That's my Mikoto! I'm sure you'll like your new clothes. Come on, I've got to get dressed too."

Mikoto nodded yes. Shizuru thought that they should leave the two girls alone to get dressed and she nodded to Natsuki.

"Tokiha-san. We'll be outside."

"OK. We won't be late."

Shizuru left the room and Natsuki quickly followed her. They stood just beside the door, waiting for Mai and Mikoto to get ready.

"Beautiful day isn't it?"

Shizuru crossed her arms across her chest and leaned back against the wall. Natsuki looked around her. The sun was shining and she could hear birds singing. Yes it was a beautiful day although it would be better if she didn't have school today.

"I see that you were saved from cleaning your room since Tokiha-san cleaned it for you."

"Did you see that? I never believed that my room could look that clean, it was a real shock"

"Tokiha-san is a gifted person, no doubt about that."

"That girl Mikoto... seems to like you a lot."

"I like her too. She's nothing like other girls her age. So innocent and cute."

Natsuki didn't speak. Although she agreed with Shizuru, Mikoto didn't seem to like her much; but why should she care about that girl's opinion anyway?

"We're ready."

Mai was standing at the door, her hands on Mikoto's shoulders. She definitely looked awesome in her school uniform but the big surprise was Mikoto. Standing there clad in her school clothes, her hair combed and with a big smile decorating her cute face she resembled in nothing the wild girl that was catching fish in the river yesterday. Natsuki smiled.

Shizuru looked at Mai's red scarf around her neck as though something was disturbing her.

"Tokiha-san"

"Yes?"

"I don't think you should wear that scarf over your uniform. It's against the school's dress code."

Mai's smile disappeared at once. This was her favorite scarf! Her eyes fell on Natsuki and her smile returned.

"And why is she wearing that hoodie?"

She pointed at Natsuki.

"Hey! I can wear-"

"Tokiha-san" Shizuru interrupted Natsuki, "no matter how hideous that thing is, Natsuki wears it under her uniform and that's not against the dress code."

"OK, I'll take it off."

Mai walked back inside the room defeated and came out a few seconds later without her scarf. She threw a hostile glare in Natsuki's direction. The glare was repaid with another, icier one.

"Great! Now I will escort you to the headmistress. You need to speak with her before starting classes."

Natsuki shot an annoyed look at Shizuru . She was ditching class again? Shizuru was always using her position in the student council to avoid lessons! Today she was doing it again and expecting her to go to class ? No way!

"Thank you very much Kaicho-san for helping us."

"Don't mention it. It is one of my duties after all."

Shizuru walked ahead, the other girls following her. They walked along the school yard and they were close to the school garden when Shizuru stopped and turned around.

"Natsuki don't you have class today?"

Natsuki knew very well that this question would come sooner or later. She smiled at her friend.

"I believe you also have class today."

"Yes I have."

Shizuru knew where this conversation was leading. Honestly she didn't want Natsuki to leave, besides it wouldn't be the first time she covered up Natsuki's absence.

"Natsuki if you miss today's lessons, that means that I'll have to teach you them. Just to make sure you don't fail your tests."

Study with Shizuru. Natsuki did that more than once and although Shizuru was teasing her all the time she had to admit that she enjoyed it a lot more than sitting bored in class all day.

"Deal!"

Natsuki looked at Shizuru excited and then at Mikoto who was chasing a butterfly in the school garden. Mai was standing next to her obviously astonished

at the beautiful sight. The school's garden was indeed a very beautiful place. Everything seemed just right, especially for Mai who was glad that they made the choice to attend Fuuka Gakuen.

Chapter 11 End

Thanks for reading!!