MaiHime and MaiOtome are…oh just insert usual disclaimer here darn it.
1…
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Shiori took to her seat as she watched the last of the patrons pouring into the theater below. Part of her was awed by the beauty of the surrounding structure, another part of her well…she was worried about Kaede. As if knowing her lover's distress Kaede and Haruka entered the box and claimed their seats. Before sitting, Kaede leaned in and placed a soft hot kiss on Shiori's cool neck.
"I told you I'd only have one small drink," Kaede said as she watched Shiori slide gracefully into her seat.
The house lights suddenly dimmed and the orchestra below started with a sorrowful tune. Kaede unbuttoned her jacket and eased carefully into her seat taking a hold of Shiori's hand firmly. Shiori looked into Kaede's eyes and smiled even though her mind registered that Kaede's hand felt as hot as her lips had.
"Kae, are you sure you are going to be ok?" Shiori asked just as the curtain started to rise.
"I'm fine Shiori just feeling a little warm, don't worry about it," Kaede replied as she squeezed Shiori's hand and pointed towards the woman on stage.
There was a soft light surrounding the actress who was sitting on a beautiful throne. She had one hand covering her eyes hiding her tears. Her other arm was holding her stomach as if bracing some pain. Suddenly she moved her hands to the arms of the throne and started to talk.
"Every day the fighting just gets worse. It seems as if it will never cease, how unfortunate. Today's list of dead has brought the news I've been dreading these past six months…my dearest Subaru, gone forever. I couldn't read the report any further, the thought of her smiling face no longer gracing this terrible world has me defeated. I'll join you soon enough my love, wait for me…"
Shiori's hand had been tight on Kaede's since the actress said the words 'gone forever' and as she stopped talking and the light dimmed once again, Shiori released Kaede's hand momentarily. Shiori wrapped her arm with Kaede's and clasped Kaede's hand once more. Kaede leaned closer toward Shiori understanding exactly what she was feeling. Shiori looked at Kaede and watched quietly as she undid her tie completely, the heat radiating from her.
It's as if she just received her nanomachines for the first time…we'll leave during intermission, Shiori thought as the lights bathed the stage.
There were two young women entering into a small marketplace not paying attention to where they were heading. From the opposite direction two more young women entered the marketplace playing carefree with a large ball. The next throw got carried higher and the young receiver just kept stepping backwards knowing she could catch it if she just tried. Suddenly there were two girls on the ground looking at one another lost.
In the balcony box, Kaede and Shiori both laughed and then stared at one another. The similarity was beyond words.
Shiori's memories,
It was hard for her to believe that it was already class orientation. Shiori and her friends had passed all the necessary exams and had made it through the psychological testing as well. Shiori's mother, Natsuki, had at first been dead set against her daughter becoming Otome. There were many small skirmishes in the other countries and a few Otome had recently lost their lives…this was the last thing Natsuki Kruger wanted for her daughter.
"Come on, Kimiko, it's not like you and Cara to be fighting or not speaking to another," Shiori said as she took the ball from Kimiko and tossed it roughly into the red-head's stomach. Kimiko Helene and Cara Gallagher had been her best friends all of her life, now it seemed as though they could barely stand being in the same room together.
"Not now, Shi, please," Kimiko said as she handed the ball back to Shiori and looked around for Cara once more. Kimiko wore her long red hair pulled back into a high and tight ponytail. Her resemblance to Midori at this age was striking.
"The two of you have been acting weird since we snuck out to use the pool three weeks ago. What did I miss?" Shiori asked as she dropped the ball and planted her foot firmly on top of it. They really are acting weird…
"Kimi, heads up," Shiori said as she rolled the ball onto her foot and tossed it towards Kimiko. The ball struck Kimiko in the back of the head and she turned to glare at Shiori menacingly. Kimiko trailed after the ball and then turned back to Shiori…
"Next time, I pop the ball and you, Kruger. Here…now leave me alone," Kimiko said as she caught sight of Cara standing next to her mother, Ahn.
The ball went up over Shiori's head and she took a few scrambling steps back to catch it. It still wasn't enough and as Shiori turned to chase after the wayward ball she collapsed on top of a slumbering girl in black. Suddenly violet eyes met emerald green for the first time in over ten years.
Shiori felt a full blush grace her features as she settled softly on the girl and became lost in her eyes. Her hands had landed on the girl's chest, one cupping a firm breast, the other feeling her heartbeat thunder below. Everything around Shiori felt suddenly charged with some electric force…
Shiori and Kaede were too busy focusing on one another to watch the play or even hear the small argument amongst the on-stage characters. Shiori released Kaede's hand again and shifted slightly in her seat in order to caress Kaede's hot flushed cheek. Even all these years later, Shiori remembered the way she felt lying on top of Kaede and the strange electric current that flowed through her body from it. Kaede blinked her eyes to get a clear focus on Shiori, her body was burning up, but Shiori's hand was like ice against her skin. Kaede realized it wasn't Shiori's hand, but her own bodies' reaction to that hand.
Kaede's memories,
Kaede was glad the stifling transport ride was over because she needed to get away from Mitsuko Hallard. Had they not grown up together, Mitsuko's constant need to fill empty moments with conversation would have caused a fight. Even so, it still nearly had as Mitsuko wouldn't stop talking about the fact that Kaede had cut her long hair in the transport bathroom.
Stupid hair won't lay flat now…at least the hat will cover it for now, Kaede thought as she placed her hat on her head. Kaede hefted her large duffel bag and headed away from the rest of the Arian girls, including Mitsuko. Mitsuko didn't notice because she was too busy watching and laughing as a smaller girl with spiky orange hair scampered wildly amongst the gathered group of girls.
Kaede found a place away from the group to rest; she dropped her bag and settled on it in a reclined position. The bag barely kept Kaede off the ground, but at least like this she wouldn't get dirty or have to be uncomfortable. Kaede pulled her hat brim down over her eyes and just listened to the world around her.
"Yeah...they call them the Garderobe Princesses because they were born and raised here," a girl's voice with a distinct Lutesian accent could be over heard saying, "they probably didn't even have to study to enroll."
They worked even harder, Kaede thought. Kaede had been too little to remember the last visit her parents had brought her on here to Garderobe and WindBloom.
"Come on, Kimiko..." Kaede heard the most beautiful voice say, but had returned her focus elsewhere because of Mitsuko's voice.
"Oh slow down will you? I'd like to talk to you…" Mitsuko was now chasing the small orange haired girl.
Poor girl…, Kaede thought just as she resettled her position on the bag. Kaede was now trying to block everyone and everything out and just wait for their teacher to gather them. As a breeze blew by, Kaede barely heard an angry voice and then a ball bounce quite near where she lay. As Kaede shifted up the brim of her hat, she saw the falling girl and winced as their bodies met hard.
Kaede braced her feet out and threw an arm around the girl on top of her in order to keep them from rolling onto the ground. As the shock of the impact wore off, the girl on top of Kaede settled against her and suddenly blushed a shade of deep crimson. Kaede understood as she fought off her own blush staring into the most beautiful green eyes she would ever see. Kaede registered where the girl's hands were and found that her own was cupping a soft yielding buttock. Kaede had been warm all day, but suddenly her skin felt cold and the air itself seemed charged.
On that day, Meister Ahn Liu had separated them just as Kaede was reaching with her free hand to touch Shiori's face. Here in this moment, Kaede reached out and touched Shiori's cheek, winking at her before leaning over to steal a quick kiss. Just as their lips met, their heads knocked together painfully. The sensations of cold and electric charge dissipated in the pain of that action.
"Behave like proper Otome," Miss Maria growled softly as she snapped her program at them before returning to her seat.
"Well I thought it was proper considering you are My Otome Lover," Kaede said as she smiled at Shiori.
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Garderobe, Founder Core room,
"Jeez, Midori, did you have to knock her out?" Nao hissed as she swatted the Aswad leader upside the head.
Midori was trying to carefully balance Youko in her arms; the woman was knocked out cold. Gal had found it appropriate to leave the core as ordered by Midori when they came for Youko. Irina Woods and the four Pearl messengers just looked on in disbelief as the Aswad leader shook off Nao's hit.
"She's resting right?" Midori questioned as she carefully lifted Youko over her shoulder.
"And she's going to be even more pissed off when she wakes up, damn it," Nao said as she watched Midori head towards the stairs back to the dorms.
"No, she won't," Midori said without stopping or looking back. From the mischievous tone of her voice Nao understood what Midori meant and just shook her head, "Take her to my room then…My room, my rules…"
Nao turned and smiled at Irina and the Pearls making them all step back in concern.
"What?" Nao asked as she looked them over, the urge to laugh tugging wildly through her. Nao noticed the curious stare in Irina's eyes and the fact that the four Pearls were suddenly looking elsewhere.
"I'm going to stay and finish replacing boards," Irina said as the four Pearls took this as their cue to head towards the stairs.
"No, you aren't Woods, you are going to get some sleep…one way or another," Nao said as she moved closer to Irina.
"I had a nap earlier in the medical bay. You may be a Column, Nao, but you aren't my boss. I'll stay…" Irina replied moving a step towards Nao showing that she wasn't afraid of her.
Nao moved face to face with Irina, whispering something in her ear as she traced a finger lightly down Irina's neck and chest, stopping at the first button of her brown vest. Irina blushed from Nao's boldness but headed towards the stairs as well. Nao just smiled as she followed alongside the blushing genius.
"You can use Helene's quarters to get some rest, she won't be in there," Nao said as they started up the stairs. Nao looked up and realized Midori had stopped halfway up with Youko, tired from the extra weight, "I knew she shouldn't have knocked Helene out."
Irina looked up with Nao and had to laugh as the Aswad leader watched the four Pearls dash by her hoping to quickly avoid anymore of the recent insanity. As they got closer, Nao shook her head and leaned over to whisper something in Midori's ear. Midori laughed as they walked by and then resigned herself to the task of picking up Youko in order to continue upstairs.
"Next time I'm going to call on Gakutenou…"
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Otome Guardian Force HQ, Garderobe,
There was laughter and the sound of rustling bed sheets heavy in the 12th Column's quarters as one of the contracted Otome burst in and yelled.
"Where the Hell is Viola, dammit? I promised to bring her to visit with…" The tawny haired, crimson eyed Otome never got a chance to finish as her eyes caught the briefest glimpse of two naked bodies now staring at her.
"With the Wang's, To-Spaz, now get out of my room," Kanna calmly replied as she turned to look at Ayame.
"Don't make me have to order you, Saeko," Ayame said as Kanna returned to kissing her stomach. The Arian President's back arched as she took two handfuls of hair and yanked fiercely.
The blushing Continental Orb Topaz turned quickly on her heels and left the two women alone once more. As the door slammed closed, Kanna looked up at Ayame and smiled.
"I'll never understand how Saeko and Shiori ended up being so different," Kanna said thinking of the unconscious Column in the medical bay.
"Saeko may be all fire and brimstone, but she's just as well mannered as her older sister. Would we still be here if I was more like Kaede?" Ayame asked knowing her answer already. Kanna just shook her head no and placed another kiss on Ayame's stomach. Though Ayame was older than her, Kanna knew this woman was definitely all she ever wanted or needed. Kanna just needed to make Ayame understand that as well.
"Well hopefully Saeko calms down before she picks up Viola from the Wang's. Viola might just materialize her element if Saeko doesn't," Ayame said thinking of the four year olds uncontrolled power. As of this moment, the child was without a neutralizing ring.
Kanna couldn't help but smile at the thought of Viola's trident that, like her mother's Otome element, would lash out in whip like fashion. The child could not yet hold it, but she couldn't help when it materialized either. Because she was still growing, Viola's neutralizing ring had to keep being rebuilt as she grew. All of the twelve wore the silver neutralizing ring in order to help their control over their own advanced materializing elements. As students they had received training to use both, with the help of the former Nekogami, Mikoto.
"Show me your hammer again," Ayame purred into Kanna's ear.
"You do know that using this power drains us, right?" Kanna asked as she removed her GEM, then her silver ring. The ring bore the inscription: Otome Born- Humanity of the Otome, Transcendent Moonstone. Ayame was always amazed by the sheer power they possessed, but even more amazing was how this little ring could neutralize their natural abilities as was necessary.
Ayame nodded, of course she knew, how could she not. Ayame had no power, but could someday give birth to a daughter who would. This was just a tease for her; another form of foreplay.
"Just show it off a little for me, not enough to drain you though. I want that privilege," Ayame said as she watched Kanna focus her power into life. The large claw hammer looked like some ordinary tool though the true power lies within it and its wielder. After a few swings and poses, Kanna released her element and returned to Ayame's side returning her ring and GEM to their proper homes.
"Come here, love, now it's my turn to show-off," Ayame said as she pulled Kanna down with her onto the bed once more.
Just as Ayame rolled Kanna beneath her and straddled her waist, a loud whine broke the otherwise silent surroundings. Both Ayame and Kanna cursed as the GEM link interrupted their fun.
"All Columns report to the Founder Core immediately." This one way communication cut off immediately after the relayed message.
"Sorry, Ayame, will you wait here for me?" Kanna asked as they parted and stood on opposite sides of the bed.
"I waited six months to be here like this with you. I'm done waiting, I'm going with you whether they like it or not. Killjoys…"
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Grand Theater,
As the lead actress left the stage for the last time until after intermission she found herself trying to fight the built up body heat and the annoying feel of the costume she was wearing. As the actress made her way to her dressing room she passed two stage hands who were fixing the light control panel for the theater. Just as she passed them by the actress broke into a wet coughing fit that ended with her vomiting blood on the floor before collapsing dead where she had stood.
"Damn it, it's already loose. Stage 4 to Mother…" the taller man said into his ear piece.
"Mother here…" came the reply.
"Our plans have to be moved forward, Mother. The lead actress was infected; she just died right in front of us. What are your orders?" Tall man/Stage 4 inquired.
"We have no choice…move to Code Omega, Stage 4. Mother out…" the line became hectic with other reports and replies.
"Code Omega…let's go find Sinistra and her girl toy, no witnesses'." Stage 4 said to his companion as they finished the last splices of line and set the timer closing the box once more.
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Kaede could feel the tears welling up in her eyes and blurring her vision as the lead actress made her way off stage. The scene had not been overly dramatic at all; it was Kaede's growing discomfort that had caused her eyes to tear up. Shiori noticed Kaede rubbing at her eyes and swatted her hand away in order to turn Kaede's head towards her. Kaede had already removed her tie and undone the top two buttons of her dress shirt, Shiori was now seriously concerned.
"Kaede, look at me," Shiori said as Kaede slowly sat forward trying to rub her eyes again.
Suddenly there were multiple screams from other areas of the theater echoing through the walls as Shiori had joined that chorus. As Kaede had looked in her direction, Shiori noticed the blood stained streaks running from Kaede's eyes and the small line from her mouth.
"Blessed Lady, no, Kaede…"
