Think of this as the beginning of Part Two of the story. With all the build up done, there'll be more action. I guess I find fight scenes more difficult to write so please bear with me. I already know what will happen, I'm just having a harder time writing it.
I'm also shifting away from the one person a chapter format of the first half. This second half will have mixed point of views (except for Mai's chapter) because it's hard to get all introspective in the middle of a battle. Also, a lot of things will be happening at the same time, since almost all of the remaining chapters will take place within a single day.
Twisted HiME – Departure
by Mara S. S.
Reito grabbed Smith by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
Smith sneered. "A year ago you could have blasted those rebels away. You weakened yourself trying to bring back..."
Smith was cut off when Reito tightened the grip around his throat.
"She. was. my. sister!" Reito grated out, to the sound of Smith's choking.
A tentative knock on the door.
Sakomizu poked his head in. "Ano, Kokuyou -sama? The Princess is ready."
Reito released Smith. Smith fell to the ground coughing on his hands and knees.
Reito was brimming with barely controlled anger. "Tell the Princess," he spat out, "I'll be there in a few minutes."
Sakomizu nodded and wisely left at once.
Smith however, lacked his colleague's caution. "Still trying to impress her I see?"
Reito fiercely kicked the prone Smith. Smith yelped in pain and clutched his stomach.
Reito breathed hard, trying to reign in his rage. Finally, he said coldly, "You're lucky you're still useful."
Smith felt a burst of triumph and carefully concealed it. He hid it until the Obsidian Lord slammed out of the room. He got up then, and despite the bruises he'd accumulated, he had a pleased smile on his face.
-o-
Reito hurried to where Mai and the others were waiting. They were at the train platform, preparing to board.
"My dear, you look lovely today." Reito said, complimenting his wife.
Mai ignored him, instead stroking the cat she'd insisted on bringing along with her.
Reito sighed at this lack of response. "Why don't..." Reito reached out a hand to touch Mai but the cat hissed at him.
Mai looked up at him, her eyes seemed glazed and empty. She looked at him, as if not seeing him, but instead as if she was seeing through him. Reito found it very disconcerting.
Reito could feel the rage rising up within him once more. "Well, what are you waiting for?! Bring her in!" He snapped at the attendants surrounding Mai.
Without saying a word, Mai was hustled inside the train, still carrying that blasted cat.
Reito swore. If the plan worked, he'd drown the cat and kill the Crystal Princess himself.
-o-
Nao leaned against the side of the van. The crisp air was cool on her skin but she paid it no mind. It was dawn, the sky was beginning to lighten though any view of the sunrise was blocked by the buildings enclosing the narrow alley.
The nondescript van was parked in this out of the way alley, waiting for the show to begin, waiting for the storm that could be seen just above the horizon. Nao pulled her jacket tighter around herself.
It was stuffy inside the van. Her techies were crowded inside monitoring the reports from the gangs under her control in the various cities and towns scattered along the route to Fuuka.
Nao had stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea.
She was... Fine, damn it, she was scared.
Scared of what? She didn't know for sure. She wasn't scared this mission would fail. Midori, Akira and the rest had used up the alphabet with their plan A's, plan B's, and plan C's. If it failed, it failed. Nao shrugged. She'd still be the leading godfather, she'd still have her power base.
Nao exhaled sharply and rubbed her arms, considering going back to the cramped van. Her bodyguards would certainly have preferred that though they'd learned by now not to argue with Nao.
People were starting to wake up in the apartment buildings. Voices floated up out of the windows, the smell of food, the banging of pots and pans. She pitied them living their normal and boring lives.
Normal. She hadn't been normal in a long time. Ice cold fear gripped her stomach. To be normal...
If the mission succeeded, if they dematerialized the pillars, she'd have her Mama back. That... that was what she'd worked for all these years. So it was a good thing, right?
Nao scowled and savagely bit off a nail. If Mama was back, what then? Would she have to give up all the money she'd stashed away? She couldn't imagine going back to school and heaven forbid, doing real work. That just wasn't her style.
It seemed winning was just as difficult as losing.
Her thoughts were interrupted when one of her bodyguards called out to her. "Nao-sama, they've arrived at the first one." She went inside the van.
Inside, a seat was given to her. She put on the headphones and watched the screen.
There they were, the royal couple waving at the crowds. It sickened Nao to watch how confetti was showered upon them. It made her even sicker to listen to the newsmen's glowing commentaries.
There would be a quick parade through part of that city, then they would move on to the next one. The town she was currently in was just one along their route, but it was significant because it was between this one and the next one that the rebels would launch their attack.
Nao was their lookout. She would keep an eye on the Obsidian Lord and Twisted HiME as they took a train from place to place. Nao had to make sure both targets were on board and she was also tasked with warning the other rebels of the targets' arrival.
"How long?" She demanded.
"Five hours, give or take."
Nao nodded, her eyes still glued to the screen. "Tell them."
-o-
It was D-Day, and Shiho knew it. The rest of the priestesses were excited about that day, but Shiho could barely keep her fears at bay.
It didn't help that they'd toured Fuuka and the surrounding area. Memories kept assaulting her and she was hard put to keep up her disguise when among the other priestesses.
There were more priestesses than usual at Fuuka, it seemed to Shiho that the entire congregation was present. Perhaps it was the Obsidian Lord's visit, she wasn't sure. Everyone who was in a position to know refused to talk about it.
Shiho wasn't completely empty handed though. She'd heard rumors. Rumors of some of the priestesses being abducted and taken elsewhere. At first it was all hear say, she couldn't find anyone who personally knew someone missing.
But then that morning, Irina disappeared from the building that housed the priestesses.
Shiho asked around, and her search led her to this building. If she remembered correctly, it stood where the Crystal Arena used to be. Except this building was much larger.
Everyone else was watching the news. The Twisted HiME (I hate her!) and the Obsidian Lord had already visited the first few places. They were scheduled to arrive at Fuuka late that afternoon and everyone would be glued to the television screens until then. It provided Shiho with the perfect opportunity to snoop around.
Still wearing the white robes and the white veil of a priestess, Shiho strode forward with confidence.
There was no one at the door when she entered. There was a large open space inside, almost like a gym. In the distance, Shiho could see a very familiar structure.
Then a figure in white, heading towards her. Shiho quickly started walking away before the person could catch sight of her. She still had no idea what this place was but it was her best and only lead.
She turned into an empty corridor, with rooms on either side. It lead to a dead end, but Shiho found a set of stairs leading down. The place was huge, there seemed to be a larger complex underneath.
Shiho peered at the numbered doors, but not daring to open them. Then the sound of voices and footsteps made Shiho freeze. Then the sounds seemed to come closer so Shiho quickly looked around for somewhere to hide.
She could have explained getting lost above ground since Fuuka was quite big but it would be more difficult to explain her presence here. At best she would be disciplined, at worst her identity would be revealed.
There were several doors along the corridor so she picked the nearest one. It was marked "Laboratory #17". She opened the door a crack. Nothing.
She entered and closed the door quickly behind her.
The room was dark except for some dimly lit things she couldn't make out. She fumbled for the light switch.
Shiho gasped.
She'd been wondering why so many priestesses were present for this Anniversary. Now she knew.
There were twelve glowing glass tubes at the end of the room. Each of them held a nude female floating in a greenish liquid with wires attached to various parts of their body.
They were of various races but all of them looked to be either teenagers or in their early twenties.
Shiho took a few steps closer in morbid fascination. Were they... alive?
It sounded cruel but she hoped not. Whatever experiments the Obsidian Lord had been conducting, she doubted it would leave their sanity intact.
There were several computer consoles lining the side of the room. Shiho pushed a couple of the chairs aside and opened one of the computers.
Hurry, hurry, hurry. She mentally willed the blue screen to load faster. She had to find out what this what about. If this was a threat to the rebellion's operation, she had to warn Midori and the others. Fast.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Moving the mouse rapidly, she clicked a folder labeled "Valkyrie Project". Shiho scanned the files quickly but not quickly enough.
There was a creak as the door turned open and a man stepped in.
Shiho turned.
"Well…" A blonde man with glasses drawled out menacingly. "It seems we've caught a rat… or perhaps, a HiME?"
TBC
Disclaimer: Mai HiME belongs to Sunrise.