Disclaimers:

This fanfic is free. Please do not archive this without my permission (especially where readers have to pay to read it-- I will not be very happy). Mai HiME, Mai Otome, and everything Mai-whatevers belong to SUNRISE and their respective creators. Found anything here that kind of resembles anything? Sheer coincidence! Found something that DOES resemble something? Not mine, I just borrowed them and will give credit where credit is due. Brothers Grimm, you rock! Wish you guys were still alive so we can trade some fairytales. -cheesy grin-

This fanfic is M-rated. There is an obvious reason why it is M-rated.

IMPORTANT (MUST READ): The Mai Kijo Social Studies tend to be overwhelming for readers who don't like complicated plots, but I will not take them out of the fanfic. They are there for those who really wish to understand Mai Kijo's world. I've made it all easier for you by providing the necessary "lessons" in relation to the chapter before them (Act 0, notwithstanding). If you choose to disregard these lessons, well... you probably won't appreciate the allusions and imagery as much, but you can probably understand the story anyway without it anyway. -sweatdrops- I will eventually compile and organize these lessons if you wish to copy-paste and save them, and use them as reference for the story as you read along. Please be patient, I will finish it soon.

Author's Notes:

When I realized that the story was getting too big for my little doujinshi project, I knew I had to put it in writing first. For those of you who don't know what the heck I'm talking about... click on my homepage for the Doujin. I sincerely apologize to those who have been waiting for updates for both "New Pollution" and the manga version of this little fanfic. One reason for the incredibly long delay was-- 1.) I had... personal medical issues and, 2.) I was swamped with work! Argh... This doesn't mean I won't finish the doujin. Though, I'll be re-drawing the prologue someday to fit the image of the one I already wrote here. -sigh- Though I feel like I'd be biting more than I could chew if I do attempt to draw it all. My drawing hand can't keep up with my imagination sometimes, you know?

As you all know... I am a big NatNao shipper. ;b Of course, this fanfic caters to that pairing. Though, there's ShizNat here too! And yes... OMFGISTILLLOVETOMOESHECANRAPEMEANYTIME! -ahem- This is story is obviousy AU-ish. I had no beta-reader when I made this, so please feel free to point out any typos or grammatical errors you see along the way. -sheepish smile- Please don't ask me to make any dramatic changes to the plot because you found something that seems unrealistic or inaccurate. That's why writers, like myself, have-- what we call-- creative licenses.

Anyways... Happy reading! -hug- Your reviews and your enjoyment is my only reward.