Warning: KonoSetsu AU It may seem confusing at first, please bear with me.
Chapter One: Demon Heir
“-but Father-in-Law, isn’t it too early to begin planning an Omiai for Konoka? Her fourteenth birthday is but a few weeks ago-”
Konoemon rubbed his white beard thoughtfully.
“Nonsense, Son-in-Law. I am merely introducing her to a possible future candidate for an Omiai. You did mention a few days ago that my granddaughter has been very lonely here in Kyoto, since I sent her body guards away to bring back the Thousand Master’s son.”
Konoe Eishun frowned, unconvinced. “Her body guards will be back in a few days. It was your idea to send all twenty of them away. Besides, I wanted to give her the chance to make normal friends, not-”
“-Sakurazaki is a fine young lad. He is of the same age as our Konoka, so I’m sure they’ll get along well. Besides, he will be staying here a few days- Omiai or no Omiai. We had promised Motoko that we would let her son stay here until the disputes on his inheritance of the demon throne is over.”
Sighing to himself, Eishun haltingly nodded.
“Yes. But why a leader of the Shinmeiryuu would marry a Crow demon King is beyond me. I don’t think those demons would accept a half-demon as their king. Let alone a half-demon whose mother is from the Shinmeiryuu. What was Motoko thinking?”
The older man laughed. “We may never know. But if she succeeds, then Sakurazaki will one day control both the Shinmeiryuu and the Demon clan. Quite fitting for our Konoka, wouldn’t you say? He could help her control our two magic associations.”
Shaking his head, the head of the Kansai Magic Association resumed his earlier argument. “There is no guarantee that they would be compatible.”
“Oh but I have met him. He was such a talented and handsome boy. Beautiful, even. He had quite a few admirers in the Shinmei school. He would be fine company for my granddaughter.”
“We shall see, Father-in-Law. We shall see.”
--
Urging the horse to a quick sprint towards the Kansai magic association, Setsuna Sakurazaki frowned. Motoko’s advice echoed in the young demon’s mind.
Flashback--
Remember, Setsuna, I have great hopes for you. Do not let the your father and my efforts be in vain. Do not let anyone know your secret. I will do all I can to ensure that you will be the one to succeed after your father. As a half-demon, it would be difficult. I know. But if your secret is revealed, the situation would become hopeless.
End Flashback--
Hardened, black eyes intently scanned the road ahead for any signs of trouble; and for the many miles from the head quarters of Shimeiryuu, there was none that dared to threaten the Shinmei student’s path, until a shadow caught the Setsuna’s attention.
A few dozen feet ahead, a girl was hanging from the branch on a tall tree . From the looks of it, she was about to fall. In which- she did.
Without wasting time for thought, the demon heir jumped from the running horse as the girl fell, catching the girl before she hit the ground.
Landing on the ground with both feet slightly bent to reduce the impact, Setsuna eyed the girl who lay comfortably in the half-demon’s arms. For some reason Setsuna’s heart beat faster.
Long, dark chocolate hair, mussed with broken twigs fell into her face, and the girl brushed them away to reveal bright, round eyes and a grinning face.
“Sorry about that. Thanks for saving me.”
The girl made no attempt to move from her current position.
Flashing another bright smile, the girl tilted her head, and asked “I haven’t seen you around this area before. My name’s Konoka. Konoe Konoka. What’s yours?”
For some reason the hanyou was stuttering.
“S-Setsuna.”
Konoka pulled away from Setsuna’s embrace, taking the hanyou’s hands instead.
“Alright, Setsuna-kun. Let me show you around. You must be new to this region.”
A dark blush emerged on Setsuna’s face, and every thought erased from the half-demon’s mind but one.
She is so cute.
Chapter 2: Konoe Heir
Konoka POV:
I think the main reason why I wanted to meet Setsuna-kun was because I was lonely. Jii-san had sent my friends away on a mission for weeks now, and I desperately need a friend to talk to.
I was also curious.
Curious as to whom this ‘Sakurazaki Setsuna’ might be to have impressed my Jii-san so much that he had said nothing but praise towards the person during breakfast this morning.
‘Setsuna.’ The name seems to flow very smoothly from my lips; an enchanting melody in my ears.
Father had told me of Setsuna-kun’s situation, and the reason why he would be staying with us for a couple of days.
I wanted to meet him. He who held such a beautiful name must hold a beautiful heart as well. But I did not want to meet him under the pretence of an Omiai. So I decided to meet him before anyone had the chance to introduce me as the ‘Konoe heir.’
I wanted him to know me as Konoka.
Konoe Konoka. I hope my name is as beautiful to him as his is to me.
I am not interested in having an Omiai with him. But maybe…just maybe…if I meet him before my grandfather does, he would not think of me as a candidate for an Omiai. Maybe we can be friends.
--
I knew that there was only one passage that would lead to the Kansai Magic Association, and that Setsuna-kun would have to go through that road. For better view, I decided to climb upon a tree overlooking the path, when suddenly, the sound of a horse’s gallop surprised me.
I slipped, hanging on a small branch for a few seconds until I could hold on no more.
I fell then, expecting a rough landing, when suddenly two strong arms circled around my waist and blocked my fall.
When we both landed safely on the ground (still carried by the mysterious savior), I looked up to see a handsome youth with dark black hair tied to one side of his head.
For some reason as I looked into his eyes right then, I felt that I could trust him.
For some reason I didn’t want to leave his arms. For some reason I felt as if I belonged there.
I shook off the thought and stood up. After a few minutes of introduction, I found that he was the person I had been waiting for. Setsuna-kun was my savior.
I wanted to show to him the place he would be staying. I wanted to be the one to lead him to my grandfather.
Grabbing hold of his right hand, I led him in the direction of the Kansai Magic Association. My home. As he followed me, his seemed dazed, as if in a trance. There was a dark blush adorning his cheeks.
A very cute blush.
As we neared entrance of my home, however, he seemed to wake from his earlier confusion. He bowed, and removed his hand from my hold.
Bending down on one knee, he uttered a quick “I’m sorry, Konoe-san. I just remembered that I have something very important to do” and flew off.
I noticed that his blush deepened as he spoke.
Kawaii! He could easily pass for a shy girl! Maybe I should start calling him Setsuna-chan.
Wait. That doesn’t sound right.
Secchan. I’ll call him Secchan.
Secchan doesn’t know that the Kansai Magic Association is actually my home. He doesn’t know who I am yet.
I’ll surprise him when my grandfather introduces us (hopefully not in an Omiai).
Maybe I’ll see that blush again.
--Setsuna POV--
What is wrong with you, Setsuna?
Just one look at that girl and you forget everything mother told to do. You followed her for hours, like a love-sick puppy, not knowing where you were going, until you nearly reached the entrance of the Kansai Magic Association.
Where did the usual stoic Samurai personality of yours go?
You nearly exposed the world of magic to a normal human, by letting Konoe-san come so near to the Magic Association.
Thank the heavens above that you awoke from your reverie in time to leave her.
What is that?
Why is there pain in your heart?
You will never see her again. That is the way it should be.
Even if you had never seen anyone who is so adorable before. Even if she looked so innocent. Even if she is the first person who smiled when she looked at you, not noticing the sword in your hands, or that aura of demon-coldness that surrounds you. Even if…
Calm down Setsuna.
You still have work to do. Do not disappoint Mother. Erase that Konoe-girl from your mind. As a half-demon, you can be friends with no one. Remember that.
Now, isn’t that a person from the Kansai Magic Association?
“Hello. My name is Sakurazaki Setsuna. I am here to meet the Elder- the leader of the Kansai Association. I believe he is expecting me.”
--Normal POV--
The guards led the half-demon through the winding halls of an ancient mansion, until they reached what seemed like the doorway to the main hall. Sliding the double wooden doors open, the guards bowed, and left.
Carefully, Setsuna entered, eyes alert for any signs of danger.
There was none, however, and in the center of the room stood a form Setsuna recognized as the Elder of the Kanto Magic Association.
The Shinmeryuu student bent down on one knee, head bowed.
“E-Elder! I wasn’t expecting you here.”
Extending one hand, Konoemon pulled Setsuna up.
“No need to be so formal. You are staying with my son-in-law for a few days. I wouldn’t want you to be like that every time we meet. Let us begin the introductions, and I’ll get someone to show you to your room. Any other discussions should be left to tomorrow. Now, Son-in-law! Granddaughter!”
Once again, Setsuna bowed as the two entered, then slowly looked up.
That girl!
In an intake of breath, the half-demon gasped, eyes wide as a chocolate-haired girl entered, giggling silently behind the Elder of the Kansai Magic Association.
If the two Elders heard or saw what went on between Setsuna and the girl, they made no comment. Introductions began and ended with Setsuna unable to recall any memories of it- besides the sudden realization that the two Elders’ last names were Konoe.
It should have been obvious that Konoe Konoka is related to them.
--
“So. Since introductions have ended, I think it is fitting that we should get someone to show you your room. Seeing as to how much you’ve been staring at my granddaughter for the last fifteen minutes, I think it is fitting that she take you there, don’t you agree?” A clever sparkle glinted in the old man’s eyes.
Setsuna could see Konoka winking behind her grandfather.
“Wha-?”
“Oh, and by the way, my granddaughter is still single, so if you’re interested…”
“EHHH?”
The two Elders left, Konoemon chuckling softly and Eishun shaking his head at his father-in-law. Konoka suddenly appeared beside the confused half-demon.
“Secchan!” A hand circled around Setsuna’s, and large round eyes bore into the Samurai’s own.
Setsuna fought the urge to blush, focusing on keeping an emotionless façade.
“K-Konoe-sama!”
Konoka pulled the half-demon out of the room.
“This way, Secchan!”
Setsuna was uncomfortable with the odd name. Pulling the young girl backwards, the half-demon faced her.
“Wait. I think there must be a mistake. Why are you calling me Se-”
Before Setsuna could finish, a sonorous voice rung out.
“Unhand Konoka this instant, or face the wrath of the Mahora Warriors!”
--
Chapter 3: Mahora Warrior
“Let her go!”
The moment the voice rang out, six girls jumped out and surrounded Setsuna. The source of the voice, a red-haired girl with hair tied into twin ponytails, reached out a hand and pulled Konoka away from the group.
“Are you okay, Konoka? We were all on our way to see your grandfather to tell him that the Thousand Master’s son will arrive soon, when Mana felt an evil presence within the temple.”
The red-haired girl examined Konoka carefully, eyes wide and darting from place to place for any signs of wounds before turning away from her and motioning to her friends to attack.
Konoka attempted to regain the redhead’s attention , but to no avail.
“Asuna, he-”
Meanwhile, a tall dark-skinned girl pointed her shotgun at Setsuna.
“So what are you, anyways? I can sense demonic presence in you, but you don’t seem entirely like a demon.”
Setsuna’s sword remained undrawn, and the half-demon gripped its handle tighter, then stepped forward to explain.
“Wait! You are from the Kansai Magic Association, aren’t you? You’ve mistaken-”
The gunslinger shot, and Setsuna jumped backwards to avoid the bullets.
A ninja girl holding a Kunai in her hand raised raised it to block Mana’s firing.
“Patience, Mana. He hadn’t finished the explanation, de-gozaru.”
“Demon no need explanation, aru-yo!” A girl wearing a gold embroidered cheongsam leapt forward, her fist aiming at Setusuna’s sides, but instead encountered Setsuna’s sword-case.
“Why you no draw sword, aru? No underestimate Chinese martial arts, aru-ne!”
“I’ll help you, Kuu!” A second Chinese girl joined the first one, and attacked simultaneously.
Setsuna continued to dodge the attackers, until suddenly, some ribbon wove itself around Setsuna’s legs, disabling the half-demon’s mobility.
“Great job, Makie!” The two girls cried.
This is bad, if it continues then I’ll be forced to draw my sword. Bloodshed would be inevitable.
As the two attacking girls raised their fists, Setsuna’s sword rose to block them, and the crow demon prepared to draw.
“Stop!” Everyone froze as they turned their heads to see Konoka running towards them, Asuna following closely behind.
“Secchan! Are you okay? Were you hurt?” Konoka knelt down, and began to untie the ribbons from the samurai’s legs, while her red-haired companion spoke to the rest of the group.
“It seems we made a mistake, this ‘Secchan’ -I believe Konoka called him- was apparently invited here by Konoe-sama-”
“-But there’s a demon aura around him. Even though its not as strong as the one I had felt before we got here, he could still be a potential danger to us.” Mana interrupted.
Asuna nodded, then regarded the demon with suspicious eyes.
“That’s odd. You’re never wrong about these things.”
The other girls remained silent as Makie took back her ribbons and Konoka began to fuss over her new found friend, who seemed to be getting increasingly uncomfortable.
The sound of footsteps and a new voice broke the silence, however, and a group of three girls approached them.
“We heard your words, Asuna.” A girl with square glasses grinned, as she ran ahead of the other two. “Nodoka has read his mind. She says he’s trustable.”
She indicated to one the approaching girls.
The girl bowed, clutching a large book to her chest as she did so. Her hair fell over her eyes.
“I’m sorry we’ve come so late, everyone.”
The girl behind her nodded in agreement, then took a sip from the bottle she held.
Standing behind Asuna, her Kunai long since put away, the Ninja girl clapped her hand once, and began to speak.
“We appreciate the information, Nodoka. In any case, I think we all here owe an apology to -‘Secchan’-was it? de-gozaru.”
The Mahora warriors gathered together before the demon and began their apology when Setsuna rose a hand to stop them. The half-demon began to speak; eyes not on the warriors but on Konoka. Who, to Setsuna’s apparent dismay, was standing merely an inch away.
“Apology accepted. And my name’s ‘Setsuna,’ not ‘Secchan.’”
Setsuna paused, distracted, as Konoka leaned in even closer.
“L-look. I’m in a hurry, so I’ll see you later.”
Done with what being said, the young samurai took off.
“What is the matter with him?” Asuna asked, half amused and half annoyed by the behavior.
Konoka chased after the fleeing form, but yelled back to her friends.
“Don’t worry. He’s just shy. I’ll reintroduce you all to him later.”
--
Konoka followed the Shinmeiryuu student as best as she could, running from the court yard to the residential area. Soon, however, Setsuna was much too fast for her to catch up, and she lost sight of the adorable half-demon.
/Setsuna’s new to this place. I doubt he’d be able to run far, and I still haven’t showed him his room yet. Should I search for him from room to room?/
The Konoe heir paused to think for a bit, putting a finger on her cheeks and tilting her head as she tried to decide the next course of action. Afterwards, her eyes hardened, and she reached for the door handle closest to her and pulled.
“Secchan?”
No answer. The room was empty but for a single black feather lying on the floor. Curious, Konoka picked the feather up.
“That’s odd. This feather seems too big for a normal bird. And why would there be a bird in this room?”
Konoka shrugged, then left to search in the other rooms.
--
“Secchan, wait!”
Setsuna whirled around, a frown on the demon’s face trying to cover up the fact that it was blushing.
“Look. I don’t know why you keep calling me that. I don’t know why you keep following me. But I advise you to stop it. I am a dangerous person. You wouldn’t want to get close to me.”
Konoka’s eyes were large and round, like a curious child. “Why?”
The blush won out in its battle against the frown on Setsuna’s face, yet the demon heir’s hair seemed to cover the eyes, avoiding Konoka’s puppy orbs. Setsuna turned away.
“Because you would get caught in my battle. Because you will soon regret ever having known me.”
Konoka didn’t have time to argue, and the half-demon sprinted away once more.
I don’t want you to be caught in the battle of the demons. This is the only way, to protect you from them… and to protect you from me. Certainly, if you knew-
“Secchan!”
A frightful scream. A loud growl.
Setsuna immediately ran back towards the distressed heiress.
“Konoe-sama! Are you-”
An arrow whizzed towards Setsuna, aiming at the demon’s heart. Setsuna quickly jumped, grabbing Konoka in the process and shielding her from the onslaught.
Setsuna examined the four crow demons with wings outstretched and dark green eyes, each carrying a large bow and a dozen arrows, flew towards them.
This is bad. Those eyes….They’re high level demons. The person who sent them here must have removed their control barriers as well. No demon in their right mind would needlessly release all of their control like that. An uncontrolled demon is the most dangerous demon of all. But if I don’t release my powers as well, do have a chance against them?
Setsuna stood in front of the chocolate-haired girl, whispering back to her.
“Run as fast as you can away from here.”
“What about you? I can’t jus-”
Setsuna held the sword in front of the both of them, then pushed Konoka away.
“Go! Once this sword is drawn, they are nothing to me. But I might hurt you, too! So Go! Tell your grandfather that the protection barrier in this temple has been breached.”
Setsuna’s eyes closed, and all thoughts became blurry as the half-demon drew the sword. A ringing sound split the air, and the demon heir’s eyes opened to reveal crimson red eyes.
Setsuna smirked.
I want to draw blood. I want them to suffer for daring to challenge the next ruler of all demons.
I want to punish them.
Raising the sword high into the air, the Setsuna slashed towards the other demons, intending to kill.
--
“Ah. He’s awake. Just in time, too. Ako! Come here!”
The half demon’s eyes opened. Dark black pupils narrowed, quick and sharp, while Setsuna’s hands aimed for the enemy’s throat.
“Wait a minute! I just saved you, and this is what I get?” Asuna used her large fan to poke the demon in the stomach.
Setsuna’s eyes refocused immediately, and the young samurai’s hand released its hold.
“Wha? I’m sorry. I thought-”
“Fine, fine. Think of it as a payment for earlier today and we’re even.” Asuna turned her head towards the door.
“Ako! Would you mind checking his injuries for me?”
“Er-” Setsuna began.
“Call me Asuna.”
“Asuna-san. What happened? Did Konoe-san run to you for help? Was she okay?”
Asuna blinked. “She’s okay. She’s with her father now. But she wasn’t the one who called us. We found you two unconscious on the ground. Turns out, the presence Mana felt earlier was the demons that attacked you two.”
“And the demons?”
“No trace of them. They must have escaped.” Asuna stood up and opened the door to the room.
That’s odd. Usually when I release my sword, I wouldn’t be able to stop until at least blood had been drawn from my opponent. Those demons shouldn’t have been able to escape without external help.
“Here. This is Ako. She wasn’t here this morning when you met the other Mahora Warriors. She’ll help you care for any injuries.”
The girl named Ako bowed, then set her medical tools on the table beside Setsuna’s bed.
“Nice to meet you, Setsuna-san. Now, can you pull off that shirt? I’ll need to check your wounds and apply medicine on them.”
Setsuna recoiled immediately.
“N-No thank you. I’ll be able to do them myself.”
The demon stood up, grabbed the sword leaning on the bed, and hurriedly left.
Asuna and Ako looked at each other.
“I still think he’s hiding something from all of us, Ako, and I’ll find it out, whatever it is.
--
Eishun looked at his daughter.
“So what’s going on, Konoka? You’ve never seemed concerned in someone your grandfather brought before, why are you so interested this time?”
“He seems so lonely, Tou-san. I can’t help but try to be closer to him.”
“But do you know that helping him in that way might let them have the wrong idea? Do you know that your grandfather is trying to pair up you and him?”
Konoka’s eyes were soft and far off when she turned to face her father.
She smiled.
“I don’t think it matters much any more. For some reason, when I look at the way he runs, it’s as if he’s telling me to follow him, to reach him.”
“But Konoka-”
“He makes me feel warm, and safe.”
Eishun sighed and shook his head.
“And about the demons, you know that you-”
His daughter’s arms around him in a tight hug caused him to stop.
“Don’t worry, father. I know you love me, but I can take care of myself. Trust me.” Konoka giggled, and ran out of the room, handing him the black feather she had picked up earlier before she left.
“I’ll see you at dinner, Tou-san! I need to find Secchan!”
The head of the Kansai Magic Association shook his head once more, then put the feather in the pocket of his robe.
--
Setsuna sat alone inside the room, wrapping bandages on the wounds that the demon had not allowed Ako to see earlier.
That’s odd. Could they really have been that powerful? I know I usually don’t remember anything after I loose control, but I usually never get injuries afterwards, either. After all, an uncontrolled demon is dangerous, but an uncontrolled royal demon even more so.
Lost in thought, Setsuna did not notice a knocking outside the door.
“Setsuna-san? Can I come in? I’ve brought some medication for the wounds. You ran away before Ako could-”
Asuna gasped, and dropped the bottle she held onto the floor.
“You’re a girl?!”
Chapter 4: Vampire Master
Asuna gasped, and dropped the bottle she held onto the floor.
“You’re a girl?!”
Setsuna looked up, and in one quick motion, clothed herself.
How could I have been so careless?
Asuna, meanwhile, prepared herself for attack.
“Who are you? How did you fool the Elders into letting you stay here? What is your purpose?”
Cursing herself for not bringing her weapon, Asuna tried to recall one of her many friends’ martial arts moves. She attempted a punch, in which Setsuna swiftly dodged.
The half demon launched into the air, and landed on a table a few feet away.
“I did not fool them. They let me stay on their own accord. And as for my gender… every one has secrets in which they would not wish to reveal.”
Asuna noticed Setsuna’s sword lying close by, and grabbed it, about to draw.
Upon seeing this, the shinmei student quickly jumped over and tackled the Mahora warrior, knocking the sword out of her hands and under the bed.
Asuna rose her foot, about to kick, when the other girl quickly grabbed it, pushing her to the floor. Setsuna held both of the warriors hands behind her back, and held her to the floor.
“Did you want to die? Drawing my sword like that…”
“I am not afraid of death. My friends will discover your secret and avenge me.”
The demon’s eyes softened.
Ah. But she doesn’t know about my uncontrolled half…
Setsuna sighed.
“Look, I’ll tell you everything if you promise to keep my secret. I’m not trying to hurt anyone.”
Asuna smirked. “WHY WOULD I BELIEVE IN A DEMON LIKE YO-”
“-I believe him, Asuna-san.”
The mind reader from the fight that morning entered, carrying a book.
“Or rather, I believe her.”
Asuna turned to face the girl.
“Honya-chan! You knew!”
Nodoka smiled shyly, and raised up her mind-reading instrument.
“I read her mind this morning, remember? I discovered that she is a girl. But I could see that she meant no ill will towards us, so I decided to keep it secret and confront her later and ask about it.”
Nodoka turned to face the demon.
“So will it be okay with you if I, too, learn of your secret as long as I keep it a secret? Besides, Asuna would no longer distrust your words, since I will be able to tell whether it is the truth or a lie.”
Setsuna grimaced, but nodded, then walked over to put a talisman on the door to seal all sound from the inside of the room from reaching the outside.
Sorry, mother. I promised you I’ll keep it secret, but TWO people ended up learning of it on my first day.
--
Asuna seemed more relaxed as she listened to the end of Setsuna’s story.
“So, your mother decided to disguise you as a boy, so that you would have more chances of getting the demon throne? But didn’t anyone else know?”
Setsuna shook her head.
“Ie. No one was present on the day of my birth, and she’d been disguising me ever since I was a baby. I have lived as a boy, so no one would suspect.”
“Geez…I kinda feel sorry for you now.”
Slapping a startled demon on the back, Asuna stood up and stretched.
“Ah, well. I’ll keep your secret, don’t worry. We’re friends now, aren’t we?”
Setsuna blinked.
“Eh?”
Asuna winked, then pulled Nodoka up.
“Well, that’s what friends are, they share secrets with each other. Since you’ve told me yours, then you’ve become a friend.”
A knock on the door startled everyone inside. Setsuna reached over to open the door to reveal a young boy of around ten years of age.
“Sakurazaki-sama, the Elders wish for your presence. They’ve made a feast to celebrate your arrival. Asuna-sempai, Nodoka-sempai, all of the Mahora Warriors who’ve arrived this morning are invited as well.”
The young guard-in-training bowed, then left.
The three girls looked at each other.
“Well, let’s get going, then. And don’t worry, Setsuna, we’ll keep your secret.”
With Asuna’s words having said, the girls nodded, and left.
--
Upon reaching the Dining Hall, Setsuna was immediately tackled by the Konoe heir, then was guided towards a seat next to the girl.
Afterwards, Konoka waved to her two Mahora protectors, then turned back her attention on the half-demon.
Asuna laughed as she spoke to Nodoka. “Konoka seems quite interested in our new friend.”
Nodoka shook her head. “There is something I must discuss with you about that, though.”
“Hmm?”
“There seems to be more than just interest towards Setsuna-san, though. Konoka-san has never acted this way before, and since she doesn’t know the feeling herself, it is hard for me to read it. But I think… for some reason, Setsuna-san seems very important to her. The same goes to Setsuna-san’s thoughts of Konoka-san.”
Asuna’s face paled. “You mean they-”
Nodoka nodded.
Asuna managed a small smile.
“At least, now that we know her, Setsuna is more trust-worthy than the guys that Konoka’s grandfather has tried to arrange in an Omiai for her.”
--
The feast went well, with Setsuna in constant blush from Konoka’s closeness. The additional friendliness that came from Asuna and Nodoka also improved Setsuna’s impression upon the rest of the Mahora Warriors, and by the end of the dinner, they all came out with a warm affection for the blushing-yet-serious demon.
Konoemon was especially happy with the situation.
“Setsuna-kun. Why don’t you and Konoka take a walk around the temple’s gardens. The night’s still young, and it must be beautiful outside.”
Asuna sweat dropped.
“Ummm. Konoe-sama, wouldn’t it be better to tour the gardens in the morning? I’m sure Setsuna must be tired from all the traveling by now.”
Setsuna looked at Asuna with gratitude.
“Yes. Actually, I am quite tired from the day’s trip. Tomorrow would be wonderful.”
Konoka’s eyes twinkled, and she grabbed the demon’s hands, pulling Setsuna away before anyone else could say anything.
“Tomorrow, then.”
--
Setsuna was puzzled.
After dinner, Konoka had dragged her out of the Dining Hall. Finding herself unable to oppose whatever the cute girl was doing, Setsuna allowed herself to be pulled all the way back to the garden area near to where her room was. Upon reaching the area, however, Konoka suddenly let go of her hands and told her to wait there.
After waiting for nearly thirty minutes, the half-demon was bored. Part of her wasn’t even sure what the adorable princess was up to, or if she was coming back. For some reason, however, Setsuna stayed where she was told to stay, as if Konoka had cast an obedience spell upon her. She paced around the garden, not sure of what to do.
What is wrong with me? She does something and I can’t help but let her do it. She tells me to do something, and I can’t help but do it.
Setsuna groaned, and decided to wait a bit more.
Laying her sword (the one she’d retrieved from under the bed after the fight with Asuna) onto the ground, Setsuna picked up a long tree branch from the garden, and decided to practice a couple of Shinmeiryuu moves with it.
She focused her attention on an invisible enemy and began to move, slicing the tree-branch sword to cut the air, jumping and kicking, then raising her hands high into the air as if in a sacred dance…
“Shinmei School Technique, Sword of a Thousand Cherry Blossoms!”
Setsuna stood, satisfied, as many of the cherry blossoms in the garden began to fall from the air pressure created by the technique.
A Rain of Sakura.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming from behind.
Still in her battle mode, Setsuna turned, raised the makeshift sword, and slashed it at the enemy.
A soft cry caught her attention, however, and she stopped midway to identify the intruder.
“Konoe-san!”
The sword had managed to reach the startled girl, and she staggered, dropping a small bag that she was carrying.
Before Konoka fell to the ground, Setsuna ran over, and caught the girl in her arms.
“Konoe-san! Are you okay? I’m sorry, I didn’t realize-”
Konoka’s eyes were closed, as if in pain. But she raised a finger, and lay it on top of the half-demon’s lips.
“Konoka. Call me Konoka,” she whispered.
“But-”
Setsuna looked at the girl in her arms.
I did this. I hurt her.
“K-Konoka,” she said.
Konoka opened both eyes, wide, and giggled. She leaned over, and lay a quick kiss upon the startled demon’s cheek, then stood up.
Wait. That was all fake? I thought the sword had hit her…
Setsuna followed the chocolate-haired girl in standing up, a frown on the samurai’s face.
“You-”
The half-demon froze when Konoka suddenly leaned in closer, their faces an inch apart.
“That’s what you get, for making me drop the bag of fireflies I’ve been catching all night for you.”
Setsuna pulled away, and looked around the garden.
A dozen fireflies had surrounded them both, dancing around the still falling Sakura.
Konoka tilted her head, as a few of the fireflies circled her, and the cherry blossoms fell on her hair.
And the world melted away. I think I would’ve been happy to live my life as a Sakura blossom, living for the only purpose of falling for her one day… embracing her with my tiny petal form…
The sound of a drawn sword shook the two from their trance, and Konoka glanced over to the figure that stood behind Setsuna.
“Kuu! I was wondering where you went after you helped me catch the fireflies!”
The girl in the cheongsam raised a hand behind her head.
“Hehe…I is going to sleep, but seeing Setsuna-kun use branch instead of sword made me curious… why you no draw sword, aru-ne?”
Setsuna’s vision blurred, and she used one hand to cover the red images before her eyes. With her other hand, Setsuna grabbed the sword the Chinese girl had drawn, and attempted to cut herself with it.
As long as I draw blood before I become uncontrolled, then no harm would be done to the people around me…If I could just…
Konoka grabbed her sword out of the demon’s hands.
“Secchan! What are you doing?”
Setsuna was about to take the sword back, when a loud laugh suddenly erupted from the roof top.
“Setsuna-boya! How has my disciple been doing?”
Kuu Fei ran in front of Konoka, then turned towards Setsuna.
“Who she, aru?”
Setsuna struggled to keep her control.
“She’s…she’s one of my Masters in demon magic. Master Evangeline.”
Hearing this, Kuu Fei relaxed her stance, and Eva flew down towards them, a smirk on her face as she looked at the warrior.
“You wouldn’t be able to protect her if I’d wanted to take her, kid.”
When she cast her eyes upon Setsuna, however, Eva’s face grew serious.
“You!-”
“Me.” Setsuna, eyes fully red now, looked calmly at her teacher.
In one quick motion, Setsuna turned to face the girl who still held her sword.
“I’ll be needing that,” the half-demon said, and leaned over to pull the girl into her arms, carrying her, the sword still in the Konoka’s hands.
Before anyone could react, Setsuna had disappeared, with Konoka in her arms.
Her voice echoed to the two standing behind.
“I’ll win the battle against you this time, Master. But first, I have to take care of something. I believe I had promised her grandfather to take her on a trip?”
Kuu Fei bit her lips, and turned to Eva.
“What is happened?”
Eva flew after Setsuna’s retreating form.
“That demon’s kidnapped your little mistress, Baka! We have to find them before Setsuna does something that he’d regret.”
--
Chapter 5: Darker Half
“Secchan….Secchan! What are you doing?”
The demon heir placed the girl down when they reached the top of a cliff that overlooked the Kansai Magic Association’s temple.
Standing at the edge of the cliff, Setsuna smirked.
“So you don’t bother to cry out when I kidnap you, but you ask me what I’m doing when I let go of you?”
Konoka blushed, suddenly feeling very shy as the demon continued to speak.
Setsuna slowly took her sword from Konoka, her hands slightly brushing the other girl’s hand, and laughing as the young Konoe heiress drew her hands back.
“You must be wondering why I’ve brought you here, why I chose to leave when I could have stayed to battle my Master.”
Konoka’s eyes were round, as she looked at the half-demon.
“Because I found someone even stronger than my Master. Someone even more worthy…”
Setsuna leaned towards the other girl’s ear, and whispered in it.
“Battle me.”
The red-eyed demon walked a few steps away from Konoka, then raised the demon sword into the air and turned to face her.
Konoka frowned, then took a few steps forward toward the demon.
“Secchan! I can’t battle you!”
Setsuna smirked, once again.
“Don’t tell me the heir to both Kansai and Kanto Associations can’t fight. I won’t believe you. Fight me. Battle me until one of us draws blood.”
Pointing the sword towards the Konoe heiress, the demon heir began to charge towards her.
--
Evangeline groaned, then tapped her foot as she watched the ten Mahora Warriors discuss their plan of saving the little mistress.
A few hours ago, upon the discovery that Konoka had been kidnapped, Kuu had called Asuna and the rest of the warriors for help. By the time they were all assembled, however, Setsuna and Konoka were already out of site. They had run straight into the forest ahead, as Kuu had pointed that it was the direction to where Setuna had left. But without any luck whatsoever, they now stand in the middle of the forest with out a single clue as to where Konoka might be.
Crossing her arms, Evangeline impatiently watched, as Asuna argued with the rest of her troupe for the next plan of action.
“Look, brats, the only reason why I’ve even come here is to find my apprentice. So if you’re going to continue arguing and slowing me down, then I insist that you go find your precious princess some other way.”
Asuna growled, then turned to look at the child-like vampire.
“We never asked you to save Konoka! The only reason we’re going with you is that you’re the only one who seems to know what’s going on!”
Evangeline grinned.
“Precisely. So if you need me so much, just follow my directions instead of wasting my time with your arguments.”
Asuna sighed, frustrated. “Fine!”
The warriors gathered around the short vampire.
“You! The one with the medical supplies! Form a group with the mind reader girl and the artist. The mind reader girl would be able to know what’s happening with everyone and, whenever necessary, alert you to heal anyone who could be wounded tonight. Artist girl, you stay with them to protect them. If necessary, draw a few forms of transportation and take them to the person in need of healing. The mind reader should be able to guide you there.”
Evangeline turned towards the others, and continued.
“Gunslinger girl and ninja girl, you two form a group. Head up north towards the denser part of the forest. The Chinese duo should form a group. You two head South, back towards the temple to see if they’ve left any unseen clues. The mind reader’s group should be able to tell where each of us are to alert us if there’s any problems.”
As the groups one by one formed and left the area, Evangeline faced the remaining three.
“You three follow me towards the cliff area.”
She paused to laugh at Asuna’s scowl. “Looks like you’re stuck with me, pony-tail girl.”
--
Setsuna eyed her opponent as she held her sword, preparing to strike.
I’ve already caused quite a few injuries. One more hit should finish the battle off.
At the slightest sign of her opponent’s distraction, Setsuna jumped upwards, bringing the sword down onto the enemy as she did.
The person fell, as Setsuna laughed.
“You should have known better than to battle the Demon Heir.”
A tap on her shoulder caused her to quickly turn around, facing a pair of innocent chocolate-colored eyes as she did.
“Secchan! Don’t hurt anyone anymore. Please, even if-”
“-Even if those were the demons who betrayed my father, and who tried to kill me?”
Setsuna’s red eyes softened as she looked at the pouting girl, noticing that blood had started to flow from a wound on Konoka’s right arm.
Tearing a particularly large piece of cloth from her right sleeve, Setsuna began to tie it tightly around the other girl’s wound.
“Look. I’m not the Setsuna that you knew. I am not as merciful towards my enemies. Especially if the demon managed to stop my battle with you, then injured you in the process.”
A sharp cry in the distance interrupted the two, as they looked towards the sky to see dozens of crow demons fly towards them. Setsuna immediately moved to stand in front of the Konoe heiress.
“On my call, run as fast as you can away from here. Take my sword, too, and keep it safe.”
Konoka’s eyes were filled with worry, as she gazed at the demon hoard above.
“But Secchan! I-”
Setsuna smirked, then kissed Konoka softly on the lips, silencing her.
“You really do like ‘Secchan’, don’t you? But as I’ve said, I’m not the same ‘Secchan’. But if you insist on calling me that, I’ll be forced to call you ‘Kono-chan’ from now on.”
“Secchan! It’s not the time to-”
Setsuna placed her sword in Konoka’s hands.
“You’re injured. Besides, you weaken my ability to fight just by staying here. Don’t worry, it’ll take more than all of them to defeat me. I still have to battle you the next time we meet. If you want your ‘Secchan’ back, then keep the sword safe. It would give ‘Secchan’ back to you.”
The demons landed, and Setsuna unfolded her wings, eyes burning an even deeper red as she glared at them with hatred.
“Now Kono-chan. GO!”
Konoka held the sword tightly to her chest and began to run.
Blocking the approaching crow demons from reaching the running girl, Setsuna took out a few paper Omnyous and recited a few well-chosen words.
--
Evangeline laughed as she watched the three Mahora Warriors struggle to climb up the cliff.
“Hurry up, kids!”
“We are not kids!”
Ignoring Asuna’s sharp reply to her teasing, she flew a few steps ahead to reach the top of the cliff. Scanning the cliff from above, the vampire was about to fly back down towards the climbing trio when she spotted a form crouching beside the cliff edge, and over a dozen crow demons lying on the ground.
“Heh. So you’ve finally caught up.” Setsuna said, then winced, as various places on her samurai uniform began to turn a dark crimson.
Evangeline moved towards her student, then eyed the fallen demons on the ground.
“Where’s your sword, Setsuna?”
“Nothing you should worry about, Evangeline. Now if you’d excuse me, there is something I have to do, now that my duty here is done.”
“Wait here, and I’ll call someone to treat those wounds. You’re turning back into Setsuna soon anyways.”
Setsuna stood up, and took out her last remaining paper Omnyou.
Om!
A smaller version of Setsuna appeared, black eyes wide and child-like as it flew above the demon.
“Chibi! Find the person who’s holding my sword and report their location back to me.”
The smaller version of the half-demon seemed to quiver under Setsuna’s gaze. Tiny tears began to develop in its round eyes, as the cute figure flew into the night in search of the Konoe heiress.
“Setsuna. What are you doing?”
Setsuna laughed as she caught her master’s piercing gaze.
“It’s not my fault that the Chibi is afraid of me.”
“I didn’t mean that. You knew what I was asking, Setsuna.”
Evangeline watched, as Setsuna began to walk away.
“I repeat. Nothing you should worry about, Eva-chan.”
The three warriors arrived at the scene to see Setsuna flying away. They attempted to follow, but the vampire raised a hand to stop them.
“Leave him. Setsuna should be turning back into human form soon. The only person who could have hurt your little mistress was the dark Setsuna, anyways. Setsuna would bring your princess home as soon as he awakens.”
Evangeline turned away from the three warriors and bent down to examine the demons lying on the ground.
/Odd./
“Since it’s our duty to bring back Konoka anyways, and your student seems to be inured, you shouldn’t mind too much if we don’t ‘leave him’, ne Eva-chan?”
Asuna giggled.
Evangeline’s puzzled eyes cleared for a second, before a hint of irritation appeared in them.
“Why you-!”
--
Konoka had been running for what she felt like hours. When she looked behind, however, she could see that a few demons remained chasing after her. Returning her concentration on the road ahead, Konoka was startled to find that she had reached a dead-end.
She stopped at the edge of the cliff, looking down worriedly at the river below as she clutched the sword ever-tighter in her embrace.
Suddenly, a tiny, high-pitched voice reached her ears, and she watched, curious, as a small form flew towards her.
“I found her! I found her!”
Konoka blushed, and her heart beat faster at the site of the cute form, despite the grave situation she was in.
The tiny form of Setsuna flew in front of her and bowed.
“My name is Chibi-Setsuna! Mean Setsu-san told me to find you.”
“Chibi…Secchan?… ‘mean Setsuna’?”
Konoka tilted her head.
ChibiSetsuna nodded, giggling, as she continued to fly in circles around the puzzled girl.
Pointing to a figure running below, ChibiSetsuna spoke between giggles.
“Yup! Mean Setsu-san is down there!”
ChibiSetsuna paused to look down below.
Trembling, she dove into Konoka’s shoulders and buried her face in the chocolate-haired girl’s head.
“Mean Setsu-san scares Chibi!”
Konoka looked down to see Setsuna running by the river, with a bit of a limp as the half-demon tried to move her wounded legs.
“Kono-chan! Behind you!”
Konoka glimpsed behind to see three crow demons fast approaching.
ChibiSetuna climbed on top of Konoka’s head.
“Mean Setsu-san is telling Chibi through mind-link that Kono-san needs to jump!”
Konoka stared behind her, then looked below to see Setsuna calling to her. Closing her eyes, Konoka jumped, expecting to hit the ground.
A pair of arms circled around her waist half-way from the fall, however, and when Konoka felt a feather brush her face, she opened her eyes.
“Kono-chan!” Setsuna’s black eyes gazed at her worryingly.
Setsuna had caught her, holding on to her tightly as the half-demon struggled to fly.
The pressure on Setsuna’s already injured wings seemed to great, however, and after a moment, they both plummeted towards the river below.
“Hold on tightly, Kono-chan!”
“Secchan!”
The two fought against the current, holding onto each other tightly while ChibiSetsuna flew above them, seemingly helpless.
“Konoka!”
“Konoka!”
--
They did not know when, or how. But when they both woke up, they had been washed ashore.
ChibiSetsuna flew around them excitedly, then settled onto Konoka’s head, holding on to her hair with both of its miniature hands.
“Setsuna and Kono-san has awoken! Setsuna and Kono-san has awoken!”
Setsuna shook her head, her mind clearing as she struggled to remember the night’s events.
As she turned towards Konoka, however, all thoughts were wiped clean.
Konoka was holding to her sword, tightly, albeit awkwardly, the way a child would hold onto a toy. Her eyes were half open, but she looked at the half-demon dreamily, as if in a trance. ChibiSetsuna was hanging from her head, and her hair and face were wet, sparkling in the moonlight.
ChibiSetsuna giggled softly as she turned to look from Setsuna to Konoka, then back again.
Konoka. I think I….
--
Chapter Six: Enemy’s Camp
Konoka. I think I…
Setsuna leaned closer, entranced at the sight of the princess enveloped in moonlight. Konoka turned to face her, and their eyes locked, as every movement suddenly became terribly slow.
For some reason Setsuna found their heads suddenly bending forward, inching closer and closer until they were but a few inches apart.
Konoka…I lo..
In unison, their eyes began to close, their heads slightly tilted, lips unexpectedly dry…
Konoka frowned despite her closed eyes, feeling the weight on her head disappearing, as if slipping. Still, she continued, heart pounding all the while as it commanded all thoughts and actions.
“Hehe!!”
The Konoe and Demon heir’s eyes shot open.
ChibiSetsuna was floating between them, holding both of her cheeks.
“Kono-san and Setsuna kiss Chibi! Kono-san and Setsuna kiss Chibi!!” she chanted, as she flew in circles around them.
Setsuna could feel herself blushing, and turned to look towards the ground.
That was close…
Done with her song, ChibiSetsuna settled herself upon Konoka’s shoulders, and gave her a small peck on the cheek. Konoka giggled at the cute Chibi’s antics, and grabbed her into a tight hug, laying Setsuna’s sword in front of her as she did so.
Setsuna’s blush darkened as she stole a glance of Konoka hugging her smaller counterpart.
For some reason I want to trade places with ChibiSetsuna.
…wait…What am I THINKING?
Searching for a source of distraction from the blush-provoking sight before her, Setsuna suddenly caught sight of her sword.
The half-demon frowned.
Odd. That sword…Our life depends on it. My uncontrolled half would never let it fall into the hands of another. But then…why is Konoka holding it? Does my darker half believe in her that much? Has she entrusted our life to Konoka? Not only that…what happened tonight? Why are we both soaking wet and in the middle of nowhere?
Setsuna sighed, then stood up.
No use thinking about it if I can’t remember what happened.
Setsuna extended a hand to Konoka, to help her stand. The princess handed her the sword; then stood up, with ChibiSetsuna still in Konoka’s embrace.
They began to trudge along the riverbank, in search of a path back to the temple. For a couple of minutes they continued their walk, until the half demon noticed Konoka quivering as she held ChibiSetsuna close to her.
Setsuna immediately stopped.
“You're…cold, aren’t you?”
Konoka shook her head, “N-No! I’m f-fine!”
“Yes!Yes! Chibi can feel Kono-san shake!!” ChibiSetsuna's eyes were round, and she giggled, waving her hands.
Konoka smiled softly, and, avoiding Setsuna’s gaze, turned to took at the little Setsuna image in her arms.
The little Konoe mistress suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I should have noticed that you’d be cold after that dip in the river. I-”
Setsuna turned away, eyes hidden under her bangs.
“Lets go towards the forest. We’ll gather some wood to build a fire and dry our clothes, then worry about getting home, later.”
As they advanced towards the dense forest, the world around them began to grow dimmer and dimmer, until nearly all light has disappeared along with the gradual increase of trees that blocked them from the safety of the moon’s glow.
They walked side by side, as close together as they could, eyes wide in search for a clearing suitable to build a fire while glancing right and left for any signs of danger.
For nearly thirty minutes, only the quiet darkness accompanied them in their march, until a wane glow of firelight and voices could be recognized from ahead. Setsuna rose a hand to signal to Konoka, and they sneakily moved towards the source, hidden behind the thicket.
A band of crow demons were sitting around the fire.
“Leader! They have all been put into cages. The eleven captives had no chance against our powerful army. We await the order to take them back to the headquarters.”
Setsuna and Konoka turned towards each other, shock on their faces with what they had heard. Setsuna knelt to a crouch on the forest floor, pulling Konoka down with her.
“Konoka, you stay here, while I go take a look at what they’re up to,” Setsuna whispered.
Konoka frowned, shaking her head almost wildly as one of her hands searched for Setsuna’s.
She gripped the half-demon’s hand firmly.
“Wherever you’re going, I’ll follow you. I wouldn’t be able to get back home without you, anyway.”
Konoka smiled, as amazement glowed in the demon’s eyes.
Setsuna grinned.
“Do you trust me?”
Konoka nodded, squeezing Setsuna’s hands a bit tighter, then withdrew her hold.
Setsuna waved, motioning to Konoka to release ChibiSetsuna from her embrace.
“Chibi! You stay here; try to stay out of eyesight. If anything happens, I’ll alert you through mind link so that you can go find reinforcements.”
ChibiSetsuna showed a tiny thumbs up, then disappeared.
--( back at the Kansai Magic Associations)--
Kuu Fei and Chao Rinshen had searched around the temple twice, but there had been no clues whatsoever to the whereabouts of the little mistress.
“Aiyaah… is troublesome! We can no find any traces of demon. Asuna say is bad if Elder knows, aru-ne!”
Chao used her hand to cover Kuu’s mouth.
“Shh!!”
They spotted Konoka’s grandfather walking nearby, and began to run in the opposite direction, hoping that he had not seen them.
“Wait! What are you two doing so late at night?”
Konoemon’s voice echoed through the courtyard, and they reluctantly turned to face him.
Chao sweat dropped as Kuu anxiously stood behind her, obviously at lost for what to say.
“Eheh…well you see…we, eheh..”
Darn it, Asuna. What’s taking them so long?
--
“Quick! They’re coming!”
Setsuna pushed the princess close to the tree, then squeezed herself as close as possible to it, hiding them both inside the tree’s shadow.
The crow demons passed by without any notice of them whatsoever.
The half demon breathed a sigh of relief.
“That was clos-”
Setsuna blushed, suddenly aware of the position they were in.
Konoka stood between her and the tree, their faces nearly touching. The half-demon’s hands were on either side of the princess, touching the tree that Konoka was leaning on.
Setsuna jumped back immediately.
“S-Sorry, I-I”
Konoka giggled, then rested her right hand on the demon’s blushing cheek.
“That is nothing to apologize about. You really were worried about me, weren’t you?”
She giggled again, when Setsuna turned away, an even darker blush adorning the demon heir’s face.
Suddenly Setsuna’s face grew serious, and she motioned the other girl to hide behind the tree once more.
The half demon rose her sword high into the air, as the sounds of approaching footsteps grew louder.
In one quick movement, she brought her sword down, and the sword case connected with a demon guard’s head.
Konoka walked from under the tree’s shadow, and bent down to examine the unconscious demon.
“I’ve never seen someone use a sword in that way before, Secchan!”
Once again, Setsuna felt heat rise into her face.
“Erm…Konoka. Can you help me take off his outer garments?”
--
Konoka pouted as she watched Setsuna, now wearing the fallen demon’s clothes, bite herself on the thumb and drawing blood from it.
“Secchan! I don’t like the look of these clothes. They look rough on you, and the murky brownish color doesn’t suit you.”
Konoka grabbed the half-demon’s bleeding hand.
“And you’re hurting yourself again.”
Setsuna smiled, then pulled her hand away.
“Trust me.”
Using the bleeding thumb, Setsuna drew a few marks on her forehead, then turned towards the princess.
“It should be easier for us to sneak into their camp now that I’ve disguised myself as one of their minions.”
The half-demon pointed towards the markings on her forehead.
“These are the marks of a Lead demon- a level three demon. The lower demons would give us less trouble if they see a demon of higher rank.”
Cautiously, Setsuna lead the little mistress deeper into the demon camp, careful to remain unseen, to avoid needless trouble.
They went unnoticed for a few minutes, until they could see the outline of a few cages the supposedly held the captors. At the sound of footsteps behind them, the duo turned to face a guard demon holding a mace in his hands.
“Who goes there?”
Setsuna jumped into action, whispering a quick apology to Konoka before ripping the collar of her still-wet clothes savagely, and planting a rough kiss upon the surprised girl’s lips.
“What tribe are you under, unworthy one? Did your leader not teach you to stay away when you find a Lead demon toying with his captive before he kills it? Shall I teach you instead?”
Setsuna licked her lips deliberately, then turned towards the guard demon with murder in her eyes.
The guard demon recoiled, and bowed when he saw the markings on Setsuna’s head.
“N-No, sir. I’ll leave immediately.”
The guard demon turned away, attempting to flee.
“Wait.”
The demon froze, his back still facing the opposite direction.
“Tell me, who are the other captives?”
“We believe they are ten of the Mahora Warriors, and the Thousand Master’s son.”
“You may be dismissed.
As the demon scurried off, Setsuna caught Konoka looking at her, and the half-demon looked at the ground to avoid eye contact.
Why is my heart beating so fast?
“G-Gomen. I, shouldn’t have-”
A pair of soft lips on hers erased all thought, and Setsuna’s eyes widened.
Konoka pulled away, giggling.
/That’s payback for stealing kisses from me. Twice! And last time was my first kiss, too…/
“Now we’re even. Never knew you were such a great actor, Secchan!”
Setsuna coughed, then turned away to hide her blush.
“Well…erm. I am part demon. I’d seen it done many times, despite my disapproval of it… But we have to hurry and save the captives. Those demons won’t be fooled for long.”
Timidly, Setsuna reached to hold the princess’s hand, and they ran towards the direction of the cages.
--
The guard demon grumbled as he flew away.
“Lead demons nowadays hold no respect for their underlings. We do all their dirty work, while they don’t even lay a finger. They sit all high and mighty in their bejeweled clothes, enjoying the captures that we toil-”
The demon stopped.
Those clothes. That so-called Lead demon’s garments were a brown, muddy color- and the rough clothes of a guard demon.
A guard demon wearing a Lead demon’s markings.
The demon began to run again, yelling as he did.
“Intruders! Everyone, intruders!”
--
A dozen demons chased them from behind as they ran. They could hear the sound of a horn, calling even more demons to come.
Setsuna carried Konoka in her arms, dodging the weapons thrown at them.
As they neared the site where the captives were being held, another hoard of demons appeared to completely surround them.
If I draw my sword now, there still might be a chance that I’ll hurt Konoka. I still don’t know what my uncontrolled half had been thinking when the sword was given to Konoka, so I can't take that risk.
As the demons closed in upon them, Setsuna put the princess down, holding her with the demon’s left arm while holding her sword on the right.
For fifteen minutes, the demon heir fought that way, using the unsheathed sword in her right hand to land a few blows on the attacking demons.
Soon, however, she began to tire, suddenly leaving a small opening for a flying crow demon to dive in and snatch Konoka from the half-demon’s grasp.
Setsuna jumped, striking the flying demon with her sword, and catching the princess as she fell.
“Konoka! Are you alright?”
Konoka peered into the half-demon’s worried eyes and smiled, then shook her head.
/The other Secchan had been so vocal in what he feels. But this Secchan… This Secchan shows what he feels through his actions. That blush…those eyes…And either way, I can see that they are both very, very caring. Secchan, I think I’m falling for you…/
A sudden feeling of wetness under her hands shook Konoka out of her reverie, and she looked towards Setsuna to see dark red marks staining the half-demon’s clothes.
/Those wounds…Secchan was wounded by the fight earlier, before we fell into the river./
Realization struck Konoka, and she froze as she saw Setsuna’s eyes become unfocused.
“Secchan!”
Konoka held onto the half-demon tightly, as Setsuna fell onto the ground, unconscious.
/I should have paid attention. Setsuna was still injured all this time…/
Konoka closed her eyes, laying her head on the fallen half-demon’s shoulders as the crow demons gathered around them, laughing their vicious cackles.
--
Chapter Seven: Thirteen Captives (and an ermine) .
The half-demon’s head lay against her left shoulder, as she held the demon tightly in her arms. She waited for Setsuna to awaken, until her left arm became numb with lack of circulation. Yet she dared not to move, as if one small shift of her position might shatter the unconscious demon beside her. She decided to settle by holding the demon even tighter.
“Konoka, you can lay him down. He’ll be fine…After all, his injuries have all been healed. But you…”
She shook her head, and smiled as she glanced into the worried eyes before her.
“Thanks, Akira. I’m okay.”
Konoka looked from the demon in her arms, to the clamor at the far end of the cage, then turned back to the Mahora Warrior standing before her.
“I’m fine, really. I just want to be sure that he is okay.”
“But you-!”
Konoka shook her head, and the girl before her became silent.
Akira sighed.
“I just hope that you don’t exert yourself too much. We have all sworn to protect you…and I know that all twenty of us would be devastated if anything happens to you.”
Konoka smiled softly as she looked at the dark-haired girl, then at the nine warriors causing all the ruckus behind her.
“I had wondered why it took the ten of you so long to get back to the temple. Asuna and the rest have come back more than a day ago. When I heard that you were captured, I was so worried that you all might be hurt. I just didn’t expect that Secchan would be hurt, too.”
Konoka absent mindedly stroked the half-demon’s hair, turning towards the demon and tilting her head against Setsuna’s. She lay her cheek against Setsuna’s hair, hiding the teary look of her eyes.
Whether the other girl caught the sight or not, she made no indication. Akira reached towards an empty hip flask tied to the belt of her warrior uniform, and layed her hand upon the cap.
The flask began to glow, and water appeared inside.
“Here. I may not be of much help for us to get out of here, but the least I can do is help you take care of your friend. The water should help strengthen him.”
Konoka reached for the flask, nodding gratefully to the girl before her. Her hands missed the flask, however, and Akira moved the hand holding the flask towards the princess’s head and gave her a soft tap.
Konoka blinked, surprised, and raised her head to look at the warrior in front of her.
Akira smiled. “Stop acting so gloomy, Konoka. It seems out of character for you.”
Konoka was silent, but broke into a sweat smile.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“That’s more like the Konoka we all know.”
Akira turned, as if headed towards the other end of the cage where the other warriors were, but stopped when her back was to the princess.
“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” she whispered. “They say that the moment a girl falls in love is when she learns how to cry. When she learns how to smile a bittersweet smile, and display a longing look in her eyes. I think I’ve seen it in yours.”
Konoka looked at Akira, eyes wide.
/Do I …love…Secchan?/
Konoka reached one hand to touch the face of the demon leaning on the shoulder, a soft smile on her lips.
“I don’t know. But I know that he is important to me. More important than I can ever put into words.”
The woman warrior walked away without glancing back, and Konoka clutched the flask in her hand tighter.
/I don’t know. I don't know if I love him or not. /
She removed the hand on the demon’s face, and brought her fingers to her lips.
/That time…when he kissed me…no. Those times…when I felt his lips upon mine…the world had begun to disappear…and I was left breathless…in a paradise with only the two of us…only two.../
She raised the flask to the demon’s parched lips, attempting to pour some water into the unconscious demon’s dry mouth, yet the water slid right across Setsuna’s lips, unable to enter.
Konoka frowned.
/After losing so much blood, he wouldn’t be able to properly heal without enough water. Hmmm. Wouldn’t be too bad…if I…/
The princess giggled at her thought, and carried the flask to her own mouth, taking a tiny sip.
She turned towards the half-demon, and pressed her lips onto the demon’s.
Setsuna began to stir upon the contact, as if responding to the princess. Slowly, the demon opened her eyes, her dizzy mind barely registering the fact that a soft pair of lips were on hers, and a hand that once held a flask now lay around her waist, the flask having been forgotten as it was set on the floor minutes ago.
Her half- opened eyes drifted upwards, suddenly coming upon the site of a pair of chocolate ones so close to hers.
“K-Kono-chan!”
The half-demon jumped out of the princess’s grasp and stood up, a dark blush adorning her face.
Konoka giggled, bending her head down to hide a blush of her own.
/For a moment there…after he said ‘Kono-chan’, I felt as if my heart had suddenly jumped….jumped so far away that it left me falling/
Setsuna covered her mouth with her hands, as her mind came to register what had been spoken from her lips.
Why did I call her that?
Taking a deep breath, Setsuna calmed herself, and began to notice her surroundings. She stood inside a huge cage made of unknown metal, with the demon camp outside. She could see nearly a dozen crow demons taking guard around the cage, eyeing her wearily.
Abruptly, memories began to return to her, of the situation the princess and herself had been in before she lost conscious. She turned back towards Konoka, looking at the little mistress as carefully as she could, searching for any signs of wounds or injuries.
“What happened? Were you hurt? Did they do anything to you? How did we get here? Wh-”
Konoka laughed once more, laying a hand on the demon’s shoulders.
“I don’t look hurt, do I?”
Setsuna examined the princess again, to find no trace of any injuries on her. The demon heir shook her head.
“No. But-”
Konoka’s sweat smile silenced her, and the demon found herself speechless as Konoka began to explain.
There is something odd in her eyes. Something… a look that I have never seen before.
“After you fainted,-”
Another voice chimed in.
“The demons forced you two into this cage with us-”
And then another.
“-to wait until they can find ways to roast us.”
Setsuna looked towards the direction of the voices, to see nearly a dozen people walk towards them.
She identified the two voices as coming from two little girls, evidently twins.
A red-haired girl circled her, asking questions as she examined the half-demon.
“Ah, so the mysterious hero awakes! Hehe…I was waiting for you to wake up. What’s your story, anything-”
“Kazumi! This is not the time to do your reporting!”
A silver haired girl patted Kazumi on the back, and Kazumi laughed, holding a hand behind her head as if in embarrassment.
“Gomen, Sayo-chan. You know what they say, old traits are hard to change.”
Setsuna turned to Konoka, a curious look in the half-demon’s eyes.
Konoka giggled, understanding the silent question.
“Secchan. This is the rest of the Mahora Warriors. Ten of the twenty friends that I grew up with and who for years have protected me.”
She introduced the ten warriors to Setsuna, one by one.
When they finished, the warriors shifted apart to reveal a boy of around ten years of age, holding a large staff in his hand.
A tall, beautiful girl whom Setsuna came to recognize by Konoka’s introduction as Ayaka, held the young boy in a tight possesive grasp.
“Ah. That’s Negi-kun, the Thousand Master’s son. Jii-san sent my friends here to take him back to the temple, but they were attacked on the way.”
“Don’t forget me, Ane-chan. Chamo-kun, at your service.”
Setsuna peered curiously as the voice had seemed to come from nowhere…
“over here, Aniki.”
…. until she saw an ermine sitting on the young boy’s shoulder.
--
“So…you’ve tried spells, and weapon attacks…but none could work on the cage?”
Negi nodded.
“Even Sayo-chan, who had learned a special technique to pass between barriers, could not go through the cage. There seems to be a barrier of some sort. Even though the bars are spaced and we could stick our hand out, we can’t pass through the bars. Chamo-kun couldn’t pass, either.”
Setsuna frowned, sliding her hands through the spaces between the bars.
I would be able to break through using the power of my uncontrolled form, but then I’d run the risk of hurting them…
“Would your spells work in here?…I mean, if we were to use it on something other than the cage?”
Negi pondered for a bit, then nodded once more. “Yes.”
Setsuna smiled upon the knowledge, then sent a call for ChibiSetsuna through mind link.
ChibiSetsuna immediately appeared with a loud Pop!, emerging from a nearby tree, hidden from the view of the guard demons standing a small distance away.
“Chibi! Would you mind turning back for me?”
The thirteen people (and an ermine) watched, as ChibiSetsuna turned back into paper.
“We’ll need more help than just this. Negi-kun, do you have any spells that would allow you to replicate this talisman? I usually wouldn’t have gone to such trouble to use a spell to replicate, but I’d run out of them earlier during one of the fights.”
--
Thirteen Chibis, one of each people present, lined up along the side outside the cage.
The ten Mahora Warriors and the son of the Thousand Master stood in one end of the cage, hollering and provoking the guard demons so that none of them would notice the Chibis while Setsuna gave out directions to them.
“Split up. Cause as much trouble as you can to create confusion among them. Try to find the key that opens this cage. It should be in the possession of the leader of these group of demons. Choose two of you, to go find reinforcements. Alert the other Mahora Warriors, or go to the temple to find someone to help.”
As the group of Chibis nodded, Setsuna turned towards ChibiSetsuna.
“Chibi! Since you are the most experienced out of all of them, I leave you in charge. Communicate with me by mind link of anything goes wrong.”
Setsuna waited for ChibiSetsuna to answer, but the Chibi made no move, standing still and silent.
“Chibi! Are you listening-!”
Suddenly ChibiSetsuna sprang into action, a tiny blush glowing on her face as she flew in circles.
“She’s…she’s so cute!! Kawaiiiiiiii!!” The miniature form of Setsuna sang.
ChibiSetsuna flew towards the miniature representation of Konoka, giving her a huge glomp, and knocking them both down in the process.
ChibiKonoka blushed.
As Setsuna slumped in desperation, Konoka stood behind her, giggling.
At a time like this…at a vital time like this…when we have all been captured…and she could still giggle at ChibiSetsuna‘s antics…
“Ne, Secchan! Looks like the personalities of our Chibis are reversed!”
--
Chapter Eight: Chibi Wars
“Owww!!” ChibiSetsuna cried, whizzing away from the tree that obstructed her path.
The other Chibis snickered as they followed their courageous-but lovestruck-leader, who, for the third time in twenty minutes, had dared to challenge the mightiness of the trees by ramming head first into them repeatedly.
ChibiSetsuna giggled embarrassingly, and rubbed her head to where it had kissed the tree. Slightly mortified as the other Chibis began to snicker louder, she quickly flew ahead. She motioned for the others to follow, quickly stealing a glance at ChibiKonoka, who was blushingly trying to concentrate on the task ahead. Sighing, ChibiSetsuna was quickly lost in a longing gaze towards ChibiKonoka once again.
The Chibis snuck throughout camp that way, peaking from bush to bush at the demons sitting by the fire. Earlier on, ChibiChizuru and ChibiYuuna had left to find reinforcements, and the eleven Chibis who stayed spread amongst the bushes to prepare their plan of attack.
--
Like a child lost in the woods, the little chibi suddenly toddled within sight of a few watch demons who were standing guard at the edge of camp. Seeing such an easy victim to catch, the demons grinned their malicious smiles, not bothering to signal the camp of the little girl’s approach as they began to close in around her.
She looked helpless and alone as she eyed the demons, round eyes threatening to glisten with tears. She whimpered as they got closer, taunting her. Quite hopelessly, she rose a hand to innocently wipe her tears, her form shaking visibly. Seeing this as a signal, they extended their claws, about to catch her. They reached closer to grab her, closer until…
Surprised were they when their hands touched nothing bit thin air- the tiny chibi easily slipped past their legs unnoticed. They turned to find her running towards the woods, and they growled, chasing after her. In less than a minute, they had reached the forest, but the chibi was no where in sight.
“Nice one, ChibiNatsumi! Hehe.”
Dozens of rocks where projected towards the demons, and they roared, blindly swinging their weapons to attack the unseen enemy.
--
ChibiAyaka crossed her arms, a frown appearing on her face as she watched her fellow chibis battle the demons.
“A bunch of savages, I say. Look at the way they’re fightin-”
Her eyes widened, as she watched a particularly large demon trap ChibiNegi against a tree. The demon raised his mace, about to swing-
“Aieeeeeeeee!! Chibi-sensei!”
With one mighty leap, ChibiAyaka landed on top of the demon’s head, stomping on it with her feet. The demon tried to throw the chibi off, shaking his head and reaching his hands to blindly grab the chibi. Yet ChibiAyaka held tight; pulling on each of the demon’s ears with each of her own hands, as she held onto the demon.
“Yaahhhhhhh!!” she cried, riding the demon by pulling on its ears.
“Giddy up!!”
--
The demon searched through the fighting hoard of chibis, his eyes catching sight of a particularly innocent and harmless- looking one. Seeing him look at her, the silver-haired chibi stuck out her tongue.
“BOO!” she said, raising her hands horizontally as a ghost would.
Angered, the demon kicked at the chibi, who dodged, giggling all the while.
She ran, and the demon followed her for nearly five minutes, until she turned abruptly and dove into a small clearing. The demon followed the suit, diving head first, with claws extended and ready to slash at the chibi.
BAM!
The echo resounded throughout the battle field, as the demon’s head connected with something hard. The demon lost conscious immediately, and the little chibi returned, giggling once again as she examined the fallen enemy.
“That was a great illusion, ChibiZazie-chan!”
ChibiZazie nodded, as a tree suddenly appeared in place of the clearing. The silver-haired chibi flew towards the tree, then glided into it, materializing behind the tree afterwards.
“Hehe! Luckily I can pass through!”
--
As the smaller form of someone who’s specialty was finding breaking news, it did not take ChibiKazumi long to discover where the key to the captive cages were kept.
“Who knew, demons gossip even more than we do!” she snickered as she tiptoed towards the fire.
She slipped behind the demon carrying the keys, then waved her hands to motion to ChibiAkira flying high above. Upon seeing the signal, ChibiAkira sent a wave of water falling towards the campfire. As the demons’ bonfire died, they were left in pitch black, unable to see.
ChibiKazumi swiftly bit the keyholder’s hand, and the demon howled, dropping the keys into her hold. A string of curses left the demon, as he struggled to punch his unseen biting enemy, hitting his comrades instead.
With the key in her hands, ChibiKazumi slipped away, laughing silently at the demons who were blindly fighting each other.
--
The crow demon shivered in fear, as the two nearly identical chibis bounced from one place to another with a thick vine in their hands, tying him tighter and tighter with the vine as they danced.
When they had finished tying him, his arms and feet were roped to a large tree branch, and he hung helplessly from it like a hog about to be grilled. The two chibis sang as they threw wood under the area where the demon hung.
“Roasting the demon!” One chibi announced.
“Roasting the demon!” The other one replied.
“Come!” The first one continued.
“Come!” The second chibi echoed.
“We’re having roast demon tonight!” They finished together.
The demon closed his eyes, offering a quick prayer to all the Crow Kings of old to save him. The suspicious smell of smoke soon reached his nose, however, and he opened his eyes once again, shifting his position in the process to see the twin Chibis holding torches.
The demon’s eyes widened as the chibis danced closer, waving their torches towards the stack of wood under the tree branch from which he hung.
“Mommyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!”
--(Back at the Kansai Temple)--
Kuu shivered in her seiza position as she watched Konoemon hold the feather near her comrade’s bare feet.
“So tell me, why are all the Mahora Warriors gone? Where is my granddaughter?”
Chao shook her head, “It is not for me to say.”
Konoka’s grandfather laughed softly, then brought the feather to the tied up warrior’s feet. Chao whimpered and twitched, then broke into a breathless laugh.
“S-stop it, aru ne! We be your warriors, aru yo! Why you torture us?” Kuu jumped up, and ran over to her friend.
Konoemon turned towards the shivering warrior with an odd gleam in his eyes. “If something has happened to my granddaughter, do I not have the right to know?”
Kuu stepped backwards, “You wouldn’t, aru.”
Suddenly she found herself tied to a chair next to Chao's. Thick ropes wove themselves around her, and her shoes popped magically from her feet. She screamed.
“Do you want to try it?” Konoemon asked, bringing the feather ever closer to her feet.
“Don’t say it, Kuu! Don’t! For the sake of the princess, yo!”
If Kuu Fei heard her friends words, she made no reply, as her eyes fixed themselves on the feather that is getting ever closer.
“I give, aru!! I give!! Konoka was kidnapped by Setsuna-kun last night! We left to go find them.”
Kuu let out a deep breath as the leader of the Kanto Magic Associations threw the feather towards the floor. Slowly, he brushed his white beard as he pondered her words, then rubbed his hands together.
“Good! Really Good!” he said, as he untied the two warriors.
Kuu and Chao looked at each other.
“Hmmn…hoho. Bad Setsuna-kun, he should have known that it is not proper etiquette for a man and woman with such status to spend the night together away from home. And they’ve left since last night, you say?”
The warriors shivered, as Konoemon bent to help them up.
“Well, get on, I say. Go find them…”
The two Mahora Warriors rushed to the door, afraid of what might come next from the princess’s grandfather.
Too late were they, however, that as soon as they reached the door, Konoemon had continued his sentence.
“And tell them to get ready for the wedding when they come back. I will be planning for it. Hoho…Setsuna-kun would make a fine grandson-in-law.”
Kuu Fei and Chao Rinshen bowed their heads.
Uh oh.
--(back at the Chibis’ Battlefield)--
ChibiSetsuna flew around in circles around ChibiKonoka, as she fought against the enemy. So eager, so hyper was she that she seemed to appear in at least four places at once, making sure that ChibiKonoka did not have to fight any of the demons, nor the demons reaching the ChibiPrincess.
Bravely she swung her tiny butter knife-like sword, poking randomly in the demons’ eyes and ears. From where she stood upon the tree, ChibiKonoka sweat dropped.
ChibiSetsuna seemed to be making the enemy dizzy and confused than actually causing serious injuries. The battle continued for about fifteen minutes, until one of the demons suddenly found an opening to attack. ChibiKonoka jumped, pushing both herself and ChibiSetsuna away from the attack.
They landed on a nearby bush, momentarily lost to the sight of the demons.
“Are you okay?” ChibiKonoka asked, worried as she watched ChibiSetsuna rubbed her head, eyes closed in pain.
Slowly, the smaller version of Setsuna popped open her eyes, then blushed, as her eyes focused on ChibiKonoka’s gaze.
“You saved me!” she said, and suddenly gave ChibiKonoka a huge glomp.
She squeezed the other chibi in a monstrous hug, then pulled away, giving ChibiKonoka a peck in the cheeks as she did.
“ThankyouThankyouThankyou!!”
ChibiKonoka blushed, rubbing her cheek from where the other chibi had kissed.
“Wha? What was that for?”
ChibiSetsuna gave the blushing chibi another glomp.
“Kono-san and Setsuna kissed Chibi like that last time! So I kiss ChibiKono-chan like that too!”
ChibiKonoka titled her head in curiosity.
“They kissed you?”
ChibiSetsuna giggled. “YupYup!! I can tell Setsuna and Kono-san’s heart was beating fast…just like me right now!! Then…they looked at each other, and leaned in…And then they kissed Chibi on each side of Chibi’s cheek!”
ChibiKonoka blushed darker, bringing her hands to her face.
“Something tells me that wasn’t what is supposed to happen, ChibiSetsuna.”
“Ehhhhh!? But they kiss Chibi because their heart beat fast. So Chibi kiss you because you make my heart beat fast, too! Here, see?!”
ChibiKonoka shook her head as ChibiSetsuna pulled ChibiKonoka’s hands towards her heart.
“Oh!! Call me ChibiSecchan!!”
The smaller image of Konoka sighed. “I give up. Okay, ChibiSecchan.”
ChibiSetsuna giggled, then flew around the bush.
“Yay! ChibiKono-chan calls me ChibiSecchan!!”
A sudden idea struck ChibiKonoka as she watched the other chibi dance, and she grinned.
“Say, ChibiSecchan?”
ChibiSetsuna stopped, and turned towards ChibiKonoka.
“Konoka and Setsuna like each other, don’t they?”
ChibiSetsuna placed a finger on her cheek, deep in thought.
“Hmmn…I thinky think so! But Setsuna is too too shy to admit it!” she suddenly sang.
ChibiKonoka chuckled. “Wanna help me get them together?”
ChibiSetsuna giggled. “Okay,” she said, as she pulled the other chibi out of the bush to continue their battle with the demons.
--
Setsuna paced around the cage as she watched the camp’s fire die out.
“What’s taking them so long?”
She frowned, about to call back ChibiSetsuna using their mind link when a sudden click echoed to her ears.
She turned to see ChibiKazumi holding the key, and the cage doors open. Nodding to the chibi for a quick thank you, she motioned to the rest of the captives to leave the cage.
ChibiKazumi landed on the larger form’s shoulder, and in a professional-like voice, began to report the battle status.
“We are currently distracting the enemy by splitting them into smaller groups and confusing them. We have noticed that the larger portion of the demon group have gone hunting- as we all know that demons hunt at this time of night. If they should come back before we leave, then we might be in trouble. Meanwhile, however, our methods in destroying the demons have proven to be efficient.”
Setsuna sent a quick message to ChibiSetsuna to gather all of the chibis back. Then, she turned towards the group, giving Konoka a swift smile.
“So, is everyone ready for battle?”
The group of former captives cheered, raising their weapons in the air. The sound of footsteps echoed nearby in mid-cheer, however, and they all turned.
“Not without us, de gozaru.”
--
Chapter Nine: Mischievous Trap
“Hold on, I think I see something! It’s clearing up…”
The warriors gathered around the mind-reader, anxiously waiting for the pictures to appear in the book she held in her hand.
“See anything yet, aru?”
Evangeline smirked as she watched the warriors focus their attention on Nodoka’s book. Making sure that no one was looking her way, the vampire turned towards the branches of a tall tree beside her, where a shadowed form stood, hidden by the leaves.
“Chachamaru! I want you to send word to her immediately of Setsuna’s whereabouts! And hurry! We need her to come and set the stage before the old geezer arrives.”
“Yes, master.” The figure bowed, and disappeared.
“It’s Mana-san! Mana and Kaede! They’ve found Konoka… I think it’s this way!”
“Then we’re off to find them!” Asuna raised her large blade, and began to walk towards the direction in which the mind-reader had pointed.
With Nodoka and Asuna leading way, the warriors turned towards the dense forest, and promptly began to head towards it. Taking one last look at the shadowed tree branches beside her, Eva smiled, and followed behind the Mahora warriors.
--
Bullets, Kunais, spells, and other assorted attacks flew across the sky, as Setsuna, the Mahora Warriors, and their chibis bravely fought against the demons. With the addition of Mana and Kaede, the tide had somewhat shifted in favor of the former-captives, and the few demons still conscious in camp were soon fighting a loosing battle.
Winning they may be, Setsuna and her friends continued fighting, each giving their own share in contributing to the demons’ losses. Everyone successfully landed their blows upon the demon army. Everyone that is, save for two chibis, hidden beside a small bush.
Watching her fellow chibis fight alongside their larger forms, ChibiSetsuna pouted as she tugged on ChibiKonoka’s right sleeve.
“ChibiKonochaaaaan!” she whined, her eyes round and teary as she attempted to catch the other chibi’s attention.
“Shouldn’t we be participating in the battle like the other chibis?”
“This is more important, ChibiSecchan. Besides, by the look of it, they will win with or without our help.”
“But-!”
ChibiKonoka flashed her a smile, and Setsuna’s smaller form blushed, immediately silenced.
“Ne, ChibiSecchan? Setsuna is so shy…it’s going to be hard to create opportunities for them.”
ChibiKonoka watched, as a few demons sent a dozen arrows towards the Konoe heir. Setsuna quickly flew to her aid, blocking the projected weapons with her sheathed sword.
“See!? That was perfect chance for her to be the hero! She should have carried Konoka off. Holding a loved one in one hand and fighting in the other would be much more romantic than just standing in front of her…”
ChibiSetsuna sweat dropped.
“Setsuna is not as good as Mean Setsu-san in these things.”
ChibiKonoka turned towards the other chibi, whose hands quickly flew to cover her mouth as she realized her mistake much too late.
“ ‘Mean Setsu-san?’ ” Konoka’s smaller form giggled. “Are you thinking what I am thinking?”
ChibiSetsuna blushed as ChibiKonoka leaned forward. Her eyes wide, and ears a burning red, the hopeless chibi listened as Konoka’s smaller form whispered into her ears.
--
With a slight flush of red on her face, Setsuna tried to keep focus on battling the demons, instead of towards the smiling princess standing behind her. Her breath seemed to shorten, as she listened to Konoka cheer her on.
What’s wrong with me? Ever since I woke up to the sight of her being so close to me, I’ve been…I...
So distracted was the poor half-demon, that she did not see the two small forms whizzing towards her, did not know what hit her until she found her sword unsheathed and ChibiSetsuna holding the sheath.
Her vision blurred. “Chibi!? What-!?”
ChibiSetsuna closed her eyes in fear, blindly flying towards Konoka for protection.
“Gomen!! Chibi really really really didn’t mean toooo!!”
Setsuna turned her crimson eyes toward the crying chibi, about to raise her hand to block the chibi from reaching Konoka, when a light weight landing on her head stopped her mid-way.
“It really wasn’t her fault, Mean Secchan.”
ChibiKonoka flew from her head onto her shoulders, and poked Setsuna on the cheek.
“It was my fault, because I wanted to meet you.”
Setsuna smirked as she watched the chibi settle herself comfortably upon the half-demon’s shoulder with no fear whatsoever.
“Oh? And you aren’t afraid of me like Chibi is?”
ChibiKonoka shook her head enthusiastically, and winked.
“Nopenope! ChibiSecchan said that you like challenges? I have a one for you!”
Outside of earshot, Konoka embraced a quivering ChibiSetsuna tightly as she watched her smaller form talk with Setsuna’s darker half.
“Oh my,” she said, as she pressed one finger against her right cheek. “When I said our chibis’ personalities are opposite, I didn’t realize that ChibiKonochan has Mean Secchan’s persona too!”
Giggling, Konoka gave ChibiSetsuna a small squeeze, as the chibi turned her head to and fro from ChibiKonoka to Mean Setsuna, eyes round in semi-shock.
--
ChibiChizuru and ChibiYuuna had flown all night towards the direction of the Kansai temple to find reinforcements. Eyes and ears alert for any signs of danger , they traveled along the shadows of the trees, in case an enemy demon might discover and capture them.
Half-way across the forest, however, a few voices reached the chibis’ ears, and they stopped to listen, hiding behind some trees as they did.
“We lost the contact. Somehow, I can’t read Mana-san nor Kaede-san’s thoughts anymore!”
Cautiously, the two chibis advanced to the source of the commotion, peeking from behind the leaves to see the eight Mahora Warriors, and a vampire eying the group from behind. ChibiChizuru and ChibiYuuna turned towards each other, nodding their heads in silent agreement.
“Are you sure, Hon’ya-chan? But it did say that they are somewhere in this forest…I mean we’re going in the right direction, aren’t we?”
Nodoka nodded, as she turned towards her comrades.
“I think they really are around here somewhere, but something is keeping my magic from reaching them.”
A sudden rustle amongst the branches startled the warriors. They clutched their weapons, about to attack, when two figures emerged from behind the trees. The warriors lowered their hands upon seeing the harmless-looking chibis.
ChibiChizuru and ChibiYuuna bowed.
“Please follow us. We know where they are.”
With wonder echoed in their faces, the warriors followed the chibis into the forest.
--
“We don’t know who you are, but we know that you are not the usual Setsuna. Put Konoka down, or we will be forced to attack you.”
Mana pointed the magic gun towards the half-demon, aiming towards Setsuna’s arms, which were holding Konoka’s in tight capture.
Unfazed by the threat, Setsuna smirked, and pulled Konoka closer to her. Around them, the other Mahora Warriors looked at the demon, confused. The almost entirely unconscious army of defeated demons in camp were quickly forgotten from everyone’s mind.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Ayaka demanded, looking from Mana to Setsuna, then towards the shivering chibis hiding behind their larger forms- with the exception of ChibiKonoka, who was sitting smugly upon the half-demon’s shoulders and ChibiSetsuna, still in Konoka’s embrace.
“Long story, de-gozaru.” Kaede answered, taking out a large kunai to help Mana if necessary.
“In short, this red-eyed Setsuna was the one who had captured Konoka from the Kasai head quarters. We have been chasing after them, only to find you all here battling the demons, de gozaru-ne. We did not have the chance to think about it-as we immediately began to help all of you battle the crow demons, but after seeing his red eyes appear, we knew that the bad Setsuna had returned, de-gozaru.”
Mouth slightly open as they waited for the half-demon to make the first move, the warriors continued to watch, as Setsuna positioned to hold the princess in one arm.
Setsuna laughed. “You all are no match for me. Don’t waste the effort.”
The half-demon rose her sword, swinging it fiercely towards the warriors. In one mighty wave, the wind slashed around them, and they dodged. Mana closed one eye, aimed, and fired- only to find that the half-demon had jumped, carrying the princess with her.
“Now if you would excuse me, I need to speak individually with your little mistress.”
Setuna flew off, with the warriors in close pursuit.
--
Setsuna held the princess close to her, as they flew across the river she and Konoka had fallen in the night before. Konoka’s eyes were tightly closed as she held ChibiSetsuna close to her, afraid they would fall.
The half-demon’s red eyes softened as she looked at the princess.
Setsuna flew lower, bending her wings to that she flew almost horizontally above the current, Konoka still held tightly around the waist, and her sword in the half-demon’s right hand. Carefully, the Setsuna touched the sword upon the river surface, and flicked it upwards, splashing a few drops of water on the princess.
“Open your eyes, Konochan. The scene is quite different from the raging river you had known. Beautiful, even…”
Konoka slowly opened her eyes, soon widening them as she caught sight of the sparkling river below. The sun had already risen, shining its multicolored arms upon the glittering waters, which pranced and reflected the light in cheerful mirth. Fish danced beneath, while birds occasionally dipped down from above, to bathe and spray the water amongst each other.
The princess giggled, and released a startled ChibiSetsuna to fly along with ChibiKonoka beside them. Taking a swift glance at the half-demon, she reached one hand towards the water, enjoying its coldness upon her fingers as Setsuna flew across. With a mischievous smile, she sent a few small waves of water towards the half-demon still carrying her, and squealed, when Setsuna suddenly flew upwards in a small loop across the sky.
When the half-demon flew downwards again, they were both vertical against the river. Konoka could feel her feet slightly brushing against the water.
“Secchan, what-?”
The red-eyed demon grinned, and shifted the princess so that they both stood as if on water, gliding across smoothly with their feet skimming across the surface.
“Has anyone ever taken you water-skating, Konochan?”
Without waiting for the reply, Setsuna waltzed away, holding the princess tightly with one hand on her waist and the other on her shoulder, still clutching the sword all the while. The chibis floated behind them, circling the couple above their heads.
--
“You enjoyed it, didn’t you?”
Konoka turned towards the half-demon as they landed on the ground, the half-demon’s eyes hidden under her hair almost in a somber matter, almost looking like normal Setsuna without the sight of her red eyes.
“S-Secchan? Is something wrong? I-” she stopped, and gasped, and the half-demon suddenly leaned forward towards her.
Their faces were inches apart, and Setsuna’s red eyes looked deeply into hers, unblinking, mesmerizing. For some reason Konoka could feel a blush rising to her face, her breath quickening as the shinmei-student leaned forward. Closer and closer they became, until Konoka realized that she was leaning forward as well.
Behind them ChibiSetsuna tilted her head, looking at the pair with deep interest. Giggling, she seemed to copy the couple’s movements, leaning forward for a better look as Setsuna and Konoka’s distance apart began to disappear.
“Weh! ChibiKonochaaan! I wanna seeeee!!” she cried, when a tiny pair of hands covered her eyes. Her arms began to flail and wave, as she struggled to peek from the other chibi’s hands.
“Shh! Chibis aren’t supposed to see this.”
“Really really? Is it…bad?” The chibi stopped struggling, and sighed as ChibiKonoka continued to cover her eyes.
The sudden sound of movement sounded, and ChibiKonoka watched as her larger form turned away the moment before the kiss.
“I’m sorry! But..”
The chibi frowned at Konoka’s words, her loosening hands forgotten upon ChibiSetsuna’s face, as ChibiSetsuna began to eagerly peek through, giggling slightly and unaware of the situation.
Before the chibis, Setsuna smirked, her hair once again covering her face. She put the sword back in its sheath, and handed it to a surprised Konoka, who was still slightly red from their earlier closeness.
“I am giving you my sword to show you how serious I am about this, and that I should say it quickly, before your guardians catch up to us.”
Konoka held the sword curiously in her hands, as she watched the half-demon speak.
“You love him, don’t you?”
A small smile flickered uncontrolled upon the princess’s face as she thought of Setsuna.
“You love him very much. But you don’t realize, that to love someone means that you should love all of that person.”
Setsuna closed her eyes and turned away.
“I am Setsuna. The part of Setsuna that is able to do what the other one cannot, express what he cannot. A Setsuna able to become ruthless when he can be, and passionate when he should.”
Konoka turned to face the demon, her hands raising to reach Setsuna’s arms as the half-demon laughed a bitter laugh.
“Yes, I am uncontrolled. I am evil. Because no matter how much Setsuna keeps her control, I do the exact opposite….”
Konoka’s eyes were tearing, her hands about to make contact with those of the half-demon’s, when a sudden sound of two drawn swords cut across the air, and striked towards them. A young girl held the two swords as she ran at full speed, charging towards the half-demon.
“We knew you’d come here. I’ve been waiting to complete my end of the trap for so long! Ahah! Battle with me!”
Setsuna widened her crimson eyes, as the twin blades aimed straight towards her kneck. Behind her, Konoka held the half-demon’s sword in her hands, trying to think of a way to help. With trembling hands, the princess tugged on the sheath to Setsuna’s sword.
Dodging the double blades, Setsuna jumped, her eyes suddenly catching sight of the princess drawing the sword behind her.
“No Kono-chan! In this state, if you unsheathe that-”
Too late was the half-demon, however, that the princess had already drawn the sword. A blinding light enveloped her, as the demon reached towards Konoka. For a minute, all was silent, until the flash of light disappeared and Konoka and Setsuna could be seen once again.
“Kono-ch-”
Konoka’s eyes widened, as Setsuna collapsed towards the ground before her, the demon’s clothes soaked with blood.
“Secchaaaaaaaaaan!”
--
Chapter Ten: Sword Life
“Secchan!”
The sword dropped to the ground beside them with a dull clatter, and Konoka knelt down beside the bleeding demon, taking Setsuna into her embrace.
“Secchan…Secchan!”
An amused laugh echoed into the air, and Konoka turned towards the source to see the double swords girl sheathing her two swords. The girl tied the two swords around her waist, then crouched beside the Konoe princess.
“Very well done! I’ve never really been able to injure Setsu-sempai as much as you have!” The girl giggled. “You must be quite powerful!”
“Who?” Konoka looked back and forth from the unconscious demon to their giggling former-attacker. “You knew Secchan?”
“My name is Tsukuyomi! Nice to meet you!” The girl bowed, and continued. “Of course I know Setsuna-sempai! We went to the shinmei-school together.”
The Konoe heir blinked, confused.
“Then…why did you attack us?”
Tsukuyomi smiled.
“You should know, right? While Setsuna-sempai is my hero, Tsukuyomi knows it is her duty to rid Setsuna-sempai of the evil person that is taking over her mind.”
A cough resounded from the demon resting on Konoka’s lap, and they both turned to see Setsuna wincing slightly from the pain of the wounds.
“In other words, Tsuku-Kohai idols the other Setsuna, but hates me.”
Setsuna turned her red eyes to the princess, reaching one shaking hand towards Konoka’s cheeks and wiped a tear threatening to fall from the princess’s eyes.
“Were you worried about me?” the demon whispered.
“You-!” Tsukuyomi stood up.
“Secchan!? Are you okay? What happened? I didn’t mean to…I-”
“Shhh…” The demon placed one finger onto Konoka’s lips, wincing once again, as fresh blood continued to flow from her wounds.
“It wasn’t your fault. I’ll explain to you what happened later. Now is not the right time.” The demon attempted to stand, leaning onto Konoka’s hold for support.
“Secchan, don’t stand. You’re hurt, and-”
“A few wounds are not enough to cause serious injury to me.”
“But it should have!” Tsukuyomi frowned, and raised her two swords. “Why aren’t you turning back into Setsuna-sempai after your blood has been drawn? Where is Setsuna-sempai? What have you done to him?”
The half-demon grinned. “I didn’t say those wounds were not enough to cause injury to the other Setsuna, did I?”
Both Konoka and Tsukuyomi’s eyes widened.
“What do you-!?”
Setsuna snickered. “In other words, dear Setsuna couldn’t take the sword blast, and I’ve become dominant.”
--
Her embrace of the chibis became increasingly tighter as the battle of the two shinmeiryuu students continued. She watched as Setsuna seemed to dodge Tsukuyomi’s double swords easily. A quick jump to the right, a steady block with her hands and the Omnyou talismans…each and every move performed with swift accuracy, gaining more and more annoyance from the younger shinmei student each time the half demon’s move to evade the swords was successful.
“Kono-chan! I can sense more demons quickly approaching. Your friends will soon find this place. When they arrive, you must leave with them. They will be able to protect you.”
Another swing of double swords. Another quick dodge to the left. Yet Konoka could see that Setsuna was getting slower, getting weaker. Konoka could see precious blood flowing from the half demon’s wounds.
Another thrust. This one hit its mark, and a gash formed on Setsuna’s right shoulder.
“Secchan!” The Konoe princess exclaimed, releasing the chibis from her hold as she ran closer.
Behind her, the chibis whispered to each other.
--
“Kono-chan. You have to leave. NOW!”
With a frown, Konoka gave ChibiSetsuna and ChibiKonoka a brief hug, then released them and turned towards her guardians. With a slight glance at Setsuna, Konoka sighed, and headed towards the direction of the Kansai temple, waving her hands to indicate to the Mahora Warriors to follow.
Both teams of Mahora warriors (Ayaka and Asuna’s groups, along with the thousand master’s son and the various chibi counterparts) had arrived at the river scene at the same time. Without much of an explanation, the Konoe heir had nodded reluctantly to the half demon’s outcry, and lead her protectors away from the battle. The warriors followed her confusedly, shrugging their shoulders at each other as they watched her kneel down suddenly, use a length of torn cloth from her clothes to wrap something she had picked from the ground, and stand up once again.
She shook her head when they raised their eyebrows in silent questioning. Holding the securely bound object in tight embrace, she headed off once again, perplexed protectors closely behind.
“Konoe!
A call erupted from the area close to riverside, and they all turned to see the grinning face of Evangeline.
“Don’t worry, kiddo. Setsuna will be fine. Go home.”
Konoka smiled, about to speak, when a red haired girl stepped beside her.
“So you’re nice after all, Eva-chan!”
The vampire’s demeanor darkened immediately.
“Why you-!”
--
“What did you do to Setsuna-sempai!? Why aren’t you turning back!?”
Deftly, uncontrolled Setsuna jumped backwards, avoiding the swinging weapons.
If this continues, I’ll be too tired to avoid the attacks. There must be a way to-
A flash of dark magic between the two shinmei-students separated them momentarily from the close combat.
“Remember me?”
A proud voice echoed from behind, as both samurai girls stopped their current fight and turned to face a smirking Evangeline.
“Eva-chan.” Setsuna teased, chuckling as Evangeline scowled.
“That’s not nice! Even if you are Setsuna-sempai’s master, you should know that it’s not polite to interrupt during a sword fight!”
The half demon watched, slightly amused, as a vein seemed to appear on the dark mage’s face when she turned to regard Tsukuyomi with glaring eyes. Evangeline whispered a few words, and a dozen strings flew towards Tsukuyomi, clasping into her glasses and pulling them away. With a deathly glare, the vampire sent the strings away, and they flew off into the forest, taking the pair of glasses- and poor Tsukuyomi- chasing after them.
“There. She should have known better then to challenge the puppet master!” Evangeline clapped her hands twice, then turned towards Setsuna.
The half demon grinned.
“What did you need to talk to me about, that made you need to send Tsukuyomi-kohai away so quickly?”
Evangeline took a few steps forward, eyeing Setsuna warily.
“Where is your sword, Setsuna? What did you do to it?”
The half demon gave an easy shrug. “Nothing you should worry about. It’s gone.”
Their distance closed in an instant, and the vampire’s hands held clasped Setsuna’s throat, her eyes boring into her disciple’s.
“What do you mean, ‘it’s gone’? A good sword never leaves its master. Especially one like yours. The Tasogare no Arashi is no common sword to be past from generation to generation amongst the heirs to the demon throne. Without the sword, how will you claim-”
“Forget the sword.”
“Tell me, Setsuna. Where is it? Only an extremely powerful person would be able to take the sword away from its master. The Tasogare no Arashi is living sword. It has a soul of it’s own. It can never leave its master unless-”
“Forget the sword, I said! There is something I must do. And I’m willing to risk everything for it to succeed.”
Setsuna’s voice was calm, and her hands were strong as she tore the puppet master’s hands away from her throat.
“Do you have any idea what would happen to you-?”
“I realize all the consequences of my actions. If you are worried about your disciple, then you should focus on finding a way to bring Setsuna back. Protect Setsuna from me and the risks I plan to take.”
Evangeline turned to leave, eyes hidden underneath her blond hair. She stopped when she reached the head of the forest, her back still facing the half demon.
She did not attempt to face Setsuna as she spoke, her voice cold and firm.
“Fine. I suppose you don’t need my help with the ones that are approaching, either.”
She flew away from the riverside towards the forest, and promptly disappeared.
--
“So you’re the one we’ve been searching for. They told me to capture you alive.”
Feigning carelessness, Setsuna pretended not to see the dark haired boy appearing from the forest, with more than a dozen high level demons close behind. Her head faced in a different direction, the demon heir closed her eyes as the wind blew through her hair.
“The name’s Inugami Kotarou.”
Setsuna smiled, crimson eyes still closed.
“Pay attention when we’re talking to you! Or are you afraid to face us?”
The boy raised his fists, and jumped forward, intending for his punch to connect with the half demon’s shoulders. Kotarou’s eyes widened when his hands met thin air, and he spun around, searching for any trace of his opponent.
A few drops of blood fell onto the ground from a tree nearby, alerting the wolf-like boy. Setsuna was a few feet above him, white wings outstretched as the half demon landed onto the tree branch. Kotarou smirked, and signaled the demons behind him to start shooting arrows at their opponent.
Argh!! I can’t let this go on much longer. I had planned to leave quickly unnoticed. Yet these wounds are giving me quite a disadvantage.
Setsuna flew higher to avoid the arrow onslaught, unaware that the enemy had managed to get behind her, about to send their weapons into the air, aimed towards her back.
--
“Setsu-mmmphhhhh!!”
ChibiSetsuna’s arms flailed as she felt the other chibi cover her mouth. She stomped her feet, trying to shake her head and break free of the tight grasp.
“Mpppph!! Mppph Mmmmmpphhhh!!”
“Shhhh! We’re not supposed to let those demons know that we’re here!”
ChibiKonoka sighed and kept a tighter hold on ChibiSetsuna. “If you want me to release you, will you stay quiet?”
ChibiSetsuna nodded, her eyes wide and teary. She clung tightly to ChibiKonoka when the other chibi released hold.
“Butbutbut ChibiKono-chaaaaan!! Setsuna is in danger! We need to help! We need to help!!”
ChibiKonoka shook her head.
“We won’t be able to help much. Besides, she’s coming. I can feel it.”
ChibiSetsuna tilted her head. “ ‘She’s coming?’ ”
Giving ChibiKonoka’s shirt a gentle tug, the smaller form of Setsuna smiled shyly.
“Weh? Uhm…who’s coming?”
ChibiKono-chan shook her head dejectedly, her face in her hands.
“I give up.”
Another tug on her shirt made the little Chibi turn towards ChibiSetsuna.
“Please please? Tell Chibi?”
A soft whimper. A pair of puppy-round eyes.
ChibiKonoka sighed.
“Do you remember what Mean Setsu told you to tell me?”
--
Like an angel cloaked in white, the figure flew above the trees, clothes fluttering in the wind along with long, chocolate-colored hair. Gentle brownish black eyes glanced to and fro in search of something beneath, while her hands clutched a long thin sword that dazzled in the sunlight. Her face was veiled by a delicate white cloth from the below the eyes and downwards (similar to ninja-style), yet beauty could be recognized from the graceful features hinted behind the threads.
Suddenly catching sight of what she had been searching for, the figure flew downwards, like a butterfly descending gracefully upon the sweetest of flowers.
“Careful!” White-robed maiden’s voice, pleasant as melodious song of heavenly harps, rang into the air.
A flash of the sword. Two demons fell from the air.
Setsuna twisted around to see the maiden giggle. “You look like you would need some help.”
--
Deeper inside the forest, hidden behind the branches of countless trees, Evangeline stood amongst the shadows watching the maiden’s sword light up the treetops as the girl battled the demons alongside Setsuna.
The vampire narrowed her golden eyes.
“The legendary Yuunagi shines once again after thousands of years of disappearance. What are you planning, Setsuna? Who is the girl fighting beside you? Be cautious, my student. For if demon myth holds true, then it has been said that the wielder of Yuunagi will one day slay Tasogare no Arashi’s master. Be very careful, Setsuna. For she has the power to destroy you.”
--
Chapter Eleven: Awakened Light
The demons approached from every side, aiming their arrows at Setsuna and the maiden alongside her. At Kotarou’s orders, the demons released their bows, unleashing their arrows at the two. Setsuna jumped to dodge the arrows, then with a quick glance at the white-robed maiden, took two omnyou talismans and threw them into the air. A loud blast resounded across the forest, and from the two talismans, a thick white mist began to spread. The brown-haired maiden turned towards Setsuna and nodded, vanishing into the haze.
The attackers stared at the scene before them, confused. Frustrated, they charged towards the weaponless Shinmeiryuu student, unsheathing their swords and intending to draw blood. Setsuna merely smirked, crossing her arms while they leapt forward. A slash ripped into the air behind the charging demons, and they began to fall, one by one.
Kotarou growled and launched forward, clawed arms catching the half demon’s shoulders from behind. As sharp claws met flesh, a startled cry echoed amongst the mist.
/ What kind of guy has thin shoulders like this? And I can swear that cry sounded like a girl…What’s with this guy? Yet he’s supposed to be the heir to the demon throne? What a joke./
A sudden gash upon his back caused him to release his hold, and he turned, to find that his foe had disappeared along with the half demon. Kotarou focused his sharp eyes into the mist, catching a glimpse of long, dark hair.
/Was that Setsuna? Or was it the sword girl who fought alongside him?…Damn it, this is confusing. If he wasn’t the demon heir, I would have suspected him as a girl!/
Sensing movement behind him, Kotarou was about to turn, when he spotted the half demon standing before him. With a small grin, he raised his right arm, about to attack Setsuna. As was expected, Setsuna seemed ready for his attack, holding two omnyou charms, one in each hand. Calmly the half demon waited for Kotarou’s attacks to make contact.
Yet at the last possible moment, Kotarou jumped, and twisted behind, sending a blast of energy into the trees. Caught by surprise, the hidden occupant amongst the branches slipped, crashing towards the ground and the awaiting Inugami below.
Within the blink of an eye, Setsuna’s wings had spread, and she darted across in front of Kotarou, reaching the fallen victim before he could. She carried the maiden on her back, with one of the angel’s hands holding onto her shoulders and one hand swinging Yuunagi behind her.
With one last mighty swing of the sword by the angel, and a leap by the half-demon, the two disappeared above the treetops, far from the enemy’s line of sight.
--
Hidden amongst the shadowed trees, Evangeline followed her disciple and the mysterious girl on Setsuna’s back. She watched as they found a secluded place to land, and was about to advance towards them when she felt two tiny pairs of arms cling around her waist. The vampire raised her hands, gathering her dark magic to destroy the attackers.
“W-wait!! Master Eva-chan!! Waitwait!!”
Eva’s eyebrows twitched.
“Get off me, you idiot!”
ChibiSetsuna pouted and released her hold. “But Master Eva-chan!! We’re supposed to go back to the temple!! ”
Turning towards where Setsuna and Yuunagi’s owner should have been, the puppet master cursed under her breath.
/ Smart move, kid….Sending the chibis to distract me so you can escape. But I swear, I’ll find out what you are planning, Setsuna./
--
“They won’t find us here. Even your master had been diverted from following us. Let’s rest here for now. You’ve lost too much blood.”
As they collapsed against the tree, Setsuna leaned upon the white-robed maiden’s shoulders, a smirk evident on the half demon’s face.
“So you’re worried about me after all.”
The maiden’s eyes widened. “That’s not. Se-”
Setsuna chuckled, placing one finger upon the maiden’s lips to silence her.
“-Shhh. You’re quite powerful, aren’t you?” Setsuna moved closer, dark crimson eyes boring into the younger girl’s chocolate orbs.
“The wound is gone, I see.”
The half demon smiled, glancing at the other girl’s arm.
“And you don’t seem tired from all the magic you’ve used, either. I should be careful, as we’re destined to battle each other someday.”
Setsuna’s face was close, a mere breath away.
“But I know your weakness…I know how to tear that veil away…”
The maiden’s cheeks flushed as she felt Setsuna caressing it, pulling down the cloth that covered half of the angel’s face. She closed her eyes, as the half demon bent closer…ever closer, as if about to k-
“S-Se-”
The angel gasped, as the half demon’s weight fell completely on her. Her eyes opened, landing upon Setsuna’s unconscious form, the half demon’s head fallen against her shoulders. With a soft sigh, she raised one hand to pet the Shinmei student’s raven hair.
“For a moment there, I thought you were going to kiss me.”
She stood up, holding Setsuna in her arms.
“But I didn’t pull back, didn’t care…”
Embracing the demon tighter, the maiden twirled Setsuna’s hair, watching her curiously, as a child would.
“I think…I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”
She smiled, sadly, as if in pain. “Is it too late to tell you? Have you focused your attention elsewhere?…We’ll battle each other one day, you said. I pray that the day would never come. For now, though, I’ll bring you back to the temple…”
With one last look at the half demon’s unconscious form, the maiden veiled herself once again, and flew off in the direction of the temple.
--
ChibiSetsuna and ChibiKonoka stood before the Konoemon, watching him pace from left to right, then vise versa.
“The Yuunagi wielder brought Setsuna-kun back, didn’t she?”
The chibis nodded.
“And now my grand daughter is taking care of Setsuna-kun?”
Once again, the chibis nodded as one.
“Nothing happened between my granddaughter and Setsuna-kun, you said? No way for me to call for an immediate wedding?”
Konoemon rubbed his beard, hoping for another pair of nods. The chibis shook their heads.
With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, the headmaster beaconed to the chibis closer with a quick wave of his hand.
“You two want them to be together as much as I do, don’t you?”
The chibis smiled.
“Do what you want, I’ll keep one eye closed tonight. As long as you can guarantee me a grand-son-in-law tomorrow morning, I’ll consider the kidnap as never having existed.” With that said, the old mage turned away, waving for the chibis to leave.
Once outside, ChibiSetsuna tugged on the other Chibi’s shirt. “Ne, Chibi Kono-chaaan. What does that mean?”
ChibiKonoka grinned, and rubbed her hands. “It means that he is leaving it up to us to cause all the trouble we need in order to bring his granddaughter together with Setsuna.”
ChibiSecchan frowned, confused. “Butbutbut!-”
“No buts! They love each other, ne? It’s up to us to help them.”
ChibiSetsuna tilted her head, but followed the other chibi as they flew towards Konoka’s room. A snigger from behind stopped them, and they turned to see three figures walk towards them.
“Is someone planning a love match, I hear? If so…we can help…”
--
Dark Setsuna awoke to find that the sky outside had already turned dark, and Konoka had fallen asleep against the bed. The half demon smiled, and draped a blanket upon the princess’s frail shoulders, carefully, as to not waken the sleeping beauty.
Despite the effort, however, Konoka stirred from her light slumber.
“Secchan?” She rubbed her eyes, and yawned, stretching one arm towards the ceiling as she attempted to rid herself of sleepiness.
Setsuna chuckled at such cute behavior, and reached one hand to ruffle the princess’s hair. Before Konoka could react to the affectionate gesture, Setsuna had turned away.
“Rest, Kono-chan. You must be very tired.” Setsuna’s voice was soft, as she walked towards the door to grasp on the doorknob. “How long have I been-” The half demon paused.
She turned the doorknob once again, and pushed.
Nothing. The door was locked from the outside.
Konoka giggled. “We’ve been locked in here for at least three hours. Gramps is up to something, it seems.”
Setsuna frowned, and walked towards the windows to check if they could be opened.
“This is bad.” The demon muttered, tugging on the window. “To kidnap you is one thing, but spending a night alone in one room…Your reputation might be-”
A sob could be heard at the end of the room. Setsuna froze, her hand still on the window frame.
“Everything you told me before…about you loving me…everything was a lie, wasn’t it? You’ve been trying to avoid me. Do you care about reputation that much? Were you close to me before because…” her voice drifted off, and Konoka bowed her head, choco-eyes hidden under dark hair, and hands clutched to the blanket around her shoulders tightly.
Setsuna laughed, dryly, as she focused her black orbs onto the sobbing princess.
“It’s only proper, isn’t it? You don’t love me in the same way you love my lighter half. Besides-”
“You know it’s not like that anymore.” Konoka’s voice shook, and Setsuna thought she could see tears in the other girl’s eyes as she raised her head up to catch the half demon’s ruby orbs with her own.
In spite of herself, Setsuna walked closer, slowly reaching one hand to caress Konoka’s cheeks.
It was wet to her touch, and Setsuna grimaced, closing her eyes.
“What should I do? Now that you’ve…you know my secret, don’t you?”
Konoka’s eyes widened, but she looked away, breaking eye contact.
“I…”
Setsuna smiled, gently pushing Konoka’s cheeks so the princess faced her.
“I’ve always thought it odd, how your Chibi addresses me as ‘she’. A chibi’s mind-link with its master allows complete knowledge to be transferred, after all. Then after that battle…” Setsuna paused, as if to swallow a sob threatening to emerge.
“After the battle…when I used ‘she’ to address my lighter half, you weren’t surprised by it. You didn’t point it out to me, didn’t question me. And I knew…I knew that you knew…” the half demon broke off, walking away from the bed.
A pair of arms wrapped themselves around Setsuna’s waist from behind, and she could feel the princess nuzzling on her back.
“By the many, many times you’ve carried me…did you think I wouldn’t have noticed? But…it never was a problem…that could never keep me away from you. Even now…even now…when you’ve become more dominant than normal Setsuna…I still…”
Setsuna twisted behind, grasping the other girl’s hands in her own. She gazed at the other girl searchingly, for any doubt, any hesitation. There was none.
Konoka giggled, pulling her hands out of the demon’s grasp, then swung both arms around Setsuna’s neck.
“I love you. Both of you. All of you.”
Setsuna smiled, leaning closer to the little mistress.
“Do you want to know another secret?” she whispered, breathily into Konoka’s ears.
“As long as you remain loving me…loving Setsuna. All of Setsuna controlled and uncontrolled…you can turn me back anytime you wish. Even without the sword.”
Konoka’s eyes were puzzled. “How?”
Setsuna raised one hand to capture the princess’s chin, pulling it gently closer.
“Have you ever heard of the power of the maiden’s kiss?”
“Sec-” Konoka’s eyes drifted to a close, as she felt the distance between them shorten.
“Let’s see if it’s true.”
--
ChibiSetsuna watched from a small hole in the window, waving wildly to ChibiKonoka as the larger forms of themselves fell onto the floor of the room, unconscious.
“ChibiKono-chaaan!!”
ChibiKonoka laughed, pulling a long tube away from the room’s air duct.
“Don’t worry. We’re just blowing sleeping mist into the room. They’ll wake up by tomorrow morning.”
“Right-O! Chibi ane-san.” The chibis turned, to see an ermine and two young Mahora Warriors approach the door.
“Did you get all the supplies we needed?” ChibiKonoka whispered.
The ermine nodded. “Don’t worry. You just take care of them, make sure they don’t wake up. These ane-sans and I can take care of the sound effects.”
Together, the group of two chibis, two Mahora Warriors, and an ermine, cautiously snuck into the room.
“You thinking what I’m thinking, Ane-san?” The ermine chuckled, as the two chibis began to help arrange their masters on the bed.
Fuuka and Fumika snickered.
“You know if we do this they would never be able live the way they used to.”
The ermine had a mischievous gleam in his eyes, as he snickered. “Don’t worry, I bet Konoka-san and Konoemon-sama would like it. And I have just the materials to do it, too. Voice changing pills!”
Fuuka and Fuumika nodded, while ChibiSetsuna paused, frowning.
The other chibi reached over, poking Setsuna’s smaller form in the stomach.
“Weh!” ChibiSetsuna jumped.
“He’s right. This way, the demons wouldn’t doubt Setsuna’s gender anymore. Konoka would testify for that. Besides, it’s the best way to get them together.” Chibi Konoka whispered.
ChibiSecchan pouted, but continued helping ChibiKonoka pull the unconscious half demon onto the bed.
Chamo handed the pills to the twins, one each.
“Now, make sure that the whole mansion hears it. On second thought, make sure that only the Mahora Warriors, the Dean, and any wandering demons here it. We wouldn’t want the guards or the servants to gossip.”
“But wouldn’t the Dean stop us if he hears of it? It would be like ruining the reputation of his granddaughter.”
“Nah, he’d jump at the chance of arranging the engagement between Konoka and Setsuna. He knows that he can make Setsuna ‘take the responsibility’ by forcing him to marry his granddaughter.”
“Now, let us begin. Make sure that Konoka and her lover over there are both asleep.”
--(Warning: slight Perverted ness)--
(Fuuka begins speaking in Setsuna’s voice)
“Wait, Kono-chan. Don’t leave me. Not tonight, not ever.”
(Fumika blushes, but continues, in Konoka’s voice)
“I’m here, Secchan.”
“Machine stimulating kissing sounds, activated!” Chamo exclaimed, trying to keep his snickers down.
“Kono-chan, Let me prove my love to you.”
A loud kick on the door could be heard, and the conscious occupants inside the room jumped. The door was kicked open, revealing a blushing Asuna, followed by Negi, who held both of his hands before his eyes.
“Asuna-san! We shouldn’t interrupt them like this.” Negi bowed, hands still covering his eyes.
“E-excuse us!! W-we were just…I was just looking for Chamo-kun…”
Asuna sighed, and warily looked around the room to see Konoka and Setsuna both sleeping soundly on the bed. Fuuka ran over to close the door.
“Ah ha! I knew something was fishy about this. Mmmph!”
Chamo wrapped his tail around Asuna’s mouth, attempting to stop her from speaking. Waving his hands, he motioned for to the twins to continue.
(Fumika in Konoka’s voice)
“Secchan!”
Asuna- with Chamo still preventing her from talking- growled, and began to chase the twins around the room. Hearing the raucous around him, Negi peeks from behind his fingers and sweat drops.
Chamo snickered, rubbing his paws together, tail still around Asuna’s mouth. The sounds the three girls are making seem to fit according to his plans.
Fuuka grinned on the other side of the room, avoiding Asuna’s tackles.
(Fuuka in Setsuna’s voice)
“(moans) Kono-chan.”
A rustle of clothing resounded from the room, as Asuna pulled on the table cloth by accident as she aims for grabbing the twins. Then a ‘thump’ as she tackled down Fumika.
Another rustle of clothing could be heard, as Fuuka waved a blanket to taunt Asuna.
Asuna jumped once again, successfully tackling Fuuka this time, and began to tie the blanket around Fuuka’s mouth.
(Fumika in Konoka’s voice)
“Ohh, Secchan.”
Waving one hand, Asuna motioned to Negi to stop Fumika as she continued to tie the blanket around Fuuka’s mouth. She pulled Chamo from around her neck and threw him towards the “Kissing-Sound Stimualtor”, knocking it onto the ground and breaking it.
Negi sighed, beginning to chant a spell to catch Fumika. Arms made of wind suddenly appeared to bind her.
“S-Stop it! That tickles!!” (Fumika still in Konoka’s voice)
Negi sweat dropped, while Asuna begins to bind Fumika, Fuuka, and Chamo together with a rope.
“Now, will you behave? Keep quiet, and we’ll deal with you in the morning.”
Pulling upon the rope, Asuna ushered Negi and the three trouble makers out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Hidden from view, ChibiKonoka giggled.
“Did you get the recording done, ChibiSecchan?”
ChibiSetsuna nodded, and tilted her head.
“Why do we need to record this, Chibi Kono-chan?”
Konoka’s smaller form grinned, taking the tape in her hands.
“We need it as proof for the headmaster.”
--(Next Morning)--
Setsuna stirred awake, trying to clear her head, and find out why there was such raucous outside her room. She sat up, to find a pair of eyes boring into her own. A pair of eyes very close to her own.
“Ahhhh!!”
Konoka giggled, as she watched Setsuna’s raven orbs dilate, a dark blush beginning appear on the half demon’s face, as Setsuna jumped.
/ I like Secchan when she is like this. But I like uncontrolled Secchan too./
Giggling yet again, Konoka sat up and raised her hands, stretching them. “Good morning, Secchan.”
She was answered with a deep flush upon the half demon’s face.
W-what is happening? The last thing I remember…we were fighting some demons…and then Chibi flew over, unsheathing my sword…
Setsuna turned to the girl sitting beside her.
What did I do afterwards? What did…
A loud crack echoed from the door, and it burst open. Konoemon walked in, followed by an army of seventeen Mahora Warriors.
“My, my! What have we walked into?” The headmaster rubbed his beard.
Konoka and Setsuna looked at each other.
“This calls for an immediate wedding, I say!” Konoemon chuckled, grinning mischievously.
“W-wha? I-” Setsuna stuttered.
“Then the odd sounds we all heard yesterday was real!!” Makie squealed.
“W-Wait!! What just-”
“Are you planning to not take the responsibility for what you have done?” There was an odd gleam in the headmaster’s eyes, and the warriors all stepped back.
Setsuna gulped. “But I-”
“You know, boys these days, never taking responsibility for what they’ve done.”
“I-”
“That’s it. You must marry her.”
“I- We didn’t- ”
ChibiKonoka flew behind the Mahora warriors, waving to her larger form, and pointing to the flushed half demon.
Konoka giggled, and nodded, leaning over to Setsuna, and giving the startled Shinmei student a tight hug.
“It’s okay. You promised, Secchan. You said you’d take care of me before we-”
Setsuna froze. “I-I did? Oh. Wait…Wha…WHAT??”
The demon’s formerly flushed face paled, and Setsuna fainted.
Konoemon ushered the warriors outside to prepare for the wedding, leaving Konoka sitting alone on the bed, with Setsuna out cold on her lap.
Pushing back a stray strand of raven hair from the half demon’s face, Konoka giggled.
“-before we were both knocked unconscious by gramp’s sleeping mist.”
--
Chapter Twelve: Wedding Crisis
Konoe Eishun growled as the attacker struck him from above.
“You will regret what you have done.”
With a swift raise of his right arm, Eishun’s sword collided with Yuunagi. The white-robed maiden smiled, turning her sword so that it’s blade reflected the evening sunlight into the Elder’s eyes. Eishun stepped back, and used his left hand to shield from the light.
Taking the chance while her opponent was blinded, the maiden whispered a quick spell and threw a talisman towards the mage.
“You have to be better than that.”
The chocolate-haired girl widened her eyes, jumping to dodge a flash of light from behind her. The lightning’s path seemed to bend, striking the talisman and burning it instead. Eishun smirked and grasped his sword with both hands, slashing it across the young girl’s waist.
“Flet, une vent!”
The girl’s melodic voice rang into the air, and immediately a powerful gust of wind blew across, supporting the girl’s back while she spun into the heavens. Using Eishun’s sword blade as a pedestal, the maiden jumped upwards, then did a back-flip in the sky. Within a blink of an eye, Yuunagi’s tip had connected with the Elder’s sword, breaking it.
Before either could react, they could hear footsteps echoing from the hall nearby. The fighting duo froze.
“Eishun-sama! Setsuna’s awake! He’s-”
The maiden gasped.
“We’ll finish this later.”
Throwing a black feather at the Elder and sheathing her sword, the white-robed maiden darted off. Asuna appeared a few seconds later to find Eishun holding the feather in one hand, and a broken sword in the other.
“Eishun-sama, what-” A quick wave of the mage’s left hand silenced the Mahora Warrior, and she paused, watching him curiously.
The Elder frowned, eyes still on his sword. Tucking the black feather into a small pocket in his uniform, he slowly examined the shattered blade.
“With the legendary Yuunagi in hand…she might be able to defeat me next time.”
--
To say that Setsuna was shocked would be a huge understatement. The moment she had awoken, the half demon was whisked off by four Mahora Warriors for clothing measurements. Guided by the four girls’ tight hold on her wrists, the startled Shinmei swordsman walked past the temple halls, mind desperately searching for an excuse to flee. Yet there was none, and the warriors continued to drag the half demon past the people walking to and fro- each with their own role in preparing for the upcoming wedding.
As they passed the vast courtyard in the center of the temple, however, an arrow of white light suddenly shot towards them, followed by a series of wind gusts. The four Mahora Warriors immediately drew their various weapons, dodging the attacks.
“Who’s there?” they shouted, in unison.
But the attacker was no-where to be seen. A few minutes later, they discovered that Setsuna had disappeared as well.
--
The half demon stood a short distance away from the temple gates, eyes darting right and left, and hands clutching tightly to her omnyou talismans.
“Come out. You diverted their attention to confront me, didn’t you? I’m betting you didn’t do it just so I could escape?”
A rustle from behind reached her ears, and Setsuna turned, legs slightly bent- prepared to dodge any strikes sent forward by the hidden enemy. Yet her opponent approached with sword undrawn, as if the white-robed maiden had no intent of fighting whatsoever.
“You don’t want to marry Konoe Konoka, do you? I’m just granting your wish to elude this wedding.”
The samurai’s eyes narrowed as the other girl spoke, the veil covering the maiden’s face slightly revealing her chin as she spoke.
“Just who are you? And why does it matter to you if I marry her or not?”
“Take the chance to leave when it’s given to you. You will find out who I am eventually.”
The maiden looked deeply into Setsuna’s eyes for a moment, then began to walk away.
“Not so fast!”
With a swift rush forward, the half demon grasped the maiden’s left hand and younger girl twisted back, chocolate hair flying against the white veil. Yet the robed maiden’s sword was already drawn, and she swung it towards Setsuna’s neck.
The Shinmei warrior immediately flipped backwards, letting go of the girl’s hand and jumping high into the air to avoid the weapon’s encounter with her skin. She landed facing the maiden a few feet away, right hand clenched into a fist. Vaguely, as her fingers folded, she thought the other girl’s hands felt familiar against her own.
“I’m not letting you go without some answers.”
The maiden seemed to smile underneath the veil.
“Then can you handle this answer?”
She braced the sword with both hands, and slashed towards Setsuna’s right side. The half demon jumped into the air, palms pointing towards the maiden below her.
“Zankusho-san!”
Ki bullets shot towards her opponent as Setsuna landed, while the maiden spun her sword as a shield, blocking the projected Ki. Whispering a few well-chosen words, the girl in white suddenly disappeared from sight, leaving the bullets to fire towards the ground where she had once stood, unable to hit target.
Setsuna’s eyes widened, searching for any signs of her invisible opponent. A tiny snap of broken twigs reached her ears, and she spun around, only to find the maiden emerging from behind her- sword about to cut into the half-demon’s shoulders.
“Uki-gumo Tsumuji Issen!”
With a quick bend sideways with her lithe body to dodge the blade, Setsuna grasped onto the other girl’s shoulders, also locking one foot behind the chocolate-haired girl’s opposite leg and ankle. In one large flip backwards, they both rotated in the air, before the Shinmei warrior let go, throwing the maiden onto the ground.
Rushing forward as the other girl began to stand back up, Setsuna raised her hands, intending to strike.
“Gurenke-!”
Those eyes…
The half demon stopped, right fist a mere inch away from the maiden’s stomach. The momentary pause was enough for the wielder of Yuunagi to raise her sword, pointing it against Setsuna’s heart. For a few minutes, the two stood immobile, as raven orbs met chocolate. Unclenching her fingers, the samurai slowly reached one hand towards the other girl’s face, clutching on the thin white fabric blocking it from clear view.
The crouching girl’s eyes seemed to widen as Setsuna attempted to tear down the veil, and stiffened, then pushed the sword forward so that the tip of the blade was against the samurai’s chest- threatening to meet skin if the half demon moved.
She’s strong…yes. But not enough to defeat me. Then why…can’t I…why am I so afraid that I might hurt her?
Setsuna sighed, taking her eyes off of the familiar orbs and lowering her hands.
“I…I’ve met you…before?”
The maiden tilted her head almost innocently, despite the fact that sword held tightly in her grasp was still aiming for Setsuna’s heart.
“You already know who I am. It’s just not time for you to realize it yet.”
In one fluid move, the owner of Yuunagi had sheathed her sword, walking away.
“Wait!”
She paused, as a cry from the half demon echoed from behind.
“Ne, leave this place if you want to. But…if it is destiny that we must battle to the death someday…why not enjoy life when you still can? Wedding or no, the choice is yours. But I can promise you that the day when our destinies are to be fulfilled- I will leave your heart destroyed- in more ways then one.”
The maiden glanced at the warrior behind her, then promptly disappeared. As she watched the other girl fly away, Setsuna frowned.
What does she mean…my heart will be…
An image of Konoka laying on a crimson pool of blood flashed through her mind, and Setsuna’s heart stopped.
She can’t mean-
“Konoka!!”
Her target is…
With a loud gasp the half demon unfurled her wings, soaring into the air above the temple. Rapidly she flew, wings beating more vigorously than ever before. Her eyes darted towards the people below, searching for any signs of the Konoe heiress.
If anything happens to you…I don’t know what I’d do…
“Kono-chan!!”
--
Konoka stepped out of the kitchen, hands carrying a black tray filled with two warm bowls of soup. With a small smile to herself, she proceeded towards the halls, walking unhurriedly past a dozen temple servants who bowed to her as she sauntered by.
“Konoka!! Kono-cha-”
A familiar voice reached her ears, and she stopped, trying to distinguish the words. Suddenly, she could feel a pair of arms wrap around her waist, while soft white feathers encircled her, holding her in tight embrace.
“Thank goodness. I thought…I thought…I was too late. I thought I’d never…see you again.”
The chocolate-haired girl smiled, wrapping one arm around the lean shoulders in front of her.
“Silly Secchan. Why wouldn’t you be able to see me?”
Leaning back and releasing the other girl from her reassuring hug, the Konoe heiress giggled, then gave the half demon’s nose a small tap.
Setsuna blushed, yet did not pull away.
“K-Konoka.”
With utmost care, the samurai raised on hand to the princess’s cheeks, caressing it.
Why does it matter? Why do I need to battle anyone for the demon throne? Why should anything matter…besides the smile on her face and the love in her eyes? As long as I can keep that happiness, always surrounding her…I…I’ll protect her. I’ll stay and protect her…forever. Destiny or not…no one touch my heart, but you.
“I…It’s…nothing… Konoka.”
Peering into the little mistress’s chocolate orbs, Setsuna took Konoka’s hands inside her own, warmth spreading into her from the familiar touch. Slowly, she knelt down, one knee touching the ground.
“I…I don’t know what your grandfather might be planning with the wedding, and I must admit- I was hesitant at first to whether we should…I don’t know …what dangers we may be in, nor what might happen in the future…what troubles may challenge us. But I do know that I want to battle them with you…I want to always be by your side…”
Funny…how it took a sword against my neck for me to come to a decision…
The half demon paused, her blush deepening.
“Will you…will you…marry me?”
Setsuna paused, heart thumping loudly in her chest, as she waited for a reply from the girl before her. For a few doubtful seconds Konoka stood stunned, until with a sudden burst of movement, she rushed forward, nestling her head against the half demon’s shoulders. The bowls on the tray wobbled in her hold, and Setsuna rose one hand to steady it.
“You already know, Secchan…you already know what my answer always was…”
Still holding onto the tray between them, the couple looked at each other, then smiled. Konoka’s eyes fell upon the tray, and she clutched it tighter, leaning forward.
“Ehhh!! Secchan, I almost forgot. I thought you might become hungry after the clothing measurements, so I’d prepared some soup for you.”
The raven haired samurai reached over to give the other girl’s hands a gentle squeeze, then took the tray from Konoka’s hands. Together they walked towards edge of the courtyard, settling under the shadow of a few trees.
As the half demon sat down, Konoka leaned forward, taking out a spoon and dipping it in the bowl’s contents.
“Ne, Secchan. Say-”
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the center of the court, and the princess paused, tilting her head as she turned towards the source.
“Konoka!! Setsuna’s gone missing! We don’t know what happened, but someone attacked us-!!”
The four Mahora Warriors froze, mouth opened in shock as they watched the princess leaning on a blushing Setsuna- one hand resting on the samurai’s shoulders while the other held a spoon full of soup near the half demon’s mouth.
Konoka giggled.
“Would you…want some soup too?”
In unison, Nodoka, Makie, and Ayaka closed their mouths, while Ku Fei rubbed her chin.
“Ah, Konoka be one who kidnap him, aru.”
--
They sat alone inside the room, waiting for the tailor to arrive to take measurements for the Wedding Kimonos. And as Konoka continued to silently smile and watch her every move, the half demon’s discomfort began to grow- along with the reddish tint upon her cheeks.
Closer and closer the princess seemed to scoot towards her as time went on, and the samurai leaned backwards, sliding slowly across the bench until she could retreat no further. Yet at that moment a couple of knocks upon the wooden door announced the tailor’s arrival.
Setsuna breathed a sigh of relief, darting to open the door and welcoming the woman inside. The half demon’s breath caught in her throat once again, however, as Konoemon appeared behind the tailor- holding a long list in his hands as he strolled into the room.
“Setsuna-kun, as there seems to have been a delay in the measurements today- hence causing us to be behind on other duties as well- I thought we’d discuss various details of the Wedding while you two are being measured.”
--
“Raise your hands just a little higher.”
Setsuna’s cheeks flushed, as she caught a glimpse of Konoka giggling as the younger girl watched her being measured. Silently, she thanked the measuring tape for being magical, so that she did not have to take too much clothes off, nor did the tailor have to measure her by hand.
“Now to the important business, Setsuna-kun. I’m sure you know all of the etiquettes- the sansankudo oath, offering the tamagushi and such- so I need not say much there. The Mahora Warriors, I believe, have volunteered to chose food for the ceremony- sake, and such- in addition to the security issues of protecting the temple for invading demons that day…”
Konoemon went on down the list, with his granddaughter adding a few ideas here and there for the celebrations.
“Say, have you finished writing the Wedding Oath, Setsuna-kun?”
“O-oath?”
Setsuna turned, tripping on the length of tape that was measuring her legs. Konoka was immediately beside her, supporting the half demon as she unraveled the tape from her legs. The tailor took no notice of it all, continuing to scribble measurements into the chart in her hands.
Konoemon looked up from reading his list.
“The Wedding Oath, Setsuna-kun. The one that you have to read out loud after exchanging the rings.”
Setsuna paled, as the Elder continued on, rubbing his beard and turning away while he continued to read. In the corner of her eyes, she could see the girl next to her peering at her with roundish eyes. Setsuna gasped, suddenly realizing that Konoka was leaning closer and closer.
“Ne, Secchan. I can help you.” the girl whispered, before closing the distance between them. Setsuna stood immobile, helpless with Konoemon’s words running through her head while seeing Konoka’s face so close to her own. A soft pair of lips reached the demon’s, and her mind blanked.
“That was mischievous of you, Kono-chan.”
The half demon laughed, wrapping her arms around the Konoe heiress.
“I dare say that by relieving my other half of her flushes, you might be earning some blushes of your own.”
Winking one crimson eye, Uncontrolled Setsuna grinned, nuzzling her chin upon the younger girl’s shoulder. As Konoemon turned towards them, the half demon draped the measuring tape upon the chocolate-haired girl’s shoulders, and moved off.
“Your turn, Kono-chan.”
“-should be finished promptly, as I was saying. Ah, and then there are the issues of joining the family. You must already know, according to tradition, my granddaughter should be joining her husband’s family. But as she is our only heir- our only hope for the future, we cannot-”
Turning away from the girl being measured in front of her, Setsuna smirked.
“I’ll let our first child hold the Konoe name- if that is what you are worrying. But the second should take Sakurazaki as the last name.”
Konoemon smiled, rubbing his beard once more.
“I hope to see my great grandchildren soon, then.”
In one rare moment, Konoka could feel her cheeks burning.
“Mou, Gramps!! Secchan!!”
Konok’s grandfather chuckled, turning away once more while his granddaughter turned towards the half demon, leaning closer. Setsuna rose her hands to stop her.
“Not so fast, Kono-chan. I did promise I’d make you blush more before you turn me back, remember?”
As Konoka puffed her cheeks into a pout, the samurai grinned, ruffling the princess’s hair affectionately.
--Elsewhere in a nearby garden--
“ChibiSecchan, what are you doing?”
Konoka’s smaller form crossed her arms, watching ChibiSecchan scurry about.
“We have to get ready for the wedding!!”
ChibiSetsuna’s eyes were round, and she spoke in a tone of utter urgency. ChibiKonoka sweat dropped, however, having trouble seeing as to how the flowers the other chibi had been gathering had to do with it all.
“But what are those for?”
“Ehhhhh! Kazumi-san said that weddings can’t happen without exchanging rings!! But Sayo-san said that they can’t find ones pretty enough yet. Chibi is going to help!! Chibi knows how to make flower rings…and I’ll make one for everyone. Chibi overheard that if they forget to bring rings, the wedding can’t happen. I’ll bring extras in case anyone forgets, too!!”
“ChibiSecchan, I don’t think it quite like-”
ChibiKonoka paused, as the other chibi grabbed hold of her right hand, sliding a large ring of flower onto her tiny ring finger.
“I have one to give you, too!”
For some reason the chibi felt a warmth spread from where the ring hung onto her finger, then to her chest onto her cheeks. She stood silent, watching the ChibiSetsuna continue to fly quickly about the flower bushes.
“Ahhhh! Motoko-san!”
The other chibi’s sudden cry awoke her from her reverie, and ChibiKonoka flew quickly over. A tall, beautiful woman stood a few steps away, and behind her was a girl whom ChibiKonoka recognized as Tsukuoyomi. The older woman was holding a flailing ChibiSetsuna captive in her firm grasp.
“I heard that my son is getting married, so I thought I’d drop by uninvited to thank Konoemon for taking such good care of Setsuna. Any idea where he is?”
--
Chapter Thirteen: Shinmeiryuu Promise
The wooden clogs beneath the feet clattered against the stair steps as she continued to climb, with Asuna close behind.
“Asuna. Asuna, where are we going, again? Aren’t we supposed to-”
“Shh. You’ll find out when we get there.”
The red haired warrior ushered the princess up the stairway to the roof, grinning at the chocolate haired girl’s growing confusion. With a quick turn of the head, Asuna nodded to the five Mahora Warriors standing guard a few steps below them, and to the four defending the temple door.
The wooden entrance was instantly shut.
As they reached the roof of the temple, Konoka was greeted by the sight of yet another group of warriors, all dressed in red battle uniform.
“What-mmph!!”
Abruptly, two pairs of hands grabbed her from behind, while Haruna appeared before the princess, smirking as she bound a long piece of scarlet cloth around the heiress’s mouth. Simultaneously, the hands behind her began pulling her backwards, binding her to a nearby pole with some rope. Asuna was no where to be seen.
“Mmmph!! Mmph-mmph?”
“Sorry, Konoka. We have to follow the tradition. The harder they fight for the bride, the better the ‘Bride Hand Over Ceremony’ would be, after all. Except that we can’t give you away to the bridegroom without a fight first. We’ve been protecting you all these years. ”
Haruna winked.
“ We would’ve let you out of this, but we couldn’t take the risk that you would help Setsuna ruin the fun.”
Konoka’s eyes widened as the girl stepped back, allowing her to view the surrounding area. On each side of her, two girls had dressed themselves in crimson uchikakes, with the exact same intricate pattern of cranes on the kimono as her own. Makie and Yue were handing them white veils of cloth, and helping them tie themselves loosely to replicas of Konoka’s wooden pole.
“Konoka.”
The princess struggled to free herself, as her eyes focused on the approaching warrior.
“Mmmph!!”
“Calm down, Konoka. I’m sure Setsuna would be able to figure out where you are. We’re just giving him a small test to make sure he can protect you before we let you get married off.”
With a warm smile, Ako draped the tsunokakushi above the princess’s head.
/ Oh no. With the exact same clothing and a veil above our heads, Secchan will have a hard time finding me. And I’m sure they’re not just going to let Secchan choose without battling./
Straining her head sideways, Konoka managed to catch a glimpse of the four warrior brides-in-disguise.
/ Far left…it must be Sayo. It makes sense to choose her. She kinda looks like me. At the right…Natsumi-chan? She’s the best at acting and disguise. But who are the other two?/
As she searched around the area, a tiny paint brush leaning against the outer reaches of the temple roof caught her eyes. The princess leaned her head against the pole she was tied to, then sighed, not knowing whether she should be amused by the wedding game or worried that Setsuna might find it difficult.
/Human doubles of me? Looks like they’re going all out to challenge Secchan this time./
--
Dressed in a bluish black hakama, the half demon’s lean figure was easily distinguishable among the crowd of people attending the Bride Handover Ceremony. Usually ruffled hair having been carefully brushed and bound tightly to one side, coupled with elegant ceremonial robes graced upon pale white skin, Setsuna’s dashing presence awed everyone she encountered on her way to reach the temple.
The mahora warriors guarding the temple door were of no exception.
“I’ve come to take Konoka to the shrine where the ceremony is to be held.”
For a moment the warriors stood in dazed silence, until Ayaka tilted her head, blushing as she clasped her hands together.
“Perfect. Absolutely adorable!! He’ll make a lovely groom for our princess.”
Standing against the door beside her, Nodoka nodded, eyes peering at the royal demon through her bangs.
“I guess I’ll go ahead, then.”
Red eyes twinkling with amusement, Setsuna bowed, then went ahead and reached for the door.
“Not so fast! You have to get past all twenty of us for the ceremony to be complete, de gozaru.”
Two kunai projected from behind were instantly pinned on the door by each side of the half demon’s extending hand. Setsuna twisted back, then jumped as Kaede continued to fire more projectiles. Muttering a few words, Setsuna took out a couple of talismans and transformed them into two small daggers, which she proceeded to use to block the ninja’s attacks. Meanwhile, Asuna appeared from inside the temple, closing the door tightly behind her.
“Ayaka, you daydreamer, snap out of it! Don’t just stand there.”
The blond warrior blinked, as she shook herself from the reverie, then raised her fists in indignation. Beside her, Nodoka seemed to have awoken as well.
“Hey! Who are you calling daydreamer!”
Growling, the warrior grasped her sword, and charged at the red-haired girl. As Asuna rose her large blade to block the attack, the two began fighting simultaneously, alongside the other combating duo.
“You’re supposed to help challenge Setsuna, not battle me!”
Up on the roof, the twin warriors peeked down to view the fighting scene below.
“Mayday, mayday!” said Fuuka.
Fumika giggled alongside her sister.
“Looks like we have an inner war among us. Asuna and Ayaka are fighting again, and looks Kaede ane-san’s trying to handle Setsuna by herself.”
The rest of the warriors slapped their hands against their foreheads, then looked amongst themselves. Kuu and Chao stood up.
“We go down help reinforcement, aru.”
--
Kaede smiled as her ten counterparts surrounded the half demon. Moving together, they all jumped, attacking Setsuna from all sides. While quickly dodging the numerous attacks, Setsuna pulled yet another talisman from her sleeves. As she threw the paper omnyou into the air, it emitted a loud explosion, blowing a thick mist around them both.
As one, Kaede’s alternate forms turned, facing different directions as their eyes darted across the area to search for the half demon. Yet Setsuna was no where to be found.
By the temple doors, Nodoka clutched her magic book tightly in her hands. Taking a swift glance at it’s contents, she rushed forward to the ninja warrior.
“Kaede!! Look out, he’s attacking be-”
“Ōrō Gekka.”
A blast of ki struck the ninja girl from behind, and Kaede crouched towards the ground, counterparts disappearing one by one. As the mist dispersed, the temple door opened once more. Kaede pushed herself to a stand, then saluted when her two Chinese comrades walked outside.
“Your turn. He has my approval, de gozaru. I’ll be waiting for the continuation of the ceremony inside the shrine, in case you need me.”
Words having said, the tall girl promptly left.
--
“On the right, Kuu!”
The Chinese warrior dodged to the left, fists clenched as she prepared to strike the enemy.
“Yahh!”
Setsuna smirked as she appeared from behind the girl, attaching an omnyou talisman on the Chinese warrior’s back.
Om!
As Kuu stood frozen in place, the half demon vanished once again, so fast that the warriors could not distinguish where she went. Nodoka frowned, scanning her book once again for the demon’s thoughts.
“Chao, behind you!”
The remaining mobile Chinese warrior spun around, hands swinging behind her expecting to strike the enemy. Yet the area behind her was vacant, fists meeting only air. Her eyes widened as she turned back, giving Nodoka a questioning gaze. Before either could react, Setsuna had flown towards them, freezing both Chao and Nodoka with two talismans thrown from above.
The half demon grinned.
“ The seal will automatically break within an hour.”
Then, with a mighty wave of the wings, Setsuna proceeded to fly towards the roof of the temple, leaving the immobile warriors below in stunned bewilderment.
/ I haven’t really paid much attention to it before, but…why is Setsuna’s thoughts so hard to read sometimes? Whenever she has those reddish eyes…/
--
By all the running and commotion going on around her, Konoka could tell that Setsuna was coming even though her vision was temporary impaired by the thin cloth on her head. The sound of bullets blasting told her that Setsuna was already near the roof, and Mana was shooting at her from afar.
/ Secchan’s Coming! I have to help Secchan!/
As she struggled against the rope that bound her, Konoka searched the area around her, looking for anything that could help her free herself.
/ Konoka, the Kaiken! Use the Kaiken! You’d fastened it to the obi when you donned the robes/
ChibiKonoka’s voice was urgent, as it suddenly echoed through her mind. With a small gasp, the young heiress jolted against the pole, slightly startled.
/ Setsuna alerted ChibiSecchan by mind-link for me to contact you in case you needed any help./
/ Wait, then Secchan can see through the disguises, right? Secchan knows which one I am-/
/Yupyup!!/
An idea formed in her mind as Konoka struggled to retrieve the small sword from the belt of her wedding gown.
/ Tell ChibiSecchan to alert Secchan that I’m ready./
--
Now.
From the high, bullet-proof zone that she’d been flying in, Setsuna took a sudden dive. Dangerously close to the mahora warriors’ projectiles she soared, headed straight towards the area of the roof where five maiden dressed in wedding robes were being bound. Their eyes followed the half demon’s descent, clutching weapons tightly in their hands to prepare for an attack when she landed.
Yet Setsuna never reached the roof. For a moment they stared confused, as Setsuna continued diving further below.
“Secchan!”
They turned, surprised to hear the sudden call.
Nearby the wooden posts, Konoka had freed herself from the ropes. She pulled the veil from her head as well as the cloth covering her mouth, revealing determined face as she headed towards the roof edge. The warriors stood aghast, as they watched her leap downwards, into the arms of her groom waiting below.
Setsuna caught her deftly, strong arms supporting the Konoe heiress’s back and under her knees as Konoka encircled her arms loosely around the half demon’s neck. With a triumphant grin, Setsuna flew into a ceremonial loop in the air with her bride in tight embrace, signaling the end of the Bride Handover.
Up on the temple’s roof, the mahora warriors stirred from stunned astonishment for the sudden finale, and began to cheer.
“It’s over, isn’t it. All those years of the twenty of us…protecting her. She’s Setsuna’s now.”
Chizuru sighed, head slightly bowed as she gazed from the angelic couple above them to the celebrating warriors around her.
Kazumi stepped forward, eyes narrowing as she focused her camera on Setsuna and Konoka.
“Haha, we’re not that old, Chizuru. And I’m sure Setsuna wouldn’t mind bringing the twenty of us along as warriors in demon palace.”
With a small click, the camera flashed, and the reporter/warrior turned towards her comrade.
“Besides, it’s not over just yet. We have a wedding to attend today. And I’ve got a few dozens to pictures to take.”
--
Crimson eyes met chocolate, and the couple broke into a smile. They could see the Mahora Warriors laughing and dancing below, clapping in approval as they noisily left the temple, headed for the Shinto shrine where the continuation of the wedding was to be held.
“You made it.”
Setsuna laughed, nuzzling her chin gently against the other girl’s hair as she flew towards the direction of the shrine as well.
“I promised, Kono-chan. Besides, didn’t you know…? I’m especially talented in identifying veiled chocolate-haired girls.”
Konoka tilted her head, and leaned closer, their lips less then an inch apart.
“Really…?”
--
A dark blush adorned the half demon’s cheeks as the priest’s purification speech came to an end. Konoka stood at the front of the shrine, a delighted gleam radiating from her gaze as she faced Setsuna. Gradually, her hands rose, sliding into the other girl’s until their fingers were entangled. Holding back a giggle, she winked, and gave the shinmei student’s hands a quick squeeze as Setsuna’s blush deepened.
The priest stepped down from where he stood, and wedding guests applauded. The Mahora warriors guided everyone further inside the shrine, where over a dozen Miko maidens dressed in red and white kimonos ushered them towards long, well- polished tables.
Eishun and Konoemon stood beside the largest table, directing two Mikos as they poured sake into two sets of silver cups. Soon after, Konoka and Setsuna were ushered towards the table. Eishun swept his daughter into a tight hug, invoking ‘awwww’s’ amidst the crowd, until Konoemon waved his hands to quiet them.
“Let the SanSanKudo union, begin!”
A hushed silence filled the room, as everyone focused their attention on the wedding couple, now standing opposite of each other beside two matching sets of three silver cups, arranged into a line. In unison, Setsuna and Konoka reached towards the smallest of the cups, taking three sips of the sake. Then, setting the cups down, they each reached for a slightly larger cup, taking three sips from them as well.
The largest two cups rested side by side, and the half demon’s hands accidentally brushed against her bride’s as they took the last two cups from the table. Setsuna quickly withdrew her hands, blushing as snickers arose in the audience. Anxious raven eyes wandered over towards the princess to find Konoka’s dark brown orbs twinkling merrily as she giggled, undrunken cup of sake still in her hands while she waited for her other half to pick up the cup.
Beautiful.
Still concentrated on the princess before her, Setsuna reached for the sake once again. Yet before she could touch it, a loud cling echoed resounded from the cup and it shattered, rice wine pouring onto the table in the process.
What-!
“How can you initiate the SanSanKudo ritual to unify the two families, if the groom’s family hasn’t arrived, Konoemon?”
A unanimous gasp echoed inside the shrine as a tall woman entered, followed by four young sword-wielding girls. With an air of utter confidence, the woman strode towards the Elders, nodding slightly to the young couple standing at the table.
Setsuna bowed, quickly dropping to her knees as one hand rose to her chest in respect.
“Mother.”
Another gasp. The Mahora warriors stood up, confusion evident on their faces. With a loud cough, the Leader of the Kanto Magic Association walked forward.
“Nice to see you, Motoko.”
Behind his father-in-law, Eishun turned to his group of warriors, signaling them to disperse the audience.
--(in the forest near the temple)--
The chibis tearfully whimpered, crying out to the two bickering warriors from where they hung in the net fastened to a branch high above the ground.
“-we would’ve been done saving the chibis by now. It’s all your fault, you-”
Asuna growled, wide sword blade pushing against the other girl’s weapon.
“I what! I was the one who discovered they’re in danger in the first place!”
“Oh yeah? you just happened to stumble into it while attacking me!”
Kotarou sweat dropped as his enemies continued to ignore him while they argued. Using a pointed stick, he poked on the net containing the chibis, causing another series of loud whimpers. The two mahora warriors paused, interrupted by the call of help.
“Asunaaaa…save us!!”
“Helphelp!! Ayaka!!”
Rubbing his hands together, Kotarou approached the two girls.
“Are you saving them or not? I need information on the demon prince’s whereabouts. If you tell me, I’ll release them. If not, I suggest you get out of my way while I find someone else who can tell me in exchange for these prisoners I’ve captured. ‘sides, I have no interest in fighting noisy, argumentative girls.”
The two mahora warriors loosened the clash of blades against each other, then turned to give the wolf demon a burning glare.
“Unhand those chibis!!”
“Who are you calling noisy?!”
With a simultaneous nod, Asuna and Ayaka pointed their weapon at the opponent, both speaking at once.
“You’ll learn to not interrupt us when we’re arguing!”
“Ha, we may fight each other. But when we fight together, there’s nothing that can stop us.”
The red-haired girl grinned, raising her sword parallel to Ayaka’s.
“Release them and surrender before it’s too late, kid.”
Kotarou scoffed, rolling his eyes as he summoned his inugami.
“I’ll try to go easy on you girls.”
Behind the bushes, ChibiKonoka and ChibiSetsuna watched the scene with round, wide eyes.
“The other chibis are in trouble!! We have to save them!!”
Pulling Setsuna’s smaller form back before the chibi could rush out of their hiding place, ChibKono-chan whispered into ChibiSetsuna’s ears.
“ChibiSecchan, alert Setsuna that the demons are attacking. Hurry!”
--(back at the shrine)--
-Kono-chan, Let me prove my love to you.-
-(moans) Kono-chan.-
“What ridiculous proof is this? Setsuna, tell me. Any of that- evidence- he gave…did you take part in any of it?”
The Shinmeiryuu master reached over and turned off the recorder.
Setsuna shook her head.
“No, mother.”
“There you have it. It’s clearly a ploy. I declare this wedding void.”
Motoko stood up from where she sat by the table, and her four students followed the suit.
“Now that everything’s settled, we should be leaving soon. We still have a battle to fight, and you still need to fulfill your duty as prince of demons.”
Turning away from her ‘son’, the tall woman glanced at Konoemon.
“Thank you for your great hospitality to my son. I hope you don’t mind returning him to me.”
The Elder took a few steps forward.
“Now Motoko, I’m sure we can settle this matter in a more agreeable sort of way-”
His words were interrupted with a small cry, as Fuuka and Fumika jumped forward to hug each other, impeding the angry mother’s path to leave the shrine.
“The wedding-”
“-ruined.”
They sobbed into each other’s shoulders, almost realistically in their skit.
“We’ve encountered a hit and run!”
Behind them, Konoka giggled at the choice of the twin’s words. Moving her head slightly to catch the half demon’s eyes, she mouthed the warriors words, sending Setsuna a teasing pout in the process. Setsuna blushed, but nodded, and took the Konoe heiress’s hands inside her own.
“But, mother…I love her. Whatever reason it was that got me into this wedding, I would not have agreed to go through with it if I didn’t want to marry her.”
Motoko turned to her ‘son’ in surprise.
/ What have you gotten into, Setsuna? How many people will learn of your secret when this ends?/
“No matter. Without the completion of the SanSanKudo, the ceremony is still cancelled.”
“Iie.”
There was a glint of mischief in the princess’s eyes when she bowed to Motoko, then went to retrieve her cup of sake. As everyone watched her curiously, Konoka handed Setsuna the cup, then wove her arm along the half demon’s so that they held the sake together between them. Tilting her head to take a sip of the wine, Konoka then leaned forward, lips meeting Setsuna’s lightly, three times.
When she pulled away there was a slight tinge of pink on her cheeks, while the half demon blushed a dark red, left hand quickly rising to her lips.
“K-K-Kono-chan!!”
Konoka pulled the other girl’s hands away from her (Setsuna’s) lips, entwining her fingers with the half demon.
“Nothing can separate us, ne Secchan?”
The entire shrine broke to an applause, and Konoemon chuckled, rubbing his beard.
“Ohoho!! Welcome to the joined family, Setsuna, Motoko.”
For a moment Setsuna’s mother stood still, examining the Konoe heiress with shocked intrigue.
/ There is something about that girl…that seems as though there is more to her then what meets the eye. Setsuna should be more careful./
“Don’t think this is done just yet, Konoemon. Without my consent, Setsuna dares not to disobey me even if the ceremony is complete. It is not that simple for a demon prince to choose his bride, and there are procedures that we must follow. I will take him back home to the Palace of the Crows, where he would take his rightful place as King of Demons, as well as next in line for Leader of Shinmeiryuu. I have potential brides waiting for him there. You are all welcome as guests, of course. But whomever the Demon Kingdom and Shimeiryuu chooses, my son would wed.”
In one swift move, Motoko motioned for her students to follow, and exited the shrine. Soon after, Setsuna whispered a few words into the chocolate girl’s ears, and they left, leaving only a brief explanation that there was something they needed to take care of.
The eighteen Mahora Warriors gathered around the Elders, at a loss on what to think of the current dilemma. Konoemon looked at his warriors thoughtfully.
“New assignment, everyone. I need you to follow them to the Palace of Crows. Prevent any of the potential brides from getting close to my grandson-in-law. Seduce them if you must.”
The warriors blinked, and Eishun’s mouth dropped, giving his father-in-law a pat on the back.
“But father…your warriors are all girls.”
The older man continued to rub his beard in deep thought.
“Bah! Motoko’s girls are going to seduce my grandson-in-law anyway, we’ll show them that my warriors can seduce as well.”
--
Chapter Fourteen: Crow Castle
They stood shoulder to shoulder, heads turning rapidly left and right and swords raised to block the attacks Kotarou’s dog spirits were sending towards them.
“You’re lucky that I don’t like fighting girls. I’ll end this quickly.”
Asuna smirked.
“Psh. It’ll take more than you to defeat us. Right, Ayak-”
Before the warrior could finish her sentence, a sharp tearing sound echoed from above. Kotarou and the two mahora warriors widened their eyes, as the net hanging on the tree suddenly sprung open, allowing the chibis trapped inside to escape.
The Inugami turned, about to reach forth to capture his prisoners once again.
“Let them go. Your original intent was to fight me, wasn’t it?”
Kotarou snarled, as he recognized the voice coming from the edge of the forest.
“You!”
Both hands beginning to glow red with ki, the boy charged towards Setsuna, launching a powerful punch. Motioning for the princess beside her to stay a safe distance away, Setsuna effortlessly flipped into the air to avoid the attack. Meanwhile behind them, the chibis and the two mahora warriors began to head towards to where Konoka was standing.
“Geez, Setsuna. Way to ruin our rare moment of spotlight. And here I was looking forward to teaching the kid not to underestimate girls, too.”
Konoka grinned at her friend’s joking words, and bent forward to whisper into Asuna’s ears.
“Secchan said that the demon came looking for him, ne? So when ChibiSecchan alerted us, Secchan said it’s his duty as the prince of demons to take care of it.”
With a wink at the princess, the red haired warrior flung her sword towards the half demon.
“Here. Thought you might need it.”
Still soaring midway in the air, the half demon deftly caught the sword by the hilt before she landed.
“Thanks, Asuna.”
Grasping the hilt with both hands, Setsuna allowed her ki to flow into the sword, then swung the sword in a cutting motion towards the enemy before her.
“Zanganken!”
Kotarou jumped to the side to dodge the ki-infused blade, and was about to send an attack of his own, when a second wave of ki rippled in the air around him. The trees around them began to vibrate, before an explosion enveloped the Inugami, knocking him towards the ground.
Setsuna looked at her hands, then at the unconscious demon before her.
What was that? Did I…No, it’s wrong. It’s too powerful, I…
A short distance away, the two warriors opened their mouths in awe and looked at each other.
“All these years being a warrior… I’ve never seen that before.”
Beside them, ChibiSetsuna hurled herself at the princess, clinging tightly to the Konoe heiress’s shoulder, began to shake.
“No. That’s not Setsuna. That’s not Setsuna…”
Alarmed, Konoka wove her arms around the chibi in protective embrace.
ChibiKonoka hovered, close to her larger counterpart, and looking into ChibiSecchan’s fearful eyes.
“What do you mean it’s not-”
“W-weh. M-mean Setsu…not Mean Setsu either.”
Feeling another burst of ki about to erupt from her, Setsuna dropped the sword and clenched her hands towards her chest.
Konoka took a step forward, ChibiSetsuna still held tightly in her arms.
“Secchan!”
“Kono-chan. Stand back! Something’s wrong. I don’t know-”
As she struggled to stop the flow of ki overwhelming her, Setsuna’s wings began to unfold on her back. With an involuntary wave, the half demon soared into the air, mighty movement of her wings causing the trees around her to tremble.
Another blast of ki exploded from the half demon, painting the sky with blinding white light. Setsuna continued flying uncontrollably- until, seemingly out of no where, four ropes whipped upwards from among the tree branches, binding the half demon’s wings and her hands to her waist.
The radiance from the explosion began to fade, and the figures of Motoko and her students could be seen, each of the young four girls holding onto one end of the ropes while Motoko drew out her sword. In unison the shinmeiryuu students pulled, sending the demon heir plunging towards the ground.
Konoka and the two mahora warriors remained frozen, stunned by the outcome of the events. Before them, the girls held onto the ropes ever tighter, struggling to keep Setsuna bound.
Motoko’s eyes narrowed as she faced her supposed “son”.
“Concentrate, Setsuna. Control yourself. Control your powers.”
Yet the aura of ki around the half demon did not seem to falter. The air around them became heavy once again. The Shinmeiryuu master sighed, pointing the sword towards Setsuna.
“Occasionally, your father used to lose his control like this as well. I’d hoped…as only half demon, it wouldn’t happen to you. But if this is what it takes…Shin Raikoken!”
A flash of lightning clashed into Motoko’s sword as she thrust it forth, creating a chain of fiery reactions, and detonating the area. Setsuna was engulfed within the flames.
“Secchan!!”
Konoka rushed forth, fiery glow of light encircling her as she approached the half demon.
“Secchan!!”
Within the whirling blaze, Setsuna stood immobile. The ropes that bound her had been incinerated, yet she herself remain untouched. A tiny glimmer of ki, Konoka noted, still cloaked around the half demon.
“Kono…chan? Don’t touch me. I might…I might hurt yo-”
Paying no heed to Setsuna’s words, Konoka leaned forward, arms wrapped around the demon heir’s waist. Their faces were less than an inch apart.
“Shh.”
For a moment the chocolate haired girl paused, looking at Setsuna’s unfocused eyes. Then, slightly tilting her head, she closed the distance between them, kissing Setsuna's mouth gently.
Setsuna’s eyes flashed red, then slowly closed.
Meanwhile, outside of the inferno Asuna and Ayaka were trying to find a way to stop the fire and save their friends. The flames grew higher and higher, however, rendering the warriors incapable of getting closer.
Motoko raised one hand to stop them.
“Leave it. They’ll be fine.”
After what seemed like hours, the wall of fire began to recede, revealing the couple from within. Konoka was kneeling on the ground, supporting an unconscious Setsuna, whose head was on her shoulders. Before anyone could react, Motoko had dashed towards her “son”, carrying the half demon away. With a respectful bow towards the princess, Motoko’s students bowed, then proceeded to follow their master.
“You have seen, Konoe heiress. There are many things about Setsuna you have yet to learn. The bride to a soon to be Demon King is no easy task. Though I must admit, you have done well today. I will be choosing brides for Setsuna at the Castle of the Crows. If you are not afraid…then you are welcome to join us.”
Asuna and Ayaka hurried to Konoka’s side, supporting the girl to stand up. Konoka nodded to indicate that she was fine, and three stood silent, watching the Shinmeiryuu swordswomen disappear from sight.
“I’ll be there, I promise. Wait for me, Secchan.”
A short distance away, another unconscious demon lay… forgotten from everyone’s mind. And when Konoka and her protectors began to head back home to gather the other warriors for the trip to Crow Castle, no one seemed to notice that all of the chibis had disappeared.
All…but one.
ChibiKonoka hovered in the air alone. With a quiet sniffle, she clutched the talisman with Setsuna’s name on it tighter in her hands.
“ChibiSecchan…”
--
“You failed to do what I sent you here to accomplish, Kotarou.”
The Inugami winced, clutching the wounds in his chest tighter.
“I don’t know what happened. But I can promise you it won’t happen again. I’ll beat him for sure next-”
The hooded figure raised his hand, immediately silencing the boy.
“What did I tell you? Setsuna is not important. What we need is his sword. With the royal demon sword in hand, his throne is ours for the taking.”
“-but I want to defeat him! He took away what should have been mine. He ruined the chance for the Kuzoku tribe to take over. The Crow Clan’s time had almost ended. I was next in line-”
With a powerful push, the figure slammed the raven haired boy against a tree.
“Stop this nonsense! I told you to concentrate on getting the sword only. Did I not make myself clear enough?”
Gasping at the impact, Kotarou nodded.
“Y-yes….father.”
--(Crow Palace, a few days later)
Jolting awake to sounds of knocking, Setsuna found herself laying on a familiar bed.
This place…I…haven’t been home in years.
A few minutes later, the wooden door on the other side of the room opened and a young blond haired girl sauntered into the room.
“Ah. Setsuna-sempai! You’re awake.”
Setsuna nodded, standing up when the other girl bounced onto the chair beside the bed.
“When did I get here?”
Tsukuyomi smiled, swinging her legs back and forth like a child would.
“You’ve been unconscious for three days. We’ve been here for two.”
Setsuna frowned, walking towards the door as the information registered into her mind. Deep in thought, she failed to notice as Tsukuyomi’s smile grew more mischievous. With a quick jump, the cheery girl sprung to where the half demon was standing, blocking the older girl’s path.
“Konoka-ojousama and her twenty warriors have arrived here as well.”
Setsuna’s eyes widened.
“Kono-chan? Where-”
Giggling, Tsukuyomi continued in a sing-song voice. “Sensei told me that it’s supposed to be se-cret.”
“But you-!”
“-but Tsukuyomi will tell you if you promise to play with me. We haven’t battled each other for a long, long time.”
Setsuna shook her head.
“Fine.”
Waving her hands, the younger girl spun into a victory dance.
“They’re staying near the waterfalls, in-”
Before she could finish, Setsuna had opened the door, darting across the wooden steps of the halls and headed towards the direction of the falls.
Tsukuyomi pouted.
“Sempai!! You promised!!”
As she watched Setsuna dart away, the bond haired girl raised her hands to touch her cheeks, pout slowly transforming into yet another smile.
“Though watching Sempai and Ojou-sama is quite fun. Hehe. I really do like strong and beautiful women.”
With a loving sigh, Tsukuyomi began to follow the older girl.
--
It seems that I’ve lost Chibi. Without her by Kono-chan’s side…I won’t be able to find Kono-chan that easily.
Setsuna flew above the various waterfalls that surrounded the castle, looking for a glimpse of what could be the chocolate haired princess. From one fall to the next Setsuna searched, but with no luck. Finally, after a few hours, her eyes caught sight of a girl standing amidst some trees by the tallest waterfall, and Setsuna leapt downwards.
-only to find that the girl was not the princess at all.
Yet a sweet melody reached her ears from where the strange girl stood… An enchanting voice that rose and fell as clear as the water raining down, drawing the shinmei student forward. Setsuna’s mind was dazed as she continued on, stumbling closer to the mysterious girl as if in a trance.
The voice came to a slow whisper, and Setsuna stopped, still mesmerized.
Vaguely, the half demon noted that something was tugging around her hands, and that there was a hint of magic within the voice.
…wait. Magic?
At once the half demon’s mind cleared. A sharp tug pulled her forward, and Setsuna’s eyes widened as strand upon strands of silk wrapped themselves around her. The purplish-haired girl before her was holding the other end to the strings.
“Who are you?”
The girl turned, and the voice began to fade.
“I must admit, Setsuna-kun…I am impressed. Not many could shake themselves out of the hypnotized state induced by my song. My name is Kakizaki Misa.”
The girl chuckled, giving the silk threads another tug.
“I heard that the heir to both Shinmeiryuu and Demon crown is choosing a bride, and I’ve been invited here to participate in a choosing ceremony to become one. But I was curious to see just who this so-called prince might be.”
--
Konoka gave her smaller form a tight squeeze as she cuddled ChibiKonoka in her arms like a teddy bear.
“It’ll be okay, ne ChibiKono? Secchan will wake up soon, and you’ll see ChibiSecchan again.”
The chibi snuggled closer to the princess, whimpering slightly and giving her a forlorn look. The warriors walking behind them melted at the sight. Asuna quickened her pace to walk beside her friend.
“Come on, cheer up you two. We’ve only been here for a day. We began traveling that very day Motoko took Setsuna back. It’s only been a few days since then. I’m sure Setsuna is already awake and waiting to see you.”
The princess turned to her friend.
“Asuna, do you think-”
Suddenly the princess froze, as if seeing something before her. The warriors around her watched as the expression on her face changed from worried to slightly surprised. Konoka’s eyes widened and she ran ahead, letting ChibiKonoka go in the process.
“Secchan!!”
“Hey, wait, Konoka!”
Asuna sprinted forward, about to chase after her friend when a pair of hands grasped onto her shoulder.
“Guys, what-mphh?”
The mahora warriors gathered around their red-haired leader, nodding in the direction of the running girl ahead. Ayaka’s hands were around Asuna’s mouth, shushing her. ChibiKonoka crossed her arms as she hovered in the air.
“Something’s wrong,” the chibi whispered, as her larger form dashed forward and glomped the half demon. Setsuna didn’t move.
The warriors whispered amongst each other, then knelt in unison behind a few bushes nearby, secretly watching the scene ahead unbeknownst to Misa and the hugging couple before them. Their hands were on their weapons, prepared to come to the princess’s aid if necessary. In silence, they listened…
The purple-haired girl was speaking.
“Setsuna-kun, do you know this girl?”
The half demon ignored the girl’s question, focusing instead on the princess clinging to her arm. Meanwhile, Konoka was looking curiously at the silk threads that bound her lover.
“Secchan. What-”
The tender look Setsuna gave her silenced the chocolate haired girl, and she tilted her head in confusion. Smiling as Konoka tried to help her break free from the bind, Setsuna began to speak.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Kono-chan.”
…because I don’t know what I would do…if I had hurt you when my powers went out of control
“Eh? But what-”
“That girl…her name’s Misa, I think. It seems like she’s one of the brides my mother had chosen. I was looking for you, when I encountered her. And…somehow it became like this.”
Misa raised her voice, frustrated to be ignored by her captive.
“Hey! I asked a question first.”
Setsuna continued to ignore the other girl, sending the princess another loving gaze.
Do you mind helping me out of this, Kono-chan?
As her eyes darted back and forth between Setsuna and Misa, a flash of understanding lit in the princess’s eyes. Sending the demon heir a small teasing grin, she stepped forward, releasing the bound girl from her hug.
/hehe. Sure/
“Ehh! My name is Konoe Konoka. I’m Setsuna’s wife.”
Misa looked shocked for a moment, then shook her head, smiling disbelievingly.
“Nice try. But they wouldn’t be looking for brides, if he was already married.”
As they watched the demon before them turn red, then pale, the mahora warriors snickered from where they hid.
“Well, they did hold a wedding.”
Yue blinked at her comrades, and took another sip from her box of juice.
“She doesn’t believe them though. I think our little mistress might need help to get out of this.”
“Leave it to us.”
Fuka and Fumika laughed, prancing ahead before anyone else could stop them.
“Setsu-”
“-na!”
They chimed sweetly, running forward and each latching on to one hand of the half demon.
“We’ve been looking for you-”
“-for so long!”
Misa dropped the threads in her hands, face perplexed.
“And who-”
The twins giggled.
“She’s his wife. We’re his girl friends.”
Behind them Asuna covered her eyes with her hands exasperatingly.
“Somehow I get the feeling that they’re making everything more complicated.”
The girls around her remained silent, until the sound of rustling could be heard from behind them.
The warriors turned towards the direction of the rustling, to find Natsumi tugging on her clothes.
“Natsumi-chan…what are you doing?”
Natsumi grinned, then whispered a single word to her friends, all the while getting out a wig and some baskets.
“Watch.”
The group gaped, mouths slightly open as the actress-warrior quickly transformed from a warrior into a beautiful woman.
Scratch that. A beautiful pregnant woman.
With a thumbs up, Natsumi walked out from behind the bushes, summoning her acting skills as she stepped towards Setsuna and the Narutaki twins.
“Setsuna-kuuun!! Leave those other mistresses. You promised me you’d go baby clothes shopping with me didn’t you? You’re going to be a father soon.”
Misa’s jaw dropped, while Setsuna turned whiter.
“What!?”
Inside their secret hideout, the mahora warriors sweat dropped.
“…”
“…well…the headmaster did say that we should do all it takes to help Konoka, didn’t he?”
“….”
At the back of the group, Chizuru clasped her hands together.
“Yes! Natsumi-chan’s idea might work.”
Grabbing ChibiKonoka into a tight embrace, Chizuru followed the path of her earlier companions, approaching the slowly accumulating group of girls outside.
“Oh but Setsuna-kun! You’ve promised to take our daughter to the park, first!”
The four warriors before the purpled-haired singer winked at each other, each clutching the half demon from one side and pulling her towards them in a -seemingly violent- tug of war.
Ayaka shook her head as one by one, the other warriors came out of their hiding place, congregating into a noisy group around the half demon.
/They must have all lost it. Why are we doing this again?/
Misa’s eyes widened.
“W-where did all of you come fr-”
At the edge of the group, Mana raised one of her rifles towards the enchantress, with a deadly gleam in her eyes.
“So…I heard that someone else is trying to join the prince’s… ‘harem’?”
The other warriors turned to her.
Misa’s jaw dropped, as she began to retreat at the sight of the menacing stares.
“I-I didn’t know you were a philanderer, Sakurazaki. I-I’ll take my leave now. Please drop me from the bride choosing list!!”
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--(and that's the ending. I can't think of anything else. it kinda just...drops off. If anyone can give me some ideas, then I might be able to finish it. so there you go. done.)---------------------------------
Hint number one: Setsuna was kissed by Konoka at the ending of last chapter (for the san san kudo)…why didn’t she turn into Mean Setsu? (this might connect to the Setsuna-out of control in this chapter)
Hint number two: Pay attention to the chibis, and the way Setsuna addresses Konoka.
Next Chapter: Multiple Dates
ChibiSetsuna returns!! Will ChibiKonoka realize at last what she is feeling towards the other chibi? What happened to the mysterious white-veiled maiden? Who is she? Kotarou’s past is revealed. Will he be able to find Setsuna’s demon sword? Will Setsuna escape from the brides that are showing up everywhere? Plus…more KonoSetsu moments
`----------------(Time of Darkness...Learning to trust.)----------------------
Setsuna glided lazily over the tops of the trees of Mahora Academy. Her large, snowy wings were fanned out behind her, gently catching the soft breeze that blew through the campus. It was a rare thing for Setsuna to fly on school grounds. Even though the campus was quite large, it was impossible to know where a stray student might be wandering, and therefore impossible for Setsuna to freely use her wings without being spotted.
However, this restriction was not something that concerned the young swordsman since she wasn't interested in recreational flying to begin with. She used her wings, yes, but only when a situation called for her to fly. To Setsuna, her wings had their occasional usefulness, but were more of a burden than anything else. They were a curse at times, a permanent sign of shame from the bird tribe that had banned her, and a nagging reminder that she was different from everyone else. Neither a full member of the bird tribe nor a member of the human race, Setsuna often considered herself to be a monster; a freak of nature.
Yet, at that moment, none of the worries that Setsuna had about her wings mattered. Her last flight had been so long ago that spreading her wings and feeling the air blow through them was a welcomed experience. This wasn't entirely a playful flight, however, and the heavy feeling of several backpacks in her hands reminded her of this. The five backpacks that Setsuna clutched close to her chest had their straps looped through her arms, just in case they slipped.
Following Evangeline's directions, Setsuna soon found herself flying toward a large clearing in the middle of the forest. Pulling her wings back and sending her body into a dive, Setsuna hurtled headfirst toward the grassy clearing. Just meters before crashing into the ground, she leaned back, drawing her body parallel with the earth, and spread her wings. The air filled her snowy feathers with a soft "FWUFF" and slowed her decent to a near standstill. Setsuna gently flapped her wings until she gracefully landed on the ground.
"It seems... peaceful," Setsuna softly commented after surveying the area. The clearing, which was at least three times the size of their classroom, was the epitome of peaceful forest clearing. Soft, green grass covered the nearly circular area, and the ankle high sea of green was only disrupted by a scarce dotting of wild flowers and a large tree stump that sprouted near the side of the clearing. The branches of the trees enclosing the grass spread their large boughs across the open area, but left enough space among the treetops to allow the sunlight in to create an almost shining aura around the small rabbits and squirrels that darted in and out of the grass.
Setting the bags down against the base of the tree stump, Setsuna gave the clearing a soft smile before taking off into the sky again. Now that she had found the clearing, she had to find the rest of the group and lead them to it.
A few days ago, just after class had ended for that day, Evangeline rounded up several of the students from 3-A and demanded that they go to a special weekend of training sanctioned by the Headmaster.
"The Headmaster knows that they all know about my magic?!" Negi had cried in surprise. Frantically, the child-teacher had gone into a panic and ran up and down the halls, flailing his arms wildly. "Ermine! I'm going to get turned into an ermine! What will onee-chan say?! I've failed as a teacher! Failed!" he had wailed.
Evangeline had quickly clamped a hand down on Negi's mouth before he completely exposed himself and explained that the Headmaster thought that the students who now knew his secrets would benefit from a bit of training. After the events of the Kyoto trip, the Headmaster felt that they should learn how to better protect themselves should the need arise.
For that reason, eleven 2-A students and one 10-year-old teacher were spending the entire weekend training in a remote corner of the campus. Starting today, which was Friday afternoon, and lasting until Sunday night, Evangeline and Chachamaru would be assisting them in both magical and physical training.
The Headmaster had also promised that extra precautions would be put in place so that none of the activity in the area could be seen or detected by the rest of the school. The protection was already in place and would last throughout the duration of their training, which was why Setsuna could fly so freely above the trees. Later, when they started using magic, their spells would remain undetected as well.
"Where are they?" Setsuna asked herself as tried to peer through the treetops. However, it was a futile effort since the dense branches and leaves grew too thickly over everything. She was about to pull out her pactio card to communicate with Negi when she heard Evangeline's stern voice somewhere below.
"STOP FALLING DOWN!"
"I can't help it, Evangeline-san," Setsuna heard Konoka protest. "There are roots and branches everywhere."
Setsuna flew toward the sound of their voices, descending as she did so. As she maneuvered her way down through the treetops, she heard Asuna laughingly say, "You're not made for the outdoors, are you, Konoka?"
"It's strange that you'd have so much trouble out here when you do so well in the Library Exploration Club," Yue mused, to which Konoka responded, "I guess that exploring the library and exploring the forest are a bit different for me." Setsuna rounded a large tree in time to see Konoka grin sheepishly while getting up from the ground with Nodoka's and Kaede's assistance.
"Are you alright, ojou-sama?" Setsuna asked with concern. She stepped forward as Konoka began to brush off her dirty skirt. "Does anything hurt?"
"Just my pride," Konoka said with a good-natured smile. "Welcome back, Secchan!"
"Setsuna-san!" Negi greeted, smiling widely. "Did you find the clearing? Are we close?"
"Yes, Negi-sensei. We're almost there." She pointed north and said, "Another eight hundred meters and we'll reach the clearing."
"Eight hundred meters?!" Haruna exclaimed. "That's not 'almost there!'"
"Quit your complaining," Evangeline said with annoyance. "You're not even carrying a backpack!" After considerably slowing down the group, the four Library Exploration Club members had more than willingly relinquished their packs to Setsuna on the undying mage's command. Setsuna had already flown them ahead to the clearing in an attempt to speed up the Library Exploration Club members. However, Evangeline had demanded that the rest of the group continue to carry their own packs all the way to the clearing as part of their training. Though Ku Fei had jokingly, and Asuna had semi-jokingly, complained that they should be allowed to give their packs to Setsuna as well, Evangeline's orders were followed.
"Eight hundred meters isn't that far. Just try not to think about it," Mana suggested. "The distance goes by more quickly that way."
"WAH!"
At the sound of Konoka's cry, Setsuna whirled around and caught the thin girl around the waist just before she hit the ground.
"Careful, ojou-sama!" Setsuna cautioned and she gently lifted her back on her feet.
"Sorry, Secchan. I guess I'm a little clumsy today."
"Try 'everyday,'" Evangeline remarked dryly. "Look at Chachamaru. She's carrying five times the weight of anyone else and she hasn't even stumbled once!"
"To be fair," Chachamaru began, "Hakase recently upgraded by stabilizers, which now allow me to carry more than I have previously been able to carr--"
"You know what I mean!" Evangeline exploded, and Chachamaru nodded and calmly replied, "Yes, master."
"Setsuna-san, why don't you take Konoka and go on ahead to the clearing? It'll save Konoka a few more scrapes and stop Eva-chan from blowing up," Asuna suggested with a grin.
"But what about the rest of this hike? This was supposed to be training too..." Konoka gave Evangeline a sideways glance.
"Just go," Evangeline sighed. "Maybe we can make better time if you get out of here."
"Heh, sorry guys," Konoka weakly laughed.
Setsuna lifted the mage into her arms and turned toward the rest of the group. "Will you guys be able to find your way if I leave? It's a pretty straight path north, but it's still possible to lose your way."
"Don't worry," Kaede reassured the swordsman. "Even if we do get lost..." she brought her hands together in a complicated series of hand gestures and three identical images of herself burst from her body, "...my shadow images should be able to help scout the way."
Smiling, Setsuna kicked off of the ground and nodded to the group. "We'll see you all in a little bit."
"Oi, Setsuna!" Evangeline tossed her pack toward the swordsman, which Konoka easily caught. "Take that for me, will you?"
"Hey! How come you get to take off your pack and we can't?" protested Ku Fei immediately. "This is so heavy!"
"I'm not the one who requires training, now am I?"
"Maybe her small body's not fit enough to carry a back pack like the rest of us," Asuna whispered loudly to Haruna, who sniggered.
"What did you say?!" exclaimed Evangeline, but Asuna had already sprinted ahead.
"Come on, Eva-chan. You wouldn't want me to beat you, would you?" she called back, which immediately caused Evangeline to pursue her.
"Wait up, Asuna-san!" Negi called as he quickly joined the chase. Ku Fei followed closely behind with a taunting, "I'm going to reach the clearing first!" while the remaining Library Exploration Club members just took off running.
"Childish," Mana muttered, shaking her head, though she followed and their hurried pace. Kaede and Chachamaru nodded politely to Setsuna and Konoka, and then left as well. With the group now on their way, Setsuna finally flew through the highest layer of foliage and broke into the sky.
"Wow!" Konoka squealed. "The view was nothing like this the last time we flew together!" This was true since the first and only time they had flown together was right after Setsuna saved her during the trip to Kyoto. On top of having her magical energy forcefully drained out of her, Konoka had also been naked during their last flight. In comparison, this was clearly the better flying experience.
"Look, ojou-sama." Setsuna nodded her head in the direction of the sun, which was still a few hours away from setting. "The clouds are so colorful."
"'Kono-chan,'" Konoka said firmly. "Don't call me 'ojou-sama.'"
"Sorry..."
"Say it," Konoka commanded. "'Kono-chan.'"
Setsuna paused and looked away, but Konoka tilted the swordsman's head down so that their eyes met. "Please say it, Secchan. Please?"
"K-kono-chan..."
Giggling, Konoka nestled herself against Setsuna chest, causing Setsuna's heart to quicken.
"Thank you, Secchan."
A gentle smile danced across Konoka's face as she breathed out a small sigh of content. Within Setsuna's embrace, with the swordsman's white wings carrying them smoothly through the air, the novice mage sidled closer to her protector, closing her eyes as she did so.
“Kono-chan,” the mage thought to herself, her gentle smile instantly growing brighter. It was a nickname that Konoka was sure she would never tire of hearing. At least, she wouldn't if Setsuna was the one who used it. To Konoka, the nickname had a special connotation when Setsuna spoke it. There was a history behind it, and behind "Secchan" as well, one that Konoka was reminded of whenever she heard either of their nicknames.
The names were undeniably childish, but Konoka could hardly image calling Setsuna anything else or tolerate Setsuna calling her by another name. Especially after spending over seven years without hearing her cherished nickname spoken, owing in no small part to Setsuna's absence in her life during that time, it was even more imperative to Konoka that Setsuna continued to call her "Kono-chan". Each time she heard the name, it felt as though she and Setsuna were making up for a lost childhood of experiences.
Of course, Konoka now understood the reasons that surrounded Setsuna's sudden disappearance in her life. After years of not understanding why Setsuna had abruptly pulled away during their childhood or why she continued to put up an icy exterior after entering Mahora Academy, Konoka at last learned that these actions led back to her near-drowning experience as a child.
The day that Konoka almost lost her life at the river when both she and Setsuna were children had had more of an impact on the young swordsman than Konoka had realized. It wasn't until she heard Setsuna's explanation that the mage finally understood how much the river incident had haunted Setsuna. For her to hold onto such an agonizing memory for so many years, one of being completely helpless to save Konoka from the deadly river waters, it was a pain that the mage could not imagine.
After hearing Setsuna's confession, Konoka guiltily admitted to herself that she had no such lasting memories of that day at the river. She hazily recalled falling into the river and being saved by her fathers and his friends, but nothing more than that. Unlike Setsuna, she harbored no long-term regrets about the events that transpired that fateful day. Konoka's only regret now was that she had not understood the repercussions of her near-drowning experience better. If only she had been able to see that the river incident was the reason why Setsuna had ultimately distanced herself, then perhaps Konoka could have prevented the downfall of their friendship as children.
In any case, the river incident was the reason why her friendship with Setsuna had been put on hold in their childhood, and it was also the indirect reason why Konoka was so fond of "Kono-chan" and "Secchan". The affection that Konoka had for her nickname was currently manifesting itself in the far-off grin that stretched across Konoka's face. Hearing Setsuna call her by her childhood name always made her smile and occasionally put her in a nostalgic reverie, like the one she was currently in.
With her eyes closed and her head up among the clouds, both literally and figuratively, Konoka almost didn't hear Setsuna's gentle voice telling her that they had at last reached the clearing. A gentle jostle drew her out of her brief daydream and she opened her eyes to find Setsuna staring back at her, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
"Were you really sleeping?" Setsuna asked with an air of amusement in her voice. "We weren't flying for that long." The swordsman's normally sharp expression was now soft and affectionate as she nudged Konoka gently and motioned toward the ground with a tilt of her head. "Take a look."
A sharp intake of breath from Konoka let Setsuna know that the mage was as enchanted as she had been when she had first seen the clearing earlier while dropping off the backpacks. They were still about forty of fifty feet in the air, currently making their slow descent, but Konoka could clearly make out the wild flowers growing among the ankle high grass, each one a bright blossom of color among a muted sea of green. She leaned out further, trying to take in the sight of the entire clearing before they reached the ground.
"Careful," Setsuna warned. "Don't lean too far or you might f--"
Before the warning could be completed, Evangeline's backpack, which previously sat snugly within Konoka's grasp, suddenly slipped out of its resting place and began to drop towards the ground. Without thinking, Konoka lunged forward and reached out for the falling item, jerking herself out of the cradle of Setsuna's arms.
The mage’s squeak of surprise was drowned out by Setsuna's cry of "Ojou-sama!" Konoka's body began to slip out of Setsuna's grasp, but the swordsman reached out with the hand that had been supporting Konoka's legs and caught the falling girl around the waist. The sudden movement sent both girls plummeting towards the ground, but Setsuna's wings beat furiously to halt their descent, her wings protesting at the strain from the jolt of effort. Setsuna grunted as she slowed their fall and held on to Konoka in an awkward backward hug.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, Secchan!" Konoka cried, holding on tightly to the backpack that she had managed to snag during her fall. Setsuna offered no response, her face strained in the effort that it took to maintain their descent in their awkward positions. As they reached the ground, Konoka's feet landed first and the sudden reduction of Setsuna's burden caused the young swordsman to keel over backward, pulling Konoka with her as she fell. They tumbled into a jumbled heap while Konoka apologized profusely for her thoughtless actions.
"I'm really really sorry, Secchan!" Konoka cried again as she attempted to help Setsuna to her feet. "I wasn't thinking and I just-- are you ok?" She paused in her apology and cast a worried glance as Setsuna rubbed her back. "Did I hurt you?"
"No, it's just..." Setsuna, who was still sitting on the ground, winced and rubbed her back gingerly. "I think I strained something. I probably should have stretched before we took off. It's been so long since I flew, my wings were already tight to begin with," she explained with a grim smile.
"Then I probably made it worse just now!" exclaimed a fretful Konoka as she worriedly pressed her palms against her own cheeks. "Maybe I could heal you," she offered, digging into the pocket of her thin jacket for her pactio card.
"No!" Setsuna protested, holding up the hand that wasn't occupied with rubbing her back. "I just need a second." She winced again, audibly expressing her discomfort. "Are you okay, ojou-sama?"
Konoka frowned slightly at being called “ojou-sama” but chose not to dwell on it. "I’m fine, Secchan, really. I’m more worried about you right now."
Setsuna offered Konoka a small smile in an attempt to console her. "It's okay. I wasn’t about to let you fall, so don't worry."
"But you're hurt," Konoka said with a pained expression. It made her uncomfortable to watch Setsuna sitting on the ground, obviously injured by Konoka's thoughtless actions. "Are you sure I can't help you?" she asked, holding up the pactio card she had pulled out of her pocket.
Setsuna shook her head. "I'm not hurt, honest. My back's just really sore. Besides, Negi-sensei would sense it if you used your artifact, and we probably shouldn't bother him with this."
"Well, at the very least," Konoka kneeled back down to the ground and placed her hand gently on Setsuna's back, "let massage your back for you."
"W-what?"
"Let me massage your back for you," she repeated, placing her other hand on Setsuna's back as well. "If you won't let me heal you, at least let me try to rub away the pain."
"Uh, but..." Setsuna mumbled as a faint blush crept across her cheeks.
"No 'buts,'" Konoka said firmly. She strode over to the tree stump that sat a short distance away from them and picked up one of the fallen backpacks nearby. Opening it, she pulled out a folded blanket and returned to where Setsuna sat. Konoka spread out the blanket on the ground by snapping it open with her wrists pointed to it. "Sit," she ordered Setsuna. Meekly, the swordsman obeyed her command and crawled onto the blanket. "Now take your shirt off."
"What?" Setsuna asked incredulously, her eyes widening. "W-why do I have to take off my shirt?"
"Because the massage will be more effective if you take off your shirt," Konoka explained with a smile.
Setsuna had the sudden urge to ask Konoka how she knew that small bit of massage trivia, but she bit back the question. Slowly, she began to unbutton the white shirt of her school uniform, starting with the top button. She blushed as the cloth that bound her chest became visible through the opening of the shirt, aware that Konoka was watching her. Konoka, however, was unabashed by the appearance of Setsuna's wrapped chest. She folded Setsuna's discarded shirt in half, and placed it on one corner of the blanket.
"Now lie down," she ordered, smoothing out an area of the blanket. Slowly, once again, Setsuna did as she was told. "Where does it hurt?"
"Just..." Setsuna reached her right arm over her shoulder and motioned to her entire back, "all over, I guess."
Konoka smiled sympathetically and apologetically. "Let me know if this hurts."
Setsuna closed her eyes, and nodded. Konoka gently placed her fingertips at the base of Setsuna’s back, just inches above her bottom. She slowly dragged her feather-light touch along Setsuna's spine, gradually applying a light pressure with her fingers as she did so. As her fingers reached the base of Setsuna’s back neck, she decreased their pressure until Setsuna felt the faint whisper of a touch pulling itself across the top of her neck, causing her to shiver. After a few seconds, Setsuna felt Konoka place both palms on her middle back and apply a greater pressure. It was much stronger than that of her fingers just a moment ago, but not strong enough to be painful or unpleasant. Konoka rubbed her hands upward, using both her palms and her fingers to massage Setsuna's back.
Setsuna released a breath that she hadn't been aware of holding and a small moan of pleasure escaped with it. Konoka paused her hands for a moment and giggled. "Does that feel okay?" Setsuna merely nodded, her eyes still closed as she focused on the pressure that Konoka's hands applied to her back.
"This feels good..." the swordsman thought, her breathing becoming steady and deep. The minutes simply fell away as Konoka continued to run her hands across Setsuna's back. The length of time that massage went on for was something that Setsuna was uncertain of, but she was knew that it had been long enough to accommodate Konoka running her fingers over every centimeter of her aching back.
"Do you feel better now?" Konoka asked after a while, her fingertips working their way down Setsuna's back.
"Mmhmm," Setsuna murmured drowsily. She slowly started to sit up, noticing that Konoka removed her fingers as she did so. The swordsman reached her hands above her and bent forward to stretch her back.
"Is your back still sore?"
Setsuna shook her head. "That felt great. Thanks."
"What about your wings?"
"Um..." Setsuna paused as she focused on the wings that were now retracted in her back. "They're still sore," she said with a frown. “I'll just stretch them before we start training." Setsuna began to reach for her shirt, but Konoka pulled it out of her grasp.
"Wait, let me massage them for you," Konoka said, placing Setsuna's shirt on the blanket behind her.
"My wings?"
Konoka nodded. "It's the least I can do."
A spasm of panic shot through Setsuna's body. She had never shown anyone her wings up close before, not since being banished from the bird tribe over twelve years ago. No... that wasn't entirely true. Setsuna had revealed her wings to Asuna just a few weeks ago, and Asuna had been quick to step up and look at them. However, Asuna had only given them a quick inspection. What Konoka was asking for sounded like an opportunity to give her wings a thorough examination.
"I don't think it would be a good idea," Setsuna mumbled, averting her eyes. A hollow feeling pitted itself into her stomach, the same kind the swordsman felt whenever she remembered how different she was than Konoka and the others.
"Why not?" Konoka asked, puzzled by Setsuna's reluctance.
"It's just... not," Setsuna protested lamely, her response hanging pathetically in the silence that followed her objection.
Quietly, Konoka reached across the distance that separated them, and lifted Setsuna's head by placing a finger under her chin. She caught Setsuna's downcast gaze by tilting down her own head, and simply stared into the swordsman's eyes, trying to understand.
"It's okay," Konoka softly reassured the young swordsman, not fully comprehending Setsuna's reluctance, but sensing that the girl was afraid to show her wings. Their eyes remained transfixed during the exchange, which Setsuna found both comforting and encouraging. Hesitantly, she nodded her head, which drew a smile from the mage.
"Stand back, I don't want to hit you," Setsuna mumbled, almost ashamed of having to draw out her wings. As soon as Konoka moved away from her back, Setsuna focused her mind and brought out her wings with a muffled pop. Her eyes were closed, both from the concentration it took to call out her wings, and because she was nervous about Konoka's reaction. It was true that Konoka had already seen her wings on more than one occasion, but this time she would see them up close.
She heard Konoka's reaction first; a sharp intake of breath not unlike the breath Konoka had taken upon seeing the forest clearing for the first time. Next, she felt Konoka's fingers gently running themselves up and down the spine of her wings. It was an odd sensation, though not an unpleasant one, that caused Setsuna to shiver slightly.
"They're beautiful," she whispered to Setsuna, who still refused to open her eyes. "Like an angel's wings..."
Setsuna shivered again, this time due to Konoka's words rather than her touch. The words were so similar to the ones she had spoken when Konoka had first seen her wings back in Kyoto. Setsuna smiled softly at the pleasant memory, and felt Konoka's fingers began to massage her back, right where her wings met the rest of her body.
"Ahh..." Setsuna gasped, feeling Konoka hit the areas with the most tension.
"There?" Konoka asked, and Setsuna nodded fervently. The massage continued in silence again, punctuated only by the occasional and brief sigh or moan from Setsuna.
"Hey Secchan," began Konoka, breaking the peace, "how do your wings appear?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Hm, well your wings are so large and I was wondering how you can keep them hidden.. I was just... curious."
"I'm not sure either," Setsuna admitted, opening her eyes. She turned to face Konoka and gave her an apologetic wince. "I'd never really thought about it. Normal members of the bird tribe aren't able to hide their wings like I can. Maybe it has something to do with me being half--"
A sudden yell from within the forest stopped Setsuna mid-sentence. The shirtless swordsman dove toward Konoka and reached for her shirt, retracting her wings as she moved.
"That's not fair!" Asuna's voice cried out, echoing in the air as it reached their ears. Almost a minute later, Evangeline burst triumphantly into the forest clearing. Several moments after that, a panting Asuna stumbled out of the trees, followed by the others with varying gaps in between the appearance of each person. Several of them, most notably the Library Exploration Club, were panting heavily, though Evangeline and Chachamaru seemed the least fatigued.
"That's not fair!" Asuna cried again. She squatted on the ground and placed her hands on her thighs, trying hard to catch her breath.
"All's fair in love and war," Evangeline replied with a victorious smirk.
"This isn't war!" Asuna protested, to which Evangeline retorted, "Well it sure as hell isn't love!" As tired as they were, several of the group managed to muster up the energy to laugh.
"Did you guys have a good hike?" Konoka asked as she walked over to the group, most of whom were sprawled on the ground, chugging water out of the canteens that Chachamaru handed them as though the water would disappear if they weren't quick enough. Behind her, a fully clothed and slightly blushing Setsuna meekly followed.
"She cheated," Asuna pouted, glaring darkly in Evangeline's direction.
"I did nothing wrong," Evangeline said calmly, throwing up her hands in a shrugging gesture.
"She threw a snake in Asuna-dono's path," Kaede explain, taking off her backpack and placing it near the others that littered the grass around the tree stump.
"Yeah, a giant man eating snake that totally distracted me," Asuna elaborated.
"Oh please, it a just a garden snake," Evangeline countered. "Completely harmless."
"I'm still glad it wasn't me," Nodoka whispered to Yue, shivering at the thought of having a snake, no matter how harmless, thrown at her.
"Hmph!" Asuna sniffed, turning away.
"Fine," the undying mage relented. "Just for the snake thing, I'll allow you fifteen minutes to rest before we start the training."
"Only fifteen minutes?!" Haruna exclaimed. "Are you trying to kill us?"
"Hey, be grateful. I was planning to start the training as soon as we got here." The group began groaning and complaining, which Evangeline ignored. "You two," she motioned toward Konoka and Setsuna. "Go help Chachamaru make some food for these weaklings to eat. I don't want them fainting before the training even starts," she ordered.
Turning to Konoka, Setsuna gave her a small smile and inclined her head toward Chachamaru, who was currently rummaging through the enormous backpack that she had carried on the hike. "After you."
Konoka giggled and returned the smile, leading the way toward her robotic classmate as Setsuna had offered.
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"Secchan!" Konoka cried as Setsuna sprinted across the clearing with the frantic mage in her arms. "We can't just keep running! You have to put me down!" Setsuna could hear what Konoka wanted her to do, yet with the ground literally exploding at her feet as she ran, Konoka's request was impossible to fulfill. The swordsman quickly glanced behind her and saw a fresh line of bullets rip into the ground, shattering the earth and sending waves of dirt shooting into the air.
"I can't, ojou-sama!" Setsuna cried as she continued to tear across the clearing, barely keeping ahead of the onslaught of bullets. As she reached the tree stump that stood on the edge of the clearing, Setsuna leapt towards it and pushed off of the dead piece of wood with her feet, using the force to propel both her and Konoka out of the way of several more bullets that were aimed at them. The projectiles whizzed past Setsuna's shoulder, narrowly missing her as she twisted out of the way, and imbedded themselves into the dead stump. "It's not safe," Setsuna murmured, glancing wildly around the clearing for cover as she ran, though she already knew that was no place to hide.
"But we can't win if we don't face them, Secchan! We need to help the others, too!"
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Konoka's words registered in Setsuna's brain. She did realize that nothing would be accomplished if they only ran, and that Kaede, Asuna, and the others would benefit from their help. However, at that moment, Setsuna was too preoccupied to process these thoughts or to respond. Her attention was focused solely on the tasks of dodging bullets and protecting her beloved ojou-sama in this dangerous situation.
Of course, Setsuna hadn't forgotten that this "dangerous situation" was all just a training session put forth by Evangeline, and that Konoka would not be killed or even seriously injured if she was hit by a bullet. Just fifteen minutes ago, Evangeline had announced that it was time to begin some rigorous training. She broke the group of twelve down into pairs based on everyone's individual abilities (Evangeline with Chachamaru, Konoka with Setsuna, Yue with Kaede, Nodoka with Ku Fei, Negi with--much to Asuna's chagrin--Mana, and Haruna with Asuna), and vaguely explained that this particular training would focus on working with partners.
Once the partners were assigned, Evangeline pulled aside Negi, Mana, and Chachamaru for a private conversation, which was when the chaos began. After the brief meeting, Mana fired several warning shots at the four mages and their temporary partners from out of the blue, and suddenly there was an eight-on-four magical battle waiting to be fought! Whatever Evangeline had said to Negi and Mana must have been quite effective because the two of them were currently very adamant about attacking their fellow companions. Even Negi, who was usually so hesitant to harm his students, had already successfully landed several magical blows against everyone.
Through the thick rain of bullets that fell upon Setsuna and Konoka, Setsuna chanced a brief glance at Mana, the sniper who had been targeting them. Her opponent, armed with a pair of sleek, black handguns, was currently positioned in the upper branches of a tall tree that overlooked the entire grassy enclosure. Setsuna hadn't forgotten that all of this fighting was in the name of training, and that Mana's bullets were just small capsules of magical energy that provided a painful, yet non-life-threatening shock to the receiver, but Setsuna couldn't bear the thought of Konoka being struck by even a single bullet. Setsuna had already been hit with a few of Mana's magical projectiles and the pain, while not excruciating, was something that she could have done without experiencing.
"The best way to keep ojou-sama safe," Setsuna thought to herself, "is to just end this battle now, but..." She turned her attention away from Mana and onto Negi, who was currently situated at the base of the tree Mana stood in. As the young teacher sent Yue tumbling with a concentrated blast of wind magic, Setsuna took an inventory of the round targets behind Negi. Originally, at the start of this twelve person free-for-all, Evangeline conjured a dozen red, circular targets, each about the size of a dinner plate, and placed them at varying heights across three trees that stood beside each other on one edge of the clearing. The goal for this training session, as Evangeline had declared, was for Konoka, Nodoka, Yue, Haruna, to shatter all twelve targets while their partners protected them.
Of course, completing this task would be no easy feat. Setsuna's opening move had been to use the ground contractor to appear right before a target and slash it with her sword, but the target had somehow repelled her attack. Not even Ku Fei with her kenpo or Asuna with her harisen could shatter a target. And only after the fighters had repeatedly tried with no avail to break the targets using their physical attacks did Evangeline finally reveal that these targets could only be shattered with magic.
Setsuna quickly counted the remaining targets behind Negi. There were still 8 left. The first two, she recalled, had been shattered by Kaede. Despite the restriction that only magic could be used to destroy the targets, Kaede had broken the first two by using throwing stars. With assistance from Yue's magical encyclopedia, Kaede and Yue managed to infuse a pair of Kaede's stars with magical energy, which Kaede then threw at and shattered two targets.
After that, due to the fact that Evangeline erected a more powerful barrier around the targets to block anything that wasn't pure magical energy, it was entirely up to the mages to shatter the rest of the targets. Nodoka had scored the next hit by sending a wobbly magic arrow at a target after Ku Fei distracted Negi and Mana with some flashy kenpo attacks, and the fourth had been destroyed by Yue with a lucky lightning spell that had been aimed at Chachamaru, but somehow managed to strike a target.
For Konoka's sake, Setsuna wanted to end this battle quickly, but with only four targets having been shattered in fifteen minutes, it didn't look like this battle would be ending any time soon.
"Secchan!" Konoka called from within the cradle of Setsuna's arms, trying to catch her partner's attention. "You can't keep protecting me like this! You have to trust that I can fight with you too."
Setsuna opened her mouth to protest, but her words were drowned out by a loud cry of "Honya-chan!" from across the clearing. Ku Fei, who was crouched in a low stance, was looking toward her temporary partner for confirmation. After a brief nod from Nodoka, the librarian flipped open her magical diary. Mana quickly turned her guns upon Ku Fei, but Nodoka and Ku Fei both managed to react even faster.
"Bullets on your left side! Left again! Enter from Negi's right side! NOW!" Nodoka cried. The wind rippled around her as she furiously rifled through the pages of her diary and sent her skirt fluttering upward. She took no notice of this, however, and continued to focus on the task at hand. Ku Fei reacted to each command that Nodoka yelled at her with lightning precision. She dodged the first set of bullets, another set, and then used her Vital Step, a movement similar to the ground contractor, to appear right behind Negi. She subdued him by quickly wrapping a cloth around him that pinned down his arms. And at the command of "NOW!", Ku Fei immediately threw up a large sheet of cloth that completely obscured the views of Mana, Negi, Ku Fei, and the targets from everyone in the grassy enclosure. Nodoka raised her wand and cast three magic arrows, one after the other, at the white cloth Ku Fei had thrown. The fiery comets burned through the thin fabric and disappeared behind the cloth. When the white sheet finally fell to the ground, Ku Fei came sprinting back through the fallen barrier, leaving behind a single broken target in her wake.
"You hit one, Honya-chan!" she called, giving a thumbs up to her ecstatic partner. Nodoka raised a hand to return the sign, but was suddenly thrown backward by an unseen force. In her moment of excitement, she had forgotten to watch her enemy's actions. Another bullet struck her in the shoulder, and she cried out in pain from her spot on the ground.
"Honya-chan!?" Ku Fei cried as she ran toward the librarian.
"Watch yourself first, Ku Fei!" Mana called. She sent a shower of bullets at Ku Fei, several of which hit her backside and sent her crashing to the ground, twitching with pain.
"Ku Fei-san!" Nodoka cried as she struggled to her feet. She staggered toward her fallen partner who sat up slowly, hugging her arms around her body in pain.
"Stay back... Honya-chan..." Ku Fei warned, shakily holding up a hand to halt Nodoka's approach, her voice strained. Mana raised her right hand and aimed her gun toward the fallen fighter.
"Nodoka!" Konoka cried as the timid librarian threw herself forward and bravely caught three bullets in her arm to protect Ku Fei.
Nodoka shrieked as the projectiles struck her, but she held her ground against the attack. She brought her injured left arm against her stomach and turned to give a wincing smile to her stunned partner, raising the wand in her right hand as she did so. "Don't worry, Ku Fei-san, I can protect you, too."
"Wind, shield us!" The Latin words echoed around the clearing and a glittering wall of white wind placed itself between Nodoka and Ku Fei, and their gun-slinging opponent. Mana carefully squeezed off a single round at the shield of wind. The bullet harmlessly bounced off the wall of wind and Mana nodded her head, apparently impressed.
"Not bad, Miyazaki!" called Evangeline, who was currently fighting with, or rather, toying with Asuna. Both Asuna and Haruna had taken up the daunting task of keeping Evangeline and Chachamaru occupied while the rest of the group took down the targets that Mana and Negi protected. She nonchalantly ducked as Chachamaru punched out the strange looking creature that Haruna had summoned to attack her. "Keep the shield up until your partner can recover a bit," Evangeline advised as she used her small iron fan to counter another of Asuna's mighty harisen blows.
Konoka felt a twinge of jealously as she watched Nodoka strain to keep the wind shield active a bit longer for Ku Fei's sake. She had always wanted to protect Setsuna the same way that Setsuna protected her, but the swordsman always seemed reluctant to accept the help. Konoka couldn't decide whether it was because Setsuna didn't believe Konoka could provide any protection or simply because she didn't need it, but it always saddened Konoka to not be able to protect someone who was so dear to her. What Nodoka was doing, protecting her partner with her own abilities, was something that Konoka wanted to do. At the very least, she didn’t want to be a burden on Setsuna forever.
"I'm sorry, Secchan," she cried as she broke out of Setsuna's grip. The young healer tumbled to the ground, seemingly "left behind" by Setsuna, whose momentum sent her shooting past Konoka. The mage quickly got to her feet and prepared herself to fight.
"OJOU-SAMA!" Setsuna cried as the girl slipped out of her grasp. She attempted so stop her movement and sprint back to where the mage had fallen.
Konoka spread her artifact fans in her hands and used a Latin incantation to strength them, ignoring Setsuna's pleas for her to run. The mage heard, rather than saw, Mana fire at her, and quickly brought her fans up to deflect the attack. She felt the first round of fire successfully bounce off of her magically enhanced artifacts and she readied herself to deflect another series of shots.
"OJOU-SAMA!" Setsuna yelled again as she threw herself between Konoka and Mana, taking half a dozen stinging shots to her chest while several more were deflected off of her blade. The swordsman cried out in pain as the bullets struck her, the combined sum of pain from the magic projectiles sending her crashing to her knees. Konoka cried out as well, mixing together emotions of surprise and empathy. She knelt to the ground next to Setsuna and gingerly touched the fists that Setsuna clutched to her chest.
"Why, Secchan?! You don't need to do this for me!" Konoka cried. She saw Mana raise her guns again, and stepped forward with her fans raised to deflect the attack. "I can protect you, too!"
"NO!" Setsuna cried as she struggled to her feet. She turned her back on the oncoming bullets and stepped in front of Konoka again, shielding her from the sniper's view. "You can't!" She closed her eyes and waited for the sting of more bullets to strike her again. However, the high pitched ring of several bullets ricocheting off metal echoed nearby, and Setsuna whirled around to find Kaede standing behind her with her overlarge ninja star blocking them from Mana's line of sight.
"Kaede-san!" Konoka exclaimed, relieved that the ninja had deflected the bullets. Kaede nodded in Konoka's direction with a smile and then turned a more serious expression upon Setsuna.
"There's a difference," she said, "between protecting your mage and smothering her." Kaede pointed a short distance away to where Yue was dodging Negi's wind blasts and casting her own offensive lightning spells at him. Several Kaedes, undoubtedly her shadow doubles, bounced around Yue, attempting to catch the bullets that Mana shot at her. Konoka watched and gasped as a bullet finally managed to strike Yue and knock her to the ground, but then one of Kaede's doubles was right there to pick her up. Yue winced and rubbed at the injury on her shin, but did not dwell on it as she resumed her attack on Negi.
"Your mage will never grow if you don't give her space to develop," Kaede counseled as she continued to watch Yue fight. "You can't always protect your partner, which is why--" she smiled as Yue used a shield spell extended from the tip of her wand to deflect a bullet aimed at her. "Which is why you must allow them to learn to defend themselves."
"But to let ojou-sama face dangers alone--"
"Not alone," Kaede corrected. "Giving your mage the freedom to act on her own does not mean that she will be fighting alone."
"But ojou-sama..."
Setsuna looked up at Konoka who stared back at her with a serious expression on her face. "I can do this, Secchan. Just trust me," she pleaded softly. Konoka leaned down, bringing her face closer to Setsuna's, and paused when their eyes were level with each other. Setsuna could see the burning expression in Konoka's gaze and an unmistakable determination that Setsuna knew would not take 'no' for an answer.
"Okay?" Konoka asked. With no other choice, Setsuna nodded reluctantly at the mage, who smiled at the approval. "Then please distract them for me," Konoka asked Setsuna.
"Get ready," Kaede cautioned them as she tightened her grip around her ninja star. With a grunt of effort, she hoisted her metal star into the air and sprinted back to where her shadow doubles were helping Yue.
"I have to trust that she can do this," Setsuna told herself firmly as she drew her sword. She glanced at Konoka and smiled grimly. Yuunagi, her nodachi, felt warm in her hand, and Setsuna drew upon this warmth for strength. She held her sword vertically in front of her and concentrated her ki into her blade. "Ojou-sama, I must trust you," she thought to herself.
Setsuna slowly revolved Yuunagi in circular motion; first one slow revolution, then another. She jumped high into the air, still revolving the sword in her hand, and waited until she reached the peak of her jump before releasing her powerful attack.
"RAGING HUNDRED CHERRY BLOSSOM SLASH!" Setsuna cried. She reversed the direction of her swings, each new strike becoming more powerful and more elegant than the last. Her sword strokes cut through the air and inexplicably unleashed a wave of petals with each slice. A flurry of cherry blossom leaves appeared out of no where and showered the clearing and filled the air like a gentle snow. The strong wind currents created by her powerful sword strokes scattered the petals across the entire forest enclosure. Setsuna continued to execute the move, her body and her sword rotating in the air, and hoped that this was enough of a distraction for Konoka.
Below her, Konoka was in the process of executing a sweeping motion with her fans. She brought her right hand high above her head, and then swung it toward the ground in a smooth arc. Setsuna could see a shimmering wind blow forth from Konoka's artifact and fly across the clearing to where the seven unshattered targets remained.
"Rastel maskil magister!" A powerful gust of air blew through Konoka's stream of glittering wind and dispersed it. Setsuna landed on the ground beside Konoka and prepared to use a ground contraction. She planned to instantly move beside Negi in order to subdue him and give Konoka another chance to attack. However, as she sheathed her sword and got into the stance for the ground contractor, Konoka held up a fan to stop her. Without a word, the mage brought both hands above her head and brought them down again in a rapid swing of her arms and began to recite a spell under her breath.
Again, Negi was ready with another gust of wind to break up Konoka's magic. Their spells of glittering, swirling wind met dead-center in the middle of the clearing. The spells crackled violently as they came in contact, sending a flurry of sparks exploding from the center of the battling magic. Setsuna glanced at Konoka, who was still chanting under her breath with her eyes closed in concentration. She could see Konoka's stream of wind magic begin to expand, nearly engulfing Negi's spell. The wind blowing around the forest enclosure suddenly increased in force and every single mage and fighter, with the exceptions of Negi and Konoka, stopped their movements and watched the magical struggle of winds at the center of the clearing.
The wind magic coming out of Konoka's fans started to glow with a blinding white light as it combated Negi's wind magic. Setsuna felt goose bumps form on her arms as she watched her partner's struggle. Konoka, straining with effort, took a heavy step forward like she was pushing against some invisible wall. The strength of the wind in the clearing picked up again. In a blazing display of dazzling light, Konoka's wind spell at last engulfed Negi's spell. The consumption of Negi's wind magic by Konoka's sent a rippling wave of wind, very much like an explosion, flowing out of the center of the clearing, knocking everyone backward and sent them sprawling on the ground. As the wave of wind hit the remaining targets behind Negi, the seven round disks shattered simultaneously and fell to the ground to meet the remnants of the first five shattered targets.
A hush fell over the clearing as the wind died down. Eleven people were now sprawled on the ground, and they each stared in wonder and amazement at Konoka, the only person left standing after the explosive conclusion to her magical battle with Negi. After several moments of stunned silence, Asuna broke the peace with a word that expressed everyone's thoughts.
"Incredible..."
"That was amazing," Asuna repeated for the fifth time as she plopped down in front of where Konoka sat on the ground. Even though the magical battle was over, Konoka's training wasn't finished quite yet. Evangeline had ordered her to heal all of the injured battle participants for practice, though Konoka would willingly have done so even if Evangeline hadn't asked her. Asuna partially raised the hem of her skirt and showed the young healer an oozing welt on her upper thigh.
"I mean," Asuna continued, "I know you have a lot of magic in you, but I didn't realize you were so strong already!" Asuna exclaimed, referring to Konoka's display of magical strength during the training session earlier.
"That looks really bad," Konoka gasped, ignoring Asuna's comment as she looked at her friend's wound. "Did Evangeline-san do that to you during training?"
"No, it was Chachamaru-san," Asuna said with a shake of her head. "But it was sort of my own fault. Anyway, when did you learn how to use your magic like that?" Konoka gently began to fan the wound with her artifact and Asuna winced as a flash of light appeared and sealed up the shallow gash.
"Actually," Konoka said with a sheepish smile, "I didn't really know what I was doing back there. According to Evangeline-san, I sort of just went a little crazy with my magic. And she's right, though; I really didn't have control over my magic back then." Konoka gave a weak smile as Asuna placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry," Asuna reassured her. "The control will come to you soon. It just takes some practice." She winked at her best friend and then pointed to a bruise that was starting to form on her lower right cheek. "Do you mind getting this too?"
Setsuna continued to watch as Konoka finished healing Asuna's wounds. Once the bruises and cuts had been magically cured, the cheerful orange-haired girl got up to join the exhausted mages and fighters that had gathered at another end of the clearing. Finally, only Setsuna needed to be healed and it was her turn to have her injuries tended to. From her kneeling position on the ground, Konoka turned to look up at the young swordsman.
"OKAY! Your turn Secchan!" Konoka exclaimed with a bubbly giggle. "Where does it hurt?"
In truth, Setsuna was hurt in more places that she could count. Mana had struck her more times in the battle than she cared to admit; several shots to her arms, some more on her back, many more on her chest, and even a small clip across her cheek. Setsuna felt like she had been a giant bull's eye for Mana during the battle, but it had all been in the name of protecting Konoka. Not that she really seemed to need protection anymore...
"You've really grown, ojou-sama," Setsuna said in a hollow voice. Her chest felt heavy as she spoke, like a hand was clutching at her heart.
"Eh? Secchan?"
"You've done well in protecting yourself," Setsuna continued to mumble softly, unable to meet Konoka's eyes. "I guess I won't have to worry about you so much anymore," she said as she stared defiantly at a patch of grass on the ground.
"Secchan," Konoka repeated a bit more firmly. She tried to place a hand on Setsuna's arm, but the swordsman twisted away before she could make contact. "What are you talking about?"
Setsuna didn't even try to respond. She continued to dejectedly stare at the billowing grass. Maybe... maybe this was why she had always been so afraid of letting Konoka try to protect herself. It wasn't that she didn't think Konoka could do it. Rather, it was because she was scared that Konoka could do it. If she didn't need someone to protect her all of the time, then what kind of place would Setsuna have in her life? Today, Konoka had proven that she was perfectly capable of protecting herself, which meant that she was perfectly capable of getting by without Setsuna by her side.
"I still need you, you know?" Konoka said, almost like she had been reading Setsuna's thoughts. She gently reached up and tugged on the bottom of the other girl's untucked shirt and pulled a reluctant Setsuna to sit down beside her. "What happened with my powers before, that was like an accident. I don't really know what I'm doing," she admitted as she gently dropped her fans and began to unbutton Setsuna's shirt.
"Ojou-sama!" Setsuna protested as she tried to pull away, but Konoka kept a firm grip on her shirt. She gave Setsuna a dangerous glare, one that Setsuna rarely ever saw, and waited until Setsuna stopped struggling before she unbuttoned her shirt the rest of the way. Konoka cringed as she revealed several blistering wounds on the areas of Setsuna's chest that hadn't been covered by the cloth that bound her chest. Undoubtedly, a few more wounds were hidden beneath the cloth as well. Konoka gingerly began to caress one of the angry-looking wounds, causing Setsuna to wince.
"There's no one in my life," Konoka began as she picked up her fans, "who would ever do so much to protect me." She used her fans to sweep a gentle wind across Setsuna's chest to heal the blistering bruises caused by the magical bullets. “No one would ever risk their life to save me like you do, Secchan.”
"You won't need my protection forever," Setsuna sighed, thinking about Konoka's display of power earlier. She shook her head slightly. "It's only a matter of time before..."
"Before what? Before I toss you to the side and leave you behind because I won't need you anymore?" Konoka asked with an incredulous glitter in her eyes and a bemused smile on her lips. She swiftly tore off Setsuna's shirt before the swordsman could stop her and turned Setsuna around to get a better view of her back. "Even if a day came where I became the strongest mage in the world and no one was a threat to me, I'd still need you, Secchan."
Konoka waved her fans and healed the bullet bruises on Setsuna's back as the swordsman contemplated her words. "Without you in my life, Secchan, there are so many things I know I wouldn't be able to do." Konoka directed her fans at the wounds on Setsuna's arms and began to heal those as well. "In the morning, I wouldn't be able to enjoy breakfast without having you sitting there, eating beside me. I wouldn't be able to smile in the afternoons if I couldn't be sure that I would spend time with you once classes were over. And at night," Konoka lifted Setsuna's head and gazed affectionately into her downcast eyes. "At night, I wouldn't be able to sleep without knowing that I'd be able to see you in the morning as you walked me to school."
Still lifting Setsuna's head with a finger delicately nestled under her chin, she swept her fan across Setsuna's right cheek, healing her final wound. Konoka gently closed her fan and began to trace the invisible scar that she had just healed with her fingertips. Setsuna blushed under the attention of Konoka's caress, but was unable to look away from Konoka's mesmerizing gaze.
"I will always need you in my life, so don't doubt that. You're my most precious... friend, Secchan."
"Ojou-sama..." Setsuna whispered, touched by Konoka's kind words. They continued to stare into each other's eyes and it felt like an eternity to Setsuna in which they just sat there. The feel of Konoka's touch on her skin, the finger that was still tracing the healed wound on her cheek, was something that she never wanted to go away.
However, as if to suddenly prove that Setsuna's wish could not be granted, Konoka laughed sheepishly, almost embarrassedly, and pulled away from Setsuna with a shy smile on her face. "I heard Evangeline-san say something about a hot spring nearby," she said, completely changing the topic. "You want to go take a bath?"
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The merry sound of chatting voices and bubbly laughter filled the ears of Konoka and Setsuna as the two of them stepped out of the dense clustering of trees and into an open area containing a small hot spring. Evangeline had revealed its location to them as a kind of reward for their performances in the earlier battle. Negi had already been in and out of the hot water, and now it was the girls' turn.
Only Asuna, Haruna, and Mana were currently occupying the spring. The small pool of hot water was only big enough to accommodate a few people at a time, so the others had already bathed and returned to camp. From what Setsuna could hear, it seemed like their recent training battle was still a hot topic of discussion. Setsuna could hear Haruna question Mana about the type of projectile she used while they had been fighting earlier.
"I normally use plain bullets or ki-infused bullets in my jobs, but Evangeline supplied me with the magic bullets just before the battle started," Mana explained. "It was good that the battle ended when it did because I was running low on Evangeline's bullets. If we had continued the fight, I would have been forced to switch over to real bullets." Large sweat drops appeared on Asuna and Haruna's heads and they began to laugh apprehensively. "I'm kidding," Mana said with a sly smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, and the girls continued their nervous laughter.
"Konoka! Setsuna-san," Asuna greeted with a cheerful wave. She stood up out of the hot spring and wrapped a towel around her body. "I'm just about done here, so one of you guys can get in."
"No wait, I'm done too," Haruna announced as she also stood up. "If I stay in here any longer, I'm going to turn into a prune." Mana followed suit and stepped out of the small spring as well. "Then I guess we're all done here," Haruna said, and then added slyly, "You two have fun by yourselves..."
Setsuna blushed as Konoka asked with a cheerfully confused smile, "What do you mean?" Asuna and Haruna exchanged a devious glance before looking back at Setsuna. The swordsman felt herself blush again and looked away as the girls returned to camp. When she heard a splash behind her, she turned around to find that Konoka had already stripped off her clothes and entered the hot spring.
"Hurry up, Secchan!" Konoka giggled as she settled herself comfortably against an outcropping of rock. She smiled as Setsuna shyly undressed herself and finally entered the hot pool of water. Konoka innocently sidled up to the swordsman. "You've been awfully quiet, Secchan," Konoka commented, to which Setsuna shrugged and mumbled something noncommittal. Lowering herself deeper into the water until only her nose and mouth were not submerged, Setsuna leaned forward against her knees and stared across the water, blushing. Konoka smiled with amusement, but decided not to say anything else. She quietly sat beside Setsuna and enjoyed the warmth of the water.
The minutes fell away as Konoka and Setsuna relaxed in the water. Konoka had the urge to converse with Setsuna, but she had a feeling that anything she might say would just cause Setsuna more embarrassment. Konoka normally didn't mind teasing Setsuna since she found it cute when Setsuna blushed, but she felt their current situation was a bit more delicate that usual.
"I think I'll head back to the camp now," Konoka announced after soaking for several minutes in silence with Setsuna. The swordsman finally turned to look at her and nodded to show that she had heard. Konoka lifted her body out of the water, exposing her bare chest to the darkening forest surroundings before wrapping herself in the towel that she had retrieved. She turned to ask if Setsuna had finished bathing as well, but found that the other girl was now pointedly looking in the other direction. The extremely heavy blush coloring Setsuna's face was noticeable to Konoka, even in the dying light, and the young mage suppressed a laugh as she tightened the towel around her body. That was it; Konoka could no longer hold back the desire to tease Setsuna.
Sometimes, Konoka felt that it was almost like the two of them were playing a game. It was as though Setsuna and Konoka both knew exactly how they felt about each other, but there was an unspoken agreement that neither of them would acknowledge the other's feelings. More than anything else, the reason why neither of them had admitted their feelings for one another was due to Setsuna. Whether out of embarrassment or uncertainty or whatever the reason was, Konoka knew that Setsuna just wasn't ready for them to be together.
However, even without being told, Konoka was certain that Setsuna's feelings toward her were romantic. Sometimes she just wanted to tell Setsuna that she knew the truth and that she also felt the same way, but she was also just as certain that Setsuna would be very embarrassed if she did this. She could almost foresee the swordsman becoming uncomfortable around her, which was something that she didn't want. And for that reason, she tolerated this game that they played. It didn't really bother Konoka not to be able to treat Setsuna like they were in a relationship because she knew that the days where they could be honest about their feelings weren't very far off in the future. Until then, she could find ways to amuse herself.
Konoka shook the warm river water out of her hair and reach behind her for her clothes. With her body in mid-turn, Konoka purposely tripped herself a bit and let out a small gasp. Stumbling, she closed her eyes as she fell forward and waited to either hit the warm water or-- A pair of slender arms wrapped themselves around Konoka's toweled body, and she found herself being pulled in the opposite direction of her fall. Opening her eyes and turning her head to the side, she found herself looking into Setsuna's concerned gaze. Setsuna's arms gently tighten around her body, closing the gap between them.
"Are you OK, ojou-sama?"
For now, even if this was the only way that Konoka could initiate an intimate moment between them, it was fine with her.
Konoka gasped as a slender arm caught her around the stomach, gently halting her descent and stopping her from splashing face first into the warm water at her feet. In one fluid motion, Setsuna lifted the mage upright and pulled her into a tender embrace from behind, rescuing Konoka from her fall.
"Secchan..." The inaudible whisper of her protector's name escaped the mage's lips and quickly disappeared into the silence that surrounded them as Konoka turned her head and glanced over her shoulder at the girl who held her.
"Are you okay, ojou-sama?" came the hushed reply, to which the mage responded with a shaky nod. Konoka's "accidental" fall had put her right into the arms of the shy swordsman like she had predicted, but the fall had also created unforeseen surprises; surprises such as the feel of Setsuna's damp arm across her bare stomach, which Konoka's partially opened towel no longer concealed. That thin cloth pressed between Setsuna's chest and the mage's back was the only thing that separated them, a thought that made Konoka blush furiously even though she had been the one who had put them in this position.
As she stood within Setsuna's arms, Konoka could feel the swordsman's breath against her ear and it caused her to shiver despite the warmth of its touch. The sensation of Setsuna's skin against her own, a feeling that was much more intimate now than it had even been in the past, made her tremble as well. Although Konoka knew that they were now diving headfirst into uncharted territory, the closeness of Setsuna's presence was something that she wanted to explore further. Her worries about not pressuring the swordsman before she was ready suddenly took a backseat to Konoka's own desires as the mage quickly turned on the spot and faced her protector, surprising Setsuna so that she withdrew her hands from Konoka's body.
The towel that had previously been wrapped around the mage's body now opened completely, fully exposing Konoka's back as it slid over her hips. The mage held her breath as the towel settled between them, pressed against their naked chests, acting as a thin barrier to defend their unprotected skin. Konoka's hands, which were loosely held at her sides, itched to spring forward and place themselves upon Setsuna's hips to draw their bodies even closer together. She repressed this desire, however, knowing that the balance between them at the moment was quite delicate.
"Secchan hasn't moved," Konoka suddenly noticed, realizing that even after the mage's unexpected turn, Setsuna hadn't stepped away from her in surprise. "Maybe she understands what'll happen if she moves back?" the mage wondered, remembering the towel that was precariously held between them. "Or..." Konoka thought as she focused her attention on the intense look in Setsuna's eyes, which were currently locked upon her own, "...maybe she just doesn't want to move away from me."
As if she was answering Konoka's unspoken thought, Setsuna placed her hands gently upon the mage's shoulders, slowly so that Konoka didn't perceive her movements until it was nearly too late. She jumped slightly as the subtle weight of the swordsman's hands rested upon her body and her eyes widened at the thought of what Setsuna's actions might imply. Peering into the other girl's face, which was fixed with a rather serious expression, Konoka could see a resolute spark within Setsuna's eyes. Time slowed to what seemed like a crawl as the swordsman lifted a hand from the other girl's shoulder and delicately nestled it under Konoka's chin. The mage froze, stunned by the events that were unfolding before her.
"Kono-chan," Setsuna whispered as she leaned forward, pressing their bodies more fully against each other. Konoka leaned in as well, her heart thumping madly within her chest. By no means would this be the mage's first kiss, not unless she disregarded her kiss with Negi, but it would be her first with Setsuna and it was a kiss she had waited for so long to receive. Konoka closed her eyes as Setsuna's lips neared her own and she opened her mouth slightly as she felt the swordsman's breath tickle her lower lip.
CRACK!
Konoka and Setsuna sprang apart instantly as the sharp sting of static electricity struck them, interrupting their kiss before it could even begin. Konoka pressed her fingertips to her lips and impulsively stepped backward, stunned that such bad luck could have befallen them. Across from her, the mage saw that Setsuna was reacting similarly to the static electric shock that had sparked across their lips. Silently, they gazed at each other in wide-eyed surprise, wondering how they could have come so close to a kiss, but not been able to follow through.
Splash...
The dull sound of Konoka's towel hitting the warm hot springs water caught their attention, drawing their gazes downward to where the sodden cloth now floated at their feet. Their eyes flicked upward and met again as blushes instantly began to color their cheeks. Quickly, Konoka and Setsuna turned away from each other, clutching their arms to their naked bodies.
"I-I-I'm sorry!" Setsuna stuttered, kneeling in the water while crossing her arms against her chest.
"N-no, don't be..." Konoka responded, stuttering as well. With her back turned toward the other girl, she picked up the only towel that sat beside their dry clothes and tossed it toward Setsuna. The towel landed neatly upon the swordsman's shoulders, but Setsuna immediately picked it up and tried to hand it back to the mage.
"No, you take it," Setsuna mumbled hurriedly, thrusting the towel in Konoka's general direction while keeping her back turned. "Yours is all wet now, so..."
"It's okay, you use it. I already dried off before we--" Konoka paused. "Before we what? Before we tried to kiss and electrocuted ourselves?" she thought wryly.
"O-okay," Setsuna hesitantly agreed, allowing Konoka's incomplete statement to remain unfinished. With nothing more to say, hey lapsed into an awkward silence and began to dress.
"Great," the mage sarcastically thought as she stepped out of the hot spring and began to put on her clothes. "That probably just made things a million times worse between us." Although Setsuna had been the one to initiate their almost-kiss, Konoka only had herself to blame for putting the swordsman in a situation that she wasn't ready for. If only she had been able to control her own desires better...
After putting on the last of her clothes, Konoka turned her head and stole a sidelong glance at the other girl. Surprised, she found that Setsuna had already finished dressing and was merely waiting, standing with her back to the mage. "Secchan," Konoka sadly thought to herself, reaching out a hand toward the swordsman. She wanted to place her hand on Setsuna's shoulder and hopefully initiate a meaningful conversation about what had just happened, but the mage stopped just short of touching the other girl, wondering if the action would do more damage given the current situation.
"Hey..." Setsuna mumbled softly without any warning, causing Konoka to quickly withdraw her hand in surprise. "Can we... can we pretend that none of this just happened?"
"W-what?" the mage asked, completely caught off guard by the swordsman's request. Konoka had been so prepared to apologize for what had transpired between them that she hadn't been ready for Setsuna to speak first.
With her back still turned to Konoka, the swordsman raised a hand and gestured toward the hot spring. "Everything that just happened, can we just forget about it? Pretend that it didn't happen?" she asked again. Setsuna slowly glanced over her shoulder and offered Konoka a pleading wince. "Please?"
"Y-yeah, I guess..." Konoka hesitantly agreed. However, forgetting their near-kissing experience was probably one of the last things that the mage wanted to do. If they were to talk about what had just occurred, then there was a chance that they could move past their embarrassment and possibly even take a step forward in their relationship. What Setsuna wanted was for them to go back to the way things were before the almost-kiss and continue to leave their feelings for each other unacknowledged. "But if this is what Secchan wants," Konoka thought as the swordsman nodded slightly at her response and turned away again, "then maybe it's best if we pretend that nothing happened." After all, Konoka truly didn't want to force Setsuna to do anything that she wasn't ready to do.
Nevertheless, the mage found herself frowning unhappily at the way the brief conversation had concluded. However, in order to keep her promise to pretend that nothing had happened, Konoka reached into the hot water, fished out her soaked towel, and forced a cheerful smile onto her face. "Let's head back to camp, shall we?" Konoka suggested brightly, walking past the other girl. However, as the mage headed toward the path that led back to the forest clearing, she was surprised when the swordsman unexpectedly reached out and slipped her hand into Konoka's. Stunned, the mage quickly turned toward the other girl and managed to briefly capture Setsuna's shy gaze before the blushing swordsman turned away again.
"Let's head back to camp," Setsuna repeated, tugging gently on the young mage's hand.
Konoka found herself momentarily rooted to the ground and unable to move. Holding hands with the swordsman was among the very last things she had expected to happen, especially given the levels of embarrassment they had experienced just minutes ago. However, once the initial shock of Setsuna's action had subsided, the mage found the feeling of their joined hands to be comforting, as thought their hands belonged like this. Konoka smiled warmly as she entwined her fingers with the swordsman's and happily followed where Setsuna led.
"Two steps forward, two steps back, and one step forward," Konoka thought dryly as she modified the old adage to fit the events that had occurred at the hot spring. Nevertheless, she couldn't hide the small smile that danced across her lips. This wasn't the progress that she had been expecting, but this was still a great amount of progress, especially since Setsuna had been the one who had taken the first step. The days where they could finally be open about their feelings for each other was definitely approaching, and Konoka felt that she didn't have much longer to wait.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With a sharp crack, the swordsman watched as one the campfire logs shattered from the heat and sent a shower of sparks bursting into the sky. The glowing embers quickly died and fell towards the ground, landing back onto the campfire that the Setsuna's classmates were now sitting around. Just by looking at the laughing campers and listening to their lively conversations, it was hard to believe that the twelve of them were supposed to be on a grueling training expedition. Then again, looks could be deceiving. As the swordsman gazed at Konoka, who was cheerfully taking to Yue and Nodoka, Setsuna knew that no one would believe the outrageous amounts of embarrassment that the two of them had endured just a short while ago.
As the vivid memories resurfaced in Setsuna mind for what seemed like the hundredth time that night, the swordsman fought the urge to physically smack herself for getting carried away at the hot spring. Honestly, the swordsman had no idea what came over her at the time. Setsuna knew that she should have let go of the mage as soon as Konoka had been saved, but the swordsman had gotten distracted at the instant that their unclothed bodies had come together with just a mere towel to separate them.
A brilliant blush began to color the swordsman's cheeks as the memories replayed themselves in her head. There was one good thing that had come out of the entire embarrassing exchange, however. She had confirmed that fact that Konoka's feelings toward her were romantic. Setsuna had always suspected, or at least hoped, as much in the past, but the proof had been secured the instant that Konoka failed to pull away during their almost-kiss.
The confirmation of Konoka's feelings had delighted the swordsman, but the unfortunate downside was that Setsuna was painfully aware that she could never act upon Konoka's feelings for her. The idea that Konoka, the daughter of the Kansai Magic Association's leader, and Setsuna, a Shinmeiryuu swordsman and mere bodyguard, could ever become a couple was laughable. Nothing romantic would ever, could ever, or should ever happen between them, Setsuna realized. As painful as it was to think this way, the swordsman knew that they were better off remaining as friends.
"Okay! Everyone, get up and go to bed!" an irritated Evangeline ordered after suddenly standing up amid the happy campers. "One mage and fighter pair per tent. Now go!"
"Eh, but why?" Ku Fei protested, looking up at the vampire that had been sitting next to her just moments ago. "It's still so early, Evangeline-san. Can't we stay up a little longer?"
"No. All of your cheerfulness is bugging the hell out of me," their cranky training instructor grumbled. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at the entire group settled around the campfire. "Besides, it's already past curfew and you'd all be in your beds by now if you were back on campus."
"No we wouldn't," Haruna said, waving a dismissive hand in Evangeline's direction. "It's the weekend, so we'd be partying it up inside our dorms for a few more hours."
"The go back to your tent and party," the vampire ordered, rolling her eyes at Haruna. "Just get out of my sight."
"But the only other person in my tent would be Asuna-san, and she's practically asleep," the spectacled manga artist complained, pointing a finger at her temporary partner who seemed ready to fall asleep where she sat.
Upon hearing her name mentioned, the sleepy girl in question lifted her head and glanced around the campfire in confusion. "Huh...?" Asuna wondered, looking back and forth between Haruna and Evangeline. "What happened?"
"It's not my problem if your partner has problems staying up late," Evangeline retorted with a smirk. "Training starts early tomorrow morning, so you're better off going to sleep now, anyway."
"Fine, fine," Haruna relented with a heavy sigh, too tired to continue the argument. Getting to her feet, she held out a hand and offered it to her sleepy partner who gratefully accepted the assistance. Taking this as a sign that the late night fun was officially over, the other girls began to stand up as well. However, Setsuna continued to sit on the grass, seemingly glued to her place the ground. Not a single word of the exchange between Haruna and Evangeline had sunk into her mind since the swordsman had heard the vampire order them to sleep with their partners tonight. At that moment, Setsuna had realized that she would be spending the night all alone with Konoka, something that terrified the swordsman to her very core.
"Secchan?" The swordsman jumped at the sound of her own name. She shakily lifted her gaze and found that the mage was staring down at her with a teasing smile upon her lips. "Are you planning to sleep out here, or what?" Konoka joked after seeing that Setsuna had not yet moved from her spot on the ground.
Although the suggestion had been made in jest, Setsuna thought that sleeping outside sounded like a perfectly good idea, especially when the alternative was to sleep in close proximity to Konoka. The swordsman had already come to the conclusion that she shouldn't act upon her feelings for Konoka, but what she thought she should do and what she wanted to do were completely different things, and Setsuna wasn't sure she could trust herself. However, before she could voice her opinions about the sleeping arrangements, she found herself being tugged to her feet, dragged in the direction of their tent, and then pulled inside under the mage's guidance.
"Hey, let's sleep together tonight," Konoka suggested as she pulled their sleeping bags together and flopped down upon the rearranged sleeping area. With a smirk, the mage immediately recognized Setsuna's hesitation, but decided that she would try to push things a little further anyway. The swordsman's small showing of courage at the hot spring inspired the mage to be a little more daring than usual as well. After all, it wasn't everyday that she got to sleep alone with Setsuna. Who knew when another opportunity like this would come up again? With a mischievous grin, Konoka lifted a corner of her blanket and patted the spot beside her invitingly. "Come on, we used to sleep together all the time when we were kids. What are you so afraid of?"
Off the top of her head, Setsuna's immediate fear was of being unable to restrain herself while having Konoka's body pressed against her own throughout the entire night. However, against the swordsman's better judgment, Setsuna slowly crossed the tent to where the mage lay. Ignoring Konoka's excited yet triumph squeal, Setsuna slid onto the sleeping bag and under the blanket that Konoka had lifted for her.
"We're just going to sleep, nothing more," Setsuna started to think to herself in an attempt to calm her rapidly rising pulse. However, as Konoka threw her arm over the swordsman's stomach and rested her head comfortably upon Setsuna's chest, Setsuna knew that this was going to be a long night.
"See?" the mage giggled. "Nothing to be afraid of."
"Yeah," Setsuna derisively agreed with a shaky laugh, "Nothing to be afraid of..."
Even as she sarcastically said this, the discomfort that the swordsman felt at having Konoka snuggle up against her began to reverse direction, and Setsuna quickly found their arrangement to be soothing and almost familiar, as though they routinely slept this way. Her initial reservations about being able to fall asleep disappeared as she easily began to drift off to sleep.
"Hey, Secchan..." Konoka softly mumbled into the darkness, "what are you afraid of?"
"Huh?" Setsuna, who had been on the verge of falling asleep, whispered back, not fully hearing the question.
"What are you afraid of?" the young mage repeated.
"I... I don't know," the swordsman responded, slowly coming back to her senses. She waited for Konoka to speak again, perhaps to ask another question or even to confess her own fears, but the response never came. After a several moments, Setsuna decided that the mage had probably accepted her lack of response as the answer to her question. Indeed, after a while, the tent was soon filled with the sounds of Konoka's slowed, deepened breathing. The swordsman knew that she should be sleeping as well, but the weight of Konoka's seemingly simple question was keeping her awake because Setsuna had lied when she denied knowing what her fears were.
The swordsman glanced down at the slumbering girl lying in her arms and felt a sudden touch of coldness lodge itself within her chest. The more she thought about what frightened her, the more these thoughts seemed to overwhelm and smother her. Still gazing at Konoka, Setsuna decided that she would finally voice her greatest fears to the sleeping girl in hopes that she could relieve some of the pressure she was feeling.
"E-e-even..." the swordsman began slowly, trying to whisper in her softest voice, "even though I want us to become something more, I'm scared that it would be best if we were just friends," Setsuna sadly revealed, uttering these fears for the first time in her life. "I'm scared that I'm not good enough for you, that the world wouldn't accept our feelings for each other, and that no one could believe that we were meant to be together. But what scares me most," she continued, still speaking in hushed tones, "...is me."
At last, Setsuna tore her eyes away from Konoka and gazed up at the tent's ceiling before continuing. "I'm scared that the demon blood in me will bring you nothing but pain," Setsuna mumbled, willing herself to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill out of her eyes. "And I'm scared that the one who will hurt you the worst will be me," she finished, letting her bleak secrets hang in the darkness where they belonged. However, although a part of her wished that Konoka would never truly hear her miserable fears, another part of Setsuna prayed that her confessions would somehow make their way out of the darkness and reach the mage in her sleep, and that Konoka would subconsciously find a way to heal her pains. Perhaps it was foolish to think that her confessions could penetrate into the mage's subconscious, but the swordsman could hope.
Holding onto this feeble desire, desperately wishing that it would someday come true, Setsuna closed her eyes and slowly drifted off into a fretful sleep. However, if the swordsman had been less consumed by her own thoughts and more conscious of her surroundings, Setsuna might have been aware that the mage lying on her chest was no longer breathing deeply and feigning sleep, but was now holding her breath while biting down on her lower lip, trying to process what she had just heard.
"s-secchan..." Konoka whispered, her voice shaking as she said the name of the person who meant so much to her. "Y-you..." She stopped and tried to calm the thoughts racing through her mind. "You shouldn't have to worry about those sorts of things..." She said quietly, even knowing her protecter couldn't hear her as she slept. She leaned her face close to Setsuna's and gently kissed the girl on the mouth. "I don't care about any of that...as long as I'm with you..I...I trust you..."
She slowly lay her head against Setsuna's chest and closed her eyes, thoughts of what Setsuna had said still rushing through her mind. 'I love you..."
~~~Yeah...sorry about the sad ending, but not everything can go right, right? Or...maybe if Setsuna had been awake to hear what Konoka had said, her own fears may've been washed away, and they'd have been together. I think I might have to create a sequel to this one so I can make it happy. But that's only if you want me to, so tell me and I'll try. If you want me to, comment and tell me so and I'll try...try...
so there you are. I hope you liked what you read....
*sigh*
Goodbye for now.
