DISCLAIMER: Mai Otome and its characters are Sunrise property.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you to all who continue to read, review, and enjoy this piece. I'm thankful also for the alert's and the favorite's.

Our Legacy ch34

Tomoe was tired of traveling and starting to feel that familiar itch. She had recently stopped at a roadside motel for the night regretting her choice as the night wore on. Both rooms that boxed in Tomoe's had very enthusiastic guests. Tomoe barely got any sleep listening to the maddening sexual activity going on around her. Tomoe had released her own pent up desires in the shower earlier and was disgusted with herself again; even more so now.

"Naughty little girl, Tomoe. All you can think about is slipping it to Viola while you pleasure yourself. That is getting you nowhere as usual. Tune them out Tomoe and think about our next stop. We are far from done yet."

Tomoe was sitting on the edge of the bed looking in the mirror. Her hair was brown and there was a difference to her features that Tomoe had not realized before. Tomoe was looking much older, but she thought to herself that with longer hair and a little theatrical makeup she would look like Shizuru.

"Not in a million years…Shizuru, don't make me laugh. That obsession of yours with her needs to stop; it distracts your focus. Hell kid with that kind of stuff around you could be anyone. That is something we should have thought of sooner. Florence is our next stop dear so grab your stuff and leave this godforsaken place. I say we try out something new dear. Otome aren't just trained to defend and kill, let's open a new bag of tricks. We all know you can act Tomoe…"

Tomoe took her stuff down to the car and returned the room key. Tomoe got a nasty little idea as she heard the phone ring for room service. Tomoe delivered liquid death to the manager and then to the couple that had called before leaving. As Tomoe drove away she thought about the theater and the great possibilities of travel for an actress of high stature. What better place to hide than in plain sight. Tomoe would put her new identity to good use intending to make sure that Michie Tomizawa would be a name no one would ever forget.

Aries-Windbloom transport,

All of the passengers were loaded off the transport before Yukino and the others left the lounge. There had been too many terse moments between Natsuki and Kaede so Shizuru insisted upon their return to Garderobe. Kaede wanted to go so badly that she clocked Haruka for getting in her way.

"That is definitely coming out of your hide," Haruka said as she wiped her bloody lip.

"You never could follow through with a beating," Kaede said as Haruka rocked her with a solid left and right. Kaede dropped to her knee and looked up at Haruka in disbelief.

"You take a hit pretty good, but don't make me have to do it again. The next one will put you out," Haruka said standing over Kaede.

"No one's ever hit me that hard in my life. I've taken more than a few punches on purpose," Kaede said feeling the blood trickle from her nose.

"I'm not them so just remember that," Haruka said walking over to Yukino.

"Did you have to hit her so hard Haruka?" Yukino asked as she watched Kaede get up slowly.

"That kid took two of my best punches, Yukino. She's got a face like steel," Haruka said grimacing at the soreness in her hands.

Shiori walked over to Kaede and pinched her nose with a hanky in order to stop the blood. Kaede noticed the look in Shiori's eyes and felt like a complete ass. Shiori knew Kaede was too caught up in her emotions, but hated it whenever she fought unnecessarily. There was enough of that with Kimiko and sometimes Megumi too.

"You deserved that and so much more love," Shiori said as she led Kaede from the lounge.

"She's a lot stronger than I remember," Kaede said taking the hanky away and checking to make sure the blood stopped completely.

"If …no…she is your mother and right now she's in her best year's dear," Shiori said moving slightly ahead of Kaede as they were led to the President's cabin.

"So am I," Kaede said feeling like she couldn't measure up to the woman she still considered to be her hero.

Garderobe, Column's and staff quarters,

Once they got back to Garderobe, Shizuru wanted nothing more than to hold her daughter. Shizuru made a quick dash for Miss Maria's quarters and found no one there. Shizuru tried Yukariko's quarters, but also found no answer. Thinking hard and serious Shizuru pounded on Nao's door expecting another empty room.

"Can I help you Meister?" Midori said from around the partially opened door.

"I need to speak with your girl-toy," Shizuru said feelings rising into anger.

Midori stepped away and allowed Shizuru access to Nao's room. Shizuru made a line straight for the bedroom where Nao was laying on her bed completely naked. Nao turned a deep shade of crimson and nearly fell off of the bed trying to cover up.

"Don't bother dear I've seen my fair share of naked Otome. Miss Maria and Yukariko are not in their rooms. Do you know if they are still on Garderobe property?" Shizuru said in earnest.

"I heard them leave earlier, but as you can see I am busy. Get out." Nao said as she stood and wrapped the bed sheet around her.

"Thank you, I'm sorry about the intrusion, Nao. By the way, I think you look better without the bed sheet," Shizuru said winking at Midori as she left.

Nao wanted to scream at Midori for allowing her into the room never mind the bedroom. Midori and Shizuru might be exhibitionists, but Nao was privacy kind of girl.

"You are going to pay for that one in triplicate lover." Nao said as she dropped the sheet and jumped into Midori's arms.

Youko confirmed what Nao had said about them leaving. Miss Maria had some business in Wind and decided to have Yukariko come along with her and the girls. Shizuru calmed a little but, couldn't sit still long enough to explain what happened on the transport. Youko knew the answer would come soon enough so she returned to her work.

Windbloom, Shopping District,

For most people in Wind it was an odd and rare sight to see two Otome out with babies. Miss Maria was carrying Shiori in a sling while Yukariko had Kimiko. They had come into Wind because Miss Maria wanted to do something for the future generation of Otome she knew she would not get to see ascend to Meister status. No it wasn't a disease or anything that the nanomachines would normally handle it was a fact of life.

Miss Maria was already at an age most of her Otome peers had not or would not reach. To see the next generation in their best was a wish she could only aspire to. Natsuki had started a separate garden for them and it gave Miss Maria an idea. Her needs and wishes would be met even after she would pass away by Yukariko.

They were heading back to Garderobe when they noticed the time. The transport was just getting in at this time and they were still quite a ways off. Yukariko took a couple of kicks from Kimiko who was getting restless and hungry while Shiori was content to sleep most of the way home. Shizuru was just about to leave Garderobe grounds as she saw them coming up the stairs. Miss Maria handed Shiori to Shizuru who started to cry as she cradled her daughter. The only two questions asked were met only with the sound of tears and so they led Shizuru back to her quarters and Natsuki.

Underground Bunker,

Megumi wished the storm would die out because she was tired of being locked in. Nadia was great company for her, but Nadia had started thinking of her parents again. Megumi could only ease so much of that pain for her because it was still too fresh for all of them. Megumi was proud of her parents because they were never afraid to protect the innocent down to the very last day Megumi saw them.

Megumi didn't dwell heavily on these thoughts because she knew it would only make sitting here harder. Cara had caught her in the rec. room earlier and had sparred with her until Kimiko came in to inform them it was breakfast time. Megumi said she wasn't hungry and forced both girls out of the room. Megumi didn't want to answer their questions and truly wasn't hungry.

Kimiko and Cara could have broken the door, but they knew not to push Megumi in moods such as this one. Sitting alone in the middle of the room, Megumi tried to clear her mind. It was hard to do right now because Megumi could only think of Kaede and Shiori. They were gone and Megumi was starting to feel like just maybe they weren't coming home. She couldn't understand why she felt this way, but it bothered her nonetheless.

Megumi didn't open her eyes when she heard the door open because she knew automatically who it was.

"Since when don't you eat?" Keiko asked from the doorway.

"LEAVE ME ALONE." Megumi replied as she tried to fight the urge to belt her sister.

"Nadia hasn't come to breakfast either. Did the two of you have a fight?" Keiko asked stepping fully into the room.

"Don't make me tell you again, Kei," Megumi said as she opened one eye to stare.

"It's Kaede isn't it?" Keiko asked as she sat directly in front of her sister unafraid of her wrath.

"When I'm ready to talk I'll talk. Get your ass off the floor and go eat with the others…NOW," Megumi yelled that last word so loudly that Keiko actually stood back up.

"Don't take that tone with me dammit. I'm your flesh and blood not one of your 'friends'," Keiko replied now standing over her sister.

Megumi was done trying to make her point because she knew Keiko wasn't going to leave or listen. In two quick moves, Megumi dropped her sister to the floor and was now beating on her not even thinking of how she might hurt her even more. Keiko had yet to hit Megumi back because she knew it would be a futile effort. Nanomachines or not Keiko's arm was still in a sling and her jaw was Megumi's new focus. Kimiko came running into the room and tried to pull Megumi off her sister.

"Gumi…Gumi…damn you, Gumi, stop already," Kimiko said as she tried to pull Megumi away, "Whether or not Keiko deserves it knock it off."

Megumi turned on Kimiko next and didn't hold back as she lashed out. Unlike Keiko, Kimiko returned as good as she got until she noticed the tears in Megumi's eyes. This was something Kimiko hadn't seen in quite awhile and it was disturbing. Mitsuko was now standing in the doorway with Grace, watching and waiting for Megumi to break. Even through her tears, Megumi pushed as hard as she could try to quell the feeling of unease.

"Kaede…"

Megumi broke off and ran from the rec. room leaving the four girls to wonder what the Hell had gotten into her. Megumi had gone straight to her room and the only person who would never ask for more than she could give in return. Nadia had been lost in her own torment, but seeing Megumi in tears broke her reverie. They were always considered to be the happiest of the twelve because of their usual cheerfulness.

"Nadia…" Megumi could say no more through her tears. Nadia Wang didn't care though because right now she knew Megumi didn't need her words or understanding. Nadia took Megumi into her arms as they lay on their bed and held the older girl close and tight until the tears stopped. Megumi and Kaede were the best of friends and this distance always made Megumi edgy. Nadia knew of only two things that could keep Megumi comforted in Kaede's absence and right now Megumi wanted neither of those things.

Laying there in silence, Nadia prayed that things would work this time for them. As the time passed, Nadia had turned away each of their visitors with an icy glare or the nearest object. Nao had come through after everyone else had tried and only stood in the doorway in silence. Nao remembered how often Megumi and Kaede had tested their limits at Garderobe by breaking the rules, plenty of hearts and nearly each other whenever they fought.

Megumi was their spirit personified. Watching her breakdown was disheartening to say the least. Nao walked over to the bed and sat beside them for a few minutes stroking Megumi's head as Nadia tightened her embrace. Nao had learned to care for these girls in her own distant way. Nao got up to leave, but felt Megumi's hand reach out for hers. They would stay this way a while longer until Megumi actually passed out.

When Nao left the room, she stood outside the door a moment longer. Nao silently hoped that if their days were coming to their end that it would be quick and merciful. Nao was a survivor to the very end, but this was not a life any would choose to live.

Aries Embassy vehicle,

Haruka sat in the car holding Little Kaede close to her while looking at the other Kaede sitting across from her. Yukino had Ayame and was actually engaged in struggle to keep her glasses on her face. Ayame seemed to be interested in how many times she could take and drop Yukino's glasses.

"Next time you get smart with me we'll settle this in Garderobe style," Haruka said lacing her voice with a rather nasty tone.

"Whatever…" Kaede said with an air of nonchalance.

"Behave Kaede; we are on our way home. Don't spoil it okay?" Shiori asked taking Kaede's hand.

Shiori may have seemed calm to Yukino and Haruka, but Kaede knew her lover's mask. Shiori was excited and scared all rolled into one. Seeing her parents and sharing that hug with Shizuru put Shiori in this anxiety ball. Kaede should be feeling more of the same, but after Haruka slugged her Kaede felt angry and pathetic.

"Whatever…it's not really going to be home, Shiori."

"Stop it, Kaede please, I hate it when you are like this," Shiori said turning to face Kaede. Her words alone were usually enough to turn Kaede, but this was something new.

Kaede looked at Haruka and wondered how she could reclaim her dignity. It was a selfish thought, but Kaede didn't care. Those two hits landed harder than Kaede had assumed they would. Kaede knew her mother was a powerful Otome even without the robe, but this was much more intense.

"I owe you one. I hit you once on the transport there was no need to hit me twice," Kaede said grasping for straws. She actually wanted a fight with Haruka now.

"I don't care, sit there and keep your mouth shut."

"Both of you stop it already. I'm tired of the two of you butting heads," Yukino said glaring at both of them. Shiori's expression was one of agreement. The rest of the ride to Garderobe would be silent because neither wanted to piss off Yukino.

Headmistress Kruger's office,

Natsuki wanted to hold Shizuru right now, but she only wanted to hold Shiori and be left alone. Natsuki really wanted to hit something or someone because this was not like Shizuru. If it wasn't for whatever proof those girls had here, Natsuki would be out there right now kicking their asses.

The Twin Meister's had left everyone feeling tired and tense. Natsuki found it easier to think of them as such, because the rest of it gave her a serious migraine. Natsuki had started to wonder what kind of place they came from. Natsuki really didn't want the distraction from the search for Tomoe Marguerite though. If there was anything she wanted more in life, it was this girl behind bars or planted extremely deep in the ground permanently.

Natsuki knew fighting her headache would be useless, so she opened her desk drawer, and poured herself a small drink. Natsuki didn't drink it; she just stared at it in contempt. Both of these situations were pushing her to her limits. Natsuki was feeling resentment in both cases because of the small distance it created between her and Shizuru.

Natsuki picked up the shot and kicked it back before flinging the small glass across the room. Natsuki watched it shatter before leaving her office for a walk. Garderobe was more than just a job for Natsuki, it was her life and sometimes her sanctuary, and right now though she felt neither of those ties.