Mai-X-Project Act I: Zero Hour Part 2 [Complete]

Mako Mankanshoku, whose body was still bloated with all the food she consumed from earlier, finally returned with another big tray of food. It was meant for her teammates this time.    

"Hey, guys! Sorry for disappearing like that! I got hungry again. HAHAHAHA!! I brought everyone more food! We can't fight on an empty stomach you know! So, what are we doing?"

---

Rezetta managed to land safely with much impact. She used golden gun scythe to propel herself down on the snowy ground. "Whoa! What is this stuff? It's as white as my long coat and jumpsuit!"

A few minutes went by as Natsuki scanned the surrounding area, looking at all of your comrades. With a flip of her mighty, blue hair and her famous grin, she proceeded to get everyone's attention.

"Everyone, I think it's important that we regroup. This is a new environment so I want us to stick together for right now. There's no telling what we could find."

Natsuki looked down at the snowy surface and brushed her feet into the snow, making little designs in them.

Noticing that two members of their party were missing, she let out a little gasp. "Where is Saki and Midori? Did anyone see them come through the portal with us?" Natsuki scrambled around, trying to find any trace of them.

Shizuru looked around as Natsuki began to re-group, taking careful note of her surroundings. One thing in particular caught her eye: half-hidden behind Summanus’ tail was the portal they’d all just come through. Out of curiosity, she walked over to it, reaching out to touch it even as she wondered if she should.

Fortunately, nothing happened. The surface of the portal was cool to the touch and firm, even though the swirl of colors made it seem more fluid than solid.

She walked back over to the group and placed her hand on Natsuki’s shoulder, angling her body back towards the portal to draw attention back to it.

“Has Natsuki noticed that the portal is still here?” She inquired of her blue-haired maiden. “It seems to be sealed somehow, but perhaps we should not forget its presence.”

After checking the vast snowy area, which should of visibly exposed the pair by now, Oscar shakes her head in a "no" fashion.

"I haven't seen them. They couldn't of gone fair, for their trail is fresh. I'm sure they're fine. What I don't understand is that we haven't run into any devilish creatures yet."

"That's weird..." The orange eyed scythe woman commented, " I could have sworn the other two girls were right behind me and Oscar. You think we should wait a while for them?"

Natsuki walked over to the portal with Shizuru and gave her a nod. She didn't notice it there before but, Shizuru was right. She doesn't want to ignore it's presence in case someone else comes through it that needs our help.

"Okay, here is what I propose." Natsuki began as she took a deep breath. "Alexis and Shirley, I want you two to stay behind in case someone comes through the portal. They might not have a clue where they are so fill them in." Natsuki explained.

The blue-haired Hime looked at Shizuru with a smile before feeling something strange.

"Huh? A Hime?" Natsuki felt vibrations against herself letting her know that someone was near. A fellow Hime. "Some one is close by."

Alexis shrugged at the blue haired biker chick, secretly bothered by the idea of guard duty. But considering the possibilities of enemies to curb stomp, she took up the offer. "Fine by me, Natsuki. Nobody's touches *my* portal and lives to tell the tale."

"Nobody?" questioned Shirley. "I dunno about that~ You needed our help last time, remember?"

Oscar laughed awkwardly at the bickering pair. "It's not that serious, you guys. Now; we should do as Mademoiselle Natsuki says-huh? Who's close by?"

In a state of confusion, Oscar locks eyes with Rezetta as if to question what Natsuki is taking about.

"Be on a look out, you two!" Rezetta smiled, "We're counting on you."

Rezetta was just as lost as Oscar was when Natsuki spoke about something."Is something wrong, Kuga?"

Natsuki looked over at Rezetta, trying not to look alarmed.

"I-I can sense another Hime around here. I can't tell who it is though. It could be Mai or Midori! I need to find out. We need to track them down and fast." Natsuki said with a panic.

"This could be our chance to get the group back together."

"I see..." Rezetta nodded, she formed a small cat like smile, "I'm assuming there is a friend you're looking for? Well, I'm all for it with helping you out with that.Wherever we're heading, I hope the next area is more lively. I wanna meet some cool looking studs for once."

"HiME?" responded Oscar; suddenly recalling the person Natsuki spoke to mentally. "The friends from your world, right?"

The beautiful Frenchwoman knelt down before the blue hair maiden. "I will not leave your side until they're found."

Saki's body untensed as Midori also began to settle down.
"In this weather, you won't get wherever you're going very quickly or safely. We're actually part of a group. May I suggest we travel together for the sake of ease?"
Saki's words were tinged with honesty and kindness, hoping to make it easier for the poor girl before them. Midori grumbled but refrained from saying anything more but,
"Get on Gakutenou if you're coming."

Saki felt her heart sink. Midori simply placed her hand on her sword once more.
"Don't be an idiot. No matter how strong you are or think you are, the world and nature will have the last laugh. Now are you coming or do I need to show you some sensibility?"
Saki shot Midori a horrified face, eyes wide and eyebrows raised, her mouth was slightly open as if to remark in disgust. But there was nothing she could do, the words had been said.

Meanwhile.

"Maester Seymour!" cried out the Mediterranean Crusader woman. "The group of strangers are heading towards the area where all the fiend disappearances have occurred."

As she finishes reporting to Seymour, one of the younger Crusaders from her group interrupts the meeting to whisper something in her ear. Hesitant, the woman struggles to put words together. "There's...something else. While we were busy observing the strangers, Summoner Yuna and her group have...left the area."

Seymour Gaudo listened in on the Captain and her findings. "Is that so? They seem like a capable bunch. I would not be too concerned for them. Is there anything else?"

Just then, he noticed another crusader appear and whisper towards them. Then, the female crusader spoke once again. Seymour didn't react right away, but he did consume the knowledge in a pensive matter. "Really? Summoner Yuna and her guardians just left? Have any of your troops witness the leaving, captain?"

"The hard way it is then!"
Unsheathing her sword, Midori leaped from Gakutenou and crashed her blade onto Kyoko's spear shaft.
"You never learn you hot headed fool."
Saki muttered as she pulled Kyoko's leg with her cantus, making her land front first in the snow and causing Midori to instead point her weapon at the downed girl's nose.
"Have a change of heart?"

Bluholic711 wrote:Seymour Gaudo listened in on the Captain and her findings. "Is that so? They seem like a capable bunch. I would not be too concerned for them. Is there anything else?"

Just then, he noticed another crusader appear and whisper towards them. Then, the female crusader spoke once again. Seymour didn't react right away, but he did consume the knowledge in a pensive matter. "Really? Summoner Yuna and her guardians just left? Have any of your troops witness the leaving, captain?"

"We...haven't. It was reported by a...wandering traveler."

The sulking dark skinned woman and her team know they've screwed up royally. Because of their faith and never being convicted of heresy; they expect some small forgiveness from Seymour. Speaking any further at this point might offend him.

Grinning, Midori knew a fellow fighter when she saw one. Battle and toughness was the only way to communicate with their kind. Sheathing her sword, she instead extended a hand to pull Kyoko up.
"Come on then."
Getting onto Gakutenou's back, Saki gave Midori a accusatory glare, which was as expected, ignored with a grin as they flew off. Returning to find Natsuki and the others, Midori landed in the center of their party, causing many to run away in clearance.
"We're back!" She shouted

midori's crazy398 wrote:Grinning, Midori knew a fellow fighter when she saw one. Battle and toughness was the only way to communicate with their kind. Sheathing her sword, she instead extended a hand to pull Kyoko up.
"Come on then."
Getting onto Gakutenou's back, Saki gave Midori a accusatory glare, which was as expected, ignored with a grin as they flew off. Returning to find Natsuki and the others, Midori landed in the center of their party, causing many to run away in clearance.
"We're back!" She shouted

"Saki! Midori! Did you happen to find anything?" questioned Oscar, looking upon her two allies who appear to have engaged in battle.  "Heh heh, you've run into a little trouble. Both your hairs are messy. Tell us, Mademoiselles, did you spot any monster or-"

The Frenchwoman saw a girl behind them carrying a long spear. Though the girl appeared small in stature; the weapon proved deadly. Drawing her rapier, Oscar cried out to Saki and Midori, "Look out, there's an enemy behind you!"

Saki brought an end to Oscar's confusion.
"No wait! She's decided to join us, though it took some...convincing I guess you could say."
Midori nodded with a smile spread on her lips

“Oh look,” Summanus grunted, drawing Elsa’s attention. “A Toothpick with a toothpick.”

Elsa snorted in spite of herself, shaking her head at the craggy dragon.