Forbidden Love
Eps. VII
"You did what?!" Yukino nearly flipped when she heard what Mikoto did during the first training session with Mai. "Mikoto, you can't go and make the girl did such an advance task without thoroughly explaining to her how it works first." "Ara, Yukino-chan, do you have second thought about leaving Tohkiha-han in Mikoto-chan's hands now?" Shizuru chimed in as they all come over to her place for dinner. "O-of course not, though I do find her method to be a bit strange," Yukino replied as she finally calmed down somewhat. "Although my cousin's teaching method might be strange, I have to say it is quite a good method since Tohkiha-han managed to created one-side of it even for just a few minutes. I think that would be a great accomplishment, right Natsuki?" Shizuru asked looking over at her pup who silently chew on her food without mayo.
"Huh? Yeah," Natsuki nodded though she didn't hear anything except for when Shizuru talked to her. "Pff… You weren't even listening to a damn word anyone else said until she asked you," Haruka said in her usual booming voice while pointing at Shizuru. "You got a problem with that?" Natsuki glared at Haruka, who seemed to be immune to her Death Glare. "As a matter of fact, I do! Stop sulking over the fact that those fattening mayonnaise of yours are banned from home and work. Seriously, there are only so many dishes that should have mayonnaise on them and you put mayo on every damn dish that you ate, it's disgusting." Haruka said starting to rub her temple feeling a headache coming just from talking to Natsuki.
And so the shouting match between the two started, it is like the force of two hurricanes battling against each other. Each time one yelled at the other, everyone leaned the other way and it's just back and forth they leaned. Mikoto was sure that she would be deaf soon if she don't stop this, the other two might be immune to all this noises but Mikoto isn't and this is starting to piss her off.
"Would you two shut up already?" Mikoto lowered her voice to a dangerous level causing all sounds to cease immediately. "You are civilized women, act like one." Mikoto said looking from Haruka over to Natsuki sending charged electricity their ways as a way of warning them off. "Hmph!" Haruka pouted as she finally sit back down by Yukino's side. "Whatever," Natsuki murmured as she went back on poking at her foods.
"Either way, I have to give her credit for doing what she did. If she managed to master that technique, I think it's time to move on to the next step once she got that one." Mikoto said calmly while chewing on her food. "What do you mean?" Yukino asked curiously. "She isn't just a half-bake magi Yukino, that girl specialized in one type of magic only and it's pyro-magic. If it wasn't for my ability to absorb magic, I would be nothing but ashes by now. Her power could be rank as a Magnus, but using other types of magic such as creating objects and force-field was out of her element. If she could master those two, she could pass as a Seer and start her journey on maintaining the order of the world like most of the other Seers. But that would be her own decision," Mikoto explained.
"You truly have high hopes for her, that's very admirable of you. But what about her family, will they be okay with it?" Natsuki asked still stabbing at her foods. "That is something for the High Council to deal with," Mikoto shrugged uncaringly. "But wouldn't your family be upset that you teach her about the force-field technique? After all, it is passed down to the Kanzaki bloodline," Yukino recalled. "Never mention that name in front of me ever again," Mikoto said narrowing her eyes at Yukino giving off a very malice look. "S-sorry…" Yukino writhed under Mikoto's intense gaze.
Another day of training, Mikoto was reading while Mai broken sweats concentrating on creating a force-field to please her teacher. "Take a break," Mikoto called as she put the book away. Her voice drawn Mai out of her concentration as well as she looked up over at her crush, she was sweating and exhausted but managed a smile after all. "You're doing pretty well, so as a reward I'll take you out for dinner. Go get ready and come back here in thirty minutes," Mikoto smiled as she extended her hand to help Mai get up. All the hours spending on concentrating her energy to form just one-side and maintained it for over five minutes worn her out, she slipped just as Mikoto helped her up.
"Whoa, be careful kiddo…" Mikoto said as she quickly wrapped her arm around Mai's waist to keep her from slipping down. "T-thank you sensei," Mai said blushing beautifully. "Mmm… strawberry shampoo," Mikoto said as she took in the scent on Mai's hair. "I like it," Mikoto said absentmindedly as she let go of her student. "Thank you; I'll be right back sensei!" Mai said as she grabbed her backpack and rushed out. "Uh…" Mikoto was left stunned as she completely forgot what she had just said to make the girl run off like that.
Humming to herself in the bathroom, Mai lathered her body with strawberry soap and washed her hair with strawberry shampoo. She couldn't help but feel oh so giddy inside; this would be the first time her teacher decided to take her out for dinner. It might as well be the happiest moment in her life, it's like a date and yet it isn't really a date because it's more of a reward she got for being diligent with her practicing in creating a force-field.
"Put this on," Mikoto said tossing her helmet to Mai. The girl dressed in her casual clothing consisting of a short skirt, light shade of red top, and a pale orange vest. Mikoto stood there in her signature outfit, smiling warmly at the sight in front of her. It was quite cute, and she hasn't seen someone this cute since her broke up with Shizuru years ago due to their grandparents' marriage. Mai didn't wait for further instruction as she fasten the helmet on, Mikoto helped her get on the white Suzuki Hayabusa before she herself got on and drove off.
They drove a few miles away from school, to a fancy restaurant that reserve for maybe middle-class to high-class or just the latter part Mai isn't sure. "Ah, Minagi-sama…" the host greeted her as soon as she stepped inside with Mai right behind her. "Private room, two portions of the usual," Mikoto said. "Right this way," the man in his mid-fifties said with great respect as he led the way down the hall and away from prying eyes. "Thank you," Mikoto said politely as the man bowed and left.
"Wow…" Mai marveled at the decoration in the small room as she sat down across from Mikoto. "Mikoto-chan!" someone called out causing the two people in the room to turn their attention to the voice. A woman in her late forties smiled warmly at the girls as she brought a tray filled with foods in and placed it on the table. "Sakiko-san, there's no need for you to personally bring it here…" "Nonsense! If it wasn't for you, that no good daughter of mine would be in jail by now," Yuuki Sakiko said cutting Mikoto off. "But I have to wonder when will she settle down like Natsuki-chan," Sakiko let out a sigh. "Oh, who might this young lady be? What's your name dear?" the woman doesn't stay sad for long. "Tohkiha Mai," Mai said meekly. "My, you're a cute one…" Sakiko studied Mai intently before turning her attention back on Mikoto again. "She's going to be a fine Grand Master someday Mikoto-chan," just with that the woman giggled lightly and left the room.
"Um… sensei, what's a Grand Master?" Mai asked trying to break the silence the filled the room after Sakiko left. "Grand Master is a highest title any magi novice could ever dream of; very few were named Grand Master. They were originally named Grand Magister until men started to obtain the title and changed it to Grand Master." Mikoto said in a nonchalant tone. "Magi are technically magic novice, Magnus is a full-fledge magic user, Seer would be those who surpass at least two magic trials, Grand Seer are ones that traveled the world at least once, Master are those who held positions in the High Council, and finally Grand Master could be a member of the High Council or select a companion to travel the world to vanquish inhabitants that aren't from this world." Mikoto decided to go into a more detail explanation for her student to better understand about the world they're in.
"What about that title that Yuuki-sensei was referred to?" Mai asked nodding her head trying to absorb as much information about all these things as she could since her mother didn't really talked much about this side of the world they're living in. "Portal Keeper are people with ability to summon weapons to keep guard of the portals that linked from this world to other worlds. Guardian is a higher rank compared to Portal Keeper, but they did the same job as Portal Keeper though they're allowed to be selected by Seer and Grand Seer as companion. Then there's Champion, who usually seen accompanying Grand Seer acting as companion. Grand Champion, like Master held position in the High Council and acted as exam proctors to all those wanting to become Guardian or Champion, Hero are the highest position compares to Grand Master. Then there's Epic Hero, there are very few who made it to that title as they have the power to overrule even those of Grand Master and Hero. Epic Hero was considered a myth until recent years when someone managed to obtain such title, it rumored that Epic Hero could pick his or her own companion without ever being able to use magic." Mikoto finished and took a sip of her tea.
"Wow, you're very informed sensei," Mai said with awe listening to Mikoto's words. "Yeah, I guess…" Mikoto looked down all of a sudden. "Come on, eat up otherwise you won't be having enough energy for tomorrow. It would be a whole day of training," Mikoto changed the subject abruptly as she doesn't want to talk about her personal life with her student. After all, it's supposed to be a celebration for a job well-done for the busty teen. And so the two enjoyed a nice dinner together, though Mai was at awe at how much her teacher could eat which is something she found to be endearing as she herself loves to cook.
Suddenly the street seemed crowded when the left the restaurant, Mikoto and Mai shared a laugh together when Sakiko came in complaining about her no-good daughter some more before letting the two go. Someone bumped into Mikoto nearly knocking her off her balance, but Mai was right by her side and kept her from falling. Mikoto immediately noticed something missing right away, but she didn't act like it.
"Hey kid, looks like your money got stolen," a man said walking pass by them. "How far do you think he'll be able to run with needles stick to his vital points?" Mikoto asked as she raised her left hand up and tiny needles flying out of the palm of her hand hitting its target causing the man to fell flat down on his face. Money and some small jewels spilled out on the ground, Mikoto come up to him and looking down at the man with dangerous gaze.
"Um… um… I was just borrowing it…" he said nervously picking up the money and jewels and was about to hand it over to Mikoto. "I could care less about those, but this is mine." Mikoto said as she leaned over and picked up a ruby crystal, and within it there seemed to be a woman trapped inside it. "Next time, you might not be so lucky…" she murmured getting up and left with Mai trailing right behind her.
"Sensei is it okay to let him have all those?" Mai asked feeling a bit scared at Mikoto's action earlier. "Those were just trinkets I got from my trip in South America, doesn't worth that much." Mikoto replied and shoved the crystal into her pocket. "Let's go for a walk, the park is just this way." Mikoto suggested and headed off leaving the student to chase after her.
A/N: Uh... it's something for Natsuki to be jealous about? I don't think there's anyone jealous of Mikoto, I'm so lost... Besides, it's a bit enticing with putting Mikoto and Shizuru together, like the sinner and the innocent... just interesting. Though I am not going at it as a permanently pairing, it prolly be too angsty in the end. Besides, this is just adding a little drama into the boring life of our preferred fav. pairing(s). Who am I to judge when I'm a Mai/Mikoto addict.