DISCLAIMER: Mai Otome and its characters are Sunrise property. The seven little princesses that have joined them are mine.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Back when this chapter was first posted in April of 2008, I was clueless as to the true reach of FFN. I received an email from a fan in Mexico, just learning English, how wanted to inform me how much she liked my story. I was so humbled it nearly brought me to tears. And that my dear readers' is the power of words.
9/20/09: Later in this story will be a large OoC moment. It was inspired by the thought of our military and civil servants who lay their lives on the line for us daily. Each can tell you that you never know what moment could be your last and if/or when you may be gripped by a moment of fear. My continuing thanks to these people. Now on to the story...
Our Legacy ch25
As the news of Megumi's birth went out, people started to discuss coming together once again to see each other's children. Natsuki had been all for it as long as it was not a gathering at Garderobe. Youko agreed because she really needed to get away. Midori had not yet returned and Nao was still on the road. Shizuru had to laugh because while Yukino was speaking with Natsuki on the phone, Natsuki would pull the phone away as Yukino would yell at Haruka for something.
Plans would be made as soon as schedules would allow and a place could be decided upon. As soon as the line cleared Natsuki's phone rang once again. Shizuru had gone to check on Shiori and Natsuki really didn't want to answer. The ringing wouldn't stop so Natsuki gave in.
"Well Headmistress it seems congratulations are in order," Natsuki cringed as she recognized Nagi's voice.
"What nasty little news do you want to trade a reduced sentence for now Nagi?" Natsuki asked as she sat in her chair and nearly throttled the phone.
"I just called to congratulate you and the others. Uncle Nagi is …" Natsuki hung up the phone and just stared at it in disbelief. 'Uncle Nagi my ass,' Natsuki said rather loudly prompting Shizuru to come out of the room with Shiori.
"Is there a problem Natsuki?" Shizuru asked holding Shiori in front of her gesturing for Natsuki to take their daughter.
Natsuki just waved it off with a smile at Shiori. Shiori was being fussy about a nap and as of recently would only sleep for Natsuki. Their daughter had Shizuru's hair and Natsuki's eyes, but the smile she now wore was all her own. Natsuki walked over to the couch and set Shiori safely against some cushions.
"Your mom just hasn't figured out yet that you need to see this first," Natsuki said to Shiori and winked at Shizuru.
"MATERIALIZE."
Shizuru just had to laugh because it seemed that Natsuki and Haruka had both been using their robes as forms of amusement for their daughters. It was why Yukino had been yelling on the phone. It was also why Natsuki had been smiling even though the receiver had to be held away from her ear. Yukino had to stop playing along with Haruka at some point, but never when it came to the twins.
"I do believe you have a new fan. Isn't that improper conduct for robe usage?" Shizuru asked teasingly.
"What Miss Maria does it when she takes Shiori or Kimiko? Why can't I be allowed?" Natsuki asked thinking of what Miss Maria told her.
"Haruka does it with the twins also. You are going to spoil these children if the three of you keep this up," Shizuru said as she gave Natsuki a kiss.
"Come on Shizuru try it just once," Natsuki said as she kissed Shizuru's neck.
"Well if Natsuki insists who am I to say no. MATERIALIZE," Shizuru said looking at Shiori who was now pumping her little fists smiling contently.
"Kruger…oh Hell, are you at it again?" Youko asked rather loudly over Natsuki's and Shizuru's GEM's.
"What's wrong Youko?" Natsuki asked knowing perfectly well the answer.
"I have multiple signals of materialization down here. The board is showing that four people…scratch that five people have materialized. Do we really need to have this conversation?" Youko asked though it was clear from her voice that the woman was laughing at the thought.
"What's the harm in showing the pretty lights and clothes to the babies Youko? I know Miss Maria is doing the same thing right about now for Kimiko. Hell if you want to blame someone for the improper use of robes take it up with her. Miss Maria started it, Kruger out." Natsuki said hoping Youko would cut the line. No such luck…
"You are lucky the kids enjoy it so much Kruger. Just think about this though, what would happen if say you really needed authorization and the line was cut? Helene… out."
Natsuki looked at Shizuru and they both dropped their robes simultaneously making Shiori smile even more. Natsuki picked up Shiori and went to lay her down while Shizuru prepped some tea. It would never cease to amaze her how far Natsuki would go for their daughter. Shizuru loved them both and counted her blessings as Natsuki came back and kissed her rather lustfully.
Yukino had to laugh at herself because she would give Haruka authorization for robe usage. Yes the babies liked it, but Haruka seemed to enjoy it more. Today the twins were in the office sitting in their seats. Ayame had no interest in much of anything besides her hands; Kaede it would seem found a new use for her feet other than kicking. Yukino was amazed how very different the twins were. Ayame was quiet and Kaede…well let's just say she would be more than a handful soon enough.
Haruka was sitting on the floor talking to her girls about proper Otome behavior. Yukino had yelled at her about the contradictions that Haruka was creating every time she used her robe. Haruka's voice lulled Ayame to sleep, but Kaede had other plans kicking her feet but not fussing.
"Haruka, why don't you take Kaede for a walk? Bring Ayame's seat over here by me, she's asleep so it won't be hard to watch her," Yukino said looking up from her paperwork. Ayame would sleep until she was hungry as usual.
"Are you sure? Is the sling in your desk?" Haruka asked her eyes bright with pure joy. Yukino checked the bottom draw of her desk to no avail.
"It must be back in the nursery Haruka sorry," Yukino said smiling as Haruka made silly faces at Kaede kissing her little feet.
"No big deal, Kaede and I will go check on the Suzushiro. Trust me baby girl, you are going to love the Suzushiro," Haruka said as they left the room. Yukino smiled because Haruka was the one who truly loved the Suzushiro. If given the opportunity, Haruka would spend all day on the Suzushiro with the techs just to be close to her most beloved mode of transportation.
"Why is it Ayame that I think they will be so very much alike?" Yukino asked the sleeping child with a smile before returning to her paperwork.
Nao had a feeling she was being followed most of the morning, but it would come and go. Sometimes she would double or even triple back over certain streets just to make sure her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. Nao carried a pocket mirror that she would use from time to time. She would scan behind herself, above and below, not seeing a soul. Nao had her map, but it was rough and crude for anyone else who would see it. The important details were in Nao's head, where she could easily think of any structure and its finer points. Nao had a rather large area to cover so she had planned to cover each in sections.
Nao would take her sweet time exploring because she wanted to be safe of course, but there had to be profit in this somewhere also. She had only two buildings on this one rather large block, both buildings had been factories at some point, but were no longer in use. Technology had made them obsolete and jobs had been lost making up most of the poor & criminal portions of this area of the city.
Though they were separate factions, some of the poor fit into the criminal faction only out of necessity. Nao hated places like this because it only showed the down side of humanity in desperation, and the worse side of the elite in their supposed superiority. Nao was thankful in these places also because she was an Otome and a protector. As a Column, she had made a clear decision to uphold justice for all people, not just those under contract. Nao was bound to Garderobe, in essence though Garderobe was bound to all of Earl.
Nao had to laugh at herself once again because this had been the logic Midori had used against her in one of their little cuddle conversations. Nao was carefully exploring the second floor of this large building when somewhere behind she heard a snap and crack of a wooden beam.
"So someone is following me?" Nao said dropping into a room through a partially opened door and sticking to the room's darkness as her defense.
There was another sound only closer and much louder, it sounded as if a door had been ripped from the framework somewhere down this very hallway. Not a coward in any respect, Nao materialized and waited for the person to get closer. Hearing no more noise she used her mirror to carefully check the hallway. Once again there was no one in sight, Nao stepped out of the room, and slowly made her way down the hall hugging the wall.
As Nao neared the room with the broken door she looked in and saw …what Nao actually saw turned her stomach. Nao turned around and threw up unable to stop herself. This made her mentally curse her luck and her decisions. What she saw on the floor had once been a human being; now it was just a torso without limbs or head. Even as it was, Nao could tell whoever had done this rushed mercilessly and would have the remaining parts somewhere else.
Nao actually had a moment of panic at this point. Nao knew this was recent which meant that the person was still here. Nao ran down the hall to the window facing the street but saw no one. Suddenly from behind her there was a laugh that chilled Nao down to her core.
"A frightened Otome how unusual, fear not little Otome your life will end shortly."
All the training in the world could not prepare Nao for dealing with this level of fear. She had never expected to find anything, much less have the deranged bitch herself be present. The voice she heard was pure malice and devoid of sexual intonations. 'What the Hell, this isn't Tomoe,' Nao though as once again her recent decision came back to haunt her. Nao could see the shadow coming towards her, but was frozen where she stood as she decided her next move.
Nina left Garderobe with her heart in her throat. Erstin made a request of Nina that had stunned her into silence. Erstin was not upset with Nina but she was unhappy still. Nina wanted to give Erstin everything within her power, this though Nina was unprepared for. Miss Maria stopped Nina in the hall with an inquisitive look; all Nina could do was blush. It was an off day and most students were outside or in the library so this was the last place Nina expected Miss Maria to be.
Nina didn't move or speak as the older woman got closer even though there was a trace of a smile on the woman's face.
"An Otome must always look her best dear, or have you forgotten your lessons momentarily?" Miss Maria asked as she reached out and fixed the buttons of Nina's formal robe that had been done in haste.
"Thank you very much Miss Maria," Nina said sounding like a rightfully admonished child.
"You are allowed this just once Meister Wang. Next time, I expect to see you dressed properly, even if she has put you out here in the nude. Don't worry too much though child, I am not so old or far removed to have forgotten such moments," Miss Maria said as she finished her patrol of the halls.
Nina leaned her head against the door momentarily and could hear Erstin softly crying inside. They did not argue, but Nina was thoroughly unprepared for Erstin's line of questioning. Nina whispered an apology to the door and left trying to stifle her own tears. That had been twenty minutes ago, but for Nina it was on an endless loop in her head. When Nina got to her room in the safety of the palace walls, she sat on the edge of her bed and allowed herself to cry.
Erstin was the most important person in her life; they shared so many things now that Nina was mentally kicking herself. Laying there in Erstin's arms all she had to do was give Ers a yes or no answer. Instead Nina felt fear choke her and couldn't answer though her mind was screaming at her to just say yes. The recent events, not including the births, had scared Nina so badly that she rethought her position on some of her previous promises.
"Please be patient Ers, all I want is a safer world. Yes…that is my answer, but first we must find Tomoe," Nina said as she disrobed and went to take a bath, "God I am such an idiot."
Midori was sitting in Youko's quarters waiting for her with the door wide open when she came to lay Kimiko down for a nap. Midori paid her no mind as Youko walked by and went into the room with their daughter. Kimiko was now sporting a little head full of red hair and it choked Midori's heart to see it.
"What do you want Midori?" Youko asked softly as she closed the door to the room.
"I want something I can't have. I want you and Nao both. I want to have a strong family for Kimiko, a place where love is a gift of freedom shared by all. I want the pain in my heart to stop because I can't drink it away and trust me I have been trying. I need to understand so many of the things going through my mind right now, but the alcohol won't let me focus," Midori said not looking at Youko who was sitting across from her, but at the closed bedroom door.
"You shouldn't have come here in this state Midori. I am sorry for my part in this confusion, but not for the feelings in my heart," Youko said staring at Midori whose face was unmoved by her words and unchanged by the passage of time.
"I am not telling you to deny those feelings Youko. How many times I have wanted you to speak those words to me? What finally brought you back to this place?" Midori asked now turning her unfocused drunken gaze to Youko.
"I saw you with Nao at Reito's burial; I saw the kiss the two of you shared. All the passion between you made me jealous because even though we had our chance she had you, still does or you wouldn't be drunk," Youko said fighting down the urge to fulfill her heart's desire.
"Would you please come and sit over here with me?" Midori asked fully expecting to be denied as Youko sat next to her and took her hand. It was clear just how drunken Midori really was. Midori kicked her feet over the arm of the small sofa and laid her head in Youko's lap refusing to let go of her hand.
"You know we really shouldn't tempt fate Midori. I am not so strong as to be able to let you be this close without giving in," Youko said as she released Midori hair from its tie back and ran her hand through it allowing it even more freedom.
"You had Kimiko for Reito and I right Youko? To give us a future, not just us but the Aswad community in general," Midori asked as she closed her eyes taking in the feelings.
"Yes and no, Midori; Kimiko is the future for the Aswad I hope, but it was not for the community. I wanted to have a piece of the two of you that life had denied," Youko said feeling way too much tension building in her heart.
"Look Midori you need to get up right now, please before I kiss you again. I swear it Midori get up because this time you won't be able to run away," Youko said trying to force Midori who suddenly bolted upright.
"Then do it right now damn you and shut up already," Midori said closing half the distance herself.
Nao really wasn't sure what the Hell had happened back in that old mill, but knew she didn't really want to try it over again. Nao barely got out the window not once looking behind her as the shadow got closer. What she did remember before going out the window was the halberd that nearly took her head off? Nao was the one with the power and yet she had been as useless as a frightened child.
Nao got back to her flat quickly not bothering to drop her robe the entire distance. That had been way too close for her. Now she was in the shower, under the hot water, cursing herself and Natsuki. It was easy to blame Natsuki for putting her in this situation in the first place. Nao knew though that deep down Natsuki must have thought she could handle the evils of the streets here as she did in Windbloom.
Nao cursed even more now because that stray thought reminded her that in Windbloom she had the Stripes at her back, here all Nao had was her robe. Otome's were not infallible; this was a truth Sarah had once told her. The only true reason Sarah had survived out here so long had been her robe's invisibility and her judgment. Sarah told Nao that running away didn't necessarily make you a coward; it gave you another day to live.
As the hot water cascaded down her body Nao thought of Midori and spending another night in her arms safe. The water should have felt scalding, but Nao was still chilled from what happened. Nao tapped her GEM and asked for a link to Natsuki, Gal responded on the other end before opening a channel.
"Kruger here, what's wrong Nao?"
"I nearly lost my head physically, Kruger. What did you put me out here for damn it?" Nao wasn't yelling and Natsuki was actually concerned by this.
"I'm guessing you are safe right now. Where are you Nao I can hear water?" Natsuki asked the younger woman feeling rightfully nervous.
"I'm in the shower in my flat trying to get warm. Look, Natsuki, I'm not asking to come home or anything I'm just…I'm…I was scared okay, really scared." Nao said turning off the water just in time to hear Natsuki sigh.
"I remember that feeling Nao. Are you sure you don't want to come home? After this I can't ask you to stay out there not alone." Natsuki's voice was a comfort right now that Nao just didn't want to give up.
"I know what you are saying and I know the truth, I'm needed to be here doing this. I know this is going to sound odd, but is Viola there with you?" Nao asked as she lay on her bed and wrapped herself protectively in her blankets.
"I'll have Gal switch you over to her. Shizuru's in the other room doing paperwork. I'm with Shiori just hold on okay?" Natsuki said as the channel cut out.
"Nao, are you okay? Natsuki said you asked to speak with me." Shizuru's voice though sounding concerned gave Nao just as much comfort as Natsuki's had.
"I'm in my flat like a frightened child needing to be with her parents, Shizuru. I nearly died; someone or something nearly took my head off with a halberd. I'm mad and lonely and all I want is to get back to Midori. That's why I called, Shizuru have you ever been so terrified that you would never see the people you loved ever again?" Nao asked as she felt the cold grip her heart once more.
"Every time a Column leaves Garderobe they leave with the fear of never coming home again. Power of Otome or not we are human, we feel, and yes we die. As for me personally Nao, I try not to think about it much because it can paralyze me. Every time I am asked to leave our home, I write a letter to Natsuki just in case I don't come home. I try to tell her everything I have ever told her and know I would want to tell her in the end." Shizuru was nailing Nao's feelings home with every word.
"Look Shizuru I know we aren't like close friends and all, but I needed the reassurance. If I can intrude just a little longer, I was wondering if you could help me by writing down for me the things that I need to say to Midori and some of the others." Nao asked as she could hear the paper shuffling in the background.
"Before you start Nao I need you to understand that I don't expect us to be friends. You are a Column, an Otome of strength and truth, and most importantly Nao you are a sister because we are a family no matter our differences. From now on never doubt how any of us feel about who you are to us. So go on…" Shizuru's words brought tears to Nao's eyes and the words she wrote for Nao brought some tears to Shizuru herself.
As the line cut out with Shizuru, Nao started to cry just as she heard the line come back again and Sarah's voice was there this time. Nao went through this with Sarah and then with Maya before she finally had a moment to herself. Nao had reached out to them and each of the Columns had given her just that much more reassurance and faith. Yes, these women were truly her family and Nao was prepared to lay her life on the line for them if it came to that. Out here in Lutesia Remus she was alone, but as such she would face whatever evils came her way to protect them and their legacy.