Disclaimer: I do not own Gunslinger Girl or Maria-sama ga Miteru and I have no intention of profiting from this story.
Bloodstained Rose – A Gunslinger Girl/Maria-sama ga Miteru Crossover
Chapter 4 - Movement
As Triela had predicted, during the next month she rarely had time to really learn much about Ogasawara, despite the fact she saw her nearly everyday. Apparently her target hadn't lied when she had said that the student council needed every bit of help that it could get. Triela was kept busy running errands and helping out all over the school. One day she would be helping create maps for the festival's stands, the next she'd be taking notes for one of the upperclassmen during meetings with the school, class, and club leaders. She'd even gone to visit the boy's school next door with Ogasawara and Yumi. For some reason, they were helping out. It was some sort of 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' sort of thing. Apparently. But still everyday was filled with meeting new people and doing odd jobs with her new classmates.
On top of all that, Captain Ayako of the judo club had made it her life's mission to see Triela in their dojo as close to everyday as she could manage. The girl was almost creepily persistent. Scratch that, she was creepily persistent. She'd show up after class or when she was finished with her Yamayurikai work 'to show her the way to the dojo so she didn't get lost.' This was a perfectly acceptable excuse the first time she had used it. Everyday, for the next several weeks, however, was seriously pushing it. Triela had even attempted to sneak past the girl. That had ended tragically enough. She'd almost made it to the gates, when the girl had dropped down from one of the trees above the path and had announced that 'Triela had managed to get lost after all.' If Triela had had a gun, the girl's head would have been fine mist before she had even hit the ground. Instead, she'd merely been a ball of nerves for the rest of the week, looking for signs of ambush from the obsessed girl everywhere.
Still she supposed that it really wasn't all that bad. The Captain was exceptionally skilled at Judo, and while that certainly wasn't enough to defeat Triela's augmented strength and speed, it was good enough for a decent workout. A few of the other girls in the club weren't all that bad, either, though none of them were much of a match for either of them. And if nothing else, the Captain's strange persistence kept Triela's paranoia in high gear. It wouldn't be good for her to lose her edge in this ridiculously soft environment.
And on top of both of those was school itself, which was both more and less challenging than she had thought it would be. Math, science, and English classes were a breeze for her. She had received plenty of instruction in those at the SWA. Hilshire's class, History, was a bit more challenging because she wasn't nearly as versed in world history. Italian history she knew quite well, but the history of anywhere else was sort of a toss of a coin whether she knew it or not. However, the class she was having the most trouble in was Japanese. She could speak it just fine. She'd always had a knack for speaking in other languages. Writing it, however, was proving to be a challenge. Two different alphabets, and then something like 2000 kanji. And those were the one's in common use. There were far more waiting in the wings to spring on her when she least expected it. She didn't know how the Japanese remembered them all. She certainly was having enough trouble remembering even the basics.
Thankfully, Yumi, and to some smaller degree the rest of the student council, were there to help, as Hilshire seemed to be having the same difficulties, despite the fact that he had apparently learned the language in college. Useless man. The girls had been tutoring her, and she would tutor him in what she had learned when she got home. With her hectic schedule, it wasn't easy, but somehow she was making it work. It made for a lot of sleepless nights, but she was a cyborg. That was the kind of stress she was put together to take. Though even she was feeling a bit worn down with her crazy schedule.
To be honest, however, she really couldn't complain. With everything together: the stress, the student council work, the problems with school, she was about as inconspicuous at school as she could possibly get. She was still in the spotlight, of course, her status as an international student, if nothing else (and there was plenty else) guaranteed her some extra attention, but she doubted that any of the students or teachers suspected that Triela Hartmann was a cyborg agent of the Italian government hell-bent on discovering whether one of the student's family was supporting terrorism. If she had given them a clue, she wasn't quite sure where she had found the time to do so.
"Triela-hime! Could you run to the mansion, and see if there is any tape? One of the props for the play broke and it needs a quick fix. We wasted the last roll we had on the curtain fixes!" shouted one of the drama club girls whose name she hadn't learned yet. Triela was out the door almost before the girl was finished. She was assigned to the stage today; running errands for whatever clubs were practicing at the given time and making sure they stuck to the practice schedule. The drama club, however, had done the set-up for their own event the day before. Today they were working on the set-up for the Yamayurikai's play which was turning out to be much larger show than Triela had ever expected.
Ogasawara was directing, and Triela had learned the hard way that she had a somewhat odd sense of humor. They were performing a play called 'Torikaebaya Monogatari,' which was some sort of Japanese folk-tale about a brother and sister who acted opposite of their gender. Or something. She hadn't quite gotten all of the subtext. She wasn't sure if anyone else participating had gotten it all either. Anyway, Ogasawara had decided that since the play was already playing with sex roles, why not take it a little further, and just switch everyone's gender. So girls were playing all of the guy's roles and guys were playing all the girls roles. It might have been funnier to her if she hadn't found herself cast as a particularly horny prince. Yumi had laughed when she had complained which had only made it worse.
Another benefit of all of her errand running was that Triela had learned the layout of the campus far quicker and, to be completely honest, better than she would have simply by exploring it herself. Which was why, in extraordinarily short order, she arrived at the Rose Mansion only slightly winded, rather than exhausted from going the long way around. The…well, not really a rule, but perhaps the unwritten ban on running was lifted during the preparations for the festivals. Girls could be found scurrying from building to building all over campus as they rushed to complete this or that. She hadn't quite been able to run, due to the skirt (also still known as the complete bane of her existence), but she had managed a hurried walk through the maze of buildings that was Lillian Catholic Girls' School.
She didn't even bother to knock these days, not that it generally mattered as the meeting room was upstairs, and most times there was no one in the foyer. She was surprised, however, when she walked into a room full of half dressed girls. She blinked in confusion for a moment with the door behind her wide open, before she came to her senses, blushed, and slammed the door shut behind her. The members of the Yamayurikai who had been changing were a bit confused, but almost as one, they started giggling, much to Triela's dismay.
"Goodness gracious, judging by your face and how hard you slammed that door, Triela-hime, I thought that you were expecting a horde of slobbering men to descend upon us," wryly commented Yoshino, the pig-tailed little sister of Rosa Foetida.
"This is a girl's school, Triela; you shouldn't worry so much. The Hanadera Student Council doesn't come till tomorrow," said Rosa Gigantea, kindly. As she was the most undressed, clad only in a bra and underwear, Triela thought that she was rather calm, even if they were in a girl's school. Weren't there male teachers after all? That said, Triela was extremely uncomfortable showing any skin. She was a cyborg, after all, and while the doctors were very good, there were still plenty of physical scars.
"…I just didn't want to embarrass anyone!" she managed with a sniff (she'd been spending too much time around Touko, really) that was greeted by more laughter, and tried to navigate her way through the group of nearly nude women. She had forgotten that the Sewing club was supposed to bring the costumes for fitting today. Not that it mattered; she'd be in and out with the tape she was sent to get. Without embarrassing anyone, most notably herself, any further.
The tape was easy to find once she managed to get into the storage room. They had apparently stocked up on it, as there was an entire box full of it. Made sense. Tape was useful for just about anything. The desired material in hand, Triela took a deep breath and waded once more out in the gaggle of girls, who thankfully were now mostly dressed. Except of course, for Yumi, who was being manhandled by Sachiko and one of the Sewing Club girls. She wanted to laugh, but that would probably catch their attention, and she had learned that both Sachiko and Yumi believed turnabout was fair-play. So she did her best to get to the door unobtrusively.
She almost made it to the door. In fact, her hand had touched the knob and was in the process of turning it, when she felt a hand come to rest on her shoulder. She flinched, though she had long ago managed to suppress the instinct to subdue anyone who touched her. She recognized the light but unshakably firm grip. She knew what was coming next and did her best not to let her reluctance show as she turned around.
"…Yes, Yumi-sama?" she asked, facing the girl with a polite, questioning look on her face.
Yumi was smiling, as always. Triela had done her best over the past few weeks to find something sinister or deceptive behind that smile, just in case the girl was somehow involved in the whole Ogasawara business. And for her own sanity. The girl was just…just…so damn honest. It frightened Triela. Yumi was certainly capable of manipulating people (though generally for their own good, as she had discovered…and experienced more often than she really wished to) but she was singularly incapable of lying. And if she ever tried, she'd never fool anyone, because her expressions were just as honest as the rest of her. "Triela-hime, were you planning on nipping in and out of here without even trying on your costume?" she lightly scolded, mischief dancing in her eyes.
Triela, however, was a consummate liar. Without missing a beat, and with her face perfectly composed, she answered, "No, Yumi-sama, I wouldn't dream of doing such an improper thing. But the Drama Club really needs this tape. They are working on the stage set-up for our play, as you know." She really had been hanging out with Touko too much.
Kanako Hosakawa, the third member of Yumi's little group of underclassmen, apparently thought so, too, as the tall girl was doing her best to hide a laugh behind her hand. The rest of the girls in the room took note, and almost as one, centered suspicious (and mildly amused) gazes on Triela. She briefly contemplated just throwing open the door and escaping down the path towards the auditorium, but that action would certainly have consequences. She wasn't sure how much more teasing she could take. They had already discovered that she was ticklish, she didn't need to hand them any more material. That particular incident still brought tears of laughter to Hilshire's eyes every time he heard it.
"Noriko can take the tape," said Ogasawara in a tone that was less of a suggestion and more of an order. She knew that tone, Hilshire used it all the time, "You, however, will stay to be fitted. You've managed to escape most of the fittings so far; today, I will not allow it," she smiled to show that the rebuke was meant kindly.
Not that it mattered much how she meant it, it still meant she hadn't managed to escape. Noriko, Rosa Gigantea's petite soeur, grabbed the tape and was out the door in an eye blink. The rest of the girl's, laughing and giggling the entire time, dragged Triela deeper into the foyer, and much to her great discomfort, attempted to help her get out of her school uniform.
No matter how comfortable she had gotten with the girls, how much she let them touch her despite every instinct saying otherwise, there were some violations of privacy that she couldn't allow. And there were far too many of them, they were crowding her. Too many people far too close, and she could barely defend herself. At the moment, she wasn't even allowed, to defend herself. "I can do it myself! Back off!" she growled, deeper and perhaps more angry than she had wished.
The girls drew back hurriedly, surprised looks on their faces. Except Yumi, who probably out of all of them knew what was acceptable and what wasn't when it came to Triela's personal space. And to be honest, most of the rest of them knew how prickly she could be. They were just being busybodies. But Ogasawara was having none of it; not today for some reason. "You will need help getting into your costume, Triela. Your temper will not help any. You should know that we have nothing but good will towards you."
Triela refused to feel guilty as she undressed in almost sulky silence. Her personal habits and preferences were certainly not Ogasawara's business. Of course, the opposite was certainly not true. Though she wasn't quite sure what this new behavior from her target meant. This was the most confrontational that the girl had been with her since they had met. Perhaps it was nerves. The girl had put a lot of time into this play after all. And Triela had skipped all of the fittings. Quite on purpose, though she wasn't sure if Ogasawara suspected that or not. She was willing to bet she did. The girl was extremely sharp. Not to mention naturally suspicious.
She finished undressing with little fanfare, facing the group the entire time with a scowl on her face and doing her absolute best to keep her back to the wall. She was not embarrassed. Or ashamed. Never. The scars on her back were the proof of her occupation and her dedication. And she was not jealous of the girls' smooth skin. Not in the least. That sort of thing was useless in her profession, after all…At least she was comparable (if not slightly larger) in bust size with most of the girls. Not that that said much in this crowd.
Ogasawara looked her over with a measured eye, and as always, Triela met her look head-on. She had learned that one never gave into the girl if one wanted to have some sense of control of one's life, not even once. If you gave her just that little bit, she'd walk all over you. And she'd do it so damn politely that you would never even notice. Or maybe even thank her for it later. A little bit like Yumi, really, but with more poise and far less kindness. Not that Ogasawara was really paying that much attention to her show of spirit at the moment.
"She's going to need the pants hemmed a little bit," she sighed in irritation, "And it might be a little tight across the chest area. I knew it was a mistake to use your measurements there, Yumi," the girl in question blushed crimson. Yumi was so easily embarrassed by her sister; it was really kind of funny. Though less funny that she seemed to willing to pass it down to her own juniors, "But, we can't really change that at this point. Triela, you'll just have to live with it." She finished with a frown.
"You can tell all that from just looking at me naked, Sachiko-sama?" Triela questioned with a slightly raised eyebrow. She was being remarkably specific.
Ogasawara raised an eyebrow of her own. "Do you doubt my judgment, Triela-hime?"
Triela winced at the nickname. Unlike the rest of the girls, who by this point had begun using the nickname unconsciously, to her extreme irritation, Ogasawara never used it unless she was trying to make a point. And five minutes later, when she was dressed in the whole uncomfortable get-up, she admitted, if only to herself (though the rest of the girls could obviously see it) that Ogasawara had been correct, right down in the slightly uncomfortable tightness in the chest area. However she was willing to forgive her. After all, she was back in a pair of pants. There were ridiculously baggy things meant to be some sort of court attire, but they were pants nonetheless. She was free, if only for a short time, of the accursed skirt!
The girls from the Sewing club took careful measurements, and then backed off, and Triela patiently allowed herself to be mobbed by the student council members, who were going on about how manly and handsome she looked. It wasn't quite the compliment she was looking for. Despite everything else, she was a girl after all. But she knew that if she let them fawn for a few minutes, they would leave her in peace later. She was at least thankful that Yumi had the sense to stay away from the crowd, though she had winked at her a bit. The girl was meddling again, she was sure.
After those few painful moments of far too many people far too inside her personal space she was allowed to undress, and return to her normal clothing with her modesty intact. Including the damned skirt. She almost got away with keeping the pants, but one of the Sewing Club girls caught her before they walked out. It had been a nice try, anyway. Maybe she should just start wearing the tracksuit everywhere. Or claim to have some sort of nasty skin condition. That might get her out of it.
She almost missed hearing Ogasawara's call for her attention as she was grumbling to herself. The girl beckoned her upstairs, and Triela debated for a moment whether just to stick her tongue out at her and make a run for door. Good sense and curiosity, as well as the mission, kept her from doing so. She hadn't talked with Ogasawara alone…since they had met, she realized with a start. There just weren't any opportunities. Anytime she was around Ogasawara, she was generally being dragged somewhere by Yumi with the rest of the underclassmen girls. It wasn't purposeful, she was sure, but it had certainly been effective in keeping her away.
She followed the girl up the stairs to the meeting room upstairs, which was thankfully free of most of the noise from downstairs. Triela was used to the sounds and crowded spaces of Rome, but even after a month, being trapped in a small room with all those girls put her on edge. Ogasawara took a seat at the small table that was the centerpiece of the room, and gestured for her to sit opposite of her, which she did without complaint. "What can I do for you, Sachiko-sama?" she asked, doing her best to take control of the conversation from the outset and not let her irritation show.
Sachiko raised an eyebrow and leaned slightly back in her chair with an expression of mild surprise. "My, my, why would you think that I would need something from you? Can I not just wish to chat with one of the girls that follow my dear little sister so obediently?"
"I do NOT follow obediently," Triela half-heartedly answered, "Yumi-sama does her best to drag me into just about everything. Touko and Kanako, now, they both follow obediently." This was not entirely the truth, and not entirely a lie. She did often follow Yumi. There was something about the girl that, despite her natural wariness and the girl's uncanny ability to get past her barriers, that Triela liked. And Triela was well aware that Ogasawara had hijacked the conversation effortlessly. But she couldn't let that remark stand uncontested. Her pride wouldn't allow it.
Ogasawara giggled a little bit, and like everything else about her, it was refined and controlled. It wasn't fake, forced, or even mean-spirited; it just sounded…purposefully pleasant, she supposed. Something that wouldn't offend anyone who heard it. "I see, I see. But you have managed quite well since you have arrived here, Triela-san. I really would like to express my highest gratitude to you for so whole-heartedly throwing yourself into the preparations. Without you and the rest of Yumi's little…group," Harem was not a word that high class ladies used, apparently, even as a joke, despite the widespread adoption of the term by the rest of the school. "We certainly would not have accomplished nearly as much as we have. I think you've proven yourself a worthy student of Lillian."
Triela blinked, and quickly examined the girl's remarks for hidden messages or meanings, and came to the conclusion that there really weren't any. Ogasawara had a purpose for this meeting, she was more than certain, but she wasn't quite sure what. Maybe it was just to thank her. She had been doing a lot of extra work, completely without any benefit (as far as Ogasawara should know, at least) to herself. Ogasawara was the complete opposite of Yumi. Yumi's thoughts and emotions could be read like a book; Ogasawara's were buried deep behind a passively pleasant face. "No need to thank me, Sachiko-san. I have learned a great deal about the school and made a number of friends here. I'm sure if I hadn't come here, I wouldn't have settled nearly so well so quickly."
Ogasawara smiled, but her tone was serious. "This is true. You've managed to quickly make yourself a part of all our lives. However, have you decided what you are going to do after the festival ends?"
Triela blinked in confusion. "What do you mean, Sachiko-sama?"
Sachiko leaned back in her chair and gave Triela a considering look that put Triela on edge, "As far as I am concerned, your period of self-inflicted servitude to the Yamayurikai will end when the festival does. We've had you do a great deal of work, perhaps a bit unjustly, and I'm sure this wasn't quite what you imagined when you agreed to help us. I will consider your obligation to us as fulfilled."
Well, that was certainly true. She certainly hadn't been prepared for this when she and Hilshire had come up with this method of getting close to the target. "I haven't really minded that much, Sachiko-sama. It's been very enjoyable."
And with something like shock, Triela realized that it had been. Almost since day one, she'd been enjoying herself here. Sure, some things had bothered her, like the constant attention from most of the students and everyone's strange need to touch her and invade her space, but she found herself discounting those as small concerns. Instead she remembered quiet walks with Yumi, arguments with Touko and Kanako, and the strange feeling that she got when all of them together. She got the same sort of feeling with the rest of the girls of SWA. She supposed it was friendship, though she hadn't really considered that term before. It was a little frightening, really. She realized with a twinge of guilt that she was getting far too attached to this place.
She snapped back to reality as she realized that Sachiko was giving her the considering look again. She restrained the urge to look at the clock to see how long she had been distracted. That would only give Ogasawara more of an opening. One the girl could certainly exploit with a skill and finesse that far surpassed Triela's own. She might have a talent for languages, but talking had never been her strong point. That had always been Hilshire's job.
Sachiko's look slowly morphed into a genuine smile. "Yes, it has been fun hasn't it? Everyone has been working and coming together to put on this festival with all their hearts. Which is why I ask you what are your plans for after the festival? Triela, where is your heart leading you?"
"I…I don't understand Sachiko-sama." Triela stammered out. That was a question that was completely out of the blue. Though she had a sinking feeling that she knew where this line of questioning was going.
If anything, the amused look on Ogasawara's face grew. "Am I being unclear? What I'm asking, Triela, is if you are interested in being Yumi's petite soeur?"
Triela gulped and blushed red. "Uh…Err..Ahh…Bwa—wa-wa-What are you asking, Sachiko-sama?"
Ogasawara laughed, and this time it was a completely genuine one. "No need to answer now, Triela. Not that it would do you much good, either. It is, after all, up to my Yumi to decide. However," her face became serious all of a sudden, "I do approve of you, you know. You are a hard worker, and can take and give orders. These are important traits for a Rose. They can be learned with time, but you already seem to possess them. If you chose to go for it, I will support you."
Triela wasn't quite sure what to feel. On one hand, she felt warm all over. It was like if Hilshire praised her for a mission well done, or when one of the other girls and the SWA said something nice about her. She didn't know why, but she had always craved that sort of approval. It was one of the reasons she enjoyed hanging around Yumi. The girl was absolutely open with approval. On the other hand, she was dismayed that it had caused such a huge reaction. This was a mission. She couldn't be involved. She had to concentrate on Ogasawara and finding out her connection to her family business, if it existed at all. She should be able to shrug this sort of thing off, and proceed with a smile.
Her prolonged silence seemed to indicate something to Ogasawara, as she began speaking in a kindly tone. "Don't worry about the others. I've approached them as well. I will say that, honestly, I favor my cousin Touko over both you and Kanako, and not just for family reasons However, all three of you have what it takes to be Yumi's little sister, and to possibly become Rosa Chinesis someday, if you so choose. All three of you are excellent examples of young ladies," she frowned and sighed, "Though, you still have far to go when it comes to walking like a lady. You really are hopeless in that skirt."
"Sachiko-sama!" Triela growled, whatever weakness that had been inspired by her kind words instantly evaporating at the mention of the dreaded skirt. The woman just laughed and shrugged it off. She stood, and Triela reluctantly did so as well, glaring daggers at her the entire time. She wasn't sure now if Ogasawara had been setting her up the entire time or had meant any of it. The woman was far too canny a manipulator and knew Triela far better than Triela knew her.
"Oh, and Triela, you were right, by the way," she winked mischievously, "I do have a favor to ask of you." Sachiko said as they walked out the door and back into the hallway.
"Oh?" Triela replied, still a little off balance.
"Do you mind being a translator for my family during the festival? We have a guest coming in from Italy this weekend, and my parents have invited him to join them when they come to the festival. He generally has a good Japanese translator with him, but I think it would be awkward if he had to come. Not to mention that the translator might miss some of the things that are unique to our school." Ogasawara requested, with perhaps more than a bit of irony, as Triela herself was still far from an expert herself.
Triela's jumbled mind suddenly came into sharp focus. "Certainly, Sachiko-sama. I would be delighted to help. It'll give me a chance to speak Italian again. My Uncle and I have been trying to speak nothing but Japanese, even at home. It would be good practice." She replied smoothly. This could possibly the chance that they were waiting for.
"Excellent. I will relay that to my parents. They will be extremely pleased." Ogasawara said with a smile and a polite nod.
"Oh, and do you mind if my Uncle tags along as well? I think he'd appreciate the chance to speak with someone from home, as well." Triela asked. She had to get him involved if possible. She knew a number of the suspected Padinia agents by sight, but she wasn't perfect, and with Hilshire there the chance of identifying the agent (if it was one, the opposite was a possibility) rose significantly. And after all, she felt better with him at her back anyway.
Ogasawara appeared to consider it for a moment, before nodding slowly. "I don't see a problem with it, but I will have to ask my parents. I don't believe that they would say no," Ogasawara made an uncharacteristically irritated face, "They take every opportunity to meet with my teachers. I'm sure they will approve."
Triela thanked her, then bowed and walked away, feeling for the second time today mildly torn inside. This could be the break that she and Hilshire were looking for, the lead that might possibly break open the case. At the same time, she wasn't sure if she wanted to break the case open. This place was unsettling, but at the same time, it was surprisingly comfortable. She hadn't even been attending that long, but it already felt like she fit; the way she did when she was with the other girls at the SWA. It was unsettling.
But she would do her duty. Hilshire was expecting it of her. He had to know.
Been a while, ne? As always, I claim life gets in the way. The excuse this time? New job. Would have had this out about two weeks ago, if it weren't for that. Still months behind schedule, but considering I started this chapter a month ago, actually a pretty short turn around for a chapter as far as I go.
Anyway, chapter gave me fits. Almost completely scrapped the entire thing and started again from scratch. The mantra for this entire chapter in my head was "Must…get…plot…moving." I wanted to do at least another chapter of Triela's-Magical-Happy-Misadventures-at-school, but I really couldn't come up with a justification to do so in my mind. So a time skip and an info dump. Hopefully the rest of it flows better. Triela is all over the place: happy, sad, sulky, off-balance, focused. I hope she doesn't seem to OC. Sachiko, however, came out essentially as I wanted her to.
Anyway, next chapter will really get the ball rolling as far as the investigation and serious stuff goes. And maybe some more fun with translator errors. Anyway, continuing my cycle, Something to Die For comes next. And don't be surprised if some Haibane Renmei stuff gets up in the next few months. I have too much free time at work, and have been writing stuff there on this ridiculously tiny notepad they gave me.
See ya next chapter!