Chapter 9: Heart of Steel

Three days had gone by since Shizuru had joined the group of heroines. As they came closer and closer to Artai, the weather had gotten significantly colder. Snow was now visible around them. One day, a violent snowstorm broke out, causing the group to stop and wait out the blizzard under a small cliff.

"Geez, we have the weirdest weather here on Earl." Notokishi grumbled as she sat in her tent.

"A blizzard occurring in a desert, that is strange indeed." Verona said, sitting next to her. "I read that the weather was never like this for our ancestors from Earth, although there were massive hurricanes from time to time."

"Didn't those only occur in tropical regions?"

"Mostly, yeah."

"I wish I was in the tropics right now, instead of this freezing snowstorm."

Just then, Shizuru appeared at the tent entrance, carrying a small box.

"Hello neighbors. Mind if I come in?" she asked.

"No, come inside." answered Notokishi.

Shizuru entered the tent and sat down with the other two.

"What's in the box?" asked Verona.

"My tea kit." Shizuru proceeded to take out three cups and a kettle. "If you'd like, I can make some warm tasty tea for us."

"Sure! That should help warm us up."

Shizuru giggled somewhat evilly. "I'm glad you agree. I'll get started right away."

A few minutes later, Shizuru had made three steaming cups of sweet smelling tea.

"Here you go." Shizuru said, smiling as she passed out the cups.

Verona took a sip of her tea. "Wow! This is delicious! Thanks Ms. Shizuru!"

"It was my pleasure." Shizuru took a very prestigious sip from her own cup.

Notokishi looked down at her cup. Well, it certainly smells good, and it is cold outside. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try it… just as she was about to take a sip, she smelled something odd.

"Hey, Shizuru?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"What exactly did you put in this tea?"

"Oh, just a few special ingredients."

Verona yawned all of a sudden. "Wow, this is so good. I feel so…relaxed…"

"Uh, Verona? You okay?" asked Notokishi.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just… feel… a little…sleepy…." Verona closed her eyes and fell over onto her sleeping bag. She was fast asleep.

"Wow, that was fast." Shizuru said.

"You drugged our tea?" Notokishi accused.

"You seemed so tense lately, I thought I'd help you relax a bit. Don't worry, it should wear off in an hour or two." Shizuru yawned as she finished her sentence. "Oh my, I seem…to have…used… too much… ahhh…." Shizuru fell over, asleep.

"Suddenly, I feel a lot less thirsty."

Notokishi put Shizuru in a sleeping bag and laid her next to Verona.

"(sigh) I'm gonna go check on the others, don't do anything crazy while I'm gone."

Notokishi left the tent and took a look around. The storm was still going, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it was earlier. She was just about to check Kaia's tent, when a faint clanging noise entered her ear. Keeping one hand on her short-sword, she went to investigate the sound. After walking a little ways from the camp, she found the source of the sound. Miyu had her sword arm out, and was battling with what appeared to be…

"Nightmare!" Notokishi yelled. She ran towards the two, drawing her sword. "Miyu, get back! I'll-"

She stopped as she got close. The figure she had thought to be Nightmare was merely a hologram. The hologram disappeared as Miyu's sword arm was replaced by her regular hand.

"Is there something you need?" asked the android.

"Miyu, were you fighting a hologram of Nightmare?"

"Yes. Is there a problem with that?"

"Well no, but-"

Miyu turned away from Notokishi. "If there is no problem, then please allow me to continue my training. I must not be defeated a second time by that bastard."

"Bastard, eh? That doesn't sound like something you would say."

Miyu was quiet for a moment. "Why not? Is that not a term you use to describe someone you hate?"

"Miyu…"

"I will not lose a second time. I must reclaim Lady Alyssa's soul. I must…"

The two stood in silence for a time.

"…. Miyu, you have feelings for Alyssa, don't you?" Notokishi said, breaking the silence.

"I…I am an android. I merely serve as her guardian. I feel no pain, I have no soul. I cannot feel."

"Is that really what you believe?"

"What?" Miyu turned back toward Notokishi.

"Are you saying the only reason you were the first to volunteer for this mission, is because you're Alyssa's guardian?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why? Why are you so eager to rescue her soul? Why are you so hell-bent on defeating Nightmare, if you are only acting as a guardian?"

"Because-" Miyu stopped.

"When Alyssa was killed, I saw you cry. You cried, Miyu. Androids do not cry."

"We are built to be like humans in some ways, crying is part of our programming."

"Don't give me that, you cried because you lost her. You cried because it hurt you to see her die, and there was nothing you could do to save her."

"Silence…" Miyu's hands clenched into fists.

"And just now, you used foul language to describe someone you hate. Why would you speak like that if you don't 'feel'?"

"Be quiet…"

"You can tell all the lies you want Miyu. No matter how much you deny it, you have feelings. It's obvious that even if you're an android, you're hopelessly in love with Alyssa. You want a love that cannot be."

"SHUT UP!" Miyu slapped Notokishi. "I could say the same thing about you, princess! You love that girl, but you know that your feelings won't be accepted by your people! You can't have the one you desire, no matter how much you want her!"

Notokishi put her hand to her face. Miyu had hit her pretty hard. Even though it hurt, she managed to force a smile.

"That really hurt. I must have seriously pissed you off for it to hurt this bad."

"Did you not hear me?"

"Oh trust me, I heard you. And I'm sorry to inform you that you're wrong. Yes, I love Verona. It's true that I was afraid others would find out. But that's where your truth ends. My family and most of my friends already know about us, and they're perfectly fine with it. Not everyone might be fond of the idea of two women being together, but that doesn't matter to me. All that matters is the two of us being together. As long as we're both happy, I don't give a damn what others think."

Miyu stood still, stunned. Her arm was raised to hit Notokishi again, but she lowered it.

"I envy you, Notokishi."

"Hm?"

"You seek a forbidden bond with another, and yet you are free of worry. Others even accept what you want. I do love Alyssa, but I can never have that kind of bond. An android and a human cannot be together. Love must be a wonderful thing for you."

"Hehe, well believe me it's not all that wonderful. Verona did some horrible things because of how she felt about me, and because of that she ended up getting badly hurt. People are willing to commit terrible acts of evil, all for the sake of love." Notokishi turned to leave. "Don't give up hope on your feelings, Miyu. It might seem hopeless, but I'm sure you'll find a way in the end. Everything always does."

Notokishi started to walk, but then a firm hand gripped her shoulder. Miyu was holding onto her.

"Miyu?"

"It's not safe for a human to walk through a blizzard, especially when they're injured. I'll take you back to safety." the android smiled at her.

Notokishi smiled and shook her head. "I guess you've got a point. Lead the way, Miyu."

The two of them walked back to camp, side by side. When they got back, they went back to their own tents. Notokishi smiled as she approached her tent. Whether she'll admit it or not, Miyu's got a heart of her own. I'm sure that someday she'll find a way to be happy. With that last thought, she went inside to find a most unusual sight.

"Shizuru! Get your hands out of Verona's sleeping bag!"