DISCLAIMER: Okay people, once more, this time with feeling. Mai Otome and its characters are Sunrise property.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Now that the author has returned from Tekken5 Hell, it is now time to return to typing with two un-cramped fingers.
Our Legacy ch38
Outside the Underground Bunker,
Nao had given Keiko and Cara a good long speech about the door repairs when she found out they were responsible. Keiko laughed and agreed they would fix them later. Cara had to laugh also because just opening the door with Keiko's cannon took both of them. With her arm in the cast and sling, Keiko could materialize the weapon, but needed help to hold and fire it. The laughing they had heard after the blast had been from Keiko and Cara. They hit the floor because they were too close to the door when they blasted it.
Nao had brought the flags like Irina had requested and passed them off to the girls to raise them up. The girls would use the flags as team representation. The girls had split into two teams and started to make walls to hide behind. The team closest to the bunker was Garderobe making the other team Windbloom. They were planning one massive snowball fight and Nao couldn't believe they had pulled her into it. Irina chose to stay with the team closest to the bunker because Keiko had only one arm to use and they would need the help more. After the walls were in place, the girls took a few minutes break inside to warm up before going back out. They were all having a good time for once.
"Nice to see you remember how to have fun Captain," Kimiko said putting her arm around Keiko.
"It's easier when we can move around. It sucks trying to remember that I don't have the same job as Headmistress Kruger did," Keiko replied before she remembered who she was talking about. Keiko shot Nao a quick glance and received a sad smile.
"Don't worry about me kid. I am still here because of her and hopefully she is still somewhere out there," Nao said taking a quick drink of her hot tea and putting an arm around Irina.
"I wish that were true for all of them," Megumi said as she laid her head in Nadia's lap. They had no idea of how many were gone and how many were alive, Nao did but she wasn't telling.
Nao stood up with what was left of her tea and raised her cup. The others stood as they realized Nao was about to make a toast, cup high up.
"We drink this toast in honor of our friends and your mothers wherever they may be…our undying love, faith and gratitude."
As their cups all meet, they drank and then shared a moment of silence. Each of them named off someone as they lay their cups down and headed back outside for a good old fashioned snowball fight. It was more fun to lob them over the walls or hit the first head to pop up then outright attacking in the open. Keiko could only throw, so Grace would make snowballs as fast as she could and pass them to Keiko. Mitsuko and Chiyako were taking turns firing over the wall with Cara. Irina had gotten an idea to make a bloody friggin' catapult as Nao would later recall and disappeared.
They were getting pretty good at keeping the others down until Keiko took a hit to the face. Sling or not, Keiko came out from around their wall and went running towards the other one as all six came up and pelted her. Using Keiko's distraction, Mitsuko and Cara had nailed Katsumi and Megumi both in the head and ducked laughing as a bunch of quick returns came over the wall at them. Keiko was still in between the two walls when Kimiko jumped over her wall and tackled Keiko into the snow.
Nao laughed as she realized that it looked like Kimiko had actually jumped out to protect Keiko. Kimiko picked up snow between her hands and lightly poured it over Keiko's head before stuffing a handful down the front of her shirt. Keiko was screaming, crying and laughing all at once. Nao took this opportunity to take off and let the girls have their own fun.
After an hour, both teams realized neither Nao nor Irina was in their midst anymore and broke out into laughter and nasty little wolf whistles. When they all finally agreed it was time to eat before trying to replace the doors, they noticed both flags were gone. Keiko was the first one down the stairs into the bunker and turned them all around rather quickly.
"What's wrong with you?" Kimiko asked laughing at Keiko's blush.
"Let's just say Garderobe's on top and Windbloom's on the bottom and leave it at that," Keiko replied as she took a seat against their wall.
"Oh Hell, I'm not shy, I'm hungry," Megumi said as she bounced down the stairs only to come back twice as fast, "Okay…I'm not that hungry. I never knew Irina could curse like that."
"That's only because your room's across the hall unlike mine," Grace said laughing thinking of one too many of Irina's favorite curses for Nao's pleasure.
"So how long do we wait?" Katsumi asked thinking of her stomach like Megumi.
"I don't know, but I'm not checking again," Megumi asked sitting in between Keiko and Nadia.
Kimiko could actually careless about what was going on so long as she could get around them. Kimiko went down the stairs and came running out with the Garderobe flag laid over her shoulders.
"That was more of Irina than I've seen or ever thought I'd see. If we want to get by we will need to materialize and fly by," Kimiko said handing the flag to Keiko, who in turned passed it off to Megumi, who then handed it to Mitsuko, who was standing next to Nadia.
"Hey idiots, it's a flag not a time bomb. If we all get close enough together we should be able to get by them," Mitsuko said as she handed off one end to Chiyako.
"That's great, but I'm not leading the way," Chiyako said thinking of what Kimiko said.
"Don't worry about it, little sister, I will. All those in favor of getting inside… stand up and stay in between us or stay out here and freeze," Mitsuko said leading them down the stairs. As they went past Nao and Irina they dropped the flag on top of them and put their fingers in their ears until they hit the kitchen.
"Okay, that issue's solved, but when are we going to fix the doors," Kimiko asked smiling as she tried to decide what to make.
Grace joined Kimiko over by the cupboards since it was their turn to cook, "Don't worry about that, Irina will let us know trust me."
Garderobe, present,
Now that everyone was sitting down at the table, Natsuki took a moment to collect her thoughts before asking her first question. Haruka was still holding Yukino, who was still crying, but from the sounds was starting to collect her composure. Natsuki wondered momentarily if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Miss Maria had her head in her hands and was silently praying her headache would go away.
Shizuru was sitting on the other side of Yukino with Haruka as moral support and hopefully to be close enough should Haruka lash out again. Haruka had looked at Shizuru with silent thanks; even though she still wanted to clock Kaede across the table. Shiori was holding Kaede's hand and patiently awaiting Natsuki's or anyone else's questioning to begin.
"I really don't know where to begin. It amazes me that you girls are even here and it also freaks me out," Natsuki said still trying to think clearly, "I'm curious as to how you got here from your time."
"We tapped into some old magic, power or whatever you choose to call it. In our time it is the only building in the middle of devastated ruins unharmed. We weren't told much more than to concentrate on our power together," Shiori replied as she gave Kaede's hand a light squeeze.
"The Founder chooses our GEM's not vice versa. The first time we hit that ring we understood that it was our strength from you combined with our GEM"s and the power in that place that allowed this. There had been a few other children, some Otome and some not, but we were the chosen, simple enough," Kaede said trying to breathe slowly and not look at Haruka.
"Okay fair enough even if slightly vague," Natsuki replied breaking down their answers mentally, wishing for another bottle of anything strong.
"I want to know about your attachment to each other," Shizuru asked looking them over catching Kaede jump slightly.
"Yeah what's with the whole Twin Meister thing?" Natsuki asked hoping she wouldn't regret the answer.
"It is who we are, yin and yang. We have different strengths that are complimented by each other. We are strong separately, but together we are nearly unstoppable," Kaede said giving Natsuki the brute force answer. Shizuru wanted the other angle and looked at Shiori waiting for her reply.
"How you do choose between two girls when they excel in different ways, but always meet in the middle. I know vague once again. How do you choose your Number One Pearl when two girls equally qualify for that spot in terms of numbers?" Shiori replied looking for them to ponder her question for a moment.
"It has never happened before so we can't say that it's possible. I would have to say we make them fight for it," Natsuki answered though not sure that would settle. Shizuru couldn't agree because these two girls were more than just that simple.
"That was tried on numerous occasions with no absolution. My perfect brute has all the power; I have the speed and agility. Tie after tie, every time we had to fight. I could dodge around her, but Kaede could block and defend it was a living nightmare, thank you very much mother for your insistence," Shiori said to Natsuki remembering all too clearly Natsuki's disbelief.
"Are you telling me the two of you were both Number One?" Natsuki said feeling her head about to explode.
"We've been wearing the white and black since we were Pearls. It was insisted upon by a former teacher who shall remain nameless. Her wisdom took us beyond what was the norm since we defied all of that anyway," Shiori answered squeezing Kaede's hand again.
"Otome were always pitted against each other. In school, they were rivals for the job and prestige, how foolish. Then Otome were treated as pawns by their Masters, until people finally took into account that they were more than that. Then we came along and put a whole new spin on it," Kaede answered, smiling rather nastily. They were meant to be together point finished as far as Kaede was concerned.
"A bloody tandem team…" Natsuki mumbled rather too loudly earning disapproving looks.
"You think a little too loudly. We aren't a team, without each other we aren't whole in the respect of everything you take for granted," Kaede replied sharply.
"There was never a question that we belonged together in every way. Oi…the blushing over something so simple, I am not your little girl; I am hers as Kaede is mine," Shiori replied looking at Shizuru for the understanding that Natsuki was willingly missing.
"Hey still sitting right here okay. I may see you as an adult, but my Shiori is asleep down the hall and barely more than five months old. You…I get the fact that the two of you are…lovers," Natsuki said sitting back tensing over the last word.
"Natsuki and I are not so blind or foolish in this respect, none of us are. Some share their lives willingly. What we are trying to understand is why the Founder thought it necessary for the two of you to act as a single entity?" Shizuru answered.
"Damned if anyone really knows. The Founder doesn't answer questions in that manner or matter. It's not as if we are unwilling participants, I have loved Shiori from the first time we bumped into each other on the grounds. No words have ever done that moment justice," Kaede answered letting go of Shiori's hand and placing it at the base of her neck softly.
"Could we find another question, this one is doing circles as usual? We are as you see and that is all we know or care to know," Shiori replied as she closed her eyes relishing the feeling of Kaede's touch.
"FINE… YOU WANT ANOTHER QUESTION? What do you know about Ayame's death?" Yukino said shocking everyone with her turn around.
"Ayame died just before the people of Florence started dying from some kind of wasting disease. Those two events may or may not relate to each other, but that is all we know. The outcry for help and the spread from Florence of this disease sent the Council into action," Shiori replied trying to numb the painful words with her more soothing tones.
"The Council would never do something so dangerous as to blindly search out answers in the Old Earth files," Yukino said as she tried to think through her hurt and hatred.
"I wouldn't have thought so, but every last signature was there except for yours," Kaede responded with a tinge of venom in her voice pointing at Natsuki and then Yukino, "Yours was the first name on the top of that list."
"There was no information on Ayame's death or her all too short life. Ayame Armitage, six months old, beloved daughter of President Chrysant and Meister Armitage was mourned today by Aries. All over Earl, People have shown signs of their sympathies for the President and her valiant Otome by leaving bouquets outside of every Aries Embassy." Kaede said reciting every word from memory where it lingered like she had only read it yesterday.
"That's all we could ever find on Ayame. Every record was a dead end, destroyed as if to erase her from not just memory, but life in general. That clip was found in the library by one of our friends in an unabridged copy of The Heart of the Otome. Someone wanted to make sure they never forgot," Shiori said trying to keep her tone calm and even.
"Thank you for your honesty however…neither of these events has yet to have happened. In principle, we should be capable of keeping these events from coming to pass because of this conversation, right?" Yukino said pulling herself from Haruka and Shizuru; she was now leaning on her hands as if in prayer.
"That could be true, but we would have no way of knowing without attempting to return home. Talking isn't always a guarantee that things will change. We could go home and find things as we left them. Then we might not be able to get back in time to set things right ourselves," Shiori replied putting her hands on the table. Yukino, Shizuru and Miss Maria correctly read this gesture as meaning all of their cards were on the table, truth to behold.
"I have destroyed that Mausoleum once before and will not hesitate to Juggernaut it again," Kaede answered leveling her gaze at Yukino and Haruka.
"Are you trying to imply that your mace ball is capable of such destruction?" Haruka asked thinking of Kaede's mace which was barely bigger than a child's toy.
"That kind of destruction and a whole lot more. Do not let its size fool you. That mace has many functioning capabilities including the Juggernaut assault. Would you like a demonstration? We could start with the Mausoleum first and then show you the rest of its sweet side," Kaede responded sitting forward now mimicking Yukino's gaze with such eerie similarity.
"That will be something to keep in mind, but the Mausoleum has stood since long before us and will long after if I have any say in the matter," Natsuki replied in her most stern Headmistress tone, "You said it started with this disease in Florence."
"That's the farthest back we had in our recovered files. Juliet Nao Zhang, our unofficial caretaker, said it went further back than that, but never had fully verified more than that with us. Like I said keeping your secrets…" Kaede said keeping her gaze with Yukino.
"That may be the case in your time, but here it holds plenty of relevance, especially right now," Shizuru replied looking over at Natsuki who nodded and said, "Tomoe…"
"You mean Tomoe Marguerite?" Shiori asked thinking of a previous trip.
"The one killed by what was her name Miyu something or other," Kaede said still unmoving.
"That was Miya Clochette dear…the one responsible for the Presidential assassination," Shiori said correcting Kaede.
"Some bloody stupid play wasn't it?" Kaede asked ignoring the slip that Shiori corrected.
"Different lives, different places…" Natsuki replied thinking of the Miya/Tomoe correlation, "Do you remember where that took place?"
"A traveling theater group in Aries, some big production in celebrating something or other to do with the two of you," Shiori responded looking over at Haruka and Yukino. The gaze between Kaede and Yukino was an unbroken display of iron will.
"Okay enough for tonight I need to process this and get some people checking on some of these theater things," Natsuki said swiftly departing the room.
"Will she ever learn to be graceful?" Miss Maria asked as she stood.
"Natsuki is too focused to be graceful like most Otome, like a few others in present company," Yukino responded though not moving an inch.
"Too true, I will take my leave also for the night. Kaede Armitage, I would like to request a demonstration tomorrow of your powers on the training field?" Shizuru asked before leaving the table.
"I will agree if Shiori will so allow," Kaede replied standing with both women. Shiori nodded and both Shizuru and Miss Maria left them alone even with such dangerous indecision still lingering between Kaede and her parents.
"If you would be so kind Shiori Kruger, I would like to speak with Kaede alone?" Yukino asked keeping her focus on Kaede.
"Am I to assume that Meister Haruka Armitage will remain as well?" Shiori asked not moving a muscle.
"No she will not…don't say a word Haruka, just go back to our room or see what help we can be to Natsuki," Yukino said cutting off Haruka before the words could even pass her lips.
As they both left the room Yukino reached a hand out to Kaede who took it gently into her own. Kaede braced herself for the stinging slap Yukino gave her, but didn't flinch or say a word. Kaede owned the pain she had put Yukino through with her words. Right now they sat holding each other's hand lost in words. Kaede let go and got up to walk around the table and sit next to Yukino.
"I am truly sorry," Kaede said as she sat in the chair Haruka had just vacated.
"I am not that woman from your memories. I don't want to become her either. Right now I want everything you can think of no matter how farfetched it may seem," Yukino said as she turned to face Kaede.
"I wouldn't know where to start? We are here to help ourselves mostly with such little knowledge," Kaede said sighing deeply.
"Just start with the day that first pops into your head and we'll take it from there," Yukino said once again reaching for Kaede's hand.
"Well then I guess I'll start with the day we abandoned Garderobe for the bunker we now live in," Kaede said closing her eyes allowing the memories to swim freely.
Underground Bunker, Kitchen/Dining area,
The girls were all enjoying the curry the Grace and Kimiko had made when Nao walked into the room wrapped in the Windbloom flag. Nao didn't say a word as she smacked Keiko, Kimiko and Megumi in the back of their heads. Mitsuko was next in line or so she thought. Mitsuko stood as Nao approached her and shook her head in a no gesture. Nao's back was presently to everyone else in the room as she smiled and winked at Mitsuko. Unsure what to say, she sat down and watched as Nao left the room once again.
"I think the slap would have been less evil," Mitsuko said as she looked at the others.
"That's what you think," Kimiko replied rubbing the stinging area at the back of her head.
"You should have just seen that smile…"
"Oh to Hell with that… How many curses did you catch from Irina?" Chiyako said trying to remember that rather loud moment.
"I think there were about fourteen, they weren't all in the same language so I'm not sure," Keiko replied with a small laugh.
"I'm just glad my room's across the hall," Megumi said totally unfazed by what happened content with her third serving of curry.
"Yeah well Nadia gets any louder and we'll move your room further down the hall," Cara replied making Nadia blush just as she was about to take her plate to be washed. The shattering dish caused them to laugh as Nadia walked over to Megumi and slapped her twice as hard as Nao had.
"It's not like I can help it…you've got to admit it's better than the cursing," Megumi replied looking up at Nadia.
"We'll see about that later tonight Megumi Tokiha. As of right now these are off limits…" Nadia replied cupping her own breasts in order to emphasize her point.
"Aww but Nadia I…" Megumi had left the table to follow Nadia into the kitchen where the sound of more plates could be heard breaking.
"I never thought Megumi would ever willingly walk away from a meal once she started," Chiyako said laughing at the empty seat and Megumi's pleas coming from the kitchen.
"Nadia's threat hit closer to home than food," Keiko replied as she laughed with the others. Megumi came running out of the kitchen with a large silver pot flying out behind her just barely missing them.
"Come on Nadia please, anything but that. I'll do whatever you want just don't take those away from me," Megumi asked pleadingly from behind Kimiko.
"Wrapped…" Kimiko said ducking as another pot came flying right by her head's previous location.
"You would be two if you ever saw them up close and personal," Megumi said as she tried to move along the table to a safer spot. The laughter kept them going through the night totally forgetting the board in the Founder core.
"Kruger…Nao…in…bringing…slow…Nao…one there." The message repeated two more times before cutting out.