Huntsman An ear piercing screech came from the forests that bordered Kyoto, and all of the Ikusahime instantly knew what it was. It was louder and more ferocious than anything an Orphan could have produced. This was from something much stronger and much more dangerous. It was a Child leaving the realm of mortals. The farewell howl penetrated deep into the underground HiME fortress, and all those within quickly fell silent and snapped to attention. In the first second, every one of them looked to their side, trying to find the missing face. Sister. In the following second, they took off at a sprint, racing towards the outside. In a few moments they had cleared the outer defense perimeter and set foot onto partially frozen soil. The depth of winter still had a death hold on the countryside. Eyes scanning through snow laden and leafless trees, they found what they did not want to see. A plume of green mist rose from the forest far below before it was taken by the wind. The Ikusahime with softer wills put their hands over their mouths as they tried to stifle a horrified shout, but failed to do so. For the Ikusahime born with wills of iron, a much different reaction was had. Action must be taken! As the multiple, but united, voices of Kiyohime roared, one the bravest of the HiME dashed forward to meet the beast and its Mistress head on. Nao was the first, sprinting forward with uninhibited fury. Shizuru had no right! That coward had signed her own death warrant the moment she refused to put Alyssa out of her centuries long misery! If Shizuru wanted to play the game, then so be it. This time, Nao had no intention of losing the Carnival, especially to that same depraved witch. "Nao, wait!" Mai pleaded. She took flight and followed after the other redhead, hoping to stop her from doing anything rash. Midori and Akira were next. Then Akane. Soon, the whole group was in motion. Nao and Mai were the first to arrive on the scene, a lifeless looking Yukariko lying prone on the ground. The giant form of Kiyohime reared up, Shizuru perched on the central head. The monster Child roared, the multiple voices nearly shattering their eardrums once again. Incredibly tall while on its haunches, the dragon forced Mai to duck down low to avoid any potential attacks. As Nao and Mai readied themselves for any form of assault, Kiyohime and its Mistress turned and continued to flee the scene. "Juli--!" A hand roughly grabbed hold of Nao's shoulder and spun her around. It was Mai, who now displayed more leadership and seriousness than she had even shown as a Meister. "Don't you dare start a Child fight, Nao-san! That is exactly what they all want you to do! Don't fall into their trap!" "Dammit, Tokiha, stop bossing me around! Are you just going to let Sister go unavenged?" Nao shot back, ripping her body free of Mai's grip. "You can't just try and kill Shizuru in a fit of rage!" "Why not? She did it to me!" Nao snapped back, her uncontrollable temper having flared up like the supernova of a dying star. "You're just going to get yourself killed if you storm in there without some kind of plan." She tried to reason, but Mai knew that it would probably do no good. That quickly became even more evident. Nao's left eye twitched. "If I'm going to die so easily, then come and help me." "I won't kill her like that, it's not..." "This woman is in complete control of everything she does! Her actions have consequences, and if no one else is going to give her her long overdue comeuppance, then I will!" She waved her arm, Elements forming on her hands. Eyes turned to the rest of the gathering crowd. "You all! You can follow this weak willed woman, or you can help me take her out before things get even more out of hand!" "Don't even try to split the team up!" Midori warned. "That is exactly what the Obsidian Lord would want from us. Don't you see?" "I see that you're all unwilling to do anything to protect your loved ones from that damned woman!" Nao hissed. She pivoted on her heel and took off at a run, heading off in the direction that Kiyohime had gone. If she had to hunt that bitch throughout the entire city, then so be it! She remembered the fight that had taken place on the rooftop of Fuuka. Kiyohime's actions and Shizuru's abilities still rang fresh in her partially clouded mind. She stood a far better chance now. Eyes darted from Nao's retreating form back to Mai, who hovered there unsure of what to do. It was a peculiar moment of hesitation. At their cores, everyone knew what they would do. They'd sided even before the split occurred. Perhaps they hoped that something could be done, but what was there to do? Mai would never willingly try to kill one of her comrades unless it was absolutely necessary or if she lost grips with reality. Azumi, a hardened warrior still in control of Natsuki's powers, fell back onto her lifetime ideal of 'kill or be killed.' She knew nothing else. She was the first to join Nao's hunting party. Silently, Akira too ventured from the group. A woman of few words, and having always been a soldier and willing killer by nature, she found nothing wrong with a fatal duel with Shizuru. She wouldn't let Shizuru strike without warning, resulting in Takumi's sure death. "Well, I'm not going to sit here and wait for that nutter to get me," Shiho said, somewhat ironically. A murderous and aggressive Ikusahime, and a downright mad Otome, she was more than willing. It would be a competition to see who was more out of their mind – a duel of the crazy bitches. Shiho felt confident that she could win on at least one level or two. To Mai's absolute shock and horror, the last person to move was Mikoto. "What do you think you're doing?!" The words that left the child's mouth were strangely grave. "Shizuru will probably try to fight Mai by the end of it all, won't she?" "Well, who's to say that that will ever happen...?" Mikoto turned back to look at her guardian, if just for a moment. The expression she held was dark, as if she were still under the influence of Reito during the Last Carnival. She had willingly killed in Mai's name, and seemed to easily fall back onto that attitude. "I won't let her. I won't let her hunt you down. I'll stop her before that ever happens!" Mikoto then scurried away, vanishing between a dense grouping of trees and underbrush. Mai attempted to pursue and stop her, but it was too late. The young girl was gone. Dammit! The others were in place, but the rift was a great threat when it came to stopping the Obsidian Lord. They would need the whole team, or at least most of it, to get anything done. The HiME Star... last time it only fell with the combined forced of the Children. If any more HiME perished, would they still have a chance at success? "What should we do?" Akane asked, appearing to stay loyal to the less aggressive stance. Mai sighed. "Ah... well, we should try and find a way to destroy the Emulator before things get even crazier, but I don't know for certain if we have to destroy the Star first. Things are just... different. If we try to destroy the Emulator before the Star... do you think the Obsidian Lord program could transfer to a different machine and keep going?" "I think it would be a likely scenario," Yukino agreed. "Something that advanced would surely see imminent danger coming. If the Emulator here can established a network with the one at Garderobe, it could transfer the whole program to Earl if it was in peril – or anywhere else on Earth, I would imagine. When did this first happen?" "After we got hooked up to Garderobe's communication satellite, I think" Akane informed. "That was when we got called in, and shortly after, the Star arrived. I could be wrong." Mai groaned in frustration. This was like a complex math problem. And she hated math. Bad. "Okay, so... last time, the Obsidian Lord and Crystal Princess ruled the Star. But we couldn't destroy the Lord, because the Star acted as a defense mechanism. So I think... the same applies. Right? Oh, but the Emulator is a fairly self-sufficient machine, and..." "Now, now, don't get overwhelmed. I think that your memories are sound and the same applies now. The Star probably has some tricks up its sleeve to keep us from killing the Lord until the end of the Carnival, like last time. It's too far away now, so all we can do is wait for it to near," Midori aided, giving Mai a reaffirming pat on the shoulder. "Guess our job is to try and keep everyone from killing each other for now, then. Great. First things first – let's get Sister back to the HiME base and see if we can't get her to come to." Mai was easily going to have the worst week ever. - - - Nao was more than pleased to see that someone was on her side for a change of pace. She could pack a greater punch if she had other fists at her disposal. When they'd caught up with her, she led them all down into the city in order to find their now elusive prey. It was unavoidable. Shizuru had to be taken down before she could kill them all off one by one. If Natsuki died, then so be it. Everyone had to sacrifice something in order to achieve victory. Better the Obsidian Lord find a new, weaker host than possess the leader of the Otome. Natsuki would surely thank her from the afterlife. "We have to try and catch her off guard," Nao had told them, before properly setting off. "Keep quiet and try to sneak up on her. Hand signals and all that. Don't speak or shout when she's in visual range." And then they were off. They were fortunate in that Azumi knew the city like the back of her hand. She led them to a tall, fairly intact skyscraper on the edge of town. It apparently offered an excellent view of the entire city, and if someone stealthy snuck up to one of the upper levels, they could spot a Child. Akira took up the task, climbing up the interior before moving to a balcony, hanging off the edge just enough to get the best view possible. Her eyes scanned streets and the skyline. Kiyohime was huge – it shouldn't have been hard to spot! Shizuru must have sent the beast away for the sake of losing them. The rogue was no doubt on foot now, and Akira's eyes, no matter how honed, couldn't pick her out. She was momentarily startled as something lightly patted her head. She looked up quickly, thinking someone was there, but crossed her eyes as something landed on the bridge of her nose. She stood on the balcony once again and held her hand out. Snow? Perhaps the the snow would silence their own footsteps enough to where they could get the drop on her, Akira thought positively. Then again, Shizuru would have the same advantage, wouldn't she? Frowning once more, Akira descended from the building, rejoining her hunting party. "Well?" Nao asked. Akira shook her head. "Nothing. She must have de-materialized her Child in an effort to lose us. We're just going to have to track her and her alone." Nao clicked her tongue in disapproval, but Azumi offered another piece of advice. "Perhaps she went back to Dammerung to report in? With a GEM, she would have had no means of communication. I'm sure that Natsuki woman would want to know what happened." "Well, we have no other leads," Nao said. She pointed to the west. "To Dammerung, then. Just keep on with the quiet and we should be fine. They're prepared to fight off an Orphan swarm, not a bunch of stealthy humans." Snow quieting their footsteps, they slunk down alleys and through broken buildings to avoid detection by the Otome faction. In the distance, surrounding Dammerung, they could see their peers spread out in a wide circle to defend the great former palace from destruction. Surely there must have been a quiet way to get in there? If not, Nao was just fine with waiting for Shizuru to emerge once more. A trap was a much more effective way to catch a dragon than to assault it head on, after all. - - - "Stupid bubuzuke woman," Haruka muttered angrily as she marched through the streets in nothing but her Otome uniform. The robe had been forsake after turning off her GEM in an effort to take herself off radar. "Always so damned ambiguous. On every level of life. Can never keep track of her. Why can't she just sit still and speak her damned airheaded hippie mind?" It was the middle of winter, she had been walking for three miles, and to be honest, she had lost sight of Shizuru over half an hour ago. But she was Haruka Armitage! She could do things that no other mortal could possibly dream of. She didn't need rest! She didn't need food! All she had to do was focus on her task, and things would naturally fall into place due to her amazing skills and superior strength. Oh, but what she would have given for a nice winter overcoat... Why couldn't Natsuki just tell everyone what her plan was? She'd never been so tight lipped before, so what had happened to the headmistress that made her so quiet and suspect all of a sudden? Dismissing Ann, using Shizuru as her own personal agent and sending her off on solo missions, neglecting her command duties in lieu of sitting down by the psychotic Emulator... it was all just so strange! Haruka didn't like it one bit, so if Mashiro was going to send her to investigate, she would willingly comp-- There! A flash of purple in between falling flakes of snow. Few people would be crazy enough to parade around in a kimono alone in this kind of weather. That had to have been her. Haruka, somewhat dramatically, dove behind a pile of debris to avoid being seen. Bright green was just as eye catching as purple, after all. Peering over the top, she watched Shizuru Viola walk back towards Dammerung, a red bardiche in hand. Weapon isn't that impressive, really. Just an oversized knife on a stick. Figures Viola would like that kind of thing. Acting as if she were the lead character in a badly direct spy drama, Haruka scrambled under and over various things to 'stealthily' follow her target, zipping across streets and open areas as quickly as she could. It was clear that Shizuru was heading back from whatever her 'mission' was, but what had she been assigned to do? There was no way that Haruka could have gone and investigated that on her own. Snowfall would have covered up Shizuru's footprints by now. Curses. Haruka had an urge to go up to her, grab Viola by the collar, and demand to know just what was going on. Haruka had always gotten what she wanted through force, after all. What was different about this time. Pushing up her sleeves, she began to head up the street, emerging from cover, but it was then that the spy noticed she was not truly alone. There were other spies in the area. Her eyes fell upon the form of Akira Okuzaki and Nao Zhang. Ah! Traitor and diplomat! Both were highly wanted, and if she brought them in, she could help end the whole fiasco her organization was currently in. She was definitely more powerful than that licentious Column. She mentally debated with herself for a moment. Look, Shizuru is already heading home. I can find her at Dammerung later. If I don't get these people now then I might never find them again! They'll slip away and ambush us later. Have to take them in before they can conspire to blow up the world or something. Right? Right. Have to. It's duty. Haruka hit her GEM and it flashed back to life. A robe finding itself around her body, the suit naturally adjusting her body temperature to accommodate the cold weather (ah!), Haruka now had the power to go and intercept. She would just catch hell for sneaking off base without permission. That would be forgiven when Haruka gave her headmistress those two gifts. She dashed forward in the air, coming to rest just above and in front of both Nao and Akira. "What do you think you're doing this close to Dammerung?" She demanded. "Are you going to surrender and stop this little playful rebellion of yours, or am I going to have to force you to?" Nao watched as Shizuru's head snapped around upon hearing Haruka's voice, and the kimono clad woman vanished from view after darting behind a building. Nao, pissed off at losing sight of her victim, glared back up at her former ally. "Will you get out of the way, you obnoxious buffoon?! You're ruining everything! Don't you know how to be quiet for five minutes?!" "Who do you think you're talking to, you little runt?" Haruka shot back, tightening a fist and holding it up menacingly. "This is no time to try and show off what you think is authority. You're going to come quietly with me, or go into Dammerung unconscious." "I don't have time to get into a cat fight with you, Armitage. How about you move, or I make you move?" Akira was tugging on Nao's shoulder, but the redhead ignored it. There were more important things to deal with. "You think you're pretty tough, don't you? Insolent kid." Haruka shot back. "If you don't get out of my way this instant...!" "Surrender!" Akira watched in disappointment and worry as Nao and Haruka raced toward one another. The blonde general sent up a plume of dust and dirt as she slammed foot first into the ground at near top speed, Nao having slid out of the way. The redhead countered by extending her Element wires out to their maximum length, whipping them through the air with a furious wave of her arm. Haruka easily dodge four of them, but the wire attached to Nao's middle finger was just long enough to scrape against her robe, leaving a shallow cut in the Topaz robe's armor. Haruka was livid. She'd gotten her armor messed up! The nerve! Haruka materialized her Element and rushed towards her foe. Nao leapt back as the Quartz robe's falcata sword slammed into the street, cracking the asphalt into several pieces. As Haruka began to raise the weapon back up, Nao hooked her wires around the chain, preventing her from moving the weapon further. Both pulled on the Element with all their strength. Quite obviously, herculean Haruka had an advantage over the younger brawler. But Nao didn't have to win at their tugging game. No one noticed the next attack, as the falling snow expertly masked the incoming bullet of ice. Azumi, perched on the ledge of a building, steadied a pistol on one arm and fired with amazing Ikusahime enhanced accuracy. Haruka heard the blast and felt a warm sensation running down her neck. After retrieving her Element from Nao, who gave up for fear of muscle fatigue, Haruka used her other hand to examine her skin. She returned her hand in front of her face and saw blood on her gauntleted fingertips. The warm sensation quickly turned to pain, and she ripped an ice shard out of her neck. Damn, there was another one of those Ikusahime witches! She prepared to race up towards that Earth-born witch sword in hand, but found her arm trapped by Nao's wires. She growled and struggled to break her arm free. Another ice shard penetrated the armor that surrounded her leg, and her knee was set ablaze with ice induced pain. She was going to be a sitting duck if Nao interfered for much longer! But Haruka... had guts! "Zhang, take a hike!" Haruka growled through a partially clenched jaw. Using all her strength and her robe's flight capability, Haruka launched forward and twisted her body, throwing her arm – and Nao – forward. Azumi managed to drop down to street level as Nao, transformed into a projectile weapon, hit the building. The Ikusahime broke off a good chunk of the external wall. She roared in pain and dropped once more, falling to the same ledge Azumi had been perched on moments before. Her clawed fists grabbed hold of the side before she could roll off. Azumi attempted to buy Nao enough time to recover, as their teamwork was essential. Her bullets still camouflaged by the snow, she fired with both her pistol Elements, sending a volley of ice headed Haruka's way. The blonde used the robe standard shield to block all incoming shots, holding it together for as long as necessary. The Quartz robe was a Column. It had the power to keep the shield operational for a relatively extended period of time. She brought her sword arm up once again and prepared to go cut Azumi down, but heard yet another person join the fight with a battle cry. Haruka spun her body around, building up momentum, and lashed out with her weapon as she sensed the incoming enemy. Falcata met claymore as Mikoto's black blade slammed into her own, sparking as they met. Mikoto bounced back and landed on her feet, allowing her to charge forward again. The younger woman spun as she ran, her blade scratching along the frozen street. Having built up speed, Mikoto released it again. Had she a lesser grip, she would have likely thrown the damn thing halfway across the street! Haruka managed to parry the strike, even though the blade was not her standard weapon. Lord, how she wanted her flail back! Still feeling uncomfortable, she fell back onto something more familiar. Haruka raced forward with her robe, just off the ground, and slammed her elbow right into Mikoto's stomach. The young girl lost the wind in her lungs and fell to the ground. One down for the moment! Better finish it up before the whole damn cult gets here! She turned around to face the others once more, and saw Nao leap back down onto the street, having recovered from her little toss. Haruka had to watch out for that snare-and-shoot tactic! They'd likely try it again. So, Haruka attempted to once again go close range. She rocketed forward and kneed Azumi back several feet, the HiME unable to match the speed of an Otome robe. That done, Haruka turned to the delinquent. Nao rushed in to meet her, and in that moment, Haruka remembered that Nao was supposedly a hand-to-hand specialist. Not to worry, though! Haruka was far stronger, if lacking in technique. "You should just sit down and give up now, Zhang!" Haruka attempted to backhand her, but Nao slipped under the strike and caught Haruka in the jaw. Well, so much for the boasting. Those damned claw knuckles left quite the mark! Haruka wondered if her skin had split open a bit from the force of the punch, but she was too busy to check. Enduring the pain, and refusing to be stunned by the hit, Haruka got Nao back when the redhead was still close. The blonde punched her in the head, and she heard Nao grunt in pain. The robe helped with the impact's power. Nao hopped back and Haruka saw red claws extend from both hands. Oh, so there were more tricks, then? Wonderful! Nao fumed. "That's it, bitch. You're going home with scars." Haruka ducked under an incoming ice shard, courtesy of Azumi, and charged forward yet again. She attempted to land a slash against Nao, but the redhead jumped out of the way, only to dash in a moment later. Haruka was sure the claws wouldn't make it into skin, thanks to her armor, but they were apparently made of some otherworldly metal. When Nao struck, all five of her claws sank into Haruka's side. The blonde howled in rage more than pain, like a lion with a thorn in its paw. Haruka brought her arm up and elbowed Nao on the collarbone, forcing her back. The claws left Haruka's side, blood trailing down her robe once the blade seals had been removed. Haruka then took to the sky, hoping to lose them both, if just for a moment. Diving down from above would give her an advantage. It was then, however, that she saw another combatant enter the field. Not Akira, but a Slave of some kind. It was an ugly green blob, almost like a plant of some kind. Tentacles shot out from the ground, darting out towards their group. Their precise destination unknown at that rage, Haruka took it as a general attack. No Slave was going to interrupt this battle! She had to get Nao and the others to submit, and any distraction was a detriment! "Stupid thing, get lost!" Haruka roared. She flew towards it with narrowed vision, a product of her battle lust. Akira shouted something, but she did not hear. She could talk later – had to get rid of the thing first. She used her sword as a lance, pointing it out. It'd do more damage if she pierced the beast at full speed. Maybe even kill it in one shot. Nao, too, was trying to say something. Haruka only caught part of it. "...you idiot!" What an asshole that Zhang was. Insulting her to her back? Didn't she have the courage to do it face to face? "Haruka-chan! Stop!" The final shout was from a shockingly familiar voice, and Haruka would have obeyed had it not been too late. She had been a fraction of a second away, and she couldn't break in time. The sword pierced the heart of the Slave, but what was a Slave? Yukino was bitching about nothing this time, Haruka was sure. She did that sometimes. Perhaps that just meant that Yukino was back to normal, and that Haruka could finally take her back to Dammerung without trouble. The blade sank deep into the monster's flesh and she sliced up until the whole creature was divided in half. Triumphant, Haruka turned back to face Yukino's voice, raising her Element up in victory. Yukino, however, looked as if she'd seen the walking dead. Her face was pale. Her eyes were wide. Tears threatened to drop. Haruka did not understand. "Oi, what's wrong with you?" Haruka asked. Green sparks from the beast wafted into the air as the body began to break down. "Haruka-chan..." That was all Yukino could manage before letting the tears fall. She covered her mouth with her hands, feeling as if she was going to be sick. "Eh? It's just a Slave, or Orphan, or whatever the hell. Don't tell me you were keeping it as a pet or something!" Haruka tried to joke. Yukino only became more distraught. Tough crowd. "I can feel it," Yukino began to choke out. She clutched at her jacket near her chest area, feeling as if her heart was dying. She slowly began to walk forward, acting as if she'd been shot. She had shaky breath. "I can feel that same emptiness. Haruka-chan, do you know what you've just done? You've killed my soul – my life force!" "Huh? What kind of crazy talk is that?" Haruka laughed again, but this time there was a great degree of nervousness behind it. Then, she felt it. In one moment, her heart gave a final loud beat. She heard it in her ears, and then everything was silent. And then... she remembered. She remembered the sensation and the pain, and the sense of realization as Fujino let that dragon devour Diana. Haruka could barely stand, but somehow found the willpower to do so. Her side, wounded from Nao's claws, was the first thing to go up in green sparks. Yukino continued to move forward until she was right in front of her, both looking like they were on their last legs. "You're always so eager... so ambitious. Your ultimate undoing, but it was always your most endearing quality. I don't know what will happen this time... but wait for me." Then, to most everyone's surprise, Yukino did what she never had the courage to do in either lifetime. She was not going to make the same mistake again. Not now, not ever. Moving her head up, she planted a quick but loving kiss on Haruka's pale lips as the green cancer consumed the rest of her body, curling around her face, branding her like a neon tiger. Haruka was stunned, but managed to say her parting words. "I never knew you were a thespian." Yukino kept silent as Haruka faded from sight, broken down to the molecular level and taken by the wind. Yukino's tears froze the moment they hit the frigid ground, and the now former president sank to her knees as she felt all the energy leave her body. Nao and the others watched, unmoving, as Yukino broke down completely. They hadn't technically killed Haruka, but if it hadn't been for them, then... Nao shook her head. No. Haruka started it. It was her own fault! ...Right? Mai, too late to be the cavalry, descended from the heavens. The rest of her 'faction' had run up to try and intervene with Yukino, but it had all ended so quickly. Mai naturally took her anger out on Nao, who was in charge of the group who had been fighting the deceased Haruka. "Are you happy now? Now Haruka is dead and Yukino is damned!" "I didn't mean for that to happen! She just offed herself. Like I could have controlled it!" Nao countered. Not my fault, not my fault... don't make me into the bad guy again! "But if you hadn't been wanting to pick a fight we could have avoided this whole thing!" "Well, how do you want me to fix it, grand leader?" Midori held her labrys out between them, hoping that the barrier would stop the shouting. "Now, just calm down! There is to be no fighting between Ikusahime. This whole thing was the Obsidian Lord getting what he... er, she wants from us. To kill each other and end up divided. That's exactly what happened last time. So, just chill out for a second." "But we can't just let Shizuru get away!" Nao protested. Mai opened her mouth to once again counter that argument, but a very dry chuckle came from behind. All pivoted around to see the hunter in question standing there. The bardiche was gone. She looked as zombie-like as ever, her chestnut hair and her shoulders now covered in snow. "How amusing. You'd go to all this trouble for my sake when you don't even have anyone of value to protect? What puzzling and foolish people you are." "Fujino!" Nao hissed. It was now or never! She extended her claws and prepared to run forward. "Ah, don't look at me like such a monster. You're responsible for as many Ikusahime deaths as I am. Stop trying to tell yourself otherwise, Yuuki-san." Preferring that Shizuru keep silent, Nao sprinted forward to attack. When her claws came down, they tore through flesh, but it was not Fujino's. Her red talons sliced through the purple skin of an Orphan that materialized and reared up to defend Natsuki's knight in shining kimono. Nao frowned and retreated a step. That's right. The little scary child was likely ready to defend her precious sister-in-law. Stupid blonde punk wouldn't let anything happen to her, would she? Even if she knew it was for the world's own good, and even if unconscious, Alyssa would still try and play hero to defend her loved ones. "Poor Suzushiro-san. She always was the headstrong one," Shizuru almost mockingly lamented. She then smiled at the whole group, as if hiding something up her purple sleeves. "If you're so set on splitting into two groups, the aggressive and the passive, then perhaps I can be of some value. I'll usher in the proper division. ...Kiyohime?" As Nao's group stood on one side, and Mai's on the other, it would not be difficult to divide and conquer the whole group. Shizuru chuckled as Kiyohime burst through the ground, forcing everyone to back off in their respective directions. The broken ground created a wall of dust that was difficult to see through, but the hydra's several heads were able to peer through and identify targets. Kiyohime let loose with her breath, spewing it in all directions. Everyone began to turn and run, heading into the city and into the mountains respectively, Midori scooping up Yukino's body as she fled. And, as Tomoe came in with a group of Otome to further chase Nao's faction away – but not harm them – the division was complete. The Ikusahime were no longer fighting as one group, and for Shizuru, that would make things so much easier. - - - Natsuki watched as a second light illuminated on the Emulator panel. The second Key had been acquired. The Lord knew full well who's soul was trapped there. So Haruka has been killed, she thought. I'm going to need a new team leader, then. It is her own fault for leaving without permission. She should have known better. She stood, brushing her long coat into place, and exited Dammerung. Her green and yellow eyes turned up to the Otome acting as the defense team. Ann Lu was gone. Haruka was dead. Yukariko was useless. Many of the others had to do their part for the Carnival. So, who else could lead? Natsuki clicked her tongue. No one she would have preferred had it been an Otome-only conflict. But the grunts would have to do in a pinch. Might as well give the old room attendant some glory points. She'd been a meister for a suitable amount of years. "Rosalie!" Natsuki shouted. "You're in charge of Haruka's team!" "Why, onee-sama?" "She's dead." Everyone naturally gasped in shock, but she didn't care. Her orders were given, and Rosalie, despite her desire to mourn, complied. As Natsuki headed back into the base, she was met with Mashiro's livid gaze. Ah, the queen was upset too, was she? Now what? "That's all you're going to do? Replace her and then go sulk in the command room some more? What is wrong with you?!" Mashiro shouted. "She was careless." Natsuki then bent down a bit to look the teenager in the eyes. Her voice was stern, as if she knew something she wasn't supposed to. "Haruka should have had her GEM on from the beginning. I wonder why she didn't want me knowing where she was?" Oh, shit. Mashiro managed to keep her face neutral, but nearly cracked at least once or twice. Natsuki gave her a smirk and then turned back to the building, disappearing within. Mashiro was unsure of what to do. Would Natsuki just hold that conspiracy plan over Mashiro's head, or would the headmistress become the godfather and start capping bitches? Probably not worth the risk. Mashiro quickly ran to go find Arika, who was on one of the defense teams. But damn, which one? Her eyes scanned the sky. When she laid her hands upon her Otome, she ran forward. "Arika, come down here!" The brunette, clad in her blue robe, dropped down momentarily to see what the problem was. "Hey, Mashiro, you shouldn't out here. There are too many monsters, and..." "Natsuki's going to try and kill me." At that, Arika gave her a long blank stare. "...What?" "You have to get me out of here, or at least stick with me in case she tries anything!" Mashiro ordered. "But... I'm not supposed to leave the line!" Arika argued. "I'll get in trouble. Orphans will break through and take down the whole place if I don't stay here." "You have to..." Rosalie noticed the gap in the perimeter, and as a swarm was approaching, she could not tolerate it. She snapped her whip in the air, getting everyone's attention. "Yumemiya, get back up here now! There are monsters headed this way. Pull your weight, rookie!" "Gah!" With that little yelp, Arika raced back up and summoned her Element, ready to strike any incoming monster. Mashiro panicked. Now what? She absently looked around, unsure of where to go to avoid the headmistress' wrath. Her bodyguard was occupied and could not disobey. She had no national army at her disposal. No castle to hide in. No means of fighting on her own. She was completely and utterly screwed. When she felt a hand fall onto her shoulder, things only got worse. She turned to find Xenia, one of the Earth Columns, standing there with her team. "You know, if your meister is busy, we can take care of you." Earth Columns. All subservient to Natsuki. Oh, double shit. All of them had their Elements out, and all gave her sinister glares. They had been given orders to make Mashiro disappear. Godmother Kruger. Mashiro gulped and did the only thing she could think of doing – she ran. She ran and they followed, using the guise of protectors when all they really wanted to do was take her head and make it look like an accident. And by running, she gave them the one thing they needed. She would soon be out of visual range and in another part of the city. Alone and vulnerable. There was to be no interfering in the Carnival. With the death of Queen Mashiro blan de Windbloom, Natsuki would make that perfectly clear.
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