DISCLAIMER: Mai Otome and its characters are Sunrise property. Sunrise had great taste picking this continuing series.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Read, enjoy, review...
Our Legacy ch20
Arika was lying in bed not looking at her Queen and partner, thinking of another Otome. Mashiro had sent the girl away with all intentions of calling her home sooner. Arika had the feeling that Mashiro was keeping something from her, but wouldn't upset the delicate balance of their relationship by pushing the subject. Mashiro had not only become her lover, but Mashiro now shared some interesting new things with Arika through their connection that Arika really could have done without.
"You know it really isn't fair to have me materialize every time you want to share some uncomfortable feeling with me," Arika said turning to face Mashiro.
'Okay when did her breasts' get bigger,' Arika thought as Mashiro leaned in closer to take a kiss?
"You are my Otome and we do share everything else. Do you want me to stop sharing other things with you as well?" Mashiro asked before she stole another kiss and Arika's resolve.
"You are unfair my love. I think each time you do something like that I will retire to my own quarters for the night," Arika said hoping for the best.
"Touché love but you'd miss out a lot more than I would. The whole screaming orgasm thing keeps you right where you are," Mashiro said back still turned to Arika.
Arika's face scrunched as she realized the truth in Mashiro's words. Her best defense was to agree and follow Mashiro's lead.
"That may be true but a night or two without you screaming in my ear, trying to rip my head off with your thighs wouldn't hurt me as much as you. You just are too stubborn to admit it," Arika said as she traced Mashiro's back ever so lightly waiting for the reply.
Mashiro sighed as goose bumps covered her naked form. These bumps became Arika's favorite sign that this young beauty was hers. Mashiro refused to answer so Arika used kisses instead of her fingers. Now Mashiro was starting to lose her composure as she grabbed a handful of bed sheet in each hand.
"Arika don't you dare…" Mashiro whispered just as Arika started to move in closer.
All it took was one more kiss and Mashiro would concede to anything Arika wanted. Arika swept Mashiro into her arms and turned her over into a kiss that reconfigured every last impulse from fight mode to sex mode. Now she would be a willing captive to Arika's advances.
"Call Nina home Mashiro. If you love me and want me to continue, promise me," Arika said as she kissed her way down Mashiro's stomach.
"Promise…next time just ask. Oh god Arika don't you know we have…oh fuck it," Mashiro's brain fogged over and was too lost in Arika's light kisses to her inner thigh, to give a damn about anything else.
Erstin was glad to have her second new GEM now and couldn't wait to try it out. Earlier that day she received an unmarked letter from Nina. Nina couldn't say where she was or what she was doing, but reminded Erstin of her love. Erstin had read the letter twice over because Nina had written some very explicit things to her. It had been so very long since the last time they had touched that Erstin felt her body screaming for a release she knew only Nina could give her.
While rereading the simple half of the letter, Erstin thought of what happened when her GEM had cracked. All she had done was what Yukariko had asked, nothing special again. Miss Maria mentioned that this time it was like watching Natsuki short fuse from a Viola kiss when they were much younger. This had Natsuki a deep red in blush mode and Erstin not far behind thinking of how Nina's kiss did the same to her.
Youko said the GEM had been reset to her original alignment, but that Erstin herself must have become a much stronger and willful person. This was the only thing that made any sense to them. Erstin did feel stronger, but that was usually only when she was with Nina. 'Love overpowering a GEM,' Erstin laughed at this thought, 'Kind of more like absence of such love. Please come home soon.'
Miya could not believe she was still stuck in such a twisted prison with this person. Tomoe never changed; she had only become more manipulative as their time passed. Recently Tomoe had started talking to her about children and this scared her absolutely. Miya wanted to get out so badly that her mind burned over scenarios even though she knew the price of such attempts.
The only time she actually tried to leave Tomoe beat her unconscious, took her roughly sexually, and then beat her again. That had been enough to drown out the thoughts of desperation at first. They were back again as Tomoe lay in bed next to her breathing softly. This woman was her tormentor in so many ways that Miya could only think of hurting her somehow.
"Try it if you think you have the strength love." Tomoe said not looking at her.
"You know I would have already killed you, if I could have. Why do you keep me here if you know this?" Miya asked as she got up to go to the bathroom.
"The door is open Miya, go ahead and leave. I will stay right where I am. Go on leave…" Tomoe said watching the woman try to decide. Tomoe was stoic as she watched the internal conflict.
"You are a prisoner by choice Miya. The room was locked because I didn't want you to leave. Now that I keep it unlocked, you can't make the decision willingly to leave. You say I have damned you since Garderobe, but you played your part freely and willingly, just like now," Tomoe got up and grabbed her suddenly and violently pulled her into the bathroom.
"The sins we share love cannot be washed away simply because we stand under the water and wish them away," Tomoe said turning on the shower pulling her in.
"What would you know about absolution, Tomoe Marguerite? You have always been so wicked and unafraid of a true wrath," Miya said as Tomoe just stood there staring at her calmly.
"Blood calls to blood darling. I called out to you and you came to me. You stay with some high minded notion of God's absolution. Playing the martyr here with me is not going to work," Tomoe's wicked grin was making its appearance as the girl grabbed her and tried to pull her into a kiss.
"That's right darling you are as twisted as you think I am. The mirror I reflect is your own hate of all you long for in your heart. If this wasn't so you wouldn't scream for my touch, but because of even the slightest. You wrap your legs around me thinking me a demon and yet you explode so willingly when we lay together. Still you know the door is unlocked and here you are trying to have me take you here in the shower," Tomoe was pulling out every last evil thought and deed.
Miya cocked back and punched Tomoe as hard as she could. Tomoe felt the rage in that hit and replied with one of her own knocking the other girl out of the shower. This was becoming very tiresome and Tomoe was starting to think that just maybe she was wrong about this girl. Miya got up and walked into the other room with Tomoe not far behind. This time she jumped on Tomoe and pulled her to the floor hitting her repeatedly, crying as she did. Tomoe felt everything building up and she knew this time she would not be able to stop herself. All Miya had to do that day was walk out the door… instead she choose to die.
Shizuru sat on the couch looking over the daily reports thinking of how tiring they were. Well ok she was the tired one, but at seven months pregnant she was starting to get tired a lot. Shizuru looked really good for seven months, but in truth it was wearing her down. Their baby would choose to roll when all Shizuru wanted was to sleep, their daughter was a fighter.
Natsuki was sitting at her desk thinking of just how beautiful Shizuru looked when she noticed that Shizuru had in fact fallen asleep. Natsuki stood up, materialized, and carried Shizuru to their quarters. Natsuki laid Shizuru amongst the sea of stuffed animals on their bed and chuckled softly. Shizuru had told her a month back to stop with the stuffed bears, dogs, bunnies, cats, and even the snakes, but Natsuki didn't quite get it until now.
"Okay I'll stop but now what?" Natsuki asked herself as she dropped her materialization.
The baby's half of the room was more than well stocked also, so Natsuki was at a loss of what to give Shizuru. Yes most of the gifts were for the baby, but Natsuki just couldn't separate them because their child was still in her mother growing strong.
Natsuki went back to her desk pulled out a pen and paper starting to write as she thought of Shizuru before the baby. By the time Natsuki was done it was three pages long and Natsuki herself was tired. She went into the room and laid the note on her pillow for when Shizuru woke. Natsuki then went to the couch in her office and prayed that she would be able to get at least an hour's rest before something happened that needed her attention.
Chie had been waiting for Aoi's usual call when she was summoned to Yukino's personal quarters by the President herself. Chie didn't want to miss the call, but duty called and Chie always answered such calls, like any good soldier.
"Well Captain Hallard, I would like to thank you first for being so prompt. Secondly, I was wondering how good your ambassador relations skills were," Yukino said smiling at the young Otome.
This was quite a sight for Chie because her president was rather large with child. Haruka was actually rubbing Yukino's feet as she talked and right now Chie had to admit she wanted to do this for Aoi. Share these moments with her.
"If you mean my skills as an Ambassador, Madame President that would be new waters for me? I can walk the walk and talk the talk, but I have never really had the opportunity to do so. If you mean as an Adjunct to one, this would also be new territory?" Chie replied in question clearly confused.
"Captain Hallard, what I meant was how your greeting skills were. We have a new Ambassador arriving shortly and as you can see I am indisposed. The Ambassador was already forewarned of my need for rest, but would like to retire at the Embassy tonight rather than wait," Yukino told her younger Otome.
"If duty calls Madame President than I shall do as needed," Chie answered heart in her throat knowing that she had just missed Aoi's nightly call.
"Then it is settled. Behave tonight Captain Hallard, as I have been informed that this Ambassador is a very striking beauty of unequal," Yukino said as she dismissed the young captain.
The moment the door closed Haruka looked at Yukino and smiled, "I never realized you could be so devious."
"I am pregnant and still President of this country love. I can be many things," Yukino smiled as she motioned Haruka closer for a kiss.
Nao was watching Midori sleep again as had become usual for them, but this was a new feeling once again for her. Midori told her last night just who's child it was that Youko was actually carrying. Nao took the news at first like a rocket was set off in her head. Secondly she decked the red head for not telling her sooner. Third she apologized as Midori threatened to remove both of her hands after breaking the arm she held in a vise.
Nao never hide anything from Midori since they started this awkward relationship and now felt betrayed. Midori was not looking for a fight earlier, but got one anyway. It had never truthfully occurred to Midori that Nao would want to know. Midori had been aggravated by an argument with a hysterical Youko and the truth just came out.
"So you have feelings for her Midori?" Nao asked the woman's back, not really wanting her to answer.
"If I had not been on the path I live I would have. The truth is Nao, I would pull down the heavens' just to have her look at me the way you do," Midori answered though not to Nao's face.
"If that's true then why do you come to me? Why don't you tell her the truth Midori?" Nao asked fearing the answer this woman would give to her.
Midori rolled over now and reached out for Nao's hand. The younger woman willingly took Midori's hand and kissed it. The truth for them was right there in that one simple gesture.
"She once had a place with me, but that is no longer where either of us wants to be. You look at me, Nao, and see someone to lo…" Midori should have known by now not to use this word.
"Midori do not say that word to me. Do not lay there and even think of the word," Nao said holding Midori's hand trying to muscle the woman now.
"Screw you Juliet Nao Zhang, because I know in your hard little heart that you love me. All Youko sees in me is poor Midori stuck at seventeen, because the goddamned nanomachines are always on," Midori said as she grabbed Nao and pulled her back onto the bed beside her.
"Youko did this for Reito, and for me, of her own free will. She only told me because she was forced to by Gal and Irina. I did love her that way once, Nao, but we were both actually seventeen at the time. As you can tell from looking at Youko we are no longer that age, though I look no different," Midori said holding Nao so tightly trying to keep her pinned down.
"I don't care about that Midori. I never have, you make me happy when all I want to do is brood. You share your body with me when the spirit moves you," Nao said pulling Midori down for a kiss that started playfully enough on her lips.
No their conversation was not over, but their interest lay in each other's body right now. Nao relished the feelings she received from Midori and wondered if she would ever say the words that Midori had only recently been able to admit.
Midori's face was lost in Nao's bosom, but oh yes those words were very clear, "I love you too Juliet Nao Zhang. Neither heaven nor earth on all of Earl will keep me from you."
Chie stood on the platform in her formal best unmoving. The skirt of her dress uniform was unforgiving of the night's chill. Chie thought of requesting uniform pants once again as another breeze caressed her lower extremities. Her posture had been rigid from the moment the transport caught her sight about ten minutes ago.
Chie's body had been still, but her mind was damning her and this Ambassador for making her miss out on her treasured call. Chie would play her part and leave very quickly as soon as she was allowed to do so. There was to be no other pomp, but this simple moment. As she wondered just why it really was so important to receive this woman, Chie started to curse the weather out on the platform this evening. 'They could've done a formal greeting in the morning, damn them,' Chie thought as the woman came towards her off the transport.
"Aoi!"
Nina had been in both Lutesian countries for about three months now, living quietly undercover. Staying disguised during the day to avoid notice and having meals delivered to avoid going out at night. The only night time excursions that Nina did were covert and she always well hidden especially her face. Mashiro had heard the rumblings of Tomoe Marguerite's activities in Aries against President Chrysant and asked Nina to join the search secretly.
Nina knew that if Tomoe did not want to be found, she would not be. They had been the top of their class for very good reasons. Nina knew that Tomoe's malice knew no bounds and that her reasoning held no true reason. Tomoe would get what she wanted or no one would be happy. Nina didn't know just yet why, but her instinct had told her to go out tonight in particular.
The streets and back alleys of Lutesia Remus were just as bad as Windbloom's, but she had no fear of them. As a Meister, Nina had become so much stronger in her normal state to try to improve as she had been told by so many other Meisters'. The strength of the GEM was all well and good, but in times like these GEM materialization was not always prudent. Down one particular alley, Nina realized that there was no sign of life at all. This was an odd occurrence considering the rate of crime here and the populace size. Hell even the cats and dogs seemed to stay out of this alley.
Nina drew the handles of her Sais into her palms and slowly made her way into the dimly light alley. The stench should have driven her back, but this was not the first time in her short life that Nina had been around it. Nina recognized the smell of death all too well and proceeded along a little quicker, her Sais completely in the open now.
The body though mangled badly didn't need a face to be identified. Nina took three steps away and threw up. It was reflex and had actually helped to steel her in order to return to the mangled corpse was again.
MIYA CLOCHETTE DIED IN VAIN FOR A CRUEL GOD'S ABSOLUTION
Those words were carved into her back and Nina knew by whom. Nina also knew that looking for Tomoe now would do no good. That woman was slippery in her evasion, but from this display Nina knew that Tomoe was no longer redeemable. Even though Nina didn't want to she walked away and called for some help for Miya's discarded remains.
In her heart Nina hoped that Miya had found peace in the end, for no one deserved to be so inhumanely treated. All she really wanted now was Erstin and a hot shower in that order. She needed to go home now more than ever as the night wind chilled her to her very soul.
"Whatever God out there is listening, please take this poor lost soul into your comfort. She may not have been an innocent, but no one deserves this brutality. If at all possible please keep Erstin safe until I can return home to her."
Nina breathed a deep sigh and quickly cut out of the alley. Her presence was not needed and her cover would have to be blown if she stayed. Mashiro would kill her in that case. The young Queen was no fool for sending Nina out, though it begged another question entirely.
"What does she fear from my presence?"