Chapter III: Incomprehensible Inferno
Scene Theme: Sakuzyo — Waltz on the Brink of the Cliff
This initial week had driven her to the edge of the cliff. Mai had discovered things—horrific altercations that conflicted with her very sanity. Originally, she and Takumi had taken the ferry. Because this was no longer true, this meant they hadn't yet met Natsuki and the others. She… Although Mai had indeed spotted Natsuki, Takumi had evidently not recognised her. But, there was something else…
Staring through a chain-linked fence, Mai gazed upon the shimmering HiME Star. H-how could any of this be real?! How was it this cruel?! "Aghh!" Hands shooting to her head, her legs buckled beneath her weight. Knees painfully slamming against concrete, a single, desperate sob welled from deep inside of her. S-he… she needed out… She couldn't cope with this anymore…!
Latching her fingers against the chain-link fence, she heaved herself upwards. Within the evening horizon, she watched a flock of birds pass by. Ah, they were… free to live their lives. So different from herself who felt like a caged animal near breaking point. Gaze wandering downwards, she looked across Fuuka Academy. Suddenly, she remembered this building was four storeys tall. Mind souring, a darkness started engulfing Mai's psyche. C-an… someone die from… four storeys…? Morbid curiosity transformed into desperation. Fingers tightening against the fence, they whitened in reaction. Willing herself, her magatomoe Elements materialised into existence.
So… it is true. Staring into the distance, something snapped within her mind. The HiME Carnival will start again. There shall be death. Her most precious people would… would what…? Gnawing into her lip, another cry escaped her, shaking the chain-linked barrier. T-this thing barred her from release! Behind here… she could… be… free. Any semblance remaining within her mind was erased. After all, couldn't she merely fly above this obstacle? Alas, her Elements whirled into life, the flames furiously spinning around her wrists. As the fire pulsed, it lept towards the fence. But still—still!—it wasn't enough! "D-damn it all!" Hands twisted around the chain-link, her weight buckled once more. She hated this!
"Hey, you!" A voice belonging to someone she did not expect sounded. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"What am I doing…?" Knees grounding the concrete, a broken laugh released from Mai. "You should ask yourself that more often, Natsuki." Fingers entangling within the chain-link fence painfully, cloudy violets observed the biker. The helmed HiME took an unsure step backwards, clearly startled she was known. "That thing." She extended a quivering arm skywards to the Star. "It kills everyone! It k-illed my friends—me!" Natsuki can describe her as disturbed. She did not care. Because all else, she just wanted everything to stop.
"...Who are you?" Natsuki pulled off her helmet, holding it within her hands. This understandably spooked her. Who is this? How did she know her name and what that Star represented?
"Someone who doesn't belong in this world… I'm making amends." Wobbling back to her feet, Mai's magatomoe spiralled into life. This time, the scorching heat did start searing through metal. Finally… she's on the cusp of relea—
"—I don't know who you are, but stop." Natsuki's helmet rolled uselessly upon the floor, her arms wrapping around Mai from behind. Mai's knees buckled yet again, causing the two to stumble downwards. "You need he—"
"—Help? Me?! Who's going to help me—us?! We're HiME! Destroyers of humanity!" Natsuki could only stare at her. "I-it's all wrong! I'm all wrong! I ended the Carnival, y-yet—" A fleeting gasp released from Mai before transitioning into a sob. "I-I can't… I can't cope anymore!"
Unsure, Natsuki's arms squeezed this apparent stranger into a hug. Her gaze transferred to the smouldering steel behind Mai. The molten dripped down upon the floor, scorching the tile below. As obscene as this all was, she believed Mai. The evident signs were all here: Knowledge of the HiME, its Star, proof of ability. But, what did she mean she did not belong in this world? As a HiME, or…? No, it's something else. "You're coming with me."
Unable to fight against the elder, Mai was hauled onto her feet. Wavering, she stumbled before Natsuki's arm caught her. "I-I…"
Who on Earth is this girl?
The door hit furniture as Natsuki allowed it to slam. Heaving Mai inside, she blindly searched for the light switch. "The settee's over—"
"—In the right corner beside the window, I know." Mai mumbled, pulling from Natsuki's hold. Lumbering forward, she kicked off her shoes and nearly tripped on the step. Like when they first met before, Natsuki's dorm was a total mess. Underwear was scattered across the floor and draped across furniture. Discarded junk food littered the kotatsu; miraculously, it didn't make her heave. Perhaps she's used to it, or she's far too mentally unstable to care? Collapsing onto the settee, her listless gaze swept to a bra beside her. It was laced and black—
"—A-ah, sorry for the mess." Natsuki stammered, still within her biker leathers. She swiftly started collecting the clothing scattered across the dorm room.
"You were heartbroken when that SLAVE destroyed your underwear." Mai muttered absently, making the fellow HiME freeze in her tracks. She peered over her shoulder at Mai, midway scooping down to pick up some knickers. "I thought it was hilarious that you of all people had a hobby so feminine." Sore violets pulled to the window; rain now pelted against the glass. "But it's cute too, I guess."
Natsuki blushed, unable to pull her gaze from Mai. Again, who is she?
A/N: It's been so long since I last looked at Lachrymose Crux. I had initially put it on hiatus because my mind blanked on where to take it. Recently some ideas came to mind after discussing things with Beth Cyra. This is primarily a Dark-Mai/Nat with 1k chapters.