DISCLAIMER: Mai Otome and its characters are Sunrise property.

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

Our Legacy ch18

Though Shizuru had pouted about Natsuki not being there at first, it stopped the minute Natsuki took off the blind fold. Shizuru looked around the flower filled room to see the new addition. One corner of their room now held a baby crib, a rocking chair, and a set of drawers that did double duty as a changing area. Everything was done up in a violet color scheme and the sight of it all made Shizuru cry.

"Natsuki…" Shizuru couldn't say anymore because the words died in her throat.

Natsuki walked up to her and held Shizuru close until the tears had stopped.

"I know that all of this is too soon considering that we now have plenty of time on our hands. I wanted to do this Shizuru, I wanted to have this done so that no matter what came our way this was all ready," Natsuki said feeling her heart leap as Shizuru nodded her head in understanding, "If we had both been there you might not be able to get me to agree on another child later."

"Natsuki says that to tease me. Unless Natsuki was serious about bearing our second child herself," Shizuru said in her mock tease only to realize that Natsuki's face was unchanged.

"You know I hate the whole doctor side of this, but I was not joking Shizuru," Natsuki said trying to look serious even though this was a joke between them. Natsuki hated her required physicals, so this only amplified those moments. When they were ready Natsuki would concede, but until then Shizuru would have to find ways to make Natsuki more comfortable.

"Natsuki just likes being here, pretending to worry, in order to avoid the teasing," Shizuru replied taking Natsuki's hand in her own, "We will work on that because there will be plenty of visits still to come."

The transport from Aries arrived with very little fanfare and its occupants couldn't be happier for this. All that is, except for the one who wouldn't wake until their true destination: Garderobe.

"See Yukino I told you we should have left her in Aries. Why do I have to carry her anyway?"Haruka asked looking at the sleeping form with the bruised right eye.

"So that maybe next time you will think before you hit her," Yukino said smiling affectionately but not really.

"Maybe so, but Hallard was starting to get really annoying. No one normal can giggle that much," Haruka replied as she fought the urge to drop the woman. This was a distraction from her duties that Haruka did not need.

Yukino knew what Haruka was thinking about and steeled herself against the reminder. Tomoe Marguerite was going to be a thorn in their side as long as she was on the loose. Haruka was very good at her job, but no one could stay materialized forever. Yukino fought back the doubt she was feeling at this moment because her future was at its beginning.

"Did you remember to inform Natsuki of our little problem?" Yukino asked stopping Haruka.

"Of course I told them Yukino. Miss Marguerite is a loose cannon and I would hate to think of what could happen if she set her sights on other targets," Haruka answered as she snapped into attention. Just the mention of this name gave her the chills. Haruka had not forgotten her dream and this situation made her extremely edgy.

"No one knows we are here Haruka as was planned. Unless we have a leak in our security this stop, though scheduled on our manifest, is not scheduled here." Yukino's tone was flat as she replied.

"I will feel better when we are home again safely Yukino. I hope Hallard gets her act together because she has been really sticking her neck out in the line of duty," Haruka said thinking of Chie's last report.

"We all have duties, Haruka. Chie is not afraid to live up to hers," Yukino replied remembering just how far undercover Chie had gone before.

Nao and Midori never tried to put ties or any commitment to their relationship. They were what they were, lost in truth. Midori had too many lives in her hands to try to manage a relationship. Nao was a Column and still just learning what that meant in terms of responsibility. Yes they had needs, but they also learned respect for each other's life as well.

Nao agreed to be there for her if/when needed, but to never try to seek out Midori. Midori had one too many things she had never looked at in her life before. Her feelings had been one of them, the most important one of them in fact. As Leader, Midori was cold and calculating keeping duty above everything else. As Midori, the woman underneath all of her outer mannerisms had a lot of conflicted emotions.

Gal called Midori in secret knowing she was breaking a confidence in doing so. The news had sent Midori into a rage at first, but then made her smile. Reito would most assuredly live on now thanks to Youko. What had enraged Midori was the fact that Youko had not told her personally. After all the years and distance how did Midori earn this? Youko left against Midori's wishes, but it never changed what Midori felt for her.

Midori understood that Youko had done it to help them but, back then she was young and selfish. Youko had never openly expressed love for her other than as her friend. Why then was she choosing to do this now? Nao's image came to Midori and the woman wanted to smile, but she knew this was too complicated to deal with.

The woman waited and watched her prey from the warehouse shadows. These men though ex-Cardair military were fools. If she wasn't careful they could bring her down with them. From the sounds, they were growing impatient now.

"Keep your heads boys, I am here." Tomoe said sternly as she approached them.

"You took your sweet time woman. We had agreed to meet ten minutes ago," the older man said impatiently.

"Neither of you fools bothered to make sure this place was actually safe, so I did. Is the package safe in that briefcase?" Tomoe asked thinking of the virus not for the first time.

"Safer than when we stole it. This virus has to be ingested from what we learned, it is otherwise safe. The fools never bothered to run a check against our credentials when we approached them. Where is the money you promised in return?" the younger man asked his face was very open. Tomoe read his intent easily and shot the young man before he could do the same to her.

The older man never reached for his gun because he trusted the young man to keep them both safe. As his body hit the floor with a sickening squelch, the old man made for his weapon only too late. Tomoe planted a bullet in him just as fast, without word or remorse. Neither body would ever be completely found nor would they ever be identified. Tomoe had made sure of that when she asked them to meet her at this old smelting plant now warehouse. There were many ways to cover her tracks here and she utilized most of the chemical ones to her advantage. Her intentions would be safe for a little while longer.

Mashiro wasn't sure when it all changed, but she knew that her feelings for Arika were not in vain. They had been learning to love one another very slowly because they both feared the consequences of consummating a relationship. At first they tried to keep up their images of indifference, but Aoi had been too quick not to catch on.

Aoi was on her way to Garderobe as Mashiro sat in a bath with Arika. They were sitting at opposite ends of the tub, both lost in contemplation. Mashiro was worried about losing Aoi's services to a life with Chie Hallard. Arika, on the other hand, was wondering just what that most intimate moment would feel like. They were kissing and touching whenever they shared a bed, but they still had not gone all the way. There was no more blushing between them whenever they were in each other's arms happy. Arika thought just now of how close they had been when the call came from Garderobe.

"Stupid phone, we just might have…" Arika never finished saying to herself as she noticed Mashiro was so close.

"Arika, are you growing weary of our time together?" Mashiro asked leaning against Arika's much more endowed bosom.

"Never Mashiro… but I can't help but want to go that one step further. I know we need to take this slowly, but it only becomes harder every time you are in my arms like this," Arika said pulling the Queen closer and running her hand down her hair, "How much more is there to learn that we have not already discussed or explored."

"I am afraid of a lot of things Arika and I don't want to keep discussing them. We are not Yukino and Haruka; we still have so much to do here. The people love you, but their love of me is only a respectful one for my position, is it selfish to want it out of like and not duty?" Mashiro asked not looking up at Arika. Every time she did her resolve would slowly crumble.

"Our relationship does not need the Windbloom seal of approval Mashiro. I need you; you need me it is plain and simple. You shouldn't try to over complicate it so much," Arika replied tilting the Queen's head to face her own. Those beautiful eyes took her breath away every time they smiled. Mashiro felt that wall coming down again as Arika kissed her gently but deeply.

Mashiro gave in before pushing away and splashing water at Arika, "I have to my love because you seem to oversimplify them. Well Granny always told me…Granny never got this far and she is not getting in your head, if you truly desire to share my bed."

Arika took no offense in this statement because it was true and had recently become a laughing moment for them.

"No one else will get into your bed so long as I am your Otome. I will protect Mashiro's virginity with my life," Arika said laughing as she returned the splash.

"That is not funny considering how badly you want it for yourself dear," Mashiro replied as she tried to exit the tub.

"That is the main reason why I will protect it!" Arika said chasing Mashiro out of the tub. The klutz in Arika appeared only briefly as she slipped on the floor sliding across it to block Mashiro's escape. Too bad she hadn't planned that one because it looked so cool.

Miss Maria heard the announcement clearly as she watched the girls all leaving their classes. Natsuki had done as promised reprimanding the girls for their behavior and stated her obvious punishment choice. Anyone caught in need of further punishment would be cleaning the old library for a week. This was all well and good making Miss Maria smile as she knew that her little lesson was still fair game. Shizuru was the one however who made the actual announcement.