Treasured

Chapter I: Shizuru Viola Fujino, of the Southern Elegant Seas

Disclaimer: Fortunately for every Mai Hime/Otome fan who's interest do not lie within the Shiznat couple, I do not own the Mai series. If I did- hell would break loose, and everyone would suicide.

A/N: This is in fact, a pirate tale inspired off the pirates RPs me and my friend made. The story takes place during the well-known pirate era, however countries, places, and ect are not of our world.
Mai Hime and Otome characters are present. Yay!
The main pairing is obviously Shiznat like 98.5 of the Mai Hime section.
And one last thing! I have read this piece of literature at least 20 times now- checking, and re-checking for mistakes because I do not have a beta.

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I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.
- Leo Rosten

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The ocean was vast. Vast enough to be considered like a sky that stretched on forever for dreamers. Its deep blue contents filled with mysteries always reflected the colours of its twin and even clouds, a faithful companion to that of the sky had been mirrored by the ocean. The bravest of the brave had always dreamed of taking flight above this grand, blue space that lurched between clumps of land. To them, it meant everything.

Methods to sail upon the great sea had been a struggle for humanity, but as time elapsed, humans gained more knowledge fueled by the need for freedom. New formulas were created, and a revolution began. It was the new age of navigation. Transportation, exportation, and importation became common as wealthy countries became fatter, and poorer countries starved. Despite the flourishing riches that traveled from one continent to the other- misery remained. The prosperous were blind and the unfortunate vengeful.

Classes separated the rich from the poor. Violence was on the rise, hence the Official World Organization of Peace was established. It was an international union of military forces that worked within different areas. Despite its international reputation, this organization was ruled by one single country- Artai, and was known as the Artailka. Ironically, this Peace Organization used violence to stop violence. Cruel technology enhanced these methods.

Countries complained that this was an excuse for Artai to attack if ever their shell of defense bared a single crack… but the whole world experienced a more severe problem, thus granting Artai the permission to keep their naval forces.

This said problem actually originated at the same time of the navigation era. They were known as the terror of the seas that ambushed cargo-delivery boats, and attacked villages for the sole purpose of gain.

People referred to them as…

Pirates.

Pirates were amongst the first to set foot upon the watery lands along with explorers and colonists. Despite the tenacious reputation that marked pirates for the next eternity, they were also humans whose motives were misunderstood.

Though one thing was for sure. Pirate culture was, and still is popular, and no matter how jealous they are, the Artailka can't deny it.

"Damn it!" bellowed the man that stood at the edge of the violently shaking deck. Beads of sweat slowly dripped down his pale skin, outlining the scar lodged between his eyes. With a grunt, the man quickly grabbed onto the splinting rail that threatened to fall into the roaring sea below. "Move it! Shoot them with all you've got!" The hat that previously sat on the blond man's head had flown into the distance as a particularly strong breeze whipped at the crew's dispersing forces.

As the boat rocked back and forth, bringing even more salty water onto the slippery deck, men ran in all directions carrying gun powder, cannon balls, and whatever was necessary to fire an attack. At this rate…… the fate the leader had denied was becoming a likely truth.

"Major General Sergay!" one of the men clad in a marine Artailka outfit gave him a quick salute. His posture lacked many characteristics of a proper soldier, but the older man dismissed them. "We are prepared to launch our fifth attack!"

"Then what are you waiting for?!" Sergay Wang glared at him, his dark eyes burning with hatred. "Do it!"

The Artailka lackey flinched under his superior's infuriating look before quickly turning around and giving a shout. "Fire!"

As if on cue, deafening yet satisfying bangs could be heard, thus confirming that their attack was launched. Sergay was determined to win this fight against their opponent- another pirate ship full of bandits- but to his surprise, this one had managed to resist their heavy artillery up until now. What enraged the Major General even more was the fact that the ship bared no wound whatsoever. Typically, pirate ships lasted only for seconds when they met Sergay.

"S-sir!" another man of his crew came running. His stopped to catch his breath while the impatient upper class men stood, waiting.

"What now!? What is it?!" Sergay snapped, apparently unpleased with the situation.

The younger man pointed his thumb behind his shoulder, breath still ragged. "T-the enemy! Our attack- it never hit its designated coordinates!"

"What do you mean it never hit its coordinates? That's impossible! It might have missed by a bit but-" The leader's piercing blue eyes widened in shock as he looked in the distance. Now that the guy mentioned it, Sergay had never heard the slightest 'crack' nor 'sploosh' of a cannon ball subsequently to their attack. "No way……" The man could feel cold sweat forming onto his back and forehead. Shivers were sent up his spine as his stomach gave a sickening lurch.

Right where the cannon used to be, a huge chunk of the boat was missing- including the floor below. The boat gave a brutal stagger as ocean water started to fill the void.

A large crowd of men surrounded the hole. Most of them were trying to attempt to clog it, but it was much too big. They shouted encouraging "Heave! Ho! Heave! Ho!" while the stronger men desperately tried to empty out the quickly-filling gap that threatened to break the boat in two.

Gusts of wind violently blew across the ocean. The Artailka boat was beginning to slowly sink under the force and weight that mother nature cursed it with.

"Oh no… no……" Sergay repeated, oblivious to the violent shake of the boat. "You! Take the escape raft and immediately inform Duke Nagi Artai of this!"

No response. Sergay's brows furrowed as he shook the messenger, but the baffled eyes that stared onto the main deck's crater were blank. He was traumatized. The Major General backed away from the man whom slowly sank to his knees who's eyes were still glued on the slowly back-stepping crowd.

Shouts sounded like whispers through the deafening roar of the waves, but silence quickly fell as a disembodied, elegant voice spoke.

"Ara? It seems that I have finally the chance to meet Major General Sergay, a man known for his pirate executions." The voice almost sounded like a melody. At first Sergay believed that it was an angel that came to help him in his moment of despair- but it was only the start of a nightmare.

The bulky men that were once around crater were now pressed against anything furthest of the hollow, revealing a smaller, and a curved frame of a lady that stood on the tip of the darkened wood. The dark purple mantle, embroided with white lining restlessly flapped against the wind as the woman approached them. Her beautiful, chestnut tresses were kept tidy and neat with the help of a large, three-point hat that remained on her head despite the rough wind. The black, and loose pants that were tightened by brown, tight boots graced her every movement. To top it all, a matching, half-buttoned, white blouse highlighted her delectable curves finished her elegant, yet rebellious look.

A pair of soft crimson eyes met the man's own glacier stare. The intensity of his glare was nothing compared to her elegant, yet deadly gaze. She smiled a smile dignified for her luscious lips before speaking once more. "What a fine ship this is. It is to be expected of a high ranked officer like yourself…… though it does not suit my taste entirely."

"S-Shizuru Viola Fujino…… of the Southern Elegant Seas?!" Sergay never meant to use the nickname Shizuru's fanclub had dubbed her- but he had heard it so many times during conferences, eavesdropped conversations…… It felt quite odd as the name itself sounded graceful once it rolled off his tongue. Having Shizuru on board his ship, looking straight at him was more of a shocking revelation than reality itself. What could the captain of the famous Kiyohime possibly want in the land of Artai? It was the most heavily guarded- weapon-loaded, and pirate-loathing country. No pirate dared to even enter the Artai sea since it was like declaring war on the world.

But then again……

Fujino was the one of the most well known pirate to roam the seas. Rumours flew like cannonballs, and her fanclub was as big as Artai's population. Sergay was informed that she had at least sunken seventy-nine Artailka ships who were directed by the finest of Generals. What a reckless, and greedy woman. To take Artai so lightly, and claim fame as if it was so easy.

"It is an honour to have you address me with my full name. You must've heard about me from your colleagues." Sergay sensed a hint of amusement in her voice as he watched her approach him with the grace of a princess. Despite the baggy pants, Shizuru's curvy, and long legs were quite apparent as they moved.

The clammy, and sweaty hands that were frozen beside Sergay's body refused to budge. His eyes widened as the Captain of the famous Kiyohime advanced towards him in mild entertainment.

"Nagi Artai will surely be pleased of my presence. Please inform him that I have come." The woman paused to lift one of the two beautiful, golden swords from its sheath that rested at her side. It gleamed brightly against the little light provided by the dying sun. "If you can that is."

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Heavy, dark clouds that threatened to fall onto the bleak lands of Artai loomed silently above the gray continent. It was a depressing day. Cold fog surrounded the docks as silence reigned within the narrow, and rocky streets that merchants occupied on better days. Days like these were often referred to "silence before the storm" since most of the time, a storm did brew up in the middle of the day to create havoc upon land.

At times, the cries of a seagull would break the everlasting peace of nature. The large silhouettes that belonged to boats swayed gently to the bitter wind, chains rattling at a constant rhythm while the wooden decks creaked each time it slapped against the harbor. It was a playful symphony created by nature and man-made creations during those scarce moments. A strange phenomenon indeed. To think nature's worst enemy could become part of the melodies that carried every pained whisper along the breezes.

Not that a particular girl, bored out of her mind cared much.

Cold jaded eyes observed the uneasy ocean. Her pulse quickened and slowed at the thoughts that coursed through the girl's mind.

From the outside, she could be seen as a beautiful figure whom silently sat by the window of a very large, and monotonous building. Her facial expression could be compared to the one of a lonely child whose wishes were denied long ago. Devoid of any love, everyone knew who she was.

Natsuki Kruger- soon-to-be queen of the northern lands currently possessed by Duke Nagi Artai. Also known for her position in the Artailka force, she is in charge of the marksmen unit- specialized for long-range combat. Many people respected the woman for her sense of duty, and responsibility, but most of them pitied her.

-And the black-silk haired girl hated that.

So what if her homeland was being dominated by Nagi Artai? What were they pitying her for? The fact that she had to marry a man she abhorred to save her country? Or was it because Natsuki trusted no one- thus labeling her as a lonely bundle of bottled up emotion?

The girl didn't know. She didn't want to know. Marrying that midget, white thing had to be the only solution. What else was there to save her from this fate? Suicide is out of the question. If she were to die before releasing her country- then what the hell is the point of it all?

Hands clenched and unclenched. Teeth gritted together. Honestly, Natsuki was just going crazy thinking about it. At this rate, she would die of a heart attack from all the stress, and that was exactly the last thing Natsuki wanted to do. The long, silky hair that cascaded down the woman's back gently curved at the nook of her neck. It looked lustrous, and flawless as light reflected its midnight blue. Her slightly parted lips twitched while her brain worked furiously.

Natsuki wore clothes fitting for any women that desired to work with the military- and out of place for someone that was considered of royal blood. The royal blue coat was unbuttoned, revealing her average-sized bust, and a slim skin-tight, black shirt ended just above her belly button. It was only normal that marksmen wore lightweight clothes. They fought with heavy long-range artillery that must be kept within their proximity at all times.

"Damn it all." The girl muttered to no one in particular, hand lazily reaching for the cup of tea that had been prepared for her earlier. Unfortunately, Natsuki had taken too much time to contemplate, consequently the content of the porcelain cup had already become cold. Grunting in mild frustration, the dark haired girl harshly placed the cup back on the table and rose from her seat. With a quick stride, Natsuki walked to the queen sized bed situated at the middle of the room. The wrinkle-less covers were oddly uninviting. Whoever had made the bed this morning must've put a lot of effort into it. It would be a shame to ruin the nice-looking luxury with one single poke. Natsuki was becoming irritated with herself. The earlier mind-chaos must've made her even more sensitive to her environment. Now even the bed made her feel uneasy.

Sighing in defeat, the girl made her way towards the exit door of her room. A little fresh air could do her some good- if and only if it didn't start to rain.

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"Are you sure that was a good idea, Shizuru-taichou?" Chie Hallard peered out of Sergay's ex-boat's handrail as large ripples disturbed the calm ocean water. The men Shizuru had previously thrown into the water were grabbing onto what seemed like the remnants of an emergency vessel that the pirate captain had generously dropped for them.

"I want Nagi to know that I am here." The older woman replied as she elegantly placed her swords back where they were supposed to be. The sun had now fully disappeared behind the dark clouds as a rumble resonated above their heads. A storm approached.

Chie glanced up for a second but returned to gaze at Shizuru while slowly spinning a blue rose between her fingers. It became a habit of hers ever since that meeting with a girl named Aoi who happened to be a maid who worked for Windbloom nobility. They had grown accustomed to each other in a short period of time, but due to Chie's life as a pirate, there was no choice than to leave her behind along with a promise to see her again.

When it came to being flirty and charming, Chie was the best next to Shizuru of course. It had been because of her captain that she met Aoi- and Chie was incredibly grateful for that. Ever since the dark-haired girl decided to follow Shizuru, she had often wondered about her captain's perfected behaviour, and where exactly it originated from- but the answer is still yet to be revealed. Despite the complex personality, Chie knew how to pick up on barely noticeable quirks that her captain dropped. "Only Nagi?"

Shizuru did not turn around to face Chie. Instead, her face softened as the trademark smile reappeared on her features.

"You know me too well." The chestnut-haired beauty smiled chesirely. She inhaled a deep breath of fresh air, eyes closing to savour the moment. Her chest rose slightly as another zephyr caressed the woman's face gently, before descending once more. It was bliss to sail on the ocean. The only thing that seemed uncomfortable at the moment was the chilly atmosphere. Shizuru sighed. She had felt like this for the past couple of months, cold, and empty even with the warmth of her favorite tea. To her, it felt odd. Not that Shizuru hadn't felt that way before- but she was supposed to be used to it by now. The shallow emptiness that left a hole in her heart must have grown bigger. It was only a matter of time before Shizuru would disappear within the dark abyss of her own soul.

With a quick nod, and half-smile, the captain notified Chie of her departure and walked away towards her own beloved boat which awaited her presence a couple of yards away.

The black-haired subordinate eyed her captain suspiciously. Shizuru had been acting quite distant for some time. Occasionally, the woman would silently stare into the horizon from the crow's nest for hours, but Chie knew that this probably had to do with something from the past, and so the girl didn't pursue it. The younger girl sighed sighed, "Well I don't think the message will reach them before we get there." Below them, whirlpools started to form in the water at an alarming speed. The men spun and yelled for their lives, clutching desperately to the boat before they drowned.. "Will you cut that out Shiho? Shizuru-taichou wants to tell Nagi and his fiancé that she's coming!"

"Maki, maki, maki, maki, maki…… Faster! Makimakimakimaki- breath- makimakimakimakima-" After what seemed like the millionth maki on the freaky, head of that maki-maki voodoo doll, Shiho proceeded to scream in delight. Some men had already drowned while the escape boat was nowhere to be seen.

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A/N: For Shizuru's crew, so far, all the Pearls from Otome will be there. As the story proceeds, more, and more characters will be added to the crew- or will be met.

Forgive me for my lack of literary skills. Seriously- I know I suck but walk with me while I improve little by little. I do feel fortunate to know French as my first language, but I find writing more beautiful in english.

Reviews keep me going- no seriously- they really do. The more I get, the faster I update!

Terminology:

Maki – swirl or spin. People who watched Mai Otome would know what I'm talking about.