Mai-HiME: Reaching an Accord
By DrummondType2
A/N: Set between the final battle and the events of graduation day.
Twelve stone columns in a garden, laid out in a circle. Standing beside each pillar was a young woman. Mai Tokiha. Mikoto Minagi. Natsuki Kuga. Shizuru Fujino. Midori Suguira. Shiho Munekata. Akira Okuzaki. Yukino Kikukawa. Akane Higurashi. Nao Yuuki. Sister Yukariko. And finally, Alyssa Searrs.
Standing beside Yukino was Haruka Suzushiro. Standing alongside Yukariko was Ishigami-sensei.
In the center of the ring, Mashiro Kazahana sat in her wheelchair, with Fumi Himeno right behind her. Nagi Homura stood beside Mashiro.
The rule was that Nagi and Mashiro would speak, and no one was allowed to interrupt until they had laid out the full story of what had actually happened, lest the discussion devolve into a shouting match of accusations and counter-accusations. The story was laid bare, each young woman's sins and crimes exposed for all to see.
The blood match beginning in earnest with Yukariko's deception, her lie of Nao attacking her unprovoked, of Nao's lost eye, of Nao's quest for revenge, of Ishigami forcing Yukariko to create illusions that made it impossible for Akira and Takumi to escape, and so on.
Mai's fury and attempt to kill Mikoto. At this, Mai looked at Mikoto. The two had made their peace in the final fight, but it was still unpleasant to be reminded of it.
Then came the tale of Shizuru's rescue of Natsuki from Nao. Nao shivered, looking cautiously at Shizuru, then sighing.
They came, then, to the story of Shizuru binding Natsuki's wounds, and then of her betrayal in the dark.
At this, Shizuru put her face in her hands and began sobbing, until she felt a hand take one of hers and squeeze it gently. She lowered her hands, and saw Natsuki's green eyes looking at her softly, a small smile on Natsuki's face.
Then they came to Shizuru's discovery by Yukino, who then was sent by a possessed Kanzaki to confront her with Haruka in tow. Haruka's death.
Shizuru cast a sorrowful look at Haruka.
Then came the details of the destruction of District One, and Nao stringing up Natsuki in her own apartment. Then, Shizuru's rescue of Natsuki, resulting in the death of Nao's mother.
Shizuru saw Nao looking at her, and she bowed, once, her eyes closed.
They spoke of Alyssa's being shot by Greer, and subsequent resurrection, as well as the revelation that Alyssa was, genetically, Natsuki's half-sister.
It all culminated in Mai's defeat of the Obsidian Prince, and of Mashiro's restoration of every HiME their loved ones.
"I would have spared you all this pain, but to defeat the Obsidian Prince, the way to Fuuka no Miya had to be opened," Mashiro sighed, "And the only way to do that was to have all the pillars rise. I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you, and that you all suffered much because of it."
"So…" It was Midori who spoke, and the others noted that she had the cleanest conscience of them all, "Where do we go from here, girls?"
"I have one question," it was Haruka who spoke, being the right combination of bold and tactless to ask the one question that was on every girl's mind, but which each felt would be too selfish and self-serving to ask herself, "How much of what happened was because the Star controlled these girls?"
"It's not quite that simple," Mashiro said, "The Star exerts its influence. But the choices made after that are those of the person making them. Best to say that they were not in their right minds when everything happened. The threat of losing someone close to them, coupled with the influence of the Star, people were driven to become monsters."
"So, then," Haruka looked around, "The way I see it, they did things that they wouldn't have done if the Star didn't exist, right?"
"Yes."
"Then, as the Head of the Executive Committee, I say you all apologize to each other for poor judgment, and then forgive each other. You all did silly, boneheaded things, but you were under a lot of pressure. So, everyone apologize, and I won't hold you reciprocal."
"Responsible, Haruka," Yukino smiled.
"Ara, that is not a bad idea," Shizuru spoke softly, "May I begin, then, with my apology to you, Haruka. Kanin-na. Other than my rebuke for your criticism of Natsuki, I had no right to do what I did that night."
She bowed.
Haruka scratched her cheek, then sighed, "Yeah, Fujino, I forgive you. And…I take back what I said about Kuga in the garden, that night. It wasn't fair of me to say that. I stooped to blaming her because I knew it would get to you, and as such, it was a low blow, and beneath me. Sorry, Kuga."
Natsuki nodded once.
Haruka continued, "And…seeing as how Yukino feels the same for me as you do for her, I can't find it in myself to condemn either of you for that, anymore."
"Nao…"Natsuki began, "I'm sorry about your eye. And…for not understanding things about you before you explained about your family."
Nao blinked, then shrugged, "Well, you saved me from your girlfriend, so I can't exactly hold a grudge. And anyway, you were lied to by someone who should have been trustworthy," Nao cast a meaningful look at the Sister, before hardening her stare and looking at Ishigami, "And someone put her up to it."
"I apologize to you, Nao, for the pain my deception caused you," She put her hand on her newly bulging belly, "I was driven to a shameful sin for the love of my own child."
"Yeah, well, it's not like I don't get it. Anyway, I'll apologize to Akira and Tokiha for trying to kill Takumi. I thought you'd all turned on me for no good reason, and I was pissed and in pain. I'll even apologize to Takumi, when he's back, if you want."
"I accept," Akira nodded, "Because for us to hold further hostility would be pointless. But I have to hurry and catch a plane. I'm joining Takumi in America for his recovery."
"Go in peace, Akira," Mashiro nodded.
"Um…before you go," Shiho spoke timidly, "I'm sorry, too, Akira. Please tell Takumi when you see him that I'm sorry. I caused him to die, right in front of you, and…"
"I forgive you, too, Shiho," Akira nodded.
"Me, too," Mai nodded, "I made mistakes, too. I blamed Mikoto for that. And…it wasn't pretty, how I responded."
"I blamed myself for it, too," Mikoto spoke for the first time, "So I will forgive you, as well, Shiho."
"And I'm sorry for what I did, Mai," Yukino said.
"You apologized for that at that time," Mai said softly, nodding.
"Still, it was beneath me, as Haruka said. And so was what I said to you, in the garden, Fujino. I was angry, and I wanted you to acknowledge Haruka. I even said things to make what you did sound worse than they were, to provoke you."
"I apologize to you as well, Kikukawa," Shizuru said, "I…I took a reprehensible delight in hurting you, after I believed I had lost my closest friend. But if I had lost her, that would have been my fault, and not yours. Kanin-na."
"So then, are we all agreed? No one will hold anyone accountable for the Festival? And the sins we committed then, they will never be spoken of, again?" Mashiro said.
"I think that's for the best," Mai nodded, "We should have all been trying to help each other. We got too caught up in ourselves. But I think the person who needs to forgive themselves the most…is you Kazahana."
Mashiro blinked in surprise, "Miss Tokiha?"
"She's right, you know," Natsuki said, "From what you've said, none of the other HiME who participated in the past Festivals ever tried to set it right. You kept things from us, but you had to, in order to make your plan work. So, for stopping all of that…and for bringing us back…thank you."
Natsuki bowed, an action so uncommon for her, the others felt compelled to do so as well.
Mashiro wiped a tear from her eye, "Thank you all."
"See, all's well that ends well," Nagi patted her head.
"You haven't changed," Natsuki noted, crossing her arms.
"Aw, Natsuki is being mean to me," Nagi whined.
"Good luck finding a sympathetic audience for that grievance here," Alyssa chided him.
Natsuki was still holding Shizuru's hand, when she looked at Alyssa, "Hey, Alyssa, I…want to give you something."
She reached into her pocket and produced a small plush dog, the same one she'd recovered from a District One facility back in July, "This was mine, when I was a little girl. It was a gift from my…from our mother. I'm guessing you don't have a whole lot that belonged to her."
Alyssa accepted it, cradling it gently, "What's his name? Not Duran, I hope?"
"The real dog was Duran," Natsuki smiled at her, "Tomo-kun."
Alyssa blinked, then snorted and started laughing, "You named your stuffed dog 'friend'?"
Natsuki blushed, crossing her arms, "I was three when I named him! If you're going to complain, I'll take him back."
"No, no, It's fine," Alyssa held it tightly to herself. Then she smiled at Natsuki, "It's a thoughtful gift. Thank you."
Nao grinned, "Aw. The Pup is a softy, after all."
"Ara, but that is why I love her so much," Shizuru smiled, expressing openly that which she would have never dared voice aloud in the past.
"You know, like that, I almost can't see you as the crazed psychopath who tried to kill me," Nao said, "Almost."
"And I can't see the current Nao as the spiteful girl who tried to harm my Natsuki," Shizuru smiled, "Well, nearly."
"Fujino, we're burning daylight!" Haruka called.
"You're leaving?" Natsuki asked.
"Well, Haruka and I will both be attending Fuuka University, so we're helping each other pack. I can't live in the dorms, any longer, after all. I'll need to find an apartment."
"Well," Natsuki kissed her gently on the cheek, "there's always my apartment."
Shizuru grinned, "Well, if you believe you can put up with Haruka…"
"Idiot," Natsuki grinned, then blushed slightly, "You know what I meant."
"I'm taking off, too," Midori said, "I'm taking a plane out to an important dig site in ancient Mesopotamia."
"See you around, Midori," Mai waved, "Oh, I've got to be going, too. I promised Mikoto my special ramen for dinner. Want me to make some for you, Natsuki?"
"Why would you be cooking for the Pup?" Nao looked at her.
"Because someone trashed my apartment," Natsuki smirked, "And until repairs are finished, I'm sleeping in Mai's room. So we're going to be neighbors for a little while."
"Don't worry, Yuuki-han," Shizuru smiled as she began to follow after Haruka, "Natsuki's snoring is barely audible. I'm sure the walls will be thick enough to block it out."
"SHIZURU!" Natsuki flushed, "I don't snore!"
"And it's utterly adorable the way you don't do it," Shizuru smirked.
"That girl!" Natsuki huffed, "And no, Mai, I'm going to be late, tonight, so don't bother cooking for me."
"She's kinda cute when she's flustered," Nao muttered to Mai.
"I think that's why Kaichou-san does that," Mai replied, "Well, if Natsuki's not eating with us, you're free to join us, Nao."
"Another time, perhaps," Nao said, "I'm actually going home to have a nice meal cooked by Mama."
"Sounds nice," Mai agreed, "But what's Natsuki doing, then?"
One by one, the HiME departed, each for her own home or purpose.
It was only after the others were gone, that Natsuki returned to where Nagi and Mashiro were still waiting.
"I had a feeling you'd be back," Nagi smirked, "The first to awaken, the last to let go."
"Nagi," Mashiro chided, the turned to Natsuki, "May we help you, Miss Kuga?"
"I just need to know one thing. John Smith told me…he said that my mother was killed by District One because she was trying to sell me to Searrs. He said he'd even paid for me, already. Was that….Did she…did my mother really sell me out?"
Nagi sighed, shrugging, "It's not like I don't know the answer, but…"
"Damn it, I don't have time for games, Nagi!"
"It seems to me, that with the Star gone, you have plenty of time," Nagi shrugged again, his oiliest smile in place.
"The truth is complicated, Miss Kuga," Mashiro said, "Your mother did accept money from John Smith and Searrs. But she was under the impression that she would be working for them, and that the plan was to have them aid you in winning the Festival. She wanted you to be safe. I don't believe that she saw it as a sale of goods, but rather the sale of her services for your safety."
"But you don't know for sure."
"We're not mind-readers, dear little Natsuki-chan," Nagi smirked, "there are no certainties in life. It all boils down to what you yourself are willing to believe. You've shown an amazing capacity for forgiveness. So, then, do you trust the memory of the mother you loved, or the words of John Smith. That's for you to decide, not us. Even if we told you what we thought, it wouldn't free you from the doubts and worries that are so prone to a human mind.
"So choose to believe in your Mom, or choose to believe you were betrayed. That's not for us to say."
"But it is for me," Miyu Greer came into the garden, Alyssa at her side, "I have the records for that time period. Miss Kuga, your mother did not sell you. John Smith viewed that as part of the deal, but Saeko Kuga did not. She was not informed of Searrs genuine plans, and I believe she would have balked had she known."
"Our mother was human, Natsuki," Alyssa said, "She made mistakes, but they were mistakes of desperation, not avarice."
Natsuki smiled, "Thank you for that, Alyssa."
"Now, let's go help your girlfriend move into the Searrs estate here," Alyssa replied, "There's room enough for both of you. Though, I will have to ask that you keep your amorous activities to your own quarters. I'm merely a child, after all, and some things are not meant for tender eyes."
Natsuki smirked, "You may be a kid, but there's nothing 'mere' about you, Alyssa."
They walked off together.
"I think," Nagi smiled at Mashiro, "That they're going to be okay. We should begin packing as well. When the school year is over, we have things to take care of in other places."
"You're right, as usual," Mashirio sighed, "But I'll miss them."
They left the garden, and those twelve stone columns stood silently, witnesses to the final act of the battles between the HiME. Whatever chapters were to come next for those girls, these events would never again repeat themselves.