Chapter 13: Looking for Answers

Author Notes: Sorry for the wait had a lot going on and a lot of writer block.

Nana-chan: Since you didn't leave a signed review for whatever reason I'll comment here. I didn't change my plans to appease people I hadn't planned on really killing her from the beginning. Several other readers even picked up on the hints I had left such as Shizuru needing to talk to Youko then all the sudden out of no where Natsuki starts crashing. Plus as Devil-Urd pointed out if Maya had Natsuki's GEM why was there no body? If I had intended to have her stay dead the story would have been marked angst.

(Principal's Office, Garderobe)

"You wanted to see me Suki?" Alyssa asked walking into the office quickly closing the door. The staff and a few students that had seen her knew Natsuki was alive but it hadn't been made public knowledge yet. They planned to have a press conference later that afternoon but until then those that knew were instructed to keep quiet and Natsuki was to remain in her office.

"I'm only letting you call me that to be nice." Natsuki said adjusting her arm in its sling.

"Being nice? Oh why since you faked your death and couldn't even tell your family you weren't dead?" Alyssa said putting her hand on her hips.

"You know the reasoning behind it." Natsuki said hearing Alyssa click her tongue and pushed herself out of the desk with her good arm but was gently pushed back down by Shizuru. "Look I'm sorry it had to happen like that. Anyway I need your help."

"With what?" Alyssa asked watching Natsuki slink down in the chair. "Kami-sama don't tell me mom wasn't in the loop. You might not have really been dead but you are so gonna be when she finds out."

"Which is why I need you help smoothing this over; come on Alyssa out of the three of us kids you were always mom's favorite." Natsuki said almost wishing her older brother Izumi was here he had a way of calming Saeko Kruger down that not even their father had mastered yet.

"How you want me to pick up the phone call her?" Alyssa said mimicking holding a phone to her ear, "Yeah hi mom look there is something I need to tell you. Yep it's important you know my older sister yeah the one we buried last week well guess what she's not really dead."

"Baka I'm not going to tell her over the phone." Natsuki said standing up but stumbling until Shizuru helped steady her. "We are going on a field trip. She's staying at the Imperial Hotel."

"I know this unlike some people I wasn't pretending to be dead." Alyssa said handing Shizuru a cloak that was draped over the desk. She helped Natsuki put the cloak on the stepped back, "Okay what exactly am I doing?"

"Batting those pretty blue eyes and looking cute so mom doesn't kill me." Natsuki said taking her crutch and leaning over kissing Shizuru.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come?" Shizuru said stroking Natsuki's cheek.

"It's fine, besides I need you here to arrange the press conference. I can't exactly do it since I'm supposed to be dead." Natsuki said leaning into Shizuru's hand she reached up to Shizuru's hair and traced the pin there just as Shizuru had done to her so many times, she smiled as she felt Shizuru lean into her touch. "My pin looks good on you."

"I suppose I should give it back now that you aren't dead anymore." Shizuru said reaching up to take it off but Natsuki stopped her.

"No, my mother gave it to you didn't she?" Natsuki said her hands still lingering on Shizuru's hair.

"Hai, Youko felt it best that it went to your mother to make everything seem real. She gave it to me. She said I should have it." Shizuru said still leaning into Natsuki's hand.

"You know mother hasn't even given one of these to Dori and she's been married to my brother close to twelve years." Natsuki said.

"Natsuki," Shizuru quietly said staring into Natsuki bright green eyes.

"I should go." Natsuki said kissing her again. "We'll talk later."

Shizuru nodded and watched Natsuki and Alyssa leave the room. Natsuki pulled the hood up over her head having a little trouble doing it with only one hand. When Alyssa tried to help Natsuki just pushed her hand away. "You know I told you that mom liked Shizuru-onee-chan." Alyssa said.

"Yeah, yeah Blondie," Natsuki said nodding.

They walked the rest of the way in silence until the reached the doorman to the Imperial Hotel. The man wore a dark red suit and blocked the door. "Drop the hood." The man said wondering who this person was and knew he wasn't allowed to let just anyone in. Especially with everything that had happened.

When Natsuki refused he moved to do it for her but Alyssa stepped in front of Natsuki blocking him and holding up an envelope. "A letter from Meister Blythe the acting headmistress," Alyssa said handing the letter to the doorman.

The doorman quickly looked at the letter then handed it back stepping aside for the two women. Natsuki headed to the stairs at first, she normally would take them preferring them to an elevator but stopped when she realized how much work it would be to climb them. Her nano-machines had nearly healed her wound but due to the overload they required to heal the wound she was weak. Helene was right she should be in bed still but she had enough sitting around in bed. She redirected herself to the elevator with Alyssa following right behind her.

At the room Alyssa knocked and both entered hearing their mother's voice and seeing Saeko sitting over a stack of books on Garderobe law. It had been a while since she covered it and she had been given news of Tomoe's capture. Being a former prosecutor she intended prosecute her. "Mother," Alyssa said after Natsuki nudged her.

"Alyssa I'm busy," Saeko said still not turning face them. "Shouldn't you be in class?"

"I have a pass." Alyssa said looking up at Natsuki now nudging her to say something.

"What for? I have a lot work to do before the trial." Saeko said, "I won't let that twit get away with murdering my daughter."

"Mother," Natsuki said dropping her hood and standing there.

Saeko sat there frozen dropping her pencil onto the table refusing to move for several minutes until she turned seeing Natsuki standing there. She knocked the chair over as she stood and headed over to Natsuki nearly knocking her over as she hugged her. "How?" Saeko said touching Natsuki's face tears dripping down her eyes.

"I'm sorry mother I'm so sorry." Natsuki said falling into her arms using her mother to support herself.

Saeko eased Natsuki into a chair seeing she was quite weak. "Sorry? You're alive." Saeko said still stroking her daughter's cheeks. "I was told Tomoe killed you. I buried you."

"I'm sorry I lied to you." Natsuki said. "Tomoe came close to killing me. We thought it best if it looked like she had killed me."

"Nobody knew." Alyssa said, "The other columns weren't even in the loop."

Saeko paused for a moment then backhanded Natsuki across the cheek. "Ow what was that for?" Natsuki said rubbing her cheek.

"You faked your death and felt it wasn't important to tell your own mother?" Saeko said turning her back and taking a few steps before turning back. "Did Shizuru even know?"

"Yes," Natsuki said her mother about to interrupt her but Natsuki stopped her. "Shizuru wanted to tell you but I wouldn't let her. She had nothing to do with not telling you."

The older woman stood there staring at her daughter while the youngest wisely decided to stay out of this. The silence stretched on for several minutes before Saeko finally spoke. "That must have been one hell of an argument between you two. I suppose she still has your pin?"

"You gave it to her I thought…" Natsuki said getting cut off.

"She can keep it. I meant it when I told her she was part of my family. I'll have your father get your Great Aunt's pin out of the safe and send it to you." Saeko said pulling another chair up and sitting down. "Pull up a chair Blondie." Alyssa stared at her a minute then did as she was told.

(Fuka Palace, Windbloom)

"Back to normal I guess." Shie said sitting on a bench in the gardens with Imari leaning against her.

"Nina-chan has been cleared and Tomoe arrested but the principal is still dead." Imari said looking over at Nina and Sergay sitting on the other side of the yard. The day after Alyssa had claimed to see Natsuki she had come back to her onee-samas and apologized for getting excited about nothing and told them that she hadn't actually seen her older sister. Imari thought her room attendant had been acting strange but didn't say anything about it to the girl. "I heard that they were going to wait until our class graduates and choose one of us as her replacement."

"Who knows maybe they will choose you." Shie said stroking her hand through Imari's hair.

"Me a column?" Imari said looking up at the other pearl.

"Yeah, you would be closer to Aries." Shie said placing a kiss on her cheek. "Closer to me"

"Headmistress isn't an easy job." Imai said staring over at Nina and Sergay, "They look cute together."

(Across the courtyard)

"Ni-na," Sergay said holding Nina in his arms. He hadn't seen her since she had been arrested by Nao several days ago. Nao had tried to explain to both of them that it would be okay and that the charges against her wouldn't stick. "They let you go? I thought you were going to be tried with Tomoe."

"Tomoe's been arrested and there has been some new evidence that I can't talk about just yet but trust me everything will be alright." Nina said resting her head on his shoulder. "Meister Viola is holding a press conference later today where she will explain that Tomoe has been caught and that Garderobe will be trying her."

"I've been hearing rumors from the maids in the palace that the prosecutor will be the former headmistress' mother. That she is a big shot lawyer in Aries." Sergay said.

"Saeko Kruger, hai. She's been here since the principal's funeral." Nina said recalling seeing the older woman at Garderobe a few times. "Nao-sempai told me when everything with Tomoe is over she would talk to Kruger-sama about you. She says that Kruger-sama knows everything there is to know about the law."

"Mashiro-sama says that my hearing before the council is going to be postponed until after the trial as well." Sergay said. "If everything goes well by the end of the year you will be a full Meister and we can be together. Just like at the cabin."

"I miss the cabin." Nina said still leaning into him. "Sometimes I wish we were still there."

(Stairs to the Mausoleum, Garderobe)

Maya stood before a podium a large group of reporters, behind her the other three columns stood along with a hooded figure. "There have already been rumors that Tomoe Marguerite was captured. These rumors are true last night Marguerite was arrested while attempting to break onto the campus. Plans for her trial have been underway since prior to her arrest. Tomorrow morning she will be tried by Garderobe."

"Meister Blythe," A reporter from the crowd asked waiting for Maya to acknowledge him. "A Garderobe council requires five columns you only have four to your ranks and one of them is on suspension."

"There are five of us." The figure in the cloak said stepping forward dropping her hood. Natsuki had to close her eyes at all the bright flashes from the cameras using her crutch to walk to the podium. The crowd's roar grew so loud that Natsuki had to use her fingers to increase her whistle being sure to lean into the microphone. The speaker hissed and everyone became quiet. "Please save all questions to the end. After Marguerite attacked me I was severally injured. We allowed the public to believe I was dead to draw Marguerite out of hiding in hopes that she would become bolder. We were correct and yesterday she was apprehended."

"Meister Kruger, how do you intend to have a fair trial if she is to be tried by Garderobe and the offence she is accused of happened to Garderobe?" Another reporter asked.

"The council will only be made up of two columns Meister Blythe and Meister Gallagher. The other three judges have been requested from Windbloom, Florence and Cardair." Natsuki said hearing the crowd start up again she waved her free hand silencing them. "Meisters Soir and Huit are currently on their way with the judges selected by their nations."

"Meister Kruger what of Meister Viola? It was reported that she is to receive six months of confinement." A report called out.

"Due to new evidence involving Lord Marguerite in the attack on Garderobe Meister Viola's sentence has been decreased to only eight months restriction to Garderobe. Now if you will excuse us no more questions we have much to plan before the trial." Natsuki said turning around and limping back into the Mausoleum.

(Dungeon, Garderobe)

The door to the cell swung open and Shizuru stepped inside, much like last time Tomoe sat on the bed looking down at the ground. "Marguerite," Shizuru said looking at the younger girl.

"Come to strike me down?" Tomoe said looking up, "I'm surprised you hadn't done it sooner."

Shizuru stood staring at Tomoe taking a deep breathe without showing that she as agitated. She briefly closed her eyes and then opened them, "I'm told you declined a lawyer."

"Why would I need one? I did it. My only regret is not staying to watch the clueless wench bleed out and sparkle out." Tomoe said spitting on the ground.

"It would be in your best interest to accept council. We have arranged for a lawyer from Florence to represent you." Shizuru said looking at Tomoe though she wanted to reach across and beat the ingrate into the ground.

"It matters not." Tomoe said looking away from Shizuru, "I will be dead or gone before it happens."

"We intend to give you a fair trial." Shizuru said feeling her hand began to twitch and quickly pressed it to her side being sure to make it unnoticeable. She wanted so much to handle this in her own way but after her talk with Valerie she knew she couldn't take matters into her own hands.

"You should have killed me while you had the chance." Tomoe said standing up and stepping closer to Shizuru.

"That's where you and I differ." Shizuru said holding her ground and clinching her fist.

"We both know that Kruger forces you to live a lie. I wonder what she would say if she saw you and I as we were during the war." Tomoe said adding a laugh to it. "You laying under me panting for breathe and calling out my name." Shizuru didn't say anything just reached out and slapped Tomoe splitting her lip. "I let you have it for now but I will have you Onee-sama."

"You don't understand anything." Shizuru said turning away from Tomoe and walking to the door. "Perhaps you never will."

"I swear you will be mine!" Tomoe shouted.

"Your lawyer will meet with you in an hour." Shizuru said knocking on the door and leaving the cell.

(Courtroom, Garderobe)

Shizuru, Natsuki and Nao sat on a bench off the side of the bench looking over at the bench where Maya and Sara both sat along with the judges from Windbloom, Cardair and Florence. Windbloom had appointed Dexter Freedman a judge of some thirty years. Cardair's judge was Ramona Calyx a relatively new judge. The last judge was Magus Herald from Florence. Natsuki's eyes drifted over to her mother who stood shuffling papers, Natsuki recalled when she was a child sitting in the courtroom watching her mother pace the courtroom peeling layers of deceit back. "Where is the detail? They left ten minutes ago to get Marguerite." Natsuki whispered to Shizuru.

Before Shizuru had a chance to answer four pearls led by Yukariko came running in all of them in their robes. "Headmistress, the prisoner has escaped." Yukariko whispered.

"Escaped?" Natsuki said a little louder the she intended causing the courtroom to fill with whispers. Lowing her voice she swore then looked over to Nao, "Get on the street with that damninable gang of yours and find her." Nao nodded then jumped over the railing ran out of the courtroom. "Yukariko tell Maya to call a recess and to report to my office along with Sara." Shizuru quickly stood helping Natsuki stand all while the courtroom had gone from a quiet whisper to a roar. "I want you on the streets too Shizuru."

"Natsuki... I can't I'm restricted to the campus remember?" Shizuru said holding her arm out for Natsuki. The headmistress had decided not to use her crutch today not wanting to seem at all weak. Though the walk to the courtroom had been harder then she thought.

"Damnit," Natsuki hissed then took Shizuru's arm walking from the room.

(Principal's Office, Garderobe)

Natsuki tapped her pen on the desk hating that she was trapped her when she wanted to be on the streets searching for Tomoe. She reached for the phone hitting the direct line to the laboratory the phone rang twice before Shizuru picked up the other line. "Shizuru report," Natsuki growled.

"All sectors of the city have been swept and the Windbloom Guard has completed eighty percent of the door to door search. All Otome units have reported in except Nao who has requested radio silence." Shizuru said. Being confined to campus she had gone to help Youko monitor the search.

"Radio silence? Forget that and get that cat on the line I want a full report." Natsuki barked at Shizuru. Luckily for Shizuru she knew Natsuki wasn't angry at her just frustrated. Though before Shizuru had a chance to open a line to Nao the door swung open and Nao entered without knocking. "Never mind she's here." Natsuki hung up the phone and looked up at Nao. "Turning off your communications during a major search what are you thinking?"

"I'm trying to get information it's hard enough to get anything from these lowlifes even worse when I've got Viola chirping in my ear every five minutes." Nao said sitting in one of the chairs. "They already don't trust me because I am a column now."

"Lowlifes? Don't forget you used to be one of them. I know how Artai padded your records." Natsuki said during the beginning of Nao's coral year Natsuki had suspected something. When she found proof as had nearly thrown Nao out of the school but Fumi had overridden her and ordered that Nao be allowed to remain.

"Whatever Kruger you want to hear what I found out or not?" Nao said pulling a nail file from her pocket. She waited for Natsuki to wave her hand signaling her to continue. "Tomoe broke out sometime last night hired a couple guys to smuggle her out of the city. Before you ask they weren't mine if my boys had anything to do with this I'll personally beat them into the ground. She was heading towards Cardair."

Natsuki let out another growl picking up the phone, "Recall Maya and Sara. Have Maya fly directly to Cardair and have Sara check every port between here and Cardair."

"Makes you wonder how she got out." Nao said after Natsuki hung up the phone.

"I have Irina checking the cell now. So far there are no signs of her forcing her way out." Natsuki said.

"Unless she had help," Nao said continuing to file her nails every so often blowing on them and wiping them on her pant leg.

"What are you saying?" Natsuki said, "The only ones allowed access were columns and her lawyer. When the lawyer was there he was search both when he entered and left."

"I'm sure you've seen the logs the only column to make contact was Viola. We both know she has a history with Marguerite." Nao said.

"Watch what you are assuming Zhang." Natsuki hissed.

"I'm sure you know everything that happened between them. Forgive me it wasn't my place." Nao said standing, "If you would excuse me I am bad need of a shower."

Natsuki watched Nao leave then sat staring at the door. Sure she knew everything that happened? Truth was she knew nothing. Shizuru refused to tell her anything, telling her that she wasn't ready and that everything she did she did for her. She was still staring at the door when it opened and Shizuru walked into the room.

"Come to bed puppy it's been a long day. We've done everything we can for now." Shizuru said helping Natsuki stand and walk to the bedroom. She helped Natsuki sit on the bed and take her coat off. "Natsuki what is wrong?"

"Shizuru, I need to know." Natsuki said not elaborating and knowing by the look on Shizuru's face she already knew.

"Need to know about what puppy?" Shizuru said sitting on the bed stroking her hands through Natsuki's hair pretending like she didn't know.

"About what happened during the war, what happened between you and Tomoe?" Natsuki said feeling Shizuru freeze and was silent. "Shizuru..."

"Natsuki, no I can't not yet." Shizuru said looking away from Natsuki spotting the spot on the wall that had been repainted.

"When Shizuru? Are you ever going to tell me? I need to know what happened between the two of you." Natsuki said looking up at her reflection in the mirror seeing Shizuru sitting behind her. She couldn't see all of Shizuru's face but thought she saw the other woman crying.

"Natsuki," Shizuru said turning so her back was to Natsuki. "Forgive me I can't."

"Never mind," Natsuki said standing up and kicking her shoes off. She struggled to change into her night clothes refusing Shizuru's help then climbed into bed. She then laid down on her side with her back to Shizuru and seemed to ignore her.

"I'm sorry." Shizuru said getting into bed after changing herself and slid close to Natsuki putting her arms around her. When Natsuki didn't respond Shizuru leaned over kissing her on the cheek. "Good night love." Shizuru rested her head on the pillow closing her eyes to block the tears unaware there were tears in Natsuki's eyes as well.

The End….

Author Notes: I know I left them hanging a little but it will lead into another ShizNat fic I have floating in my head. I kinda cut this one short as lately it's been hard to write for especially with ideas for other stories in my head. I don't usually like to run two stories at once so I'll close this one out and soon will run a Shiznat. Though the next one is a Haruka / Yukino fic that I've had on my hard drive a while. Hope you enjoyed this and don't worry Tomoe will get what's coming to eventually.