Mai-HiME at the Movies
One: The HiME Bride
Arika lay in bed, coughing, She was sick, and miserable.
Her Grandmother sat next to her, "I brought you something, Arika."
"A book!" Arika enthused, then coughed sharply.
"A book," Her grandmother smiled gently, "One of my favorites. The Hime Bride, by S. Fujino. It's the book that my mother read to me when I was sick, and I read it to your mother when she was sick. And now I'm going to read it to you."
"Is it any good?" Arika asked with a smile.
"Are you kidding. Passion. Romance. Moments of tender affection. True Love."
"Neat," Arika wriggled to make herself more comfortable.
Natsuki was raised on a small farm in the land of Fuuka. Her favorite pastimes were riding her horse, and being teased by the maiden who worked there. Her name was Shizuru, but only Natsuki ever dared to call her that.
Natsuki would often try to order Shizuru around, but it would often earn her a tease in retaliation.
"Shizuru, polish Ducati's saddle. I want to see my face in it come morning."
"Ikezu. But I would gladly describe Natsuki's face to her in the morning, if she would let me sleep alongside her" Shizuru grinned, "Or, at the very least, point her in the direction of a mirror."
Natsuki sighed, blushing slightly, and walked off in mild exasperation.
"Ikezu" is often what Shizuru would say to her.
"Shizuru, fill these with water," Natsuki set a pair of buckets in front of her. She received a soft smile, and crimson eyes laughed at her, causing Natsuki to sigh, "Please."
"Ikezu," Shizuru's smile grew, "Natsuki always has to be reminded to use her manners."
Natsuki was amazed to discover that when Shizuru was saying "ikezu", what she really meant was "I love you." Even more astonishing was the realization that she truly loved her back.
"Oh, boy," Natsuki flushed red, leaning against the farmhouse wall, "I'm totally gay for that girl, damnit!"
She decided to explore her newfound realization.
"Shizuru? Fetch me that pitcher? Please?" Natsuki looked up. Shizuru walked slowly over to her, her eyes dancing, her lips curled in an insufferable smile.
"Ikezu," She whispered into Natsuki's ear. As she pulled back, Natsuki made sure to graze her cheek with her lips, until they met Shizuru's in a gentle, soft kiss. The two of them went outside, staring at the soft light of the sunset, holding each other close. They kissed once more. They would spend that night together, before destiny parted them.
"HOLD IT!" Arika interrupted, "Parted! That's not very romantic! Where's the passionate embraces, the longing looks, the soft rustle of clothing slowly falling away?"
"Just hold you horses!" Grandma sighed.
Shizuru had no money for marriage, so she packed her belongings to seek her fortune across the sea.
"I fear I'll never see you again, Shizuru," Natsuki sobbed.
"Here me now, Natsuki. I will always, always come for you."
"How can you be sure?"
"Natsuki knows that I love her. If there's anything you don't like, I'll take care of it for you."
Shizuru never reached her destination. Her ship was attacked by the Dread Pirate Kiyohime
, who never left captives alive. When Natsuki received word that Shizuru had been murdered, she locked herself in her room and neither ate nor slept for days.
Five years later, the land of Fuuka was busy as never before, as the masses gathered to hear word of Prince Takeda's bride to be.
"People of Fuuka, in a month's time, we will celebrate the 500th anniversary of our nation. On that sundown, I will marry a lady who was once a commoner, like yourselves. But she's is not so common, now, I think. I give to you, Natsuki-Hime!"
Although the law of the land gave Takeda the right to choose his bride, Natsuki did not love him.
"I was going to marry another girl, Prince. It's not going to work out with you and me!"
"Oh, pshaw, I'll grow on you," He smiled a suspicious smile.
But the only joy she found was in her daily rides. One on such ride, she found herself miles from the castle when she came across a motley looking group. There was a short man with silver-blue hair and pink eyes, a busty redhead, and a short girl with yellow eyes, hair tied in two long, thin braids, and carrying a massive sword.
"Excuse me," the short man said, "We're hopelessly lost. Is there a village nearby?"
"Not for miles," Natsuki sighed. She suddenly found the top heavy girl approaching her.
"Then there will be no one to hear you scream," The short man smiled wickedly.
The other girl yanked Natsuki from the saddle, and buried her face in her cleavage in a sleeper hold. Natsuki was out almost instantly.
They marched to a boat, where the redhead loaded Natsuki onto the deck. The girl with braids looked at their employer, "Whatcha doing?"
"This is fabric from an army uniform of Cardair, the sworn enemy of Fuuka. Once the horse returns, the fabric will make the Prince suspect that the Cardarians have abducted his bride. And when he finds her dead on the Cardair Plains, his suspicions will be confirmed."
"Whoa! Back up!" The redhead looked at him, "You never said anything about killing anybody, Nagi!"
"We're starting a war, here, Tokiha," Nagi explained patiently, "There are established courses of action for this sort of thing."
"I don't think it's right, killing some innocent girl!" Mai protested.
"I didn't hire you for your brains, Tokiha," Nagi sneered, "I hired you because you were the biggest in the land."
He made a cupping motion in front of his chest, causing Mai to flush, turning her back on him.
"I agree with Mai," Mikoto chimed in.
"And now we hear from the munchkin brigade," Nagi sighed, "What happens to our dear Princess here is none of your concern. Just remember, I'm the one who makes sure that you," he pointed at Mai, "get the money for the medicines that your sick brother needs. And you," he turned to Mikoto, "have food in your belly at all. I can quickly change that situation for both of you, if you want."
"That Nagi is a piece of work!" Mai growled.
"I think he's kind of a jerk," Mikoto replied.
"He's really a total worm," Mai sighed.
"I bet I can make him squirm," Mikoto hefted her sword.
"If you two are done with your game?" Nagi motioned.
"Man, this job is so totally lame," Mikoto sighed.
The ship pulled out into the water.
Natsuki came to a short while later, as the sun was setting over the brackish water as they sailed on. She heard them arguing about whether or not it was possible for anyone to be following them, and she decided that she would take advantage of their distraction and make an exit.
"Go after her," Nagi said with a sigh.
"I can't swim!" Mai protested.
"I can do a dead-man's float," Mikoto offered.
It was at this point that Natsuki remembered that she'd only swam recreationally in the pond and had no real stamina for distance swimming, which was a problem because it was dark, and there was no land in sight. And then she heard a strange noise.
"Do you know what that sound is, Highness?" Nagi leaned on his elbows, a smug grin on his face, "Those are the shrieking eels. If you don't believe me, just wait. They always get louder right before they feed on human flesh."
A large form passed her in the water, screaming loudly as it passed.
Natsuki looked irritated. Eels? Her choice was jump back on a ship where they were planning to slit her throat, try and swim, and probably drown, or let a bunch of voracious screaming fish eat her.
"If you swim back now," Nagi informed her, "I promise, no harm will come to you. I doubt you'll get such an offer from the eels."
"I dunno," Natsuki shot him a death glare, "I'm willing to hear what they'll put on the table."
"My guess would be you," Nagi grinned smugly.
"She doesn't get eaten by the eels," Grandmother said to Arika.
"Huh?"
"I'm explaining because you look worried."
"No, no, I was just really into it. Keep going, Grandma."
An eel charged Natsuki. She wondered if she could glare it into submission, but before she got the chance, a huge sword came down, skewering the eel.
The redhead, Mai, grabbed her by the collar and hauled her aboard.
"I bet you think you're brave," Nagi sneered.
"I was willing to stay in the water with the eels," Natsuki shrugged, "I didn't see you trying to take a swim."
They sailed on until dawn.
"That ship is right on top of us," Mikoto nodded to the stern.
"They're too late," Nagi said confidently, "See! The cliffs of insanity!"
They hopped into a basket with a rope and pulley system set up, and Mai and Mikoto began pulling on the rope, lifting them all up to the top of the cliff above.
A lithe, feminine figure leapt out of the pursuing boat, clad all in violet, a mask over her face, long, tawny hair sticking out the back in a simple ponytail, and a large, crimson naginata strapped to her back.
"She's climbing," Mai noted, "And she's gaining."
"Amusing," Nagi smiled.
They reached the top, and Nagi cut the rope from the pulley, causing the basket to go tumbling down the cliffside.
"Wow, she's got good arms," Mikoto looked amused.
"She didn't fall?" Nagi sighed, "How amusing."
"You're easily amused," Mai looked sour.
"You," Nagi pointed at Mikoto, "If she falls, fine, if not, your sword. Catch up when she's dead."
"I'm going to duel her one-handed," Mikoto said firmly.
"We're in a bit of a hurry," Nagi reminded her.
"It's the only way I can be satisfied. If I use both hands…over too quickly."
"Fine!"
Nagi and Mai carried off Natsuki.
Mikoto looked over the cliff at the strange woman in violet.
"I don't s'pose you can hurry up?" Mikoto asked.
"Children shouldn't be rude," the woman chided, "If you really need me to make it to the top, you could lower a rope or a tree branch."
"Well, I've got some rope," Mikoto admitted, "But since I'm going to have to kill you when you get here, I don't know that you'll accept my help."
"It is a bit of a conundrum," The violet woman acknowledged.
"But, I promise, I won't kill you until you reach the top."
"I'm not sure…"
"I swear by the soul of my brother, Reito Minagi, you will reach the top alive."
"Throw me the rope," the violet woman said.
Mikoto lowered the rope, and helped the woman to the top of the cliff. Once at the top, she reached for the naginata at her back.
"We can wait until you're ready," Mikoto said.
"Thank you."
The violet woman sat down and pulled
off a boot, dumping out rocks.
"I don't mean to pry," Mikoto said, "But you don't happen to have an eye tattooed on your right hand, do you?"
"My, what an unusual ice-breaker. Isn't asking a lady about tattoos a bit…rude?" the violet woman raised an eyebrow.
"My brother was taken by a person with an eye tattooed on their right hand," Mikoto explained.
The violet woman stripped off her glove, showing her hand, which was smooth and graceful, and unmarked.
Mikoto nodded, then sat, shrugging, "My brother was a wonderful swordsman. He taught me everything he knew. I came home from the market one day to find our home ransacked, my brother gone, and a man in a mask, with an eye tattooed on his right hand leaving. I fought him, but he was too much for me, and he got away."
"You've dedicated your life to the study of swordplay, then?" the violet woman asked.
"Well, more of a pursuit than a study," Mikoto said, "I need to eat, and there's no money in revenge, so, I work for Nagi to pay the bills."
"Well, I hope you find your brother, one day," the violet woman stood.
"You're ready then?" MIkoto licked her lips eagery.
"Of course."
"You seem like a decent person," Mikoto held her massive blade in one hand, "I hate to kill you."
"You seem like a decent person," the violet woman smiled an enigmatic smile, "And don't worry, you won't."
The strange woman drew her naginata, and Mikoto began to realize the problem, immediately. It was clearly a heavy weapon, and yet this woman wielded it one-handed and with seeming ease. What was more, this woman was nearly 20 centimeters taller than her, and her weapon had a longer reach. This meant that Mikoto was going to start at an extreme disadvantage. She grinned.
Their blades clashed. Neither spoke. Their was no exchange of words. Their steel spoke for each of them. There were sparks, movements of arms, and graceful dancing of feet. Neither relented, and the sound of their blades colliding was like unto a symphony.
Mikoto realized she would not win this conflict by wielding her blade one-handed, and was relieved to have found a strong fighter who had, once again, stirred the true fighting spirit within her, as she clasped her sword Miroku with both hands. Her opponent's eyes gave the briefest flicker as she saw Mikoto's hands take the sword, and smiled more broadly.
They continued their fight, and this time, Mikoto seemed to have the advantage. She pushed the violet woman to the edge of the cliffside, stones from the ancient ruins falling into the sea below. The violet woman gave a shrewd smile. Suddenly, both of her hands were on the pole of her naginata, and her strength proved overwhelming. She pushed Mikoto back with ease, then overpowered her.
Mikoto's blade, Miroku, was knocked from her hands. She knelt on the ground, silently anticipating the final blow.
The violet woman stood in front of her, smiling. She shook her head.
"Killing you would be tantamount to destroying a stained glass window," She chuckled, "I don't destroy beautiful things when it's not necessary. Go. Find your brother."
"She defeated Mikoto?" Nagi looked at the violet woman stepping out of the ruins, cloak flying in the breeze, "Amusing. Mai, I'm going to leave her to you. Try not to get killed too quickly. I'll take the Princess with me."
Mai scowled, "You're a real son of a…"
"Don't worry about flattering me. Just pick up a rock and make sure you hit this troublesome woman in the head with it."
"I'll do what I have to do," Mai glowered at him, "But you and me, we're gonna have a talk when this is done."
Nagi shrugged, hauling off Natsuki, whose hands were bound behind her back.
Mai was a strong woman. Stronger than most. She could have lobbed a massive rock into the violet woman's head. It would have been easy. But it was also underhanded, sneaky, and unfair.
So, she sat on a boulder and waited patiently for the woman in violet to reach her.
"And you're instructed to kill me," The woman in violet asked Mai, a clear tone of amusement in her voice.
"That was what he instructed," Mai said, ruffling her own hair, "But I'm not one to just randomly kill people. Did you kill Mikoto?"
"Your friend? She's fine. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I imagine, but one of the finest sword fighters I've ever encountered. When she's a bit older, and taller, she would probably clean my clock."
"Alright. Well, I've got no real love for Nagi, but if I don't do what he says, he won't pay for my brother's medicine."
"Your brother?"
"His name is Takumi. He's been sickly for a long time, now. The medicines to keep him healthy are…expensive. It's all I can do. So, it's nothing personal, but I have to try to fight you, or…"
There was a metallic noise, and Mai looked down at her feet to see a bag at her feet. She picked it up and opened it. It was filled with gold coins.
"There's…that's…"
"I was going to use it to barter with this…Nagi, was it? For Princess Natsuki's life. But I think that I can handle Nagi without that. Will that buy me passage?"
"I think I'd be the one who owed you," Mai said earnestly.
"I might hold you to that," the violet woman said.
And she walked on.
"Good help is so hard to find," Nagi sighed, his hands up in a shrug, as the woman in violet approached. He silently drew a dagger and put the tip to Natsuki's throat.
"Oh, keep moving forward," Nagi grinned, "You'll kill her before you ever get close to her."
Natsuki, chaffing at the blindfold on her, snarked, "Your breath will do that before your dagger does, twerp."
"Rude," Nagi sighed.
"Perhaps we could come to some arrangement?" the violet woman asked.
"'Fraid not. I'm no match for you in a physical fight, and you're no match for my brains."
"You're so smart?" the violet woman tilted an amused eyebrow.
"I certainly have my moments," he grinned.
"Then, perhaps you would agree to a battle of wits?" the violet woman suggested.
"For the Princess?"
Nod.
"To the death?"
Nod.
"I accept."
"Then pour a few cups of the contents of that tea pot," the violet woman smiled. She sat opposite Nagi and Natsuki. She produced a small tube, and uncorked it.
"Inhale this, but do not touch."
Nagi took a deep scent, "I smell nothing."
"What you do not smell is called Iocane Powder. Colorless, odorless, dissolves instantly in liquid, and is one of the deadliest poisons known to man. "
She collected the two cylindrical tea cups, the tube of poison, and turned. Then set the cups down.
"The battle of wits has begun," she smiled, "Where's the poison? It ends when we both drink and we see who is alive, and who is dead."
"Oh, but it's too easy," Nagi smirked, "All I have to do is divine from what I know of you? Are you, my poisonous viper, the sort of person who would put the poison in your own cup or an enemy's. Now, a clever man would put the poison in their own cup, knowing that only a great fool would choose what's been offered them, so I can clearly not chose the cup in front of you. But you would have known I was not a great fool, and so I can clearly not choose the cup in front of me.
"Now, Iocane comes from Australia, which is entirely peopled by criminals, and criminals are used to people not trusting them, as you are not trusted by me, so I clearly cannot trust the cup in front of you.
"But you may have suspected that I would know the poison's origin, or why tell me it's name? So I can clearly not choose the cup in front of me."
"Now you're just stalling," the violet woman accused.
"You'd like to think that, wouldn't you?" Nagi grinned, "You defeated Mai, which means that you're pretty strong. So you could have put the poison in your own tea, expecting your strength to save you.
"But you also beat Mikoto, which means you have to have studied, and in studying, you would have come to understand mortality. So you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible.
"I mean, really, you're such a troublesome person, aren't you?"
"You're trying to trick me into giving something away. It won't work?"
"Are you so sure? Well, I know where the poison is."
"Then make your choice," she said.
"I will. And I choose…what in the world can that be?"
She didn't turn, and frowned, "Are you trying to use the oldest trick in the book to distract me while you swap cups?"
His eyebrow twitched.
"Well, I…"
"If my cup looks more attractive to you, you may choose it. Or, I can tell you the answer right now."
She picked up both tea cups, then sipped from one, and then the other.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders," she informed him, "the most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia. But only slightly less well known is this; never go up against a woman when death is involved."
Nagi fell over as she laughed.
The violet woman pulled off Natsuki's blindfold.
"So…what just happened?" Natsuki asked in confusion.
"Ara, ara, I would never poison tea. Such a vulgar thing to do. Truly, he was a lackwit, trusting me when I asked him to inhale what was obviously poison."
"What are you doing, dressed like that, Shizuru?" Natsuki raised an eyebrow at her.
"Ara, but what makes Natsuki think it's Shizuru? Are I not the Dread Pirate Kiyohime?"
"Tawny brown hair, crimson eyes, an overuse of 'ara', and teasing me by referring to me in the third person? I may not have seen you in six years, but I'm not such a Buttercup that I couldn't recognize the woman I loved on sight."
Shizuru pouted, "And I went to so much trouble. Natsuki, ikezu!"
To Be Continued….