Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Otome/Mai-HiME or the characters here. Sunrise Does.

Believing

5.

"So…when are you coming back?" Nina asked as she sat with Arika on a bench at the harbor as Arika waited for her call. It was early morning and there were not many people there besides them. " I don't know…I think I'll just take a few weeks off to clear my mind." Arika replied as she folded her ticket over and over again, "I…I might not come back at all…"

"What?! Why? You can't say that Arika!" Nina said turning fully to the girl. "Well Nina-chan, if they close down Garderobe, what I am going to do?" Arika answered. "Well…I don't think they'll close it, but sincerely," Nina said as she looked deep into Arika's eyes, "I think you're being a bit selfish. Okay…she denied your relationship, but you know she loves you and you love her too. Why can't you just work it out?"

Arika shot up from the bench and stood right in front of Nina, "Selfish?!" Arika asked loudly as tears pooled around her eyes, "Arika…I'm sorry." Nina said as she tried to sit the other girl, who just pulled back. "I'm not selfish Nina, at first it was because she denied me, but I love her like I have never loved anyone in my life, that's why I'm leaving." Arika said as she sat on the bench sobbing.

"Then if you love her, why leave?" Nina asked as she rubbed the girl's back to calm her. "Because our relationship puts her throne in jeopardy. Being queen is more than a title to Mashiro. It is who she is, she was born for it and she is perfect for it. I don't want to be the reason she loses it…" Arika explained softly.

She had been hurt by Mashiro but she loved her too much to not forgive her, yet it was because of that love that she had to go before something worst happened. That night she had seen the disapproval in the faces of people, and Arika knew that Mashiro could lose her throne because of that. She didn't want Mashiro to lose the most important thing for her and although Arika knew it was painful for both of them, she thought it was the best thing for them in the long run.

Nina hugged Arika tightly, "I'm sorry Arika. I misunderstood your reasons. You really do love her…you are so brave to sacrifice your love and happiness for her own."

"Ship Number 7 Is Ready To Leave. Please Aboard Now and Have Your Tickets Ready. Thank You And Have A Good Trip."

Nina released Arika at the sound of the intercom that announced her departure. "Well, this is goodbye…" Arika said as she grabbed her suitcase. "No Arika, this is not goodbye." Nina said as she hugged her one more time, "See you later."

Arika smiled, "See you later Nina-chan."

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Takeda walked down a long corridor dimly lit until he reached a large door. He opened it without knocking and took a seat across the large desk that stood in the middle of the room. "So, has he called?" he asked.

"Takeda-kun, well hello to you too." Tate said to Takeda as he spun around in his chair to face him, "To answer your question, yes he has."

A small smile spread through Takeda's lips. "Really? That's great. Well, did you get the council votes?"

"Of course, if not he wouldn't have called me." Tate said as he handed a folder to Takeda. He opened it and smiled brightly at the document that was signed with the council symbol. Takeda read it quickly and

laughed, "Tate! How did you manage this?"

Tate laughed as well, "Well, I made some minor changes, but they won't notice until it's too late," he answered as an evil smirk formed in his face. "Well, I must congratulate you, everything is going according to plan." Takeda said as he returned the folder.

"Thank you Takeda-kun, but this is just the beginning, we cannot claim victory just yet, for it would be foolish of us, don't you think?" Takeda smirked, "You're correct, but I do believe we're pretty close, so how about we carry the next step out, my master?" Takeda said with a hint of sarcasm as he bowed down to Tate.

"Not yet, Takeda-kun, not yet, but pretty soon, that will be the title which you will use to address me," Tate said with a smile. "Don't forget me, Tate," Takeda replied.

"Of course not Takeda-kun. How could I?" Tate said as he walked out of his office with Takeda following close behind him.

Tate and Takeda walked towards a pair of large double doors that stood at the end of the hall. Tate walked to a scanner that was placed on the right side of the door, producing a card which he scanned, granting him access. The doors opened sideways with ease as they stepped inside.

"Is everything finalized Dr. Koen?" Tate asked a man who stood in front of large monitors accompanied by others in white robes. "Yes Yuuichi-san, we have tested everything and it all seems in working order," answered the doctor as he handed Tate a metal case.

"It seems? I don't pay you and your team to make things "seem" like they work," Tate said annoyed as he opened the case revealing tubes with a purple substance that seem to glitter in the light.

"Well, Yuuichi-san, like we told you, there is no definite way to stop an Otome with this, so this will only work for a short time until the nano-machines in their bodies reboot. This is basically like an EMP, but for their bodies," The scientist in question answered nervously as his colleagues nodded readily in agreement.

"Whatever. You better hope this gives us enough time to translate them here. Are the holding chambers ready?" The doctor nodded, "Yes Yuuichi-san, we have designed them to be indestructible."

Tate grinned, "I'm glad to hear that, now go and equip my soldiers with this," Tate ordered handing back the metal case, "We will proceed as planned."

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"Hello Natsuki, ready for lunch?" Shizuru asked as she walked into the principal's office carrying a tray with lunch for both of them. "Huh'?" Natsuki said as she looked up from her desk that was flooded with papers, she looked around Shizuru seeing something missing, "Where are the kids?"

"Well, I hope you don't mind but since I took them with me when I went to the palace, Aoi-san begged me to let her baby-sit them since she had a free day, so I did." Shizuru replied as she sat the food on the small table. "Oh, that's fine then, Aoi-san is great with them, I'm not worried," Natsuki answered but her face showed stress which did not go unnoticed by her wife. "Is something wrong, Natsuki?" Shizuru inquired from her wife as she saw the expression she wore. "Well, I can't find Arika." Natsuki replied as she stood from her desk and walked over to the sofa with Shizuru.

"I see…so she hasn't returned?" Shizuru asked as she handed Natsuki a cup of tea. "No, she went to the palace yesterday to break the contract and get her Meister ring, but she hasn't come in to return it until we find her a new Meister," Natsuki said worriedly. She did not like the idea of Arika running around with a

Meister ring and her GEM, possibly forming a new contract with a stranger. Natsuki did not like that idea at all.

"Did you happen to see her at the palace?" Natsuki asked, knowing that Shizuru had taken Chie to the palace to inform Mashiro that she would be her temporary Otome until a new permanent one was found. "No, I didn't see her there." Shizuru replied, handing Natsuki her lunch. "Have you tried contacting Nina?"

"Of course!" Natsuki exclaimed as she shoot up from her seat, "Nina-chan was with her! She should know where she is, I'm gonna call her right now." Natsuki started to move towards her desk but was pulled back when Shizuru grabbed her from behind , making Natsuki trip backwards and fall on Shizuru's lap.

"Shizuru! What are you doing? I have to make a call. Didn't you just hear what I said?" Natsuki said as she tried to squirm free from Shizuru's grip. "Ara, can't you make that call later? Nina-chan isn't going anywhere, so why don't you dedicate a little time to me?" Shizuru said as she laid Natsuki down on the sofa and straddled her. "Shi…Shizuru…Can't you wait until I'm done with work?" Natsuki asked nervously as she felt hands traveling downwards. Shizuru lowered her head and whispered hotly in her wife's ear, "Not really…" Natsuki gasped as she felt Shizuru's cold hand against her. Shizuru raised her face as she looked onto her wife's face with a smirk, "and I have a feeling that you can't wait either…"

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Nina walked towards the school dorms when she spotted Nao sitting on a bench in the garden. She walked towards the redhead and took a seat besides her. She wasn't sure why, but Nao seemed to be mad for some reason, and she wanted to know why.

"Hey." Nao turned to her but quickly returned her gaze to the ground. "Hi. Where you been? I was looking for you this morning…"

"I'm sorry Nao. I was with Arika," Nina explained, but before she could continue, Nao cut in, "Of course, it figures!" Nao said as she stood from the bench, "I can't believe this Nina. She just broke up with Mashiro and you're already playing as her rebound?" Nao turned to leave but was stopped when Nina grabbed her arm, "Wait Nao! What are you talking about?" Nina asked on the verge of tears, Nao had never spoken to her like that.

Nao laughed sarcastically, "You don't know what I'm talking about? Come on Nina, you think I'm that stupid that you can fool me? I know Arika always had the "hots" for you, but I never thought you'd do this to me…" Nao turned her face away to avoid Nina from seeing the tears that glazed her eyes.

"Nao…you don't understand. I would never do that do you. Arika loves Mashiro-sama, and I love you," Nina replied as she pulled the older girl into a hug. "Nina…" Nao spoke through muffled sobs as she hugged her back.

Nina pulled back slightly to look deep into the Nao's emerald eyes. "I was with Arika at the harbor this morning. She left Windbloom to put some distance and hopefully get better after what happened with Mashiro-sama. She's my best friend and I love her but, you're my girlfriend Nao…and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"I'm so sorry Nina! I didn't trust you enough. It's just that I've never been in love like this, and I was so scared to lose you!" Nao said as she cried in Nina's arms. "You'll never lose me Nao, never…" They stayed like that until Nao calmed down as they held each other closely in the bench.

Their moment of peace was interrupted when a student came running towards them. "Nao-sempai! Nina-sempai!" Nao rolled her eyes, annoyed that her moment was interrupted. "What is it Yumi?" Nina asked with concern when she looked at the girl's scared expression.

"There are some men at the door that request entry. We tried to stop them but they request to see the principal this instant," Yumi explained quickly, "and they have guns!"

"Guns? Let's see what they want. It's Kruger's lunchtime with Shizuru-san, and I know from past experience that they do not like being disturbed." Nao said as she started toward the main gate with Nina and Yumi following close behind.

"What do you want?" Nao asked rudely as she recognized Yuuichi as the man who had ruined the night at the banquet with his stupid, anti-otome speech.

"We need to see the principal, so stop blocking our way." Tate said in an annoyed tone as he looked around seeing a large body of students blocking the entrance.

"Nao-sempai, we have orders from Viola-san that we cannot let Masashi-san or his company into the school grounds if they came here." Yumi explained nervously. "I see…" Nao said and turned to Tate, "Well, you see, you're not welcome, so goodbye."

"Nao? Could you possibly be Juliet Nao Zhang? The Fourth Column?" Tate asked with a smirk forming in his face. Nao's eyebrow raised in confusion, "Yes, why?" she asked.

"Juliet Zhang, you are now under arrest," Tate said as he motioned for his soldiers to grab her. "What?! What the hell are you doing?" Nao asked as she pushed the soldiers away easily.

"We have a Council Order to take under custody all the columns and any other Otome that get in our way of repossessing Garderobe," Tate said as he held up the document to Nao's face, pulling it away before she could snatch it.

"What the hell? Repossessing Garderobe? Are you out of your mind? You can't "repossess" something that isn't yours, idiot!" Nao yelled to him as she materialized her robe, "and if you don't leave right now, I will hurt you so bad you won't wake up for month!"

"You leave us no option Zhang-san," Tate said with a calm look as he motioned for a soldier to shoot. Nao saw this and launched herself at the soldier but dropped to the ground as a shot was fired.

"Nao!" Nina screamed as she ran to Nao's limp body that laid on the ground, her robe had dematerialized as soon as she had hit ground. "What have you done to her?!" she asked looking up to Tate as she cradled Nao in her arms. "She isn't hurt, she has just been knocked unconscious for a few hours," Tate explained and then turned to his men, "Take her."

"No!" Nina pushed away the man that were trying to take her body without any luck, as she herself was also shot and fell limp atop Nao.

Tate grinned as the soldiers picked up the Otomes and placed them in the large vehicle, "Now where is the principal?"

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Natsuki and Shizuru had just come out of the shower and were now fully dressed. Shizuru walked over to pick up the remnants from lunch as Natsuki tried calling Nina. "She's not answering…" Natsuki said with a frown as she walked towards her desk, stopping midway as she looked out the large window.

"What is it Natsuki?" Shizuru asked when she saw Natsuki stop mid stride. She walked beside Natsuki and saw the large group of students that had congregated beside the gate along with a group of men in dark-clad suits who carried weapons. "Natsu-" Shizuru stopped as she turned and followed Natsuki who had stormed out of the room in a flash.

"What is going on here?!" Natsuki asked and was surprised as her gaze turned to see a soldier place Nina inside the large armored vehicle.

"Principal Kruger, I'm glad you have finally joined us," Tate said with a smirk. Shizuru looked to the man standing at his side as her blood boiled with anger. "Masashi-san, I do believe I warned you about coming here," Shizuru said bitterly.

"I am not here for pleasurable reasons, Viola-san," Takeda answered, making Shizuru even madder. Natsuki walked towards the vehicle but was stopped by the soldiers guarding it. She pushed them off and saw Nao laying limp against the floor with Nina at her side in the same condition.

"What have you done to them?" Natsuki asked in fury. Tate walked towards her wearing a grin that annoyed Natsuki to no end, "We are here to take possession of Garderobe, and we are also here to arrest you," he said as he handed her the folder containing the order.

Natsuki's eyebrow twitched at his words as she took the document. She scanned it and dropped it to the ground with force, "You can't do this, those are not legal charges," she said, materializing her robe but was unable to even move when she was shot from behind.

Shizuru's eye's widened in shock as she saw Natsuki fall to the ground, but she ran and caught her before she could hit it. "Natsuki!" Shizuru said trying to wake her wife up.

"It's no use Viola-san, she will be unconscious for a few hours, but how about you join her?" Takeda said as he took a pistol from one of the soldiers and pointed at Shizuru. She did not flinch as he pulled the trigger and only held to Natsuki tighter as the substance traveled through her body making her fall unconscious within seconds.

The students screamed in horror as they saw how their precious Shizuru-oneesama and the principal were taken down easily along with Nao and Nina. Some tried to attack the soldiers but were quickly knocked out by the older men, not being a match for them without their robes.

"Okay," Tate said turning to his men, "Take care of the rest of the students and begin preparations." The gates were opened by the soldiers as many vehicles started rolling in towards the school and the vehicle carrying the Otomes left hastily.

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"Yohko-sensei! We have lost contact with Principal Kruger, Shizuru-san, Nao-san, and Nina-chan!" Irina exclaimed surprised as she saw the GEM locator flashing warnings.

"What? What do you mean?" Yohko asked as she ran to the monitor and was shocked when she saw the last vital signs recorded being too low for a normal otome. "The vitals are at a level that show shock or unconsciousness," Irina said as she too saw the record, "Or both…Gal-sensei" Yohko said as she turned to the cyborg, "Can you run a wider scan?" The cyborg nodded and started the scan which showed a brief connection but it was gone as quickly as it came. "No luck," Gal said but looked up quickly to the entrance when the doors opened and a group of soldiers came rushing in.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Yohko asked as the men stood to the side to allow entrance to Yuuichi and a group of scientist that followed him inside. "Helene-san! It's a pleasure to meet you," Tate said gallantly as he walked towards Yohko, "Who are you and why are you here?" Yohko asked as Gal stood in front between them prepared to attack. Tate smiled looking at the cyborg before answering Yohko, "That's a cute toy, but I don't have time to play. You must evacuate this place immediately."

"What? I can't leave. I work here!" Yohko said as she saw the scientist that came with Tate go around her and starting to set up equipment. "No Helene-san. You no longer work here since Garderobe is no longer under independent power. Now I rule this place, so please take your student and your toy along with you as well."

"What did you do to Principal Kruger and the others?" Yohko asked when she realized he had something to do with them. "Oh, I see you know…well then I can't have you running around telling others can I?" Tate said and motioned for his soldiers to take her, "Hope you and your friends enjoy your stay," Tate said with a smirk as the soldiers took them away. Gal was about to attack but Yohko nodded her head signaling her to stop when she saw how greatly they were outnumbered.

"Okay, go ahead and set up. I need you to cut the Otome power supply immediately. Also, begin preparing my elite force as soon as possible. We cannot waste time, I want to start immediately," Tate ordered as he left. He entered the principal's office and took a seat on the chair behind the desk while Takeda sat across from him.

"Well? Call him already! He said he would tell you the next step once we took over right?" Takeda said motioning to the phone. "Patience Takeda-kun, I'm calling him." Tate replied as he grabbed the phone and waited until he spoke up. "Artai-san? Yes, we are already in," Tate said as he spoke to the receiver, "Okay…but can't you just tell me how?….Okay…We will wait here…" Tate hung up with a sigh.

"What?" Takeda asked seeing the annoyed look in his friend's face. "He said he will come here himself," Tate replied, "Himself? Isn't he still in prison?" Takeda asked confused.

"Yes, but he said that once the otome power supply was cut off, his men would pick him up, since there would be no one to stop him this time," Tate replied as he stood up and walked to the window as he saw his soldiers herding groups of students towards the school. There they would be held off in their rooms, making sure nobody left.

Tate smiled as he looked on proudly at his work. Without a power supply, the Otomes would be defenseless as they continued with their plan, and now there would be nobody stopping them. 'Nobody will stop me now…Nobody."

A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but I hope the wait was worth it. I don't know how often I will update now because I'm starting school this week, but I will try to update ASAP, probably no more than two weeks wait, and hopefully soon I can get used to the new schedule and update more frequently. Thank you so much for reading and for all the reviews and everything. Please review if you can :D

Thank You :D

Next Chapter: Tate Yuuichi takes over, is there anybody left to stop him?