舞-女神
My Joshin
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Joshin means goddess, and can also be pronounced 'megami.'
This is another alternate reality installment in the HiME project. Sunrise already covered high school and fantasy, so this fanfic goes…into OUTER SPACE. So this is a little tongue-in-cheek, but I will do my best to make it worthy of being considered a third installment in the HiME series.
Flight 01 – I'm a Goddess?
Mai stared out the window, her heart beating with excitement as she gazed upon the sea of stars that extended into space. Beside her, her younger brother Takumi slept peacefully, leaning on her shoulder. In her pocket, she had tucked away the letter that had sent the siblings on this journey into space in the first place. Moving her gaze from the stars outside the window to the silent figure of her brother, she pulled out the letter and gazed at the impressive seal of the Fuuka Space Station embossed on the envelope. No matter how many times she read it, it still seemed like a dream to her. The Fuuka Space Station was a jewel in the universe. As the largest station in the Windbloom Galaxy, it boasted fine schools, impressive political and military bases, and the universe's greatest hospital. And it was there that Takumi would finally get the operation he needed to help his weakened heart. Ever since their parents had passed away, Mai had worked hard to earn enough money for the operation. Months and years passed before the letter finally came, informing Mai that a room had opened up for her brother, and that the doctors were ready for the operation.
Something flashed past the window. "Huh?" Mai blinked, surprised. She peered outside, but saw nothing but the darkness of space. "Haha, that's impossible!" she chided herself. "Nothing could survive out there, right?" The ship lurched, tossing passengers forward, and waking a startled Takumi. Mai caught his arm before he fell. Another jolt rocked the ship.
"Nee-san, what's going on?" Takumi asked. "Is someone attacking us?" Before Mai could respond, the lights flickered ominously before shutting off. The emergency lights lit up, bathing the inside of the space ship in a red glow.
"What's going on?" screamed a young woman in the back of the ship. Another person screamed back "It's the Orphans! They're real!" At this declaration, the passengers exploded into a panicked frenzy. "We'll be eaten alive!" moaned one, while another began to cry.
"Everyone, please calm down!" commanded a voice from the front of the ship. Mai looked up the surprise. The voice was soft, sweet, but confident and powerful. A young girl with short brown hair strode down the aisle, holding what appeared to be a badge.
"She can't be older than me," Mai mused, "But she seems to have some authority." Upon scanning the ship, Mai realized that the passengers really had calmed down. Apparently, they believed in this girl.
Nearby, Mai heard a young boy whisper "It's a Joshin. We're safe now!" Mai turned around, curious.
"Akane Higurashi, HiME class Joshin," the brown-haired girl declared. "As an official officer of the Fuuka Space Station, it is my duty to inform you that while we are under attack, no harm will come to you. As of now, the shield on this ship is in working condition, and there is no reason to believe that our attacker is capable of breaking through it." Akane paused for a moment, and Mai detected a troubled look flash briefly across her face. "The identity of the attacker is currently unknown. While we wait for a rescue squad from Fuuka to retrieve the ship, I will conduct a preliminary investigation. Please remain seated for your own safety." With that, Akane turned quickly and disappeared into the main cabin.
Takumi turned to his sister, "Nee-san. What's a Joshin?"
"I don't know," Mai said, "But don't worry Takumi. We're safe now, okay?" She wrapped her arms around her brother comfortingly.
"Urk-" Takumi clutched at his chest, doubling over in pain. "Nee-san…" he managed to gasp through shallow breaths.
"Takumi!" Mai cried. She leapt to her feet, reaching for her bag that rested on the rack above their heads. Inside her bag, she found the familiar white box that held Takumi's medication. As she reached for it, the ship lurched, sending the case flying from her bag. "No!" Mai made a desperate attempt to grab it as it fell, but it slipped from her fingers and slid along the floor. She bolted after it, only to stare in horror as another jolt to the ship sent it out of the aisle and into the main cabin. Without a second thought, she chased the case into the cabin, only to bump into the girl from earlier.
Akane spun around, surprised. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, "It's dangerous!" Mai stared past the Joshin out the window where a large creature floated ominously. Its long tentacles and scaly body were smaller than the ship, but the many eyes that lined its body glared with a sinister glow.
"Wha—what is that?" Mai managed to whisper. Akane ignored the question, and instead pushed a button on the thin silver bracelet that she wore.
"This is Akane Higurashi to Fuuka base. Status report, please."
A young girl's voice replied, "We've launched Unit Harry along with Kazuya. They should reach your location in 12.7 minutes. In the meantime, I've alerted the other Joshin in the area. Unit Duran and Unit Kiyohime are on the way and should arrive in 24.2 minutes. Unit Julia is nearby as well, but as usual, she's not responding."
"Thank you Irina," Akane nodded before turning to Mai. "Now that you've seen the Orphan, I can't let you return and tell the other passengers about it." The brown haired girl turned to the giant window where the Orphan floated. "I've managed to paralyze it, but the paralysis wears off quickly, so I must concentrate on keeping it contained until my Unit arrives. Please stay out of the way."
Mai took a step back, still staring in fear at the tentacled monster that loomed outside the window. She had never heard of such creatures that could survive the harsh conditions of outer space, and yet there it was. The creature's eyes suddenly rolled wildly in its head. Mai shrieked.
"Materialize!" Akane yelled. She held her hands out towards the window, and two large orbs formed beside the monster. "Paralysis!" she commanded. The two orbs spun around the creature, sparks flying. The monster roared and swung a large tentacle towards the ship, but as the spheres orbited the creature, its movement began to slow until the tentacle merely slapped the side of the ship with a gentle thud. The space ship rocked slowly, but no damage was evident. The orbs melted away as Akane lowered her hands.
Mai stared in amazement. "What…what are you?" she managed to whisper.
Akane turned with a smile, "I'm a Joshin. A defender of the galaxy." She held up her badge. "We're a special unit of fighters born with the ability to manipulate technology and interface with giant robots called Children."
Before Akane could continue, a young male voice came crackling from her bracelet. "Akane, we're here! I'm docking your Child now."
"Kazu-kun!" Akane smiled. She turned to Mai, "Take this," she said, handing a bracelet to Mai. "If something happens to me, please use this to contact the main base." The ship rocked slowly. "That's my ride!" Akane declared with a smile. She ran to a tall column in the center of the cabin and touched it gently. The column spun around slowly revealing a small chamber inside. She entered and the column spun around. A faint whirring sound, then silence. Mai stood alone, bracelet in hand. The room was quiet. Empty. Unmoving. A mere ten minutes ago, Mai had been seated blissfully beside her brother, unaware of the monsters that lurked in space or the Joshin with the power to manipulate machines. Yet now here she was, staring the creature in its dark eyes, and holding a bracelet given to her by a Joshin.
The monster's body shifted slowly as the paralysis wore off. It raised a tentacle and swung at the ship, but a flash of gold removed the tentacle completely. Mai gasped, staring in amazement. Between the monster and the ship floated a golden robot shaped like a lion. From the bracelet, Mai could hear Akane's voice. "Harry! Thunder blade!" The mechanical lion began to glow. With a burst of energy, it blasted toward the monster, tearing off three of its limbs. The monster reared back in pain, its eyes rolling around in anger. One of its remaining tentacles swung around, swatting the golden lion aside. The monster's body cracked with black energy. Its many eyes glared at the mech, sending beams of dark power at the robot. The burst of energy knocked the mech back. Mai could hear Akane's scream from the bracelet, but the sound barely registered in her mind. The monster had turned back towards its initial prey and was already reaching its remaining limbs to the ship.
Mai automatically took a step back. "No," she whispered. The monster's limb wrapped itself around the ship. Her eyes widened in horror. "No…" she insisted. The bracelet in her hand began to glow slowly. "NOOOO!" Mai screamed, thrusting her hands forward. Two orbs formed around the creature's body. The orbs burst into flame and spun around the monster with increasing speed. The monster reared back in pain.
"Thunder blade!" Akane's voice came through the bracelet. The golden mech blazed through the monster's body, tearing it in half. The monster's body slowly disintegrated into the darkness until there was no trace of the creature that had moments ago threatened the small space ship.
"Ara. Looks like we weren't needed after all," an elegant voice came through the bracelet. "My congratulations to you, Akane-san." Mai stared out the window. Two more giant robots loomed: a multiple-headed purple snake, and a silver wolf.
"What a pain," came another voice. This one was deeper and harsher. "These Orphans have been getting more common, too."
Akane's voice replied, "True. I wonder if it means something."
"Oh, what's this?" asked the elegant voice. "I see a fire element materialization." The firey orbs that had held back the creature were still orbiting gently in space.
"Akane, I thought your element was lightning," the deeper voice commented.
"That…that was me…" Mai said quietly.
"It wasn't me! Right, Kazu-kun?" Akane's voice replied.
Mai clenched her fist, "That was me…" she said, staring at the giant spheres that floated outside the window.
A male voice chimed in, "She's right. They just appeared."
Mai took in a deep breath, "THAT WAS ME!" she screamed. Silence. After what seemed like an eternity, a voice replied.
"My, my. Looks like we have a natural." It was the elegant voice again, this time with a hint of amusement. "Share your name with us, please."
"Mai. Mai Tokiha."
"Well, Tokiha-san. It appears that you, too, are a Joshin. I think General Mashiro would like to speak with you."