Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-HiME or Mai-Otome and their characters, events or places.
[X]
"Shizuru!" cried Anh. Her horrified shriek barely made it over the groans and agonized whimpering of the soldiers. She stood, watching tearfully as a young man coughed up blood all over her skirt.
The honey-blonde's cousin rushed over, her mouth set in an unforgiving line. But, upon seeing the state of the boy, the look softened. She hugged her cousin and murmured, "Go change and relax for a little bit. I'll take care of things here." Then, giving Anh an affectionate kiss on the cheek, she ushered her away. Shizuru turned her attention back to the boy and asked, "What's your name?"
"T-Takumi. Takumi Tokiha." He hissed in pain, arching off the cot he was on. "Wh-where's Akira?"
"Akira?" the Southern belle questioned. Her blood-red eyes widened in surprise, finally noticing his uniform. It was not the cadet grey she had become accustomed to; it was a deep navy blue. The young man was a Northerner. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. It wasn't necessarily uncommon to come across enemy forces in a field hospital, really, but with the way things were it was strange. Shizuru brushed back his red-brown hair gently and said, "Is Akira a friend of yours? One of your comrades?"
Purple-grey eyes got large as he realized the error in his words. He stuttered, "Y-yes. Akira is one of my comrades." He tried to sit up but the very motion made him sick again. The young Viola grabbed a bucket from nearby and held the boy's bangs out of his face as he emptied the meager contents of his stomach. Takumi whispered, "Thank you." Sweat beaded his brow and blood slowly trickled over his bottom lip. "I'm gonna die, aren't I?"
"That...that isn't for sure, Takumi. You must be strong. I'll go get the doctor-" Shizuru started to stand and turn to find the main physician but was halted by a trembling hand on her wrist. "Wha-"
"No! No...please don't get him. He's just a field doctor, not a real one. He doesn't know what he's doing." The young brunette boy growled to hold back another whimper of pain and asked, his voice low, "Can you stitch me up instead?"
The utter horror on the Southern belle's face was a palpable feeling between them and Takumi chuckled. "How can you ask that? I don't have any experience-"
"You know how to sew, don't you? It's just like that. The only difference is that're you're sewin' skin, not a handkerchief," replied the Yankee. His pained grin gave the young woman enough guilt that she stood and went to get a needle and the thickest thread she could find.
As Shizuru settled beside the boy again, her crimson eyes fixed him with an unwavering glare. "Remember that you asked for this." And with that, the brunette woman began to patch his skin together.
[X]
Nat panted for breath, wiping the sweat from his brow as he settled behind a tree. Despite the fact that it was winter and almost December no less, the soldiers on both sides found themselves sweating from the exertion of battle. He watched as his comrades continued to bombard the Northern facilities. They had failed miserably while trying to halt the Union forces from retreating into Nashville. In the dead of night, General Schofield had moved his own XXIII Corps, as well as Stanley's IV Corps, to Franklin and escaped the Confederate forces. It was no longer the Battle of Columbia. That had ended and gave way to this new battle. The Battle of Franklin. Nat considered the situation and began to agree with Colonel Viola. Things were looking quite hopeless for the Southerners, especially the Army of Tennessee. 'Well, at least I haven't been killed yet.' A rueful grin came across his features as his emerald eyes looked up at the sky. It was getting dark again. 'Where's Jules? I haven't spotted that idiot Irishman since...' His thoughts were interrupted by cannon fire. "Where the hell did they get a fuckin' cannon?" Nat snarled in surprise.
