DISCLAIMER: Mai Otome and its characters are Sunrise property.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: 11/13/09- There were no original chapter notes.

Our Legacy ch40

Florence,

Tomoe, under the guise of Michie, was enjoying herself in Florence. She had gone to the Grand Theater during auditions for an upcoming play. In line, Tomoe tried keeping her composure as the voices continually berated her. In front of Tomoe stood a very good looking young woman with sleek black hair and a cheery disposition.

"Don't these things just make you so nervous with all of these other girls out here?" the young woman asked Tomoe, even though her smile showed no hint of nervousness.

"Reminds me too much of boarding school," Tomoe replied not trying to commit fully to a conversation.

"I live half way across the city, I had to get up early in order to be so close in line," the young woman said turning to face Tomoe completely.

"I drove from my motel room after seeing the article in the paper," Tomoe replied trying to control her breathing and her desire to hit this girl.

"Oh… please don't tell me you are staying at that little dive near the city limits," the young woman asked seriously.

"Without a paying job right now it's all I can afford," Tomoe answered trying out her acting skills by looking as if she hated the little place just as badly.

"I just lost my roommate to marriage and I might not be able to afford my place much longer if this falls through," the woman said looking at the ground totally missing the evil grin that spread across Tomoe's face. Tomoe would have to use all of the restraint she had left and whatever charm she could muster to become this girls' new roommate.

"Well you know I guess it can't be helped right. My name's Michie, by the way," Tomoe said as she held out her hand.

"Chisa Yokoyama, pleasure to meet you Michie," Chisa replied gripping Tomoe's hand lightly. The girl ran her thumb lightly across the top of Tomoe's hand as they shook hands opening another door for Tomoe.

"Hey Chisa, no matter how this works out, would you like to go for a drink afterward with me?" Tomoe asked as she did the same gesture with her own thumb.

"I think we could arrange that," Chisa replied releasing Tomoe's hand and assuming a more open posture as she leaned against the theater in order to keep her place and still talk to her newest target. Tomoe wasn't the only hunter out on the loose. This girl though would have gone completely white haired if she knew who she was really talking too.

"I can't believe the name of this play though. 'My Otome Lover', could they be more original?" Tomoe asked as she leaned against the wall shoulder to shoulder with Chisa brushing her hand in a playful manner.

"Well you know this theater is known for its excellent plays. Both leads are female, but here the entire cast is female anyway. Some of the girls choose the male parts as a benefit to acting experience and most of them have a large fan base because of it," Chisa said moving slightly as the queue moved with ten girls entering the theater.

"I think playing the female characters is enough of a headache without trying to be all macho and brooding in the process," Tomoe said as she noticed a few girls who would probably be trying to fill those male roles.

"I'm trying out for the Otome," Chisa said eyes bright staring deeply into Tomoe's.

"I was thinking of the part of the Queen or her maid or something. It's been a while since I lasted acted so I'm not getting my hopes up," Tomoe replied looking at her feet.

Chisa lifted her face and smiled at her, Chisa was getting ready to make her move, "With such a pretty face and nice body it will not matter what part you play…promise to play with me later?"

"I think that's a promise I can easily keep," Tomoe replied as they both thought 'SCORE' and settled back to playing coy hand games again.

Garderobe,

Shizuru took Little Shiori for a walk as Natsuki talked with the elder alone. Shizuru saw Haruka sitting over by the track and went to sit with her. Shizuru realized that Kaede was running laps as she sat next to Haruka.

"I see she has the same determination you used to have when we were students?" Shizuru said looking at Kaede even though she was speaking to Haruka.

"Yeah well right now that's beside the point. Yukino gave Kaede my favorite shirt to wear," Haruka said with a tinge of anger in her voice.

"Which one has you more upset dear friend? The shirt or the person stretching it out quite nicely if I do say so," Shizuru said as Kaede passed them by. The shirt was still tight, but soaked in sweat.

"The loss of my favorite shirt, you pervert. You shouldn't even be looking at her that way," Haruka said pushing for one of Shizuru's buttons as usual.

"Not my fault she's got the looks. I am thoroughly satisfied with my Natsuki anyway," Shizuru said not taking the bait.

"I can't believe how big she's going to become Shizuru. That punch of hers isn't a joke either," Haruka said smiling as she looked down at Little Kaede.

As Kaede came around again she turned and waved to them tripping up her feet and hitting the ground hard face first.

"OUCH that looks like it hurt," Haruka said as Kaede got up brushed her clothes off and laughed before resuming a much slower pace.

"Like mother, like daughter Haruka…" Shizuru said as they both started laughing.

Kaede finished her last lap and joined Shizuru and Haruka leaning against the fence.

"SO how many laps was that?" Kaede asked Haruka.

"One too many I lost count after ten, kid," Haruka said with a smile.

"Hey which ten laps, the ten before or after I asked you to keep track for me?" Kaede asked looking completely shocked.

"It doesn't matter either way Kaede, you are killing my favorite shirt right now," Haruka said laughing once again.

"It was Mom who gave it to me. I wasn't looking forward to another pinch from Miss Maria if she didn't," Kaede said laughing along with two of her idols.

"Would you care to give us a little power display right now?" Shizuru asked thinking about Kaede's Juggernaut reference.

"If you'd like but the more impressive ones I need Shiori's help with," Kaede said making both women wonder.

Kaede stood back and then stopped.

"Should I ask for authorization through the system?" Kaede asked clearly ready to have some fun.

"Go ahead I believe Youko is on the board. She'll love hearing that," Shizuru said with a wink. Neither girl had previously asked they were just pushing limits and the system would grant it either way. Asking for the permission was usually in order to make sure the system could handle the required amount of authorizations upon its daily usage.

"Kaede Armitage, Seventh Column, Defiant Earthbound Pearl requesting authorization," Kaede said tapping into her GEM link to the Founder core.

"Oh now you girls ask for authorization. The Founder wouldn't let me cut you off before so just have done with it," Youko responded.

"MATERIALIZE."

All three babies facial expressions light up as Kaede's Meister armor appeared and Shiori made little fussy noises that made Shizuru laugh.

"Can I hold her for one minute Meister Viola?" Kaede asked referring to Little Shiori.

"And if I said no, Kaede?" Shizuru asked with a half serious expression.

"I would not question your decision," Kaede replied in a serious tone though it made her heart drop suddenly.

Shizuru walked to the fence and passed Shiori over to Kaede. Kaede smiled as she realized that the purple outfit said Future Otome on it. Little Shiori put both hands to Kaede's face as she started to kick.

"Care to watch from front row little one?" Kaede asked amazed at the child's reaction.

Kaede walked back a couple of steps and called forth her mace ball. Haruka laughed at its size even though it was definitely like her own. Kaede thought for a moment and then held up her hand calling the ball to her. Kaede floated up a few feet off the ground searching for a close, but good target.

"This is one of my favorite things about this little ball. I'll apologize now for the trees," Kaede said as she threw the ball across the field.

The mace ball picked up speed and entered the tree line stopping just inside a small cluster. The ball glowed momentarily and then its spikes shot out attaching to the nearest trees. Kaede smiled at the ball and then turned to see the expressions on Haruka and Shizuru's faces.

"Please don't tell me that's it?" Haruka asked laughing as she realized the ball was definitely more than it originally seemed.

"Go ahead do whatever it is you want. Just know that you will be replanting anything you rip out of the ground," Shizuru said thinking of how Natsuki would react.

"Hey what the Hell are you doing out there and over there?" Natsuki asked coming up alongside Shizuru with Shiori.

"Kae, wait I want in on the fun." Shiori said hoping the fence easily heading out towards Kaede.

"Ask for authorization Shiori," Kaede said laughing.

"Why?" Shiori asked looking up at Kaede realizing that her younger self was in Kaede's arms.

"Just do it." Kaede said dropping a little towards Shiori with a large grin as she showed her Little Shiori's outfit.

"Oh for Fumi's sake isn't that just a little premature, interesting and cute though. Alright Kaede," Shiori said looking back at Natsuki as she tapped into her GEM link.

"Shiori Kruger, Sixth Column, Heaven's Guide Pearl requesting authorization," Shiori said feeling a little funny in doing so.

"For Fumi's sake just materialize," Youko harped back over the line causing Shiori to wince and laugh.

"MATERIALIZE."

Shiori joined Kaede and looked over at the ball in the tree line cluster. Shiori whispered something and Kaede laughed nodding her head. Kaede loved Shiori's idea better and commanded the ball's release of the trees. The ball stayed where it was, but Kaede drifted over and handed Little Shiori back to Shizuru. Natsuki gave Shizuru a look and Shizuru just smiled and kissed her effectively cutting off any remarks.

Shiori took hold of Kaede's waist none too shyly and kissed Kaede's GEM.

"Ice Knife Blast Attack" appeared across Kaede's GEM in small words with a five second count down. The mace ball expanded in size though still smaller than Haruka's and shot out icicle representations of the mace's spikes into the nearby trees causing them all to freeze over.

"Oh you are so kidding me right? Two Meister's attack through one GEM," Natsuki said laughing at the frozen trees.

"Well I'm officially jealous. That is definitely better than mine," Haruka said laughing pointing towards the trees.

Kaede was laughing along with them as the ball shrank once again and shot out its spikes shattering the trees efficiently and effortlessly. Shiori loved playing with Kaede, but knew their best attack could not be demonstrated here on simple trees. Shiori flew off and call forth her naginata flying into the already decimated trees little further before lashing out. Just like Shizuru's weapon Shiori's naginata split into links and bounded into different angles before grasping a tree.

Shiori could be heard laughing as she sent an electric jolt through the weapon that exploded the tree into nothing more than simple wooden chips. Shizuru just shook her head and smiled. Natsuki was impressed, but what she really wanted was to see the Juggernaut Assault in action. Well that and of course she wanted to play as well.

"Natsuki Kruger, Second Column…"

"Screw off already Kruger." Youko laughed through the GEM link and cut off.

"Na-tsu-ki," Shizuru said seductively getting Natsuki's attention.

"I know…I know…no cannon. Come on Shiori, how's about a little one on one, just you and me?" Natsuki asked as Shiori rejoined them.

"I wouldn't want to hurt you," Shiori answered smiling very Shizuru like.

"I'm not so old that I couldn't keep up with either of you," Natsuki replied circling both girls.

"If that's the case then why don't you fight me instead?" Kaede asked flying right up to Natsuki and winking.

"Because you are too eager and there's already enough destruction going on," Natsuki replied pointing towards the tree line, "I've never seen Haruka pull a punch so I would think…"

Kaede punched Natsuki for denying her and laughed as Natsuki punched her back just as hard. Kaede felt real good about that hit even though it could have been considered a sucker punch. Natsuki laid in three more before Kaede dropped in a heavy left handed blow similar to the one she used on Haruka last night. Kaede refused to throw another blow until Natsuki flew into her and dive bombed towards the ground knocking the wind out of Kaede in the landing and throwing a few more punches for good measure.

Kaede looked up at Natsuki with a bloody lip and laughed even though winded. That move had definitely hurt, but Kaede loved fighting too much to give in to any weakness. Kaede reached up and grabbed Natsuki's neck and started squeezing off her air supply. Natsuki continued to level blows into Kaede as breathing became harder trying to keep her consciousness.

"Why does this look so familiar, Haruka?" Shizuru asked ready to yell at both of them.

"Like mother, like daughter right?" Haruka said hoping the fence and going over to them.

Haruka pulled Natsuki from Kaede's grasp and tossed her to the ground next to Kaede. Haruka had to laugh because they were both breathing heavy and in that moment Yukariko and the Coral class were watching from a little further back. Yukariko had her weapon aimed their way and Haruka threw her arms into the air.

"That class is inappropriate behavior during a dance battle. Dance battles are not about brute force…" Yukariko started saying as she motioned her class away from them.

Natsuki's throat was sore, but she was laughing as she realized just where that little display had first played out. Natsuki turned to Kaede and slapped her stomach before getting up. Natsuki put her hand out to help Kaede off the ground. Kaede accepted smiling evilly as she pulled Natsuki back to the ground. Natsuki hit the ground with a thud right where she previously lain as Kaede got up and laughed.

Kaede tapped Natsuki on the back and held out her hand in return. At first Natsuki slapped it, but she rolled over and took the offered hand as Kaede kept it in place. Natsuki gave a tug in return that made Kaede laugh as she hauled Natsuki off the ground even as Natsuki was pulling against her.

"Earthbound for a reason Headmistress Kruger," Kaede said as she looked into Natsuki's eyes seeing just where Shiori's fierce gaze came from.

"You are as thick headed as your mother. Listen to me for just a minute…" Natsuki said leading Kaede away from the others.

Kaede was nodding her head at whatever Natsuki was saying. Natsuki turned and gave Shiori and then Shizuru a look that made them both shrug their shoulders at Natsuki. Natsuki just shook her head and turned back to Kaede talking some more as she suddenly put her hands to her ears and walked away.

"That I really don't need to here. The two of you are just incorrigible and the teamwork is just as unfair as it is funny to see," Natsuki said to Shizuru and Shiori as she kept walking away.

"What did Kaede say to Natsuki?" Shizuru asked Kaede with a sharp glare.

"She asked about something Shiori must have talked with her about. I have not talked of this with anyone here," Kaede said smiling even though Shizuru's look gave her the chills.

"So was it before or after the graduation battle, Shiori?" Shizuru asked turning her glare Shiori's way. Kaede completely understood and dropped her materialization as she hopped the fence to take a seat.

Shiori mouthed help me to Kaede as Kaede sat down next to her. Kaede put her hands up and shook her head no. Haruka looked over to Kaede and gave her a curious look that made Kaede smile sheepishly.

"One of you girls' needs to answer the question or I will have Miss Maria ask the questions instead," Haruka said remembering what Miss Maria did to Kaede earlier.

Shiori was playing stubborn but Kaede was going red in the face thinking of her ear. The embarrassment of having Miss Maria ask the question instead made Kaede sick to her stomach thinking of the woman's earlier reprimand.

"," Kaede blurted out rapidly. Shiori turned on Kaede and slapped her arm.

"You are sleeping on the sofa the rest of the time we are here Kaede Armitage," Shiori said as she stormed off her stride exactly like Natsuki's.

Shizuru smiled at Kaede even though she was a little surprised. Kaede just shook her head and sighed. Shizuru looked at Haruka realizing that Haruka was still playing the line in her head. The rapid succession of Kaede's confession was a little too quick for Haruka to completely make out.

"What the Hell did you say?" Haruka asked looking at Kaede.

"The question was about the first time Shiori and I had sexual relations," Kaede said in a Yukino like manner, "I told the truth. It was in Aries' after the graduation battle on vacation, the first night on the beach."

"Oh." Haruka replied simply as the words sank in and then she had to bite back a laugh. Shizuru noticed the look on Haruka's face and stuck her tongue out at Haruka, breaking the hold Haruka had on her laughter.

"Did I not tell you Kaede would crack before Shiori would, Haruka?" Shizuru asked making Kaede wonder just how much Shiori had really told her parents.

"I would have too. I just threatened her with Miss Maria. She's already had one run in today with her," Haruka said smiling at Kaede glad her favorite hand gestures didn't enter her daughters mind during that encounter.

"That was enough pain and embarrassment for one day thank you very much," Kaede said.

"Shiori is too much like Natsuki with her stubbornness. I am glad she did not get the blush as well," Shizuru said passing Little Shiori to Haruka in order to pick up Little Kaede.

"I wouldn't say that. Shiori has learned how to control it under the right circumstances, like now," Kaede said looking down at her younger self and making faces.

"You girls should know I have a long memory. This will not be forgotten," Shizuru said making Kaede wince as she thought of the implied statements behind those words.

"So don't I," Haruka said with a malicious laugh that made Kaede's face go pure white.

"This is so not fair. Shiori could have bloody well warned me, damn it all," Kaede said as she fell back on the bench regretting her easy offering of info. It was really going to be a long couple of nights on the sofa until Shiori actually forgave her.

"I'm still interested in the Juggernaut Assault dear," Shizuru said looking over to Kaede's face.

"I just got a verbal representation of that assault. Thanks to the slip of the lip my sex life for the next few days just imploded thanks for asking," Kaede said wishing she could just crawl under a very large rock.

Florence,

Both Tomoe and Chisa received call backs for the next day and went out to celebrate surviving the first day of auditions. Chisa made sure to play her part very well while trying to seduce Tomoe. After a few drinks at one of the nearby dives Tomoe drove them to Chisa's apartment. Chisa wanted nothing to do with any of the local motels or hotels. Chisa wanted full home court advantage and both had implied earlier that they were lower on funds thanks to the drinks.

In the car, Chisa's hand kept climbing dangerously higher on Tomoe's thigh making her grit her teeth in order to focus and keep the car on the road. This woman definitely wanted Tomoe and Tomoe would oblige her, once the car actually reached its destination. That night in Chisa's bed, Tomoe played her part as well as Chisa had earlier. Tomoe kept thinking of Shizuru and of Miya as she allowed this woman whatever she wanted.

Chisa found the easily captured, enchanting creature in her bed to be pure bliss. Chisa loved the hunt, but not all of her prey could satisfy her urges like this one was. Chisa actually thought of keeping her close by instead of having to chase her again. Tomoe kept flashing through images of Shizuru as her body exploded from this woman's touch.

Tomoe opened her eyes and smiled at Chisa pulling her in close for a kiss. Chisa really loved the pleasure of taking this creature as they found themselves in her shower. They were once again playing their roles, this time Tomoe was taking full advantage of the things she remembered so evilly and deliciously from her time with Shizuru.

When they finally found sleep Tomoe realized that the voices in her head were silent for now and smiled. Chisa was curled into her back holding Tomoe in a stronger embrace than Tomoe knew would be necessary. Both were dangerous creatures in their own ways, but Tomoe knew she had the upper hand in her car if this girl made it necessary. Tomoe was too tired to think past more sleep and drifted off dreaming of Shizuru as always.