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| Courage; KonoSetsu Fic - Who else? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 24 2007, 08:25 PM (7,304 Views) | |
| Serai | Sep 23 2007, 04:27 PM Post #91 |
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Grade Schooler
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maybe she rewrote it in order to finish it herself, or something like that |
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| Manori | Sep 23 2007, 05:12 PM Post #92 |
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Middle Schooler
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Just PM'd Haruchin. Guess what? HARUCHIN IS CHIGUSA!
Also, I'd like to say that Kid386, YOU WERE RIGHT. ...it is exactly the same story. Durr, I feel stupid. I didn't even look back upon the first chapter so I just assumed from what I could recall that it wasn't the same story BUT IT IS. Gah...I'm sorry. Chigusa did say anyways that she was thinking of posting this on FF.Net, so...
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| kid386 | Sep 23 2007, 11:24 PM Post #93 |
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Grade Schooler
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meh its all good, anyone could have made that mistake but yes Courage will be continue yay to chigusa/ haruchin
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| Chigusa | Oct 8 2007, 10:06 AM Post #94 |
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Middle Schooler
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Lol. I love you guys. What can I say? Kanin na, minna-san. I kept you on the hook for so long, and you still hung on for me. Yup, I've been posting Courage up on FF.net, and (despite thesis rewrites - gah!) have even been doing some more writing. Hope you remember what happened, cos the story continues. As I promised in the author's notes on FF.net, when I had a new chapter I would post it here first. You chaps are my fanfiction home. So - after months of waiting (sorry!), here's the next chapter. I'll try not to keep you waiting for so long before the next one... Aftermath Setsuna’s sword swept through the air, driven by the unflagging fury that burned inside her. But this time, rather than the blade ripping into another luckless demon, it passed straight through it. Setsuna stumbled, thrown off-balance by the force of her attack, and stared at her erstwhile opponent. The demon was almost transparent, fading swiftly, until it dissolved into a swirl of particles a moment later. The swordswoman spun around, looking for answers, just in time to see another demon vanish the same way. From inside the circle of surrounding demons, Mana called out to her. “They’re being dispelled.” Setsuna heard her, but it didn’t make any sense. Why should that be happening? Why now? She raised Yuunagi once more, picking her next target, but no sooner had she begun to move forward, than the grey-skinned demon disappeared, its glowing red eyes the last things visible as it dissolved into its magical components. She felt cheated. These demons were hers to punish, hers to kill. But now someone else was dealing with them. Her grasp on the hilt of her long nodachi trembled, and her knuckles turned white as she tightened her grip, clutching at the polished wood. Regardless of the actions of the unknown magician, she would not give up her role until the fight was finished without a doubt. She would protect Kono-chan until the very end. She chose another demon and closed in. Whether it was sent back to its hell dimension by her blade or the mysterious dispelling power wasn’t important. Just as long as it was finished. The battle lasted barely minutes after the first demon had been dispelled. Setsuna and Mana both took down a few more of the feral creatures, but the bulk of them simply dissipated into the air, leaving nothing of themselves but dust motes in the autumn sunlight. As the last of them faded into nothingness, the two remaining Mahora fighters dropped their weapons as if on a signal. Mana sank to her knees beside Kaede’s supine form, her hands checking quickly for a pulse. Setsuna in turn flexed her wings and was at Kono-chan’s side in an instant. She cradled the fallen mage’s head in the crook of her arm, gathering her close. “Kono-chan?” she asked in a low voice. The healer’s eyelids flickered, and slowly her eyes opened, her gaze focusing on Setsuna’s face. A slow smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “It smells like birthdays.” The words were halting and hoarse, but understandable. Even if they made no sense. “What?” “The smoke… smells like candles. Like when you blow out the candles on a birthday cake.” Setsuna could only stare at her, and then blinked, suddenly aware of the smell that surrounded them. The scent of burnt paper was all around them, oddly sweet. Tears filled her eyes. “Kono-chan…” Her free hand slipped underneath the mage’s shoulder, feeling for the injury she knew was there. The Mahora uniform was slick beneath her fingers, warm from the blood that soaked it. Kono-chan hissed with pain, and then tried to push herself up with her uninjured right arm. She was immediately prevented by Setsuna’s tightened grasp. “Please don’t. Don’t push yourself. You’ll make it worse.” Panic coloured her voice. Now that the fury had left her, all that remained was cold fear. Kono-chan shook her head slowly. “I don’t think it’s that bad, Secchan. It… it hurts… but…” Despite her friend’s protestations, she managed to roll over until she was lying on her front, halfway across Setsuna’s knees. The swordswoman now had full access to the wound, and she explored it carefully, pulling blood-soaked material back from the injury as gently as she could. She caught her breath at the sight of the four puncture marks in the mage’s left shoulder, all of them welling with fresh blood, but even so, a surge of relief ran through her. Kono-chan was right. The wound was a nasty one, but the demon hadn’t hit any major veins or arteries, and its claws hadn’t gone deep enough to injure bone or tendons. Moving quickly, Setsuna ripped a strip of material off her skirt and wadded it up to press against the puncture wounds, the better to stop the blood flow. Kono-chan gave a little gasp of pain, but quickly quelled it, pressing her cheek down against the supporting warmth of Setsuna’s knees. Now that the immediate danger was over, Setsuna slowly became aware of her surroundings. Even as her hand pressed the wad of material down against Kono-chan’s shoulder, putting firm pressure on the wound, her eyes flicked around the clearing to see what had become of her companions. Kaede lay motionless not too far away, wrapped in a maroon uniform blazer. Mana, in her shirt sleeves now, knelt beside Kuu’s unmoving body, pressing a folded mass of material against the martial artist’s stomach wound in an effort to staunch the blood. As if she felt Setsuna’s eyes on her, the miko looked up with a grim smile. “We are lucky this time, Setsuna. Kuu’s wound is bad, but not life-threatening, if we can get her to a doctor quickly. Kaede will regain consciousness very soon. How is Konoka-san?” Setsuna opened her mouth to reply, but it was Kono-chan who got there first. “I’m all right, Mana-san. It’s not that bad.” Mana nodded. “The demon most likely pulled its blow when you got in its way. They had been ordered to capture, not kill you.” Setsuna felt herself nodding slowly in reply. Mana was right. If the demon had put its full force behind the blow, Kono-chan would have been run through by the creature’s claws, and would probably have died from blood loss by now. That image, of Kono-chan lying pale and still, a gaping hole where her shoulder used to be, filled her mind, and for a moment she could see nothing else. She was jolted from her reverie by an echoing voice in her head. “Setsuna-san? Setsuna-san?! Have the demons gone? Are you all right?” It was Negi. ***** The next few hours passed quickly, like some kind of dream. Negi had only been unconscious for a couple of minutes, and as soon as he recovered, he had worked quickly. The Dean had been the first port of call, and a helicopter was soon on its way to airlift the injured to Mahora’s finest medical facilities. Mana’s prediction turned out to be correct. All of the four fighters required some medical attention, but Kuu was the only one injured seriously enough to need a stay in hospital. The others, along with Kono-chan, were patched up and sent back to their various dorm rooms with orders to rest. The doctors might as well have been ordering a change in the weather. Mana returned to the dorm room only long enough to pick up a change of clothes, and then disappeared out again. She didn’t give an explanation, but then, she rarely explained herself at the best of times. Setsuna lay on her bed, hands linked behind her head, staring up at the ceiling. She knew she should be resting, but her thoughts were racing too fast. She only had to close her eyes, and she was confronted once again with the terrible image of Kono-chan, pale and still, eyes glassy in death. No amount of exhaustion could force her to sleep with that picture in her mind. Eventually she sat up with a sigh. She would take a walk. Perhaps that would help clear her head. ***** Somehow, despite any kind of conscious direction, Setsuna found her steps leading her to the dorm room shared by her three closest friends. She hesitated at the door, her hand hovering over the door handle. Why was she even there? What was she hoping to achieve? Even as she debated with herself on the threshold, the handle suddenly turned and the door opened to reveal a rather startled Negi. He didn’t say anything, just glanced behind him into the room and stepped out, closing the door behind him. When he spoke, his voice was soft. “Setsuna-san? Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?” Setsuna blushed. “Well… I couldn’t sleep… and I thought…” Negi interrupted her, a bright smile lighting his features. “You’re here to check on Konoka-san?” “I…” she looked down at the floor, unable to find the words to answer. Was she here to check on Kono-chan? Or did she have some other motive for visiting? There was no correct reply, at least not one that could be given so easily. She opted for evasion. “How is Ojou-sama?” “Asleep, I think. Asuna’s helping with the clean-up over at the concourse, so I thought I’d give Konoka-san a chance to relax without being disturbed. And I needed to patrol anyway, what with Master Kuu and the others…” he trailed off. “Anyway, I’ll see you later, Setsuna-san. Take care to get some rest yourself though, won’t you?” Setsuna smiled at his worried expression. “Thanks for your concern, sensei, but don’t worry about me. I’m fine, really. Just a few scratches.” “Well then. Take care.” With a quick bow, Negi turned and headed off down the corridor, staff in hand. Setsuna watched him go. For someone who had been fighting hard not so long ago, he seemed in surprisingly good shape. Despite the bandage wound around his head, a testament to the crack on the head that had knocked him senseless, his energy and enthusiasm didn’t seem to have been affected at all. Everything about him spoke of determination and focus. The swordswoman sighed. It must be nice to have such a straightforward view on life. She took a deep breath and laid her hand on the door handle. She was here now. Best to let the instinct that had brought her to Kono-chan’s door play itself out. She let herself into the room, closing the door behind her softly. It was still only late afternoon, but the curtains were drawn, letting only a little red-tinted light around their edges. She paused, allowing her eyes to adjust to the near darkness before stepping further into the dorm room. But just as she was about to move there was a sudden click and the room was flooded with light. Setsuna spun toward the light’s source, to be greeted by the sight of Kono-chan leaning forward out of her bunk, hand outstretched to a small table lamp on her bedside table. The mage’s eyes were squinting against the lamp’s glow, bright after the room’s earlier darkness. “You should be sleeping, Ojou-sama.” The words slipped out without her thinking about them. Kono-chan pouted in reply, and lowered herself carefully back into the confines of her bunk. “That should be my line, Secchan. Why aren’t you resting?” “I’m not the one that’s hurt.” The words were brusque, clipped, but Setsuna realised even as she spoke them that they were the truth. They came straight from her churning emotions. Something in her tone made Kono-chan stare at her, eyes still narrowed against the lamp’s glare. “That’s not true.” Then she shook her head, dismissing her own words with a gentle smile. “But that doesn’t matter. I’m glad you came to visit, Secchan. How are you feeling?” Setsuna turned away, head bowed. “I’m…” How could she answer that? There were so many answers. She was anxious, nervous for Kono-chan’s well being, even now; she was angry; she was afraid; she was vastly, overwhelmingly tired. But there was one thing, one thing that kept rising to the surface of her racing thoughts. She couldn’t avoid it anymore. She turned back to face her mistress, and the words came out of her in a sudden rush. “Why did you break your promise?” Kono-chan’s eyebrows came up in a surprised expression. “Why? Kuu-san was going to get hurt. I didn’t have a choice.” “You said you would hide far back in the forest. You promised you would. You shouldn’t have been anywhere near the battle.” The other girl frowned at that. “I couldn’t just leave you, Secchan. I couldn’t just hide and not even see how you were doing. I’m a healer. I wanted to stay close to you. What if you had got hurt?” Her tone was still soft, but it had begun to take a defensive edge. “You promised.” That was the heart of it. “You promised, Ojou-sama. It’s my duty to protect you. I can’t do that if you don’t tell me the truth.” Kono-chan looked away, her gaze focused on the bottom of the upper bunk. “I know. I’m sorry, Secchan. Really. I didn’t mean to lie to you.” She suddenly turned back, and now her eyes were hard. “But I’m not sorry that I was there. I wanted to be able to help, and I did help! I saved Kuu’s life! If I hadn’t been there, she could have died. Surely that’s not such a bad thing?” Setsuna actually took a step back, her shock and hurt showing clearly. “That’s not fair.” “But it is true.” Kono-chan’s gaze didn’t so much as waver. “If that demon hadn’t pulled its blow, you would be dead now.” Setsuna’s voice shook. “You could have died. I can’t… I can’t let you do something like that again.” Kono-chan pushed herself up on her right arm until she was sitting up in bed, her duvet falling down around her waist to show soft pink pajamas. “You can’t let me?” The swordswoman swallowed hard. She had never heard that tone in Kono-chan’s voice before. She couldn’t back down now though. “No.” “How can you…” Setsuna cut her off. “Ojou-sama, you don’t understand. My mission is to keep you safe. I’m sworn to protect you. I would die for you. I only want to…” “No, you don’t understand!” It was Kono-chan’s turn to interrupt. “I don’t want you to die for me! Maybe I can’t fight, but I can heal. I can be useful!” “But you can’t even look after yourself!” There was a sudden, deafening silence. Kono-chan sat absolutely immobile, still leaning forward over the edge of the bunk. Her face was flushed, her mouth slightly open. Setsuna felt the blood rush to her own cheeks. What had she said? “Ojou-sama…” Kono-chan let herself fall backwards against the wall. She didn’t react even when her injured shoulder connected with the brickwork hard enough to be audible. “I’m sorry. I’m very tired.” She gathered the fallen duvet up with neat, precise movements and lay back down, pulling the covers up to her chin. “Please…” The young mage stared upwards at nothing. “Perhaps you’d better go.” She turned over to face the wall. Setsuna stared at the back of her mistress’ head for a long moment. Finally she bowed her own head, biting her lip. “If you wish it, Ojou-sama.” There was no response. Setsuna turned and headed for the door with quick, jerky strides. She paused just before she reached the threshold, looking back at the bunk. The only part of Kono-chan that was visible was her long chocolate brown hair spilling out over her pillow, seeming to glow in the lamp’s soft light. The swordswoman opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Her fists clenched at her sides, and she snatched at the door handle, tugging the door open and stepping out in one swift movement. The door closed gently behind her, and she found herself leaning on it, forehead laid against the cool woodwork. “Kono-chan…” |
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| Akira-Kun | Oct 8 2007, 08:48 PM Post #95 |
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<3
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Gah!! You're back!!! I'd miss you're writing alot!! ![]() Anyways...I love this chapter; even the cliff-hanger, the angst added a nice touch also, I just hope you put some fluff.
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| Chigusa | Oct 10 2007, 04:37 PM Post #96 |
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Middle Schooler
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Ah, Akira-kun! Thanks for posting! It's definitely good to be back, and to know that I've retained at least one reader. :) Sorry to keep you waiting for so long! As promised, MA gets my chapters first, even before they're uploaded on FF.net. Accordingly, here's the next section, hot off the press. No fluff, I'm afraid, but... Well, you'll see as you read. Let's get into it! ***** Chapter 15: New Tactics Yoshino Ryoko was unimpressed. Her voice was cool, calm and collected, which was a good indicator of barely contained fury. Mari had long since learned that Ryoko shouting at you was far preferable to her talking calmly. Even at the other end of a telephone line, hundreds of miles away, she managed to be terrifying. Mari held the phone receiver against her ear and resisted the urge to throw the mobile against the wall and start running. “You dispelled your demons.” “Well… yes… But you see, Yoshino-sama…” “You dispelled your demons when you had Konoe in your grasp.” “That’s true, but really…” “Are you trying to make excuses, Fujiwara-san?” Mari subsided. There wasn’t much else she could do, under the circumstances. There was no denying that the facts were against her. Sugiyama hadn’t even said a word, and she was already in deep trouble. “No, Yoshino-sama. I won’t make excuses. If I hadn’t dispelled my agents we would have Konoe by now.” “Good.” “So I’m willing to…” Mari replayed what she’d just heard and stopped dead. “Huh?” “Good. I’m glad you’re being straight with me, Fujiwara-san. Why did you dispel them?” Not for the first time, Mari wished she could see Ryoko’s face. What was the woman thinking? “They were out of control. They would have killed everyone. I couldn’t accept that.” There was a long pause. Mari found herself shifting nervously, settling and resettling herself on the zabuton that softened the regularity of the room’s tatami flooring. She glanced over at Sugiyama, seated on the opposite side of the ryokan’s low table and grimaced. He looked the exact opposite of how she was feeling, his face composed, eyes shut, head slightly on one side as he listened in on his end of the conference call. She jumped as Ryoko spoke again. “And what about you, Sugiyama-san? Why do you think Fujiwara-san dispelled her demons?” Mari flushed and stared at Sugiyama’s face. Now the real trouble would start. “I think she’s telling the truth. She had moral qualms.” There was absolutely no trace of emotion in the man’s voice. “So you agree with her decision?” Sugiyama didn’t hesitate for a moment. “Not for a second, Yoshino-sama. The situation is dire. Capturing Konoe is worth the sacrifice of a few schoolgirls’ lives. Fujiwara-san was wrong to act as she did.” “Hmm.” There was another long silence. Mari could feel the sweat gathering on her forehead despite the coolness of the autumn evening. Was Ryoko deliberately torturing her? The moment stretched out until the woman could bear it no more. “Yoshino-sama?” she asked, hesitant but determined. “I’ve come to my decision.” Ryoko’s voice was firm. “Fujiwara-san, I appreciate your feelings. You have been dedicated to this organisation for a long time, and I don’t think it’s in you to turn traitor. But you aren’t suited to this kind of work. The situation we are facing is bleak. We have no room for moral qualms. You are therefore relieved of seniority. We can discuss your future when you return with Konoe.” Mari scrunched her hands up in her lap, digging her fingernails into her knees. She had expected something like this, but she had also expected to be recalled immediately. What was Ryoko getting at? Was she to be given another chance to prove herself? “Um… What does that mean…?” “Sugiyama-san will take charge of the operation. You are to follow his instructions. You’re a talented mage, Fujiwara-san, and we still need your abilities. But let me be clear. Any trace of insubordination in the future, and I will not be so lenient. Your new superior is authorised to deal with you as he sees fit, should such an situation arise.” Mari studied Sugiyama’s features. This was just what he must have been hoping for – a free license to act. She was waiting to see him smile, to see him look at her with the condescension she knew he must be feeling. His expression didn’t change at all. He didn’t even open his eyes. She could have killed him. Ryoko spoke again, briskly. “So, Sugiyama-san. Do you have a new plan in mind? Need I remind you that we need to get Konoe back here as soon as possible? Time is of the essence.” Now, finally, Sugiyama smiled. “I understand the circumstances, Yoshino-sama. Don’t worry, I have a plan. We have learned a little more about Konoe in the time we have spent here, and I think I know how we should proceed…” ***** Asuna sighed deeply as she trudged towards the dormitories. The concourse had been an absolute tip thanks to the explosions, and as one of the few Mahora 3-A fighters to come out of the afternoon unscathed, she had felt duty bound to help the clean up. Of course, now she was regretting it. The teachers had worked their teams like slave drivers, and every muscle in her body ached. Still, the campus was clear again, and the official story was in place. If the authorities were to be believed, the afternoon’s chaos had been due to a misguided prank by some unnamed high school students. By and large, it seemed to have been accepted. After all, stranger things had happened on the Mahora Campus. Just as she reached to open the outer door to her wing of the dormitory building, she was startled by a hiss from decorative floral border. “Psst! Ane-san!” “Whuh? Who’s there?” “A bit slow this evening, aren’t you?” A small white head popped out from the concealing cover of a hydrangea bush, followed by the rest of Chamo’s lithe ermine body. “Give me a lift would you, Ane-san?” Asuna blinked. “A lift? Chamo? Where have you BEEN?” Chamo dashed out from his hiding place at a surprising pace, and jumped for the girl’s skirt. Once his claws got purchase on the material he climbed quickly up to settle on her shoulder. “Well… I was just… checking out a few things you might say. In Shizuna-sensei’s office…” Asuna raised an eyebrow. “Oh…?” “And I got… sort of trapped. Couldn’t be seen running about in broad daylight, could I? Had to sneak all the way back here. Then I couldn’t open the door, of course. It’s a hard life being an ermine…” He trailed off into a self-pitying silence. There was a pause, as if he expected Asuna to interrupt, but when she didn’t, he kept right on going. “But now you’ll give me a lift back home won’t you Ane-san?” The girl pressed her lips together. “On one condition.” “Name it!” “You tell me where you hid the lingerie.” “L-Lingerie? I don’t know what you m…” Asuna grabbed the scruff of the little creature’s neck in one swift movement and held him out at arm’s length. She glared at him, brows furrowed, her other hand raised warningly. “What was that?” Chamo sagged in her grip. “It’s in my secret stash behind the gym storage lockers. Just let me back in!” “Fine.” She dumped him back onto her shoulder and pulled the door open. “I’ll fill you in one what’s been happening as we go.” At least it wasn’t far now. Then she could stretch out and take a nap. That would be perfect. A quick nap and then dinner. Perhaps Konoka might even be up for doing the cooking. The doctor had said her shoulder wasn’t that bad, and… Her thoughts trailed off into nothingness as she got to the dorm room she shared with Konoka and Negi and stepped inside. Konoka was lying in bed. That was fine. After all, she had been ordered to rest. But she wasn’t resting. That was the problem. She was curled into a ball, back to the door, obviously crying. ***** As soon as Setsuna got back to her room, she threw herself onto her bed, ignoring the stabbing pain from her myriad of small wounds. She buried her face in her pillow, only just managing to resist the urge to thump her forehead against it repeatedly. How could she have been so stupid? She had confronted Kono-chan when she should have been supporting her. What kind of protector was she to say such hurtful things? And now Kono-chan had sent her away. She had never done that before. Not once. She curled herself into a ball, pulling her head towards her knees, and scrunched her eyes shut. Kono-chan hated her now, and it was all her fault. What made it worse was that there was still an ember of pride burning somewhere inside her. It belonged to the voice that told her that she hadn’t acted so wrongly; that it was her duty to protect, and that it was Kono-chan that had done the wrong thing. One part of her longed to run back to Kono-chan’s room as fast as she possibly could and apologise; and yet some other part told her that she was in the right – that Kono-chan would never learn unless she put her foot down. She was torn right down the middle, between love and responsibility; between her role as friend and guardian, and she could see no way to put it right. At last, at long last, exhaustion began to catch up with her. Her thoughts, spiralling so wildly only a few minutes ago, dissolved in blurred images, and her eyes closed, bit by bit. She had gone thirty six hours without sleep, and despite everything else, her body knew what was good for her, and had begun to shut down. Slowly her breathing changed from quick, shallow breaths, to deeper inhalations, and her muscles relaxed, one at a time. Whether she wanted to or not, she would sleep. ***** “Konoka!” “Konoka-nee-san!” Konoka started at the stereo exclamation, rolling over into a sitting position with surprising speed. She stared at her roommate with red-rimmed eyes, even as she wiped away the worst of the tears with the back of her wrist. “Asuna… Sorry… I didn’t hear you come in…” Asuna didn’t hesitate for a second. She crossed the room with quick strides and sat down on the edge of the bunk, close enough to lay a hand on Konoka’s head. “What happened?” Konoka swallowed hard. “It doesn’t matter really. It was my fault.” Her friend shifted her hand to Konoka’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “What happened, Konoka?” “I just had a…” Konoka sniffed hard and made another sweeping try at scouring the tears from her cheeks. “I had an argument with Secchan.” “An argument?” “It’s silly. Really Asuna, you don’t need to worry.” Konoka’s cheeks were flushed, and she looked desperately embarrassed to have been caught crying. “Was it about today?” Asuna felt a stab of guilt even as she asked the question. She had spent most of the day unconscious and no help at all. Perhaps if she’d been able to stay awake things would be different. “She thought I should have hidden.” “And what do you think?” “I’m glad I didn’t.” Even through her tears, Konoka sounded determined. “Konoka…” Asuna faltered, wondering how she could express herself. “You just need to talk to her. Tell her how you feel. You’ll understand each other in the end. You’re not so close for nothing, you know?” “I tried…” “Did you let Setsuna-san walk out?” “I… sort of sent her… away…” “What?” Asuna stared at Konoka in genuine shock. “Konoka, you have to go to her.” However well Setsuna tried to hide her feelings, she could be embarrassingly transparent at times. Asuna knew instinctively that her friend wouldn’t be able to cope with being sent away by her beloved Ojou-sama. They had to do something right now, or no amount of damage limitation would do any good. “Oh Asuna, I want to! But I can’t apologise for the way I feel. I don’t want to be protected all the time. And I can’t back down every time Secchan disagrees with me or nothing will ever change.” The misery in Konoka’s voice was unmistakeable. Asuna shook her head. “You don’t have to apologise. But you know how sensitive Setsuna-san can be. Just let her know you haven’t sent her away for good.” Konoka stared at her friend, wide-eyed. “You don’t think she…” Asuna shrugged. “Knowing Setsuna-san… she might.” “Oh!” Konoka surged to her feet and almost ran to the door. She hesitated on the threshold, her hand already on the door handle. “Will you come with me? Just as far as…” Asuna interrupted her with a smile as she climbed to her feet. “You just try and leave me behind. The Dean’d have my hide if he thought I was leaving his granddaughter to wander the grounds all alone.” ***** Setsuna was roused from a dreamless sleep by the sound of knocking. For a moment she was totally disoriented. She couldn’t remember where she was, how she had got there, or what that sound could possibly be. Then her memory returned. She blinked slowly, her eyelids sticky with sleep, and rolled clumsily to her feet. Her limbs felt weak and rubbery, and as she went to move to the door she found herself staggering, her knees threatening to buckle with every step. It seemed the effects of the last two days’ battles, the lack of rest and waking from too short a sleep had all come together with a vengeance. She pulled the door open and blinked owlishly in the corridor’s bright lights, virtually blinding after the room’s darkness. “Yes?” She peered at her visitor, frowning as her vision took a frustratingly long time to clear. Finally the image of a man came into focus, but it was no one she recognised. He was tall, brown haired with a sprinkling of stubble decorating his cheeks. Handsome, if you liked that sort of thing. He didn’t reply immediately, and she tried again. “I’m sorry, were you looking for Mana?” He looked her up and down. “Sakurazaki Setsuna-san?” “That’s me. But what…” She was cut off by a flash of movement as the man suddenly swung his fist forwards and up. Her reflexes kicked in and she tried to raise a hand to guard against the punch, but it felt like she was moving through molasses. Her arm had barely started moving when the stranger’s fist connected with her jaw with shocking force, hurling her back into the room to land sprawled on her back. She lay there dazed for a second, lights bursting in her vision, but only for a moment. Moving as fast as her uncooperative muscles would let her, she struggled to her feet. As she did so, the man stepped into the room, slamming the door behind him. The lights snapped on, and Setsuna noticed with a start that he had taken the time to don some kind of mask. Her tired mind processed the image and she stared up at him, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. It was a gas mask. “What did you do?” Even as she spoke, her eyes flicked over to check the location of her sword. Things looked bad. Yuunagi stood propped against the beds on the other side of the room. With a single step, the stranger stood between her and her only weapon. “Do?” The man’s voice was muffled by the protective mask, but still audible. “I added a little something to your room’s air supply. Do you know the story about how to boil a frog, Sakurazaki-san?” Setsuna took the opportunity to dash forwards, aiming to duck under his outstretched arms and get her hands on her sword. But her body simply didn’t work as it should. She had barely covered half the distance when she crumpled under the impact of savage chop to the back of her neck. A foot connected with her midsection and she was thrown backwards once again, gasping for breath. The man stepped backwards and picked Yuunagi up, turning the sheathed blade as if admiring it. “I’m sorry. I think I’d better keep hold of this for the time being.” He continued in a conversational tone. “Perhaps you’ve not heard the story. They say the way to boil a frog without it escaping is to heat its water very slowly. The water will get hotter and hotter, but because the frog is used to the changing heat, it won’t react. It won’t escape even when it’s being boiled alive. You’re my frog, Sakurazaki-san.” The swordswoman clambered to her feet, one hand clutched over her stomach. She glared at her attacker, trying to ignore the growing dizziness and nausea that filled her. “Who are you?” “Me?” Even through the gas mask, the man sounded surprised. “You’re worried about that at a time like this? Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of time to get better acquainted.” “You…” It came out as a low growl, and Setsuna charged once again. The exchange was longer this time. She felt like she was moving at half speed, but even as the stranger dodged back from her first punch she unleashed another, a stabbing jab, and he was forced to knock it aside with the sheathed blade. She pulled back a hand to try again, but the stranger was quicker. He swung the weapon hard, to crack into the side of her head and send her crashing to the floor. He danced backwards, renewing the distance between them. “How are you feeling? The gas should have reached saturation point by now. You’re doing well, Sakurazaki-san. Most humans would have stopped moving long ago.” Setsuna raised a hand to the side of her head. Her fingers came away slick with blood. Darkness was crowding around the edges of her vision now, and she knew she couldn’t last much longer. She glanced around and realised that in the course of the fight she had ended up with her back to the window. If she could smash the window and get out she could warn the others. But first she would have to distract her attacker. She had to keep him talking. “You’ll never get Konoka-Ojou-sama. I swear it. I’m not her only protector. Whatever you do, we’ll keep her safe.” The man laughed. “Don’t fool yourself. We’ll get her. And when we do…” He was interrupted by a great whuff of air as Setsuna released her wings, spreading them wide in the confines of the dormitory room. She flexed them hard, aiming for the pane of glass that was her only barrier to the outside world. It’s said that a swan’s wings are strong enough to break a man’s arm with a single blow. The wings of a half demon are far more powerful. The glass smashed into splinters. The razor shards cut into her feathers, staining the white plumage red with blood, but at last she had an avenue of escape. The swordswoman spun around, folded her wings, and dived for the window. She was halfway there when the hilt of her own sword smashed into the back of her skull. She toppled and crashed into the wall below the gaping maw of the shattered window; ears ringing and vision reduced to a narrow black-edged tunnel. But worst of all, she couldn’t move. Steady footsteps marked the man’s progress towards her, and then she was flipped over onto her back, her wings tangled beneath her. “Good try.” Setsuna tried to focus on his face, her lips framing a single word. “…Why…?” The man knelt down beside her. When he spoke, his voice was quiet, but full of menace. “You’re right. Konoe has a great many protectors. Every attempt to capture her has failed. But weaknesses come in many forms. What do you think she’ll do when she finds you missing?” Fear rushed through her. “No…” She tried to move, to do anything, but her limbs refused to obey her. As her consciousness faded, the man’s final words rang in her ears. “Konoe may be kept safe by her guardians, but who watches the watchman, eh Sakurazaki-san?” |
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| Akira-Kun | Oct 10 2007, 09:52 PM Post #97 |
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<3
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Of course, you don't fail to impress me with your awesome writing. :D I love how you describe the fighting scenes. I was hoping for fluff *pouts* but I have to wait for future chapters, huh? I hope nothing bad happens to Setsuna, wonder what'll happen when Konoka finds out. *strikes thinking pose* |
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| kid386 | Oct 10 2007, 10:32 PM Post #98 |
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Grade Schooler
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been reading this on fanfiction.net, but as always awesome story can't wait for whats coming up next |
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| Chigusa | Oct 13 2007, 01:50 PM Post #99 |
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Middle Schooler
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Ookini, chaps! Glad to know that you're still enjoying it! Keeping up the trend of surprising productivity (I'm surprised by it, in any case), here's the next chapter. And of course, MA gets it first! Enjoy! Chapter 16: Important Things Mari waited nervously at the entrance to the dormitory corridor, shifting from one foot to the other as she watched for any unexpected visitors. She glanced down at her watch and frowned. Sugiyama had said the gas would take full effect a good five minutes ago, but he still hadn’t called for her. Perhaps something had happened. Taking one last look around, she crept up the lino-covered hallway and tentatively knocked at Sakurazaki’s door. There was silence. Mari tried again, calling softly as she did so. “It’s Mari. Is everything all right?” This time Sugiyama answered. “Wait. I have to unlock the door.” There was a click and the door was pulled open to reveal the man himself, his features hidden behind a thick rubber mask. Mari jumped at the sight. Knowing the plan was all very well, but nothing had prepared her for the actual sight of a person in a gas mask. Somehow the image struck some deep-buried chord in her, some sort of primal fear that had nothing to do with circumstances at hand. She shook her head, embarrassed at her unguarded reaction, and reached into her bag for her own mask. She pulled the mask over her head, closed the door, careful to lock it behind her, and turned to take her first good look at the room itself. She froze, staring in horror. The room looked like a bomb had hit it. A low table had been thrown aside to lie on its side against the wall. The entirety of the floor was covered in shards of glass, and flecked with blood. And beneath the shattered ruin of the window, surrounded by the worst of the detritus, lay Sakurazaki’s motionless body. Blood covered the side of her head, running down to stain the collar of her white uniform shirt. A pool of it had gathered on the carpet beneath her, the deep red clashing with the burgundy of her waistcoat. The girl’s wings, that Mari had previously seen only through the eyes of her agents, were no longer a pure snowy white, but a lacerated mess of white and red, tangled and crushed beneath her limp form. Mari covered her mouth, or tried to, the instinctive gesture halted by the ungainly mass of the mask that covered her face. “Dear God in heaven, Sugiyama! What did you do? You were going to capture her, not kill her!” Sugiyama shot her a look and grunted with effort as he pulled the girl into a sitting position, one arm over his shoulder. “She’s not dead. She just didn’t go down easy. I had to help her on her way a bit.” Mari gestured at the shattered window. “And that? When did…?” He hauled himself to his feet, dragging his captive up with him. “The idiot girl put her wing through it. We have to hurry. Someone might have heard the noise. Is the team waiting on the other side?” “Yes.” Mari fell silent for a second, still shocked by the mess in front of her. Then she shook herself, determined not to show weakness in front of Sugiyama. It was just the first time she had ever been near the scene of a fight, and seen the remains with her own eyes. It was more difficult than she had imagined. She tried again. “Yes. They reported in fifteen minutes ago. They’ll be ready. Hang on. I just have to draw the circle…” She moved swiftly, dusting the worst of the glass shards out of the way before producing a thick brush and an ink bottle. The magic circle itself was a fairly simple one and she drew the glyphs in their places with practiced strokes, the black symbols stark against the delicate pastel shade of the carpet. A minute’s work and she was finished. Sugiyama now stood in the centre of the circle, holding up the unconscious girl beside him. “You know what to do next?” His voice was measured, a lot calmer now than he had been when she had first entered the room. Mari nodded, controlling the fleeting stab of annoyance she felt at having to report to her erstwhile kouhai. “First, get clear. Second, turn off the gas. Third,…” “Enough. We don’t have time. Just make sure you get out fast once I’ve gone. They’ll know as soon as magic is used within the school grounds. Oh, and…” He reached up with the hand that had been around Sakurazaki’s waist and tugged sharply. Even in her unconscious state, the girl grimaced, her brows coming together in an unmistakeable expression of pain. “Here.” He held out his hand, now containing a handful of bloodied feathers. “These might be useful.” Mari accepted them gingerly, struggling to contain her revulsion. “Whenever you’re ready.” “Ready. Activate.” ***** Asuna paused, cocking her head on one side as if trying to hear better. She had felt something, some kind of jolt, like an electric shock. She and Konoka were out in the open, making their way between two dormitory blocks, and alone, as far as she could tell. “Did you feel that?” Konoka turned back, her face scrunched up in concentration. “Yes. Like… like someone just tapped me on the shoulder, or…” She shook her head in defeat. “I don’t think there are words for it.” Asuna frowned, and then shrugged in dismissal. “It’s magic then. If it’s something odd that we don’t have words for it, it’s definitely going to be magic. It didn’t feel big though. And I’m sure Negi would let us know if there was anything going on.” Konoka nodded. “Mm. Come on, Asuna. We’re nearly there.” The two girls virtually jogged the rest of the way, such was Konoka’s enthusiasm. But as they entered Setsuna’s corridor, Asuna grabbed her friend’s arm, pulling her to a halt. “I’ll wait here. I don’t want to get in the way, and this is definitely between you two. Don’t worry how long it takes. I’ll stay right here until you come out and tell me it’s all sorted out and I should go. All right?” Konoka took Asuna’s hand between her own two and gave her a warm smile, full of the emotions she couldn’t express in words. “Asuna.” Asuna smiled back, then broke the moment with a gentle pat on the girl’s shoulder. “Go on. Good luck.” Konoka nodded and started down the corridor towards Setsuna’s room, her footsteps slowing as she got closer. Finally she stood in front of the blank door, and reached out with one tentative hand. It looked as if she was intending to knock, but halfway there her hand twisted, and she ended up just stroking the unpolished wood with her fingertips, a longing expression on her face. She turned and shot Asuna an uncertain look. Asuna simply smiled, gave her a thumbs up sign, and deliberately turned away. Konoka needed to do this herself. Sure enough, a moment later the sound of a gentle knock reverberated through the corridor. It was followed by a silence and then a louder knock. Asuna frowned. Perhaps Setsuna was asleep? She certainly ought to be, after all that had happened, but the swordswoman wasn’t usually a light sleeper. She looked back, just in time to see Konoka lean a little closer to the door and lay her hand on the handle. Her words were soft, but just audible. “Secchan? Tatsumiya-san? I’m coming in.” The handle turned beneath her fingers and she stepped forward into the room. There was a click, the lights being turned on, and then a long, long silence. Asuna strained her ears, feeling faintly embarrassed that she was trying to eavesdrop on what was happening, but too curious to do anything else. “Asuna?” Konoka’s voice was hoarse, strained. “ASUNA!” Asuna was running even before Konoka reached the second syllable of the wild shout. “What? What is it?” She skidded around the corner, catching herself on the doorframe. Konoka stood in the middle of a room that looked like a war zone. It was covered in broken glass, overturned tables, black ink, and… blood. The healer’s hands were up, covering her mouth, her eyes round as saucers. She didn’t even turn round as Asuna came in, shoes crunching on the glass underfoot. “Asuna… This… Secchan…” The red-head looked from the horrified girl, to the broken window, to the blood that flecked the carpet. Without a second thought, she pulled out her pactio card. “Negi! Come quickly! Something’s happened to Setsuna-san!” ***** Chaos ensued. Asuna sat at the centre of a flurry of activity, holding a trembling and shell-shocked Konoka. Negi came and went, setting out immediately to search the grounds from the air. Teacher-mage teams appeared and disappeared, taking samples, probing the ink of the magic circle, taking readings on strange instruments. Two took positions on either side of the doorway and didn’t move. Bodyguards, she assumed. In truth, she wanted to be out doing something as well, but what, she had no idea. For the moment, Konoka needed her. The teachers were doing all that could be done. If she just rushed out into the thick of things she would be doing nothing but getting in the way. Finally the Dean himself arrived, an uncharacteristically grave expression making him appear even older than usual. Konoka ran to him, burying her head in his white robes. He held her close, his hands gently stroking her hair. Asuna was left on her own in the middle of the room, feeling utterly useless. There was nothing in the world she hated more than being helpless. She got up and fixed the Dean with a steady gaze. “Is there something I can do? I’d like to join one of the search teams, or… just… do something.” He frowned. “You’ve been busy all day, Kagurazaki-san. I don’t know that you should be…” He was cut off by Asuna’s determined interjection. “Please, Dean! I can’t just sit around here. Setsuna-san is my friend!” His expression softened. “I understand. If you must then, you may join Negi-kun. I’m sure he could use your help.” Konoka reacted immediately, lifting her head to stare up at her grandfather. She was still trembling, but her eyes were dry. “Me too. I want to help.” This time the Dean looked away, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Konoka. I know Setsuna-kun is important to you, but it’s just too dangerous. I want you to stay inside. This may be the start of another concerted attack.” Konoka blinked in disbelief. “But Grandfather, surely if I’m with the others…” He didn’t let her finish. “No, Konoka. And that’s my last word on the subject.” She wrenched herself around in his embrace. “Asuna? Don’t you think I could…” Asuna winced and looked down at her shoes, hating herself even as she spoke. “I’m sorry. I think the Dean’s right. You’re the one they’re after, right? To have you out in the open, wandering around with just a couple of others, that would just make you a perfect target. You’re important Konoka. We have to keep you safe.” It wasn’t a betrayal. She believed every word she was saying, and knew it was the right thing to do. So why did she feel so bad? Konoka’s expression, a mixture of deep hurt and resignation, made her feel worse still. Why was this stuff never simple? The Dean spoke into the awkward silence. “Kagurazaki-san, could I prevail on you to take Konoka back to your dormitory room? I don’t think it’s a good idea to stay here.” His eyes flicked from the magic circle on the floor to the broken window and back, to focus on Asuna’s face. She got the message loud and clear. It would do Konoka no good to stay in such a painful place. She nodded wordlessly and reached out to take her friend’s hand. “Come on, Konoka. I’ll walk you back to the room.” The girl didn’t answer, but she didn’t resist, and followed when Asuna tugged gently on her hand. As they started down the corridor the two teacher-mages fell in beside them, keeping a sharp watch in every direction. It seemed the Dean wasn’t taking any chances. When they got back to their shared room, Asuna stopped and squeezed Konoka’s hand. “I’ll leave you here for now. I promise I won’t be too long, and I’ll let you know as soon as we find anything out. We’ll find Setsuna-san, I swear. Just take care of yourself, ok?” “Ok.” Konoka sounded dejected, but still managed to give Asuna a shaky smile. “You take care too, Asuna. I’ll be waiting.” Asuna nodded. “Later then.” She turned and headed for the exit out into the dormitory buildings’ main quadrangle. She paused at the door, turning back to check that Konoka had gone into the room, and was surprised to see that the girl was still standing there, watching her. But as soon as Asuna opened her mouth to speak, the healer raised a hand in a little wave of farewell. Then she turned, opened the door, stooped to pick something up in the entranceway, and disappeared out of sight. The door clicked behind her, and the two bodyguards took up their stations, watching both ends of the corridor. Asuna allowed herself a sigh of relief, and pushed her way out into the cool evening air. She touched her pactio card to her temple once more. “Negi? I’m on my way.” ***** Konoka leaned back on the closed door, breathing hard. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t! It wouldn’t help Secchan to break down now. In her heart of hearts she understood why Grandfather and Asuna had said what they did, but it still hurt. She may never have discussed her feelings with Asuna exactly, but the red-head seemed to understand how things were between her and Secchan. To know how she felt, and yet still refuse to support her couldn’t help but feel like a betrayal. Konoka rubbed a hand across her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she opened them again and looked down at the envelope in her hands. It had been lying inside the doorway, as if it had been pushed under the door. It was a plain white envelope, with nothing on the front except her name, “Konoe Konoka-san”, printed in large black characters. She had no idea what it could be. Sometimes the other members of the Library Exploration Club would leave her notes if she hadn’t been present in class, but this didn’t look like any of their handwriting, even if it was bulky enough to be Nodoka’s usual formidable notes. She turned it over, searching for more clues, and froze. The words printed on the back, a smaller version of that neat black print, seemed to sear themselves on her brain. “Show this to no one else. Your friend’s life depends on it.” With shaking hands, she ripped the envelope open and pulled the note inside out so forcefully that the envelope tore in her grip and spilled the rest of its contents across the floor. She sank to her knees, her hands automatically reaching out to collect the fallen objects. Then she realised what they were, and now no amount of willpower would keep the tears from her eyes. They were feathers. Once snow white, now streaked with the dull brown of dried blood. Secchan’s feathers. Heedless of anything else, she cupped the feathers against her cheek, feeling them brittle and hard against her skin, where they had once been so soft. “Secchan…” On the floor by her knees lay the note itself. Still clutching the feathers, Konoka reached for it, unable to resist its silent challenge. Slowly, slowly, she unfolded the crisp paper and began to read. “East Park Fountain. Midnight. Come alone. Tell no one. Disobey and she dies.” ***** Kanin na, Akira-kun. Still no fluff. I promise there'll be some in the end, ok? :) |
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| kid386 | Oct 14 2007, 03:21 AM Post #100 |
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Grade Schooler
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i dont have a ff.net account, but i've been keeping up with the story on that site lately, and the only thing i can say the cliffhangers are KILLING me, as always cant wait |
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| Akira-Kun | Oct 14 2007, 03:07 PM Post #101 |
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<3
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You're story is so awesome, I seem to be more interested in the fighting scenes. Well if you say there will be fluff I'll wait. :D
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| Chigusa | Oct 18 2007, 07:28 PM Post #102 |
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Middle Schooler
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Whuff. Well that took a while, and a surprising amount of effort. It's also ended up rather huge, so I hope that's not going to be off-putting. :) Now, bear in mind that I'm horrendously busy at the moment, so haven't taken the time to check and recheck this as much as I probably should. I might edit over time to get it up to scratch. Don't be surprised if you come back later and some of the phrasing has changed. :) Anyway, I'll stop stalling. Here it comes, chapter 17, a Mahora Academy Exclusive, as always. :) Chapter 17: Decision Asuna slumped onto a park bench and let her head fall back until she was staring up at the night sky. It was clear and cold, and even with the city’s light pollution, the stars were visible, shining softly in their constellations. Not that she could name any of them. Astronomy had never been one of her strong points. She sighed and pulled out her pactio card once again. “Negi, it’s Asuna. Still nothing.” There was a short pause, then, “Thanks, Asuna-san. I’ve not found any sign of Setsuna-san in this sector either.” Asuna looked back up at the stars, doing her best to stifle a yawn. She was absolutely exhausted. Despite two hours of searching they had yet to find a single sign of the missing swordswoman. Her eyelids were heavy, and she felt just about ready to drop. From the sound of it, Negi wasn’t doing any better than she was. Still, she wasn’t ready to give up yet. “Ok. What next?” “Asuna-san…” Negi’s voice was uncharacteristically dejected. “We’ve been searching for hours now. There has to be a better way to find Setsuna-san. Have I been going about this all wrong?” Asuna ran a hand through her hair, idly setting the bells on her pigtails ringing. “I don’t know. Seems to me that if someone’s missing, you’ve just got to look for them. It’s not just you – that was what the Dean sent us to do as well.” “I know. But still…” There was a long silence. Asuna was in the middle of formulating a reassuring reply when Negi’s telepathic exclamation exploded in her brain. “Of COURSE!” She actually fell sideways on the bench before she pulled herself together and managed to straighten back up. “What?! For goodness’ sake, you don’t need to shout. This is telepathy! You’re not on the other side of a football pitch!” “Nodoka-san!” Negi was jubilant. “We forgot about Nodoka-san!” Asuna furrowed her brows, wondering if it was just fatigue that was making her so slow. “Honya-chan? What about her? What can…?” She trailed off as her tired thoughts caught up. “OH!” “I’ll contact her right now. We’ll meet you back at the room, all right Asuna-san? This time it was Asuna’s turn to hesitate. “Do you think Konoka will be ok? I know she’s feeling kinda helpless at the moment. It wouldn’t be rubbing it in, would it?” “No.” Negi’s voice was firm. “The only thing we can do for Konoka-san right now is to keep her as involved as we can.” Asuna nodded, not caring that there was no one to see the gesture. That made sense. Yes. There was nothing worse than being kept in the dark. Konoka would appreciate being kept in the loop, even if she couldn’t join in with any of the physical stuff. “Ok. I’ll see you back there!” Filled with a new sense of purpose, and with renewed energy to go with it, Asuna started back for the dormitory buildings at a run. How better to find someone than to see what they’re thinking? ***** Konoka knelt where she had fallen, the ransom note crumpled in one clenched fist. Her other hand lay flat on her knees, Secchan’s feathers resting on her open palm, the blood-hardened barbs scratching lightly at the skin. Her eyes were unfocused, staring at nothing, as she struggled to comprehend what she had just read. Secchan… They had Secchan. They had hurt her. Konoka’s gaze slid downwards to refocus on her fist, hiding the crushed remnants of the note. She had felt cold, as if all the heat had been sucked from the room, but as she stared down at the evidence that someone was threatening the life of one of the people she cared for the most, a heat began to grow inside her. The cold fear hadn’t gone, of course. She was afraid, deeply afraid. For Secchan, but at the same time, selfishly, for herself. Whoever these people were, they were willing to risk anything to get their hands on Konoka. If she did give herself up for Secchan’s sake, what would they do with her? Yet alongside the fear there was another emotion, a new one for her. Konoka had always been laid back. If a member of her class had been asked to describe her, she would have been named as the gentle one; the easy-going one; the surprisingly intelligent airhead. But now… now she was angry. It was a heat that began in her gut and rose up through her until her very muscles trembled. How dare they? How dare they hurt those she loved and manipulate her and her friends like this? Who did they think they were?! Konoka’s hand tightened steadily on the ruined note until her nails were digging into her palm. Then, and only then, when she simply couldn’t close her hand any tighter, she flung the scrap of paper away, to bounce off the window and land in the middle of the room, mocking her with its continued existence. To go would be idiocy. She knew that. Secchan had fought so hard for her; Kuu-san had got so badly injured, just to keep her from those people. Now they expected her to just give herself up. Wouldn’t that waste all the sacrifices that her friends had made for her? She climbed to her feet, until she was stood facing the window, swaying despite her best efforts. She knew the right thing to do. She would tell Negi. She would tell the Dean. She would tell the people who could do something; who could tell her what to do. They were experienced with this kind of thing. Then she wouldn’t need to worry about anything. It wouldn’t be her fault. Yes. She couldn’t deal with this on her own. It would be stupid to try. Konoka’s thoughts were distracted by the sound of someone sliding a key into the door’s keyhole. It must be either Negi or Asuna, she knew, returning from their searching. She should tell them immediately what had happened. Show them the note. But somehow, some other instinct kicked in, and Konoka found herself running across the room to recover the crumpled scrap of paper that was the ransom note and stuff it into a pocket. Secchan. It was Secchan. The internal voice rang through her soul. Could she really abandon her friend? As the door handle turned, Konoka snatched up a book and leapt to seat herself at the room’s low table, feigning concentration. She didn’t have to decide what to do just yet. She still had an hour: a whole hour to work out what would be best. Despite her reputation, Konoka wasn’t slow. She wasn’t an airhead of any description. She was one of the most intelligent members of class 3-A, and right now, her brain was working overtime. The problem was that it was her heart it was working against. ***** Nodoka was startled out of the beginnings of sleep by an echoing voice in her head. “Nodoka-san? Are you awake? Nodoka-san?!” She sat up so fast, her forehead smacked into the underside of the upper bunk with a resounding thud. She squeaked in pain. Said bunk’s occupants grunted in tired annoyance. “What on earth are you doing, Nodoka? I thought you were going to sleep already…” “Sorry, Haruna!” Her forehead red and stinging, Nodoka scrabbled under her pillow to find what she was looking for: her pactio card. A few seconds’ of desperate activity later she had it, and touched it quickly to her temple. “N… Negi-sensei?” “Nodoka-san. I’m sorry, did I wake you?” Although Negi’s telepathic communication carried his usual careful courtesy, there was something else there, a hidden urgency. “No, not really. That is… I was just drifting off. What’s the matter, sensei?” “Could you come to Asuna-san’s room? I need to talk to you.” “Now?” “Please. It’s urgent.” Nodoka blinked in the darkness. Negi needed her. He had never called on her like this before. Perhaps he was starting to realise her potential at last? She smiled, unable to contain the sudden rush of pleasure at the thought of being needed. “Don’t worry, sensei. I’ll be right there.” “Thanks, Nodoka-san. Please hurry.” And with that he was gone. Nodoka lowered the card from her forehead slowly, still caught up in the flush of happiness that had filled her at Negi’s words. Then she realised she was moving in slow motion and jumped out of bed, snapped on the lamp, and hurried to find her clothes. Negi had said it was urgent. She had to be as quick as she could. Haruna leaned out over the rails of the top bunk, blinking sleepily in the sudden light. She looked distinctly bleary-eyed, a fact not helped by the lack of her usual glasses. “Nodoka? What’s going on?” “Oh… um…” Nodoka tried to think of a good answer as she pulled a sweater over her pyjama top. “Well… Negi-sensei just…” She didn’t have a chance to get any further. Haruna had snapped wide awake, and was now grinning down at her in a manifestly predatory way. “Negi-sensei, eh? He just called you? With that card thing?” She had her own card now, of course, but hadn’t had much of a chance to use it yet. “Er… Yes, but…” “And you’re going to meet him?! A late-night liaison? Nice going, Nodoka!” She gave her shy friend a thumbs up sign, her eyes twinkling. Nodoka instantly turned a shade of red usually reserved for beetroots. “I… It’s… it’s not like that, Haruna!” The manga-ka waved a nonchalant hand. “Whatever you say. Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, eh?” “Haruna!” “I should get going, or you’ll be late. Although you might want to take off those pyjama bottoms before you leave. I’m not sure they quite go with the skirt.” Nodoka stared down at herself in horror. She had indeed managed to get fully dressed, shoes, socks and all, but without taking off her nightclothes first. She hurriedly tugged at the offending garment, hopping on one leg in the doorway as she tried to wrench them off over her shoes. Finally she got them off and hurled them into a heap on the floor. As she turned back to the door she got a last sight of Haruna, still leaning over the bunk’s railings, waving languidly. “Take care, Nodoka! Good luck!” Unable to find a pithy answer, Nodoka simply blushed a deeper shade of red and lunged for the door handle. Then she was out and jogging down the hallway to where Negi was waiting. ***** Nodoka arrived at Asuna’s room, out of breath and still rather red in the face, to find Negi waiting for her outside. He gave her a nervous smile and beckoned her over. “Thanks for coming so quickly, Nodoka-san,” he said softly. Nodoka just smiled. He glanced at the door. “Asuna-san and Konoka-san are inside. We’ll join them in a minute, but I wanted to explain things first. The Dean has asked us to keep this to as few people as possible, which is why we couldn’t let you know as soon as things started to happen. I’m sorry about that, Nodoka-san, but we need your help. I hope you don’t mind.” She shook her head emphatically. “It’s all right, Negi-sensei. But what’s happened?” So he told her. By the time he finished, she was staring at him, mouth slack with shock, eyes wide. “Everyone so hurt! And Sakurazaki-san missing…” She looked around as if trying to see the people inside the room. “Konoka must be going out of her mind…” Negi stepped forward and took her hand, riveting her attention back onto him once more. “You’ll help, won’t you, Nodoka-san?” “Of course! Anything I can do. You want my artefact, don’t you? It should be able to show us Sakurazaki-san’s mind, wherever she might be, since I know her well enough…” “Great! Let’s go then.” Negi turned the handle and held the door open, still the perfect English gentleman, even under pressure. The first thing that she noticed as she entered the room was the expression on Konoka’s face. The girl was sat on the opposite side of the low table, staring fixedly at the doorway. Her face was totally blank, showing no emotion at all. It was an expression so unlike the normal open, bubbly Konoka, that it made the usually reserved librarian want to run across the room and hug her. She didn’t, but only because it was at that point that Asuna turned around to greet the newcomers. The look on her face was one of profound relief, and a lingering desperation. Being alone with Konoka for the last few minutes had obviously not been an easy task. Konoka spoke first, without preamble. “Can you find her, Nodoka?” The girl nodded, trying to radiate determined assurance. “Yes.” “Let’s do this then. Quickly.” That was Asuna. The four arranged themselves at the table, one to each side, formality still governing their actions; a reassuring default in troubled times. They all fixed their eyes on Nodoka, waiting. Feeling profoundly nervous, the librarian pulled her pactio card out of a pocket and concentrated on it. “Adeat!” Her magical book appeared out of nowhere in a puff of theatrical smoke, dropping open into her waiting hands. She fixed her thoughts on Setsuna, fixing the swordswoman’s image in her mind, and concentrating on her name. Immediately, words began appearing on the book’s previously blank pages, scribbling line after line as if being written by an invisible hand. The problem was, the book didn’t seem to be working as it usually did. The picture above the diary entry, usually such an obvious image of whatever the target was thinking, was a hazy mess, with nothing to see other than a few vague outlines. Nodoka shook her head in perplexity, and turned her attention to the words. Perhaps that would explain things. I’m running. I’m trying to run, but I can’t. My limbs won’t move. It’s coming closer, closer. I can hear its breathing. Perhaps if I’m quiet then it won’t… No! It’s found me! NO! … Nodoka gaped. She had been reading out loud, and the faces of the others around the table echoed her own. “She’s being attacked! What’s going on?!” Negi leaned forward. “Keep reading, Nodoka-san, please. Perhaps she’ll notice some landmark, or think of her location, and then we can find her.” She nodded, more slowly this time, and looked back at the writing as the cursive script flowed across the page. I’m a child. The bird tribe is gathered, looking down at me. They know about my wings now. The leader thumps the ground and points, away from the camp. Exile. I try to protest, try to speak, but they won’t let me. They pick me up. I try to struggle, but I’m too small. I’m too human. They carry me… She looked up again, to see Asuna glaring at her. “What?! What just happened?! Why is she suddenly a kid?!” Nodoka shook her head. She had never seen anything appear in the book like this before. It was Konoka who broke the silence. “She’s dreaming.” Her voice was flat. Asuna raised a sceptical eyebrow. “So she’s asleep?” Nodoka jumped and turned to Konoka eagerly. “Oh! Oh, of course! But how do you…?” The girl looked away, down at the table. “Secchan has that nightmare a lot, I think. When we got back from Kyoto, she told me some more about her past. She said she dreams of it sometimes. But even when we were little, she would have nightmares. She never told me then, but I think they might have been like that.” No one said anything for a long moment, until Negi spoke. “I suppose… I suppose we’ll have to wait for her to wake up. She won’t know where she is if she’s dreaming.” Nobody replied. They all knew that Negi was right. Waiting really was the only thing they could do. The room fell into a tense silence. No one looked at anyone else and the only sound was the odd rustlings of someone shifting position. Nodoka tried to keep an eye on what the book was writing without actually reading anything in depth. She had always worried about the ethics of looking at someone’s private thoughts – once, she had even asked Yue about it. An hour-long lecture on ethical theory later she still wasn’t sure how she felt. This might be the only way she could save Setsuna’s life, but it still felt wrong to be reading her dreams. The minutes ticked past, and Nodoka could see Konoka snatching glances at the clock that sat on her bedside table. She could understand how the girl felt. If one of her best friends had gone missing, she would have been desperate to get something done as well. She felt bizarrely as if she was somehow betraying Konoka’s trust. She knew it wasn’t her fault that they hadn’t yet found out what was happening to Setsuna, but that didn’t stop her feeling guilty. They didn’t have the time to wait. Suddenly, as she scanned the book yet again, she saw something change. The picture shifted and altered, the hazy lines swimming around as if searching for a form to take. The script itself changed, the handwriting changing from a flowing script to its usual clunkier form. Then it stopped altogether. Nodoka held her breath, staring down at the blank page. Finally, the writing began again, but slowly this time. It hurts. She bit her lip and glanced up at the other three, wondering if she should start reading. They had all noticed the change in her level of attention, and now every set of eyes was locked onto her. “Did something happen, Nodoka-san?” Negi asked tentatively. “Um…” Her gaze wavered between Negi and Konoka. “I… I think so.” “Nodoka…” It was Konoka, her face still terrifyingly blank. “Please read it out loud. I’d rather…” For a moment her façade cracked, and her voice broke and trembled before she got it under control again. “I’d rather know. Please.” Reluctantly, the girl nodded. She turned her attention back to the text, reading it aloud this time. Head hurts… Wings hurt…What happened? Can’t see… Eyes open now, but everything is white. Too bright to see. Try to lift hand to shade eyes, can’t… Can’t move… Suddenly the picture changed, snapping into shape, the image clear now. It was a stylised Setsuna suspended in the centre of a bare room; her hands and wings both bound with chains. At the same time the writing suddenly sped up at such an amazing rate that Nodoka was hard pressed to keep up. Setsuna had woken up properly. Captured! I remember. That man… I wasn’t sure that he would keep me alive. This place… All white. Like a laboratory. Small room. Feet can’t touch the floor, can’t get any leverage on the chains. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. Chains are strong and tight – can’t do anything with them. I’m alone. Do they know I’ve regained consciousness? How long have I been out? What will they do next? There was a pause in the text, and Nodoka took the opportunity to snatch a glance at Konoka. She was pale, her eyes wide, but there was no surprise registering on her face. The text started moving again, and the librarian’s attention was forced back to the book. Does Kono-chan know? She must, by now. Whoever these people are, they wouldn’t capture me if they just wanted me out of the way. They would kill, I’m sure. That man didn’t have an ounce of mercy in him. They’ll use me as a hostage – try to get to Kono-chan through me. They won’t succeed though. They can’t. Kono-chan wouldn’t deliver herself to these people, and the others wouldn’t let her. Negi knows better than that. So… I’m probably going to die. There was another pause in the text’s flow, as if the impact of the thought was settling into Setsuna’s consciousness. Nodoka didn’t look up. She didn’t dare. I’m no use to them if I don’t give them any leverage. And if I’m alive, I’m a danger. They’ll have to kill me. If that’s what it takes to keep Kono-chan safe… then that’s the way it must be. Kono-chan won’t come. I’ll never see her again. I shouldn’t want to, if it would mean she was in danger, but I can’t help it. The last time I saw her I hurt her. I don’t want her last memories of me to be like that. She might hate me now, but I don’t want to regret… I don’t want to go to the afterlife regretting that I never told her the truth. That I never told her how I felt. That I never told her I loved her. As Nodoka began to read the last three words, she slowed down, and her eyes dragged up from the page, unable to resist the terrible urge. The others were the same. As one, they all looked straight at Konoka, their expressions full of shock and apprehension. Konoka herself looked absolutely expressionless. She was white as a sheet, and her eyes stared at nothing, away past Nodoka’s shoulder. Then, all of a sudden, blood rushed into her cheeks, and she stumbled to her feet, swaying gently. “Konoka…” That was Asuna, her voice infinitely tender. The young healer didn’t wait to hear whatever her friend was going to say. As if on a signal, she spun around and charged for the door, flinging it open and pounding away down the corridor, her bare feet loud on the lino-covered floor. Nodoka stared after her in horror. “Oh no… This is all my fault.” Asuna was on her feet now, and started for the door. At Nodoka’s words though, she stopped and gave her what she probably thought was a reassuring smile, although it ended up more grim than anything else. “Don’t be silly, Honya-chan. It’s their fault. Those monsters that did this. You’re helping.” She shot Negi a quick glance. “I’m going after her.” And then, true to her word, she was gone, sprinting down the hallway after her best friend. ***** Asuna ran, putting every last ounce of the energy she had left into her headlong dash. Konoka was nowhere in sight, but she knew which direction she had gone. There was only so much corridor – she couldn’t have got too far. A movement caught her eye a little further down the hallway and she recognised two figures dithering nervously outside a door. They were the mage bodyguards assigned to Konoka, and the door they seemed afraid to open… was the entrance to the ladies toilets. Asuna charged towards them. “Hey! You two! Did Konoka go in there?” The mages, one male and one female, gave her a single desperate look. “Yes…” “Me too, then! Gangway!” She burst through the doorway, to be faced with the familiar sight of the usual row of cubicles on one side, wash basins on the other. Konoka was nowhere in sight, and just one of the cubicle doors was shut. Asuna strode towards it and tried it carefully. It was locked. “Konoka? Are you in there?” There was no answer. Not a sound disturbed the echoing silence. She tried again. “If you’re there, please answer. I want to help. You don’t have to suffer alone. We’re friends, aren’t we?” Still nothing. She frowned, and breathing a generalised prayer of repentance, bent down to peer under the cubicle door. There were no feet visible. A terrible thought struck her and she leapt to her feet. “Konoka, if you’re in there, I’m sorry. But I have to do this. I’m coming in.” She spun around and put all her force into a single mighty kick. The cubicle door was instantly blasted off its hinges, and crashed into the toilet with such force that it broke in half. Kicking the wreckage aside, Asuna strode into the space and gasped as her fears were confirmed. A small window was set high in the wall above the cistern. It was wide open. “Oh Konoka…” ***** Konoka sprinted through the Mahora grounds, heedless of the dew-soaked grass that chilled her bare feet and soaked through her light trousers. Even gravel-lined driveways didn’t give her pause. Discomfort wasn’t registering in her brain anymore. Only one thought drove her. She had tried. She had tried so hard. But knowing wasn’t enough. Intellect could only do so much. Against feeling it was helpless, nothing but words echoing in the darkness. ***** Asuna squeezed herself through the window and dropped to the stone flagged courtyard outside. She couldn’t see her friend anywhere, but when she stopped and listened very carefully she could just make out the thud of footsteps, heading east, towards one of Mahora’s many parks. She gave chase. She was fast, she knew that. In any given PE lesson she could usually beat Konoka hands down at the 100m sprint. Now it was different. She was gaining, but frustratingly slowly. It took minutes before Konoka came into sight, running hard, head down, arms pumping. They had come a long way, right out into the stretch of green lawn that had been imaginatively named ‘East Park’. The only feature visible was the ornamental fountain, uplit and shining against the clear night sky. Konoka slowed as she approached it, and Asuna felt a thrill of fear run through her. “KONOKA!” If the girl heard, she showed no sign of it. As she drew closer to the structure another figure emerged, silhouetted against the decorative lighting. It was a woman, short and slender in build, her hair fastened back in a kind of messy bun. Asuna had never seen her before. The woman said something, too soft to be heard at that distance, and held out her hand. Konoka reached for it, only hesitating for a fraction of a second. “DON’T! KONOKA!” There was a flash of light, and the pair were suddenly illuminated by magical flames that rose up from the magic circle that surrounded them. Konoka turned, then, acknowledging Asuna’s existence for the first time, even as she began to fade from view. Asuna was close enough to hear now, but still out of reach. “I’m sorry.” “NO!” She threw herself into the last few meters, hand outstretched, diving for her friend as if her life depended on it. She flew through thin air and landed hard, rolling on the grass beyond the remains of the circle. Konoka had gone. |
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| kid386 | Oct 19 2007, 07:31 PM Post #103 |
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Grade Schooler
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AHHH Poor Konoka and Setsuna
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| icha-kun | Oct 19 2007, 10:58 PM Post #104 |
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Nobody
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lol Fast update! ^^ |
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| Jessie | Oct 20 2007, 03:56 AM Post #105 |
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KonoSetsu Fan!
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WHAAA! NO! X_X Kono-chan! Great chapter! #&%$ update soon ne?! |
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7:21 PM Jul 10