DISCLAIMER: Mai Otome and its characters are Sunrise property. Soon enough I will be adding some 'new' life.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Read, review, and enjoy.

Our Legacy ch9

When Shizuru woke later that day, she was surprised to see Ahn's face. Sarah was sitting out in the office drinking tea having just left the room. Ahn smiled at Shizuru though she did not press her immediate question. Shizuru smiled weakly as she sat up and noticed the time of day.

"Though I am happy to see you, why are you here Ahn?" Shizuru asked as she walked away from the bed.

"Because you needed someone to be and Natsuki needed to do some work? Are you feeling in a talkative mood?" Ahn asked getting up and straightening out her clothes. Ahn was not in her Otome attire because she and Sarah had made plans for other activities.

"Forgive me Ahn, but not right now. I need to talk to Haruka," Shizuru said just before she opened the door to Natsuki's office.

"We all had dreams last night Shizuru. Haruka might not want to see you just yet as she has been rather foul," Ahn said moving alongside Shizuru.

"Lovely, well then maybe I shall just have to appeal to her better nature," Shizuru said quickly exiting both rooms. Luckily Natsuki was not in her office because Shizuru couldn't deal.

Sarah said hello as Shizuru made her quick exit and then gave Ahn a curious look. Ahn just shook her head and joined Sarah on the couch. Ahn took the younger woman's face into her hands for a deep kiss. After a moment to think, Ahn and Sarah quickly left the room heading for the First Column's quarters.

Nina spent most of her day on the mountain with Mai. There wasn't much talk because both could only ponder what Mikoto meant by consequences. They both had decent dreams last night, though Nina thought nothing of it. Mai had not pushed the younger girl as Mikoto asked because she still hadn't processed everything she had been told.

While they sat together drinking tea in quiet contemplation, Mai felt a sense of unease coming from the younger girl. Mai wanted to help soothe this girl's nerves but she had no words. When Mai looked at Nina she was just sitting there staring into her tea cup.

"Are you looking for answers?" Mai asked.

"If only they could be found in the bottom of this cup? Erstin is still here of her own free will, but I am feeling like she …" Nina couldn't finish her words just floated away.

"Mikoto says she can help you and I believe in that. If we live and die for our loves then I think that connection reaches across everything," Mai said trying to frame her words properly, "When Mikoto looks at me sometimes I swear she sees straight into my soul."

"My feelings for Erstin were never something I could understand. I loved Sergay for saving me from my life as it was and saw nothing else. Not until it was too late and all I had was a letter and some memories," Nina said trying to get some perspective.

"Sometimes it takes losing everything to make you finally open your eyes to what is in front of you. I learned that here being with Mikoto and feeling a bond to her that went beyond this GEM," Mai said touching her ruby earring.

Just before Nina could reply Miyu came upon them.

"Mai Tokiha, where is Mikoto?" Miyu asked forwardly.

"Mikoto is down in Windbloom in the ruins of the park. Is something wrong Miyu?" Mai asked not expecting to get a good answer.

"Not anything to be worried about. Good day to you both," Miyu said as she disappeared faster than she had arrived.

"Can she lie?" Nina asked remembering that Miyu was not a human, but of superior human intelligence.

"Not that I know of…Miyu is as old as Mikoto so I am really not sure. Neither one of them gives a second thought to speaking the truth so I believe her," Mai told Nina.

"I think I will return to Garderobe now. I am feeling tired and I have no permission to be out late," Nina said looking toward the path.

"How about I walk you back? Miyu and Mikoto keep their own time. Besides if she's hungry and I am not here Mikoto will just sleep until I get back," Mai said heading toward the path with Nina.

"Does it get any easier?" Nina asked Mai as they headed into the city.

"Does what get any easier?" Mai asked Nina already knowing her response.

"Love…" Nina replied as she held onto the note in her pocket.

Most people kept quiet as Shizuru walked by because the usually genial woman bore a distinct look of aggression. On her way to find Haruka, Shizuru clearly wanted no interruptions. As she turned down another hallway, more faces just nodded in hello and kept their distance. Shizuru was nearing the room Haruka and Yukino were sharing when she heard yelling.

"Whatever, Armitage, just take your attitude back into your Master's embrace and get stuffed!" Nao was clearly trying to get away when Shizuru rounded the corner further up the hall from them.

"How's about I beat your ass all the way to the museum and back delinquent. Column or no Column…" Haruka said charging Nao who quickly turned and bolted down the hall seeing Shizuru. Nao thought not to correct her on the mausoleum comment.

"Ooh just great…why do I always get myself in these situations?" Nao asked no one in particular as she noticed that Shizuru seemed to be in no mood to be friendly either.

Nao put her head down and tried to run as fast as her feet would carry her. Nao was not fast enough because Haruka caught the back collar of her robe and brought her down to the floor hard. Just before Haruka could punch Nao though, Shizuru grabbed her arm and threw her back from the young Column.

"That is not wise, Haruka dear. Nao may not be the one you should focus that rage on. You have always wanted a deciding battle between us, no. Let us take a walk and find out just how that turns out?" Shizuru asked.

On the floor, Nao looked up at Shizuru, not believing she would owe this woman. It would be worth it, like it or not, because the beating would definitely have been worse. Nao stayed where she was on the floor as the two women stalked by her in the other direction. 'Next time Hallard can climb off her girlfriend and deliver her own message,' Nao thought as she got up sorely and straightened out her robe.

"I hope Viola takes her head off. What has gotten into them?"

Outside Yukariko had just decided to head towards her own quarters. She noticed Shizuru and Haruka both storming the grounds towards the track field. After Haruka's earlier run in with Maria, Yukariko thought that this was a bad idea. Yukariko looked around to see if anyone else was following and decided that she should just in case.

Though they looked ready to tear up the grounds, neither woman stopped walking. Yukariko was out of hearing range deciding it was safer than trying to tame these two alone. She would watch yes, but she would not interfere unless absolutely necessary. Maria told her earlier that this might happen, but she could not believe it even now.

"I should kick your tea drinking ass for interfering back there with the kid. She's got no respect for piracy," Haruka said still angry though not looking at Shizuru beside her.

"Don't make me play this game, Haruka. Nao may have no tact, but privacy is something she understands better than you may think," Shizuru replied holding her voice in an even tone.

"Why are we really out here then Shizuru? I am not really feeling charitable, in case you hadn't noticed," Haruka said still just walking along in a huff.

"You and I need to discuss that dream last night. I know you had it too, so don't try to play dumb blonde with me… old friend," Shizuru said as she stopped. Haruka had moved on ahead a few steps and Shizuru grabbed her wrist.

"Let go Shizuru, please…" Haruka had stiffened at Shizuru's words but didn't look at her.

"I will not. You are going to talk to me dammit or I will beat your ass all the way to the Founder and back. We are not kids anymore, Haruka," Shizuru said moving to face the blonde directly.

There were tears starting to fall down Haruka's cheeks as Shizuru looked at her. This was not what she wanted, but more than she expected. Not caring if anyone saw them Shizuru grabbed Haruka in a tight hug and held her until the tears stopped. Shizuru herself was already passed this point and no longer exhausted from it.

Just out of their line of sight, Yukariko stopped and watched from the safety of a tree. Once she realized that Maria had been right about them, Yukariko decided to head back. If they could help each other, she could at the very least leave them alone.

Once Haruka stopped crying enough to care about where she was, Haruka pushed away from Shizuru. Their closeness unnerved her because it had allowed her that momentary weakness. Shizuru knew that Haruka was trying to keep her strength of will and allowed her the space.

"I can't go through with this, Shizuru. If I …if that dream was true, I can't think of having children with Yukino. It would be better if you were angry and could strike me down now. I know you won't, you said as much already, but it would be better if you could," Haruka said running her hand through her hair.

"Who is to say that the dream is a true representation of our future, Haruka? We do not have to believe such things to be prophetic," Shizuru replied crossing her arms in a relaxed way.

"What were they then, Shizuru, because we shared that one? Everyone else had dreams too, but none of them shared theirs with another person in the way we did. If…" Haruka could feel her anger rising with her words and tried to bite them back.

"You need to go talk to Yukino about this. You and I are not the real focus of this dream. For my part, I will tell Natsuki later tonight, but you…You should seek comfort from Yukino as she is truly the only person who can," Shizuru said taking a step toward Haruka.

"She is my soul mate…Am I really that much of a fool? I made her angry with me earlier when I got under Miss Maria's skin," Haruka said allowing Shizuru to hug her again. This one was short, but a friends comfort.

"Please tell me you did not use that gesture again?" Shizuru asked with a small laugh.

"That and I told her I would give her a new hole for Yukariko to explore…" Haruka said with a wink and now both were laughing.

"That is one unnerving relationship. I hope to be as lustful with Natsuki in our later years but…" Shizuru said looking wide eyed at Haruka who clearly understood.

"She can still hit like Hell, even now. If she's like that with…oh forget I even just…ugghh," Haruka said trying to shake off the image in her head.

They started walking back to the dormitories laughing and taking their time. Haruka felt her whole body shake as the image wouldn't let go.

"Ara, is Haruka imagining our former teacher materialized? They must like to play that way, because I have seen her more than once coming from Yukariko's room in that state. She was really attractive when she was younger…" Shizuru said giving them both a momentary pause.

"That doesn't help because then Yukariko just seems too old for her instead…" Haruka said running a hand through her hair again causing them to laugh again also.

When in mixed company again they would return to their normal…usual roles playing off of each other like two old cards. They had been at it for so long, both women easily read the others intentions perfectly. Neither Shizuru nor Haruka would trade their playful banter for the easy peace, because it was too much fun to watch the reactions. Their secret little jokes to the world around them because they truly were two sides of the same coin.

Youko was sitting alone in the gazebo just watching the day pass. She would not allow her dream to come to pass. Youko knew that their decision to proceed forward with testing would not be easy, but it was to be their legacy. The future generations would look back and judge hopefully with broad minds.

Seeing Midori alone in that dream only shook her to her core. Youko was a woman of science so this was not going to stop her. Youko took courage from Midori's strength and vowed not to allow this dream to pass as she had seen. Not feeling too much better, but resigned to her truer nature, Youko headed back to her work area deciding to give Irina a new lesson as her apprentice.

There was no one in sight as Youko came down the stairs. Voices were carrying to her, but they were incoherent. Finally Youko found a group gathered around a med bed. Natsuki was standing with her arms crossed listening a tension headache fully recognizable in her features. Irina was tending to whoever it was Youko could not see yet. Drue and Moira were explaining things that Youko would probably have to explain in layman's terms later.

"Dear God no…" was all Youko could say upon seeing the person on the bed. Her dream was taking shape with every breath and now she had to fight herself not to run away screaming.