Seductive Smile
Part A: Coral Years
Chapter VI: Nightly Tendency
The hours, classes and days had quickly passed by smoothly since Natsuki lost her tablets. During this time the Pearl and Coral had continued in a different array of activities; some of these consisting in cleaning, homework and sparring. While at other times a simple stroll across the gardens of the campus in the unused section, where they wouldn't gain any unwanted attention from the Fan-Groups. One now belongs to a surprised but extremely annoyed Natsuki, who would instead fire her deadliest Kruger Death Glare towards while Shizuru would merely smile.
"The Survival Hike shall be today after lunch, so classes shall be cut-down from work. However this doesn't mean you can slack off!" Miss Maria scolded, in front of the class besides Narcisa-Sensei who was nodding furiously, a slightly nervous glint inside her orbs as she gazed at the ageing Otome cautiously. "I expect all of you to be at your best behaviour! Especially when either Shizuru Viola, Haruka Armitage, Elliot Chandler or Chika Suzuki visit you during the nightly check-up!"
Was it just Natsuki, or did that sound extremely wrong?
"Natsuki, did you get the blankets ready?" Mai hissed over. Both sat beside each other as Miss Maria continued to yap on about rules regarding the Hike.
"Obviously!" Natsuki rolled her eyes. Who did she think she was? Honestly! "And don't worry, my new supply of medicine arrived last night so I'm taking extra with me."
"Good."
~S~
Shifting awkwardly, Natsuki stood between Laula and Mai, gritting her teeth as Miss Maria strode past brisk-fully, an array of papers in hand as she called out students names and who they'd be with for the next three days.
"Garner Matsuri with Kaiser Kazuki!"
Matsuri Garner? Wasn't she a noble from the Aries Republic? The Garner's were a part of the government weren't they? Pfft! But wasn't she an air-head? She was more pathetic than Carla! Twice as bad in fact! 'Urg... Garner and Kaiser working together?' Ha! Like that would likely happen!
"Bellini Carla with Bianichi Laula!"
Typical. How did Natsuki know they'd be together for the Hike? She could just imagine it! The two constantly yapping about their own nation whilst on the run from a Coolak of all things! For some reason the Lutecians saw them as being bad luck, while the rest of Earl saw them as good luck obviously. (*)
Shouting out a few unknown students' names, Miss Maria finally came to the last batch of the Coral, some of the young girls twiddling their thumbs nervously as they listened to the greying Otome intensively.
"Tokiha Mai with Kruger Natsuki!"
"Come on, Natsuki."
Passing the other girls, they both came to a halt in front of the Headmistress; the elder handing over a small gadget to Mai which continuously bleeped out its existence to them.
"This detection beacon will allow your nightly checkers to know where you are; however if in dire need or exhaustion, I would advise you both to make your position in the surrounding area known immediately.
"Yes Miss Maria." They both said in allusion, their backs straightening in acknowledgement as the Lutecian continued.
"Fighting shall not be allowed, even in self defence you will be considerably punished by myself and Elliot Chandler."
Inwardly scowling at her twitching brow, Natsuki opened her mouth momentarily before closing it once more. 'No fighting?-!' Even through self defence?-! That was... ludicrous! "Miss Maria," she stated. Sharply but politely as Mai nudged her in the stomach with an elbow roughly, "What if we cannot avoid self defence?" The thought trailed off into the direction of a certain redheaded Kaiser for a split second, "Both my own and Mai's countries have many enemies! This is a perfect chance for an assas-"
"-then make sure to stay out of their line of sight." Maria interrupted rudely, her stern expression never failing as she clasped her hands before her, gesturing her head over to the other students instead. "As you know, you're allowed up to three items of choice to take with you; your packs shall be checked over by not only myself, but the rest of the Columns which also involve the Shinso."
"The Shinso..."
"Precisely, Kruger."
Wasn't this going over the top a little too much?
Chasing after Natsuki hastily, Mai yelped as she tripped suddenly, not feeling contact with the brittle ground, but instead warm, strong arms. The redhead opened her eyes hesitantly, irises of violet meeting jade as Natsuki shot her a concerned look.
"Mai? Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah..."
Nodding Natsuki let the Zipang Princess go, striding over the rocky path again, but at a comfortable pace to make sure the Number One Coral could keep up. "Mai, do you remember where-abouts the sea is?" Natsuki asked, hopping over a fallen log with ease to then turn on the heel of her boot. "We would have great cover inside the caves of the cliff-face."
"To the east, up towards the hills I think."
"You think?" Natsuki repeated, "Tck, so much for Zipangian's supposedly knowing exactly where to go all the time." She rolled her eyes sarcastically as she headed over to the fellow Coral who frowned deeply. "What?"
"So I apparently know where we are? Exactly?" Well that was nice and all, "But if so, how come you're not the most intelligent student in Garderobe?" To actually know more about military tactics than Haruka Oneesama and Elliot Chandler put together?
"It's wits and luck, Tokiha! Not intelligence!" Natsuki huffed, folding her arms as she halted before the bemused redhead. "Now, turn around before I make you."
"Hm, commanding me already, Kruger? Are you sure you are Queen yet?" Turning her back so Natsuki could rummage inside her pack, she smirked as the elder made a low noise, the vibration hitting the Anazian's throat as it rose up into the air.
"Kst! Shut up, Tokiha!" Grabbing the map without much of a second thought, she bit her lip tightly to avoid scowling further as Mai merely chuckled as Natsuki fastened the bag back together securely.
"Then I'm sure you'll remember to not fight with the other Coral then?" She doubted Natsuki would want to upset her dear Oneesama, would she?
"Obviously not!" Who did Mai think she was?-! A rotten piece of meat hanging in a sewer?
~S~
"You sure you don't need this one?" Natsuki asked as she offered Mai the last blanket, water in hand as she swallowed a few yellow tablets; her stress gradually going down smoothly as her brow creased; slightly unnerved as the pills forced their way down her throat to her stomach. 'Eh...' She didn't think she'd ever get used to the awkward feeling it gives off. "You sure? It is beginning to get cold outside you know," and especially since they were so close to the sea, her gaze going to the entrance of the cave to give out her point more clearly to the tired Princess.
"Natsuki!" Shifting her body to face the azure-haired girl, Mai scolded her as she crossed her arms around her legs to keep warm. Her back leaning against the cave-wall uncomfortably, "I've already said! You need them more than me because of your medication!"
"I might need them to help control my actions, but my mental health isn't that serious!" Natsuki snapped, getting irritated as she was rewarded with a simple glare, although it wasn't an entirely evil one... more of a light one than anything else. "You need to keep warm as well, Mai." She said more softly this time, sighing a breath. 'When is Oneesama arriving?' They would need to go fetch some firewood later after this short rest. "Say, when are we getting the food ready? It is almost 8pm isn't it?"
"Umm..." Mai hummed, glancing at her watch and then looked back up to Natsuki curiously. "If you get the firewood, I'll have time to get all the equipment set up."
"Tck, fine."
~S~
"How are you so good at cooking anyway?" Staring in awe at the redhead's skills, Natsuki wasn't sure if she was supposed to utter at random as she scooted closer to the campfire, attempting to snatch more of the warm heat as the cold breeze met the back of her P.E jacket. "You're supposed to be a Princess as well aren't you?"
"I used to sneak off to the kitchens when Mother wasn't looking," Mai replied, smiling as the memories flooded back; her younger self dodging the maids line of sight and eventually returning to her and Takumi's chambers. "She... didn't like my friendship with the maids, I would go to get food for Takumi who has a heart condition."
"Hm," Natsuki grunted, eyeing the fire intensively, the flames reflecting off of her deep emeralds as she imagined Mai running across the grounds of Tokiha Palace. 'So that's why she related me to her Brother...' Because of his heart condition?
"I feel guilty..." Shaking her head, Mai sighed a breath sadly, her eyes down-casting enough to gaze blankly at the surface of the rocky floor, "I've left him all alone... ever since Mother died, Father has been too busy with his work to keep the country in control. I thought that if I could become an Otome... I could help restore the nation. And yet..."
"No," this wasn't the time for getting depressed! They were in the middle of nowhere, even if Garderobe Academy knew their exact positions it would be dangerous for either of them to become negative of their emotions, especially in support of their teamwork. "You did what you thought was best." Cursing inwardly she bit her tongue harshly. 'Damn words...' Why did she have to be so crap with language...? "... I know I'm terrible with my words... but I'm a good listener," she concluded to Mai, nodding broadly as the redhead glanced up to her. "So if you need to get it out..."
"Thank you, Natsuki. Really." Smiling kindly, Mai shook her head in light amusement. 'Really... she can be so oblivious at times and yet so understanding.'
"We're supposed to be room-mates Mai, not some random enemies." Even if Zipang and Anazia were neutral in alliance, Natsuki would help Mai out, even if she became the Queen one day. Something which she was determined to escape at all costs, never mind actually having to become... a breeding machine to a man which firstly; she didn't know, secondly she hated, and finally – wanted nothing to do with. Natsuki could take heart in her unique understanding with Mai, there weren't many people like them who went under the hardships of not only losing family members but also having to become someone they didn't want to in the first place.
In a way Shizuru Oneesama was the same as well, she had been forced to become so powerful for the whole of her country, to move to Windbloom whose culture was nothing alike to her own then battle with the facts of knowing her family could be wiped out at any second.
"I'm still not sure if these berries are going to be alright though," Mai murmured, stirring the crimson beady dots curiously with a simple metal spoon, a frown marring her Zipangian features softly as the steam warmed her face. 'Although they do remind me of Shizuru Oneesama's eye colour...' How could she have such an... Unusual eye-colour anyway? 'Perhaps it is a genetic trait from the Viola's?' Or maybe even a racial appearance the people of Calcas had?
"Well they look perfectly fine to me," Natsuki muttered, eyeing the boiling pot with minor suspicion as she then gazed at the red berries. They had double checked in their survival guide that they weren't poisonous. Well... maybe a few thousand times actually! But avoiding that...
"Gah! This is just stupid!" Rising suddenly, Natsuki scowled angrily, heading over to the entrance of the cave awkwardly as she looked over her shoulder to a cautious Mai. "I just don't understand why all our checkers have to be vegetarian of all things!" Excluding Haruka anyway... How can anyone have a healthy diet without meat anyway? Humans were omnivores! They were supposed to eat fruit, vegetables and meat!
"Well even if all of our checkers adored meat, I wouldn't allow you to kill an animal, Natsuki." Mai said distastefully; she didn't like seeing anyone in pain, not even her enemies. Uh... maybe becoming an Otome had been a really big mistake?
But these days Otome were the only people who could make a big difference in the world, even royalty were having difficulties. They had ever since Fumi defeated the bearer of the Ultimate Black Diamond during the Twelve Kingdom War; those few centuries ago when the world itself was torn asunder, the Black Valley completely vaporised to become the desert it is known as today.
"At least we have the apples." Striding back to her spot beside Mai, Natsuki stretched, a yawn releasing itself from her mouth as her back clicked. Hopefully they would get either Haruka or Shizuru; she didn't really like the idea of having another checker. Especially if it was Elliot who was known for her extreme Manic Depression; it wouldn't surprise the Anazian if the blonde suddenly started pouring her eyes out, the food somehow managing to remind her of Rena Sayers and the late Queen of Wind. 'Pfft, with our luck, it'll be that Suzuki woman...'
Weird... now that she thought of it... wasn't there a motorcycle called Suzuki?
And the pearls remember!" Mai remembered happily, uttering a breath of agreement as grabbed one of the ripe green apples from the side of her limb, turning it around momentarily as her thoughts drifted. Thinking of what she could possibly do with it. Eh... 'This is quite difficult with only a selection of sources.' Cutting them into quarters and then giving it a nice presentation? Or perhaps just boiling them?
"Don't you think the larger things like the apples and pears would be best in the middle of the dish...?" Natsuki pondered, mostly to herself as she gazed back to the entrance, her train of thought returning back to Shizuru. 'Uh... it's going to be a nightmare whether it'll be Shizuru Oneesama or not.' But if it was Haruka, now that was impossible, what did that Pearl even like? She had never seen her eat anything... except guzzling up tea which Shizuru had offered though of course! "I'm going to wait for whoever is supposedly coming."
"A-alright," Mai blinked, watching the elder leave silently. Wasn't Natsuki hopeless with cooking? And yet she succeeded in coming up with quite a decent suggestion in how to set the presentation out!
This Hike was definitely going to be interesting!
~S~
"Sh-Shizuru Oneesama?"
Mouth gaping open slightly, Natsuki stared after the Pearl who glided over carefully, her robe halting as she landed safely before her, a delicate smile pasted on her face as she looked down to Natsuki.
"Natsuki seems rather surprised." She cooed, glancing behind her shoulder as a purple trail passed by, leaving detection in the canopy of distant trees. "Luckily I managed to beat Suzuki here; she is after all – the quickest student in Garderobe."
Faster than Shizuru Oneesama? But Shizuru was...!
"But your attack speed..."
"Ara," Shizuru shook her head in amusement, clasping an armoured hand onto the Coral's shoulder who gazed at it curiously. "I have my flaws, like any other person, it isn't surprising Suzuki is so good with her speed; she was personally trained by Miss Maria whose attack power cannot be rivalled by anyone." During Maria's younger years she was actually considered quicker than Rena Sayers; a feat unheard of, but it was in the records of Garderobe; something which many people didn't believe in until they saw the Headmistress actually fight. Although no one actually knew what the ageing Otome looked like in her robe. Could she even materialise...?
"Natsuki? Whe—oh, Shizuru Oneesama?" Appearing from the cave, Mai blinked in surprise as the Pearl nodded over, her hand still keeping a hold onto Natsuki's shoulder gently.
"It is nice to see you, Tokiha."
"Good afternoon, Oneesama."
De-materializing her robe and entering the small but cosy cave after the two younger students. Shizuru glanced around with interest, intrigued into how the pair had found the shelter. Usually students would avoid the beach at all costs, but it seemed Mai and Natsuki had other ideas. This Shizuru definitely liked it. It was a nice change to actually know her underclasswomen thought in a similar direction to her.
"So how was your first night, Tokiha, Natsuki?" She asked, her eyes swapping between the two Princesses as she tilted her head, stray locks of hair blocking her line of sight slightly as she then brushed them away, curling a strand around her earlobe. "It must be quite cold being so close to the sea."
"Hard," Natsuki grunted, rolling her eyes as Mai attempted to say something, but instead lightly glared over to her instead. "Yes, yes; I am supposed to be over-wise aren't I?" She smirked over to the redhead, another yawn itching its way through her throat as she mumbled silently to herself afterwards; leaning against the wall nearest the campfire with the assortments of different items, food stuffs and blankets.
"Ara, Natsuki is indeed blunt." Coming over to stand next to the Anazian, the Calcas-native curled a brow, curling her lips fondly, ah... how this girl was growing on her. She had caught herself thinking about the Coral numerous times these days; they had barely been Coral and Oneesama for a mere two week! "However I am afraid I am only here to test you both in your skills, this involves the preparation of food and of course how you got around to finding this rather interesting cave I must add."
...
"Tonight was quite eventful," Shizuru said as she lifted from the floor carefully, motioning a hand over to Natsuki's shoulder lightly as she nodded to both Coral desperately. "I am definitely going to make sure I beat the others to your next location tomorrow." She couldn't understand why... but she needed to touch Natsuki, it was like a nagging feeling in the back of her skull, always reminding her that she had to do this so she would fail to think through her day in a proper order. "I shall see you both!"
~S~
A brow quivering in frustration, Natsuki visibly scowled over to Kazuki who happily grinned back; acting as if she hadn't noticed the angered expression Natsuki was harbouring, "Haah? Natsuki-sama is here!"
Glancing between the three fellow students cautiously, Mai wasn't entirely sure what to make of the situation as Matsuri said something to Kazuki. A finger lifting unconsciously as she then pointed over to the direction of the forest. Maybe she didn't want to be here?
"We aren't leaving, Garner." The noble hissed darkly, her eyes trailing down a bemused Natsuki's body for a split second as she said so. Oh! How well this is going, yes?
"We could easily make it to the centre of the course by sunrise." Matsuri commented, knowing full well of Kazuki's intensive activities in exercise and studying. It amazed her that the Alayas-born was only the Number Four Coral, which somehow, Laura Bianichi was in the lead by five hearts.
Incomplete End.