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Courage; KonoSetsu Fic - Who else?
Topic Started: Feb 24 2007, 08:25 PM (7,303 Views)
Akira-Kun
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<3
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@_@ Konoka!!

Nice chapter also.
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Chigusa
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Middle Schooler
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Looks like we're at that time of the week again. Thesis deadlines seem to equal a writing boost, for better or worse. Here's the next chapter, although without the usual time to edit. I'll go back and tidy up where necessary, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the rawest of raw chapters. I think it's the longest yet - seems to be a feature recently. In any case, I hope you enjoy.


Chapter 18: Confession

Asuna lay where she had fallen, panting for breath. The magical flames that had lit the park just seconds ago were totally gone now, and the only source of illumination was the fountain, shining under its cold uplights. She rolled over, still breathing hard, and crawled over to the circle itself. It had been painted on the grass with thick black ink, the same pattern that she had seen in Setsuna’s room. The same people, then. She cursed, under her breath at first, but gradually growing in volume until she was positively shouting. How had she managed to let this happen?!

Finally she ran out of epithets and breath both, and she was reduced to kneeling there, head hanging. A glint of something pale against the dark grass caught her eye and she focused on it, recognising a scrap of crumpled paper. A thrill ran through her, like a cold shock, and she reached for it, unfolding and reading it eagerly. It was a ransom note, obviously meant for Konoka. The message itself was nothing unexpected, and it didn’t give her any more information, worse luck, but the fact that the note was there at all said something much more important. Konoka wouldn’t have dropped it accidentally, not for it to be right there for Asuna to find. No. She must have dropped it deliberately, and that meant she was sending a message. Konoka was still thinking clearly, and she wanted Asuna and the others to know what was going on.

Asuna snatched out her pactio card and slammed it to her forehead.

“Negi!”

“Asuna-san?” The reply came quickly. “What’s…”

“Konoka’s gone with the kidnappers. She dropped the ransom note for me. They wanted her to give herself up. But Negi, she dropped it for me. She’s gone with them, but she’s not given up.”

“No. Neither can we.” Negi’s voice was firm, and Asuna found herself feeling proud of him, even in the midst of her worry and frustration. Who would have thought a ten year old kid would be so handy in a crisis?

“Negi, I’ve had a thought. Get Honya-chan to change targets. Konoka’s going into this with her eyes open, and she knows we’ve got the diary artefact on hand. She’ll be doing something to help, I’d bet on it.” She clambered to her feet and pocketed the remains of the ransom note. “I’m coming back. Don’t wait for me. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Understood. I’ll get Nodoka-san to look into Konoka-san’s thoughts. Hurry back.”

Then he was gone, and Asuna set off at a jog back towards the dormitory. With Konoka in the hands of the enemy, there was no time to waste.

*****

Mari blinked hard and focused on standing upright without swaying. The last two days had drained her more than she would like to admit, and the magical cost of two long-distance transports in a matter of hours had left her feeling terribly weak. Obviously not a good thing to show your captive, or your subordinates, for that matter.

The portal had worked as planned, and she and Konoe had been transported instantaneously deep into the Association headquarters, where a security team was waiting. The two burly men were nothing more than hired muscle, with no magical talent whatsoever, but there were always some problems that couldn’t be solved with magic alone. It was good to have muscle on hand. They each grabbed one of Konoe’s arms, neatly trapping her between them. Not that it seemed entirely necessary. The girl showed no signs of resistance, but just fixed her with an unnervingly direct stare.

Mari turned her back, only to feel the girl’s eyes burning into the back of her neck. She cleared her throat nervously. “Welcome, Konoe Konoka-san. I’ll show you to your quarters now.”

“Where is Secchan?” Konoe’s voice was low, but steady.

“She’s deeper in the complex. She’s safe. Come on, then.” Mari set off at the briskest walk she could manage, and heard the footsteps behind her that indicated her captive was following out of the room and down the hallway, no doubt helped by the minders on each arm.

“I want to see her.”

“You can’t.” Mari hated to say it, but Sugiyama had been very clear. Sakurazaki was dangerous, and she was to be kept in isolation at any cost. If she knew too much or was given anything in the way of motivation, she could be troublesome. Seeing the girl she had been trying to protect at the cost of her own life in the hands of her enemies probably counted as motivation.

“How do I know she’s safe? I want to see her.” The girl’s voice had risen in both pitch and volume.

“I’m sorry.” She meant it. It was bad enough that they had resorted to such underhanded tactics without adding this pain to the mix. “That’s impossible. But she is safe. I promise you.”

The footsteps behind her slowed to a stop, and one of the guards cursed quietly. She looked over her shoulder to see Konoe standing still in the middle of the corridor, braced against the guards’ pressure on her arms. Mari sighed and turned all the way round to face the girl, arms folded across her chest.

“Don’t be silly. I can just as easily have them carry you if you make things difficult.”

“Please.” Konoe stared at the ground for a moment before raising her eyes to look her captor full in the face. “Please. I know I’m your prisoner. I know you can do what you want to me.” She swallowed hard, but kept going. “I gave myself up to you. I know that. The only thing I can do is beg you, so that’s what I’m doing. Please let me see Secchan. I just want to see her. Please.”

Mari stared at her, feeling the knot in her chest draw even tighter. She had had to live with the guilt of what they were doing for the last few days, but this… This was so much worse. Unable to bear the weight of the girl’s gaze, she turned her back once more. Damn it. Damn Sugiyama and his strictures. She could do this, even if it was the only thing she could do for her. She would go over his head. She would go to Ryoko.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Her voice was unaccountably rough. “No promises. Now. Will you walk?”

There was a pause. “I’ll walk.”

They set off again, slower this time. Konoe spoke up from behind her. “Where are we?”

Mari shrugged. Revealing too much probably wouldn’t be a good idea, but what was the girl going to do about it? “Hokkaido. This is our main research site.”

“Research? Who are you?”

“Yes, research. That’s all you need to know.”

“What are you going to do with me?”

Mari fixed her gaze straight ahead, refusing to give way to the urge to glance back. “You’ll know when the time comes. That’s enough talking.”

The girl obeyed her for a few more steps, but a moment later she spoke again. “Just one more thing. What’s your name? You know mine, so…”

She sounded so very vulnerable, her voice soft and low, with an edge that suggested she was only just managing to control the fear she must be feeling. Mari found herself answering almost automatically, sympathy working against her best efforts to play the role of captor. “Fujiwara. Fujiwara Mari.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Fujiwara-san. Please take good care of me.”

The set phrase hung in the air, and Mari picked up the pace, stamping down the length of the corridor as she could somehow outdistance the guilt that gnawed at her if she just walked fast enough.

*****

Negi leaned forward excitedly, eyes shining. “Nodoka-san! That’s it! That’s the name!”

Nodoka found herself smiling back at him, unable to resist his infectious enthusiasm. “I’ve got it, Negi-sensei. Fujiwara Mari-san. I’ll try it.”

She glanced back down at the artefact diary, rereading the last entry. She would need all the details she could get. Thankfully, Konoka was concentrating hard, and the stylised picture at the top of the page was a sharp illustration of the woman whose name they had just learned. Fujiwara Mari seemed to be a fairly average looking woman, perhaps in her mid thirties, her hair fastened at the back of her head in a messy bun, loose strands escaping to drift over the collar of her shirt. Nodoka looked further down the page, focusing on the last few lines.

I’m so frightened. I’m so frightened. These men are huge, and they’re hurting my arms. No, I can’t think about that, I’ve got to focus. Please Nodoka, please be reading my mind right now. This is the only thing I can think to do. I’ve got to ask the right questions, got to find out everything I can. What are they going to do to me? Will Fujiwara-san let me see Secchan? Please Negi… I can’t do this on my own…

“Hang on, Konoka,” she whispered down at the page. “We’re doing what we can.”

Then she closed her eyes and concentrated on the image Konoka had sent them, and the name. If she could just get into this woman’s thoughts, they would have the information they needed. She frowned, exerting all her will to picture this person she had never seen before.

Finally she opened her eyes again and stared back down at the diary. Slowly, frustratingly slowly, the name began to write itself across the top of the page – Fujiwara Mari – and a picture began to form. She was getting there.

*****

Ryoko steepled her fingers in front of her, and gave Mari a long, calculating stare over the polished surface of her desk. Konoe was safely locked away now, and Mari had kept her silent promise to herself and gone straight to Ryoko’s office. Unfortunately, Sugiyama had intercepted her on the way.

“You want to let Konoe-san see her friend?” Ryoko’s voice was the epitome of sweet reason. “Why?”

Sugiyama broke in before Mari could answer. “Yoshino-sama, I think this is a very bad idea. I think…”

Ryoko held up one delicately manicured hand, and the man stumbled off into silence.

“The question was for Fujiwara-san, Sugiyama-san. You won’t mind waiting for her answer.” The woman looked back at Mari, one eyebrow raised this time. “Well?”

Mari shifted uncomfortably. There ought to be some good, logical reason why Ryoko should grant her request, but at the moment she couldn’t think of it. The only thought in her head was the single personal reason that had driven her into this position, and she wasn’t at all sure that it was a thought her superior would share. She gave a mental shrug. She could only try. “I think we owe her that much, Yoshino-sama. We’ve brought her here by threatening the life of her friend, and we’re going to… well…” She trailed off, unable to voice the truth.

Ryoko didn’t have such scruples. “We’re going to kill her. In all probability.”

“… Yes…” Mari had to clear her throat before she could continue. “Well, it’s the least we can do to let her see the person she was saving by giving herself up. It’ll make it easier for her. Don’t you think?” The last few words were pleading.

“Yoshino-sama, if I may?” Sugiyama was bristling.

Ryoko gave him a single nod of assent.

“It would be a mistake. Sakurazaki is dangerous. Even bound as she is, she presents a genuine threat. Seeing Konoe would give her reason to resist. Right now she’s quiet. She doesn’t know what’s happening, and I’ve worked hard to keep things that way. We don’t need the extra trouble of a fighting-mad half-demon to deal with once the ceremony is under way.”

Ryoko turned back to Mari. “Is Konoe-san being co-operative?”

“Largely, though she doesn’t know what’s going to happen, of course. She resisted a little when I said she couldn’t see her friend.”

Ryoko nodded. “All right, then. Fujiwara-san, I give you permission to allow Konoe-san to see Sakurazaki.”

“Yoshino-sama!” Sugiyama’s shock and anger was obvious.

“We have just under twenty four hours before the time when the ceremony will be most efficacious, and I would like Konoe-san to remain co-operative. I believe allowing her this favour will help keep her in line. I would rather those copious magical reserves weren’t turned against us. She is only allowed to see Sakurazaki, mind. I don’t know what kind of transfer ability she has, and I won’t risk her half-demon friend being given a sudden power up.” Ryoko looked from Mari to Sugiyama and back again, her expression stern. “Am I understood?”

“Yes.” The man’s tone was full of resentment.

“Understood, Yoshino-sama!” Mari could hardly believe it. Not only had her request been granted, she had got one over on Sugiyama to boot. “I’ll take care of that now, then?”

Ryoko nodded. “Please do, Fujiwara-san. I’m making Konoe-san your personal responsibility. It will be up to you to keep her quiet and co-operative until we require her for the ceremony.”

“Leave it to me, Yoshino-sama. Thank you.” Mari turned to go, unable to resist shooting Sugiyama a triumphant look. So much for his promotion!

From behind her, Ryoko spoke again. “Sugiyama-san, if you would stay behind a moment? I have something else to discuss with you.”

The man simply nodded, and Mari fairly danced out of the room. Was it too much to hope that he would get another dressing-down for his conduct? Probably, but it was a good thought. She shut the door carefully behind her and strode towards Konoe’s cell, her steps lighter than they had been for the last two days. At least she could give the girl this much.

*****

Setsuna hung quiet in her bonds, eyes closed, schooling herself to calm. It was hard, desperately hard, but she persisted, working to meditate, to keep her emotions in check. Fear was the first among them, and she hated to recognise that in herself. She was afraid, terribly so, and not just for her friends left behind in Mahora. She was afraid for herself. She was afraid to die, that was the truth of it. The way of the warrior to was to accept the possibility of death, to regard oneself as dead already, so that to die was no loss. She had been like that once. Through her earliest days at Mahora she had embraced that philosophy with her whole being. Evangeline had understood that about her. Setsuna remembered the Festival, the fight with the child-vampire, and the words that Evangeline had whispered to her, out in the middle of the fighting arena where no one else could hear.

“With the circumstances of your birth, the you from before… had always an air about you, like a drawn sword, eager to bite into flesh.”

She had been right. In those early days at Mahora, when she had given up all claims to friendship, she had been sharp, focused, honed. She had been exactly like a drawn sword. The problem was that in being so she had been so much less than she might have been. In being the sword and nothing else, she had stopped being herself. She had given up being Sakurazaki Setsuna.

It had taken the others to show her that. First Negi, then Asuna, then Kono-chan herself; they had all three shown her just how much she had given up, and just what she could be and have, if only she allowed herself the freedom to stop being the warrior, already dead, and actually live, for herself and those around her. The last few weeks had been the happiest of her life. She had friends, in fact, she had more than friends. Negi and Asuna were as close as she could imagine family to be, and Kono-chan… Kono-chan was something else again.

The problem was that in finding and reclaiming happiness and life, she had suddenly gained something to lose. For the second time in her life she had something that she wanted to keep. Protecting wasn’t enough anymore. She wanted to live with those she protected, to live their lives together. She knew what Kono-chan had meant in the heat of that last argument, even if she had denied it at the time. She would still give her life for Kono-chan, that was a given. If her life was needed to protect her, she would offer it, as she always had. But she didn’t want to waste it. Kono-chan didn’t want her friend to die for her, and neither did Setsuna herself.

Setsuna closed her eyes tighter, feeling her muscles strain automatically against the chains that held her immobile as her thoughts were drawn irresistibly back to Kono-chan. More than anything else, she didn’t want to die with things left as they had been. That argument… She had said something unforgivable. In truth, her relationship with Kono-chan was the only part of her daily life at Mahora that still gave her trouble. They had opened up to each other, certainly. Setsuna had allowed herself to begin to share a life together with the one she had protected from a distance for all those years, and it had felt so good, it was almost impossible to believe she had denied herself such a simple thing for so long. And, she had slowly begun to realise, it hadn’t ever been a denial that was hers alone. In denying herself, she had been denying Kono-chan.

Evangeline had described what had happened between them as ‘reaching an understanding’. That was true, as far as it went. But there was still a wall between them. Setsuna could allow herself the freedom to live in open friendship with Kono-chan and the others, but there was one last barrier that remained standing. She knew, in her heart of hearts, that she loved Kono-chan. She loved everything about her. She couldn’t put it down to the affection that a guardian might have for the one she protected. Not anymore. Oh, she denied it, of course. She had lied to herself for weeks, and then when she couldn’t do that any more, she had continued to lie to her friends. It was almost automatic now, to try to hide all the signs of that burgeoning love, to try to find other reasons why her heart beat faster when Kono-chan was by her side; why something as simple as holding her hand was enough to bring a blush to her cheeks. She knew the truth though, even if it was a truth she kept to herself.

Why did she deny the love she felt? The simple truth was that she couldn’t forget she was a servant of the Konoe family. Kono-chan wasn’t just her Kono-chan, she was her mistress, and that was a gulf between them that could not and should not be bridged, no matter how much she may want to. The thing was that she did want to. She wanted to more than she could say, and now, facing death, that was the thing that kept running through her mind. If only she had found the courage to be honest with her feelings, and told Kono-chan what she had kept hidden for so long. But she hadn’t. She had remained a miserable coward to the very end, and now… now she was paying for it.

Setsuna opened her eyes with a defeated sigh, recognising that with her thoughts in this much turmoil, mediation was impossible. For the hundredth time, she tested the chains that looped around her arms, wings and torso, and found them absolutely immovable. The room contained nothing else that might help her. It was a white cube, absolutely empty apart from her and the chains. Even the lights were set into the ceiling and walls, and never altered their uniform brightness. She had no idea how much time had passed since she had regained consciousness in the blinding white space.

The only other thing of interest was the opposite wall, which had been made into a giant mirror. Of course, she assumed, it had to be a one-way wall, something that allowed her captors to see her while remaining invisible themselves. She stared at the silvery surface, wondering who was in there, and how long she would have to wait before they revealed themselves. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t be the one to initiate contact. She wouldn’t shout or beg for attention. She would preserve that much dignity for herself. Finally, her troubled thoughts began to calm once again, and Setsuna shut her eyes, trying once again to find the inner peace that continued to elude her.

*****

Nodoka frowned down at her open artefact diary before looking back up to meet Negi’s gaze.

“I’m sorry, Negi-sensei. I think… maybe I just don’t know her well enough. Always before, I’ve actually met the people whose thoughts I’m trying to read. I don’t know, but…”

Negi shook his head emphatically. “Don’t apologise, Nodoka-san. It’s not your fault. I’m not sure how all the artefacts work either, but you’re probably right.”

Asuna smiled over at her. “And look how much you’ve found out despite that!”

Nodoka felt a small answering smile touch her lips. It was true that the last half hour had been frustrating, but Asuna was right. Even with all the difficulties, they had found out plenty more about Konoka’s situation. Reading Fujiwara’s thoughts had been almost like reading Sayo’s, back when they had been preparing for the Mahora Festival. The diary’s picture was warped, as if looking through an oddly distorted window, and the wording came in short, often surreal bursts, with only the strongest thoughts coming through. Even with that though, they some more names to research, and had caught the fact that whatever was going to happen would do so in twenty four hours. They had that long to launch their counterattack.

Negi climbed to his feet, stretching muscles made stiff from too long sitting on the floor. “Well then, I think it’s time for the next step. Thanks to you, Nodoka-san, we’ve got some leads to follow.”

Asuna glanced up at him curiously. “Where are you off to?”

Negi grinned, nervously. “Well, she may not like the idea, but we do have one person here who’s perfectly qualified to do more of this kind of research. After all, no self-respecting research facility would manage without a website, would they?”

At that, it was Asuna’s turn to grin. “Chiu-tan, eh? Good idea! Good luck though. I think you’ll need it, showing up at Chisame’s door after midnight. Should I come along as a bodyguard, just in case?”

Negi shook his head, although his smile was still apprehensive. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ll bring Chisame-san back here as soon as I can. Nodoka-san?”

Nodoka glanced up at him quickly. “Yes, Negi-sensei?”

“It might be hard, but could you keep trying to read Fujiwara-san’s thoughts? Any scrap of information might be useful.”

The librarian nodded, her fringe falling forward to hide her eyes with the suddenness of the movement. “Of course, sensei. Good luck.”

Negi shot her a grateful smile that made her blush, and then he was off, heading down the hallway towards Chisame’s room with determined strides.

*****

Konoka was waiting. There wasn’t anything else to do. The room the two men had shoved her into wasn’t unpleasant, but apart from the low bed along the back wall, there was absolutely nothing in it. There wasn’t even a window. Of course, the first thing she had done was to try the door, but it was locked tight, and a warning bang on the wall told her that her guards were both close and attentive. So she had sat down on the bed, attempting to arrange herself decorously rather than slump down with her head in her hands, like she wanted to. She had spotted the blinking light of a closed circuit television camera high in the corner of the room, and she had no desire to give her captors the pleasure of seeing her despair.

One hope remained with her, that Fujiwara would return soon. The woman was nothing like Konoka had expected, and something of a mystery. She was obviously sensitive, and troubled by what she was doing. Konoka had always been perceptive, and Fujiwara’s discomfort was plain to see. Why would a woman so obviously unhappy in her work join the kind of people that would kidnap teenage schoolgirls? Whatever the reason, Fujiwara was the weak link. Konoka’s plan was simple. She would befriend the woman, find out what she could from her, and try to get her on her side. Where fighting was useless, perhaps friendship and kindness would work.

A scraping sound at the lock drew Konoka’s eyes from where they had been staring unfocused at the wall. The door swung open to reveal Fujiwara standing there between the two muscle-bound guards, a triumphant smile on her face that she didn’t even seem to be trying to conceal.

“You can see her.”

The words came quickly, and Konoka blinked, wondering if she had heard correctly. She didn’t want to get her hopes up if they were only going to be dashed. “I’m sorry?”

Fujiwara’s smile got wider. “You’re allowed to see Sakurazaki-san.”

“Really?”

“Really. Follow me.”

This time as the small group made its way down the corridor, the two guards merely fell in beside her, keeping their hands to themselves. Had Fujiwara had a word with them? Konoka could hardly believe it. She was going to see Secchan. Suddenly all her plans went out of the window, and she was only able to focus on that simple thought. What could she say to her? What was there to say? She had no idea, and her thoughts roiled and crashed as she silently kept pace with Fujiwara’s brisk stride.

The woman came to a halt in front of a featureless white door, exactly the same as a dozen others they had already passed down the length of the unmarked corridor. She turned and reached out to squeeze Konoka’s shoulder gently.

“She’s in here. But there are some rules before you go in.”

Konoka nodded silently.

“We’ll make it so she can see you, and you her, and you can talk. But there’ll be a barrier between you. You can’t touch. We don’t know what kind of powers you might be able to give her if you came into physical contact. You understand that.”

Konoka bit her lip, but nodded again. “I understand.”

“I’ll give you ten minutes. You’ll be alone, but I’ll be watching on a monitor, and I’ll be able to hear you, so don’t try anything stupid.” She nodded at the guards. “These two will be waiting outside.” She didn’t need to voice the threat.

“All right.”

Fujiwara reached out to unlock the door and as she drew the bolt and turned the handle, Konoka stepped closer.

“Thank you, Fujiwara-san. I know you must have gone out of your way to make this possible. I’m grateful.”

The woman didn’t look at her, but just turned aside, pulling the door open. “In you go. Ten minutes, remember.”

Konoka obeyed without a word. As she passed, she caught a glimpse of Fujiwara’s face, and was surprised to see that the flush that covered her cheeks. It seemed the plan was working, and better than she had thought possible. But then the door was closed behind her, and all her attention was reserved for what was about to happen. The room she had just walked into was pitch black, and remained so for a full twenty seconds before there was a warning buzzing sound and the overhead strip lighting flickered on to reveal her surroundings. The room was a small rectangle, mainly taken up with a table and two chairs. Just beyond them was a dark wall, but one that shimmered with some kind of energy. It had to be the barrier that Fujiwara had mentioned. Konoka approached it with hesitant steps, to lay her hand flat on the surface. It was cool to the touch, and prickled lightly under her fingertips.

A squawk of feedback and the sound of someone clearing their throat distracted her, and she stared up at the speaker that occupied the corner of the room. Fujiwara’s voice came from it, slightly distorted. “All right. I’m turning the screen on now. I won’t disturb you unless you make it necessary. Remember that.”

Konoka nodded, sure that the woman could see her. “I’ll remember.”

There was a click, and the dark wall shivered, lines of energy running over its surface before it became transparent with shocking suddenness. Konoka gasped, unable to keep the reaction under control, and actually stepped back, staring at the sight in front of her. Secchan hung suspended in the centre of the room, a multitude of chains keeping her immobile, pinning wings and arms both to her body. Her wounds had been bandaged, but blood still showed through them, and the girl’s eyes were closed. She showed no signs of life at all, as she just hung there helplessly.

“Secchan…” It came out as a whisper. Konoka had no idea how good the sound transfer was, but Secchan didn’t respond. She tried again, slightly louder. “Secchan?”

The girl’s eyes flickered open and her head lifted to stare directly at the screen, straight at her. Confusion and shock showed on Secchan’s face, and she stared, eyes wide. “Ojou-sama?”

Then her expression darkened, and she frowned, anger replacing confusion. “It’s a trick. Don’t you bastards have anything better to do than play games with me like this?”

Konoka shook her head desperately and pressed her hands against the barrier, getting as close as she could. “It’s not a trick. Secchan, it’s me. It’s me.”

The anger drained out of the swordswoman’s body as quickly as it had come, and she slumped, the chains clinking as they absorbed the change in her muscles. “K-Kono-chan? Why? Why are you here?”

Konoka looked down, away to the side, unable to meet her friend’s eyes. “I… I had to, Secchan. They said they’d kill you. I couldn’t let them.”

She didn’t look up, and for a long terrible moment neither of them said anything, the silence stretching out between them.

It was broken by the sound of a gulping sob. “Kono-chan… I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry…”

Konoka’s head jerked up, and she stared up at her friend, shocked to see the tears that were running down her cheeks. “Secchan…” It came out as a horrified whisper.

Secchan shook her head violently, the tears continuing to stream down her face. “It’s all my fault. I failed you, Kono-chan, and I hurt you, and I thought I’d never see you again… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Now Konoka shook her head. “It’s not your fault, Secchan. Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”

The swordswoman looked away this time, trembling despite the chains that held her. “But I said such awful things to you, Kono-chan. And I let this happen. How can you ever forgive me?”

Konoka stared, and words came to her lips, so surprising because they were unbidden, and perfectly, perfectly true. “Because I love you, Secchan.”

Secchan’s head snapped up. “Kono-chan?”

The healer had lifted one hand to her mouth, shocked at herself, but then she laughed, despite their surroundings, despite everything, because it was as if a great weight had suddenly lifted off her shoulders. “It’s true, Secchan. I’ve always loved you. Ever since we were little. And after Kyoto… so much more. I didn’t want to tell you. I thought I’d scare you. I know you’re not good with this kind of thing. I didn’t want you to run away again.” She leaned forward, until her forehead was resting against the barrier. “I thought I would wait. I’d wait to see if you felt the same. But we ran out of time.”

Secchan didn’t say anything, didn’t even try to move, just stared at her, her mouth opening and closing, until one word managed to find its way out. “Kono-chan…”

Konoka smiled, and felt the wetness of her own tears on her cheeks. It was true that feeling something in one’s heart was different from expressing it clearly, out in the open. She had hoped that Secchan would be able to voice the thought that had sounded so clearly through Nodoka’s book, but things were never that easy. “It’s all right, Secchan, you don’t have to say anything. But I’m glad you know. I don’t want you to doubt it ever again. I love you.”

*****

Ryoko waited until Fujiwara had left the room and shut the door behind her. Then she turned to Sugiyama, her eyes questioning.

“You don’t like Fujiwara-san, do you?”

Sugiyama shrugged, radiating resentment. “She’s weak. Why should I like her?” He looked down before finding his courage and refocusing on his superior’s face. “Why did you let her do that? Why did you put her in charge of Konoe?”

Ryoko smiled, leaning back in her chair. “It’ll make it easier for her. She hates what we’ve been forced to do, and if she can be the gentle one, that will make it easier for her. You’re right, Sugiyama-san. She’s weak, so I’m giving her the chance to be strong in her own way.”

Sugiyama frowned. “She could ruin everything.”

The woman shook her head. “She won’t. She still owes us her loyalty, and she won’t betray that, as long as we don’t push her too far. But…”

“But?”

“But I want you to keep an eye on her. She might be tempted too far. Watch her, and keep her in check. She can still be useful to us, but the moment that stops, I want you to let me know. I won’t tolerate traitors in this organisation.”

Sugiyama nodded. “So the plan hasn’t changed? You’re not persuaded by Fujiwara’s ideas?”

“No.” Ryoko's voice was firm. She had come this far, and had no desire to turn back now. “The ceremony will take place at midnight, and we will use Konoe to close the rift. With the instability erased we will be able to resume our research, and no one need know the dangers. The fate of the world is worth the life of one teenage girl.”
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icha-kun
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I want to read more >_<
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KonoSetsuna
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This is my favorite KonoSetsu story that I have ever read. Please continue on w/ the series. It's simply amazing.
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Chigusa
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Icha-kun, KonoSetsuna, thanks very much for your support! I'm glad to be continuing this story and posting here at MA knowing that there are so many dedicated readers out there. Honma ni ookini!

So, onto the next chapter. Again, things being what they are, this is rather on the raw side. Thesis rewrites will do that to you. Oh, and I finally got a job, so that's going to make things rather interesting on the free-time front. Ah well, I'm sure I'll work something out. I'm enjoying this fic far too much to abandon it - so don't worry!

Bit shorter than the previous couple, but hope you don't mind - it still ain't on the light side. :)

Anyway, without further ado, let me give you:


Chapter 19 - Responsibility

Chisame swept into a twirl that set her mini-skirt fluttering and turned back with a smile and a wink.

“Did you even need to ask? Chiu loves to make you happy! And doesn’t Chiu look good in her new outfit?”

She held the end pose for a moment before breaking position and flicking the web cam over to ‘standby’. She bent over the keyboard and ran the video back through a couple of times, nodding in satisfaction. That would do nicely. Some minor tweaks in photoshock and premiere and it’d be ready to go. She’d been unconvinced about trying out this particular cosplay, even when a group of her regulars had banded together and petitioned her about it, but when it had actually come down to it and she tried the costume on… Well, it just worked. Add a few static shots against the ‘starry’ backcloth and there might even be enough for an entire theme page. Nothing like keeping your regulars happy…

Chisame was just about to settle the digital camera on its tripod when the knock came, an insistent hammering at her door. She glanced at the clock on her computer screen and frowned. Who on earth could be out there at this time of night? It was past midnight, for crying out loud! She froze where she was standing, listening hard. Perhaps if she didn’t answer, whoever it was would assume she was out or asleep and go away. No way was she answering the door in full cosplay-mode.

No such luck. The knocking came again, louder than ever, and this time a voice came with it.

“Chisame-san?! If you’re there, please open the door. It’s important!”

Negi. Who else but that brat of a school teacher would be hammering on a girl’s door in the early hours of the morning? Chisame growled to herself and thumped the camera down onto the tripod, not caring if he heard her. If he thought she was going to blithely open her door to a man after midnight, he had another thing coming.

“Chisame-san? Please open the door! It’s an emergency!”

He was loud enough now to risk waking the neighbours, and that was something she couldn’t be having. Chisame stalked over to the door and snatched it open just far enough to glare down at the diminutive teacher. “What kind of time do you call this?” she hissed in an annoyed whisper. “Go away!”

Negi simply grabbed her hand, giving her such a pleading look that she actually paused in the act of slamming the door on him. “What… What’s the matter?”

“Oh Chisame-san… It’s Konoka-san. We need your help!”

Chisame sighed. So much for the photo-shoot. It looked like it was going to be a long night. She pushed the door open again, wider than before. “You’d better come in.”

A couple of minutes’ worth of explaining later, and Chisame was staring at him in frank horror. “What is it with you mages?!”

“Chisame-san?”

“As if it weren’t enough that you upset the order of the world simply by existing, you have to do stuff like this! Don’t you have enough power already without resorting to this kind of mad nonsense?!”

“Um… It’s not all of us, Chisame-san. Just the bad ones…”

She ignored him. “And then it comes down to us poor mundane idiots to bail you out. It’s annoying, you hear? Damn annoying!”

“So… Will you help us?” Negi sounded tentative, but they both knew there was only one way she could answer that question. If lives were at stake… It didn’t stop the situation being damn annoying though.

“Oh, I’ll help. I’ll help all right. I’d help if only to irritate someone as much as I’m being irritated right now.”

She spun around in her office chair to face her keyboard once more. All she needed was a website URL, and then she could go to work. Finding information on this latest bunch of whack-job wizards should be a piece of cake. She wouldn’t even need those electric mice to put a serious crimp in whatever idiocy they were planning.

*****

Mari stared at the monitor, open-mouthed. She wasn’t sure what she had been expecting when she let Konoe in to speak to her friend, but it certainly wasn’t this. As much as she hated it, she found herself feeling a sneaking admiration for Sugiyama. The man had only been observing Konoe for twenty four hours, and he had somehow managed to learn just how much these two meant to each other. The way he had used that knowledge had been cold and callous in the extreme, but it had certainly been effective.

She frowned, feeling the knot of guilt tighten in her chest yet again. This news shouldn’t change how she felt. Konoe was a normal person, at least insofar as you can call a potentially tremendously powerful mage normal. That meant she had friends and loves and problems, and all those other perfectly normal things. She had a home and a family, and people who would miss her… All those were givens. Mari had always known what it would mean to end someone’s existence. It was just… When the truth was in front of her as plainly as this… All the previous logic that had allowed her to keep going seemed less important. She thumped a fist down on the control desk in front of her. She was just a researcher! Why did she have to deal with this?!

As if in response to the sudden violent movement, an alarm began to sound, and red warning lights flashed along the walls. Mari scrambled to her feet, staring at the monitor. Nothing had changed there apart from the occupants’ natural shocked responses to hearing alarm klaxons going off. What had happened?

A voice sounded from the intercom in the corner. “Fujiwara-san. Return Konoe to her cell immediately. The complex is under attack. Repeat, the complex is under attack. Return Konoe to her cell and report to Yoshino-sama’s office immediately.”

“Under attack?!” The intercom was one-way, but it didn’t stop her exclamation. What on earth was going on?

Fear and a curious apprehension ran through Mari’s body as she flicked the panel controls to their default ‘off’ positions and directed the guards to retrieve Konoe from the antechamber. Had the girl’s friends launched a counter-attack already?

She slammed the door shut behind her and found Konoe waiting for her in the corridor, firmly held by the two guards, despite the girl’s frantic struggling.

“Ten minutes! You said I had ten minutes!”

“I know.” Mari pushed past her and beckoned the group to follow her, leading the way down the hallway at a walk so fast it was almost a jog. “Something’s happened.”

“You could just have left me there! I couldn’t go anywhere with the guards outside, could I?” All of the girl’s previous restraint had gone, and there was nothing in her voice but raw emotion. From the sounds behind her, it seemed she was putting up quite a fight.

“If your friends are attacking us, which seems likely, we need you secure. You understand that. Don’t make life difficult for yourself.”

“But she was going to answer!” There was a pause before Konoe spoke again, her voice lower this time. “She might have... It was our last chance…”

Mari didn’t say anything, fought not to say anything, even though the guilt was almost a physical pain now, burning in her throat. She didn’t have time for this conversation. They were under attack, and Ryoko would need her. She bowed her head and gritted her teeth, every step jarring the tension that ran through her entire body. She suddenly realised that she couldn’t be near Konoe right then, couldn’t bear to hear the girl’s voice anymore.

“Take her back to the cell and keep her there.” She spoke to the guards without turning round. “I’ll be with Yoshino-sama.”

Without waiting for a response, she broke into a run, putting as much distance between her and the source of her pain as she could.

*****

Chisame’s hands flew over the keyboard, hammering out commands as quickly as she could think them. Warning signs were flashing on the screen, reflecting weirdly in her glasses as leaned close to the monitor, absolutely focused on the task at hand.

“Chisame-san? What’s going on?” Negi was at her elbow, radiating concern.

Her fingers didn’t slow at all as she replied. “Their security protocol found me.”

“You have to get out of there!”

“Don’t you think I’m good enough to beat them? I could handle this kind of outdated protection in my sleep.”

“We’re not ready, Chisame-san! Even if you do something to them now, the rest of us won’t be ready to do anything about it! If you’ve got the information we need, please pull out. We need to do this as a team.”

Chisame narrowed her eyes. She didn’t like to admit it, but the brat had a point. The network she had penetrated wasn’t a particularly complicated one, but if she broke down their defences now, the chances were they would be back up and stronger than ever by the time anyone was in a position to do anything about it physically. She nodded brusquely and started typing out a different series of commands, closing windows one after another, withdrawing from the network as quickly as she could while still covering her tracks.

Finally the last move was completed, and she leaned back in her chair, letting her eyes close, actually feeling the tension of the past few minutes for the first time. Negi touched her arm with gentle fingers.

“What did you find out?”

This time when she swung around to face him, Chisame couldn’t restrain the self-satisfied smile that she felt welling up inside her. “I think we’ve got enough to be going on.”

Negi beamed back at her. “That’s wonderful, Chisame-san! Will you come back to Asuna-san’s room with me? We should tell everyone at once.”

“Yeah… That makes sense.” She climbed to her feet, feeling the adrenaline high of the brief hacking battle start to wear off. “But don’t think you’re going to drag me to any strange places with you. I’ll help you, but I can do that just fine from Mahora.”

“Of course. Don’t worry about that, Chisame-san.”

Negi had her hand now, and before she knew it, they were trotting down the corridor back towards Asuna’s dorm room. She barely had time to snatch up her laptop before she was hustled out. A minute or so later the brat threw open Asuna’s door and pulled Chisame in after him, presenting her to the room at large with a flourish.

“Chisame-san agreed to help us! She’s found out a lot already! Tell them, Chisame-san!”

Asuna and Nodoka both looked up; Nodoka from her diary artefact and Asuna from whatever she was zoning out on. It was Asuna who spoke first.

“Uh, hey, Chisame-san. So… why’re you dressed like Sailor Moon?”

*****

Mari burst through Ryoko’s door, red-faced and sweating from the headlong sprint down the corridor. She bent over, breathing hard, bracing her hands on her knees, before she was able to straighten up and face her superior.

“What happened?”

Ryoko had a phone to her ear, and shook a warning finger with a pointed nod towards the receiver. Apparently someone was speaking to her. She nodded once, then again. “Understood. Thank you.” She slammed the handset down onto its rest with a bang and glared at her employee. “Fujiwara-san. So you finally made it.”

Mari almost took a step back, but her pride stopped her, even in the face of Ryoko’s anger. Something really bad must have happened for the usually calm woman to be reacting so strongly. She glanced over at Sugiyama who was still stood in the corner of the room, but he simply returned the look with an absolutely blank gaze.

“Uh… I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Yoshino-sama. I had to return Konoe to her quarters, so…” It sounded less like an apology and more like an excuse, but under the circumstances, it was the best Mari could do.

“Of course. I’m sorry, Fujiwara-san. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s been a long day.” Ryoko shook her head and hooked a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. Only the slight twitch of one eyebrow would let an observer guess at the kind of intense anger that she had to be restraining. Mari had known Ryoko for three years now. She knew the signs.

“It was a computer attack,” Ryoko continued. “Our technicians weren’t able to track the source, but there’s really only possibility.”

Mari nodded. They had expected something like this, if not quite so soon.

“We were afraid the digital assault would be followed by a physical one, but it seems they thought better of it. Still, we must be ready for the possibility that they will attack again, and soon. Our engineers are working on strengthening our network defences, and patrols have been increased around the complex.” Ryoko sighed. “But that might not be enough. Konoe’s friends must know where we are now, more or less. We have to consider moving the ceremony forward.”

Mari found herself turning to Sugiyama once again, and found him nodding his agreement. She swallowed hard and looked back to Ryoko. “But… are you sure, Yoshino-sama? To perform it early will make it less effective… At least, I thought that was the case…”

“You’re right,” Ryoko replied. “But the risk is too great. If things come down to combat here in the complex, our mages will have to summon demonic aides. With the rift already so fragile, that’s not something we can allow. We must at least attempt to close it before any fighting starts. You know the dangers, Fujiwara-san. You were the one who discovered the rift, after all.”

“I know…” Mari hung her head, her pride entirely deserting her now it had come to this. “So… when?”

“The preparations can be completed in a matter of hours. The ceremony will go ahead as soon as possible.”

“Yoshino-sama…” It came out as a whisper, Mari’s eyes riveted on the floor of the office, a deep green carpet, entirely at odds with the white-washed starkness of the rest of the complex. “Yoshino-sama… Do we really have to do this?”

“What?”

Mari slowly raised her eyes to look her superior full in the face. “Do we really have to do this? I know… time is short… and…” She trailed off, resuming only after a moment. “But if we just told the other magic associations… got help… Isn’t there some other way?”

“Weak.” It was Sugiyama’s voice, low and disgusted. “I told you, Yoshino-sama. She’s weak.”

Ryoko didn’t move or speak for a long moment. She looked down at the polished mahogany surface of her desk and drew a finger slowly across the wood, as if checking for dust. When she spoke she lifted her eyes to meet Mari’s and smiled with a forced sweetness that was reflected in her voice. “You think we should try something else, Fujiwara-san? You think perhaps we haven’t already spent all our resources and budget in trying to find another answer? Perhaps you don’t think we tried our best. You would rather hand this problem over to the Kanto Magic Association and have all your research taken from you, would you, Fujiwara-san? And have yourself, and all of us here, since we’ll all be seen as equally guilty, imprisoned? Turned into ermines? You would prefer that?”

Mari could only shake her head, wretchedly. “No… no… I wouldn’t. But…”

Ryoko interrupted, her voice suddenly hitting full volume. “This is your doing! Your responsibility! It is your research that caused this. Your experimentation in demon summoning opened this damn rift. If it opens… When it opens and tears the world through into the demon dimensions… Whose fault will it be?!”

Now Mari did take a step back, unable to stop the tears starting in her eyes. Her voice was rough, every word halting, as if they were being dragged out of her. “Mine… It’ll be… Mine.”

“Do you want the deaths of everyone in the human world on your conscience?!” Ryoko was standing now, leaning over the desk, shouting.

“No…”

“Then this is your answer, Fujiwara-san! One girl for the lives of everyone else in the world. I would call that a good trade, Fujiwara-san! Wouldn’t you?”

Mari shook her head wordlessly, the tears running down her cheeks.

As suddenly as she had stood up, Ryoko sat back down, taking off her glasses and throwing them down to skid across the desk. “I think Fujiwara-san is feeling a little overwrought, Sugiyama-san. Perhaps a little rest would do her good before the ceremony. Would you escort her back to her quarters?”

“Of course, Yoshino-sama.” Sugiyama stepped forward and caught Mari’s arm, his touch surprisingly gentle. His voice was soft. “Come on, Mari. It’s been a long couple of days for you. You’ve performed a lot of high-level magic. Some sleep would do you good – let you see things more clearly. What do you say?”

Mari’s only answer was a nod, as she tried to gulp back the choking sobs that rocked her body.

“Come on then. Please excuse us, Yoshino-sama.” With slow steps, the pair made their way out of Ryoko’s office, Sugiyama’s guiding hand warm on Mari’s arm.

*****

Konoka sprawled on the bed that was her cell’s sole concession to furniture, her face buried in her arms. All her hard-won composure, that had got her through the last few hours, had vanished in a second when she had been ripped away from Secchan. She had tried so hard to be brave, but it was as if all the courage had been torn away from her, and she was left to face the terrors of captivity absolutely raw. There was nothing left to protect her anymore. No one to stand in front of her. No one to help her but herself. She had wanted to find the strength to stand side by side with her beloved protector for as long as she could remember. Now that she had the chance to prove that strength… It had deserted her. She was just one girl. One teenage girl, alone and helpless.

She didn’t care what she looked like anymore. Let the people watching her laugh at her weakness. It just didn’t matter. She was never going to see Secchan again. She hadn’t even been allowed to say goodbye. She wasn’t crying. It was as if tears just wouldn’t be enough to express the depths of the cold despair that gripped her.

She wasn’t sure how long she lay there, quiet, unmoving, eyes closed against the unremitting brightness of the cell’s white walls. It was the sound of a scuffling outside that roused her. Her head lifted just a little, enough to see when the door flew open, and crashed inwards hard enough to rebound off the wall. Fujiwara stood framed in the entrance, her eyes red from recent tears, her cheeks flushed. A bruise stood out on one cheekbone, and her hair was in disarray, at least, more than it had been before.

Konoka sat up as quickly as she could and flattened herself back against the wall. Fujiwara looked wild – dangerous. There was no telling what she had come to do.

“Fujiwara-san?”

Fujiwara just stared at her for long seconds, her eyes blank.

Konoka tried again. “Fujiwara-san?”

The woman blinked and her eyes came back into focus, slowly. “Konoe-san.”

Konoka nodded, wondering what she would do if the woman made a grab for her now. There was nothing in the room that could be used as a weapon. Perhaps if she made a run for it…

“Konoe-san. Come with me. We’re getting out of here.”
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KonoSetsuna
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Eh, Cliffhanger. But a good one at that. lol
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BrutalSpoon
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o_o.... *stunned silence* more, moar, MOAR!

... please ^_^;

Honestly, it's just so damn good! Damn cliffhangers >_<

Please post the next chapter or I'm going to go into withdrawal x_x
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Akira-Kun
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I'm practically on edge now from your cliffhangers.
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icha-kun
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I want to read more... >_<
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BrutalSpoon
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^ what he said

Chigusa-san, are you alive? D:
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Jessie
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LOL, it seems like chigusa likes to dissapear at each climax of the FF! XD
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BrutalSpoon
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JESSIE! :D
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Chigusa
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lol. You guys are incorrigible. I'm trying to get this written, I really am, and I really want to, because I know exactly where the story is going. The problem is that I'm now working 8.15am to 6.15pm (leaving the house at 7.30pm and getting back at 7pm) and in the evenings I'm attempting to finish my thesis rewrites to resubmit in the next 2 weeks. I'm kinda short of time right now. And sleep. :)

Honestly, hang in there for me. Once this thesis is out of the way there'll be a new chapter for sure, and hopefully before then, if I can stay awake long enough to do any recreational writing. I'm not vanished!

:)

It's nice to know that you guys are anxious for the next chapter though - it's good to feel wanted. :)
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BrutalSpoon
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*sheepish grin* ehe he he...

...

GOMENNASAI! >_<
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KonoSetsuna
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Don't worry Chigusa. No rush now. It's worth the wait. Posted Image
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