Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-HiME or Mai-Otome and their characters, events or places.
[X]
Nat groaned, looking up and down from where he sat at his post. The annoying Irishman, Jules, leaned against a tree about one hundred feet away; a grimace came to the groggy soldier's face. "Stupid idiot's probably asleep..." Nat muttered unhappily. He too had been dozing but not completely asleep. Pale yellow-orange light peeked between the branches, glaring brightly in the pale boy's eyes. His emerald-colored irises narrowed; the young man heard a crunch and whipped around violently, rifle at the ready, his trigger finger ready to go. There stood his relief, Takeda. "Masashi, you dumbass, what were you doing, trying to sneak up like that?"
"I- I was practicing to see if I could sneak up on a potential enemy, Nat. I'm real sorry," stammered the man. His unruly, black hair looked unprofessional beneath his forage cap and the higher born male snorted derisively. "I said I was sorry, ya know..." Takeda stepped forward again, his rifle aimed at the deck.
"I was damn near ready to kill you, you idiot! Think! I could have just rounded and fired off a shot, not caring if you were friend or foe!" hissed the raven-haired soldier. He grabbed the other man by the collar roughly and tugged him down to eye level. "I was prepared to shoot anyone wgo came upon me without second guessing, without question, without doubt. You, Takeda, got lucky. Or else you'd be dead, laying in a bloody heap at my feet right now." The pale Confederate released the oncoming guard and growled, "You know your orders?"
"Yes, I know 'em," the black-haired male retorted; he seemed thoroughly upset, like a scolded child.
"Good. Then post and don't take off until your relif comes tomorrow morning. I'm going back to camp," Nat sighed heavily, making his way over to where the staggering Irishman was going. "Hey, Jules, you makin' it all right? Need me to dig a grave for ya?"
"Go play with a wolf, Kruger, it's probably yer mum. Nah...I'm fine. Jus' a bit tired," the redhead replied. He scratched a bit at his frockcoat, muttering about how ill-made it was and how much better Rosaline could have done.
"That slave Rosaline...she means a lot to you," Kruger murmured quietly, carrying his weapon at the alert and moving briskly, despite not being on post anymore.
"She's not jus' a slave t'me, mutt. Rosaline...Rosaline was like another mum t'me. She loves me mum, takes real good take o' her." Jules patted the back of his forage cap, tilting it back on his head. It rested precariously there; the Irishman quickly secured the buttstock of his rifle under his arm, between his torso and bicep, and lit a cigarette. Taking a few puffs, he drawled, "Took good care o' me while I were home too. "Didn't you have any slaves like that, Kruger?"
Nat thought back and realized that most of the slaves in his household had kept a reasonable distance from him. Most people had, in fact, because he had been a rather cold child, favoring his mother because of his father's iron fist. He had been a cruel master. And not just to the slaves. The pale man stopped short, emerald-colored eyes glazed with sorrow. "No."
"Kruger. Kruger. Hey, mutt," the redhead snapped, "what's wrong?" He reached forward and caught the slumping Southerner, watching as Nat's eyes rolled back and his skin grew deathly pale. "Dumb dog! Hey! Wake up! Dammit..." The Irishman slung both of their weapons across his front and bent forward, pulling the unconcious soldier up so that he was standing. Then, he bent again and slipped an arm between his knees and pulled Nat's arm over his shoulders. Jules grunted and carried the slightly heavier soldier back to camp.
[X]
Soft hands caressed Shizuru's face and she jolted awake at the contact. A soft giggle broke in the silence of the room and the chestnut-haired female sighed knowingly. She smiled. "Anh, you know better than to wake me up like that. And when I'm in such a state. I'm not even dressed."
