Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Otome/Mai-HiME or the characters here. Sunrise Does.
Believing
8.
"If you can't be mine…you won't be anybody's." Takeda's words rang through Natsuki as her heart pounded loudly against her ribcage. As if the world had suddenly slowed down, she watched as Takeda began to move his finger in the process of pulling the trigger.
She reflexively snapped her eyes closed as she awaited for the pain, but was startled when she heard the horrid sound of ripping flesh followed immediately by a cry of agony.
Natsuki opened her eyes to see the tip of a blade protruding from Takeda's chest. In one swift movement, the blade was taken back as Takeda released the gun and dropped to the ground gasping for his last breath with blood pooling around his limp body.
Shizuru stepped forward as she retracted her naginata. She had followed Takeda as soon as she saw him going towards the office where Natsuki and the twins were. Shizuru had arrived just in time to hear Takeda's threatening words as he aimed at Natsuki, and without thinking twice, a naginata materialized in her hand as she swung towards his heart. Shizuru did not exactly consider herself a violent person, but when her family was in danger, she was not one to hold back.
"Shizuru!" Natsuki ran to Shizuru as soon as she saw once Takeda had fallen. "Natsuki…" Shizuru held Natsuki tight as the younger woman cried desperately onto her shoulder.
"Thank you Shizuru…I was so…so scared…and the kids…I didn't want to die…Shizuru," Natsuki said between sobs. Shizuru did not let go of Natsuki, "I told you I would always protect you Natsuki, because I love you…"
Natsuki smiled as tears kept rolling down her cheeks, "I love you too…I love you so much Shizuru"
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The sound of metal's clashing thundered through the large palace room. Mashiro looked on with fear as Tate swung over and over at Arika as she deflected each attack.
Arika was not able to hit Tate since she was still on the ground while he was airborne. He moved with astounding speed around her as he tried to find an opening against the girl. Arika was quick to move and keep up with Tate, but not enough as he attacked faster and faster each time.
Her mind focused on defeating Tate, Arika could still hear the shouts and screams of soldiers as they tried to stop her child, Koan, from attacking them. Judging by the sounds, Arika could tell their tries were futile.
Mashiro stood to the side where Arika had pushed her off to keep her safe from harm, watching with worry as Tate attacked Arika without mercy.
"Give up! A child like you could never beat me!" Tate smirked when he saw an opening on Arika when she glanced sideways slightly to make sure Mashiro was okay.
"Aaahhh!" Arika's scream pierced through Mashiro's heart as she saw the love of her life being tossed against the farthest wall with a wound to her side.
Tate's demonic laugh echoed in the room, "It's over Mashiro!"
Mashiro ignored Tate, running swiftly across the rubble to find Arika unconscious, "Arika! Arika! Please get up!" Mashiro shook Arika desperately, "Please Arika, you can't leave me…"
"I love you Arika! Please don't go," Mashiro held the girl's body closely, as her tears rolled onto Arika's face.
"Arika…Arika…" Mashiro spoke the name through sobs as the girl she loved laid lifeless against her lap.
Mashiro did not notice when Tate launched himself towards them with his glaive aimed to kill, 'This is it, I will finally get rid of the strongest of my obstacles,' Tate smirked as the distance grew shorter between him and his target.
A bright light shone across Tate's face, throwing him off course. Slamming against the wall above, Tate grunted in pain but looked up in horror as a large creature dove straight for him.
Mashiro heard the loud crash, and turning around she saw as Tate attacked Koan, desperately trying to keep him away. The child easily evaded the attack and ripped away part of Tate's suit with a fluid motion from his claw.
Tate crashed on the ground, now without the protection of his suit nor the ability to fly. Tate grappled his glaive tightly as he tried to pierce Koan.
Arika opened her eyes slowly, "Mashiro…"
Mashiro looked down to her lap and smiled with joy as she saw Arika slowly regaining consciousness. Arika returned the smile softly, "I love you too…"
As Mashiro leaned down to kiss Arika, they were unable to hear the agonizing screams of pain from Tate as Koan finally got tired of playing with him and decided to defeat the one that had tried to destroy his master.
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~3 Years Later~
"Aoi!" Aoi quickly ran into Mashiro's office, "Yes Mashiro-sama?"
".Arika?" Mashiro asked overly annoyed, since she had been calling her girlfriend over and over without response.
Aoi shuddered from the Queen's menacing tone, "I haven't seen her all day since this morning…"
Mashiro sighed, "Fine, when she comes in tell her she's sleeping in the guest room tonight."
"You're not having dinner Mashiro-sama? It's almost ready…" Mashiro stood from her desk and shook her head, "No thank you. Good night."
Mashiro left the office and fumed in anger as she strolled through the large palace garden on her way to her room. 'Where is she? Why hasn't she answered my calls at all? Is she mad?…' Mashiro shook her head at the last thought as a slight blush came to her cheeks, 'No…after last night…she couldn't possibly be mad…'
Mashiro looked up to the bright moon as she frowned, 'Where are you Arika?'
As if receiving an answer, Mashiro was picked up from the ground in a swift movement. Mashiro held tightly as strong arms held her as she slowly opened her eyes that had automatically closed in shock to see she was in mid-air.
"Where have you been?" Arika laughed at Mashiro's angry tone, "What kind of question is that Mashiro-chan? No hello or I missed you?"
Mashiro rolled her eyes as Arika flew in high speed through the nightly sky, "Not until you tell me where you've been."
"Well…I have a surprise for the most beautiful queen of all Earl!" Mashiro grinned, "Oh yea?"
"Yea…" Arika lowered herself and Mashiro down to the top of a large hill that was surrounded by a large lake. Mashiro awed as she looked to the amazing panorama presented in front of her, looking at the bright stars that reflected perfectly across the water and the large full moon that illuminated the table Arika had set up in the middle of the hill top.
"Please have a seat milady," Arika smiled brightly as she pulled the chair for Mashiro to sit. Arika had spent all day setting up the area so that it was perfect. She had mowed the grass all over the top of the large hill, since she knew Mashiro hated bugs and didn't want a creepy thing crawling over to her girlfriend and ruining the moment. Arika had set up a table and chairs and had flown all the way to the Black Valley to have Mai help her cook up the dinner for the night.
"Arika, this is…amazing…" Mashiro said as she took the chair that Arika presented to her, "I'm glad you think so, I did it for you after all," Arika replied as she leaned in for a quick kiss. She quickly served Mashiro some wine and served the food she had brought.
"Wow Arika, you really outdid yourself this time. This looks delicious!" Arika could not stop smiling as Mashiro complimented her. She served the Ramen and also set down some sushi, made with the best ingredients that could be found in the Black Valley.
'This is spectacular, but I wonder why she went through so much trouble for just a simple dinner? She even cut the grass of the entire hill!' Mashiro enjoyed her dinner with wonder, amazed at how Arika never fell to amaze her, even after the years they had spent together.
After the incident with Yuuichi, Mashiro and Arika had worked hard to repair the palace, the Kingdom, and most importantly, their relationship. She had announced her relationship with her, once again, Otome, and since the people owed so much to the Otomes after they had saved them from Yuuichi's tyranny, they had nothing to say that was not a compliment.
Arika continued being Mashiro's Otome, and had become one of the most highly acclaimed Otomes of all time, her popularity coming close to rivaling even that of Archmeister Shizuru, but of course, not above.
"That was great Arika, thank you," Mashiro said as she set down her fork after she had done eating. "You are very welcome," Arika replied, standing up and walking to Mashiro's side.
Mashiro's face blushed brightly and tears began to pool around her eyes when she saw Arika remove a small case from her pocket and kneeled down in one knee.
"Mashiro, I know many people kneel down to you daily, but right now, I am kneeling before Mashiro the person, my girlfriend, not the Queen that has the responsibility of a whole country resting on her shoulders," Opening the case, Arika smiled brightly, "Mashiro, I know we're still young, but I don't see why we should wait. I know I have found the person who I want to spend the rest of my life with. That person is you Mashiro, that's why I want to know if you would please marry me…"
Mashiro could not contain the tears of joy she felt as Arika proposed marriage to her. They were indeed young, at only twenty years of age each, but Mashiro knew this was right, this was exactly what she had been waiting for all her life.
"Yes, I want to marry you Arika!" Tears spilled from both girl's as joy overflowed though them. Arika carefully placed the engagement ring around Mashiro's finger. Since Mashiro was a queen, Arika had gone through a tough time finding a ring fit for a queen that had everything she wanted.
"It's beautiful Arika…" Mashiro brought her hand closer to inspect the ring, she was amazed at the detail of it, and was even more marveled at the two golden letters that stood inside the large, white diamond.
"You see that?" Arika said pointing at the ring, "It's an M for Mashiro and an A for me, and I don't know if you can tell, but there's a small heart between the letters."
Mashiro nodded enthusiastically, "I do, I see them," Getting up from the chair, Mashiro hugged Arika tightly, ,making Arika lose her balance and stumble backwards onto the short grass underneath.
"Thank you Arika, thank you so much," Arika smiled as she turned Mashiro so they both laid in their backs watching the stars above.
"Thank you Mashiro, for accepting to become my wife…" Mashiro grinned, "I was wondering when you'd ask…"
"Well, better late than never right?" Mashiro laughed and moved quickly to straddle Arika, "I can't wait to become your wife, Arika Yumemiya…"
"Oh yea? Well I can't wait to become your wife either, Queen Mashiro Blan De Windbloom…" Arika pulled Mashiro's face closer to kiss her.
"And then, we can have little Mashiros running around the palace!" Mashiro shot up immediately, "Little Mashiros? What are you talking about?"
"Kids of course!" Arika replied with a large smile. Arika didn't know about Mashiro, since they hadn't discussed the topic before, but she was ready to have kids as soon as possible, since Arika had a deep love for kids. She would spend hours with the Kruger twins baby sitting them, specially since Aoi was not able to baby sit anymore since now, she had her own kids with Chie.
"Arika, you just proposed to me and you already want to have kids? You are going to kill me!" Arika laughed at Mashiro, "Oh come on Mashiro-chan, you will love every second of it, especially the 'baby-making' part of the deal…"
Mashiro smirked, "Oh that part…" she lowered herself and spoke seductively as her hands began to wander, "That part I will most definitely love…"
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A/N: Thank you all so much for following my story from beginning to end. I LOVED writing the story and LOVED all the feedback I received through reviews, favorites, and everything. Thank you so much for sticking with me till the end and having faith in me as an author. I look forward to bringing more stories to you all. Love You All :)
I you liked this story, then you will love it's sequel, "Mai-Otome: The Next Generation", where you will be able to meet the kids of all the Otomes, including Mashiro's and Arika's, as they have their own adventures at Garderobe. I also started a story of Mai-Hime alternate universe called "Apocalypse Angels" that will be pure ShizNat. So if you love Shizuru and Natsuki, then you will love this story.
I will upload this two stories shortly, so please be on the lookout for them. Once again, thank you, and please show me some love with your reviews and kind words :D
Ja Ne!