A/N: Hi there! Hope you readers haven't given up on me just yet. I am working on this story, though university and all other responsibilities along with it are hindering me a lot. As a first year I thought that I wouldn't have all that much to do, but I was rudely proven wrong. *sweatdrops* But regardless, chapter 25 is already finished and I plan on starting the next one as soon as possible.
You might notice that I've switched PoVs in middle-narration, but I didn't bother to change it, since it sat well with me. I don't know how it will be with you, so if it's that strange, tell me and I'll think of a way to change it. Also, I think I said it last time, but this chapter is not beta'd and nor will be the upcoming ones. Your weekly dose of typos and mistakes is ensured. XD I think I need to pay tribute to Crosswood every time I upload, because without her help, I wouldn't have even made it this far. *pulls out a ritual dagger and stabs an already cooked lamb*
Also, I thank sincerely the ones who reviewed last time. I'm sorry that I didn't reply individually, but I've had unexplainable (at that moment) problems with my account both here and on my e-mail... And since I had so much else to do, I was only able to figure what was wrong just recently... Yeah. *ashamed* I promise that now that everything is fixed, I'll be more attentive!
Now, on to the story! All reviews - except ones including only the words 'sucks', 'fail', etc. without a reasonable explanation attached - are welcomed!
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-HiME/Otome.
After knowing Arika for more than five minutes Natsuki had found herself fighting the desire to look into the freshman's ear to see if she could spot daylight coming the other way.
"…And grandma's always told me that it's bad to steal." Arika informed the few remaining gang members.
This one time Natsuki gave into her desire and she felt almost surprised when after she leaned idly forward and threw a subtle glance in Arika's ear, she saw nothing. Figuring that this shouldn't bother herall that much (after all, she wasn't making references to her grandmother's stories constantly, which automatically put her out of suspicion of being a complete moron), she continued her questioning, hoping not to be forcefully drawn into listening to any more digressions.
"So you're telling me that Smith sent the Lieutenant to pick out kids from your orphanage?" Natsuki asked, skilfully sifting out the important from the random facts she had received from Arika. Said girl, Nina and Irina silently nodded in confirmation with apparent reluctance.
They did seem quite uncomfortable with the idea that they were forced to cooperate with the people they had initially set out to defeat. The three new under-probation-members were seated between Nao and Aoi - two of the three other gang members still present at the club room. Natsuki was slowly walking around, well aware that if she sat down, she would start yawning and her brain would cease all activity at once.
In the midst of the silence she quickly went mentally through all the things she had done and the tasks she still needed to complete. She had led a prolonged 'conversation' with Blackwood as an act for in front of the others, who she had then disbanded. Some had opted to stay, but Natsuki had insisted they go to their rooms and rest. She had pointed out that all of them were tired and that they did have school the other morning, this making everybody give up without a fight and indeed return to their dorms. Secretly Natsuki only wished to be left alone with the people she trusted more and the three younger girls, so that she could properly proceed with her plans.
The gang leader had yet to call Yamada and request more information and most probably help for what she thought was the best course of action that could be taken from now on. She needed to act fast, as Smith would start asking questions, and in the end she knew she and her friends would be surely found out. They could no longer rely completely on the protection Fuuka High provided them, seeing that only just recently some lowly gang had managed to infiltrate the - what they had thought impenetrable for outsiders - campus. And if Marguerite awoke soon, there wouldn't be anywhere to run or hide. Indeed, Natsuki had to put to good use her persuasion skills and quickly find out what she needed to know in order to get to Smith. The first to strike was going to be the winner.
She sighed.
"Kuga-senpai." Nina ventured to speak and Natsuki turned her attention towards her. "Why are you fighting against John Smith? I mean, we all know that there are some flaws in his governing, but…"
"But nothing worth rebelling against?" Natsuki finished. Nina hesitantly nodded.
From the corner of her eye Natsuki noted that Nao had shifted in her seat, probably anticipating the answer as much as the other first-years.
"I simply couldn't take the unfairness of it anymore." The gang leader shrugged expressionlessly. "See, I really like this city; for various reasons, which I'm not about to disclose to you. But the fact is that I don't like that this place is ruled by some bastard who makes people cower before his power and influence."
"The system works, though." Irina disagreed, speaking for the first time to Natsuki. "If you attempt to break it and happen to succeed, you'd spread panic and confusion. The uncontrollable gangs will take over and everybody will be doomed to an inescapable life of misery and fear."
At first Natsuki didn't respond to the very logical accusation. Her steady green gaze smoothly glided over the other students' faces. There wasn't even one of them, who didn't look bothered by Irina's words. Natsuki reasoned that the detectable unease in her friends was mostly due to the rather… exciting day. Of course, she had been asked the same question before. The most recent case had been when Nao had nonchalantly inquired on the subject. The leader of T.N.T. decided to reply in the same way she had back then.
"I have prepared for that." She explained calmly. "Smith… His system will continue to work, even without him operating at the top. Of course, I can't spill to you the complete plan, since you are far too untrustworthy. However, the gist of it is this: Smith's rule will continue, but without him."
"…What?" Arika provided her intellectual contribution to the conversation, while her other friends had the decency only to look confused. Beside her Nao sighed exasperatedly. Even she had understood what scheme Kuga had cryptically revealed to her that time when she had asked.
"God, you're stupid." The red-haired youth concluded. She silently admitted to herself that Kuga's explanation was confusing (nothing new there), but surely those girls should've been able to grasp the main idea, even a bit.
Arika turned towards her offender with a childish expression of hurt spilled all across her pouting face.
"Nao-san, you're mean!"
"Congratulations, you've just stated a known fact. Would you like to 'Save' your progress, or will you 'Restart' the level next time you turn on your brain?"
Natsuki almost let out a laugh at Nao's dry remark made with a skilful imitation of a mechanical voice, but her amusement was gone as soon as her comrades' chuckles died down. She coughed in her fist to gain once again the attention of the three ex-enemies.
"I'll tell you what Blackwood wants from you."
This proved to be a good way to bestow silence upon the group of students. Everybody was visibly more than eager to hear what Natsuki was going to declare this time.
"Tell us how to get to the place where Marguerite was hospitalized. After the skirmish she was taken away by your people. Where? Where is it that she's kept?"
Arika swallowed, Nina remained stone-faced, while Irina glared openly at the gang leader. When none of them spoke, Natsuki continued to persuade them.
"Listen, that girl's dangerous. Now that there's a possibility that she'll live and decide to stand on Smith's side, your lives are also in danger."
"Why?" Irina scoffed further at the girl she obviously deemed to be even more dangerous.
Natsuki sighed, obviously displeased that the three first-years couldn't catch up with her reasoning as quickly as she wanted them to. In an attempt to reassure herself that she wasn't the only person, who understood the gravity of the situation, she quickly ran her gaze over her friends' faces. She was left slightly disappointed when nobody seemed to have realized her concerns just yet. Maybe Nao, but that was just a vague assumption.
"Think of what Marguerite'll do when she wakes up. Of course, first she'll be interrogated and when she tells Smith's men everything they want to know, it'll look bad for you guys. Look at it this way: you're the only survivors of that incident, except for the people who took Marguerite. Why were you left alive? Are you still allies to the government? Or have you fled to the enemy? Either way, you were trusted with too much information. This automatically makes you a threat." Natsuki paused to let what she had just said sink in. The look of comprehension had dawned on the trio's faces, along with the signs of unease and fear – tensed shoulders, clenched jaws, and downcast eyes.
"So. How do you plan to win in this game of survival? Will you go back under Smith's supervision and most likely be treated as traitors? Or maybe… you could join T.N.T. and preserve your lives. You'll be safer than with Smith. Safety is something which we are better at providing than that man will ever be."
"But we won't be free regardless…" Nina murmured.
"Still, you'll be alive." Chie darkly pointed out, while typing something on her phone. Her glasses reflected the light from the device's screen and when she lifted her eyes to look at the younger girls, the three shivered involuntarily. "What's better than that? If you're alive, you'll surely find freedom in one form or another."
"And when we build a new order, you'll be free to do whatever you like." The gang leader finished. This still got her no reply and she crossed her arms in an act of aggravation.
"Anyway, you'll be given time to think things over. I don't see why you hesitate so much, but…" She trailed off and then turned to her two roommates. "Mai, Mikoto, could you show those three the way to their… quarters? Tonight they'll be sharing the unused office next to the club room."
Mai and Mikoto got up, one yawning and stretching, the other care-worn and mute. Two friends exchanged looks and a silent conversation was held within parts of the second. Mai nodded at Natsuki's silent command.
"Why we hesitate you ask…" Nina rasped under her breath, attempting to control her rage. "You! You people killed so many today! My father was murdered! And you still have the nerve to ask 'why'?"
"You have three days. We'll be waiting and watching until then." Natsuki informed the three ex-Garderobe members, ignoring Nina's outburst as if it never happened. The fuming Chinese and her two friends were lead out without further protests and the door was closed firmly behind them. Natsuki was left in the room together with Nao, Aoi and Chie.
"Kuga," Nao lowly began as soon as they could no longer hear steps. "There's something with your plan which bothers me."
"And you say that when you haven't even heard it yet." Natsuki answered equally noiselessly, a smirk dancing on her lips. Nao scrunched her eyebrows, but continued despite the remark.
"What if they take things in their own hands? What if they give us false information and decide to take care of the psycho themselves? I'm almost sure they can pull it off. Or they return to Smith and in order to save their own sorry hides sell us off. Keeping an eye on them won't stop them from doing any of that. At some point they'll escape and the only way to stop them will be to…"
"We won't."
I promised myself that I won't kill unnecessarily. I won't break that promise yet again.Natsuki refused to meet the questioning gazes of the other three girls.
"I'm with Nao-chan." Aoi stated in a whisper. "We can't control them twenty-four/seven and they're well aware of that – it'll look too suspicious at the very least. Sure, at first it won't look like anything special, but… Natsuki, even in the school we're surrounded by potential or genuine enemies."
"And if they manage to get to John Smith before Marguerite-san has awoken… There are too many insecurities and loops in your plan, Natsuki." Chie was the last one to anxiously express her opinion on the matter.
"Such worries are unnecessary." Natsuki waved her comrades' concerns aside with a dismissive gesture of her hand. "In two days we'll make sure they make the right decision."
"How?" Nao distrustfully raised a brow.
"Rumours," was the laconic answer.
"Of what?"
"Of Marguerite being seen on campus, of course."
"That would be impossible! She was shot today! Repeatedly!" Nao nearly cried out in disbelief.
"Those three know what technology the government possesses. I know, too. And, trust me, it is terrifying…"
"What kind of… technology?" Chie inquired hesitantly.
"Creating highly advanced artificial intellect, for one."
"That's not very impressive, Kuga. It's known that artificial intellect is nothing to be afraid of. Even a normal computer can simulate thought. What's so scary about a toaster with a processor?"
"The toaster walks, talks and fights. It also has access to files none of us has dreamed of, or thought, existed." Natsuki explained through gritted teeth. The idea of being at the mercy of something like that made her agitated and slightly afraid. She recalled what she had seen on her computer's screen a week back.
"You're shittin' me." Nao choked out, the first one to come out of the shock. "How the hell do you know that?"
"Yamada sent me footage of the thing – a blasted tin with a humanoid form, all wires and mechanical parts. With two red glowing head-lights, which I presume are the still-in-development eyes. Clearly that thing wasn't completed, but I don't think that it'll be in the works for much longer; the copy was at least a year old." The Ice Princess described what she had witnessed on the thirty-second recording. She nervously licked her lips before continuing. "Now imagine what medical knowledge and cutting-edge technology those bastards must have. If they can build something like that, they can create what we consider miracles – Lieutenant Wang was surely aware of such projects. This means that Nina and the rest knew as well. So it's not unbelievable for…"
"Okay, I got it." Nao rudely cut off Natsuki, her impatience overriding the feeling of dread. "Let's get back on topic. Wouldn't hearing a rumour from us be kinda… unconvincing?"
"We're only gonna start the rumour and spread it throughout the campus. They won't hear it directly from us. Chie?"
The Gossip queen smiled when she was addressed.
"Rumour," she sagely began and continued with her grin gradually fading to a smirk, "is a substance so finely distilled that it will leak through anything. It can also fly freely – from one person to another. And in this school I happen to be the one who controls the flow of rumours. In other words – I am the one who decides what Truth is. If it is me who states something it immediately travels all over campus and comes into existence as a 'fact'."
"It's all set then." Natsuki concluded proudly. "They'll need to catch a glimpse of Marguerite as well to be fully convinced. We won't need that much to fool those three – they are pretty much trembling in Blackwood's palm."
"And who's going to play Marguerite?" Nao quickly asked.
The gang leader shrugged, not really caring which member of T.N.T. would take the role, as long as the job was done.
"Are you offering your services, Nao?" Natsuki turned towards her younger friend, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Nao angrily crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"As if, idiot! I'm not even the same height!" She fiery responded.
Sensing the rising conflict between the always arguing duo, Chie timely interfered.
"I agree! How about Akane? If we put a wig on her head, she'll be able to pass as Marguerite-san if her face isn't visible. Sure, she is with a slightly different build, but that won't be that easily noticeable considering that Marguerite's appearance on the school grounds would be a shock." She reasonably pointed out. "Besides, she's pretty fast and this means that she won't be easily caught if those three decide to chase her around."
After being silent for a short while, considering Chie's offer, Natsuki nodded in agreement.
"All we have to do, then, is to be weary the real Marguerite showing up, but I highly doubt that. That reminds me – what about Miya Clochette? Does anybody know what happened with Marguerite's sidekick?" The gang leader asked her two master-informants.
"I…" Aoi began quietly, sad blue eyes cast down. "I saw her… body… Earlier when we were…"
"I see." Natsuki felt no remorse about Tomoe's constant companion, but seeing one of her close friends overtaken by such guilt made her visibly cringe. The responsibility of her gang's actions lay on her shoulders alone and some times it simply got too heavy to bear.
Just a little longer.Just a little longer and nobody will suffer anymore. The Ice Princess repeated confidently to herself. All of those close to her would be granted what they deserved. No matter the means.
From the corner of her eye Natsuki caught Nao wincing and frowning, as if she was physically hurt.
"Do you have any injuries beside that?" Natsuki asked, eying Nao's covered by a bandage broken nose.
"Nah…" The first-year denied, not meeting Natsuki's searching look. This made the older girl frown slightly, but she didn't comment any more on the subject. She reasoned that the reminder from Aoi must have served like a kick in the gut to her protégée.
After all, today had been Nao's first kill and even though she was putting up a tough front, Natsuki had no doubt that her younger friend was deeply shaken by the experience. The gang leader felt somewhat proud that Nao hadn't broken down on the spot and had acted like taking a life away (even if it had been a stranger's) was nothing out of the ordinary.
Chie cleared her throat and broke the silence.
"I'm going to head back, if you don't mind. At this hour we won't get anything done, if we stay and work on our further movements, or so I think." She pushed up her glasses with a practiced curt motion and went to the door.
"I'll be going ahead." Bowing slightly her head, she excused herself. "I'll see you in the morning, Nao-kun, Natsuki-kun."
"Not going to say 'good night' to your girlfriend, Harada?" Nao taunted.
"Oh, no. I'll be seeing her in my own room soon. Right, Aoi?" Chie grinned at her blue-eyed companion, who only nodded, blushing.
"Well, at least it won't be in my room this time." Was Nao's comment after only the three of them were left in the room.
"Gosh, Nao-chan!" Aoi exclaimed exasperatedly. "It was only once!"
"Shut it and get going already."
Aoi huffed indignantly and exited, leaving Nao and Natsuki alone.
"You're in a foul mood." Natsuki stated, more than asked after a few silent moments passed between them. "As were most of the others earlier…"
"Yeah, we killed a bunch 'a people. And now we're acting all depressed… Go figure!" Nao sarcastically drawled out and sighed. "And how come you seem unaffected by all of this?"
"The blood and gore, you mean?" Natsuki moved so that she could face Nao and leaned on a desk. She got a nod in affirmation. "I adapt quickly."
Nao kept her silence for a bit longer before finally asking what she wanted to know.
"When did you kill for the first time?"
"A couple of years back."
"Reason?"
"None. It was… very spontaneous."
"Spontaneous, huh? Do you… you know, regret it?"
"I regret many things, but that's not one of them." Natsuki ran her fingers through her always silky dark locks. She heavily sighed, in reminiscence of the time she had first taken a life away. "It wasn't heroic, nor was it to protect somebody beside myself. But then I realized something."
"Hm?" Nao tilted her head and waited for Kuga to share her 'discovery'.
"When you cross this invisible line that's killing, do you know what's on the other side? You, alone. But you are the one who's alive and the other person's dead. You are granted another chance." Natsuki hesitated for a brief moment before she ventured to continue. "And even if you suffer, and writhe, and scream, that won't bring that poor bastard back or make you less guilty. You've done it and that's that. End of story."
"But…" Nao cleared her dry throat. "But haven't you ever wondered about the ones on the other end of the gun?"
"There was no point." The leader of T.N.T. replied with some well hidden discomfort. "If I let myself indulge in such thoughts, I'd never be able to see my goal from all the bodies. So, no, Nao; an enemy's existence never matters to me except for that one brief moment in which I end it."
"That was… a thought-provoking point of view, Kuga." Nao commented with mock astuteness. "But it does relieve me a bit."
"What do you mean?" Natsuki asked, her features now washed over by a perplexed frown bordering with a sense of caution.
"Now it seems that I'm not the only one, who has similar sentiments." The younger girl's reply managed to startle Natsuki, as she found herself unexpectedly unable to react in any way. She remained quiet and pensive all the while until Nao spoke again.
"All that's left for me to do is find a way to cope with all of this."
Natsuki pushed off the desk and turned her back towards the other girl. She was now facing an empty blistered wall, her hands folded behind her back.
"Do what you want. I was simply trying to make a point."
"You really aren't good at that you know. You talk very obscure and nobody ever understands you." The freshman walked slowly towards the door.
"That's not true." Natsuki disagreed with a trace of amusement in her voice. She desperately tried to dismiss the nagging feeling that now gnawed at her conscience. "I always know what I'm talking about. It's just that others don't."
Nao grumbled under her breath.
"Here you go again, mutt. Whatever. I'm off." She swiftly made her exit and Natsuki could barely hear her retreating footsteps.
Nao, Natsuki mused, was going to do well in her stead when the time for her 'leave of absence' came. In the short period of time she had known the freshman she had grown to relatively trust her, even though they always had words with each other. In the end it was all part of their interaction. Though the discovery of Nao's new quality troubled her a bit, even if it would work in their favour in the future.
After Natsuki waited long enough after Nao's departure, she decided that it was high time she got to her respectful dorm as well. When she snuck a glance at the clock on the wall she established with displeasure that it was way past a decent hour. And she suddenly felt like just lying on the floor and falling asleep right there in the club room.
The gang leader lazily pushed the door open and after she securely locked it, carefully made her way towards the room she shared with Mai and Mikoto. On her way back she entertained the idea of dropping by at Shizuru's, but soon brushed away that silly thought. All of them needed their rest and she was going to see Shizuru soon. Hopefully.
Suddenly a thought struck her. The tournament was tomorrow.
Shit.
She needed to go to stupid Midori's right away… Or she could send Mai first thing in the morning – after all, her roommate was the president of the club. And said President would most likely discover their history teacher rolling on the floor of her quarters, along with a number of empty bottles. Though, if Midori had already indulged in her drinking habits, she would be fast stoned at this hour and going to her now would be pointless.
Natsuki quietly growled, frustration quickly worming itself in her. If only she could slow time down and do all the preparations she wanted… And maybe get some rest somewhere in-between.
"Honestly," murmured Nao quietly. "How do you expect me do go to sleep peacefully, idiot?"
Naturally, she hadn't gone to the room she shared with Aoi, despite knowing that the other girl would be over at Chie's. Nao wanted to be alone and in somebody's company at the same time. And she was confused. Oh, so very confused.
It was a mystery to her why her legs had carried her to the school's parking lot. What surprised her more though was to see the last person she expected at this place in such a late hour. Exiting a dark sports car, none the less.
At first she hid in the shadows, not far behind a lamppost illuminating the car park, curious as to what the newly arrived was doing. Seeing that nothing more suspicious than securing the vehicle was done, she decided to step out into the light and reveal her presence.
"It's past curfew, Fujino." Nao said, making a startled Shizuru spin towards her at the sound of the familiar voice. The elder's stunned expression turned to a pleasant smile even before Nao could enjoy her small victory.
"Good evening, Yuuki-han." Shizuru greeted, but stayed glued to her spot, a good fifteen feet away from Nao. "What nightly activities might have you been entertaining?"
"None of your business." Nao struggled to keep the annoyance out of her voice, however failed miserably. "Won't you get in trouble if somebody sees you come back this late?"
"I'm afraid I might disappoint when I answer negatively." Shizuru made a quick come-back, but her tone betrayed nothing else but politeness. That behaviour quickly crawled up Nao's nerves and started tearing them one by one during every second the freshman was forced to look at that unwavering façade.
"Going to erase all recordings, hm?"
"Yuuki-han's assumption is correct."
"Being the student council president has its perks, doesn't it?"
"Certainly." Shizuru replied calmly, not batting an eyelash at Nao's attempts to pick up a fight. "That would be most convenient for you as well this time around. I can imagine you've been caught on at least one of the cameras."
Nao scowled; she didn't want to be indebted to Fujino in any way and that girl was insinuating that she would take care of the potential problem. As if reading those thoughts, Shizuru spoke again.
"Don't feel you owe me anything. I'm not doing this for your sake, after all."
"You're keeping Kuga's ass safe? Figures."
A flicker of an emotion, which Nao couldn't exactly put her finger on, flashed over Shizuru's face, but again it disappeared in an instant.
"What are you doing here?" Shizuru asked again, now taking a step towards Nao. "I thought you had a tournament tomorrow."
Oh, right.
"I thought you knew what's happened today." The first-year lowly responded. "The bloody tournament's the last thing on my mind right now!"
"Then today was your first…?" Shizuru trailed off, letting the silence finish the question for her. Nao only narrowed her eyes more in reply. "I see."
"Don't make me laugh! You think you understand me? Both you and Kuga are unbelievable!" Nao raised her voice and clenched her fists in anger. She was sick of people thinking that they knew and understood her.
"What did Natsuki do to offend you?" The President inquired, a trace of worry laced in her voice.
"Nothing much. Just told me to deal with everything by myself as usual." Nao didn't expect she would be so upset at Natsuki's lack of concern for her wellbeing. Her desire to be recognized and praised by the gang leader frightened her to a degree. What was with this desperation to be seen as more than an accomplice? Why did she want for Natsuki to care?
"Typical of Natsuki." Shizuru chuckled from behind her hand, clearly amused by her beloved's antics. "Though that's her way of handling her problems, not yours. What do you do when you're troubled?"
"Like I'd actually tell you." Nao bit back, even though deeply inside she was grateful to Shizuru for unconsciously giving her a suggestion. But that was so deeply inside that she would hardly ever express any kind of gratitude towards the always annoying President.
"I'm slightly hurt, but I can't force it out of you, can I?" Shizuru melodramatically sighed. "But don't go around in the middle of the night. I might just punish you for breaking school rules."
"You're breaking them as much as I am."
"True. But nobody would dare believe I am a rule-breaker." Shizuru turned her back towards Nao. "I would really suggest you head back as soon as possible. Good night, Yuuki-han."
I really, really hate her.