Dying dreams.
A Mai-Otome fan-fic by Radon
Disclaimer: Mai-Otome and all related characters are property of Sunrise I do not own any part of it. Looks up and shakes fist. ''And its all your fault!''
All original characters appearing in the story belong to me though.
Like it? Review please. Don't like it? Review and let me know what's wrong.
Summary: An AU story of the Mai-Otome world that splits of at episode 15 of the anime. It is recommended that you've seen atleast up to this point as the story will contain some spoilers from earlier episodes. Rated T for minor language and mentioning of adult themes.
Chapter 1
Waking up.
I wonder, what happens to dreams when you wake up? Where do they go, do they disappear? Or… maybe… can a dream, something that isn't real, die?
The figure moved through the alleys of Windbloom slowly but surely making its way out of the city. Its heavy cloak masked it features, one could not even make out its gender, though its size and relative shape suggested it was male.
A flash of light suddenly lit up a dark alleyway to the left of the figure, it halted, looking briefly in the direction of the flash. Another flash illuminated the darkness briefly yet the figure could not make out anything in the alley, muffled voices echoing between the alley's walls reached it.
''Aren't you done yet, we finished the job so lets get out of here before someone finds us.''
''Relax I'll just take a few more and I'm done, its almost full anyway.''
Another flash.
The figure moved into the alley making no pretend of stealth as its heavy footsteps clanked loudly in the night.
''Shit someone's coming, let's go, move it!''
The sound of running footsteps faded slowly as the figure moved passed a slight curve in the alley and moved up to the place where it presumed the group had been standing just moments earlier.
There was nothing there, just a filthy looking dumpster and some trash that was scattered around. Just as the figure turned around it caught something in the corner of its eye. A small pool of blood lay on the ground, it scanned the ground more carefully and discovered a few red smears as well. They seemed to lead towards the dumpster.
The figure moved up to the dumpster and looked behind it. For a second the figure froze and a strange and inhuman metallic voice sounded in the night. ''Bastards.''
On the ground behind the dumpster lay a young girl, there was blood on and around her legs but there were no apparent wounds on her. Remnants of what the figure assumed to be her clothes were dumped onto and around her, the only thing it could tell was that they had been red and white at one point. The girl's eyes were closed but her chest still moved up and down, if a bit slowly.
''So your alive, don't worry I'll…'' The figure hesitated as though it was remembering something.
''I'll help you, I will take you far away from those men, you will be safe with me.'' The figure stood up and looked around before pulling some relatively clean rags from the dumpster and wrapping them around the unconscious girl.
Once the girl was covered the figure lifted her up, revealing a metal-clad chest and arms beneath its cloak. It turned around, heading back out of the alley, not noticing a small stone dropping to the ground, nor a hint of blue shining beneath the pile of torn clothes.
The figure took of, moving faster then before. It reached the edge of a nearby water channel and, without pausing, leapt over it. Landing on the other side it bent its knees and jumped almost straight up, landing on the roof of a building this time. With several more leaps it was well on its way out of the city.
A ray of sunlight crept through the curtains of the room and landed square on the face of a blue haired girl. She was sitting at her desk, her head resting on her arms and her eyes closed, she was sound asleep. She moaned a bit as the light fell on her eyes, slowly she opened one of them before quickly shutting it against the light. After a few more seconds she pushed herself up from the desk and opened both her eyes. She yawned, rubbed her eyes and looked around the room.
Her own bed was empty, which was to be expected seeing as she had slept in her chair. A blonde girl was sleeping in the other bed, her head turned away from the light, from where she stood she couldn't see on top of the higher bed.
She walked over and gently shook the sleeping girl's shoulder. ''Ers wake up, morning cleaning is about to start.'' She then climbed up the small ladder on the side of the bed and her head came level with the top bunk. ''Wake up Ari….'' The bed was empty, for a second she thought that her friend had gotten up early but she quickly dismissed this thought. The fundamental workings of the universe would have to be changed before that would ever happen.
''Nina-chan is everything alright?'' A voice sounded from below. ''Arika isn't here.'' Nina replied. ''Arika-chan isn't back yet? But its already morning.''
Nina recalled that Arika had indeed been gone the previous night, it had slipped her mind earlier. It wasn't unusual for a student to return to her room late, but not coming back at all was pretty much unheard of.
''I'm going to inform Miss Maria of this, she might know something.'' Nina said as she jumped down and headed towards the door.
''Wait Nina-chan, if you do that Arika-chan might get in trouble.'' Erstin had gotten up as well, she stood in the middle of the room, still wearing her pajamas and holding part of her uniform in her hands.
The blue haired girl halted. ''She might already be in trouble, but… your right, I'll go and ask Nao-senpai if she knows something.'' She said before bolting out the door.
Erstin looked at the unused beds of her friends in thought. ''She was just going to see Major Wong, Arika where are you?''
Nina arrived at Nao's room quickly and knocked on the door. There was no answer, she knocked again and then again with a bit more force. Finally after another three tries she heard some stumbles and before long the door opened and a sleepy looking Nao appeared in the door way.
''Ehh? Nina what are you doing here this early.'' The Pearl said, stifling a yawn.
''Nao-senpai, Arika has been gone since last night, have you sent her on an errant or do you know where she is?''
It took a few seconds for Nao process this. ''Arika? I haven't seen her for a while now, didn't spot her when I went out or when I got back yesterday atleast.'' She yawned. ''Look just give her a few more hours, if she's not back by noon we should probably tell the teachers. For now just stop worrying, its not like you anyway.''
Nina crossed her arms. ''I'm not worried, its just that she's been acting weird lately, she probably did something stupid again.''
Nao face made a slight grin. ''That's called worrying, now get out of here, I'll ask Chie if she's seen anything later.'' With that she closed the door, turned around and fell back into her bed.
Nina turned around aswell and headed back towards her room. ''You've got to be somewhere Arika, and you had better be alright or so help me I'll kill you myself.''
''So there's still no sign of her?'' It was now several hours later, well into the afternoon but still no sign of the missing Coral. Nina, Erstin and Irina where outside discussing their next course of action. ''No, no ones has seen her and no one knows where she could have gone.'' Nina said, replying to Irina's question. ''We should probably inform Miss Maria about this right now.''
''But what if…''
''Inform me of what.'' A voice that could send shivers down the spine of even most Meister-otome suddenly sounded from behind the trio and, as one, they turned around to face it.
''Well indulge me, what is this about? Something concerning Arika Yumemiya I assume?'' The three Corals, having only just recovered from their shock, looked surprised at this statement.
''Don't look so surprised, she has missed morning cleaning as well as several classes today and the three of you are her best friends, you are bound to know something.''
''Well you see… umm that is she's..'' Erstin started unsure of what to say.
''Miss Maria, Arika has been missing since… since last night, we first assumed that Nao-oneesama had send her out on an errant but we asked and she hasn't. We're worried that something might have happened to her.'' Nina finished for her friend.
The retired Otome raised an eyebrow and frowned in thought, at least that is what the other three assumed, it was difficult to tell really. ''This could be serious I shall inform the headmaster, you three return to your studies and do not speak of this, we do not wish for… rumors to spread. If we learn anything we'll let you know.'' With that she headed towards the administration building, leaving the three corals behind in something of a stunned silence.''
''Ehhh, that went…well didn't it?'' Irina asked after a few seconds.''
''Missing!'' Gaurderobe's headmaster called out in surprise at the news.
''Yes apparently since last night.'' The retired Meister said in confirmation.
Natsuki sat leaned back in her chair, a worried expression of her face. ''Damn first this business with Romulus and Remus and now this, I'll contact the Queen about this but we can't afford to have this known publicly yet, the students?''
''I have already instructed her friends not to tell anyone but the other students will start wondering soon.''
''I see, thank you Miss Maria, let us just hope that nothing serious happened.''