DISCLAIMER: Mai Otome and its characters are Sunrise property.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'm not going to get into the long winded and boring explanation of parthenogenesis.
Our Legacy ch5
With two weeks now passed, Youko and friends have been extremely busy driving themselves into many long nights going over facts, practical application, subjects to test, and of course anonymity. Youko kept reminding them of test subject availability and stressing to them the need to move into the testing phase. Moira approved the move citing that the nanomachines should not interfere with anything they were going to try. It was Drue who kept them in discussion, because of her need to cover every base. This technology was to be beneficial to everyone and so far she could only see the help it would grant to the Otome.
"I'm not trying to be unfair here, but we need to look into other applications as well Youko. There is a reason why no one else would agree to your terms," Drue said papers held tightly in her hand.
"Back down your tone and attitude love, we agreed and we are guests still," Moira said in a flat voice looking to keep her lover in check.
"I know how you feel Drue, but there are few sources out there trust worthy enough to not use this for some particularly nasty uses also. You are the lab tech with the most experience in disease and viral breakdown. I'm not asking you to play baby-maker here, I want to give you real source material to work with not just papers from people from an era long since deceased," Youko said standing up getting ready to leave.
"Youko calm down and sit, please. Drue is just playing devil's advocate as usual. You know we both have more than one field in which we specialize, yourself included. Besides that, we all have a vested interest in some different aspect of the possible applications. Did you think about our personal interests?" Moira asked taking Youko's hand.
Youko looked down at Moira and sat mentally kicking herself forgetting why these women originally wanted to help infertile couples. Both women had personal experience with either sterility or hereditary disease. These were not just colleagues, like most of the others, these women were good friends.
"I'm truly sorry, Moira. This is just frustrating for me and Drue just makes a really good advocate. I have been blinded by my own personal interests, forgetting that you and Drue have been searching for these answers since the two of you became serious in your relationship," Youko said apologetically.
"My mother died at a very young age, Youko, and that same disease lies dormant in me. I think it is a cruel fact that some of the diseases out there can strip a woman of the one thing she does not fear losing until it is gone. Moira is not the only woman at this table who is sterile. I am also, though Moira will argue it is by choice. I cannot bear to pass this to someone else, dormant or not, or even take the chance and die before reaching term," Drue said dropping the papers feeling drained and defeated. Moira reached for her hand, but Drue pulled away and actually left. Moira did not get up to follow her because this was nothing new for them.
"It was ovarian cancer, Youko. Her mother was pregnant at the time and could not bring herself to abort the child to receive treatment. Both mother and fetus died in her seventh month, Drue was only twelve years old at the time. Unfortunately, Drue's chances are very high of it taking her as well and they only get higher or should I say riskier when you factor in a pregnancy," Moira said collecting the papers Drue dropped, not looking at Youko.
"I knew part of it, just not that part, Moira. Will she be okay?" Youko asked.
"We both will, if we can help others. Hell, I never had the choice thanks to that damn skiing accident. I was lucky enough to come away with everything still intact except my uterus. The pain still reaches across the many years to remind me that this was why I am who I am," Moira said looking at Youko with a sad smile, "Shall we go for a walk or maybe a bit to eat, Drue won't be ready to talk anymore today anyway?"
"I think a long walk away from all of this will do me some good," Youko agreed heading out with the older woman.
Mai had left the mountain as Mikoto had asked her to and returned the next day. Her defenses had been shattered into many little pieces as she realized that no matter her circumstance, Mikoto was home to her. Though the GEM ties Otome to Master, this was not what made her feel drawn to the woman. It had been something called Fate or so she concluded, as everywhere she went Mikoto was all she could think of or want to be with. The longer and further away Mai got all she could think of was sharing so many places with Mikoto.
That next day when she got home, Mai went to bed and slept knowing that Mikoto's patience would hold out. She woke to those amber eyes, kissed their owner, and then proceeded to cry. Mikoto felt the last of Mai's fight leave her and held her close until she could stop crying. Even if Mai had come back to her with a different conclusion, Mikoto would have held onto to her if only in her own heart. When they did finally share their bodies, Mai gave every last piece of her soul willingly.
Right now Mai watched Mikoto, just playing with the cats, and wondered if they would ever become bored with their exploration of each other's limits. Every time they loved each other it was slow and gentle not forceful, with each allowing the other to control when the desire so consumed them. Mikoto looked at her and smiled coming over to kiss her. Mai felt everything stop as that simple moment stole all thought of their surroundings.
"Are you hungry yet, Mikoto?" Mai asked knowing the bottomless pit of her new lover's stomach.
"For Mai I am… but we will wait for tonight. Ramen for now… please?" Mikoto asked with sincerity.
Natsuki laid reading papers on her couch, her head in Shizuru's lap, with her mind running through all the different replies she would make. Shizuru's hand ran through her hair stroking her gently. They had found out that Natsuki would have fewer headaches this way and finally did not care if anyone else approved. There were few who would enter the office without knocking and amongst those who did, only Nao would give them any disapproval though not often vocally as she preferred to stay on Shizuru's good side. Natsuki's jacket was never present during these moments because Natsuki enjoyed so many of their spontaneous sessions.
Eventually Nao would either learn to knock or she would send a student in her place with a message. Twice Nao had walked in to find robes scattered everywhere, before looking at the couple in all their glory, not caring of her presence. Both times, Nao walked out citing how she would be scarred for life or go blind.
Nao was starting to believe that just maybe she should become a voyeur, as she had also once ran into Miss Maria and Yukariko in the halls between their rooms, not caring who would come along. For this, Nao was actually pretty glad to see because the older woman was so hot in her materialized state. Nao had to mentally kick herself every time she thought of this though, because the Otome was old enough to be her grandmother. All it took was the image of her grandmother in Otome robes, playing kissy face with anyone, to clear Nao's head and turn her stomach.
As Shizuru stroked Natsuki's hair, she tried to think of just how to tell Natsuki what she had been present for last night, during her check on Irina Woods. Irina was watching over the system while Youko was busy with the doctors. The young girl was glad to see Shizuru that night for she was bored when the woman came upon her from out of nowhere.
"I guess you let your guard down in here, because you get bored too easily," Shizuru said whispering into the Pearl's ear just to watch her blush as deeply as Natsuki would become when embarrassed.
"You could say that. Please do not scare me like that too often though, because I would like to become a full Meister some day. A call from Sarah Gallagher came through to say she was coming home, but nothing else," Irina said looking up at the mischievous woman.
"Irina Woods, grant me authorization through the system," Miss Maria's voice suddenly came through the intercom.
"Is there some trouble Miss Maria? Should I send help?" Irina asked looking confused at Shizuru, who seemed at a loss herself. Shizuru thought she could hear something off in Miss Maria's voice, until she heard a soft sigh in the background.
"Not unless you force me to come down there to speak with you, child," Miss Maria said with slight growl to it.
"Irina, I will grant her the authorization. Please, step aside for a moment," Shizuru said knowing exactly what was going on.
Irina stood and moved aside for the Third Column. Shizuru smiled as she replied over the mike," Authorization granted Miss Maria, have a beautiful evening."
"Oh Blessed Lady…Good evening to you also, Miss Viola, and thank you," Miss Maria said as she realized it was no longer Irina. There was a quick 'MATERIALIZE' before the channel cut out.
"That woman will never cease to amaze me. If that ever happens again, just play along with her, Irina. You have my permission okay. Do your best to keep that channel closed tonight dear or we will both never hear the end of it," Shizuru said leaving the young girl with a smile and a wink.
Shizuru tugged lightly on Natsuki's hair as she was nearing the end of the page she was now reading. The thought was just too good to keep to just herself any longer.
"Natsuki has heard certain rumors of recent concerning Miss Maria, no?" Shizuru asked looking into green eyes blinking at her.
"Yes, though there are always rumors around here Shizuru. How true could they be, I mean, Miss Maria is the epitome of good Otome behavior?" Natsuki said having another of her momentary flashes of Maria materialized.
"Poor Irina found out last night while I was checking in on her. She was enamored and asked for authorization which I gladly granted. Natsuki should learn to better control her blushes though, as they tell me you are thinking of someone materialized," Shizuru said thinking how cute Natsuki looked as she went from pink to crimson. Well she admitted the woman was definitely striking in her youthful form.
"Don't tease Shizuru that isn't fair or funny. That damned GEM… Wait a minute you granted the authorization. You are truly one devious woman," Natsuki said blush clearing to be replaced by fire.
"This is one of the reasons Natsuki loves me, no," Shizuru asked as Natsuki sat up to face her and unbutton her uniform top.
"Yes so go lock the door," Natsuki said as she kissed Shizuru's bared shoulder.
"Natsuki must stop if she wants the door to be locked," Shizuru replied biting her lip.
"To Hell with it…"
Sarah Gallagher was ready to return to Garderobe and rest in her own quarters for a change. Along with Maya Blythe, Sarah spent more time on the road doing work for Garderobe in other countries. She was ready to go home finally. Annam was a lovely place, but she was growing weary of the road right now. Ahn Lu had been very good to be around, but Sarah had to leave rather soon.
"Alcohol and that woman do not mix, no matter how beautiful she is without her robe," Sarah said as she left the sleeping woman's company. The stories she had heard over the years had proved to be true and Sarah wondered to herself why anyone allowed her near alcohol at all.
"I should tell her I am leaving," Sarah thought as she turned and went back to the room.
It never occurred to her that Ahn didn't need the alcohol to loosen her up, though it definitely sped up the process. Upon entering the room, Sarah noticed that the covers were now off the woman's body. As Sarah reached to pull them back over her form, the gorgeous nymph turned to look at her.
"You naughty girl, you were going to leave weren't you," Ahn asked sitting up, covers be damned.
"I need to go home for awhile. I… you… this…" Sarah's mind started to shut down as the woman pulled her to the bed and started to quickly disrobe her.
"You may leave after you finish what you started darling," Ahn said giving Sarah no chance to escape or a chance to fight her off.
Sarah really was going to go home, but it could wait for she was responsible for this. Ahn took every moment to work this woman past coherent thought, delightfully enjoying the loss of control. Sarah had to admit the stories only told half of the truth and she secretly enjoyed this way too much. Both were proper Otome to the public face, but as anyone knew that left some serious loopholes in private or Otome only company.
Garderobe could wait another day…