DISCLAIMER: THUMP… THUMP… followed quickly by a loud metallic whine as author adjusts the mike in front of her on the hastily prepared podium.

'As always Sunrise owns Mai HiME and Mai Otome. A toast of thanks to Sunrise and all of its peer companies for providing us with so many years of entertainment otherwise lost to cultural indifference. CHEERS…now for a brief moment of silence to'…bah on with the insanity already (author quickly leaving impromptu podium to return to laptop sighing)

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Well since I forgot last chapter I will make amends here. Michie Tomizawa and Chisa Yokoyama are two of my favorite Japanese voices actress'. My use of their names is intended purely as homage and not an implied representation of their true natures. Reading last chapter's beginning is a slight hint as to what anime they worked on together that sparked my interest in them.

Our Legacy ch41

Garderobe,

Kaede really did not expect to be in the doghouse for four days. This was a bad sign, but she lived with it barely. For the first two nights, Kaede stayed with Haruka and Yukino. This Kaede regretted as she found out just how much her parents loved each other.

"I swear they are mocking my predicament. This is going to leave emotional scarring…" Kaede thought to herself as she tried to block out the noise coming from the bedroom. Kaede wished she could have already been asleep like the twins.

The third night, Kaede slept in Nao's bed while Nao was out with the Stripe's gang. Kaede was sleeping rather soundly until Nao's window opened. The breeze was no problem, the red-headed woman at the foot of the bed on the other hand was.

"Where's Nao?" Midori asked sternly as Kaede tried to focus.

"Obviously not here. She's either still out or across the hall in Youko's room," Kaede said trying to pull the covers a little higher over her half-dressed body.

Midori shot Kaede an evil glare as she walked past the bed out of the room. Kaede took a moment and released the breath she was holding in. The door in the other room never made any noise and Kaede started a mental countdown. Three…Two…One

"Never mind covering up kid I'm not impressed. You did say Youko's room right?" Midori asked half leaning in the doorway. Kaede nodded before collapsing back on the pillows.

That morning Nao and Midori kicked Kaede into the hallway as she was dressed. Midori was smiling as the door was closed by a very pissed off Nao. Miss Maria walked out of her room at that moment and immediately seized Kaede's ear. Miss Maria's choice of punishment was brutal and embarrassing as she kept Kaede half dressed reciting school rules straight through clean-up and then sent her to the Headmistress.

When Kaede entered the office Natsuki and Haruka were both waiting her arrival. They were drinking tea doing their best to look serious.

"So you didn't learn the first time?" Natsuki asked just before sipping her tea to cover a rather large grin.

"I can't believe I'm going to have to explain this to your mother," Haruka said in a sarcastic overtone.

"Nao wouldn't let me get dressed before she kicked me out of her bed or out of her room," Kaede dropping her clothes revealing the exact same view the students had seen. Black half shirt minus bra and black bikini underwear had been all that kept Kaede covered giving the students a rather interesting peep show that was marred only by the recitation of the rules.

"So you get kicked out of my daughter's bed for three nights and decide to shack up with Meister Zhang to ease your loneliness?" Natsuki asked shooting Kaede a harsh glare.

"I am so ashamed of you right now. I guess Yukino and I didn't raise you with a strict enough set of rules or instill the proper oral behavior," Haruka said as she sighed. Haruka looked at Natsuki and both women cracked up laughing at Kaede.

"Neither of you are funny okay," Kaede said as she sat on the opposite sofa, "And for your information its moral behavior."

"No I think for once Haruka got that one right," Natsuki replied laughing even harder. It took a moment, but Kaede just shook her head and started laughing along with them.

Later that night,

Kaede ended up with baby-sitting duties of all four children. Kaede and the babies could not seem to get along more than ten minutes at a whack before Kaede would have to materialize. Shiori watched from the doorway of the office as Kaede was trying to change Kimiko's diaper as quickly as possible.

"You look like you could use some help young Meister Armitage," Shiori said teasingly from the doorway.

"No not really I think now that they are all changed we should get along just fine," Kaede said holding Little Kimiko in a standing position while the other three babies' were content in their chairs.

Shiori ignored the tone of Kaede's voice as she walked into the room and sat near the twins, "It's so hard to believe you were such a small child."

Kaede didn't answer Shiori as she got up holding Kimiko and disappearing to dispose of the offensive diaper and clothing. Kaede returned and looked into the bag of things Youko left behind for Kaede. Shiori tried not to laugh as Kimiko made Kaede struggle with putting her in a clean jumper.

"I never imagined us ever having this chance, Kae," Shiori said keeping her focus on the twins. Even with all the technological freedom in their time it would have been tough. It was not a place to raise children.

"Looks like we never will either unless things in our time change or…" Kaede stopped talking as she remembered Shiori was supposed to be mad at her.

"I'm sorry, Kae, really truly sorry for treating you so badly. I couldn't think of how to tell you or when until it was too late," Shiori said as she tickled Little Kaede's tummy.

After putting Kimiko in her chair opposite of Ayame, Kaede walked around the back of the large sofa and then jumped over. Kaede was sitting on the back rest of the sofa away from Shiori. Shiori's words about them having children hit her like a low blow though she knew they weren't intended as such.

"Forgiving you isn't what I've been thinking about doing. As for us and having children together that's not in our hands right now. Here we could have that choice but I can't allow myself to dream while our friends still live that nightmare," Kaede said in a hollow sounding voice.

"I know you've talked with Megumi about this before, but what if we can't go back to them, Kae?" Shiori asked looking at Kaede sadly. That hollow sound in Kaede's voice carried the regrets they had not voiced to each other before.

"We face that scenario if it comes as we have faced everything else, together with love as our guide. I would have never been able to keep going on these crazy adventures without you by my side. You've been there since the beginning…" Kaede said as she dropped into the seat from the back rest.

"And I will be again no matter how the circumstances may change. Do you think…?" Shiori couldn't finish her question the words were sticking in her throat.

"If they are going to interfere with our futures we may never know the difference. Not from their point of view," Kaede replied pointing towards their younger selves.

"I'm so sorry Kaede. I couldn't help but talk to them about whatever they wanted to hear. I never expected to go that far," Shiori said reaching for Kaede's hand as she turned to face her.

"Thanks to them," Kaede said implying their younger selves once again, "We have some kind of future. Right now as we are I'll take whatever I can get. I never want to be separated from you; I'd rather die than face it all alone."

Shiori started to cry because Kaede was deathly serious about these things. Shiori handled these past few days easily by preoccupying herself with a book from the library and spending time with her parents. Kaede had been a different story altogether. Deep in her heart she echoed Kaede's words. If anyone asked her about her smiles and her tears, Kaede's name was her only answer.

As she opened the door to her darkened office, Natsuki reached for the light switch. Natsuki smiled as she allowed the others into the room. All four babies were asleep together in the playpen and Kaede and Shiori were asleep together on the sofa nearest to the playpen. Everyone made the decision to leave them alone and retired to their rooms for the night. Natsuki turned out the lights once the others were gone and joined Shizuru by the sofa. Standing there together they thought of their own beginnings.

"Shizuru, do you really think it was as simple as Shiori made it sound?" Natsuki asked as she slipped her arms around Shizuru's waist. Natsuki's voice was barely above a whisper.

"The feelings are the simple part, Natsuki. It is the people sharing those feelings who complicate them, do you not remember?" Shizuru asked in return leaning into Natsuki's embrace. Shizuru touched Natsuki's strong arms remembering how they had gradually gained their strength over the years together.

As Natsuki and Shizuru retired to their room Shiori rolled over. Shiori faced Kaede planting a soft kiss on her lips before going back to sleep. Yes it was as simple as that, Shiori thought as she drifted off to sleep again.

Underground Bunker, Founder Core room,

"I'm not taking requests here Hallard. Mitsuko went out without a friggin' word so why can't you?" Nao asked ready to punch the younger Hallard for being so harpy.

"Nao, calm down and sit down please. Chiyako just get out there with Megumi and the others before I hit you instead," Irina said leveling her glasses to the lowest point of her nose without actually taking them off. Her tone and actions told Chiyako that Irina was serious.

Chiyako wasn't moving and Nao was getting up just as Irina lashed out and slapped the girl hard. Megumi came into the room at that moment and tapped Chiyako on the shoulder. Chiyako was still stunned from Irina's stinging slap as Megumi picked her up and carried her out of the room without so much as another word passing.

"Do you feel any better now?" Nao asked pulling Irina into her lap.

"She's afraid of what they will hear. I am too but I pulled a shift out there she can too," Irina said as she lay back into Nao's arms.

"Well we all are for that matter. It doesn't change the fact that Kruger's leading a group back here," Nao turned Irina to face her and stole a breath-taking kiss before trying to get up.

"I'll keep the bed warm until you get back to finish that," Irina said as Nao disappeared from the room with a quick wink.

Irina got up to leave as Keiko came into the room ready to work the board alone. Kohanna was in the greenery as usual and wanted no part of the watch tonight. Kohanna Yumemiya spoke to very few of the girls even when she interacted with them. Being in the bunker depressed her most of all because she had Arika's love for people, places, animals and well hell life in general.

The devastation of Windbloom meant the loss of her family. No one had to tell her about it, no one did, and Kohanna knew it in her heart. Mashiro, Arika, their older daughter Kanna and Meister Nina Wang were gone from Earl and Kohanna wanted nothing more than to be with them once again. Nadia Wang was the only link she had left to her family since they grew up together in the castle, then deciding to attend Garderobe, and finally becoming Columns. It had been nearly six months now that they were located here in the Founder Base.

The day they abandoned Garderobe everyone cried and said good-bye to their parents. Kaede and Shiori leveled the Mausoleum with the Juggernaut Assault which imploded the building in on itself. Though most of the Ancient Earth technology had already been cleaned out of the Mausoleum the data base was still intact with its info. They all promised that the technology would never leave Garderobe again.

"They aren't coming home Mom, so I'll be joining you guys soon enough one way or another," Kohanna said as she sat in the replanted garden. Natsuki's garden for the children of Garderobe had been moved here as well by Keiko Tokiha.

Founder Base Transport number four,

Nao hated driving the transport and seriously missed being a Meister sometimes. Natsuki was coming along with a group her message said. That had been almost five days ago now. Nao had been looking forward to joining Midori and Youko, but she got stuck with guardian duty instead.

Natsuki used Nao's Meister field experience and naturally honed survival instincts as her excuse for Nao being the only choice. Midori and Youko were Nao's reasons for accepting. They told her that one of them should remain with their daughters and Nao caught the meaning as being she should. Youko and Midori were needed in the field for different reasons and Nao understood that perfectly not that she liked it though.

"They, both, best be coming home to me," Nao said thinking of Kruger's lack of info in her message.

"Founder base, come in," Nao said as she kicked on the transports communication system.

"Base here," Keiko replied in her not so jovial manner.

"Are all the connections routed yet?" Nao asked impatiently.

"They've been driving me nuts for the last ten minutes so I guess you could say that," Keiko replied wishing Nao would just cut off already.

"Good Column, now go and take a break and check on Kohanna. She actually likes and talks to you for some reason. Transport out," Nao replied cutting off their line and switching to the GEM's momentarily.

"Get stuffed Chiyako." Megumi's voice boomed through the cabin making Nao wince and turned down the volume slightly.

"I'd actually reply to that if you weren't always with your face glued to Nadia's chest," Chiyako replied.

"Would the two of you stop shouting already it's distracting?" Cara said her tone calm.

"I have to agree with Cara and not just because she's sleeping with my sister," Katsumi replied laughing as Cara shot back.

"I swear by the Founder, Katsumi, you are so going to piss me off," Cara said sounding as though her voice had cracked.

"Do you have to keep saying it so casually? It's not like we don't know this stuff already," Megumi replied cutting over them.

"Oh Kimi… Yes Kimi… more Kimi," Chiyako said sounding as if in the throes of passion.

Nao was actually laughing because Chiyako was doing a very good imitation of Cara at the moment. Kimiko had been none too secretive of her relations with Cara Gallagher over the years, but had never outright had a committed relationship with her until very recently.

"At least we know you're good at something Hallard," Nao said cutting through the link to the entire field of Meisters.

"I'll be waiting for you Chiyako," Kimiko shouted over the link making Nao wince again even though she was still laughing.

"Megumi…"

"Yes, Nadia…"

"I'm wearing your favorite outfit right now and I'm getting really lonely," Nadia replied voice seductively purring through the link.

"Save it for later, Wang. Okay girls this is as far as I'm going. Stick to your assigned search grids and remember to take breaks. You've got two hours, so I'll see you in four," Nao replied as she stopped the transport and got up to stretch. It was going to be a long four hours.