3. Refraction

Side A:

Touko was not oblivious to the fact that Nagi had addressed Tokiha as "Mai-HiME". Tokiha, however, seemed oblivious to the fact. But Touko could guess what they were racing towards. Nagi had tossed Tokiha a small pill box belonging to her sickly younger brother. That meant that they were heading to a confrontation with an Orphan, where Nagi would then attempt to get Mai to contract with a CHILD.

"Whatever happens, don't let Nagi get you to do anything," Touko advised her as they reached their destination. She dismounted the bike and summoned her Element, looking at the swirling shadows that were gathering, as Mai rushed to her unconscious brother's side.

"Ah ah ah!" Nagi chided, "That's not playing by the rules, Touko."

Touko flicked the end of her blade at him, extending it and then redirecting it to wrap around him. He narrowly evaded its coils, an alarmed look flashing across his face momentarily before his smug grin settled in.

"I don't recall you ever spelling out any rules," Touko countered with a grin, "So I'll do as I please."

"You'll make your dear Yuu cry," Nagi shrugged, "Throwing caution to the wind like that."

The monstrosity of an Orphan advanced on Takumi Tokiha.

Side B.

Shizuru ran, but while she had long legs and a decent stride, Natsuki was still fresh off of her Middle School track team, and outpaced her easily. She seized the older girl by the arm.

"Hold it, Shizuru!" Natsuki's tone was firm and commanding, but Shizuru, to her confusion and consternation, heard no anger or disgust in that voice.

She turned to face Natsuki, her eyes glaring, "Let me go!"

She saw Natsuki raise her hand, and closed her eyes, bracing herself for the resounding slap that she knew was coming in answer for her sins, only to find that instead, there was a light tap on the top of her head, solid, but hardly painful.

"That," Natsuki exhaled, "Is for running off without letting me talk."

Shizuru blinked in confusion, "Ara?"

"And this," Natsuki delivered a slightly harder chop to the top of her head, "Is for doing that without my permission."

Still solid, but still not painful, Shizuru noted with ever growing bewilderment.

"And this," Natsuki sighed, "Is for treating a friend of mine rather poorly."

She embraced Shizuru tightly for a moment, and all Shizuru could do was stare into the space behind this strange, confusing girl with wide-eyed shock.

"You're rather cruel to yourself, aren't you?" Natsuki breathed in her ear.

The embrace was gradually released, and Natsuki took Shizuru by the hand, and started walking with her back to the Student Council Room.

"Ara, what is Natsuki doing?" Shizuru asked aloud, but couldn't quite manage to get her usual teasing tone and her serene mask back in place.

"We're going to talk," Natsuki said flatly, "That's what friends do when they have a problem, right?"

Natsuki directed Shizuru to sit at a chair at the table, while Natsuki positioned herself sitting on the table itself, looking at Shizuru from above. Shizuru couldn't help but notice that those shapely thighs were nearly at eye level with her, as she looked down to try and avert her eyes from that piercing emerald gaze. Deciding that staring at Natsuki's toned legs would probably not be the best option at this moment, she resigned herself to meeting those verdant eyes.

She was surprised to find not anger or outrage, but tenderness and concern.

"So," Natsuki leaned back on her arms, "Care to explain?"

Shizuru opened her mouth to speak, found that words failed her, and closed her mouth again, only to open it once more, forcing herself to talk.

"It is just as I said, Natsuki. Your 'like' and my 'like' are very different."

Natsuki said nothing, just continued to look her in the eye. Shizuru pressed on.

"I never wanted you to know about it. This wicked love that cannot be returned. But…I could no longer contain myself, being so close to you all the time. Forgive me. Kanin-na, Natsuki."

Natsuki closed her eyes, shaking her head, but smiling, "Idiot."

Shizuru looked at her, tilting her head, now beyond bewildered, falling into complete befuddlement.

"So, you're a lesbian?" Natsuki asked. Shizuru found herself flinching at how casually the word left Natsuki's lips. And what's more, not a trace of disgust or even leering in Natsuki's voice. Just honest curiosity. But to Shizuru, it only reminded her of the lurid results from her attempts to research that word on the internet. Graphic videos and photographs. Stories of lewd and lurid details. To her, it seemed a shameful thing, even though she couldn't deny the truth of the actual definition.

Shizuru hadn't said anything, and Natsuki tilted her head in curiosity, deciding to rephrase the question, "Or perhaps you're bi?"

"No. Your first assessment was correct," Shizuru sighed at last in defeat.

"And you decided you loved me?" Natsuki asked. It was asked matter-of-factly, but somehow Shizuru took it as an accusation.

"How could I not? Natsuki was always so…patient and helpful. I admired…" she paused, then decided to refrain from her third person narration, "I admired you. For your earnest approach to things. For your kindness. For your beauty. How could I not love you?"

"Okay." Natsuki slid off the table. Shizuru was certain this was where Natsuki would show her disgust or revulsion. Instead, she offered Shizuru a hand, and Shizuru took it, rising to her feet.

"But…aren't you going to admonish me for my vulgar…"

Natsuki put her finger over Shizuru's lips, "Would you stop talking like that, please? It kinda hurts my head to hear you say stuff like that about yourself."

"But…"

"You're insulting a good friend of mine, and that's not the sort of thing I stand for," Natsuki crossed her arms sternly. Then she sighed, "Besides, my only real objection to what you did is that you kissed me without permission. That's not a nice thing to do, Shizuru. Don't take without asking, that's what my Mother used to say before she died."

"Kanin-na, Natsuki," Shizuru bowed.

"Right. Next time, ask me if you want to kiss me."

Natsuki took her hand, again.

Wait? Next time?!

"Come on. There's this little café that I go to, from time to time. I think you should have a chat with the owner."

"But, Natsuki…coffee?" Shizuru managed weakly.

Natsuki chuckled, "Don't worry. It's Japan. She still makes green tea. Idiot."

Side A.

The battle was going badly, Touko realized, grimly. Nagi could summon as many Orphans as he liked. Even enough to overwhelm Kiyohime. Mai had manifested her Element, strange rings around her arms and legs that allowed her to fly and project fire, but it was clear she was going to have to call on a CHILD sooner or later, to protect, and at the same time, damn, her brother.

They'd received an unexpected assist from Mikoto Minagi, the girl with the obsidian sword, but it wasn't going well, still.

"We may have bitten off a bit more than we could chew," Touko managed a grin.

"Yafusa! Load Silver Cartridge! Fire!" Touko's heart soared when she heard those words. Sure enough, there was Yuu, riding on the back of her Yafusa, glaring daggers at Nagi, her peach hair flailing in the breeze.

"God, I love her," Touko said under her breath, "Alright, Yuu!"

"Geez, Touko! Getting yourself in trouble without me, again?" Yuu chastised her. Touko blushed a little.

"I had to help the new girl find her brother. Is it my fault that Nagi jumped us?"

"I don't wanna hear excuses!" Yuu snipped. Always so bossy, that one, "Let's clean up this mess and go home. We're late for dinner as it is!"

There was just one problem. The Orphans that they had felled were reforming. Apparently, they weren't quite dead yet.

And then there was an eruption of flame, a pillar extending high into the night sky. In the chaos…Mai had contracted with her CHILD.

"Damn," Touko sighed, "I was too late to stop her!"

And then the creature appeared. It was beautiful and horrifying all at once. Silver-white, with green eyes lining its head, and rows and rows of dagger-like teeth in its mouth. It hissed at an orphan, spreading wide wings of intense fire.

"Everyone!" Mai screamed, "Run for it!"

Touko realized the wisdom of those words, and she motioned for Yuu and Yafusa to follow her, as she and Kiyohime tried to quickly remove themselves from the battle. There was a whine like jet engines thrusting up for a takeoff, and then there was a wall of heat.

When Touko was conscious again, she found herself, Yuu, and Mikoto Minagi buried in ash. There was a wide swath along the back hill where the trees simply no longer existed. Not even a stump or a burned husk. Not a single splinter. All of it was gone in ashes.

"How much power does that girl have?" Touko wondered, worriedly.

"Mai is really strong," Mikoto enthused.

"Oh," Touko looked at her, "So, you can speak. You didn't have much to say back on the ship."

Mikoto looked at her hotly, drawing her sword out again.

"Oh, knock it off," Yuu bopped Mikoto on the head from behind, "We were all fighting the Orphans together, so whatever your beef is with Touko, save it for tomorrow!"

Mikoto looked as though she wanted to argue the point, but then her stomach growled. She fell face first into the ash, her eyes swirling madly, "I'm starving. I'm a goner."

"Let me get Takumi to the infirmary," Mai said quietly, "Then we can all talk."

They gathered at the room Mai was sharing with Mikoto Minagi.

"So, what's a HiME?" Mai asked.

"Highly-advanced Materializing Equipment," Touko intoned, "that's what District One says, anyway. I'm sure you'll hear all about it from Kazahana, tomorrow. But listen, don't trust her. And don't trust Nagi. They're up to something. I don't know what yet, but…I doubt it's good."

"In any event," Yuu sighed, "Let's all get some rest. It's been a busy night. Touko and I are one floor up, if you need us."

Mai blinked, "Wait are you two…"

She held up her pinky finger.

"I mean, not that there's anything wrong with it, if you are, but…"

"No!" Yuu shot, then "Yes. I mean…It's complicated!"

Touko laughed, then said, "This doesn't leave this room, alright?"

"Sure," Mai agreed.

"I'm…well, I'm in love with Yuu. But Yuu is…she doesn't feel the same."

"I don't need a dictionary to define that word," Yuu said with resignation, "But I know that it's way too big a word for me. I don't feel the things that they talk about in books and movies and songs. I doubt I can."

"But she's agreed to let me love her for now, and that's how it is," Touko concluded with a shrug, "I'm okay with it, so…"

"I see," Mai said, not really seeing it at all, but deciding it wasn't her place to get involved, "Well, whatever floats your boat, I guess."

Touko blinked, then laughed, "Because I sunk the ferry?"

Mai looked meaningfully at Mikoto, "You had help. No more fights, Mikoto. I mean it."

"But…"

"I'll stop making food for you…" Mai sing-songed.

That seemed to make Mikoto far more compliant.

Touko laughed, "I guess we all have our priorities."

Side B:

"Yo, Kodama-san!" Natsuki greeted the proprietor of the café with a wave.

"Kuga!" Kodama grinned, "Finally decided to tell your friends about this place and bring me some actual business?"

Natsuki scoffed, "We'll see. I'll have my usual. She'll take a green tea and a bit of advice."

"Natsuki!" Shizuru was not prone to extreme displays of emotion, but at this moment, she practically squealed with alarm.

"Relax, Shizuru," Natsuki gave her a gentle smile, "Kodama knows a thing or two about what you're going through. But you have to promise not to say anything when…"

"Miyako, I've had a long day," the bell tingled as a new, and familiar woman entered, "and I…Oh…I see you have customers. I'll have my..Oh, it's just you, Kuga. And…Fujino?"

"Hakozaki-sensei?" Fujino blinked, "Natsuki you know her?"

"Natsuki's been coming here since she was in middle school," Kodama grinned.

"It's nice and quiet," Natsuki shrugged, "I like quiet. What? Did you think I'd be out at late hours, hanging around in a smoke filled bar with lecherous old men?"

"Well," Shizuru managed weakly, "I would hope not?"

"Idiot. Listen, Hakozaki-sensei, Kodama-san, Shizuru is a bit conflicted about herself, and I thought you could give her some advice?"

"Advice?" Kodama raised an eyebrow.

Shizuru fidgeted, putting her hands in her lap and staring at them, "I…am in love with Natsuki and kissed her without her permission."

"We had a talk about asking before taking," Natsuki patted Shizuru's shoulder, "But I think she's got a bit of internal conflict stuff going on. Mmm. Did you change blends, Kodama-san? This is a bit sharper than your usual stuff."

Kodama smiled at Shizuru, "Tell you what, we have regulars coming soon who don't know about Riko and me. Why don't you come back after closing, and we can talk."

Shizuru smiled, "I think…I would like that."