2.Oscillation

Side A:

I first met Yuu when I was a third year Middle School Student. Yuu was a second year, at the time. I learned, though, that if she'd been born a week earlier, she'd have been in the same grade as me. Yuu was a social girl, but a tad indecisive. And she was definitely good at making friends. I figured she'd be a good person to have at my side, so I roped her into joining me on Student Council.

At the time, a young man who was on the kendo team confessed his love for her. She confided in me that she was bothered, because she felt none of the feelings associated with love and romance. I found myself sympathizing with her, and gave her the confidence to turn him down gently. But in that moment, I felt my heart opening up for the first time, and I held her to me, telling her that I thought I was in love with her.

We'd been in a somewhat unsteady, and one-sided if I must admit it, relationship since then. One we managed to keep secret from the rest of the school. I needed Yuu as a confidante and soundng board, but I also was determined to learn why it was that District One had murdered my sister, Mio, and make them pay for that act.

It was when I reached my Third Year of High School, and Yuu was in her Second Year, and I was trying to get more information about the school. It was clear to me that District One had a heavy hand in its administration, and it had something to do with something Mio had informed me were "The HiME", as well as this strange birth mark I had resting just below my stomach. Yuu had come with me, because there were strange rumors of ghosts and monsters on campus at the time. Well founded rumors, as we'd learn that night.

We were chased by some sorts of shadowy forms, and then we met a young man who called himself Nagi Homura."So, it's going to be the two of you in this world, huh? A bit different. Also, we don't usually let HiME awaken in each other's presence, but for you two, I think this might be interesting."

Yuu and I were on opposite ends of a clearing, strange, shadowy forms separating them. One of them charged Yuu, and with a cry of alarm, she manifested a pair of pistols in her hands, driving it back. I was desperate to get to her, and I felt heat in my gut, and then there was a crimson naginata in my hands.

"Those are your Elements," Nagi informed us, "They are proof that you have the power of a HiME. But against these Orphans, they might not be enough. However, you might be able to tame yours, Yuu."

"That's right," Yuu spoke in a hushed tone, "I know…Yafusa*! I saw you in my dreams, didn't I?"

The beast in front of her hesitated.

"It's alright, Yafusa," Yuu reached out her hand, her pistol in that hand fading, "I know how you feel. You've been isolated, right? But…I can share that with you, right, Yafusa?"

She reached around the shadowy form, and it seemed to grow solid, and start to shine silver. It was turning to metal, becoming something tangible. It laid its head on her shoulder.

"If you accept him, Yuu, you'll have to risk the thing most precious to you," Nagi said.

"That's fine," Yuu said, "I'm risking my life already to support Touko, so…I accept!"

Then Nagi turned to me, the monsters in front of me advancing once again.

"Yours is here, too, Touko," he smirked, "Like you, she's of many minds about things. But she will protect you, if you call her."

I knew the name, though I don't know how I knew the name. I called it in a whisper, "Kiyohime."

The ground around me erupted, and a six-headed beast rose from the ground. She was horrifying, but beautiful. The monsters in front of me hesitated for a moment, then attempted to retreat. Kiyohime made quick work of them, though, one head for each creature that had attacked. She tore them apart with beautiful savagery.

"You know the terms. Accept her, and you must risk that which is most precious to you, Touko."

And somehow, I understood his hidden meaning. Perhaps, because unlike Yuu, I knew it wasn't myself. I hated myself. I would gladly erase myself. What was most precious to me…was Yuu.

And so, I'm ashamed to admit, I did not hesitate long before saying, "I accept."

"Geez," Yuu sighed as Touko found a quiet place to set up their lunch, "Did you have to go and sink the whole ferry?"

Touko decided to poke fun at her word choice, "What, should I have only sunk part of the ferry?"

"You know what I mean!" Yuu chastised, "We're just lucky no one was killed."

"I couldn't help it," Touko sighed, "That girl was totally feral. It's like she didn't even know how to talk, just fight. And as to how she and Tokiha ended up on the quad together…"

"Tokiha?"

"The new girl. First year. She was one of the ones in the crop circle. Haruka brought her before the student council. I'm not sure, but I think she recognized me. She sort of flinched when she saw me. So when Haruka was laying into her, I decided I'd try and get her on my side, and I said, 'Haruka, I agree that the things going on here are strange, but I don't think Tokiha-san could have caused that kind of damage, herself. She certainly didn't have any sort of equipment that could tear up concrete when she was found. And Tate-san said that she was on the ferry with him when it sank. So, her ending up here is probably just as much a mystery to her as it is to us. But if she could get out of that situation on the ferry safely, that's a good thing, right?'"

"And Haruka bought that?" Yuu looked uncertain, "That girl is wound tighter than a Swiss Clock."

Touko laughed, "You have such a negative opinion of her. Is it her fault that you got caught sneaking out of class to fight Orphans?"

"You didn't have to go along with her choice to send me to the Chapel, though!" Yuu protested, "Seriously."

Touko laughed, "Sorry, sorry. But I have to pick and choose my battles with her, and you were caught sneaking out of class. My hands were tied."

Yuu sighed, "You're terrible."

"Make it up to you?" Touko put her hands on Yuu's head, leaning forward and tenderly touching Yuu's lips with her own. She noted, with her usual mild disappointment, that Yuu accepted the kiss, but didn't return it.

"That's fine, though," Touko thought to herself, "It would trouble me if she loved something I hated."

Side B:

Natsuki let out an exhausted sigh.

"Doing alright over there, Kuga-san?" Sayaka looked at her with mild concern.

"I'm fine," Natsuki waved, "I just haven't been this busy in awhile. There's a lot of work to be part of an election committee. Saeki-san, can I ask you something?"

Sayaka shrugged, "I won't go so far as to forbid it."

"You're a straightforward person who prefers people who are direct and do things for themselves. But Shizuru…she, uh, well, it isn't that she doesn't work, but she seems to be pretty hands off. So…why are you running as her vice-president instead of opposing her?"

"Because," Sayaka sighed, "I know when I'm beaten, and in the case of Fujino, I was defeated before I ever tried. You've seen it, right? Those throngs of kohai who fawn over her and admire her are proof enough of it. She has a magnetism that draws people to her. And she outperforms me in our studies, effortlessly. When Fujino decides she wants something, the universe seems to bend to her will. I can't oppose that. And I can't actually fault her for being charmed. Or for being charming. Much as she irritates me for her lackadaisical mannerisms, I can't deny that she's capable. Better to be there to support her than to butt heads in a pointless struggle."

Natsuki grinned, "The path of least resistance? Doesn't that just make it seem like she's become a bad influence on you?"

Sayaka frowned intensely, "Somehow, hearing that from you really irritates me."

"Undoubtedly because it's the truth," Shizuru laughed as she entered the room, "Sayaka, would you hear me out on something. I would like Natsuki to deliver the keynote speech."

"What?" Sayaka blinked.

"Why?!" Natsuki was flushed and near panic.

"Listen, it's not so strange. Natsuki is well known to the school already, for being a very straightforward and honest person. Aside from which, First year students have no real reason to choose me, or anyone else, for that matter, as they have no knowledge of who I am beyond what others tell them. And Sayaka was just telling Natsuki such troubling things about me. So unfair."

"So you think that if we have Natsuki, a first year student, deliver the speech, she'll convince the first years not to throw their vote out randomly for one of your rival candidates?"

"Something like that," Shizuru smiled serenely, "It would really benefit us greatly, don't you think? Vice-President Saeki-han?"

Sayaka sighed, "Fine. I understand and accept your reasoning. But don't you think you have another problem to overcome?"

She nodded at Natsuki, who was flushed tomato red and trembling.

"I think you should make sure that your keynote speaker doesn't suffer from crippling stage-fright, first," Sayaka grinned.

"Who has stage fright!?" Natsuki shouted.

"Then you're prepared to stand before an entire auditorium filled with the entire student body and deliver a speech to promote Fujino as a candidate?" Sayaka grinned.

Natsuki sat down hard, collapsing on the table, "Not even a little bit."

"Ara, ara, this is a problem," Shizuru sighed.

"Not an insurmountable one," Sayaka shrugged, "Your idea has merit. But if you're going to ask her to do it, you should work on making her comfortable with the idea. It's late. I'm calling it a day."

That left Shizuru and Natsuki alone in the club room.

"Natsuki?"

"Nnnnnnnn."

"Natsuki, if it bothers you that much, I can go with the original plan of having Sayaka deliver the speech," Shizuru's tone was light and gentle, with none of her typical teasing, "I just felt that having you deliver the speech would be a genuine benefit. But I should have discussed it with you first, instead of simply deciding. I won't force you. I want to be fair."

Natsuki sighed, "Why me, Shizuru?"

"Because…I like you. And I think that the others would respond well to you."

Natsuki felt a slight blush on her cheeks, but she smiled, "Me too. I like you too, Shizuru."

Then Natsuki's eyes were wide, as she felt something unusual. Shizuru's lips were touching hers, and there was a gentle pressure, and an electric tingle across the whole of her head. A pleasant warmth spread over her.

Before she could react, the kiss was over, and Shizuru rose from her leaning position, tears in her eyes, "I'm afraid that your like and my life are very different, Natsuki."

Shizuru ran from the building, leaving Natsuki sitting in utter confusion.

"Uh…What?"

Side A:

Touko was climbing onto her motorcycle, when Mai Tokiha came running out of the brush. It was clear she was looking for something, or someone.

"You!" Mai glared, "I should go to the police and tell them what you did!"

Touko gave her a soft smile, "Well, you can do that, but it won't do you any good. The police wouldn't be capable of dealing with the dark powers lurking at this school, I'm afraid."

"Why you…"

"She's right, Mai-HiME. Besides…"

"Nagi!" Touko looked off-put, "What do you want."

"There's a poor lost one, nearby," Nagi smirked, "Can't you feel it?"

"An Orphan?" Touko looked concerned.

"This particularly concerns you, Mai," Nagi tossed something to the redhead. She caught it, and looked like the bottom had just dropped out of her world.

"Takumi!" Mai squealed in alarm.

"I'd get moving if I were you."

Nagi vanished.

Touko knew from the meeting that morning that Takumi Tokiha was Mai's younger brother. She knew what it was to lose a loved one.

"Get on!" she nodded to the back of her bike.

It was time to go Orphan hunting.

* In the novella, "Natsuki's Prelude", Yafusa was the original name of the CHILD that became Duran. He accepted his new name when Natsuki reached out to him. Since Yuu is largely keeping her original backstory, she had no dog named Duran to name her CHILD after, and thus no reason to rename Yafusa.