Notes:

Yay my first OC makes an appearance in this chapter. Oh and I made Miyu the head because I don't think anyone would trust Nao with the position lol.

"Can I get you anything, Ms. Fujino?" Fumi asked as she led the auburn-haired girl into Mashiro's quarters for the second time today, "Cakes, coffee, tea…?"

"Just tea should be fine, thank you," Shizuru replied slightly distracted, but still politely. She had Natsuki on the mind. The girl was definitely worried about something, but what? Not knowing was really worrying her. If something was bothering Natsuki, she wanted to do everything possible to help her.

Mashiro sat watching Shizuru quietly. She could tell something was bothering the woman, but she had her own concerns to worry about at the moment. It was time to get down to business, "I'm sure you are wondering why I asked you here."

"Oh… yes," Shizuru replied snapping out of thought.

"Well, my next meeting is with a girl who is in a rather unusual situation," Mashiro began closing her eyes, "She has no parents, no family at all."

"I see… How can she afford to attend Fuuka?"

"That's what is unusual about her situation. Her fees are being paid for by an unknown individual. I received this letter informing me," Mashiro continued offering the envelope.

Shizuru quickly read the letter, "Hmm that is strange. So you want me to know about this to avoid any confusion in the future?"

"Correct," Mashiro answered immediately.

"I see…" Shizuru whispered eying the purple-haired girl carefully. She knew that was a lie. The chairman had answered way too quickly, almost as if she was looking for an excuse. "Well what about the other meeting?"

An embarrassed look appeared on the chairman's face, "It's with Haruka Suzashiro. Due to her recent contributions to the school, my hands are tied to offer her a job."

Shizuru peered at the chairman slightly amused, "What does that have to do with me?"

"You see… I was hoping that you would take her on as your assistant."

"Do you really think that is a good idea?" In truth Shizuru didn't have a problem with the idea. For one she could use the help, and even though Haruka was out to get her in anything they did, the girl could really work hard.

Mashiro answered the question with a simple pleasant smile.

Nina slowly opened her eyes, as her body came to a stop, and looked up into the deep blue eyes of her savior. She had never seen the girl before, but she wore a middle school uniform like hers so she had to be a student. She didn't know why the girl had saved her. Getting involved in such a situation without a way to defend yourself was a death wish and Nina couldn't save her in her current state. What was she thinking? As she thought this the girl let off a loud scream of terror. Nina gasped weakly as, for only one second, a pale blue glint flashed on the girl's shirt. What was that? Maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her since everything was going black again, she didn't really know.

Arika screamed as the creature's bladed arm flew toward her. As much as she wanted to move, she couldn't; her body was frozen stiff. All she could do was cower in fear as certain death approached her; however death seemed to be taking too long to reach her. The only thing she heard was the loud sound of something heavy crashing into the ground behind her. As she looked up, the sight of the creature's blade lying on ground greeted her with shock.

"What the hell just happened?" Mai asked in shock. She had clearly seen the orphan's arm bend at the elbow and separate, almost as if it was cut.

"Take a closer look…" Natsuki said pointing at the creature's back. On it, hands to her sides, knelt Nao as red razor thin threads danced around her and the orphan's bodies.

The creature whelped in pain as it retracted its severed arm back towards its body. The cut was clean, not a single serrated edge could be seen. Furiously, it shot its remaining two arms up at the cherry-haired girl, who jumped out of the way before they could connect. The red threads danced around the orphan's arms and pulled them down behind the head while Nao's body swung down toward the chest. Her feet met with the creature's abdomen for no more than a second before pushing off, yanking hard on the red threads trailing from her fingers. Each of them went through the orphan's body like it was nothing.

Arika watched as the girl landed in front of her. Behind her the creature's body fell apart and exploded. The force from the blast gently brushed her cherry red hair in front of her face. She could now clearly see the long red claw-like appendages jotting out of what looked like grey metal finger-gloves. What was that girl; there was no way she could've done such a thing. And what was that weapon she was using? She had never seen anything like it before.

After the flames from the explosion began to disappear Nao looked up at the bright blue eyed girl holding Nina's unconscious body. She blinked blankly a few times before smiling a wicked smile, "Did you find the entrance this morning?"

Arika desperately wanted to pout at the girl's taunt but couldn't. She too shock by what she had seen to change her expression.

Nao's eyes moved to Nina, still in the arms of Arika. The girl had really taken a beating, and she would definitely be angry when she woke up. "My, you're not in the best of shape, are you? You could've done better than that," she teased cockily placing her index finger between the girl's eyes after her claws dematerialized, "… but you did ok, I guess, wouldn't you say so Natsuki, Mai?" When she finished her statement she laid back in the grass and looked up at Natsuki who was standing over her.

"What a surprise, I never thought I would ever hear you compliment someone," Natsuki said staring down at the girl.

"Heh, I pay compliments to those who deserve them," Nao smirked at the brunette. All of a sudden her expression changed, it became more serious. "Tell the truth, do you think that was the best she could do?" her tone had lost all of the usual condescendence.

"Actually no. She seemed too concerned with other things," Natsuki sighed. She really hated to admit the girl was right. Judging from what she had seen Nina do at the beginning of the fight, the girl should've been able to defeat the orphan with ease. "I'm going to have to do something about that…"

Nao's eyebrow rose, "I see… so that's your goal." It was obvious to her that Natsuki wanted to train Nina or something. Why… she didn't really know, but things would definitely be interesting for her as a result.

"My intentions are my own, right?" Natsuki mocked putting on one of Nao's typical grins, "But more importantly, why was that orphan here?"

Nagi pulled his blue book from his nose as he sat up on his tree branch. He had been watching the incident intently from the beginning and he was slightly disappointed. "Aw… I thought she would've done better than," he whined to himself, "That girl will definitely have to do better next time."

As he began to raise his hand to get the group's attention, the cold touch of a black netted leather glove on his shoulder got his attention. He turned to face the pale white little girl who stood on the branch behind his. Her hair was as white as her skin, a complete contrast to the all black dress she had on. Under her left arm was a large black ball in the shape of a cat's head.

"Nie-chan, you know better, I hope I won't have to punish you before I'm done," her voice was low but playful and a faint smirk appeared on her face.

"Ah, right I'm sorry," Nagi smiled back, "You're always so mean to me,"

The grin on the girl's face spread wider as she removed the ball from under her arm and held it in both hands. "I wouldn't if you would stop being a bad boy," the girl replied as she gently bounced it off the pale blue-haired boy's head and giggled.

"My, my you're so violent today," he responded rubbing his forehead.

The girl just smiled playfully at him, "I'm leaving now. Be a good boy, ok? I'll be watching."

"Yes ma'am," Nagi teased as the girl dissipated in front of him. He looked back at where the five girls were. "The fun is just beginning for you all…" he sighed raising the book back to his face.

There was an awkward silence between the three girls. Neither of them had the slightest clue what the answer to Natsuki's question was.

"Well whatever, it really doesn't interest me…" Nao commented, back in her usually demeanor.

Mai looked over at Natsuki for a second before she realized that Arika was still holding the black-haired girl's body. She knew Nina through Yayoi and Lilie, but she never would've thought the girl was a HiME. Then again, Natsuki's interest in the girl was now clear. She had noticed the girl watching Nina every now and then during the latter part of the last school year. It had struck her as weird, but she had left it alone.

"Are you ok, you are not hurt are you?" she asked as she knelt next Arika.

Arika shook her head; her expression didn't change one bit though.

"Thank goodness!" Mai took a deep breath, "Eh?"

Arika had risen to her feet and began to walk over to where Nao was laying.

"What?" the red-head asked as the blue eyed girl look down at her.

"That was so cool!" Arika cried all of a sudden, the excitement overwhelming her. The girl's display of power and grace was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

"I don't need you to tell me that…" Nao scoffed rolling to her feet, "I'm out of here, you guys are beginning to bore me." After taking one last look at Nina, she turned and walked away. "For now I'll leave her to you Natsuki. Oh and make sure she knows that she now owes me two favors," she called back, disappearing into the trees.

"Don't misunderstand her. She doesn't mean you any hostility," Natsuki said to Arika, whose face was as blank as freshly cut paper. Her focus then turned back to Nina, who was lying unconscious on the ground. She was glad the girl was ok, but she couldn't figure her out. It was pointless to ask Nao, the red-head would only laugh in her face. "I'll carry her to see Ms. Sagisawa, just to make sure she isn't badly injured," she said kneeling and hoisting the girl onto her back, "…and Mai, can we talk sometime tomorrow?"

"Sure," Mai replied as Natsuki walked off carrying Nina, "We should get going too. You're already late for your meeting."

Arika shook her head lightly.

"Erst," a voice called from behind as Erstin walked back toward the school. Lunchtime was over and she hadn't seen Nina at all. She turned to face the older girl with a short brown ponytail walking in her direction. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while,"

"Akane-senpai! I've been great, what about you? I've missed you," Erstin replied blushing slightly. She hadn't seen Akane since before the break. The girl had been a good mentor last year, something she couldn't be happier about. Akane had taken exceptional care of her; always checking up on her, always helping her, always worrying about her. Not to mention they had a lot in common. Both were somewhat shy, even though you wouldn't be able to tell if you saw the older girl with her boyfriend. But with Erstin it was more noticeable.

"I'm doing fine, just a little upset Kazu had to run off on student counsel business," Akane answered with a smile. She froze when she noticed the smile on the blond's face disappear, "Something wrong Erst?"

"I'm a little worried about Nina," Erstin replied honestly, "I think something is bothering her, but she doesn't want to talk about it."

"I see…" Akane whispered thinking for a second, "I'm sure she's fine. This is Nina we're talking about." She stepped forward and gave the younger girl a hug.

"Yeah, you're right…" Erstin said looking down at the ground.

Akane could tell she had only decreased her mentee's worries, but that would have to do for now. "Oh, have you met your new roommate yet?"

"No not yet. She was supposed to arrive this morning, so I guess I'll meet her later today."

The sound of birds chirping echoed through the tiny chapel area of the small church. Inside there was a group of five girls who were just leaving. They had come to pray and to receive advice from the current head nun, but to their dismay she wasn't there. The only person who was present was a short little girl, with blond hair wrapped in a black ribbon, who stood behind the podium on the stage. She was pretty well known, as the girl with the most beautiful voice in school. It was a rarity to see her by herself, since she was normally assisted by the head nun and they pretty much seemed inseparable. But today was a little different.

"Sorry to bother you Alyssa," one of the girls called back as they exited through the main door.

Really the girls hadn't been a bother at all. She had enjoyed singing for them as a sort of alternative for Miyu's absence. Singing was one of her favorite pastimes, and she probably would've ended up doing all of lunchtime anyway.

After the girls had left, Alyssa got up and made her way to a door on the far end of the stage. Behind the door was set of stone stairs that led down to the caverns. As she descended her thoughts fell to Miyu's absence. She was probably was taking her time coming back which was unusual. The task she had asked her to do shouldn't have been so much trouble that it would take the entire lunch period to complete. Well unless something went wrong, but the likelihood of that was minuscule, after all it was Miyu. When she came to the bottom of the stairs she noticed a flashing red light coming from the top of a black earpiece lying on a small table.

"Hello," Alyssa spoke into the mike.

"Ah, finally you've picked up. Has the mission been accomplished yet?" the voice was a feminine one. It was also a very familiar one to Alyssa as well.

"Not yet, Miyu hasn't returned as yet,"

"I see, please inform me when she returns,"

"Right mama…"

Natsuki looked over her shoulder at Nina's unconscious face. The girl's soft, warm breath on her hair was becoming both soothing and uncomfortable at the same time. As she looked Nao's words came back to her. "For now I'll leave her to you Natsuki." Leave it to Nao to make it seem like she was doing her a favor.

Nina slowly began to come to again. This time she didn't have enough strength to open her eyes, but she could feel and hear everything around her. She could hear the scraping of footsteps on the grass and she could tell someone was carrying her. She wasn't conscious enough to figure out who it was, but for some reason she felt unusually comfortable.

Natsuki flinched as her passenger's arms moved up to embraced her neck. It was a good sign that the girl wasn't too far gone, but the embrace was a little shocking.

"So you really want to know about what just went on?" Mai sighed looking down at the excited girl. Maybe she wasn't the best person to explain it. Off course she could give an account, a damn good one at that of what happened during her freshman year of high school, but to explain things was a different story.

"Yes… Is everybody that goes here like that… and what was that creature?" Arika shook her head.

"Well… do you remember that club you asked about earlier? That club is for a special group of girls called HiME,"

"HiME?"

"Yeah, each HiME has the ability to create, rather materialize a weapon called an element. You did see those weird figure gloves Nao was wearing right?"

"You mean the redhead?" Arika bit her fingernail trying to remember, "Yeah I saw them."

"Well those were her element. Additional to elements, each HiME is protected by a guardian called a child."

"Child?"

"Uh… well a child is like…" Mai began but stopped when she noticed a girl with short silver hair walking toward them, "Miyu?" The very first thing she noticed about the girl was her vacant shoulder.

"Good afternoon Mai…"

Mai could pick up the usual coldness in the girl's voice as she walked by. The only time she had seen Miyu loose her coldness was whenever she was around Alyssa, who was coincidently absent. She watched as the silver-haired girl eyed Arika for a second.

"Good morning Arika Yumemiya…"