Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Otome/Mai-HiME or the characters here. Sunrise Does.
Believing
3.
"Ladies and Gentleman. Tonight we have been brought together to see the so-called marvels of the Otome, yet, what we have seen here is just how low they have become. They talk of the good they can do for society and how they have saved us many times already, yet if we look deep into every problem we have faced, it all comes down to the otomes themselves being the original cause of the problem." Shocked gasps were heard around the hall as Tate kept talking. "Here we see them walk around happily with other otomes as partners. How can we let these…these perverts be the ones who teach our children?!" Tate spoke with bitterness in his words.
"Yuiichi-san?" Mai said startled when she recognized him. "What the hell does he think he is doing?" Natsuki asked in anger as she stood up and started towards the platform.
"But what can we expect from a school where even the principal is a pervert?" Tate said as he pointed at Natsuki who stopped frozen in place as she looked up to him with anger. "So is this who we want to teach our daughters? Is this what we really need? Are we gonna let them ruin the young minds of our daughters?" He continued ignoring Natsuki's glare. Shizuru walked to her side, "Come on Natsuki…" Natsuki turned to her, "We have to do something, we can't let him say things like that."
"There's nothing we can do. He is free to speak his mind, and it wouldn't look good for us to attack him in the middle of his speech now would it?" Shizuru replied with a soft smile to her wife, hoping to calm her.
Tate turned to the other side where he saw a wide-eyed Mashiro and Arika looking up at him. His gaze focused on their intertwined hands. He pointed as he spoke even louder, "Look! Even the Queen is being influenced by this sick way of living!" Arika was stunned and was even more shocked when instead of feeling Mashiro's support, she felt Mashiro pull her hand away in an instant. She felt pain and rejection she had never felt before. Tears pricked at her eyes as she saw Mashiro looking down embarrassed as she shook her head.
Everybody's attention turned to them in an instant. Nina started to get up when she saw Arika's hurt expression but was stopped by Nao, who shook her head, "Don't get involved Nina, it's already too late."
"So today, I ask all of you to support me in my mission to close down Garderobe and bring down all of the Otomes. This women are not worthy of the power that has been bestowed upon them." Tate said as he finished his venom-filled speech. He felt pride in his chest as he looked around and saw the nodding heads of approval from many in the room. He felt the most joy when he saw the faces of the women sitting on the table to whom his attacks were directed. Some had anger in their faces, others sadness, but all of them seemed…defeated. Which was exactly what he wanted.
"What are we going to do Natsuki-san?" Chie asked as she saw the startled faces of her friends. "I…I…" Natsuki stuttered as the anger inside her boiled. "I doubt right now would be a good time to say anything to the people…he has already said a lot." Shizuru said when Natsuki failed to answer. "What? Viola, you can't be serious, we can't just stay here without doing anything!" Haruka said as she stood up and started walking but was stopped by the arm by Yukino. "No Haruka-chan." Yukino spoke firmly, "This is something only the principal can do." Natsuki looked at Yukino and nodded her head as she walked to the platform.
"Mashiro-chan…" Arika tried to get a hold of the girl's hand but she pulled away. "Arika…" Mashiro looked up but it was too late, as she watched Arika walk down the hall.
"Nao, I'll be back," Nina said as she quickly stood up and followed Arika outside, this time Nao was unable to stop her. "Arika! Arika!" Nina called as she ran to her. Arika did not stop and kept walking in the darkness as she reached the outside. Nina caught up with her and grabbed her by the arm pulling her to a stop. "Arika…"
Arika could no longer hold herself and collapsed in the other girl's hold. Tears streamed down her face as buried her face on Nina's shoulder. "It's okay Arika, it's okay," Nina repeated softly as she stroked the girl's soft hair to calm her down.
"No Nina-chan…it's not okay…Mashiro…she's embarrassed of me!" Arika said in sobs as she cried even harder. "No Arika, she loves you, she's just scared. You have to understand her…"
"No!" Arika said loudly as she pulled back, "I always try to understand her. I am always giving her a chance, trying to understand her and comprehend what she's so afraid of, but I'm tired! I…am…so…tired!" Nina pulled the girl back onto her arms as she hugged her. She did not know what else to tell her, since it seemed right now, anything she said wouldn't be enough.
"Excuse me…Everybody, I request your attention please." Natsuki said as she spoke on the podium. She looked around receiving deathly glares and stares. 'Damn that man…'
"I know what Yuiichi-san has said might have provoked some of you, but I assure you that-" Natsuki was interrupted when a man stood up from his chair, "You! Being the principal of the school are the biggest pervert of them all! You and that Viola!" Natsuki's anger rose making her lose control when he called Shizuru, 'that Viola', "Excuse me sir! But you will show respect to my wife and myself, for we have not done anything to you that deserves this treatment."
"Ha! See?! Yuiichi-san is right! I will not have women like her brainwashing my daughter's mind!" another man said as he joined the chaos that was forming in the hall. Natsuki tried to calm everyone down but was unable to until the queen decided to step up to the platform.
"Everybody, please have a seat." Mashiro said as she took control. Everybody quickly complied, but Yuiichi was not one to be told what to do. "Queen, where is your Otome? Tell us, is it true that you hold a relationship with her?" he asked with a smirk forming on his face.
Mashiro looked around unable to locate Arika as she started to speak, "I…"
Nina was finally able to convince Arika to come back to the party with her once she had calmed down enough. They walked back inside and Arika froze as they entered the hall and she heard Mashiro.
"I am not in a relationship with my Otome that is not one of a Master and Otome." Mashiro said looking around trying to seem confident, but her façade faltered when she saw Arika, who's gaze burned through her. Nina was startled and quickly looked over at Arika, and found something she had never seen before.
There was a pain in Arika's eyes that killed Mashiro on the inside and made her regret her words a thousand times. She tried to speak but her mouth was suddenly dry. She could not read Arika's feelings as she was usually able to, but there was something she was sure she saw in those sapphire eyes. Hate.
A/N: Thank you all for the awesome reviews! I'm glad you guys are liking it! Here is another chapter, and I know it's short, I'm sorry, but I wanted this to stand by itself as a chapter. I will update soon. Please review :D
Next Chapter: Arika leans on Nina for support, which Nao does not find at all okay. Garderobe is in danger of being closed and Natsuki receives a visit that is not at all appreciated by her wife.