DISCLAIMER: Mai Otome and its characters belong to Sunrise. These new additions are mine. Fan fiction is a lovely thing indeed.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks to all who are reading and reviewing for giving me a moment to laugh. Those reading and not reviewing, all I can do is say, Howdy. Don't be afraid to drop a line, even anonymously, I'm open to all comments good, bad, and the indifferent. Besides you have nothing to fear I don't bite…hard that is.

Our Legacy ch22

Erstin enjoyed helping Natsuki actually plant flowers in honor of the new arrivals. It was nice to see the Headmistress as someone other than her position. Erstin was amazed by the choices for each child's birth and asked why Natsuki felt she had to do this.

"Each flower is actually like our GEM's they have meaning and/or purpose other than beauty. Here on Garderobe grounds they will always be together even if they never are anywhere else," Natsuki said as they walked away from the newly planted orange blossoms.

"Most people would not believe you had a poetic nature to you," Erstin said trying not to smile.

"Well then let's just not tell them anyway. I have enough teasing points against me," Natsuki said smiling, eventually laughing as she saw Erstin finally smile.

"They are Garderobe's children in a sense, so why not do this for them?" Natsuki asked thinking of her little girl.

"Nina asked me about this yesterday and I said I wasn't really sure. I guess it is a beautiful gesture since everyone else gets to share in the beauty of it," Erstin replied as they headed towards the dorms.

"Speaking of young Meister Wang how is she?" Natsuki asked simply.

"Nina needs a haircut and a vacation. Queen Mashiro has been keeping her busy although we got two days to be together," Erstin answered slightly blushing over their memories.

"Have you thought about what is going to happen when you graduate?" Natsuki asked bringing up the one question she and Nina had not yet answered.

Chie could hear Aoi softly singing to Mitsuko in their bedroom, but knew she would kill herself trying to get there without help. Everyone that looked at Chie said her vision would return soon enough, but just not when. Chie wanted to scream every time she needed to do something. Tomoe had been a big surprise that night, but losing her sight had just changed everything.

Chie took a deep breath and one step forward trying to remember the layout of this room in her head. With her next step, Chie hit the corner of the small table in the living room cursing. Chie took one step left and safely around the nasty little table. In her mind she remembered nothing else blocking her pace to the wall, so Chie counted as she continued forward.

Once safely at the wall, Chie recited the number of steps and tried to walk them back to the sofa she had been sitting on. Aoi's voice in the background was very soothing as Chie stopped and took a single step to the right then one forward. Chie felt the light brush of her leg against the sofa and turned around to repeat the process back to the wall.

Back at the wall, Chie put out her right arm and kept her distance from the wall remembering there was a desk along this wall that was just before the bedroom doorway. Chie once again kept count and tried to return safely to the sofa and back again. It was a little easier to do when she actually put thought into it, but it became very tiring also.

Aoi had put Mitsuko in her crib, but stayed singing for a few more minutes making sure the baby was asleep. Aoi slowly turned away to go check on Chie as she noticed a shadow moving just by the doorway. Scanning the room quickly, Aoi grabbed the only weapon she could find in the room. Taking a deep breath, Aoi cautiously walked over to the doorway and nearly jumped out of her skin when Chie stepped into the room.

Aoi put the baby lamp she was holding back down and watched Chie quietly. As happy as the sight made Aoi, she wanted to cry and go help Chie. Aoi could see Chie's lips moving, but heard no sound. Chie was heading straight for Mitsuko's crib, touched it then turned around and walked back out of the room. Aoi stifled her cries as she watched Chie return to the couch and then back towards where she was now standing.

Moving softly, Aoi went to the crib and waited for Chie to come back into the room. When Chie reached the crib this time, she reached down the side and guided her hand forward slowly, reaching for her daughter. Painful tears started to well up in Chie's eyes as she softly traced the baby's face.

"Thank you for not saying anything just yet Aoi," Chie said softly reaching back up to hold the crib wall again.

Aoi let her tears go and grabbed Chie's face to pull her into a soft kiss. Chie felt those tears mix with her own and traced Aoi's arms down to her waist before bringing Aoi into a firm hug. They stayed that way for about five minutes before Chie spoke up once again.

"I don't want to burden you right now because Mitsuko needs you more than I do. Don't say anything okay. I may not be able to see anything just yet, but that doesn't mean I can't use the rest of my senses to get me around," Chie said still holding Aoi's waist looking where she knew Aoi's face should be looking into her own.

"Can I do anything to help make it easier for you?" Aoi asked through her tears.

"I have time on my hands not being able to work right now, so I need to do this to stay busy. Aoi, if you really want to help me, go out to the kitchen and sing again?" Chie asked smiling.

"Whatever it takes Chie, we will get through this just like we have everything else," Aoi replied as she walked toward the doorway.

"Yeah we will Aoi, together," Chie answered and waited for Aoi to start singing again.

Nao had not seen Midori since Kimiko had been born and wondered if Midori had been to see the baby since that day. Even though she and Midori made no claims of one another, Nao couldn't help but think of Midori as hers. With orders from Natsuki to go out in Sarah's place on a mission in Lutesia Remus, Nao wanted to see Midori just once more before leaving.

Nao made her way to Youko's quarters in the off chance that maybe someone would be there. After two knocks and no answer, Nao decided to try down in the Founder operations area. That should have been that last place Nao would have found them, but she struck gold. Nao used her usual stealth down the stairs and was none too surprised when she noticed Midori standing back to her speaking with Youko.

As Nao got closer she realized that only Midori was talking. Youko was actually feeding the baby. Nao cursed herself but couldn't help but to get closer. Nao could finally make out some of what Midori was saying and realized that she was talking about Reito. The sight of the feeding child hit some deeply locked away note in Nao and she was frozen where she stood. Midori suddenly looked up and noticed Nao not moving or speaking her face actually sad.

Midori leaned over and whispered something to Youko before approaching Nao. As Midori came her way Nao actually smiled, seeing the smile that Midori had usually given her. Midori took Nao into a rough hug and kissed her deeply. Nao's brain had a quick short circuit before remembering where she was.

"I hope that one lasts," Nao said as she touched Midori's arm feeling a little weak.

"I was going to come to see you, after Kimiko was actually asleep. Youko's trying to pull double duty even though Kruger told her to cut her time down here," Midori said leaning her forehead to Nao's trying to suppress the urge to kiss her again.

"Yeah well she should listen. It's not like there isn't anyone else here that can baby-sit the system," Nao said as she leaned in for a small kiss.

"She promised she would return with Kimiko to her quarters and take a small nap later. Kimiko got other ideas and wanted to be feed first," Midori said as she ran her hand up Nao's back to her neck.

Before Midori could kiss her again Nao said, "Kruger's sending me off to Lutesia Remus while Sarah's in Annam with Ahn and their daughter right now."

"Are you leaving now?" Midori asked her face suddenly concerned.

"I usually just go without any word and do things on the fly, but I wanted to see you. Have you been coming often to see Kimiko?"Nao asked out of curiosity.

"No, this is the first time I've been back, but you should realize that. Are you feeling jealous Juliet Nao Zhang?" Midori asked sternly knowing she shouldn't have had to say that.

"In a sense I am because…Is the baby yours, Midori?" Nao asked mentally preparing for a fight.

"Mine and Reito's yeah she is. Kimiko is also Youko's though and will be raised as Youko's," Midori said her face softening a little as her hand moved to Nao's lower back to pull them closer, "Youko has yet to tell me when I can bring Kimiko to the Aswad to be introduced."

"Do you even realize how sexy that name sounds when you say it?" Nao asked as their bodies pressed hard against each other.

"Okay you two, play time in the Founder Core is over. I'm taking Kimiko and going for a nap," Youko said making her way by them, "If you want time together before your mission Nao, I suggest you go to your own room."

Before either could say a word in return they kissed and Youko just kept right on going. There was something else she had wanted to say, but seeing them so close she stopped the thought. Midori held her kiss with Nao so tightly that it slightly blurred her vision as she opened one eye to watch Youko walk away.

Arika could actually care less what today's schedule was as she carried Mashiro across the room to their bed. All it had taken to get them here was a soft whisper from Mashiro. Mashiro told Arika that her uniform left everything to the imagination, except for her breast size. Arika leaned onto the bed, trying not to trip or break their kiss. Mashiro was not helping the matter as she was fondling one of these breasts relishing their soft give through the uniform.

As Arika broke the kiss Mashiro didn't say a word, she just started to unbutton Arika's uniform becoming impatient with the buttons. Arika slowly ran her hand up Mashiro's arm as she was undoing the last few buttons. This allowed the robe to open and Mashiro to reach into Arika's bra to hold that same breast now bare.

Arika leaned to kiss Mashiro once again before standing and allowing her robe to glide down to feet. Mashiro stood and turned her back to Arika. Arika unzipped the Queen's dress and slowly worked it down to join her robe discarded on the floor. Arika held Mashiro there for a moment and kissed her neck and then her bare back as she undid Mashiro's bra. Then without hesitation, she undid her own and turned Mashiro to her for a long deep kiss.

When the kiss ended they looked at each other, then the bed, laughed, and jumped onto the bed and back into another kiss. This happened to them yesterday also. Arika loved the way Mashiro would shift into their kisses. This would have their bodies touching in a few places, but not close enough to be pressed against each other. Arika loved to be able to touch and kiss without a lot of unnecessary shifting. Mashiro loved it because Arika would take control with very little prompting. As Mashiro thought of this, Arika slipped into her underwear to tease her. All thought left as they worked into their natural rhythm and found a fast track to release.

Suddenly without warning…"Hey Arika is Mashiro…oh damn it, again!!" Nina said blushing and quickly leaving the room.

"Arika…did you…oh don't you…oh forget it," Mashiro never could finish a sentence once Arika took control.

Mikoto was out by the stream again practicing when she thought of all of the newly born children. Their daughter wasn't very far off and Mikoto actually had to stop as she started to cry. The legacy of a parent is the child and all that encompasses that child. Each has a choice in life of many paths as he/ she grows. For such a new life there is no right or wrong path only truth.

Every time Mai would nap, Mikoto would come out here in private to work-out or just to reflect on life in general. In her solitary thoughts, Mikoto could voice what she feared without worrying Mai. The life of a child was precious indeed, but held the same expectancies as an adults meaning life/ death, good/ evil and many other oppositions for one held the other closer than not.

Yes, this was the truth Mikoto feared most, because death was a guarantee paid in full upon birth. Too many evils lurked in this world that did not view a child as such, just another victim. So it was assured that Mikoto would become strong because evil had reared its head amongst their friends in the form of a very misguided young woman.

Mikoto had given up immortality to be with her beloved and vowed to protect that love. Today Mikoto came to the conclusion that if she could stop the death of a child, by forfeiting her life as it was now, she would. Evil did not have rules, just power and so it was unpredictable. Mikoto got up and walked back to Mai with resolution as her strength, hope and faith as her shield, and love as the weapon she would wield if called upon.

Midori lay holding Nao while she slept, it was usual for one of them to sleep after sex, just never which one. Passion burned them to their further most limits before dropping them here absolutely spent. Midori loved the way Nao moved, her sharp quick tongue that gave voice to everything most would dare not, and how she loved so fiercely in return. Every encounter made her want to claim Nao as more than just her casual companion. Love of another held Midori back, but it was truly unfair to the woman in her arms sleeping content.

Nao had voiced jealousy today for the first time and with it Midori felt her world expand and contract once more. Nao saw something between Midori and Youko that was unspoken, but not forgotten. A choice was coming, but Midori was not so sure she could make it, either way, without breaking all three hearts in the process. Today the words had been spoken, very intimately, and Midori just knew they were truth unbound. Midori tried vainly to hold her tears back, but they came anyway. All of their secrets were being laid as bare as their bodies and time would not hold for them much longer.

Midori had lived with cold comfort for so long that she never allowed herself to believe in reliance upon another. Time and again though, she was here in this woman's arms relying upon her for comfort from the loneliness of her very existence. Juliet Nao Zhang and Youko Helene were two separate life lines that Midori wished could be combined as one, but knew they were never meant to be as such.

All of the recent information sharing on Tomoe Marguerite made Natsuki want to kill the young woman herself. It was no longer about the girls' feelings for Shizuru. Nina had found Miya's body in Lutesia Remus and could find nothing more because Tomoe had already moved on. Chie had been on Tomoe from the very beginning and could not keep her tracked. Poor Chie had the misfortune of finding the woman in their midst, only to lose her sight. In situations such as this Natsuki would have loved to been able to send out Shizuru or Sarah but knew she couldn't.

Nao had become her only option, though in reflection just maybe Nao could do what they had not yet been able to. Nao had a network of people that Natsuki had barely seen the surface of in the time she was with the young woman on the road. Nao was self sufficient yes, but knew when prudent to receive another's help. Natsuki's other reason behind allowing Nao to be Tomoe's tracker was that Nao did not have a family, other than the one here at Garderobe to protect.

No, this was not fair and Nao was not simple cannon fodder, but Natsuki had no other choice. Nao had agreed with this stating that Natsuki should have seen to this sooner. Nao smiled wickedly at the thought of getting out once again, doing what she loved, but Natsuki noticed even if briefly that she was keeping something to herself. Yes, Nao would do the job, but Natsuki hoped that Nao would not have to pay the price also. Each of these kinds of jobs always came at cost, but Natsuki did not want someone she cared for to have to pay with everything they had.

"It doesn't matter how as much as it does when, but you will reap what you have sown Tomoe Marguerite. Even if I have to do it myself," Natsuki said to herself before leaving her office. Natsuki wanted to check in on Nao one last time before the young woman left their home.

Haruka had been very uncomfortable while visiting Chie and Aoi in order to check Chie personally and on their daughter. Haruka loved children more than anyone truly knew. Even Yukino was just starting to see how deep Haruka's affection for children ran. Most people would think twins a handful, but Haruka would hold them together whenever possible. Yukino had a camera close by at all times because Haruka would lapse into child mode herself when one would cry.

Some of Yukino's favorite pictures were of Haruka sleeping with the twins on the couch. No Meister robes just a t-shirt and some sweats, face smiling contently. It was during these moments that Yukino would count her blessings. Yukino Chrysant was no fool though. While Haruka slept Yukino made arrangements for another sweep of Aries and all government personnel for Tomoe Marguerite.

Knowing that the woman had been as close as the delivery room, when the twins were born, made Yukino sick in many ways. Chie had paid a price for all of them with her eyesight. It was truly foolish to think the woman had just gone away. At first she never gave the young woman's political aspirations much thought. Then the attacks against her relationship with Haruka started. The good citizens of Aries cared less of their Presidents' behavior in her bedroom, due to the fact that she ran the country better than any before her ever had.

Those simple gambits became outright media fodder for those that were against the President. Every President had a faction that would cry for their resignation whenever the toilets wouldn't flush properly and Yukino was no different. There had been a few nasty rallies, during a few of Yukino's public appearances, but they were easily dispersed by the military without incident. Things were decidedly nastier than she ever imagined when the body of Miya Clochette had been found and reported by Nina Wang while in Lutesia Remus.

While Haruka had been visiting Chie, Yukino had called Sarah in Annam to toss some thoughts their way. Sarah thanked Yukino for the update and warning, citing the fact that the King had proposed some similar measures to his own council earlier that very day. Tomoe would have many enemies in many countries, but as Yukino herself knew all Tomoe needed was one ally. When Haruka got home Yukino had been feeding Kaede. Haruka picked up Ayame while she paced the room talking.

"That girl has been learning to navigate their home without help. Chie actually went to pick up Mitsuko when she started to fuss. It was really unbelievable Yukino. I had to stop myself from crying when they came into the room," Haruka said while making kissy noises to Ayame in-between.

"How is Aoi handling all of this Haruka?" Yukino asked as she rubbed Kaede's back.

"She seems okay but …Aoi actually carries Chie's glasses on her. When I asked, she said it was something to believe in and hold onto…a solid hope," Haruka said just before Ayame yawned.

"Do you want to put them down and get ready for dinner? Kaede's doing more sleeping than feeding right now anyway," Yukino said looking into Kaede's little face sound asleep on her chest.

"Yukino…this whole thing with Tomoe, Chie told me today that Tomoe attacked because Chie recognized her. Tomoe was driving them to the hospital when Chie's intuition kicked in," Haruka said as she and Yukino took their girls' to their crib, "Aoi agreed with Chie when she said Tomoe seemed to just be doing her job."

"That's all well and good Haruka, but Tomoe is a murderer first and foremost. Whatever it is she is planning will not be good. That my dear is certain and also where I end this conversation," Yukino said as she left the room.

Nina waited most of the day to get Arika alone only to get stuck with Arika and Mashiro during dinner. They were acting their roles, but Nina really just wanted to stand up and smack them both. To Nina they had a slight tease in their tones, but she had to wonder if just maybe her imagination was on overtime.

"Queen Mashiro, if you don't mind I would like to speak with Arika alone afterward?" Nina asked keeping her tone even.

"That is fine with me. I do still have some documents to review," Mashiro said smiling at Nina in a slightly star struck way.

"Don't I have a say in any of this?" Arika asked without looking up from her almost empty plate.

"NO YOU DON"T" both Mashiro and Nina answered at the same time in the same commanding tones.

Arika looked up from her plate quite suddenly to see they were wearing similar expressions, "You two can be very scary sometimes you know."

"We need to talk and that's it. Mashiro agrees so your vote is nullified. Unless of course… you would like to discuss what it was you were doing to the Queen when I walked in earlier," Nina replied causing them both to blush.

"On that note, I'm going to take care of my paperwork for the day. Arika, don't wait up from me tonight. Understand?" Mashiro left the room without getting an answer. Nina laughed as Arika's face went from bright red to pale white and then back again.

"What the Hell did I do to deserve that?" Arika asked in a short huff as she left the table not waiting for Nina to follow.

"Hey, we seriously need to talk okay," Nina said catching up to Arika in the hall.

"I've already had one lecture today thank you, but no thanks. Sakomizu already put in his two cents to me earlier," Arika said before entering her personal quarters.

"It's about Tomoe you idiot. I need another perspective on some thoughts I've been having," Nina said nearly slamming the door behind her.

"That's even worse. Why don't we just talk about the joy that is sex instead?" Arika asked even though she clearly wasn't joking.

"Arika please don't make me get any more serious about this then necessary. I was out there okay and what I saw was enough for me," Nina said sitting on Arika's bed while Arika paced.

"You sound scared Nina," Arika said as she took a seat next to Nina and waited for Nina to talk.

"Tomoe isn't just evil Arika, she's human. Have you read any of my reports?" Nina asked looking at her feet.

"Not since the one about Miya," Arika said as a chill shook through her from the mere thought of that report.

Nina kicked herself back to the wall and looked at Arika as she turned to face Nina now, "Humans by nature need help of some kind to pursue their evil little schemes and elude capture for as long as she has."

"So she has some kind of evil network or something," Arika said as her thoughts ran through what Nina said.

"That's where this gets pretty weird Arika. People have been disappearing and others have been coming up dead all of a sudden. The list is of mostly criminals the likes of which Nao usually takes down with the Stripes. They're mostly bottom feeders," Nina said thinking of the Lutesia Remus/ Aries reports.

"So she's using them for some purpose and then killing them, is that what you are implying?" Arika asked.

"Some of the dead that have been recovered Arika looked sick and swollen; others looked as if they were dead for months even though the reports had said that was not possible. So far no one can figure what did that to the bodies. They are running tests but the bodies are decomposing faster than normal making their findings inconclusive. You remember that friend of Youko's, Drue Valencia, she been working on this recently to no avail and they say she's the best," Nina said as her heart caught in her throat.

"So that's what you meant about being only human. Miss Maria told us that humans would always be worse than any monsters because of their unpredictability," Arika replied as the truth hit home and she ran to the bathroom to get sick.

"It did that to me too," Nina said as she went to check on Arika.