DISCLAIMER: Mai Otome and its characters are property of Sunrise.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Author will be using italics for dream sequences or memory sequences in order to help separate those memories and/ or dreams. Author also claims those moments of mild confusion and insanity associated with bringing this piece to life.

11/14/09- This story remains a source of pleasure and pain. Thanks for the alerts, reviews, and the lurking…yes I'm still paying attention.

Our Legacy ch43

Founder Base Transport number four,

Somehow Megumi had slept through Nao and Katsumi arguing, but it wasn't a peaceful sleep. Megumi couldn't achieve that without Nadia by her side. Megumi had gotten sick when she saw the large black memorial plaque and then again after telling Nao about it. Nao wanted to see this stone but she wanted food and sleep more. After Nao finished her argument with her daughter, she went to check on Megumi in the next compartment.

Megumi seemed okay to Nao so she left the girl alone. Nao returned to the pit with Cara and took over the last length of the drive back to the bunker. If Nao had looked a little more closely she would have realized that Megumi was dreaming fitfully.

Megumi was sitting with Kaede in her Spartan room talking about their usage of the ring. No one knew the name of the place or its previous function except for maybe Aunt Miyu. Miyu had been responsible for indicating to Natsuki Kruger that the girls might be able to tap into the ring's power with their own inherent power. It had been no more than that before Miyu was gone again. Natsuki had initially fought having the girls attempt such a thing, but all around them Earl was becoming a dead planet. Anything they could do would be better than never trying just as Miyu said.

Kaede was sitting on the edge of the bed she shared with Shiori watching Megumi pace as they hashed out things. Megumi was wound too tightly and it was starting to get on Kaede's nerves.

"MEGUMI…" Kaede said loudly but with no sign of anger.

"Huh…?" Megumi asked stopping for a moment in front of Kaede.

"Take a seat in the chair or on the bed. You are pacing like some caged animal and it is distracting," Kaede said looking at Megumi with a half hearted expression.

"Sorry about that Kae, it just makes me wonder what we are playing with out there. Nao said she's seen more than one and if you can remember Garderobe set one up during the ascension ceremonies," Megumi replied as she jumped onto Kaede's bed and sat with her feet pulled in close, knees up and back to the wall. Kaede didn't turn around to face her not feeling the need.

"I remember plenty of things, Megumi. The one thing that I wish I could forget is that stupid ring. The only reason we are still playing with it is because Shiori and I couldn't wait to steal a kiss," Kaede said wanting to kick something but not wanting to answer to Shiori later for breaking it.

"Yeah well thanks to that little lapse in libido control we learned a lot of things. I'm just sorry it only works for the two of you. It seems so painful for you whenever it fails," Megumi said remembering the screams of pain.

"No, Megumi, It's painful even when we are taken away. How we end up in these other places I'm not going to try figuring out right now? It works because of the twelve of us and that's enough to know right now. We've seen two different pasts and an alternate future without me, I really can't say I enjoy any of this, but I'm not about to spend the rest of my life here or out there in the ruins," Kaede said as she dropped back on the bed closing her eyes.

"Well in that context Kae, if you guys are really going into the past, doesn't that mean we could do something to change it?" Megumi asked watching Kaede's chest rise and fall with her breathing.

"There's no way to know when we'll end up or if we'll even find our past. Sure, Shiori and I have noticed some differences, but does that mean we'll eventually find the right one?" Kaede said as she slowed her breathing and relaxed making Megumi frown.

"Say you did find the right one though, hypothetically, would we even now if it worked? Would you guys come home with the memory of the change already in place? Would you remember this conversation and the bunker and the devastation? Would you even come home at all?" Megumi replied laying down similarly to Kaede trying to do as she was.

"Don't leave out the last one, Megumi," Kaede said as she felt Megumi settle in next to her.

"I don't like to say it out loud, Kaede. I don't want to think that it would be necessary for the change to be complete," Megumi said turning on her side to face Kaede.

"Or Shiori and I might not come back at all because we die in order to seal the deal. See now it's been said and you can move on from it. And you can stop staring at my chest, Megumi," Kaede said as she opened her eyes, turning to face Megumi. Some things between them would never change. Kaede would use humor in more serious moments and poor Megumi would always have a breast fixation.

"I've got a better set in my room Kae. I just can't help the fact that you've got second largest chest on the base. It's not like I'm trying to play with it or anything like that. Wait a second, stop trying to change the subject to my fixation, damn it," Megumi said noticing the hint of a smile starting on Kaede's face.

"Anymore, Megumi, not like you are trying to touch my chest anymore," Kaede said making them both laugh momentarily.

"Fine I resemble that remark, okay. Now, as for that last scenario, it might just have to happen, but none of us would know including you and Shiori. I've also been wondering what will happen back here if and when that does happen," Megumi said laying her head on her joined hands as she rolled onto her stomach.

"Maybe nothing will happen that you'll consciously remember. You might go to sleep and wake up thinking it was some bad dream. Or maybe you'll think you were daydreaming, or who knows what else?" Kaede said throwing her arms up behind her head rolling once again onto her back.

"Well I'm wondering if we'll see any physical changes. Or if some of us might start having different memories? Or seeing things that aren't necessarily there, you know what I mean," Megumi said from between her hands muffled slightly by the bed.

"What happened to having some faith in ourselves and our powers in setting things right, Megumi?" Kaede asked as she rolled onto her side again and tapped Megumi's head reminding her of the last attempt.

Megumi woke up with a start as she realized the tapping sensation wasn't just some dream. Keiko was standing by the bunk looking into her eyes showing some concern. Megumi sat up a little too quickly and hit her head on the overhead compartment. Keiko laughed as Megumi swore and slid off the top bunk.

"You've been asleep for quite awhile now and the others were worried," Keiko said as she followed Megumi out of the transport.

"So they waited to have you wake me?" Megumi asked looking back at Keiko.

"Nadia's cooking for you or they would have sent her. Nao mentioned you were sick to your stomach before going to sleep. Nadia is making you some ramen," Keiko said as they entered the bunker and headed for the kitchen.

"Well I hope you are hungry too because I'm not eating alone. I'm not even sure I'm really hungry to tell you the truth," Megumi replied as she sat down looking at Nadia standing by the pot fixing her usual bowl.

"You'll eat…" Keiko said as she realized she would too. Nadia had fixed her a bowl as well.

"I'm going to get some clean clothes ready for you because after this we are getting into a nice hot shower. Do I make myself perfectly clear Megumi Tokiha?" Nadia said as she set their bowls down and stole a quick kiss.

"Hey if she doesn't take a shower with you, I will," Keiko replied trying to make a joke.

"…"

"…"

"Okay not so funny, I was only joking. Stop with the death glares already," Keiko said laughing nervously.

Nadia just walked out of the room leaving them to their ramen and conversation.

"Their mine Keiko, remember that, mine," Megumi said as she inhaled the warm steam and aroma that followed along with it.

"I'm not the one with the breast fixation, 'Gumi. You were the one that earned that lovely little blessing," Keiko replied as she was preparing to take in her first mouthful of noodles.

"Do you even have sex or are you still a virgin?" Megumi asked smiling wickedly, just as Keiko finished inhaling her noodles. Keiko nearly choked and took a moment to compose herself again as Megumi ate and watched her as if awaiting an answer. Keiko kicked Megumi's leg and resumed eating not dignifying such a question.

"Solves that conversation now doesn't it?" Megumi asked as she stood up and left the room taking her bowl with her.

Underground Bunker, Irina's room,

"So Megumi saw something out there?" Irina asked as she stripped Nao of her shirt and bra, "lie down and get comfortable."

"I'm not going to try to explain it. We'll all get some sleep and then make a trip out there together," Nao said as she slid off her boots and pants before lying down as told. Irina waited for Nao to get comfortable before climbing on the bed and straddling her waist. Nao shifted a little and then laid her head on her arms in front of her. Irina slowly warmed some oil in her palms before applying it to Nao's back and kneading it into her muscles.

"So we're supposed to just wonder what the two of you already know until we see it for ourselves." Irina said as she worked her hands down Nao's back and slowly back up.

"That's the game plan. Hell I haven't even seen it yet so don't sound so upset about it," Nao said as she felt her muscles loosening pleasantly under Irina's touch.

"Well then I'll just have to make sure to get a good night's rest for tomorrows little excursion," Irina replied as she slid off Nao's back and onto the bed. Irina got into a comfortable position taking her glasses off and handing them to Nao, "Put these on the stand for me."

"So just because I won't tell you I don't get a backrub?" Nao asked gently placing the glasses on the nightstand and then looking at Irina.

"That's not the only thing you aren't getting Juliet Nao Zhang," Irina said as she turned to face the wall, "kill the lights too."

"All because of a little stone, you've got to be kidding me?" Nao asked staring disbelievingly at Irina's back.

"Lights' please…" Irina said not answering Nao's question.

Nao leaned closer to Irina and moved her hair away from her neck, kissing the nape softly, "How's about a compromise? A word or two for each kiss depending upon the area and your reaction."

"Try pleading a better case first," Irina said as she rolled over and smiled at Nao.

Cardair-Windbloom transport,

Sarah was on her way back to Garderobe to give Natsuki the information she picked up personally. Sarah left Maya and Akane to handle passing off of this little plan of theater employee searches to the others involved in Tomoe's case. Sarah just wanted to climb into her bed and forget about the past few days. Ahn's indecision still weighed heavily on her mind as she sat in the transport dining car. Sarah really wasn't hungry but needed to eat something before trying to get some sleep.

Sarah order a soup and some tea hoping it would be enough to ease her into sleep. Ahn had sent her off without tears or an answer. The only thing she gave Sarah was a picture of them with Cara in Sarah's arms. Sarah was looking out the window watching the scenery though it held very little interest.

The picture Ahn gave her was on the table just barely covered by her hand. It was such a great moment to remember that Sarah had trouble putting it away in moments like this one. Luckily the food didn't take too long and Sarah was more than happy to get away as a crowd was filling the car. Sleep was still hard to come by that night, so Sarah just lay on her back and stared at the ceiling of her room thinking of her daughter's smile.

"Please Ahn, join me at Garderobe."

Garderobe,

Kaede went for an early morning run before the students were due for morning cleaning of the grounds and ran into Nao and Midori out by Natsuki's garden. Neither woman said a word to Kaede as she passed them by though Midori did wink at her earning a playful swat from Nao.

"What are you thinking Midori she's the same age as Kimiko you know?" Nao said laughing as she realized what she was implying.

"Doesn't look that way to me, I'd say she's the same age as your Headmistress," Midori replied watching Kaede's retreating form.

"Ah, you are incorrigible you know that?" Nao asked as she leaned into Midori's arms. It had been a very long night for the two of them.

"At least we've agreed on that much," Midori said as she kissed Nao's cheek.

"I'm not going to agree to anything else until we've given it a fair run through. It's asking a lot of us to trust each other with such a relationship," Nao answered as she snuggled in closer to Midori's chest.

"My life gets turned over every time I come up here to be with either of you. My people need me to be there just as much as I need to be with you or Youko and Kimiko. Help me, Nao, help me do this so that I can feel assured that my girls are all safe without me," Midori said looking out into the sky her emotions guarded even though the plea in her voice rang loud and clear.

Midori asked Nao and Youko to raise Kimiko here at Garderobe while she continued to care for her tribe. Nao was very reluctant after what had taken place between her and Youko. Kaede had let slip that Nao might be in Youko's room and that had been where Midori found her. They were talking only but Midori cared less anyway if it had been something more as Nao had admitted later on.

"Listen, Nao, my love for you will remain the same either way okay. I need you to be me for Youko while she's here. Kimiko is going to wear her down without someone to help her. Babysitters are nice, but children need two full time parents," Midori said thinking of how phony that actually sounded. There were plenty of children who turned out just fine with only one parent.

"When do we get our time in all of this Midori, you and me?" Nao asked pulling away from Midori looking for the answer in her eyes. Nao knew Midori would be there like now, when she could. The things Midori had proposed were not unthinkable and were actually doable if Nao could give it a chance.

"So when is Youko bringing her ass out here to talk with us?" Nao asked looking around for signs of the third person involved in this plan of Midori's.

"So you slept with her…" Midori said not asking a question or needing an answer.

Youko was now heading their way as Nao nodded her head. Nao raised her hand motioning for Youko to move her ass since the students would be due out soon enough. Youko did not sit down because she wanted to be gone as quickly as Nao seemed to. Youko did not know that Midori knew about her and Nao sleeping together.

"I'll agree to this only if Nao agrees to come to Aswad for Kimiko's presentation. If she is going to be a parent then she should be present as well," Youko said looking directly at Midori.

"I'm not the one that needs to understand that, Youko. If she's going to share our beds then she should share in everything that comes along with that," Midori said causing Youko to look at Nao stunned by the truth.

"How can you be so casual about this after everything… you just expect me to play along because I took her into my bed in a moment of weakness?" Youko asked waiting for one of them to answer. It wouldn't matter which one did because now Youko felt trapped and betrayed by both.

"There is nothing weak about you, Helene, human, yes, but not weak," Nao said standing to face the woman.

"Sit down Zhang. We aren't puppets for you to pimp around to suit your needs, Midori. I satisfied my needs and I am done with playing games. I can accept her as being a proxy parent for you though it seems unfair to place either of us in that situation. Don't even for a single minute think that I will take her as a lover because the great and powerful Midori grants her permission. This is not a game it is our lives," Youko said fiercely, her blood was boiling now.

Midori now got up and touched Nao's arm. Nao moved aside for her and the two women were now face to face. Nao felt the same apprehension as Youko. Midori's face went from stoic through a range of anger and frustration before she could pull her answers from her brain to give them voice.

"If this situation is unacceptable for either of you, that's just fine by me. Go get Kimiko, come back to the Aswad and raise her there with me then. Walk away from Garderobe right now…The moral high ground you are struggling to fight from is too weak to support the weight of your arguments. You slept with the woman I want to take back with me, even if she is kicking and screaming the entire way and you think I am the one playing a game. I could kill both of you where you stand for that matter and then walk over your corpses and retrieve my daughter killing anyone else if necessary to do so. That's not my intention. Kimiko is better served growing up here and I am willing to make those concessions for her. I am leaving right now, but I will return on the next full moon for a stinking answer either way from both of you."

Midori stormed off leaving the two of them standing there speechless. Youko stormed off to the Founder core blood still boiling now that Midori painted her into a corner. Nao just stood there and watched back and forth between the two women. That had not been unexpected though the fire in Midori's eyes and the resentment in her heated words gave Nao a momentary pause.

Nao's feelings for this woman didn't change because of her night with Youko. Midori's actions right now only gave Nao another reason to find love for and with her. Midori was trying to provide and protect the people she loved and called family, this was something Nao herself had become a strong advocate of recently also. Nao slowly walked back towards her room fighting back the swaying emotional tide within her.

Nao flung the door wide open as she entered the staff building and heard two thumps. Shiori had reached the door at that same moment, intending to meet up with Kaede, and was sent into the wall forcefully before slumping to the floor hard. Nao closed the door and glared at the girl on the floor before continuing back to her room.

Shiori shook off the initial shock of the impact and just barely caught sight of Nao heading away. Shiori got up and followed Nao to her room trying to close the distance between them before Nao was in her room.

"Meister Zhang could you stop for a moment please?" Shiori asked. Nao held up a hand with a crude gesture but kept going anyway.

"Meister Zhang, listen to me. You know Kaede and I are from the future and don't lie about what we say. You need to tell them, they'll know soon enough you know," Shiori said causing Nao to stop in her tracks cold.

"Mind your business Kruger junior," Nao said as she shook off a chill and stepped into her room.