A/N: This chapter gifts us with some more of Shizuru logging her thoughts, a flashback of sorts, and some Midori specific character development.
I don't own Mai HiME/ Mai Otome.
Chapter 21
The nights in Romulus were like the rest of the desert. Cold, and often lifeless. It was void of the things Shizuru had grown to love, and she found herself filled with longing she couldn't quell. She wanted to, dearly, but all she could do was feel a sense of emptiness. As if there was warmth in the leather bound book she'd received, she clutched onto it. As if, Natsuki would feel her screaming heart, if she held into it so tightly.
This, I fear, is one of those times so often spoken of in brothels. Men would drown themselves in the drink, and they would pine into the bosom of a woman they sought for a night of reprieve. Shizuru's jotted down her thoughts late into the night. She couldn't sleep, and had little else better to do. I was often that woman. Not all men were rough with me, not all had their way. However, those men dearly loved another, and I sadly, was merely a vessel to carry out their inebriated fantasies, their dearest hopes...and faded dreams. Shizuru sighed at that, wondering for not the first time, about Natsuki's plight.
When Natsuki had first stepped into my nightly domain, she had a dour expression on her face. At first, with a stagger, one of complete defeat, she sat at the bar...like most of the other men I've that described tend to do. A soft smile on Shizuru's face brought back her memory. I thought her to be a man indeed. Natsuki was quite a looker, even in her sadness. I remember watching her as men appraised the bodies of me, and the other women hoping for payment. Now normally, a woman would try their damnedest to entice them. Shizuru recalled, however, that she had easily lost her focus. However, I could only look at this person with midnight tresses, and stunning eyes, those of emerald. Shizuru knew in fact, that even now, she could easily get lost within Natsuki's gaze.
With a sad smile, she looked outside at the sky. The stars weren't as bright here. The sky was not as dark, nor as vast, as one would hope. I saw pain there...and eventually, that person had consumed enough liquid courage to approach me. Natsuki was not unlike most who come seeking comfort within passion. Most of them have a routine. They'll grasp at you, inspect that you're to their liking..and then, they may kiss you, just to see if you are talented with your tongue. How many times has she more that adequately proven that fact, when a good looking man seemed skeptical? Sometimes, it's not uncommon for a man to feel your womanhood, stroking at it, being sure it is to their liking...there are many reasons for that, and not all of it is inappropriate.
In fact, in most cases, it is an utmost necessity...I often fear bedding the odd man who doesn't. Shizuru bit her lip, looking down at her writing, unsure if she could continue, but, with a lack of better to do, she breathed a sigh. Sexual acts are not without danger, and the men who dip their fingers into a woman are not first timers...it means that they know not all women are clean and free from transmissions...they wish not to become tainted themselves...and Natsuki was the same with her inspection. That made a small little blush creep onto her cheeks. Normally, I try to make a person long for me...there are tricks for that trade...bucking into their touch...letting forth a small moan, faked though it normally is...even coaxing them to arousal. Oral pursuit is not uncommon, and women use it often to gain favor. Shizuru however, found herself unable, with Natsuki. It might come as a shock for some, but even I have used such a tactic. Such an act right in the middle of the stage is not uncommon, but, it is indeed a humiliation.
However, when Natsuki appraised me, I could only look away, slightly ashamed...I felt different under her gaze, though, I didn't have any idea why...I wish I knew, actually. Shizuru closed the book, and then her eyes. It was a memory that was faded, and yet, so clear, that it refused to leave her heart. That fateful night was what had brought her into the pangs of today, after all...she would hold it near to her heart, fondly...always...
"You will not take me away?" Shizuru asked surprised. The beautiful man had nearly thrown the sack of coins in the direction of the headmistress. "You've paid no small fee." In fact, Shizuru knew that payment was well above and beyond any normal fee. The man had not even asked the price, and merely offered the sum of money without question. "I'm only worth a handful of silver at best."
"Don't be foolish." Emerald eyes had said then. "You're worth far more than that, I assure you."
"Not merely for dancing, I'm not." Shizuru began, though with the sway in her hips, she danced near this person, igniting a fire knowingly. She felt a distinct feeling press into her. Manhood, well endowed and rigid, being confined in leathers that would offer no solace. She turned to the man, a smug little smile on her lips. "You've paid your dues, so allow me to be of service." Her hands dropped to the man's hips, and pulled him closer, before she brought one to tease him mercilessly. "You more than desire it." She told him truly, there was no need for pretense. "You ache for it, and there is no shame in asking me to attend you...that is the nature of my employ after all."
"You should not be forced." The man's soft voice told her. "I merely wished company, nothing more, honestly." Emerald eyes hid away from those of burning crimson, and a sigh so wonderful, escaped those pale lips. "I would have gone for a more brazen woman, if I truly wanted you to offer yourself to me."
"And yet, you chose me." Shizuru said then, cupping the face she so dearly wished to see without those reservations. "You're not from around here traveler...else you would know I am the most brazen woman you'd ever meet." She was well known for that, and her skill was not at all outdone by her beauty. Shizuru knew that well, and often, played that to her advantage. "Why do you hesitate, when I can tell you so dearly want it? That you want me?"
"This is not the first bordello that I've visited on my travels." He was stern in his words, but careful. "It shall not be the last." With a breath, and a flick of his long, midnight hair, he seemed troubled. "You need not worry about my carnal wishes." It was indeed a vexation beyond comprehension.
"I've seen your type before." Shizuru told the man as she leaned in her breath mingling with his. "Hurting, lost...and without any possible answer to be found within this world. I see it within your eyes." She hoped she wasn't coming on strongly, feeling as if this man might flee if she did...and yet, she felt confused by him, for that very reason. He was no small boy who had accidentally wandered a vixen's den, after all. "So many share your plight, so many in fact, that I have become the one to heal them." He knew well of a woman, and of what this place implied. "I can take away your pain too, if you'll allow me the chance."
"It is not so easily dismissed." The man had said, licking his lips. "You know nothing of what you ask of me...foolish really...coming here like this. It won't change anything."
"Even if it never does, what's wrong with asking for shelter?" Shizuru found those emerald eyes upon her form again, wide with awe...those pale lips agape. "What is the harm, in allowing mortal weakness? We all have our vices, you know." Then, she took that hand that had appraised her before, and slipped it under her gown, as she kissed him on the lips, drawing forth his most desperate pangs. "You may take me, because I wish it."
Shizuru's eyes flew open, and she bolted out of bed, breathless, and not just a little aroused. She fumbled around, grasping her book with a sigh, clutching it to her chest before opening it with shaky fingers. Desire flows through me tonight as I recall those days. I think, Nao may be right...there is no puzzle piece...no clue, and maybe not even an answer...but still even so, is that really such a bad thing? I've no conclusion...and I fear, one might never come. If that is indeed the case, why stay tangled in a web? Why wait for the spider who built it, to gift answers that may never come?
Every time she closed her eyes, she knew why. Love...it is a very, very complicated thing...yet, here I am, swimming in the waters. I truly am foolish, but even so...I care not. With a muted thud, she closed her book, and placed it away, under her pillow. She pulled the blanket over her head, and sighed, hiding her face into her pillow. It was a few moments later, just when sleep was about to claim her, that a leather clad hand ran her fingers though her hair...and that was the final lull she needed. "Natsuki..." It was nearly a sob.
"May she reach you in your dreams..." Midori sighed sadly, looking at the sleeping woman, knowing she wouldn't be heard. She sat at the side, unmoving. Fearing what might just happen if she pulled her hand away. Instead, she pushed up the remaining pillows into the headrest, so that she could lean back on it. "I know, you'll reach her, when she finds hers." With a smile, and a shake of her head, she closed her eyes. Though, like most night whenever she was stuck inside of a city, sleep was difficult to attain, and instead, she stayed awake, watching the girl, who clung onto her leather clad hand, as if it were her very breath.
…
A new light brought with it a new day, and a renewed set of chores.
"No, no...it just won't do. This is not made for a warrior." Midori shook her head, as she sent away the clerk yet again. "The woman I wish to see this made for, is a woman of nobility. Her leathers she be fitting of her title." She ranted in transportation. "This is nothing compared to what I need."
"How about is?" The shop keeper asked, bringing out a silken shirt that may have been more to Midori's liking. There was a pair of black leggings to go along with it. "Surely this will do."
"Do you not understand!" She had taken careful measurement of Shizuru before, but, the woman had not known why. "I need something better than this!" While Nao went shopping for gear that was more complicated to find in nature, Midori was harassing the tailor. "I need something that makes a statement, one of proper authority." Then she shook her head, the things this man had to offer was not what she was looking for. "No mere swashbuckler's shirt will do!" She roared, flinging it away. He was getting on her nerves.
"What kind of warrior is she, miss?" The man asked then, as he bowed his head. He only had this slip of paper to go by, and that was sometimes not nearly enough. "I admit, we do not have many things made for a woman. I have only cloth fit for men."
"Then you shall craft something at great speeds." Midori snarled, crossing her arms in firm order. "She is a novice, who will one day stake her claim, as a skilled noble woman should." Midori said then. "Her blade is a naginata, and once she has completed her training, it would be befitting that she is able to make her statements appropriately."
The tailor nodded, but then, a thought came to his mind. "A woman of nobility, with a blade of such stature." He put his fingers to his chin, stroking his short beard. "If I may, nomad, I find you are mistaken. A woman of nobility, needs to exuded her claim. Poise and elegance comes before any mere blade." He knew that nomads were of lackluster people. "Barbarian armor, such as leathers and ringmail would not suit such a woman. Plate is also unorthodox of such a woman."
"Never mind that! Her weaponry is also a reason to consider leathers." Midori barked, as if that were obvious. "Plate would only get in her way."
"Please, halt." He shook his head. "Nomad, I beg you to listen. You are asking of a piece worthy of a woman in nobility, worthy to make such an honorable statement, but I fear, I have not much to speak of." He snapped his fingers, and scurried away. Going into a secluded place within his store, he was gone a few moments, coming out with a crafted box. Carvings of flowers, and etched with gold, the box itself was the piece of beauty. "This, may be more to your liking, however, if it not, I fear I have little else to offer."
Midori opened the box, not sure what she might find, but inside, she was gifted a most wonderful sight. "A chained corset..." A torso piece, something to offer at least a little in the way of protection, very odd indeed, but a joy to gaze upon. That was not, however, the thing that interested her most. "This indeed a spectacle, such a robe as this."
"It is not merely a robe, nomad." He said, shaking his head. He pulled away the top cloth, which was indeed a silken robe, underneath was a full set of silks made for a woman to wear.
"Uncanny, I do not deny." However, seeing this, reminded Midori of the nature of the woman she had intended this for. "A new question, then. Do you have leather strips I might be able to purchase from you? Merely that and nothing more."
"I suppose I do, in the back." However, he was unsure if he wished to part with his materials. "I do hope you wish to pay a proper sum, if that is ultimately what you wish to buy."
"We can work out an arrangement, of that, I am assured." Midori nodded as she waved him off. "Take me to see your supplies."
He nodded, unsure of why a woman would be so interested in such a thing, although, perhaps that was why she was unhappy. "I must warn you, this is not proper." No woman native to these lands would want armor such as what he had. "Most women do not wish to stand in a place that they do not belong." He was the prime candidate to see. He knew this, because everyone in the militia visited him. However, within that, there was only one woman he would fit at a moment's notice, and that woman was Mahya. If she had a need for his skill, he gave it willing and without question, but she was the only one. "This girl, if she is so unfit to dress as you have, then I fear she is indeed a voluptuous woman. She should rather find a home in which to stay, not face a battlefront."
Midori merely cackled at such a response. "You, my good man, forget exactly of whom you speak." Yes, Midori was of barbarian people, of that she was surely proud. "The woman I speak of, is kin, in that she is a ruler to her lands. However, unlike me, sir, she is not nomadic." She smirked, as if to catch her point and dangle it in front of him. "She is unlike my people, and thus, she is unfit to don the cloth my people willingly call a second skin." As she looked through his supplies carefully, she put thought into that. "However, she wishes to make a declaration. One that only a woman of my people, could ever dare to make." Yes, a fighting shout, a powerful statement roared in thunderous cries. "There is no other type of woman, after all, who would dare to stake a claim on her own kind."
"You nomads are disgusting people...you wish the scorn of others!" The man blanched. "Men are to bed women, not women with women, nor men with other men!" He blustered, quite bothered by such a declaration.
"Well, that is why she is to become a sister in arms." Midori smirked. "It takes such bold declarations for a true warrior and their blood to stain battlegrounds." Midori fully believed in that. "Don't you agree?" Anyone unwilling, should never step foot out into such a place, if they were honestly such cowards.
"Only if that man is of honor." He retorted back. "Nomads often aren't."
"Bite your tongue, or I'll slice it off myself." With silence, he viewed the woman who began to look at him with a malicious eye. "Tell me, do you feel as if your very manhood is what makes you greater?" She pulled out her sword. "Shall I remove that instead? Would that somehow make you a lesser being?" He didn't respond, careful not to anger the woman further, as he took a sharp breath, her sword glinting dangerously. "Well what shall it be? Humor my questionable qualities, and that of my kin...or anger the leader of Aswad, facing her in a true battle to the death?"
"I am merely a tailor." That was a fight he would not win, and lowered his head, a sneer on his face. "Take what you wish, and leave, Nomad. You're presence sullies this land. Truly, you are a beast."
At his words, she pounced, stabbing her swords into the wall, mere inches away from his body, though, she pressed into him dangerously, her hands on his throat. She would only take so much of any slander, and she honestly thought to kill this man right here, however, she wanted to have good relations with surrounding kingdoms. Bloodshed would not gift that, even if this man was a loathsome creature. "Perhaps I am." She nodded to him, glad he saw things her way. "However, at least I am merciful." It was a barb she knew she shouldn't have begun to say, but she wanted this man to feel her own agony.
She gripped his throat tightly, wondering if she should indeed crush it. "There are others who have already treated your people as lambs to a slaughter. It would be easy for Aswad to do the same." In fact, Midori knew her people could overtake the desert as their own, entirely and without question, if they honestly wished it. "Never forget, just who it is that I am." She spat at him. "Never forget the roar of my people!"
With that, she let go of him as he gasped for air, and pulled the sword from the wall, sheathing it. "Now then, about the price of the strips. I'll offer one silver per strip, if they're of good quality. However I shall not offer more." It was a fair price, surely, but even if it hadn't been of any value, the man knew he wasn't in the position to refuse, and merely nodded his head. "I'm glad we can make trade." She smiled, though, there was no question in her stance, she was still unhappy with him.