Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Belgian Butterknife's Japanese Vacation (XV)

14 July 2014

Sunrise Oceanview Lounge, Yokosuka, Japan
Spoiler: Hoppou And Friends!

"Big Brother!" Colombe's head snapped around from where she was talking to Juuchi by the window. Three small figures shot out of the elevator and sprinted across the floor toward a grinning Harry with a fourth one following with a huff and adorably grumpy pout.

Her aunt smugged and responded like she was calling the Kentucky Derby, "Ahh, the munchkin brigade arrived at last! That is Hoppou by three lengths in the lead, Rei and Asuka battling for second neck and neck with Seiko bringing up the rear."

Claire, meanwhile, seamlessly shifted to a lighthearted upbeat piano cover of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" as a ghostly double of her formed to play the piano in a four-hand duet.

"Hoppou!" Harry grabbed the Abyssal Princess in mid leap, spun her around in the air to giggles of glee and a squeal of 'PO!' and then set her down. He then staggered as Rei and Asuka pounced on him with a tacklehug.

'Hmmpf!" Seiko said with an adorable pout before dashing in unobserved to give a hug of his leg and then retreating to a safely standoffish distance.

The Grumpiest One then blinked as Kensho vanished from the side of a now smiling Ehren to give her a hug. "Mou! Seiko-chan! You came! I have cousins! This one's a piano and she's a dagger!" The littlest Muramasa pointed at Claire and then Ehren as the dagger stood up to follow her.

Seiko pouted a bit at Kensho with a hidden twinkle in her eyes. "Hmmph, she's playing a piano at least, Kensho-chan."

Colombe gave a slightly watery smile at the byplay. She lowered her voice. "He's going to make a very good father, just like Ian, Aunt Juuchi. I can remember my Papa treating me and my half-siblings just like he is."

Juuchi smugged back quietly, "If I have anything to do with it, he shall. For am I not the greatest trainer of Potters? Ahh there's Kansha and Natsumi."

A teenager Harry's age dressed in a floral yukata and already showing the signs of what promised to be an extraordinary mature beauty followed the charge of the junior children. Beside her, a boy a few years younger than harry slouched in with his hands in his pants pockets and proudly showing his 'IRON CHEF' T-shirt off.

Colombe chuckled. "I see I'm older than my uncle, at least our avatars are." Juuchi gave a smug smile and laughed in turn as the two teenagers approached them.

Natsumi approached her and bowed. "Ono Natsumi-san, du Chasteler-san."

Colombe curtsied in response, "Enchanté, Mademoiselle Natsumi Ono. I am Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler. Please, Colombe to my friends. Bonjour, Uncle Kansha."

"Yo. Never would have thought Norimune of all people would have a daughter with actual manners. Heard from Suisei that you have a dagger as a daughter?" Kansha replied as he extended a hand for Colombe to shake.

Colombe chuckled and pointed at Ehren who was kneeling and talking to Seiko and Kensho. "My daughter Ehren there. She just manifested not even two years ago. Her older sister Claire is playing piano, although you may have to drag her away by force to get to know her. Music is her life and passion."

Natsumi glanced at the elevator as it showed it was descending to the lobby and her lips quirked in a sly smile. "Does Claire take requests?"

"Oh most definitely!" Colombe responded and then blinked at the vulpine grin that Natsumi got as the two-tail kitsune turned on her heel. "She reminds me of Yuying... and I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing." Colombe finished as she looked at Natsumi.

Natsumi hurried to Asuka's side and whispered in her ear. The younger kitsune got a devilish smirk and then hastily grabbed Rei. Another whispered consultation and enthusiastic head nodding followed and then the three kitsune split their huddle. Asuka whispered to Harry who started to laugh and nod while Hoppou gave Asuka a mittened high-five. Maruyu and Verniy both got sly smirks and nodded to agree with whatever was being discussed. Rei meanwhile headed to Ehren, Kensho, and Seiko. The grumpy abyssal pouted and then nodded reluctantly. Kensho looked at Ehren who nodded and patted her head with her own coolly smug smile. Ehren then pulled her phone out before moving clear of the area.

Meanwhile, Natsumi spoke to Claire who gave a musical giggle and enthusiastic head nod at the explanation. From her position beside the piano, Toku's eyes got very wide and she began a suspicious coughing fit before nodding her head enthusiastically.

The elevator ascended and Natsumi clapped her hands and cast an illusion spell. The outfits of Claire, Ehren, Natsumi, Hoppou, Seiko, Rei, Asuka, Maruyu, Verniy, Tokunotakai, and Harry shifted into colorful futuristic jumpsuits.

Juuchi snickered and grabbed her phone as beside her Kansha groaned and facepalmed. "That girl..." The mutters of the Muramasa knife did not stop his own smug smirk or grabbing his phone. Colombe pulled out her own iPhone with a baffled look on her face.

Catherine gave a serene joy-filled smile and folded her arms. Ehren shifted to a position that she could film her sister and the children as they assembled.

The Elevator door opened and Nagato stepped out....

....to be greeted with a serenade from the assembled adorable children and teenagers dressed in the outfits of the crew of the Cosmoship Yamato. Meanwhile Claire shifted into a majestic and powerful piano theme backing them in perfect harmony.
Spoiler: Nagato Gonna Nagamon

"Saraba chikyuu yo tabidatsu fune wa, Uchuu Senkan NA-GA-TO!"

Nagato's eyes turned into blue spinning spirals, steam issued from her ears, and the Pride of the Big Seven fainted dead away at the sight of so much cuteness.

Colombe laughed hard enough to make her camera shake at the sight.

Meanwhile Ehren gave a small happy smile at the sight of her sister participating in a perfect prank that warmed her steel heart. Her eyes found Claire's and she gave a fractional nod and wink across the room, to be returned by a matching wink and nod before Claire launched into the chorus of Space Battleship Yamato's theme song once more.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

The view shook as the person who owned the Go-Pro ran through the damaged town, obviously the victim of an Abyssal attack. Just about to turn a corner, they froze as an Abyssal Light Cruiser of the To-class appeared. With a growl it focused on the human who stumbled back before falling to the ground. Panicked, the girl started to scramble back, with her pleading and crying being heard as the Abyssal took aim. Pleading for someone to help her, help that neither her nor the Abyssal expected.

Help, that came a few moments later.

A shout could be heard before a darkening shadow appeared below the Abyssal. It turned and there was a brief moment of utter shock and disbelief upon what counted for its face... right before a heavy steamroller held by a golden eyed Re-Class slammed into it, crushing it as the other Abyssal let out a shout, "ROAD ROLLA!"

Stunned, the owner of the Go-Pro could be heard over it speaking in an Australian accent, "What the fuck...?"

Before the dust had even settled, the Re-Class begun punching the steam roller's back, embedding it, and the Abyssal beneath, deeper into the road, "Muda! Muda! Muda! Mudamudamudamuda!" With over half the vehicle embedded in the road, the Re-Class threw her head back and spread her arms in a pose with a massive, sharp toothed grin, "WRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY!"

For several moments there was utter silence as the Re-Class panted from where she was perched on the now wrecked steam roller. That was until the owner of the Go-Pro jerked and turned to find another Re-Class there. This one gave a small, shy smile, "Um... hello? We're from the Timor Fleet and we're here to help." She pointed at the colored bandana tied around one arm, "I'm Regina and that is my sister, Revina."

Said Abyssal appeared from seemingly nowhere with a cackle, "Oh yeah! That was totally awesome! You thought it an ordinary Abyssal, but it was I! Revina!" Planting her hands on her hips, she cackled, "Hell Yeah! Wait, you got a camera!? Oh sweet! Tell me that you got that, please! I want to meme it to hell!"

Utter confusion could be heard in the woman's voice as she answered, "U-uh... yes? I, um... did get it on camera?"

Pumping a fist, Revina gave a triumphant cackle, "Yes!"

Expression blank, Regina walked over to her sister before raising it and bringing it down in a chop between her eyes, "Stop that." Seeing the look her sister gave her, she returned it, "Lady Wanko is not here to do it."

Head tilted to the side as she continued to rub her forehead, the other Re-Class considered that before shrugging, "Fair enough." Then she grinned once again, "Still Awesome possum!"

Only sighing, Regina shook her head before turning towards the human with a small smile as she scratched her cheek, "Um, sorry about my sister... She's a little odd, but a good person."

Revina gave her a snort and waved a hand, "I'm only odd because I was made that way, not that Boss Lady wanted it herself. But I'm a good foil against you because that was how it was wanted."

Both Regina and, very likely, the human was giving the other Re-Class a look of confusion, though Regina's also had some exasperation in it. After a moment, the normally shy Re-Class shook her head before pressing two of her fingers beneath her ear, "We found someone about to be attacked and stopped it-"

Her sister spoke up at that point, "And did it in style~ Diamonds are unbreakable and we're all diamonds, baby~

Yet again, that got her a look from her sister before Regina took a deep breath and paused. After a few seconds, she nodded, "Okay, we'll get her to the extraction point, we'll be there in a few minutes."

As the Re-Class pulled her fingers away from where they had been just beneath her ear, the human spoke up again, "Um, just a few minutes? I was heading for one of the shelters, b-but if it's that close..."

Just shaking her head, Regina gave her a small smile, "Don't worry, I'll carry you there." With a quick, but gentle movement, she picked up the girl in her arms, the human's arms going around her neck, "Just hold on."

With that, she began to jog and slowly sped up as the girl in her arms could be heard with confusion in her voice, "Hold on? But why-Eep!"

Suddenly, and without any real warning, Regina pushed off against the ground shooting what had to be dozens of feet into the air. On the Go-Pro, a crater could be seen where they had been and which had been created by the Re-Class when jumping. Turning, one could see a roof of a parkade coming into view before Regina landed on it, jumping back into the air near immediately before landing on another roof. The trip continued this way with the Abyssal leaping dozens of feet in a single bound, perhaps hundreds, picking up speed the whole time.

Finally, they came into view of several dozen emergency vehicles with a shipgirl nearby and were falling towards the ground. Gasps and the like could be heard even as the girl with the Go-Pro tightened her grip on Regina's neck. But when the Re-Class impacted the ground, almost none of the momentum was felt by the human in her arms as her hooves dug in, digging furrows in the road as she slowed down to a stop. Then, Regina straightened and walked towards the nearest, shocked, paramedic, "Um... I think that she hurt herself and needs to be checked."

Blinking in stunned amazement, the paramedic stared for a few moments before shaking it off, "Uh, right! One moment!"

While the paramedics scrambled over with a gurney, Regina looked down at the human in her arms and smiled, "Don't worry, you're safe now."

She then turned back to the paramedics and walked over to meet them before laying the girl down on it. As she was wheeled to a waiting ambulance, the last image that could be seen was Regina and Revina talking with HMAS Perth, the shipgirl.

Just blinking, Aeroprin tilted her head before turning to Harry, who had been watching the video on his laptop, "Big Sister Regina is very cool, Very cool."

Lips curling into a slightly smug, though soft, smile, Harry gave a nod, "She is, as is to be expected."

Rewinding the video, he paused it at the point where she was giving a soft, closed eye smile at the human in her arms, the Go-Pro having captured her with the sun behind her and her tail rising just into view. For a few seconds, Harry considered the picture before rewinding it a bit more to just after she had picked up the girl. In that picture, Regina had a serious expression in her face and her tail was raised as if to dare anyone try and harm the person she was carrying.

Humming, Harry rubbed his chin in thought, 'I wonder if I can get blown up pictures of that...?'

Sunny Honey was also looking at the video before furrowing her eyebrows, "Uncle Harry? Was Miss Revina copying that guy on that anime? Um... the vampire?"

Only chuckling, Harry nodded some, "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure? Yeah, she was." Shaking his head, he snorted some, "Though I'm not too surprised that she would."

Each of the Abyssals considered that for a few moments before nodding in agreement. Nighty Moon blinked before tilting her head, "At least it was a good one? Not like that one anime which that Lieutenant wanted to watch when we were in the common's room. The one that you said was trash, I think?" Furrowing her eyebrows, she frowned, "Not sure how anime can be trash though... its not in the garbage can..."

Voice dry, Harry snorted, "Eiken is not trash." There was a beat and then he continued, "Calling it trash is an insult to trash everywhere. And if he dares shows you or any other Destroyer that..." The nearly fourteen year old closed his eyes and gave a soft smile as he hummed, "He'll have to deal with me."

All of the Abyssals looked at him in awe, 'So threatening! And just with a smile!'

With that, they quieted down as they stood there, Aeroprin and her Destroyers peaking over the countertop, only the top of their heads and eyes showing. Glancing at said Abyssal Princess, however, Harry noted that she was looking at the window and reached over to gently rub the top of her head, "Still worried, Blackie Smokie?"

Turning to look at him, Aeroprin gave a small hum, "Uh-huh..." She looked back at the window, "I'm worried about Mommy, Uncle Harry. About Mommy... she let loose yesterday and told us to stay away..."

Despite being slightly worried himself, Harry didn't show any of it as he felt he needed to be strong for the Destroyers. After all, seeing him worry might make it worse and after feeling Hoppou let go the day before and knowing there was some fear there, it took everything to not rush over himself. Instead, Harry made sure to comfort Aeroprin and the others and keep them from rushing off. Currently, he gave them all a smile and a nod, "I don't really blame you, any of you. But Little Sister is very, very strong. And if she says she's alright, I believe her." A ding could be heard and his smile grew a touch, "But how about we work on the cupcakes that we're making for her, okay? Hoppou would like that."

Brightening, the Destroyers all nodded and rushed for the sink to wash their hands as Harry walked over and put on oven mitts to remove the now done chocolate muffins that they had also added chocolate chips to the batter. Once they were out, they waited for them to cool down by making the icing under the direction of their adoptive uncle before spreading it onto the cupcakes. Then, they added some more chocolate chips on top before happily smiling.

For a few moments, the teenage wizard looked over the cupcakes with a discerning eye before giving a sharp nod, "Looks great, everyone!" Hearing a knock, he turned to the door with a blink, "I think that's Hoppou now."

Right as he said that, the doorknob turned and the door opened to reveal Hoppou standing there nervously, "Big Brother?"

Softly smiling, though a bit confused as he swore he had seen two red eyes peek out from behind the doorframe, Harry nodded, "It's good for you to finally be home, Little Sister. We made cupcakes for you after all."

It seemed that was the right thing to say as Hoppou relaxed a little. Then, she cleared her throat, "Thank you, Big Brother, Hoppou likes your cupcakes and knows that Aeroprin's as well as the others are very good as well! Because they are made of love." Each of the Abyssal Destroyers there stood up a bit straighter, but then the Abyssal known as Northern Ocean Princess continued, "But Hoppou has someone for you to meet."

Glancing at his adoptive mother, who was leaning heavily against the doorframe, the teenage wizard cocked his head to the side, "Someone to meet?"

With a nod, Hoppou moved inside a little and turned before motioning with one mittened hand, "You can come in now and meet Big Brother."

From just out of sight, Harry could hear a huff, "Not sure about this, what if he doesn't like me."

Just blinking her red eyes, Hoppou frowned, "You are being very silly, Seiko. Now, come and meet Big Brother."

Moments later, the two red eyes peeked out at Harry, with said teen only raising an eyebrow in curiosity. Then, their owner fully stepped into view and the teen felt his eyes widen a little. Mainly because, before him, was an Abyssal that greatly resembled Hoppou, right down to the two stubby horns and collar. However, there were differences such as the tattoo-like markings that ran up one leg and arm as well as the hands which resembled Wanko's own claws. Not to mention that instead of the dress that Hoppou had, she had what looked more like a shirt with a cat's face on it.

The bigger thing, however, was how she looked even younger than Hoppou did, seeming to be around five years old to Hoppou's nine.

Harry glanced towards his mother and sighed a little, 'That explains that expression on her face.'

Not even a second later, he sighed even more as he could hear Nagato mumble a little, "So cute... two Hoppou-Chans... very, very cute..."

Only shaking his head, the teenage wizard held back from rolling his eyes, 'Oh, Mum.' Shaking that off, however, Harry turned his attention to the little Abyssal next to Hoppou and crouched down, "Hello there, I'm Harry."

Crossing her arms with a grumpy look on her face, she turned a little away and mumbled a bit, "I'm Seiko."

Slowly nodding, Harry hummed a bit, "Seiko, huh? That's a nice name." Getting a shrug, he raised an eyebrow in amusement, "A little Grumpy Gus, I see."

At that, Hoppou nodded a little, "Very grumpy, Hoppou agrees."

Rather than do the first thing that came to his mind, which was to tickle her until she laughed, Harry went for his second response. Walking over to the cupcakes, he took one and brought it over before holding it out to Seiko, "Here, have a cupcake. They're good as well as nice and fresh. Hot from the oven."

Looking at him, to the cupcake, and then back, the little Abyssal blink. Slowly, Seiko reached out and took the cupcake. Examining it for a few moments, she glanced at him again and got a blink before she opened her mouth and took a bite. Chewing it, Seiko blinked and her eyes widened at the taste of chocolate against her tongue. Still not quite sure about the human, she noticed he was looking at her kindly. With a swallow, she looked away and shrugged, "It's okay."

However, she still took another bite as Harry chuckled and gently ruffled her hair, "Glad to hear it."

Meanwhile, Hoppou smiled happily, especially as she saw the slightest hint of a smile on Seiko's face as she ate her cupcake. Though she also sighed as Nagato collapsed to her knees muttering before pulling out a camera and taking pictures, 'Mommy is being very silly...'

Seiko, for her part, just decided to enjoy the delicious treat that she was getting as well as the headpats while deciding that maybe she could like Harry.

 

[darthcourt10]

baofengyu

The Mandate Pt 5
"Do not see every enemy as an enemy—see them instead as an ally, whether they know it or not."



Rongcheng, China

Desolate.

It was the only word that fit in Ying's mind. They had skirted the Korean Peninsula from the flight from Tokyo, avoiding many of the ICW watch stations as well as the normal JSDF and ROKAF sensor stations as they flew. Arrival at Rongcheng was uneventful, and her pilot did not linger long at all, retreating as swiftly as they arrived.

She shouldered her space-expanded pack as she looked around at the gray terrain. Everywhere she looked was ruin and desolation. Intelligence reports gleaned from the RCN reported no Abyssal presence in the area of the Yellow and Bohai Seas, but that did not mean there were not feral Abyssals roaming the area. The wind moaned as it echoed through the skeletal structures.

She began to walk. As the wind died a deathly silence fell. Nothing. No insects. No birds. No life.

Nothing.

Blood Week savaged the coastal areas of China far worse than anyone had imagined, and the hardliners in Beijing kept a tight leash on information that leaked out. A part of her wondered if even magic could restore the land, but in many ways, she saw the state of the land as a reflection of the Mandate. In some ways it was true that 'King' was the land, and a strong 'King' meant a strong land. Just stepping into the Middle Kingdom, she could feel the loss of the Mandate.

Her walk was unnerving to say the least.

She was used to the sounds of life. And this unnatural environment made her true form quiver in anger. This was a travesty and an injustice of the highest order. She could feel a great deal of magic in the soil.

The walk also gave her a chance to review her options and plans. Sooner or later she had to face Daji. Whether she makes the first move or is forced, that encounter was coming. This was inevitable. The endgame in this was to find the one to hold the Mandate, how she gets there is still up in the air. In every age it always came down to force of arms, to prove to the heavens that the one had the physical strength and moral clarity to seize and hold the Mandate. Daji seemed to be acting as the Arbiter of the Mandate, and she may have her own choices for the Throne going forward. The number of claimants was also an unknown, but it always seemed to come down to two contenders in the end. A 'Three Kingdoms' scenario was not out of the question, but highly unlikely due to the nature of current political structure. If Daji had complete control of the Hidden Ministry, it was also possible that she also had complete control of Beijing and the Central Committee.

A shadow flickered across the stars.

Ying stopped and crouched down, one hand on her true self and her wand dropping into her other.

Another shadow.

The temperature dropped.

duō cái guǐ.

Ghosts with Excessive Means.

Spirits that could, and often did, prey upon humans. Why these beings were here Ying could guess at, as this land was devastated by war and the Hidden Ministry could have placed wards to keep such ghosts from threatening the living. She touched her wand upon the earth and whispered a spell.

In her mind's eye she could see that there was indeed a barrier cast upon the earth, one to both keep the ghosts away from the living and to bind them to these ruins to act as guardians against intrusion. This could very well be the reason that Delilah's smuggler didn't like to come here. As far as she could tell the barrier stretched the entire length of the coast, and quite possibly around the entire borders of the Middle Kingdom, but she did not think it would have been necessary to do so. Land borders were not as threatened as coastal areas, but it was something to consider. She would not put it past the Central Committee to enact such a protocol as both a deterrent against external threats, and internal ones as well.

She slowly rose, her eyes scanning the sky.

They were everywhere.

With her wand she quickly whispered a stealth spell to hide her presence, although a spirit herself, she was unsure if the ghosts would attack her. With the number of Ghosts in the skies it would be best to stick to the ground until she passed this killing field.

So she walked.

Wendeng District was about forty kilometers away, and quite possibly the first waypoint on her journey.

She started jogging, slowly increasing her pace. There were only about six hours of night remaining. It would be wise to get to some secure position before sunrise. There were other things moving in the darkness, and Ying did not know how this barrier was structured enough to risk a prolonged engagement of any sort.

Six kilometers from Wendeng District she came across the ruins of a farm.

It was of the old Siheyuan style, modest, with one door torn away and the other rocking as if caught in a breeze.

Yet there was no breeze.

Ying sensed the presence of spirits, but whether they were friend or foe was unknown. Cautiously, she stepped up to the gate and opened it with the hilt of her sword.

Nothing.

She stepped inside and looked around, her wand at the ready. The spirits she sensed were here, yet distant, as if the souls were trapped and unable to cross over under the aegis of YanLuo Wang. It was only after ten steps inside she discovered the first body.

Her investigator instincts took over as she looked over the body. It was male, approximately mid 20s, thin, probably malnourished. There were no distinct wounds on the body, only an expression of abject terror. The duō cái guǐ were probably culprits, leaving behind a dried, mummified corpse clothed in rotting clothes. She ventured further into the domicile, using her light foot technique to make no sound as the crossed the broken pottery and rough floor. As she entered the main hall of the house, more bodies were present.

These were all women.

Not thin, starving people.

No. These women were svelte and well fed.

Young.

She looked closer with her spirit sight.

Virgins.

She stepped back and looked down. A ritual circle drawn in dried blood.

Dried blood. Not old blood, she noted. This was recent. No more than a week old.

She whispered a few choice curses on those responsible. Without a sound her true form stabbed into the blood, the calligraphy on her body burning.

"By Guānyǔ this shall not S̈̓TA̹ͤN̻͇ͪ̈D͕̥̀̆!"

She understood the nature of the barrier. Ritual sacrifices kept the ghosts and other spirits tied to the land, to act as both external and internal defense. Yet the sacrifices could also bring others, darker and more evil, to roam the land. Yes, this was the work of wizards, but as to the actual orders given, she did not know. This would also require investigation.

Ying pulled the sword from the ground and eased around the circle, finding a jumbled, yet secure room further in. She warded the room quickly before sitting in a lotus position. She reflected upon everything that had led up to this point, trying to remember every little detail that she had read about what was going on in the Middle Kingdom and all of the potential pitfalls that might happen on the road to Beijing. So much of the natural order has been disrupted here, and the wanton murder of innocents to create such a barrier serves no real purpose but to hide what is really going on. Is Daji truly behind this, Ying wondered. No. The Barrier is old, possibly from the time of Blood Week when the Abyssal War began. Daji only assumed power recently. Unless she acted through others.

It was possible, but without definite proof there can be no accusations. Daji's rise only came recently, but her previous modus operandi often had her moving behind the scenes and pulling the strings. Again there-


You may ask.

The scene changed to the familiar bathhouse. Ying stood at the edge of the pool as a woman brushed out her long black hair. A pair of fox eyes turned to look at her mid brush.

To answer your question, no, I did not create this barrier. This was done by some of the first Ministers of Magic under the direction of Mao. Mao feared an invasion from either the Republicans on Taiwan or a resurgent Japan. Later Ministers enacted other ritual sites along all of the Middle Kingdom's borders to defend the nation from possible ICW influence and attack as well.

"How did you find me?"

Find you? Daji rose from the waters, fully turning to face Ying. You are in the Barrier. This I know because of your anger. But as to where?

Daji closed her eyes and tilted her head. You carry an echo, but your actual physical presence is…distant.

"Why me?" Ying demanded. "Why draw me into this?"

You are a child of the Middle Kingdom as am I. Human. Spirit. Demon. All are part of the balance as demanded by the Celestial Courts. I will do what I must to ensure the transfer of the Mandate. You, however, will do as you must as well.

Daji vanished from the pool and Ying felt a delicate hand stroke her cheek from behind.

But I would have you at my side Daughter of Guānyǔ .

"Do not tempt me Demon," Ying frowned.

Daji laughed. It was clear, joyous sound, lacking the malice one would have expected from such a notorious character.

Oh my dear child, I have not yet begun to tempt you…


Ying's eyes snapped open. There was no daylight outside, and what little light was from the waxing crescent of the moon. A simple check of her watch told her it was late night the next day. Instinctively she checked her wards. They were still active, and nothing had attempted to penetrate them. Her charm was still intact, and it gave off a ghostly glow in the light of the moon. But it was no excuse to dally. If Daji could react into her mind then it would be child's play for the Vixen to realize her true location. She quickly gathered her pack and rushed outside, only to stop short at the entrance.

There was another person present.

They lay across the entry gate of the farm, reclining on their side, with one arm propped under their head while the other held a glowing green gourd. The gourd flashed and sparkled in the faint light, and every few moments the being took a drink.

"You are travelling, yes?" The man spoke.

He was dressed formally in a Hanfu, almost as if he stepped out of a period drama.

"And what is a pretty little girl like yourself doing out here? In such a dangerous place?"

"My business is my own," Ying replied. "Do not interfere."

"Ah," the man cried. "Such drive! Such determination! Would you care to join my Gourd?"

He swirled it around, leaving sparks of light as if a glowing galaxy. He grinned and slowly took a drink, a star falling into his mouth.

Ying paled, her blood turning to ice.

Those were not stars.

They were human souls.

"Demon," She spat. "Begone from this place and release that which you have taken."

"Taken?" The man floated down to the earth. "They offered these paltry things to me freely."

Dust stirred around him in four streams.

Ying let her pack slide off her shoulder and down to the floor of the farm.

"No one offers their souls freely," Ying spoke. "What lies did you utter to sway them? Did SHE send you?"

"What do I have need for lies? Have you seen this world? It is corrupt. Out of balance. A little kindness and humans will sell each other out. No. I offered nothing. And I take orders from no one."

Ying relaxed her left leg and slid her right foot out. Her right foot traced a quarter circle to her right and her center of gravity lowered. Her true body peaked from her sheath.

The Demon smirked, and almost casually raised its hands.

He attacked, streaking forward with hands clenched like claws. Ying pulled her Jian free and slapped the claws away, her foot snaking out and catching the Demon in the side.

The Demon laughed. "Oh, your soul will taste so sweet!"

She felt the manifestation of tails in the form of wind. A form of fox demon, Ying thought. Perfect.

She turned her Jian slowly, the flat of the blade horizontal to the ground and stepped around the Demon, her feet touching, yet not touching the earth. She let the hilt slip, the blade angling towards the earth as she pressed two fingers against her spine as the blade bent towards her in almost a perfect arc. Ying felt her back ache as the four faintly outlined tails of the demon tried to break her. With a flick of her hand Ying held the tails away from her with her Jian, in the other, she shook her wrist, allowing her other weapon to drop. The walnut of her wand slapped her palm.

"CONFRINGO!"

The blast launched the fox demon off his feet, slamming him into the wall of the farm and stunning him. She launched herself forward, her Jian leading the way. The demon moved sluggishly as it dodged her initial strike, her body spinning and dancing to not only evade the flailing tails as her sword slapped the demon's attacks away. He shook the lingering shock off and launched again into the attack, striking out with his free hand and tails as Ying slid back, her sword flashing as she easily defended.

Right up to the point where the gourd met sword.

She felt a lurch in her soul.

Her true body lost a touch of its sheen.

That gourd was an artifact. Something ancient.

The demon's eyes widened slightly in realization.

Raising the gourd, he attacked, racing forward.

Ying centered herself, letting the gourd close, before sliding out of the way and stabbing forward with her wand.

The demon's eyes stared into hers.

"DECRUSTO!"

The demon screamed as its physical form shattered, the gourd clattered against the earth.

She felt the demon try to reform, but the damage done was too great to it. It fled, the tattered fragments of its soul trailing behind it like a contrail. She looked down at the gourd. Touching it was out of the question as she watched the dancing lights therein. She leveled her wand.

"REDUCTO!"

The gourd exploded as she stepped back, and for a moment she was surrounded by lights. A faint wailing echoed in the distance. She raised her sword to the heavens and uttered a prayer.

Guānyǔ, hear thy servant and guide these lost children to the Courts of the Dead so that they may be judged…

Motes of light danced around her blade before shooting into the sky, gathering the lost souls within and disappearing into the night.

Ying fell to her knees. She sheathed both her weapons and steadied her breathing. The weight of the short battle was heavy on her. There was danger here, and the risks great. Yet she had a duty.

She stood and brushed herself off. Wendeng District was in the distance, and from there the way to the Forbidden City.



Ministry of Culture

"Minister, Wang Qingshang is here to see you."

Cao looked up from his paperwork. "Ah, good. Send him in."

A rather disheveled man entered the office, perhaps resembling more of a ambulatory shrub than a proper agent of China's prestigious Ministry of Culture. But he was one of Cao's best operatives along with Fong Chung. Who, Cao noticed, was suspiciously absent.

"Wang, what happened?"

"We were ambushed outside of Kowloon City. Fong was killed by an Abyssal as we were making our way from Hong Kong Island."

"That is…most unfortunate. Fong was a capable agent."

"Yes sir."

"Continue."

"Most of Hong Kong is a gutted wreck of a city sir. We spotted signs of some human habitation but nothing definite, and other signs that PLAN was in the area. We were pretty much unopposed in our search sir. The map we were given was old, but the information from Gornt was clear. What we seek is definitely in their vaults."

"Excellent," Cao clapped his hand. "You have the map?"

Wang withdrew a slightly burnt map that smelt of sewage. "I've marked know Abyssal routes and positions, as well as sightings of the ships from the rebellious province. The PLAN base at Ngong Shuen Chau has seen some activity as of late."

"Very good indeed Wang," Cao leaned forward. "You have done well and will be rewarded handsomely. Have you told anyone else of the discovery?"

"Th-thank you sir," Wang stammered. "No, no one but you sir."

Cao picked up the crossbow and shot the man four times.

"Sir?" His secretary poked her head in. "Shall I call Mr. Xiao?"

"Soon enough my dear," Cao replaced the crossbow. I need to plan this carefully, he thought. Xiao has been a good patron, but the information is worth much more than the prize he offered. Perhaps Xue could be of some use in establishing the veracity of the information. No.

He motioned his secretary to him. She stepped over the body and leaned in.

"Get me Admiral Li Han Shu."



Keelung Naval Base, Taiwan

Hua Yang, Lo Yang, and Nan Yang stood at the open hanger doors as they watched the team of Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit Marines checking their kits as they prepared to deploy. The three shipgirls were not present for the marines, no, they were present for someone else entirely. A half a dozen MQ-9 Reapers and a RQ-4 Global Hawk sat on the tarmac on loan from the USAF for maritime monitoring.

She wore an elegant green Hanfu accented with white. There was an ageless quality around the Taiwanese Minister of Magic, and she never left her Ministry unless the situation was serious, and the three former USN DDs for the life of them couldn't fathom what would bring her out, only that their orders were to guard her until she returned to Taipei.

"Shàngwèi Cho Tsao," Lady Lǜ Sè spoke, her hands folded before her. "Are your men prepared?"

The Marine in question stood and saluted. "We are Lady."

"Excellent," She replied. "You have all been assembled for a rather particular mission. This mission will be imperative for the survival of our nation and may very well decide the fate of mainland China as well."

The marines looked to each other in surprise. Even after Blood Week very little had emerged from the interior of China, and the Communists had clamped down on any information that might leak.

"You are to go to infiltrate Hong Kong, find the Struan and Company building, and search the vaults." She held up a set of ancient coins on a string. "The talismans I have provided you shall allow you to see the truth of what you seek. You are looking for something similar to this, but the Coins will be gold and silver on cord of woven Jade and Silk. There will be others searching for these, and you must not let anyone else take them."



South China Sea

The ship was a rental, but the freelance news crew sunk as much of their capital into the ship as they could, including the simple satellite uplink which would allow them to broadcast from anywhere in the world. The trip from Australia was odd to say the least, passing through the 'friendly' Abyssal's territory was something to be seen, and they recorded every minute of it. It was strange to see some kid on a beach with one of those monsters, and a part of them wanted to see a bit of violence, calling back to the old adage, 'If it bleeds, it leads'. Nothing sells like raw footage from the Abyssal Front.

"Where are we heading now?"

"Ever been to Hong Kong?"

 

[darthcourt10]

WickedestCard

So...you all remember Solie? Cause I do and let's just say that life has been hard for her and that we get to see a bit of that right now. So without further ado!
-------------

THE DEEPEST ABYSS: Solie's Awakening.

June 18th, 2014
Yokosuka Naval Activities.


Heavy and stiff eyelids that for a few moments didn't quite want to cooperate with her will were the first thing that the submarine Abyssal felt as her consciousness stirred back in her body. Second was the sheer stiffness and lethargic feeling that was embedded into very being. Finally the feeling that her very flesh was raw and tender hit her as she finally managed to open her eyes. The Abyssal was greeted by a stark and sterile white room, a surprisingly comfortable bed, an older human male in uniform, a female doctor, two Abyssals and at least a half dozen shipgirls standing a few meters back.

"It seems you're awake. I'm sure you're still trying to shake the cobwebs fully but I am afraid I'll need to ask you some questions." The male human, an Admiral if Solie had to guess, asked her in an even voice.

"First we are not here to harm or kill you, it is just that the circumstances of your situation has come across as suspicious. What I am asking is for a temporary cease of hostilities between us as we ask you the questions. Is that acceptable?" Admiral Goto explained, a stern look on his face. He was more than aware of what other methods could be used in this situation but he gambling that he would be able to turn this all into a net positive.

The Abyssal sub nodded her head slowly as she took in what he said. Not that there was much she could in this instance after all. At that the female doctor approached and handed her a glass of water and started to check her over.

"Take a few minutes to collect yourself and once you feel capable of speaking please tell your name." The doctor stated as she continued her work. A quick nod and some small measured sips of water was her answer as the bedridden submarine did just that. A few quiet moments passed as the two parties gathered themselves. Finally, the submarine finished drinking and managed to clear her throat.

"My name is Solie, So-class Flagship and third in command of the submarine fleet led by...formerly led by Castaway Submarine Princess." Solie said with a heavy and strained voice. Even as her recovering body lay there she could tell the old connection she shared with her Princess was no longer there.

"I see. Flagship Solie, I'll say that we managed to recover some of your fleets ships with the help of the Destroyer Escorts that were towing you to safety. However they have not been able to clarify what happened to cause you to nearly die." Admiral Goto said as he interlocked his fingers and cast her a gaze. It wasn't one of malice or hate, more expectant than anything else.

"My Princess, my older sister and I were the front end of an expedition. See...we were diving down into the deepest part of the ocean we knew of in search of resources. My Princess was unique with how deep she could dive. While many Princess classes are able to stay submerged for long periods of time at the sea floor, Castaway Princess could dive to the rim of the Deep Abyss. I...cannot remember what you humans call it." The submarine said as she recalled what her sister told her.

"The Marianas Trench. A massive trench that runs along the edge of the Pacific correct?" Goto supplied, remembering some of the talks he had with the Admiral at Guam.

"Yes...that sounds right. The vast majority of Abyssals can't survive the pressure and stresses associated with the dive, but my Princess could." Solie stated with a proud and fond tone in her voice. "She developed a ritual to help with staying down there for longer periods of time."

At that the Admiral raised an eyebrow but filed the information away for the time being. It said something that even Abyssals feared and were threatened by the Marianas Trench. Goto gave the Abyssal a quick short nod as a sign to continue.

"Castaway's first true dive into the...Marianas was somewhat successful. See, she made it down to the rim and could stay down there for a few hours, a bit longer if we channeled some energy into her. But she is...was still just one Abyssal and she couldn't gather that many resources. After that Castaway did the same thing with my older sister...she became Deep Sea Demon. They did two dives together into the Trench and they were able to gather more resources."

Solie then stopped for a moment and took in a shaky breath. She closed her eyes and nodded, as if she was gathering herself.

"Then on my launch day my Princess and Deep Sea performed the ritual on me and I was promoted to Flagship. A few days later we went on one more expedition. This time it was more South, along the edge of Shipgirl patrols. On our way down though something happened. The three of us heard something. No...someone. It was faint at first…almost like a heartbeat. It was curious odd. Then we heard something resonate from within us...something enthralling and wonderful. We needed to find it, I don't know why but it was like my very being needed to dive deeper into the Abyss. In fact...it feels a bit similar to the Princess class standing next to you." At that there were a few raised eyebrows but with a look to each other, Hoppou and Goto nodded. Solie could see a tall Shipgirl in the back with long black hair also give a stern nod. Blinking away some moisture in her eyes, she once again calmed her breathing and continued.

"After that...my crew panicked and started an emergency surface. I...saw my Princess and my sister continue down, further and further into the black and then...nothing. I must have passed out or something for a while. For a while it was nothing and then...I was in a dream. I'm not too sure what it was though." Solie finished her story, her breathing now slow and constant, as if a weight on her chest had been lifted.

"I see. Thank you Solie-San and I am sorry that I am the one that needed to break this to you. A Shipgirl convoy spotted you undertow by some of your Destroyers and Destroyer Escorts. They surrendered to the convoy and in exchange for a truce and keeping you alive they led us to your outpost so they could be here when you woke up. Both the group towing you and the ones posted at the island were in bad shape but they all waited until you were out of the OR to be fixed up themselves." Goto gave her a small but warm smile.

"They had absolute faith you would pull through and they wish to speak to you. I would like for you and our fleet to consider joining the Allied Abyssals Treaty but that can wait for a later time. Hoppou-chan here can answer any questions you have about that and we'll see about getting you some appropriate food. But first...you have some people that want to see you." A undercurrent of sadness could be heard in the Admiral's voice as he stood up and along with the now named Hoppou, Norihara, the battleship Abyssal and the shipgirls walked out of the room. Solie could see the Admiral pull the small Abyssal aside before her eyes widened at who entered.

In walked the two Tsu-class twins, four destroyers and eight of the sea otter like Destroyer Escorts. At once the otters clambered around her bed until they cuddled around her, one whining as she patted her head, blinking.

"Flagship Solie...we...we held out as long as we could but...there were too many of them before the Shipgirl arrived. I'm sorry but...we..we got as many mementos of them as we could. We...we're all that's left Solie, we...failed." One of the Tsu-class said, Tsuki, her voice breaking.

"Don't say that...please. Y-you know how Big sis was like r-right. I'm sure that you gave it all you had. So...th-this is all that's left of our…" Solie tried asking but couldn't fight back the choking sob in her throat as it all hit her. Everyone came close and gave her as much of a hug as they could as they all let out the cries and sobs they had been holding back. Unnoticed by them, Hoppou had quietly closed the door to give them privacy.
-----------------------------------------

So, what do you all think of the latest snippet for our So-class submarine. A bit of exposition not included is that they ran from the Indian Ocean years ago and have been surviving on an outpost they built on one of the many islands of SE Asia and were at times threatened by feral Abyssals. A Princess class or even a Demon class is usually more than enough to keep them away but when Castaway had been gone for a while the ferals got brave and attacked.

Out of fleet about 50 strong only 14 ships remain from Solie's fleet.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Belgian Butterknife's Japanese Vacation (XVI)

14 July 2014

Sunrise Oceanview Lounge, Yokosuka, Japan

"Very good, Hoppou! Wasn't that fun?" Claire said gently to the Abyssal child in her lap as they sat at the piano.

"Yay! Hoppou knows how to play piano now! PO!" Hoppou responded with a smile and hug for Claire before hopping down to clear the piano's lap.

Seiko gave Claire a bit of a stare before climbing up. "I guess it's my turn next," she grumbled.
Spoiler: Seiko's First Piano Lesson

Claire waved her hand and several of the white keys on the piano turned different colors. "All you have to do is tap the key in the color I call, Seiko-chan." A warm, maternal smile filled Claire's face as she took Seiko's clawed hand and guided her to depress the keys. "Just like that."

"OK..." Seiko huffed.

"Orange, Green, Orange, Orange, Green, Yellow, Green, Blue, Blue, Orange, Green." Claire called out gently as Seiko followed the simple melody along with an adorably grumpy pout of concentration and twinkles in her eyes.

Needless to say, Harry, Kansha, Ehren, and Colombe were all filming the impromptu set of piano lessons. Nagato was as well, although the Pride of the Big Seven's face was flushed and she was emitting small puffs of steam from her ears at the antics of her family.

Finally the melody ended and the observers applauded. Seiko blushed rose pink, and Claire smiled happily. "Well done, Seiko! See how much fun it is to Piano?"

The young Abyssal suddenly squirmed in her lap. Seiko hugged Claire tight and whispered "Yes!". Then she hopped down and headed to the buffet line to join the other children waiting on a refill on desserts.

Claire smiled sweetly at Seiko and then turned back to the piano. After a thoughtful hum, she glanced over at the three Japanese shipgirls and got a small smile. She turned to Ehren and winked.

Ehren nodded back and then spoke as she pulled out her cell phone and walked to Claire's side. "I took the liberty of doing some research on a song to end our little meeting that I believe some of the ladies would enjoy Claire playing." Ehren spoke in a crisp voice that drew attention to her and Claire.

With that she nodded to her sister as she set the phone above the keyboard to display the sheet music that she had researched. Claire grinned at Ehren who snapped to attention. Claire began to play the Gunkan kōshinkyoku official naval march of the IJN and then the JMSDF and instantly all three shipgirls began to sing.
Spoiler: Claire's Last Song

"Defending and attacking are done very well
By Castles which float very reliable
These castles proudly sail under the rising sun
Protecting our nation, from all four directions
Ships of iron, under the sun, how great are they
They attack when in need, our enemies
Smoke of coal appears in the sky like an ocean God's
Mighty dragon who spews forth in a very wide stream
Cannons sound like the roar of mighty thunder
Their voices, reverberate, quite an awful lot
Thousands of miles, going over many big waves
The light of our country, may it always shine!"
---------------------

Colombe watched the group around Harry walk down the street from where she was parked to the crosswalk leading to the Yokosuka Naval Base main gate. She sighed minutely and then turned to the other three tsukumogami with her. "Well, that was quite a productive and pleasant meeting, To-chan, Claire, Ehren."

Claire smiled at her mother. "Oh yes it was. They all loved me playing piano and Miss Verniy said that she had some Shostokovitch sheet music on board her that was later suppressed by the authorities. She plans to scan and email me it!"

Ehren gave a cool nod. "Ja, indeed it was. Thank you for having me along, Mutti. I have much to think on after speaking to Catherine, Maruyu, Aunt Juuchi, and Uncle Kansha. I shall have to get copies of some of Kasuyu's cookbooks for my uncle, even if he looks like an unbearded boy. Aunt Juuchi explained when I asked about him that it is by preference and we can alter the apparent age of our avatars. She promised to send me some notes on how to change my avatar's age and apperance. And our cousin Kensho is a dear."

Toku nodded. "Indeed Kensho is adorable. Which is surprising since her mother had a very bad reputation among my family before the Pacific War." The Masamune miko sighed and absently adjusted the katana in the obi of her hakama. "Also Catherine-san is quite a wonderful person to talk to. I look forward to renewing our discussion on matters of when to draw steel honorably and when to keep our blades sheathed."

Colombe shook her head with a small smile. "I still cannot believe that the blade of the Maid of Orleans spoke to me. I had thought her lost for good when the French Potters were destroyed in the Revolution." She scowled and then laughed as Toku got in the passenger seat and the children sat behind her. "Irony of ironies, Gabriel Potter told me of her, but I thought that he was bragging about some of the artifacts his family collected. If matters had been slightly different, it would have been my great-granddaughter who Catherine saved from the madness of the Jacobins."

"Oh, Mutti?" Ehren asked curiously.

"Oui." Colombe responded as they got on the road. "Gabriel was in my class in Beauxbatons and we were sorted into the same House. He was from the French branch of the Potters, and we were good friends and eventually lovers. My first boy in fact." Colombe said with a smirk and small blush. "He wished to win my hand in marriage, and we eventually agreed upon a friendly duel one night. On broomsticks we had purloined from the storeroom. He could fly like a bird, he said that it ran in the family. So he brewed a Sleeping Draught and helped me slip it into that Bourbon hag's digestif nightcap before bed."

Colombe grinned smugly and nastily. "So we ran her up the flagpole in her nightgown as she snored away, then opened the gates to let the entertainers and tuns of wine that we had bought inside. After..." Colombe broke off, noticing Claire's enthralled look and decided to skip over the intimate details of the 'services rendered' by the veela courtesans that she had hired. "...the party got well underway," Colombe continued, "then Gabriel and I mounted up and began our duel. First one to yield, take a scoring hit in the torso with our magically blunted blades, or get knocked from her broom would lose. If I lost, I told him that I would marry him. If I won, well he would allow me to ride him whenever and however I pleased."

Toku's eyes got very round and her face flamed, "Co-chan! You didn't!"

"Well I did! Win that is!" Colombe responded with a broad smugly reminiscent grin on her face. "We locked our blades corps a corps as we circled la fontaine des nymphes in the Blue Hall, he cast a stunning spell on me and I parried it with the dagger Papa had gifted me for my fifteenth birthday -- it was enchanted to have that ability to negate spells the blade touched you see -- then punched him with the guard in the solar plexus. It knocked the wind out of him, he lost his balance, and splashed in the water. Unfortunately the commotion as we woke up the nymphs inside the fountain alerted the school and I was blamed for the mess that was made. They all thought that he was trying to stop me."

"Mutti," Ehren said curiously. "What happened to that dagger?"

Colombe sighed. "I lost it in 1745 off the coast of Greece. Some of the Moorish pirates that plagued the Mediterranean Sea at the time boarded a ship I was hired to guard and in the fight I had to leave it in a corpse because it was wedged in too tight. Then I got knocked over the rail. Pity, I still miss that misericordia parrying dagger. Only you, Ehren, have matched her balance, temper, and quality."

The dagger's blond avatar got a thoughtful look on her face as she leaned back and looked out the window. "I see...."
---------------------

Spoiler: A Vacation's End

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

Kasuyu sighed slightly at the parcel of letters that the Post Owl had just brought to the address that the castle used for its mail deliveries. He began to sort through them as he walked through the Great Hall en-route to Mistress Colombe's study.

Advertising flyer, advertising flyer, bill, a vellum document sealed in red wax with the imprint of a crowned eagle, a second scroll also sealed in red wax with a star and crescent, another advertisement, bill, sealed letter marked for Ehren, bill...
Spoiler: The Seals

Kasuyu then blinked as he reached the bottom of the stack.

The address was immediately familiar, that of the Mistress' younger half-sister. The black sealing wax with the de Breuil coat of arms gave him pause, and he took a deep breath before breaking the seal.

In Japan or not the Mistress needed to know immediately.

His dark face paled and turned gray as he read the handwritten message.

One massive hand grabbed the telephone.

Next to the phone on the desk rested a scribbled note with the number of Colombe's current burner cell phone.
---------------------

Japan Route 311, Outskirts of Kamakura, Japan

Colombe's cell phone began to ring with the tune of Toto's "Africa" and a number from Belgium.

 

[darthcourt10]

lt_agn02

A/N: This is the final draft. I won't be making more revisions to this chapter after this because the more time I spend trying to appease everyone means there's less time getting to the actual meat of Aso's story.
_______________
Stretching her arms as she walked through an administrative building, Despatch turned to Alton. "Since our acclimation period is over, how about we hit up a rib joint off base? I heard from the locals that this place over in Pearl City is pretty popular."

Alton shook her head. "I believe I'll pass. I want to head back to the library to do some more research on modern times. There's a lot I missed."

"Aw, but come on! It's our first chance to experience Hawaii in the modern day!" Despatch shook her battle buddy with tears in her eyes. "You know we're not allowed off base without each other!"

The protected cruiser shrugged. "Again, I'll pass. The mess hall has some very good ribs too, so you can go there."

"Aww, but it's not the same!" She slumped her shoulders.

Alton cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean? The ones at the mess hall are still the 'All-American' ribs you love."

Crossing her arms, Despatch made a conflicted face. "True...and sometimes the recipes outside the base get perverted to suit local tastes and all, but that's part of the enjoyment, right? I heard from one of the sailors that the joint I'm talking about has ribs so good, it makes you want to drive down to Dixie, find a rib master, and beat the devil out of them!"

Alton felt her mouth water. "That...that is tempting," she said, covering her mouth with her sleeve, "but-"

"Hey look. We've got a Jap here."

"Huh?"

"Japanese carrier, 12 o'clock." Despatch pointed toward a nervous Aso fumbling with the notepad and pencil in her hands just before entering the briefing room.

"It looks like we're in the same briefing," Alton noted.

"Wanna give her the ol' gunboat diplomacy for old times' sake?"

Narrowing her eyes, Alton groaned at her companion's suggestion. "Gunboat diplomacy? Seriously?"

"Well, it's either that or we corner her in the room and act Italian enough to get her to kiss our rings, but we don't have rings for her to kiss."

"That's still the same thing! And not all Italians are part of the Mafia."

"Yeah, but she doesn't know that!" With a smile, Despatch walked forward. "Besides, it's just a little waving the flag, showing how awesome we are, and getting her on our side. Bing, bang, boom. It never fails."

Alton put her hand to her face. "I have a very bad feeling about this…"

Inside the room, Aso slowly took a deep breath as she looked over the things she brought with her. By everyone's standards, a simple pencil and notebook was appropriate for a simple briefing. Especially if the most they are covering is basic procedures, the main topic was disaster relief and sustainable operations.

The faces of the youkai at the village flashed through her mind.

One step closer.

One step closer.

It may be a village lacking in modern conveniences, but it was still a home. Things like electricity was a must. While she did leave them with a small pair of power generators, there was no guarantee that they would last long. Most of them were geared for the farming life, after all.

She took a deep breath to center herself for the new times to come.

The slamming of the door jolted the Japanese girl out of her meditation and pulled her eyes toward the two new ship girls entering the room. One was walking with an immense amount of confidence, like she owned the place. The other was walking with her hand glued to her face like she didn't want to be seen.

"Greetings!" the confident one shouted. "I am the protected cruiser Despatch of the United States Navy!" The girl made a single finger gun with her right hand. "Tell us your name and where you are from!"

"I-I'm Aso of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, last ship of the Unryuu-class carriers," the carrier greeted as she shot to her feet with a bow. "I-It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm Alton, formerly USS Chicago," the other protected cruiser greeted as she leaned in to the carrier's ear, pulling Aso's attention away from Despath's raving about the greatness of the United States of America. "Sorry for my friend-slash-sister," she whispered. "She's having a...hard time."

Both Alton and Aso glanced at the haughtily-laughing protected cruiser.

"Y-Yeah…" Aso held her finger up. "You said sister?"

Alton nodded. "Despatch and I are part of the ABCD ships. The first steel ships of the United States Navy. She's the second ship, Boston. I used to be called Chicago. We were both renamed so the newer girls could take the Boston and Chicago names. We're going by the new names here for the sake of clarity."

The carrier's eyes widened considerably. "The...the first?! Like Izumi?!"

Again, the protected cruiser nodded." You mean Esmeralda, right? Yeah, just like her."

The carrier glanced to the still-ranting and raving Despatch and back to the more calm and collected Alton. "...Um...how strong are you two?" the carrier asked. "I heard rumors that shipgirls from earlier times have more spiritual power based on their fame."

Shrugging, Alton pulled up a chair next to the carrier. "No clue. If that's the case, then Despatch is definitely stronger than I am. She was launched in 1884, but kept serving on and off until after the Second World War." The cruiser crossed her arms. "Barring that, she had a pretty colorful service. Before she even served in the Spanish-American War, she was here in Hawaii."

"EXACTLY!"

Aso jumped in her seat, looking toward the older cruiser.

With a confident smile on her face, Despatch slammed a sheet of paper on the table. "Look at this map, Aso."

The carrier nervously looked down at the map in front of her, which depicted the Hawaiian islands. With one island with an "X" drawn on it. "Hm? What about it?"

"Everything the light touches belongs to the United States of America," the protected cruiser bragged. "And I am the one who raised the American flag over it."

The carrier had no choice but to awe at that. The cruiser in front of her had served her country well, something she was not able to do in her time. It stung her heart a bit, knowing that she wasn't able to raise her nation's flag and actually fight for them.

Though she tried to push the thoughts from her mind, the thought of her raising the Japanese flag over Korea like Hideyoshi tried to do amused her somewhat.

Curiously, Aso pointed toward one of the places crossed out with permanent marker. "What about this place you crossed out?"

"That is Ni'ihau," Despatch answered. "You must never go there. The Robinsons own that place and they don't take kindly to strangers."

"...The who?"

"Meh, a bunch of nobodies that bought out the entire island. I've been hoping for the local government to give me the order to give them the boot. They may be American, but we need more land for food crops and they won't let me bulldoze the forests. Call it Eminent Domain."

Putting her hand to her chin, the carrier nodded. Buying an island, a populated one no less, and kicking everyone else out is pretty rude and inconsiderate, especially by the standards she knew. The way Despatch put it, it seemed reasonable enough to reclaim it for more food, especially if food is a higher priority.

"If it comes to that," Aso noted, "I would be happy to assist you."

Despatch smirked. Hook, line, and sinker.

"In that case, come and join the United States Navy!" The protected cruiser exclaimed. "It's why you're here, isn't it?"

The carrier paused. Join the U.S. Navy? That was out of nowhere.

"I'm sorry," Aso said, bowing her head a little. "At the moment, I'm not interested in such things."

Despatch twitched a little. "What? No, surely you would have thought about it a little, right?"

The carrier shook her head. "Not really, no." The girl looked down at her notebook. "Even though I was used as a target ship in the end, Japan is still my home," she said. "I could never abandon it, or my friends and family over there."

"W-Well, then you don't need to trouble yourself," the protected cruiser said as she snatched the map back. "An operation like that is only suited for Americans, not the Japanese."

The carrier narrowed her eyes a bit. "But...you just accepted my help a moment ago."

"That was before you said you didn't want to join the U.S. Navy," Despatch answered. "We don't need to bring foreign ships on a mission that we can handle by ourselves. Besides, if you're not here to join us or on port call, why are you even here?"

Crossing her arms, Aso looked at the protected cruiser. "I was reassigned here to check out stuff like the food situation. What about you? You seem a little too outdated to be fighting World War Two-grade Abyssals."

Despatch had to growl at that. "Why? Because I fucking conquered Hawaii, that's why."

Try as she might, Aso couldn't suppress the pang of jealousy that welled up in her heart. But now wasn't the time to acknowledge that.

"Whether you conquered this place or not isn't relevant," the carrier retorted. "And you don't have to act so damn smug about it…"

Despatch leaned on the table. "You know, I don't recall asking your opinion. If you're not going to play ball, you might as well go home. If Japan became a state, I wouldn't mind. But since you lot are too brain-dead to consider it, you have no place at Pearl. We don't need fucking Japs here."

The carrier felt her eye twitch a little. "...Then what about Sergeant Kaneshiro over there?" She asked, pointing to the Japanese-American soldier she met mere minutes ago and was heading out of the room to grab a coffee. And a superior officer. And some MPs.

After seeing the fire started to ignite, he quickened his pace to grab Missouri and fast. If he didn't, there wouldn't be a briefing room left.

"He's different. He actually has American citizenship," the protected cruiser retorted as the man ran for his life. "As long as you're an American, race doesn't matter."

"Then how come you're talking down to me?"

Despatch crossed her arms. "Like I said, race doesn't matter. Citizenship does. If you are an American citizen, I don't care if your mother is a Martian tugboat, you are still a fucking American. All fucking Americans are equal under Old Glory and deserve to be treated as such. I admit, what we did to our own people back in the war was fucked up, but if you look like the enemy, you're still getting put under the microscope whether the government approves or not."

This time, it was Aso who narrowed her eyes. "What about religion? Somebody took offense to me asking where the nearest Buddhist temple is and wouldn't give me an answer."

Despatch gritted her teeth. "Then give me their name and rank!" She shouted. "The 1st Amendment says everyone here has freedom of religion and freedom from religion. The Founding Fathers did not fucking stutter. Anyone who says otherwise is a fucking traitor! I don't give two shits about you, but if they mouth off that un-American shit, I am gonna shove my boot so far up their ass that they're gonna eat leather for a month!" The cruiser then aggressively pointed at the carrier. "But that's beside the point! You don't have American citizenship, so therefore, you have no business even being here!"

Angrily, Alton shoved her compatriot. "Despatch! We're at war! We can't be picky with our allies!"

The other protected cruiser angrily brushed her sister off. "What? You know it's true. If they do not want Statehood, they're pretty much idiots. MacArthur was an idiot and should have made Japan a territory when he had the chance. Maybe then the Japs would have some goddamn sense knocked into their empty heads."

"...Shut up."

Despatch turned around to face Aso, who was sitting at the table with her fists clenched. "Hm? What was that?"

Aso slammed her fist into the table, splintering it in half. "I SAID TO SHUT UP, YOU DAMN FLOATING SCRAP PILE!"

The two protected cruisers jumped back a bit as the aircraft carrier rose to her full height, almost a head taller than Despatch herself. Despite this, Despatch still walked forward, ignoring Alton's attempts to physically drag her out of the room.

"What? You've got something to say to me?"

"You can insult me all you want...call me names, throw things at me, whatever," Aso said through gritted teeth. "But don't you dare...DON'T YOU DARE INSULT MY HOME LIKE THAT!"

Despatch sent a glare upward. "Insult? I was just telling the truth. If you all would just lay back and become a state, you'd all be better off."

"The truth?! You are so twisted!" Aso shouted. "The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere is a better alternative than getting annexed!"

"Better? Don't make me laugh!" the protected cruiser retorted. "You Orientals can't manage your way out of a paper sack. You guys tried copying us when we tried bringing Manifest Destiny to the Orient just like I did to this backwater rock and all you couldn't even get that right. Instead of being a nation that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the West, you tried stacking shit six feet high and called that mess an 'empire'. All you ended up being was some cheap second-rate knockoff with 'made in Japan' stuck all over it. Even if you Asiatics did manage to pull it off, it would still be an inferior copy. And an inferior copy cannot hope to match the original."

"Big talk, huh? From a trillion-koku nation that lost a war to a bunch of rice farmers." The carrier clenched her fists even tighter. "Just because you're correct, it doesn't mean you're right!"

As the argument wore on, Alton grabbed Despatch's right arm and pulled desperately to save the girl from herself. Failing that, she tried pushing herself between the carrier and the protected cruiser, only to be pushed away by both parties trying to get in each other's faces. As the protected cruiser began to feel the tension between the two rise higher and higher, she grabbed a towing cable from her hold and lashed it around Despatch's right wrist.

Anything to keep her restrained enough to get her to the corner of the room to calm down. No matter what, she had to separate the two before things got out of hand.

"Then maybe we should have dethroned Hirohito while we were at it!" Despatch seethingly noted. "Maybe then we could have annexed you properly!"

Alton felt her heart sink the moment the words left Despatch's mouth. Glancing at Aso, she could see the carrier's face was turning redder by the second. So was Despatch's own expression.

Too late.

Aso gritted her teeth at the suggestion. Dethrone the Emperor?! Ridiculous! Her mouth filled with a seething rage that could have burned her tongue off. Step by step, the carrier slowly walked toward the protected cruiser.

"...Wash your neck," she stated coldly.

Despatch cocked her eyebrow. "What my what?"

"Wash your neck!" Aso shouted, flicking her left thumb. In a flash, the sword at her side was in her right hand and pointed straight at the target in front of her. "For saying such things...I will never forgive you!"

At least, that was what she wanted to do if she had her sword with her. However, at Bowfin's insistance, she left it back at the dorm so there wouldn't be any trouble.

Here, in the briefing room, she was unarmed.

But that didn't matter.

A clenched fist swung outward, striking the protected cruiser square in the mouth. Despatch staggered a bit, looking up at her attacker who was shaking with rage.

"That was so stupid I lost brain cells!" Aso shouted. "Dethroning the emperor?! Annexation?! If the emperor leaves without a successor, there would be chaos! You're just asking for another Sengoku Jidai! But with guns and tanks!"

"That's why we install someone sympathetic to both nations to take the helm while we annex the place." Despatch wiped a small amount of blood from her nose. "Look, I don't like it when American lives are at risk, but bitch, you are making Operation Downfall sound very appealing right now."

Aso clenched her teeth. "Behind every blade of grass, there is one of us ready to fight! For each one of us you kill, we would have dragged a hundred Americans to hell with us! And if you pulled off Downfall, you would be no better than Hitler! Worse than him, in fact!"

The protected cruiser reared up to retaliate, yet she found her right hand hindered.

"Let me go, Alton!" She yelled as she finally started to struggle in Alton's grip. "I don't care if she's a person or an animal! Any bitch who refuses to listen to reason deserves to get smacked! Nobody compares me to that goose-stepping, broom-lipped, lederhosen-wearing lunatic clown and gets away with it!"

"Quit offending everyone in the room!" Alton protested.

"I am a herald of the United States of America!" Despatch shouted. "And I say that Japan will become the 51st state even if I have to overthrow the place by myself!"

"You need the approval of Congress to do that!"

"Approval? I don't need approval!" Despatch bragged. "I could raise the American flag over the Diet building right now and Congress would applaud!"

Aso's eyebrow twitched again as she readied another punch. "You...fucking gaijin!"

The carrier threw her punch straight for Despatch's face. The protected cruiser tipped her head to the side, narrowly dodging the hit.

Alton, however, was not so lucky.

The moment Despatch dodged the hit, Aso's punch connected with the other protected cruiser, causing her to release Despatch from the grip she had on both her hand and the towing cable.

The carrier glanced at the girl she punched. A small pang of guilt rose up, but she quashed it just as quickly.

She didn't miss. She just hit another filthy gaijin. Not the target she was aiming for, but that didn't matter. The only ones in the room were her and two filthy gaijins. So what if she hit one or the other.

Finally freed from her compatriot, Despatch threw a punch of her own, slamming her fist into Aso's left cheek. The carrier grimaced and let out a low growl before throwing another.

This time, Despatch was ready. She fell into a crouch, letting the carrier's punch whoosh past her head. The protected cruiser roared as she pierced the sky with her right fist, slamming it right into the carrier's jaw and forcing the taller girl to fall backward onto the table behind her and breaking it.

"How about that, huh?!" Despatch taunted. "That's an all-American uppercut right there!"

The carrier wiped a small bit of blood off her lip. "...I've had worse."

Despatch narrowed her eyes. "You're still not giving up, you stupid Jap?" The protected cruiser grabbed one of the nearby folding chairs and brandished it like a baseball bat.

"I will never fall. You weak-willed Americans are too soft! You have no honor!" Aso declared, rising to her feet and readying her fists. "Japan will not become like the Sick Man of Asia! We refuse to be the plaything of Western colonialism!"

Meanwhile, Alton rubbed her cheek and growled. "Damn these two…" she stomped over between the two and held her arms out to keep them apart. "Quit it! For fuck's sake, we already destroyed two tables here! If the admiral finds out about this, we're gonna be in huge trouble!"

"That was all her fault, Alton!" Despatch yelled. "She was the one who busted the first one and totaled the second one!"

"You were the one who provoked her!" Alton retorted. "And you, Miss Aso! You're supposed to have a battle buddy with you! Where is she?!"

"Bowfin-san had to go on patrol," Aso said. "And I was told by the admiral that due to the nature of submarine operations, I am still allowed to use base facilities while she's gone."

"What the hell is up with that kind of system?!" the neutrality-seeking cruiser retorted. "Anyway, you need to cut it out too! We're already in enough trouble!"

"If you do not want to get involved, then step aside," Aso warned, her words burning with cold fury. "That gaijin went so far as to insult my country and my people! I will not stand by and let that go unpunished!"

"Bring it on!" Despatch taunted. "You're just a bargain bin bird farm that carries every bird but tits!"

"LEAVE MY CHEST OUT OF THIS!" a red-faced Aso shouted as she covered her chest.

"What the hell is going on here?" A sudden voice interjected.

All eyes turned to the entrance of the room, where Missouri stood holding a clipboard. A clipboard that was straining in her grip.

Both Despatch and Aso pointed at each other.

"She started it," they said together.

"I don't care who started it," Missouri countered. "I'm going to finish it."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

De Profundis: The Exploration And Research Logs of USS Trieste (DSV-0)

Entry #4

1108, 1 July 2014

North Atlantic, Norfolk Canyon, 70 Miles Offshore Of The Virginia Capes
Spoiler: A Test Dive

Trieste finished the check of her rigging, appearing as a modified deep-sea diving suit and gave the OK sign to her destroyer and submarine escort shipgirls as she stood on the ocean's surface preparing for her test dive.

According to the charts, she was 1600 meters above the estimated bottom in a massive underwater valley dwarfing the Grand Canyon carved through the cliff face where the relatively shallow waters of the North American Continental Shelf fell to the unexplored depths of the abyssal plain of the deep oceans of the Atlantic.

Automatically she converted the measurement of her planned dive to 5,250 feet in the units that she was more familiar with.

Over 2600 fathoms deep.

Almost a mile.

Her ear-to-ear happy grin split her face inside her diving helmet as she flooded her tanks and began to descend.

She couldn't wait.

Yes, today was to measure how well she handled her design role and to measure if the 'Siren Signal' that she was picking up was clearer in the deep water where sonar waves were the only form of communication and sight. But it was yet another step into the unknown to seek for nuggets of knowledge to be brought back to humanity.
------------------------

A flash of silver in the darkening water caught her attention and she logged observations of a school of Scomber scombrus common mackerel at 350 feet.

Then her eyes widened in delight and joy as she gasped in awe.
Spoiler: A Close Encounter

Moving like the apex predator that it was, a seven-foot long adult Thunnus thynnus, the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, slashed through the mackerel school, gulping several of the smaller fish whole as it fed.

Automatically her brain rattled off the scientific designation, the known details of the species (speeds of 40mph recorded, dives of 1000 feet recorded, largest specimen caught weighed 1497 pounds when she was hooked off Nova Scotia, superior thermoregulation allowed the bluefins to not just hunt the warm tropical waters of other tunas but equally the rich but cold waters of the North Atlantic) and made notes both on paper in her observation cupola and with the cameras that she had been fitted for. Every scrap of data was valuable, after all.

The rest of her mind was enthralled with the drama playing out in the living sea as the surviving mackerel in the school scattered and fled like droplets of mercury from the hungry monster in their midst.

One minute thirty-eight seconds later, the tuna swam out of sight into the azure depths, leaving an overjoyed shipgirl behind.
------------------------

1137, 1 July 2014

The Norfolk Canyon
Spoiler: The Deeps Of The Sea

Trieste gazed with awe around the floodlit bubble of light and understanding that she had brought into the endless unexplored night of the deep ocean as she swam along one of the canyon walls. She could see the marks of erosion caused by the flow of the rivers of America. Sediment flowed past her in a ghostly stream of brown and white particles carried by the current of the sea that had carved this marvel.

She stopped her movement, hovering in the void of the deep ocean.

Slowly Trieste closed her eyes, listening to the Siren Song resonate around her, through her, within her as it called and spoke to her. She then spoke in a clipped tone. "Sound quality and clarity of Unknown Noise Source #1 is up 11.3% at 5200 feet. Hypothesis is that I am picking it up more strongly thanks to the thermocline above me muffling surface noise and channeling it."

Her eyes opened and she resumed the exploration, humming happily in counterpoint to the Siren Song. Her eyes then widened at a reef of deep-sea coral that was living and thriving down here in the eternal blackness. Filament feeding fronds waved through the sediment current, picking out nutrient rich particles to be devoured by the polyps who had been building these reefs for thousands of years in the light-less dark.

"Potentially unknown coral species observed at 5215 feet, living along the wall. Will attempt to take samples for Woods Hole to study." She reached into herself and pulled out a sample jar half the size of her helmet. Carefully working a small piece of coral the size of her hand free, she placed it into the jar and sealed it.

"Sample recovered." She stowed the sample and then grinned.

The marine biologists at Woods Hole would love this.

Yet another step into the unknown with her light of understanding.

Then her eye was caught by a roughly circular mat of bacteria surrounded by a fringe of seep mussels in a depression in the ocean bottom.

"Brine pool located. Apparent release of nutrient-rich saline water with chemosynthesis by bacteria and symbiosis by Bathymodiolus childressi deep sea shellfish. Examining." She whispered as she pulled out a probe and lowered it into the salt-rich water. "73 parts per thousand of dissolved sodium chloride, with dissolved traces of sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, ethane..."

Another sample jar was produced and filled with the bacteria-rich brine.

Trieste smiled happily as she sealed, labeled, and stowed the sample. Truly life was amazing. Even here, in waters with crushing pressure, little food, and foreign to the very idea of sunlight, life had found a way to thrive and grow and exist with no less determination and tenacity than in the rich and fertile sun-kissed waters a mile above her.
------------------------

She sighed as her alarm went off inside her observation cupola. "Allowed timeframe for dive reached. No equipment deficiencies recorded. All systems green."

She paused after speaking for the official record of her report's observations.

Slowly she looked around this wonderful, mysterious, deadly, fascinating midnight world that she had been built to explore.

Around her and inside her, the Siren Song grew and swelled into a mighty crescendo.

Her heart filled with a desperate longing to know that warred with her duty and understanding that this was a place that could and would kill the unwary if she overstayed her welcome.

Inside her helmet, a tear fell from her eye as she waved farewell to this wonderland.

For now.

Until next time.

"Releasing ballast, beginning ascent to the surface."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Attempting to block, Harry winced as the Bokken smacked him on the head, able to be felt even through the men, or helmet, he wore. A fellow-up strike hit him on the side, making him grunt before a third knocked his legs out from under him. Hitting the ground, he felt the air driven from his lungs before a foot wearing a geta was placed in his chest and the tip of a Bokken filled his vision. Moments later, he looked up to the facemask of his opponent before she giggled, "You lasted a little bit longer that time, Harry-Kun."

Just breathing hard, Harry cocked an eyebrow as he waited for the next blow, verbal this time, to land, "Really?"

Despite the mask she wore, Harry could make out the smirk on Okita's face as she nodded, laughter in her voice, "Oh yes! You lasted five more seconds against me than usual. So I would say that you're improving." Stepping off him, she bowed, "Still, a good match."

With a small grunt, Harry got to his feet and bowed back, "Thank you, Sensei."

Taking off her helmet and tenugui, the pale haired girl smiled at him, "You are very welcome, Harry-Kun." She bowed again to him, "It is nice to be teaching once more."

In reply, Harry took off his own helmet with his tenugui and hair damp with sweat before chuckling and wincing, "I can imagine." Rubbing his side after removing his tenugui, he cocked his head to the side as he remembered something that he had read, "You were one of the Kenjutsu instructors for the Shinsengumi, right?"

Lips twitching a little into a smile of fond remembrance, Okita sighed some, "Hai, I was as a matter of fact. Not just because I was good-"

From where she sat sipping some tea, Nobu spoke up, "You mean the best, don't you, Okita-Chan?"

A small smirk on her own face, Uesugi nodded, "Indeed, the best in the Shinsengumi I believe. Or that was what we were told."

Raising an eyebrow, Harry looked at Okita who had a light blush on her cheeks, "Hmm..."

Just coughing, Okita looked away, "As I was saying, as I was one of the better ones in the Shinsengumi, I was asked to teach those that needed it in the art of Kenjutsu." Bokken propped against one shoulder, she was all smiles once more, though there was a darker tinge to it, "Which I enjoyed quite a bit as a matter of fact."

Head cocked to the side, the teenage wizard blinked, "I see..." Internally, he shuddered a bit, 'I almost pity them...'

Moments later, Okita darkly chuckled as her smile became a vicious grin and when she spoke, it was nearly in a purr, "Oh yes, I enjoyed it a lot~"

Nobu calmly sipped her tea for a few moments before pulling it away from her mouth. Slowly blinking, she looked up at the sky in thought before turning towards Uesugi, "Is it bad that I am kind of turned on right now and find that hot?"

Eyes closed as she sipped her tea, Uesugi hummed before looking at her, "Would you be you if you were not?"

Rubbing her chin, the reincarnated Unifier of Japan considered that before nodding, "Good point!"

Eyebrow raised, Harry looked at Okita. Said former Shinsengumi's eyebrow twitched before she reached down, grasped a stone, and then threw it as hard as she could at the two other girls. However, both girls simply leaned to the side and thus the stone missed them both as they continued to calmly drink tea. Her eyebrow still twitching, Okita ground her teeth, "I would rather no more comments from the peanut gallery, thank you."

More than a little amused at the antics, the thirteen year old wizard rolled his shoulders a little, "So you enjoyed it?"

Turning back to him, Okita was once more all smiles before nodding, "I did, actually." She tapped him on the arm and he went into a stance, "Give me... fifty downward strikes to begin with." While he internally grimaced, Harry did as he was told and began his exercises as Okita continued, "I did have a lot of work to do though with quite a number."

Harry tilted his head to the side at that, "Really?"

Shinai hitting him in the leg to adjust the stance, the former member of the Shinsengumi gave a nod, "Hai." With a small shake of her head, Okita walked around him to observe him and correct his stance and strikes, "Do not mistake me, they did know how to handle a sword or else we would not have accepted them even that far into our ranks. But, most of them only knew the basics or were ones who practiced only rarely and thus their technique was rough to say the least. Thus, it was up to me and other instructors to polish them as well as make them good swordsmen. Often, we would need to remove bad habits that they might have picked up." Moments later, her Bokken whipped out and struck Harry on the wrist, nearly making him drop his own Bokken, "Your wrist is too stiff, you need to be able to absorb a blow."

Grimacing despite the ache on his wrist, Harry did as she told him and loosened his wrists, "Hai, thank you, Sensei."

Only nodding, Okita rested the Bokken she held against her shoulder as she looked over his strikes with a practiced eye. Reaching out, she tapped him on the head with said Bokken, "Now, fifty strikes to the left diagonally, begin."

Even though his arms ached, both from the practice spar and the previous strikes, the teenage wizard nodded, "Hai, Sensei!"

Lips curling a bit, Okita internally chuckled as he continued his practice, "Very good, you do not need to be taught that." At his questioning look, she gave a shrug, "A member of one of the more powerful Samurai clans who was his father's heir when I was an instructor. He felt insulted that I was to teach him, among others, because he knew his family's style and I was ten years his junior. I allowed him to, what is the English idiom?" The teenage girl snapped her fingers, "Ah, yes, give himself enough rope to hang himself with."

Rapidly blinking, Harry gave her a look, "Oh boy... what did he do?"

The smile on Okita's face was not kind at all, though he was thankful that it was not directed at him, "As a matter of fact? He would often mutter under his breath and run his mouth in regards to my skills and abilities when my back was turned and he thought that I could not hear. I allowed this... for a time. Until, that was, he built enough of a reputation among his fellow students with a number from other prominent clans. Then, I struck and asked him why he felt that he could disrespect me so and had done so for some time. Apparently, that, along with the criticism of his capabilities of a swordsman and what that could say about certain other aspects of his life, seemed to insult him enough that he felt the need to challenge me. I even allowed him to use his steel blade while I used the Shinai."

Despite himself, Harry winced, "Ah... that did not turn out well."

A dark chuckle escaped from the pale haired swordswoman and she gave him a bloodthirsty smirk, "Oh, you could say that. The magical healer we had needed to take two weeks to heal him up as he had a number of broken bones, dislocations, and the skin both being broken and heavily bruised." With a innocent sounding hum, Okita shrugged, "After that, for some reason, I never had an issue with my teaching again."

Softly snorting, Harry shook his head, "I wonder why."

However, moments later, Nobu spoke up, "Okay, I'm sorry, but that is really damn hot."

Yet again, she dodged a thrown rock with a grin... before said rock ricocheted from a tree behind her and hit her in the ass, causing the former warlord to yelp and leap from the rock she sat on. Looking at her friend, and former rival warlord, Uesugi turned to Okita and raised her tea in salute before going back to enjoying it with a smirk on her face. It took Harry everything not to laugh at the antics between the three before he continued his exercises.

Upon hearing a throat being cleared, he glanced towards Uesugi, "Hai, Uesugi-Chan?"

Uesugi leaned forward a little, "I must admit that I am curious, Harry-Kun. From what you have stated, besides to bring honour to your family by knowing how to use your family blades, you are looking to be able to fight with them against this Voldemort. Is it out of revenge as he killed your parents?"

With a glance towards her as he continued his exercises, Harry considered his response, "I won't deny that there is a small part of me that wants to kill him for that reason. Because of him, I lost my birth parents and lived for a time with my... relatives, and..." Shaking his head, he didn't say anything else about that but allowed his anger and other negative emotions to flow into his Bokken as he performed his strikes, "But that's just one small part of it. The rest is because I know that he will be coming after me regardless of that."

Tea also placed aside, Nobu rolled everything that she knew about it around in her head before nodding, "Because he will be obsessed with you as the 'One that got away'. Someone who challenged him and survived in such a way that it created a chink in his armour. A symbol against him, and all that is something that his pride cannot allow."

Slowly, the teenage boy nodded, "Hai." Grimacing, Harry shook his head, "This is someone that killed a fellow student, murdered her in cold blood, simply because she felt that a non-magical boy was better than him in looks and personality with that stinging his pride."

Just snorting, Nobu thought back to the Warring States Era, "You are right that he is going to seek you out. You hurt his pride in a way that could be soothed in no other way but that. Made him seem weak to his followers. For that alone, making him seem less powerful, he would target you." With a shrug, she scratched her chin, "I knew of warlords like that, who would kill a peasant simply for belief that they might have insulted them, even children."

A grimace on her face, Uesugi nodded in agreement, "Hai, so have I as a matter of fact. Such people are more common than one would think, unfortunately. And they always seek power for that reason, though thankfully it is less of an issue in modern Japan, for example."

Eyebrow raised, Harry gave her a look, "Less of a problem?"

The former head of the Uesugi Clan gave him a look, "Less of an issue, because they do still exist in this world and always will. Some will go into politics, and use methods to ruin those who they feel have wronged them, same with those that go into business. You also have the Yakuza and how some of those are much the same way, except they will use violence to settle matters."

Okita raised one of her eyebrows as she corrected his stance with another whack to the leg, "Shift your weight slightly to the right." As he did so, she frowned in thought, "Thus, you wish to learn how to use a sword for that reason? Because you feel that he will attack you anyways?" When Harry nodded, the former Shinsengumi frowned still further, "Would not learning magic help more? Being as you are both wizards? It is how it works normally in my experience."

Considering that for a few moments, Harry was quiet. It was not until he started on the next set of exercises, his arms burning, that he spoke, "You're right, perhaps it would be normal to use magic. But..." With a sigh, the teenager shook his head, "Unfortunately, Voldemort has at least seventy five years of experience in regards to magic, and I have only had, at best, five or six. Even if I trained from now until the end of school, that would only make it where I had a decade's experience at best. One seventh of what Voldemort has." Expression darkening, Harry took a deep breath, "The only advantage that I have in magic is that I know Onmyoudo, which he does not. And that is only a thin advantage at best as I would even then still be a novice."

From where she sat, Nobu scratched her chin, "Hmm... I see, that is most troublesome."

With a slight nod towards her, the black haired wizard grimaced, "Hai, it is. Unless I gained some sort of magical super powers, in regards to magic I would be outclassed no matter what."

Moments later, Nobu shrugged, "Can't be helped, I suppose. This isn't that type of thing."

Despite the looks, she just pulled out some pocky and began to munch on it. Shaking his head at that, Harry took a deep breath, "My best bet, however, is to expand to things that he would not know. So that maybe I could surprise him, somehow. Aikido, knife fighting, Kenjutsu, and Onmyoudo. I don't expect to master them and I wouldn't be able to-"

Raising a finger, Okita nodded, "Because this is not that sort of thing as that sounds like normal fanfiction in that you master them within mere months."

Just blinking at that, Harry gave a nod, "Um, right." Giving her an odd look, he internally shrugged after a few seconds, "Anyways... I'm hoping that in a fight, I have just enough of an advantage in surprise and such that I can get away. If I get the chance to end him? I will, but I'll be aiming more to be able to come home."

To his surprise, Uesugi as well as Nobu and Okita gave him nods and looks of respect. At seeing his expression, the former warlord and leader of the Uesugi Clan chuckled a little, "I can understand why you are surprised, Harry-Kun. But the fact is that you recognize your limits and, while you want to surpass them, you also understand where they are." Rubbing her chin, she continued, "You understand that you cannot be a Master of one thing, but are willing to be pragmatic about it and reach for, and grasp, every advantage that you can get for a fight."

Crossing her arms, Okita snorted before she sneered a little, "Despite what those Wannabe-Samurai believe, and I include the Japanese military in the Second World War despite how they were hypocrites themselves, there is no honour on the battlefield. It is a dirty, messy affair. Your job is to kill the other and come home at the end of the day no matter what. And for that, you take whatever advantage that you can get, no matter how 'dishonourable' it may be to some."

A light chuckle came from Nobu as she crossed her arms, "Indeed! Fighting according to strict honour in any place outside an tournament is for fools." She jerked her thumb towards herself, "When I fought against Yoshimoto, he had twenty five thousand men to my three thousand or so. A battle that was against all odds as such things were in that day and age. My advisors told me that I should stand a siege, but I said otherwise. Instead, I used every advantage that I could. I used scouts to keep track of him and, when he stopped in a gorge that would advantage an surprise attack, I seized upon it! Using trickery, I made him think that I was elsewhere, and when a thunderstorm broke, I used the rain as cover to position my army before striking! All dishonourable tactics to be sure, but ones I used and won!" Leaning forward, there was a fire in her eyes, "The only time that one can be truly dishonourable in a life or death fight is when they lose because they were fools and did not use any advantages that they could!"

Slightly smiling, Harry gave them all a nod which they returned before he gave a small shrug, "Though I do wonder a bit." At their looks, he continued, "From what I learned from Aunt Myrtle? While she was in school, Armando Dippet had fencing taught as a class as he believed that it was only proper for young men. Tom, as Voldemort was known then, was a member of the class."

For a few moments, the three reincarnated people considered that before they looked at each other and had amused expressions on their faces. Clearing her throat, Okita gave him a smirk, "So, he took a class in school, likely only for a few years at best, and never used it?" At Harry's nod, her smirk grew a bit, "In other words, it would be like fighting a fifty year old man who last really held a sword in a high school Kendo class, at best."

Opening his mouth, Harry paused before giving a sheepish shrug, "I suppose?"

To his amusement, all three reincarnated warriors grinned at that and chuckled darkly. Tapping his waist with her Bokken, Okita grinned, "Then we'll make sure that if he is overconfident and arrogant enough, which from the sounds of it seems like him, than you will be able to end him when he tries to match you blade for blade. Now, shift your centre of gravity over a little, yes, like that..."

 

[darthcourt10]

SkyeFire

Yellowhammer said:This. this must happen for Colombe and 'Lady Harmony'.

You just had to push the "Evil Idea" button in my brain, didn't you?
*-*-*

Smugging gleefully, Colombe cuddled up to To-chan and opened her latest novel acquisition to the bookmarked page. Given the effect of reading the "Lady Chastity" series together in bed together on her lover, she was looking forward to trying out this "Harper Chamberlain", whose style was so similar to Lyra's, but with a focus on a happily (very happily) committed monogamous couple who made up for variety with intensity

But as she progressed through the opening pages of a scene which made her positively tingle with anticipation, she noticed a small frown on To-chan's face. A frown which slowly grew deeper, even as Colombe tried to salvage the situation by doubling down on her reading, amping up her most sultry voix de chambre. Finally, the mismatch between her own level of... "excitement," and To-chan's lack thereof, became too much, and Colombe closed the book on her finger to face her lover squarely.

"To-chan? What is amiss, mon amour?"

The katana spirit bit her lip, obviously searching for the right words. "Co-chan... don't you find it a bit... odd? Or, oddly familiar?"

"...well, the writing style is very similar to Lyra's, but I don't think that's what troubles you."

"No, not that. It's the characters. Two musicians, shy and reserved to the outside world, but so, ah, torridly in love in private. And the way that, for them, the difference between music and sex seems almost nonexistent, especially with all the erotic overtones whenever they play each other's chosen instrument. And how the line between themselves and their instruments seems to blur...."

Tokunotakai sat up, and met her lover's eyes squarely. "Co-chan... I would almost swear this book is written about Tony and Claire, much the way that 'Lady Chastity' was 'you'."

The world froze solid. The air in her lungs turned to ice. There was an thunderous SNAP inside her head, as if a thousand scattered puzzle pieces suddenly assembled themselves into one horrible, cohesive whole.

Harper Chamberlain.

Harp. Lyre.

Chamber... pot? Potter.

She knew that skewed sense of humor, as intimately as she knew the couple who rejoiced in it.

"LLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Yellowhammer said:Newsflash. Mighty Mo's here and Mo isn't happy. And everyone is well within her range. Stand down or get stood down.

If Mo ain't happy, ain't nobody in range happy.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Family That Slays Together.... (I)

15 July 2014

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

A carved American Chestnut wardrobe opened and Colombe du Chasteler hopped out into an octagonal basement room. The rapier's spirit looked around the room with a scowl on her face. She then gestured angrily at the pile of luggage in her Vanishing Cabinet and floated it across to the other Vanishing Cabinet to lie against the wall beside it in a stack.

Behind her the door of the Cabinet closed, then opened to disgorge a worried Claire and Ehren. Colombe frowned and moved more luggage to the growing pile beside the cabinet to Moulbaix. A third time the cabinet opened to let Toku out and the last of the luggage.

"That's all." Colombe snapped out as she walked to the solitary door leading out of the room. She chanted in Latin and then grasped the brass handle, twisting it fully clockwise in a circle. The door vanished, revealing a lantern lit set of stone stairs. Colombe took them two at a time with her daughters and Toku hot on her heels.

Toku blinked at a corridor going off to the side with some underground rooms with old beds and furniture faintly visible in the light of the Lumos spells the four had cast.

At the top Colombe climbed up a ladder into a lantern-lit basement with bins half-full of apples. She turned on the packed dirt of the floor and helped Claire and Ehren out of the passageway, followed by Toku. Ehren looked at her mother. "Should I do the honors?"

"Oui," Colombe responded absently as she nibbled her lip nervously. Ehren walked to a nearby antique tin lantern hanging from the rafters, and took it down, igniting the Everburning Candle inside it with a spell. As the candle lit, the floor rippled and the entrance to the hidden sub-basement shimmered and then vanished leaving behind no trace of its existence. Ehren then smirked and hung the lantern up to join the other ones illuminating the cellar.

Tokunotakai blinked. "That is an impressive trick. That is no illusion but actually Transfiguration of the floor."

Ehren nodded her head as she walked past the rows of fruit bins. "Ja. It is a spell put into place by Tante Jèzebel a hundred and fifty years ago. This house was used as a way station on one of the lines that helped escaped slaves to flee to Canada. The rooms below us were used to house them as they made their way to freedom."

Colombe opened the cellar door. "It is a clever hiding place indeed. Remind me when we get back to Moulbaix to show you the Priest Hole that we have in the castle to hide the family chaplain from the Jacobin mob during the Revolution."

Ehren followed Colombe up the stairs to the ground floor of the house. "Interesting, Mutti. So, was it ever used?"

Colombe shook her head, "No, Ehren. The family fled the castle in 1792 to Vienna and only returned in 1809 after the madmen were suppressed quite thoroughly. I'm the only person who even knows of it and the other secret passages now."

Then Colombe's eyes widened as she saw Jacklyn in the hall ahead of her. "Jackie! I heard about Del and Zamarad. How are they?!" She asked with a minor quaver in her voice.

Jackie sighed and spoke in a hoarse voice, "They are up in her bedroom. Jez is sitting in with them. They," Jackie's voice broke and Colombe hugged her, "were pretty messed up. One of Jez's operations went really bad on them."

Ehren and Claire joined the hug, followed by Toku. "Jez's letter said that they were in comas. Kasuyu said that he would be helping out when he phoned me." Colombe whispered as she hugged her piratical sister to her.

Jackie buried her head in Colombe's shoulder, "He's been in and out helping, Aomi too. Jez... This is hitting her hard. Harder than when Father left her for good."

Colombe nodded soberly and released Jackie. "I'm here, Jackie, and I'll hold the fort. I promise."
-----------------------

Spoiler: Redeeming A Promise

Colombe steeled herself as she opened the door to Delilah's bedroom.

The large carved chestnut bed was surrounded by six brightly polished brass incense burners in a hexagon emitting spiraling tendrils of sandalwood incense. Beyond the bed, there was a roaring hardwood fire in the fireplace. The drapes had been drawn back to show the darkness of the evening-shrouded fields and orchards beyond.

Jèzebel de Breuil, her face lined and tears slowly falling from her eyes sat in an armchair dragged to the side of the bed like a worn and weary gargoyle overlooking a cathedral.

All these things Colombe saw and processed in an instant, but they were secondary to the two still figures on the bed lying side by side.

Zamarad, her face, limbs, and torso heavily bandaged was lying on the left with her dusky face ghostly pale and her chest barely rising and falling.

To the right, Delilah lay, equally waxen and pale. Fewer bandages covered her though, and her revolver body was sitting on a side table in a clear tank of repair fluid.

Colombe looked over her shoulder at the others and shook her head. "Not just yet, girls, To-chan. I... need to see her first alone."

The others nodded solemnly. Colombe stepped inside and walked slowly to Jèzebel's side, her spine as stiff and straight as her steel and her face stricken.

"Jez, I came as soon as I got your message. I'm...." Colombe's voice broke and her tears began to fall. She swallowed and then resumed, "I'm sorry that I wasn't here for Del and Zamarad. I'm sorry that I was not here to protect my little sister. What happened?"

Jèzebel closed her eyes and spoke in a hoarse whisper. "The network got information about a potential Abyssal Cult in Maine. In a small magical village called Kingsport. We sent in one of our agents to investigate. He... vanished so Delilah elected to act by leading a MIB raid backed up by allies in the FBI and Navy. We had certain indications that it was linked to some elements of MACUSA... perhaps."

The elderly witch opened her eyes and stared at the only children that she would ever have. "It was a rogue MACUSA operation, I believe. They had some kind of a magical locus that could attract and direct Abyssals apparently and were using it to hit no-maj towns and naval facilities in New England."

Colombe's fists clenched and the breath hissed through her teeth. "Delilah disrupted the ritual that they were using, but the locus was active and bringing the Abyssals ashore before any help could arrive. She...." Jèzebel whispered with sad pride in her voice, "goaded several bound wendigo spirits they had into chasing her into the Abyssals to buy time for the shipgirls that she had as backup to land and protect the town. Time that she would be buying with her life. Zamarad tripped a TOTEM Fiendfyre security spell then took control of it to supercharge herself at the risk of her life and went to Delilah's aid. After the battle, the survivors found them lying together and near dead."

Jèzebel looked at her daughter's face and spoke in a bitter tone full of regret. "I wanted Delilah to be a hero that would make the world proud to give Norimune something that could never be taken from her. I promised Norimune that when I found out that I was with her child. Even if the history books wrote Nori out of existence she would still be Delilah's father. For all of Delilah's life, I pushed her, challenged her, molded her, used her...."

Jèzebel broke down and wept as Colombe held her. "....and I may have finally killed my baby girl trying to make her her fulfill my promise."

"Delilah, please come back to me!" The heartbroken witch sobbed as Ehren, Claire, and Toku entered to hug and support her.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

It was a Harry who was exhausted, sweaty, and whose arms felt like they were going to fall off who gave a soft sigh of relief when Okita finally gave him the okay to stop. The reaction of which was something that amused said Samurai greatly... until she smiled a bit wider and chuckled, "Now, for the cool down."

For a few moments, the teenage wizard stared at her before internally groaning, and internally as he knew better than to outwardly do it. Something else that Okita seemed to know and amuse her. That said, the teenage girl went through the same cool down as he did, stretching and the like as she made small talk.

Head tilted to the side as he performed the various stretches and the like alongside Okita, both of them having removed the rest of their armor and placing it to the side for now, Harry glanced at her, "So this is generally the same way that you trained the rest of the Shinsengumi, Okita-Chan? Really?"

Okita gave him a small smile before she tilted her head from side to side, "Generally, hai." She then gave a shrug as she stretched, "Though there are differences, such as the stretches and such. Makes it a lot easier for students now and I am taking it a bit easier on you. But yes, you are right."

Considering that for a few moments, the male teen nodded slowly, "Huh... how long did you generally train them for, if I can ask?"

With a hum, Okita thought it over before nodding, "Well, it was not very long, usually a few months. Give or take anyways."

Eyes widening, Harry boggled at her, "Wait, a few months? But I thought that it took longer to get good at swordfighting." At the snickers from Okita as well as the other two incarnated, he thought that there was some sort of joke there that he did not know, "What?"

Shaking her head, the pale haired swordwoman smiled a little, "It's nothing, Harry-Kun. But..." For a second or two, she paused before shrugging, "You are right that it takes years to truly master the blade. But at the time, we were not quite so concerned with such things due to the fighting that was going on. Rather, we were more concerned with teaching them basics with the sword for those who did not know or polishing what was there for those who did. None of us Captains or Commanders expected them to become swordmasters quickly, but we did expect them to be able to use at least the basics on the battlefield without danger to their comrades or themselves. A strong, well made base of the basics is a foundation upon which you build your ability to use the sword. And one who has mastered even the basics can beat someone who has reached an intermediate level but has not had the same competency in the basics."

At that, understanding bloomed on Harry's face, "So that is what you're doing, helping me polish the basics?"

Just nodding with a smile on her face, Okita chuckled, "Correct." She gave him a considering look, "While extremely rough at the moment, I can see that there is a style there. I take it that the style in particular is from Hoshi-San, who has been your sensei?"

Lightly blushing, the nearly fourteen year old wizard nodded, "Hai, that's right."

Her lips twitching, Okita smiled a touch wider, "Good, and it is likely a style that she has refined over centuries." Briefly, there was a look of wistfulness, "To be able to do such... to take one's style and improve upon it over centuries. That would be something..."

Not quite sure what to say to that, Harry kept silent himself, unlike Nobu who grinned, "What? Would you marry your style if you could rather than your blade? Because I know which one that I would rather."

Both teens look over at Nobu who was waggling her eyebrows suggestively before sighing.

Deciding to ignore that for now, Okita turned back to Harry, "Still, I can take the basics of what she is teaching you and help you to get better via mastering them. In the Shinsengumi, that was what myself and other instructors did, with those under us improving upon their technique as they fought on the battlefield or sparred with us. Perhaps it is not much, but it is what works and did work for us well enough."

Uesugi hummed from where she sat with an amused look on her face, "Perhaps, or perhaps it is what is needed. For a student eventually needs to learn on their own and to make a style personal to themselves." She then tilted her head a bit, "Still, learning the basics and mastering them is important for a swordsman or swordswoman, as the case may be."

Hands behind her head, Nobu shrugged some as she kicked out her legs, "Yeah... both Okita-Chan and Uesugi-Chan are right about that. If a foundation is weak or cracked, than a castle would fall when the earth shudders no matter how magnificent it may be." Motioning with a hand, she shook her head, "I had many men under me who knew the basics and whom I had trained to polish those, and often they were more the match for those who would have been considered higher ranked in their schools, if only because they mastered what they did have, rather than just learn it and move on without mastering."

Slowly, Harry nodded in understanding at what was being told to him. Sure, there was a part of him that wanted to move on and learn the more 'Awesome' moves, he would not deny that. After all, he was a teenage boy and it would have been cool. But, at the same time, he understood what they were telling him as well about the basics. He also knew that they had more experience in such things than he did, so he had no issue believing that they were right in this matter.

Eventually, however, he was done with his stretches and stood up alongside his current 'Sensei'. Stretching her arms wide, Okita grinned madly, "And now... for my payment for the lesson!"

Just sharing a look of amusement with the others, Harry walked over to the box that was off to one side and picked it up before walking over. Opening it, he checked inside before nodding a little and holding it out, "Here you go, strawberry squares."

Her eyes practically sparkling, Okita took the hand santizer offered by Uesugi and used it before taking one of the squares. She noted the slightly crumbly crust above and below the deep red filling before taking a bite and happily humming as she chewed, 'Ah... the best payment...'

Lips twitching as she looked at her friend, Uesugi poured her some tea which she handed over to the pale haired teenage girl before taking a square herself. Taking a bite, she nodded some as she chewed, "This is quite good."

Nobu also took one and bit into it before grinning, "Yeah, this is pretty good." After having another bite, she looked at the dessert with an interested look before turning to Harry, "So where is this from?" Seeing his expression, the former warlord snorted a little, "You were one of the best back in school at baking and things. But you did make various treats from Britain."

Raising a finger, her fellow reincarnate from the Sengoku Jidai spoke up, "That is very true." Uesugi gave him a slight smile, "I remember the oat cakes you made and how popular they were."

A sniffle made them turn to Okita who had a pout on her face, "I miss all the sweet things that you made in class." Seeing their looks, she huffed a little, "What? Don't deny it, both of you do as well."

Snickers came from Nobu before she shook her head and turned back to Harry, "So?"

With a small shrug, Harry shook his head, "Not much to tell, really. In this case? I used a recipe that I picked up from one of the Canadian shipgirls for a dessert that they call date squares, and switched out the dates for strawberries among other things. I've also made apple versions and the like."

Considering that for a few moments, the lone member of the Shinsengumi frowned in thought as she finished off hers before taking a sip of her tea to wash it down. With a hum, Okita took another one and bit into it, "I wonder what the date ones taste like then."

More than a little amused, Harry chuckled some and gave a shrug, "If you want, I can make some of those for the next time? That way you can try it though, uh..." Scratching the back of his neck, he frowned a little, "They are kind of sticky and somewhat sweeter than what most would think."

Only shrugging herself, Okita shook her head, "I don't mind, anything sweet is good."

Unable to help himself, the wizard snickered a bit, "Hai, I remember that at least from school." A thoughtful look came across his face and he looked towards Okita, "Did you always like sweets, or..."

Chewing her food, Okita looked at him and realized his question before nodding, "Hai, I did love sweets even back in my previous life." A soft sigh escaped her as she nibbled a bit at her square, "Nothing like a nice, warm dango..." For a few moments, the former Shinsengumi stayed like that before shaking her head, "But if there is one thing that I am glad about in regards to the modern day, it is the sheer variety of sweets."

Lips curled into a smirk, Nobu glanced at her, "Well, we just need to make sure that all those sweets don't make you fat."

For several seconds the pale haired teen girl looked at her friend before smirking herself and looking down at her chest, "Well, in my case, it goes to the right places unlike some~" Ignoring the sputters from Nobu and Harry coughing, she gave a shrug, "Besides which, all my kendo practice as well as exercise means that I don't need to worry nearly as much about that as other girls."

Glancing at Nobu, who was grumbling, Harry took a sip of his tea, "I see..." A few minutes later, he noticed that Nobu was looking at one of her bangs and grumbling some, "Is... something wrong, Nobu-Chan?"

Just blinking, the former head of the Oda looked over at him, "Eh?"

With a sigh, Okita rolled her eyes some, "She's just checking her hair to check that her dye job is still working."

That really made Harry blink before he turned to Nobu who had a slight blush on her face, "Dye job? You dye your hair?"

Arms crossed, Nobu sighed some but nodded just the same, "Hai, I do." She waved a hand around, "My hair is normally dark brown, almost black but... I've noticed that it has been turning red." Then, the former warlord shook her head some, "It's slow though, just a few strands here and there. From what my Kaa-San told me, one of my great-grandparents was an American soldier with red hair, so... who knows? I dye it to keep it matched."

Both girls nodded at that though Harry frowned in thought and looked at his friend, "You know... you might look good with red hair." He then grinned some, "Heck, claim that it is red because you are a demon and it is colored by the blood of thousands that soak your form."

Upon seeing the thoughtful look on Nobu's face, Uesugi sighed, "Please don't encourage her, Harry-Kun."

In reply, the black haired wizard shrugged some with his response getting a cackle from Nobu, "Can't be helped!" Suddenly, Harry had a thought occur to him due to a history program from the night before, "Hey, Nobu-Chan? Mind if I ask you about something from your previous life?"

Eyebrow raised, Nobu leaned forward, "Sure, I don't mind." A grin appeared on her face, "As these two can tell you, talking about my greatness is one of my favorite things to do!"

Snorting, Harry considered his question before turning to Nobu with an interested look on his face, "Well... last night, there was a history program on and it was talking about Hideyoshi..."

Only blinking, the former warlord hummed, "About Monkey, huh?" Scratching her chin, Nobu frowned a bit, "Well, it depends on when since I was, ya know, kind of dead for part of his life."

With a shake of his head, Harry frowned some, "Well, it is about after you died, but still has to do with you. See... they were talking about Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea after he united most of Japan under him. It's obvious that a good chunk of why he did it was because, well... large army of people who have been fighting decades wouldn't transition to peace easily. So best send them to be someone else's problem."

Uesugi snorted some at that and shook her head, "I will admit that it... makes a certain amount of sense to do so, yes. Still a foolish thing however."

Glancing at her, the teenage wizard nodded before turning back to Nobu who had an interested expression, "Well, one of the things they mentioned was that Hideyoshi did it because it was part of your dream. And that you claimed once you united Japan, you would conquer China next. So I was wondering..."

Very slowly, Nobu nodded with a frown on her face, "You're wondering if I actually was planning on doing that?"

Arms crossed, Okita frowned as well, "I remember reading that myself, both in this life and the next." She then shrugged some, "It does sound like something that you would do."

Laughing, the former warlord grinned widely, "It truly does, does it not?" Nobu stroked her chin a little bit, "As to your question, hmm..."

Shrugging, Harry tilted his head some, "I ask because, well... from what they said, no one else confirmed what he claimed, not even Ieyasu did. I could ask Honjo-San, of course, but..."

Nobu softly snorted at that and shook her head, "She might not know either." Taking one of the last strawberry squares, she looked at it for a few moments before beginning to nibble at it, "Hmm... actually, I do know the answer as well as why Ieyasu stated I never said that. Because, in fact, I both did say it and did not."

That made each of the other teens blink in confusion. More than a little befuddled, Harry frowned at her, "You... did say it? But also didn't?"

With a hum, Nobu nodded some, "Hai." Taking a sip of tea, she had a far off look on her face, "It was about a year before my death in fact, at a Moon viewing party Ieyasu was hosting. Victory looked within our grasp at the time, the full unification of Japan being something that we were close to completing. All of us were well into our cups as it were and pretty drunk. Heh... It was quite fun as Kote-chan is something of a clinger while drunk, you know. And when her kimono became a wee bit loose..."

Coughing, Uesugi gave her a look before adjusting her glasses, "Nobu-Chan... story."

Just blinking, the former head of the Oda nodded, "Right, right..." Rubbing her chin, she frowned a little, "Well, as I said, we were all drunk and could see that we were close to victory and getting closer with each passing day. Oh, we knew that it would be years, but... we could also tell that within a decade, we could pull it off. So, my son, Nobutada asked me what I would do once we conquered Japan." Clearing her voice, and also blinking a small amount of wetness at the thought of her eldest son, Nobu took a deep breath before speaking, "And I said... 'What should we do next after we unite Japan, my son!? Well, we shall make Japan powerful under us and able to stand up to those outside the nation! Perhaps even take China! Yes, that would be a fine thing, would it not, Monkey? Ieyasu? To be Emperor of China as well as Shogun of Japan?' And Ieyasu laughed and said that meant that I would need to wear the hat of the Chinese Emperor and it would look horrible upon my head!"

Only chuckling, Uesugi shook her head, "Ah, Ieyasu... he was truly an interesting fellow."

Laughing a bit, Nobu grinned, "He was at that, trust me." After a few seconds, she shook her head, "Well, I agreed with him about that the hat would look bad on my head and so forth. Then the two of us got to discussion as to whether being Chinese Emperor would make me greater than the Emperor of Japan or not. Because the Emperor had his line go from the fog of history while the Chinese changed their dynasties like one would clothing at times." Waving her hand, she shook her head, "So, yeah, in regards to your question, Harry-Kun? I did say that I would conquer China, but it was mostly in jest at best. Nothing serious."

Intrigued, and finishing off her square, Okita took a sip of her own tea, "So what would have been your plans next, Nobu-Chan? I doubt that you would have stopped with just Japan."

Blinking, Nobu gave a small nod, "And you would be right, Okita-Chan." She gave a chuckle and shook her head, "I didn't really have fully formed plans at the time. Now, I will admit, that if I had the chance I might have tried to take China. But... for the most part I was planning on going either north, to take Hokkaido, or Ezo as it was known fully. If I took that, then chances are that upon finding out about Sakhalin, I might have tried for it as well. Would have been much easier than Korea. Alternatively, go south and take the Ryukyu Kingdom like what was done in a few decades. But those would have been distractions for the soldiery, all the time I would have implimented my planned reforms and made them stick." Then, the former warlord scratched her chin, "Now, if I was still alive after my reforms were complete and able? Then, maybe, I would have tried to go after China as Japan would have been in a stronger position after at least a decade of being united. But unlike Monkey, I would not have advertised it as he did and given them the chance to build up."

At that, the others just nodded in thought.

 

[darthcourt10]

Kab2

I bring you the next part of Sofia's adventures, I hope you like it:

------------------

Once again, Sofia reached the island she inhabited after a day of exploring, but today she didn't look happy because she discovered the body of one from her fleet, and she felt responsible of her death even if she deserved it, because she knew the reason her fleet were this north of their base was that they were looking for her.

Feeling down, she walked to the outpost to rumiate her guilt, she felt another twinge of guilt as she remembered the friend left behind when she fled her fleet.

As always after she inhabited the island, her captain reached out out and asked for permission to materialize, but this time she turned him down.

"Not today Captain." said Sofia "I want to be 'alone' with my thoughts, sorry."

Saluting he dissapeared inside her hold again and she entered the outpost, but as she passed the door, she noticed the sword at the wall.

Narrowing her eyes she spoke to the sword. "You know, in the month passed since I brought you here some food has dissapeared, do you know anything about it?" Asked Sofia.

If she expected an answer, none was given.

"Well, I suspected as much." she said shrugging. "Either way telling you about my life will help me even if you are an inanimate object."

She started to talk "You know, from my birth I was marked, in my fleet I was the only one with red hair, I didn't know why until much later, I was pointed at because of it, ridiculed for not being normal enough; not much later, I became interested in the humans as beings like me, capable of infinite possibilities, of building things like this outpost or transports through air or water; but when I exposed my ideas to some of my fleet they laughed and began to hurt me, saying that what they were doing to me was the least we had to do to the humans"

Pausing a bit, she put a pained face remembering that moment."And when I went to my ma- to my princess to ask why they had hurt me, she said that they were right, that the humans were subjects to kill or experiment upon, so I have to learn to kill or imprison them." she braced herself as she was saying this."This was a shock to me and I ran from her without a direction, crying as I realized that none of my fleet shared my thoughts. I stopped in the hangar where the Wa-class transports were stationed, feeling safe as they only followed very simple orders without an sliver of intelligence and no one of her fleet came there, I rested near one and spilled my heart out as I wept, but the Wa I was near approached me and put her chest in my head, as she consoling me" she said smiling.

Walking away a bit to get some food, she brought a log that acted as a chair and continued explaining her life. "Do you know how I felt?, I felt relieved, that one of my fleet suported me, even if it was a Wa-class, from that moment onwards she was my support and confidant, I didn't know if she understood what I was telling her or not, but she always did the same whenever I felt sad, I thought she was more empathetic than the other Was, but now I think different." She smiled sadly at the memory of her only friend. "I hid my thoughts about the humans from the others and always complied to the orders of my princess, luckily there were only exploration and research until 6 months ago; I was entrusted with the duty of recognizing the way for a convoy, a Wa-class and two Tsu-class with orders to retrieve some goods from a wreck at the bottom of the sea; it went well until halfway the return, I was exploring the front a bit ahead of them when the shipgirls attacked the convoy from the sides, I was unaware of it until some time passed and they didn't give signals of live when I surfaced, I retraced my steps and I found them dead."

Putting away the empty can, she sighed."I felt sad and guilty as it was my fault, my old Captain saying that I was useless as he always stated, but I was shocked because another thing; the helmet of the Wa-class was broken, and it revealed a face; an human face I recognized from a very rowdy human my fleet captured a year before, whose disappearance I noted, and I remembered that this Wa-class was comissioned not long after it and the disposal of strange lumps from her laboratory sometimes; and the pieces fell in their places; the humans my princess captured she converted them in Wa-class or she experimented on them until they died, or some members of the fleet who failed their mission." she put her hand on her forehead and snorted "And then I saw the shipgirls coming from the south so I panicked, I dived until I hit the bottom and swam as fast as I could to the north, until I reached this island."

Looking down, she said with a sad voice "I escaped from the shipgirls, but my problems didn't finish there; my captain ordered me to refill and go back to my fleet, and I asked him why I should go back to someone who converted humans in mindless transports if not something worse, and he replied that it didn't matter to him, that we were now the superior race and the humans were to be under our feet to do whatever we desired." she paused a bit as she looked at the sword. "I felt betrayed my my own crew and I went to the captain's cabin and locked myself inside. There again I wept and cursed myself for not being the same as the others, I don't know how much time passed, until there was a knock at the door, and I saw that 3 hours passed away, I told to whoever it was out of the door that I won't open it, but Lieutenant Hüttenwerk insisted that he had to talk with me of some very important matters, so he convinced me to talk." A little smirk came to her lips. "Then he told me something interesting, he said that all my imps remembered a life that wasn't theirs, but they all had something in common, me, or more likely the submarine that my princess scrapped to use as materials for me, he got this information from other imps when he asked for permission to leave me for some time at the base, also he supposed that it was the reason they had those memories and the fact that my insides were a copy of that submarine."

She entwined her hands and became thoughtful. "That answered some questions about my situation, but the following information was revealing, as he said the name of that submarine, U-919, comissioned in secret by the magical side of Spain and Germany in an apparently neutral mission to explore the seabed, so that explained my hobby too, but with the name only came a sense of familiarity, not ownership."

"But that wasn't all, he explained to me that he was the secret envoy of the Abwehr to monitor the activities at the secret base, he was originally destined to U-573, but its sale to the spaniards forced him to wait until the post in U-919 that began its construction in 1943; he arrived at May 1944 to the secret island where the construction was, and became horrified at what he saw there, he heard rumours about the jewish concentration camps at home but never believed it until he reached there, but instead of jews there were spanish prisoners, those who opposed the Spanish Minister of Magic, controlled with a curse by the officer at charge of the base, and further investigation confirmed that his superiors lied to him, this wasn't for what he signed for, he wanted a greater Germany but not with those methods; so he resolved to kill the officer, free the prisoners and escape using the almost finished submarine."

Sofia sighed again. "But it didn't develop as planned, the officer had a security plan if he was killed, and as they were getting into the submarine, something exploded and the island turned into hell. Fiendfyre burned all the island to ashes and made a breach in the submarine, so no one survived that day. And when my princess took the island as base, it seems that she inspected the submarine remains and used its structure to design a So-class submarine, me; she used the its remains as materials for me and I was born."

"And then Hüttenwerk told me that the prisoners were still in my hull, but the crew hid it from me; the Captain told me that they were combat imps that needed to be incarcerated as they attacked anything that moved and believing him I didn't feel the need to distrust him, but at Hüttenkerk's request I looked into the expanded cargo hold they were imprisoned, and I saw the Captain's lie."

"I was furious with the Captain, one thing was to scorn me but another was to lie to me, but then the Lieutenant proposed me a plan; a mutiny on the ship, he knew who to trust and who to not as the others didn't knew what happened at the island, so we executed the plan, after the riot I ascended Hüttenkerk to Captain and he commanded the few original crew remaining and the freed prisoners, who accepted the official enlistment to my crew and to be trained in their duties. Afterwards I settled in this island, buried the corpse of a mage I found at the beach and began to explore the seabed."

Warmingly smiling Sofia said. "In one of the expeditions, I saw a transport ship that had a hull breach at the bottom and it was sinking, without thinking I reached to it and towed the ship to a near beach, where I bellowed the ship in the rocks. I surfaced to see if the humans inside needed some help, but the looks I got from the majority were hate 'An abyssal saved us? Impossible!! surely she saved us to play with us until we die.' was one of the milder things they said. I was debating what to do until one said 'Look, a shipgirl is coming to save us! It's Lady Warspite!' looking to where they were pointing I saw one of the protectors of the humans, a shipgirl as they named her. Knowing that I wasn't a match for her I fled inmediately to my base to lay low for a while. But when we reached the island a problem arised. Hüttenwerk remembered that Warspite was an english battleship at the time he was alive, so he said that maybe the shipgirl was the spirit of that ship; at that moment I knew that he was right."

Clutching her right wrist with her left hand she looked at her right hand while she opened and closed them. "Who am I?" she asked. "I am the only abyssal I know that her crew has memories of humans that were inside or commisioned into a ship, but I know I am not the spirit of U-919, and my crew only has the memories of the humans, they know they aren't them." She embraced herself with a frightened expression. "I am me, but at the same time I am not me, I am Sofia, not U-919" she began to tremble "I am a doppelgänger and am I keeping U-919 from being brought back?" she grabbed her head. "Maybe she already came back and loathes me? I don't know, I don't want to know, but at the same time I want to."

After a while she calmed herself and returned to a normal stand.

Sofia continued "After a long break and coming somewhat to terms with it I decided that whatever is true, I am myself, so until I know the truth I will live towards the future." she smiled. "And that is my life, thanks for hearing me, I feel better now." she turned to take a well needed rest.

But as she walked away she felt something, turning around she saw the sword becoming alive, red circles drawing theirselves in its surface as dark sparkles flowed from it until a body appeared from thin air.

It was a human female clad in dark knight armor, yellow hair, yellow eyes and pale skin. she took the sword and putting the tip on the floor, she crossed her hands over the hilt.

"I see we are kindred spirits, so I revealed myself." said the knight in a monotone voice. "You are the one who will be my Master from this day onwards."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Family That Slays Together.... (II)

15 July 2014

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

The Vanishing Cabinet to Castle Moulbaix opened in the hidden subbasement and Ehren stepped out with a small pack containing the ofudas, gohei wand, brush kit, and other reagents that Tokunotakai had asked her to retrieve from the miko's room at Moulbaix. Her other hand held the mail for her mother that had come in.

And a letter to herself that had just arrived yesterday alongside the news of Delilah's condition. Ehren focused on that creamy sealed envelope to avoid having to think about the possibly dying -- no don't think of that, Aunt Del and Aunt Zamarad had to get better right? -- aunts upstairs watched over by her family.

Ehren's thumb rubbed over the crimson blot of sealing wax that kept it secured. She wasn't familiar with the crest on it, although she immediately recognized the design of the coat of arms as European-derived.
Spoiler: The Seal

A knight's helmet surmounting the field.... Signifying nobility.

A lion rampant in the Dexter Chief point.... Lions signified courage, strength, nobility.... In fact Belgium's coat of arms had a lion rampant.

A serpent glissant in the Sinister Chief point.... That was odd since snakes were extremely ambiguous animals in Western heraldry.... A sign of wisdom, yes, but also lies, vengefulness, and vindictiveness.

A badger passant regardant in the Dexter base point.... Ehren did not know what to make of this one, since in her limited study of history, Folklore, and heraldry she had never heard of any coat of arms that used a badger.... Which was surprising, perhaps, because while they were normally peaceful, when provoked in defense of their families and burrows they would be utterly savage and ferocious....

Ehren's lips curled into a smile as she remembered that the Dachshund was literally bred to go into holes to flush and hunt badgers in the early 18th Century when Mutti was a girl. They were a beloved dog in her native Germany, becoming a symbol of her nation. A flash of memory and she saw Vati as a young boy throwing a stick for Maxi and Fritzi to chase. She then giggled slightly at the memory of the two dachshund pups being caught quarreling over Opa's accordion.
Spoiler: Maxi und Fritzi

With that smile still on her lips, her thumb moved to the sinister base with the last of the four animals.

A bird of some kind with his wings displayed and inverted. Ehren didn't think that it was an eagle (and it certainly was not a Prussian eagle) since the beak was too long. A corvus such as a crow, rook, or raven perhaps?

Perhaps.

And in the exact center, the Fess point was a smaller shield containing the letter H in pretense. And at the bottom the motto of the individual whose arms this was.

'Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus'

'Never tickle a sleeping dragon.'

Ehren chuckled and closed the passage to the subbasement. Words to live by, she supposed, or at least someone in this person's family had a sense of humor.
-----------------------

She gave a smile to Aomi Sato as faint piano music came from upstairs. "Hello Aomi. Is there any change?"

The young Inugami woman shook her head as she turned from the kitchen stove. "None. Jackie-chan is about to come 'off watch' as she is calling it. Colombe-san and Jezabel-san are sleeping now; Jackie-chan spiked their coffee with Sleeping Draught. Toku-san is going to relieve Jackie-chan."
Spoiler: Claire Serenades Aunt Del

Ehren smiled. "Sehr gut. Mutti has been beside herself ever since she heard. I need not ask what my sister is doing."

Aomi shook her head. "She moved the piano into the room and has been playing... Gershwin I believe?"

Ehren nodded. "Ja. Tante Del likes Gershwin. I have learned not to question Claire's choices of music to play." The dagger wiped her eyes with her wrist. "I... remember being injured and lying in bed and hearing her through my pain and distress."

Aomi hugged Ehren. "I'll run this plate upstairs to her, you and Toku before I turn in with Jackie."

"Thank you," the dagger replied before heading to the bedroom.
-----------------------

True to form, Claire was playing piano for the unconscious Delilah and Zamarad. Ehren's lips curled into a small fond smile as she looked at the brunette head pouring her heart and soul into the playing of Tante Jez's Henry Z. Steinway Limited Edition rosewood piano. Ehren remembered that piano had been gifted by Mutti and Jackie to the de Breuils for the Christmas before Blood Week. It was famous in the family for being a piano that Claire had gushed over at first sight, much to the not hidden at all delight of the family who knew that she had selected it. After a 'test run' of Balakirev's Islamey (Oriental Fantasy), Claire then loudly declared 'she was as suitable for her playing as an actual Bösendorfer was' to the assembled family.
Spoiler: Claire's Test Run

Spoiler: Jez's Piano

Beside the sickbed, Toku was sitting in seiza and meditating to the piano music. The Masamune cocked her head at Ehren and nodded in greeting before opening her eyes.

Ehren walked to the side of Toku and spoke quietly. "I have the items you asked for me to get when I took the luggage home."

"Domo arigatou, Ehren-chan." Toku responded. "With luck I can help strengthen and revive their spirits."

The miko sighed and looked at the pale young ladies. "They both... expended much of their spirit in battle, like a flame that consumes all its fuel available and is reduced to just cooling coals. Perhaps I can help them return to their body from... wherever their spirits have wandered."

Ehren hugged Toku around the shoulders. "I shall do what I can to help you save them," the dagger took a deep breath, leaned in, and spoke in a barely audible puff of breath, "Stiefmutter."

Toku's hug tightened. "Thank you Ehren. I shall need an extensive time alone to prepare, purify, and fortify my spirit for the ritual. Can you and your sister take over watching over them, changing the bandages, and feeding them the healing potion laced broth?"

Ehren snapped to attention. "Jawohl, Toku."
--------------------

"What do you have there, Ehren?" The sound of her sister's voice pulled Ehren out of her silent vigil over her aunts. She looked at the piano where Claire was flexing her hands and taking a drink of water.

"Letters that arrived while we were in Japan, Claire." Ehren responded, blushing slightly as she continued, "Draco sent two. Niobe sent one. Nimue sent one addressed to us both. Ron sent one. I have two from Passel House for you -- I think one might be from Summer -- that arrived day before yesterday via owl mail. Last but not least, I was sent this by a mystery sender."

Ehren held up the sealed mystery envelope for observation.

Claire blinked as she took the letters marked for her and the one addressed to both girls by Nimue. "Well, you should open it and find out who your mystery admirer is, Ehren."

Ehren nodded and with a flick of her wrist drew her true self to break the seal. "Ja, Claire."

Parchment crinkled as she opened the letter.

Then Ehren froze in shock as her steel-blue eyes scanned the words on the first page of the letter.
Spoiler: An Unexpected Letter

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY


Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)


Dear Ms. Ehren du Chasteler,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,


Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Ehren's eyes bulged and her unguarded smile lit up her face as she comprehended what this meant for her, for her promise to Aunt Del, for her family, for her friends who went to Hogwarts nine months out of the year.

Claire squealed in excitement at her sister's clear joy and then crushed Ehren from behind with her happy hug as the piano read the letter over her shoulder. "Ehren! You're going to be trained as a witch like Mother wanted to be!"

Ehren blinked happy tears out of her eyes as she reread the letter once more. "Ja, ich werde sein. I'll make her proud. I'll make all of you proud. I promise."

 

[darthcourt10]

AntonioCC

Sorry for teh long delay but Real Life intervened. This is the third part of the misadventures of the group. Nothing big, but necessary as a transition to the next scene.
==================================================================================
"Everybody, this is my sister Ichika." she said in English, and then looked to the female sword spirit, "And, yes, I haven't forgotten that you have already met."

"I wasn't going to say anything." she said.

"Suuure you were." Sakura replied.

"Weren't we in a deadline?" Ichika said in a stern tone, "And you two aren't as funny as you think you are."

"Okay, sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood." Sakura said, and pointed to the ruined gate, "With this on top of what is going on..., but you are right, we are a bit pressed for time."

"Do we all fit there?" Johann asked, opening his mouth beyond an occasional hmmm or grunt for the first time since

"Yes, it has space expanding charms." Ichika answered as she opened the side door of the van, revealing a second row of seats that by all rights shouldn't fit in the van, "Come in, we need to be on the road ASAP."

Sakura sat into the passenger's seat while Trini and the two sword spirits sat in the backseat. Ichika turned the key and went down the dirt road toward the main road.

"And now that we are on our way, what did happen there?"

"What do you know about Japan's story in the XIXth century?"

"Not much, really." Trini said, pensive, "I know that after Japan was forcibly open there was a civil war between followers of the Meiji Emperor and the ones who wanted to restore the Tokugawa Shogunate, but I don't know the specifics."

"That was the Boshin War, but it was preceded by a period of instability, with Western gunboat diplomacy adding fuel to the fire." Sakura said.

"I hadn't yet met my husband back then, but his father was pretty well known to be a supporter of the restoration of the Emperor's powers, which probably played a big part on what did happen." Ichika added with a sigh.

"They were attacked." Trini stated.

"Yes, Apparation, we think." Ichika said, "It was then when I met my husband. He was just a kid back then, fleeing from the attack with a handful of servants. The complex caught fire, trapping everybody else, including the attackers, inside. There were no survivors."

"And their spirits lingered on..." Trini said.

Ichika just nodded in answer, before Sakura took on, explaining briefly that they were finally sealed in the early 1890s, but they didn't manage to exorcise the yuurei, despite several attempts.

"...We have kept the wards in place, and most of the time you only felt a bit of disquietude when you are inside the ruins." Sakura said, "We should have purified it long, long ago, but... first Kamo, later the war, the post-war crackdown..."

"Have you contacted Masamune-no-Tokunotakai?" the female sword spirit said, "I have met her through her sister Musashi."

"Yes, we did..." said Sakura looking down for a moment, "...It's a long story." she added in a tone that implied they didn't want to discuss it.
Near Yokosuka. A road control. Some time later.

Lieutenant Yusuke Kaneda, JMSDF, approached the small van with a bit of trepidation. There were two Japanese women, very attractive if he had to admit it, in the front seats and three other barely visible people, which he didn't know how they could fit in there, in the backseats.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but this road is closed." He said, pretty formally.

"We have permission, Lieutenant." The woman at the wheel said.

"Allow me." one of the people in the backseat, a Western woman, said in English, presenting a military ID card, of the type used by shipgirls. Spanish Navy Ship Nuestra Señora de la Trinidad. The others also presented their identification documents. He arched an eyebrow to the birthdates of the other people in the back, but shrugged internally, they were probably tsukumogami of some type.

Nonetheless, he called Admiral Goto to confirm, which he did. Apparently she had called before to announce her visit, relative to the same matter that had made necessary the roadblock. He gave back the ID cards, ordered his men to open the control and gave them directions of how to arrive to their destination. As the van disappeared on the distance, he grimaced. It had to be something bad if foreign shipgirls from the other side of the planet were coming to help.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Family That Slays Together.... (III)

15 July 2014

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

Ehren placed the now empty bowls of healing potion-laced broth on the side table to be carried down to the kitchen to be washed and cleaned later. She then picked up the acceptance letter from Hogwarts and reread the first page.

Unbidden, her lips curled in a happy smile. On the other side of the room Claire caught the mood change and shifted her piano playing into a minor key.
Spoiler: Best Little Dagger Sister's Going To Be A Witch!

Ehren's eyes found the seal of the school at the top of the letter and examined it once again. Now that she knew who it was from the heraldry made sense. The four animals clearly represented the four Houses that students were Sorted into their first day in school. The Lion of Gryffindor where her friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger were. The Serpent of Slytherin, where her cousin Draco Malfoy was a prominent member like Uncle Lucius and Aunt Narcissa had been before him. The bird... that must be a Raven for Ravenclaw; Hermione mentioned that she almost got sorted there. So by process of elimination, the Badger must be the symbol of Hufflepuff.

Ehren's eyes narrowed as she wondered where she would be Sorted. For that matter, how did Sorting work? Her friends had been vague on the details. For that matter how did it work for Mother, Big Sister Ying and Aunt Del when they were students? Ying had said something about statues at Ilvermorny that picked her for Horned Serpent and Aunt Del for Thunderbird.

That thought caused Ehren to turn and look at her aunt's comatose form on the sickbed. She sighed deeply in concern for her aunts and also....

If Aunt Del never woke up or passed away, her responsibilities for the Black Hills would have to fall on Ehren's untested shoulders. Ehren's spine straightened as she pledged silently -- since she had to keep those matters secret as she had sworn to Del last year -- that she would carry out her duties to the letter and the best of her abilities no matter the cost to her. Just as she had a year ago to her aunt when she was made aware of the need for someone loyal and true to stand as a watchman on the wall of that particular fortress.

Her cheeks flushed slightly and her eyes stung as she remembered the painful conversation with Draco the day before her visit to Malfoy House ended.

No.

It is better this way.

He deserves better than someone as tainted as I am.

The shipgirls he loves and who love him are better than I would ever be for him.

I have my responsibilities and duties, not least in the matter of Delilah's stewardship, which romance would interfere fatally with.

Draco has my sworn word to not interfere with the relationships among him and my other friends. My word and oath, which I gave to him as the one gift that I could give him freely without compromising my honor.

Knowing that being a silent and ever-vigilant loyal sentinel who guarded warmth, love, and happiness that she would not be allowed to experience was the path that her honor demanded of her was cold comfort indeed. But cold comfort was all that someone as flawed and tainted as she was truly deserved.

Ehren shrugged minutely in acceptance and then carefully folded the letter telling her of her acceptance. She would now be permitted to see him at school to enjoy his friendship and that would have to suffice as she protected him and his. Draco and her other friends such as Ronald and Hermione and now Harry Potter, plus any others she met who were closer to the age that she would be disguising herself as would need to satisfy the pains of her separation from Claire and Mutti.

With that, Ehren pulled a notebook and pen out of her aunt's desk drawer. She sat down with the second sheet of the acceptance letter in front of her and began to make a list of things needed to ensure success at school.

First, reread the school supplies list.
--------------------------


HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY



UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1.Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2.One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3.One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4.One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic
by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory
by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions
by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Spoiler: Ehren Prepares For Hogwarts

Ehren bit her lip as she made notes in her precise hand to brief Mutti once her mother woke up from her induced nap.

I: Send return letter by owl to Hogwarts to inform the school that letter receipt and acceptance is complied with. Get Mutti to countersign acceptance letter. Write personal letters to Cousin Draco, Ronald, Harry, and Hermione notifying them that I shall be attending Hogwarts this fall, ask for advice about school, classes, etc. Attempt to coordinate a meeting with them once school begins.

II: Inventory castle for copies of needed books and school materials. Known books already in hand: Standard Book of Spells, A guide to self protection against the Dark Forces.

III: Once school supply shortages are catalogued and shopping list assembled, plan on trip to Diagon Alley to purchase needed supplies. Ask if Claire wishes to go, possibly coordinate with cousins. Ask Mutti if she wishes to chaperone. Budget for needed additional luxuries while there, ice cream is mandatory, also stop by candy store Claire found to get her a gift, and purchase chocolate bars for self.

IV: Pack. Include reading materials, cellular phone, school supplies, additional clothing, blade maintenance kit, favorite whetstone. Also iPod with songs, business textbooks. Idle hands are the devil's workshop after all and the early bird gets the worm. Speak to Mutti about whether or not to separate Uhu and Bubi after their eggs hatch. If not, ask Cousin Draco, Ron, or Harry if you can use their owls to write Mutti and Claire twice weekly to relay progress reports on schooling and personal anecdotes.

V: Inquire about visitation policies for family. Especially Claire. She would not want to let her big sister get lonely. In fact.....

Ehren paused for a moment and then nibbled her lip in thought as her eyes lighted on the tank of repair fluid regenerating her aunt's true body.

The large tank of concentrated repair fluid.

Memory of a conversation with Uncle Kansha yesterday sprang to her mind.

"So you are a set of knives in fact, Uncle? And can actually be in two places at once?"

"Yes, it makes it easier in the kitchen since I can manifest multiple bodies to cook if needed. It is a bit of an odd feeling at first and this me's memories are slightly different than the me I have back on base cleaning the kitchen after lunch, but once I meet myself again, both of them merge back into me."

"Sehr interessant in der Tat...."(very Interesting in fact)

With that Ehren's eyes widened. She unsheathed herself and looked at her blade thoughtfully.

Repair fluid could regenerate missing pieces of a spirit such as a shipgirl. Or such as her.

And Claire was using a small part of her piano body to manifest....

With that insight and the implications of it thundering through her mind, Ehren carefully disassembled her hilt, blushing crimson as she did with the feeling of exposure that action gave.

She then removed the steel pin that held the ebony wood and leather of her hilt to the steel tang of her blade internally and placed it on the notepad out of the way.

She then reassembled herself without the pin and nodded in satisfaction as she sensed the link between the pin and her avatar. Using finger pressure to keep her blade from sliding out of her hilt, she walked over to the tank. The feel of the magical iron-rich water on her caused her to gasp and her knees to tremble as she submerged herself in the repair fluid.

Giving small barely audible whimpers and with her cheeks flaming as the missing part of herself regenerated, she walked back over to the notepad and seated herself. She took a long moment to steady herself and control the sensations running like fire through her avatar.

Befehl ist Befehl. (An Order is an Order)

With that she dismissed the manifestation of herself from her dagger body. After some fumbling, she then flickered into existence at the desk as the pin shimmered and shone with magical energies.

Ehren's triumphant grin split her face as a second 'her' appeared next to the tank and then vanished as she dismissed that version of herself to lower the drain on her energies.

Ausgezeichnet!(Excellent)

Her fingers found the pen and picked it up. She began to write once more in her precise orderly hand.

V: Inquire about visitation policies for family. Especially Claire. She would not want to let her big sister get lonely. In fact, regenerate five Griffhaltestift to allow her to keep Claire company at Moulbaix with one. Request for Miho to sew the other four into her underwear and swimsuit to allow her to manifest inside Hogwarts without her dagger body immediately visible to conceal her nature while changing clothing. This would allow for bathing, swimming, and showering with other girls to 'prove' that she was a normal witch like they are plus have one available at all times while her other linens were being laundered.

A.N.-If there was any doubt that Ehren would be a Hufflepuff....

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-The International Date Line makes timelines... fun....

The Family That Slays Together.... (IV)

15 July 2014

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York
Spoiler: Standing Vigil

"Ehren, is there any change?" A heartbroken voice interrupted Ehren's contemplation of the three hilt pins lined up neatly on Delilah's desk next to her list of needed steps to prepare for Hogwarts.

The snapped out question caused Ehren to turn to face the door. "Nein, Tante Jèzebel. They are still healing. Claire ran the dishes downstairs to wash up while I am keeping them company. Tante Jackie and Aomi are asleep, as is Mutti. Toku is preparing a ritual to perhaps help them and does not wish to be disturbed."

Jèzebel nodded and limped inside. Ehren hastily stood and helped the aged witch to the chair that she just vacated to watch over the two comatose spirits. The dagger then turned to go but a soft heartbroken voice halted her in her tracks. "Please... don't go."

Ehren turned and then looked at Jèzebel's stricken face. She nodded and sat on the piano's bench. "Jawohl, Tante Jèzebel." After a moment's pause, Ehren began to play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (First Movement) from memory for lack of anything better to do.

Jèzebel looked to be graven from stone as she looked at her daughter in silence as her tears slowly fell. Finally she spoke without looking in the direction of Ehren. "I should be mad about Jacklyn slipping me that Sleeping Draught, but... she did the right thing. As much as I hate to admit it." A long pause was followed by a deep sigh. "Ehren... I could have stopped her you know. I... suspected that something was up, she's a good liar but not to the mother who changed her diapers. She never could lie to me."

"But I didn't. I knew that she would never betray my trust, betray me. Not like," another long pause followed and then Jèzebel sobbed out the name, "Norimune. Like.... I failed Norimune. Delilah was my second chance. A chance to get it right. She trusted me utterly... and I used her. I... she trusted me utterly you know. If I had asked her to bring me the moon out of the heavens, or even if she thought I would ask her to do that, my little girl would do that for me. Do anything for me. And look what it got me, what became of my second chance with her. She thought that I would order her to walk into the fire this time once more... and it consumed her. It consumed all that I ever had in this world. Nori... and now Delilah." Jèzebel whispered bitterly.

Ehren flinched at the bitterly regretful and self-loathing tone in Jèzebel's voice. She knew that emotion well, for she too experienced it in the dark nights alone as she grappled with her own darkness and evil. The young dagger cast around for something to say to help her aunt.

Finally Ehren took a deep breath and squared her shoulders as she finished playing the movement. "Tante Jèzebel. I know in my soul what blind loyalty, unthinking loyalty is. It is etched into my blade, into my soul. Meine Ehre heißt Treue." Her lips twisted bitterly as she continued in a quiet voice that was as unyielding as her steel, "I know, and I know where that blind loyalty leads as I watched my Vati march under its banner into the Abyss. I also know that Tante Del never marched under that banner. She chose each and every time of her own free will to follow your wishes because you were worthy of her loyalty in all the ways that Hitler was unworthy of the brave and honorable father of mine that he damned and destroyed."

Jèzebel met Ehren's shadowed steel-blue eyes as the SS-Ehrendolch's spirit finished. "Blind loyalty is the ideology of a slave, and a slave-master. Tante Del is many, many things but she and Tante Zamarad were never slaves or slave-masters. She was born free, free to choose, and she chose well because you taught her well."

Whatever Jèzebel was going to say was interrupted as the carved eagle on her cane began to squawk and flap its wings. The elderly witch's eyes became as hard as flint and her voice was cold as winter. "Intruders just tripped the security wards."

Ehren dashed to the tank of repair fluid and fished her dagger out. "Where?!" Ehren demanded as she held it ready.

"Basement." Jèzebel snapped out.

Ehren headed for the door at a flat sprint as her expression became coldly determined and her lips set in a thin line.

As Ehren reached the door, she snapped out in a flat voice, "Get Mutti and Tante Jackie up, I'll send Claire up to here to watch Tante Del and help you wake them up."
----------------------------

16 July 2014

Ken-o Expy Toll Road, Halfway Between Uenohara-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture and Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spoiler: Wednesday's Butterknives Are Full Of Woe

"Can't this hunk of junk go any faster?" The blond avatar in the passenger seat snapped out as she withdrew her gnawed fingernails from her mouth.

"Bite me, Nori! If you don't like it, get the fuck out and walk! I'm doing one-thirty as is." The purple-haired driver shot back as she accelerated through the start of rush hour traffic.

"Fuck you, Akutoku. Dammit, dammit, dammit!" The Unrepentant Blade turned her head to stare at the Sagami River's valley blurring by as her sister's car shot down the road like a bat out of Hell through the early-morning traffic.

"In your wet dreams, Nori." The Sword of Corruption paused as she passed a truck and then spoke again with a bit less heat and more worry in her voice. "I'll get you there as fast as I can. After all, I called dibs on killing that little car stealing bitch."

"That bitch is my daughter so you better smile when you say that Akutoku. Or I'll ram your hilt so far up your ass you'll taste sharkskin for the next decade." Norimune began to chew her nails once more.

"Up yours, Nori!" Akutoku leaned on the horn and flashed her lights at a Honda N-Box ahead of her. Finally the Office Lady in it cleared her path and the Muramasa floored the gas again. "Learn how to drive, Ofukuro!!" She shouted out the window as she shot by, accompanying it with a one-finger salute.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Head cocked to the side as they walked towards their destination through the tunnels beneath Yokosuka, Harry furrowed his eyebrows before looking at Tsukiakari, "My family had what built now?"

More amused than anything else, Tsukiakari giggled a little, "A small Ocean Liner." At his look, she bit back some laughter, "It was launched in 1913 as a matter of fact."

Pinching his nose, the teenage wizard glanced at a snickering Carnwennan, "An Ocean Liner... how and why?"

Tsukiakari hummed some, "Well, it wasn't a large one to be honest, Master. It was based somewhat on the SS Nomadic and her sister ship with a few modifications besides magical ones and slightly larger. As to why..." She gave a small shrug, "A number preferred traveling via ship than to taking an International Portkey or Floo back than. Neither are very pleasant after all." Scratching her chin, the Kyu-Gunto frowned in thought, "Master Ian helped finance it along with his younger brother. Mainly because they knew that the war was coming."

For a few moments, Harry stared at her, "Wait, what? They knew that the war was coming? How?! And why build an Ocean Liner?!"

Now truly amused, the Kyu-Gunto felt her lips twitching a little, "Well... they knew because the two of them knew Cassandra Trelawney, the great-great grandmother to your Divination's Professor and a truly great Seer. She actually saw the war coming and pinned down the year."

Boggling, Harry said nothing for a few moments, "She not only saw World War I coming, but the very year that it would happen in?!" A frown on his face, he glanced at her, "I know that my professor is a bit of a fraud, but her ancestor was mentioned as a great Seer... still, if she saw the war and the year, why didn't anyone actually stop it?"

Voice dry, Tsukiakari gave him a look, "They tried." Seeing his disbelieving look, she shook her head, "She stated that as June died in 1914, there would be a shot heard around the world that would start a war that many would see could end all wars. And that it would happen in the Balkans. So, of course, there was a heavy security presence there. Thus, when they saw a certain blonde rushing towards the Duke with her wand out..."

Facepalming, the teen groaned, "They leapt to conclusions and thus caused a self fulfilling prophecy." When she nodded, he sighed, "How does that tie into an Ocean Liner?"

Smugly smiling, Tsukiakari giggled a little, "An interesting fact about such ships like Ocean Liners... they can be converted into Hospital Ships." Upon seeing his widening eyes, she nodded, "Hai, as soon as the war began to open, the Potters had it come into dock and modified to operate as a magical Hospital Ship. Andria Potter, Master Ian's sister, added a number of spells that were rather interesting as a test bed for them to try and convince Saint Mungo's to use, but... they never did. While she never outright stated it, Master Ian was certain that she was one of the Unspeakables..." A frown crossed her face, "Partially because, somehow, she was found dead due to what looked like an accident, but no one would investigate and the Ministry quickly ruled that nothing untoward happened."

At that, Harry narrowed his eyes, "But Grandfather Ian was certain that it was otherwise and so was Henry."

Only giving him a look, the Kyu-Gunto narrowed her own eyes, "An accident involving potions would not leave her workshop mostly untouched besides her blown apart body, yet somehow destroy all her notes on the other side of the room on her temporal research with absolutely nothing left of them." Her scowl deepened a moment, "Then, as now, the Unspeakables want to keep their secrets exactly that, secret, even if it would help otherwise."

Just rubbing the side of his head, Harry scowled, "I can imagine..." With a deep breath, he pushed that to the side, "So what sort of spells were they?"

Understanding what he was doing, Tsukiakari nodded, "There were two main ones. In the operating rooms, where the major spell damage would be worked on, there was a spell to speed up time. That way they could save more people. Meanwhile, in some of the other rooms, time would be slowed down to give more time to get them to actual hospitals. Or even stop time within the room. You could wear a special enchanted wristband to go into the rooms with a new patient and be unaffected by the temporal magics there."

Eyes wide, for a few moments Harry just stared at her before shaking his head in disbelief, "I can imagine how that would help out a lot..." Becoming thoughtful, he glanced at her, "Was it useful?"

With a hum, Tsukiakari nodded with a small smile, "Hai, it was." She motioned with one hand, "Even if the Ministry didn't want to be involved, individuals could and a number of Healers joined up as well as Potions Masters. And since the Belgium and Netherlands' magical hospitals were overwhelmed, it helped save people until they could get to magical hospitals that could take them."

Slowly, the nearly fourteen year old nodded, "Hmm..." Blinking, Harry gave her a look, "What happened to it?"

Sabah spoke up at that from where she was beside him, "Well, after the First World War was over, the spells were disabled, although not destroyed, so with some work they could be reactivated. As for the the Ship, it was converted back into an Ocean Liner and continued to work. However, by the late 1930s, magicals were more likely to use brooms and the like. It was converted back into a Hospital Ship for World War Two, and after, the Potters used it as something of a yacht for the more richer parts of society. Finally, she was stored in 1963 in a bottle."

Now, that bit of information made Harry blink, "Wait, in a bottle? Like the Kazehana back in Japan?"

With a small smile, Sabah chuckled, "Yes, as a matter of fact as, after all, she might well have been needed again. And she had served the family well for decades."

Thoughtful, Harry frowned a little, "Hmm... I wonder..." Before anyone could ask him what he was thinking, they entered the room with the Vanishing Cabinets and his face lit up with a smile, "Shinano-Chan!" The teenage wizard then bowed to the others there, "Hamakaze-Chan, Isokaze-Chan, Yukikaze-Chan, Urakaze-Chan, Ooi-Nee, Kitakami-Nee! Great to see you all!"

Grinning, Ooi gave him a thumbs up, "And great to see you as well, Otouto!" She nodded some towards Sabah, Andraste, Tsukiakari, and Carnwennan, "Good to see you as well."

Meanwhile, Shinano walked over and gave Harry a hug with a smile on her face, "Ready to go, Harry-Chan?"

Hugging her back, the nearly fourteen year old boy nodded, "You know it, Shinano-Chan." Pulling back a little, he continued to smile, "Might have a look at the manor as well since Victory wrote in a letter that the rebuilding was nearly done."

With a hum, Carnwennan gave a small nod, "Well, Goldie will be meeting us there." At the surprised looks, he shook his head, "She's making sure that everything is clear for us since we're getting the material."

Each of the shipgirls merely nodded at that on agreement. It did make sense to make sure that the area was secured first after all.

It did not take very long for the group to arrive at the Potter's property outside of Godric's Hollow. For several moments, they stood there and looked around curiously. Kitakami's eyes widened though upon seeing the newly rebuilt manor as well as the gatehouse, "Oh wow..."

Her own eyes wide, Shinano nodded, "So pretty."

With her arms crossed, the other member of the Kuma-class gave a small nod, "It is something to see, that is for sure." Checking the time, she gave a small nod before looking at her little brother figure, "We have the time to go and check it out if you want, Harry-Chan. And we're not going to be in any real rush until we pick up the platinum."

Just shaking her head, Kitakami gave a sigh, "I still cannot believe that your family has so much platinum in its possession! Tens of billions of Yen!"

Lips curling into an amused smirk, Ooi reached out with a snicker and ruffled a grinning Harry's hair, "And, of course, my Otouto doesn't give a damn about the money. Because he's awesome that way."

Snickering softly, Harry nodded some, "Well, it's just money after all."

Each of the shipgirls there just shook their heads at that with fond expressions. That was, until a shout made them blink, "Hail the Praetor!"

With a blink, Harry turned and his eyes widened at the sight of Goldie approaching. It was not however that she was there that stunned them. But, rather, it was how she was approaching them currently.

Mainly because she was on a giant, jet black horse with glowing, red eyes and what looked like flames along the hooves.

Briefly, Ooi rubbed at her eyes before looking again and boggling, "What the fuck?!"

Highly amused, Goldie came to a stop before them and they all realized that it was not actually a horse, but an animated statue made of what looked like jet. That did not, however, take away from the fact that it had been carved to near perfection. It looked like someone had taken a warhorse and turned it to stone, the various muscles and the like were defined as if just under the pelt and it moved like it was alive. Blinking, Harry looked from the horse to Goldie in utter shock, "Goldie? What is this?"

Due to be amount of smug that she extruded, some of those there thought that the Roman blade had been possessed by Juuchi, "A good question, Umu!" Gently, she patted the horse's neck as it stood there, "This, Praetor, is what is known as a Stone Horse. A statue specifically animated to serve as a mount. It cannot feel fear, will not ever feel pain, cannot tire out, and will never hesitate! The perfect mount for war, Umu!"

Eyes still wide, the nearly fourteen year old wizard stared for a few more minutes before he remembered something and turned to Carnwennan, "Wait... didn't you state that one of my ancestors had something like this?"

Carnwennan blinked for a moment before smiling and nodding, "I have indeed, Master. Geoffrey Potter, your ancestor and grandson to Hardwin Potter. He was in fact the one who retrieved both myself and Goldie. His, however, was made from granite. This one, despite what Goldie said, is more for walking around the town or perhaps hunting bandits."

Walking up to the stone horse, Hamakaze traced the carved muscles with her finger before turning to him, "Do the Potters have many of these? And are the ones who make them still around?"

A frown on her face, Isokaze looked towards what had been the stables once upon a time, "But what about the stables? Is that where they were kept?"

From where she was on the horse, Goldie nodded with a small smile, "Very good questions! As to whether the Potters had more, they did and of different types. They even had a team for carriages that are made from pure, white marble as carved by Edmund Potter and which he used to pull the carriage of his wife the day they married."

It was then that Carnwennan spoke up, "As to those that make them? There's a few around that still do, although they're rare due to the Statute." He gestured towards the stables, "While the Potters have had horses for many centuries, they especially began to use real horses after the Statute went up. One couldn't exactly ride into town on them any more."

Softly smiling, Tsukiakari nodded, "After automobiles came about, though, Master Ian had them sent to Japan for the Arashi Clan. They still use them during the summer months as a matter of fact for farm work and getting around."

Running a hand along the stone horse's flank, Ooi grinned some, "Hey, Rika-Chan, maybe Harry-Chan will let us borrow one of the white ones. So that we can go for a ride."

Lightly blushing, the other Light Cruiser turned to Harry who suddenly grinned, "Maybe we should get you into one of the suits of armour that my family has, Yuuko-Nee. And Rika-Nee into one of the princess dresses."

Both Light Cruiser shipgirls blusher heavily at that, especially at the snickers they got, but still glanced at one another.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-I needed a WAFF break from the heavy subject of Del's coma, so....

Let It Doki

Mid-December Of The DDLC's 'First Year Of Life'

Arashi Clan Compound, Hokkaido

"You don't want more cheese, Monika?"

Monika shook her head, her coral brown ponytail swishing back and forth. "I'm stuffed just as full as your father's Duckies are being stuffed, Minato-chan." She gave her boyfriend a smile and a kiss. "I just want to walk around and enjoy the snow for a bit while I let breakfast settle."

He returned the kiss, causing her to shiver and blush a little deeper as she got up from their table. Beside Minato-chan, Sayori gave her a look which Monika easily interpreted as "You'll be OK, right?". Past Sayori, Yuri seconded that with her own concerned look as she sipped her hot chocolate.

Monika nodded and smiled back while her eyes flickered to Minato-chan in her own silent message. "I'll be Ok, take care of him for me will you? Don't let him worry about me."

Natsuki gave her a grin and a subtle thumbs-up before burrowing deeper into Minato-chan's side. "Hey hey, Minato-chan, want to try this 'Gouda' next?"

Monika gave a smile at her love's words as he answered in the affirmative from the table that she was walking away from for now. She didn't deserve him.

Her smile became slightly more brittle as she reached the door to the dining hall and she let a pair of new arrivals, a European looking pair of siblings around her apparent age of 18 in fact, enter.

She gave them a curious look since while they both had the Potter look that Minato-chan had, this brother and sister were the first clearly almost totally western members of the Arashi Clan. Also they were speaking French to each other in musical voices. Right behind them came a more mature man, clearly their father, with messy brown Potter hair, dark soulful eyes and a slightly abstracted air as he hummed a catchy melody.

"Le quatuor Brat est en grande difficulté quand Maman met la main sur eux..."

She shrugged to herself as she headed down the hall where they had come from. She then turned and walked down a veranda looking out on the snow-covered grounds thanks to the blizzard that had hit Hokkaido for the last four days. Snow-covered grounds which were currently a warzone as a massive snowball fight had erupted when the clouds had lifted this morning and the pent up energies from cabin fever had been released.
Spoiler: The Arashi Snowball War

Yuki-onna, Tsurara-onna, and Hone-onna girls ranging from preschool to early twenties were giggling and flinging snow and ice with wild abandon at each other and their male relatives. Who were returning fire, ably aided by some of Minato-chan's siblings who had skipped breakfast or eaten early to participate.

As Monika watched, a door on the far side of the field opened and four European tweenage children with messy hair stormed out in a stampede. At a unspoken signal, the two boys and two girls started a coordinated attack on the nearest victims with broad grins on their faces and snowballs in their bare hands.

Monika stood and watched the brawl with a fond smile on her face. She noticed a cluster of Arashi adults nearby with wistful smiles on their faces as they watched sons and daughters, or perhaps great-grandchildren, experiencing one of the joys of childhood.

Perhaps after her walk she could get the others to help her drag Minato-chan off for a snowball fight? She thought. Suddenly her cheeks heated and her eyes hooded as she thought about one day standing here alongside Him watching her and His' children romping in the snow with their siblings that Yuri, Natsuki, and Sayori would bear to Him.

"Excuse me, have you seen my children?" A shy musical voice asked her suddenly, cutting through her daydream of her and Minato-chan's children.

Monika half-turned to see a short European woman at her elbow. She was motherly in a word, with short ebon-black hair under a knit cap, gold music note earrings, and dressed in a white down jacket with black fur at the collar and sleeves over blue jeans. A younger teenage girl with pale blond -- really almost white -- hair, golden amber eyes, and dressed in her own well-worn camouflage hunting jacket, knit cap, and tailored jeans stood silently at the matron's elbow with a small smug smirk on her angular face.

Monika smiled and pointed at the field. "I think every child in the Clan is out there right now, Ma'am."

The matron turned and surveyed the field. Her eyes alighted on the four newcomers who had just poured snow down the back of a giggling Yuki-onna girl their age's yukata.

Mahogany eyes widened in shock.

The matron's lips opened and her voice boomed across the field like thunder.

"NO HATS!! NO GLOVES OR MITTENS!!! Henriette Claire Du Chasteler!! Amélie Honneur Du Chasteler!! Franz Wolfgang Du Chasteler!! Giuseppi Antonio Du Chasteler!! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU...!!!"

The cry was punctuated with her leaping over the balcony rail to land with a crash in the thigh-deep snow, which flew up in a dense cloud from the impact. The clearly angered mother plowed her way like a juggernaut through the snowball fight in the the direction of her children, who had looks of dread on their faces at the sight of Maternal Doom Approaching.

"Danke. I need to go and prevent my cousins being strung up by their thumbs with piano wire since Mutti is still drinking her morning coffee and my Omas got to bed late last night and are late waking, Miss." The laughing blond said in a dry upper-class English voice with a slight German accent to Monika before hopping over the rail to land with cat-like grace and start sprinting toward the scene of the crime and punishment.

Monika giggled and shook her head as she walked away. She patted some of the snow that the mother had tossed onto her with her landing out of her hair. She should change her clothes and let these dry before resuming her walk.
--------------------------

As Monika reached the guest room that had been set aside for her and the other Dokis, she noticed the screen to the empty room across the hall was ajar. She peeked inside out of curiosity and froze.

Her eyes widened in shock.

Inside was the expected luggage from a guest, of course, but also a grand piano now stood in the open space.

And such a piano.

Sunlight sparkled from golden inlay on the sides and lid, and from the sculpted lion's paw legs. The body was made from some dark brown rich hardwood, like frozen liquid chocolate.

Enthralled, Monika stepped inside, her wet hair and clothes forgotten in the delight of the moment. Her voice echoed in her ears. "Who takes a piano on vacation?"

She slowly walked around it, admiring it from all angles. She reached the inlay with the manufacturer's mark and gave an impressed and respectful whistle. "Bösendorfer, 1873?" She spoke in awe. "They really don't make masterpieces like this any more." She shook her head.

She finally sat down on the incredibly comfortable hardwood bench and reached for the closed cover over the keyboard to protect the keys. Her hand touched the carved and inlaid hardwood denying her access... and paused as she wrestled with herself.

Finally she shook her head and reluctantly stood. "No... no. I want to play this more than anything that I have ever played, but not without permission. I'll just have to find who the owner is and beg him to be allowed to play, or just listen to this beauty." She whispered sadly. She had, after all, learned the hard way about what would happen with her possessive impulses if she let them run amok. Her friends had suffered so because of them.

"Thank you for your consideration." The voice came from thin air behind her.

Monika whirled, and her eyes widened as she saw the mother from earlier, now dressed in an elegant wine-red Victorian ballgown, standing there with a shyly smug smile on her face. Her green eyes locked with the brown of this mystery woman's -- the exact same color as the wood of the piano she was sitting at -- and the yen suddenly dropped for her.

"You're like Minato-chan's mother and Aunt Juuchi, and Tsukiakari-san and the rest. You're... the spirit of this piano." She whispered in shock.

The smile widened and the mystery woman curtsied. "That's correct. I'm Claire du Chasteler-Potter. I and my family came here for the reunion."

"Monika. Minato-chan summoned me earlier this year along with the rest of the Doki-Doki Literature Club before the computer that we were trapped in crashed and killed us all." Monika said as she bowed politely in return.

Claire giggled and nodded. "Oh, I know full well how Potters can be when they find The One for them. Tony, my beloved husband, won this princess from her castle with his music and character," the piano gave a happy sigh with hearts in her eyes, "and I love him just as much this moment as I did the day we first met when he played the heart out of my case under the blossoms of the chestnut trees of Cimetière de Passy as the Eiffel Tower lit up that evening. You are a musician too?"

Monika spoke hesitantly, "In... inside the game I was part of, I played piano. I have taken a few lessons once I got outside, not like the decades I and my friends were trapped there, but..."

Claire smiled gently and waved her hand. As Monika watched, the cover unlocked itself and retracted, exposing the ebony and elephant ivory of the keyboard while Claire's lid was opened by unseen hands to expose her waiting soundbox. "But pianos are not just supposed to be seen and admired. We are supposed to be heard as we spread joy to all those who can listen to our voices."

Monika walked over and hugged the spirit. "Thank you Claire!"
--------------------------

Spoiler: Let It Doki

As Minato walked back to the room along with the other three Dokis, majestic, powerful, and passionate piano music was heard. He grinned at the other girls. "That's Aunt Claire. She must have arrived earlier this morning by Portkey when we were at breakfast; I saw Uncle Tony and my cousins Jacques and Therese there. Let's find her, and then hunt down Monika to listen to her."

The girls nodded as they reached the room where the music was coming from. Then Minato stopped dead in his tracks as he saw the pianist.

It was Claire's true body, true, but the piano's spirit was standing beside her case with a broad and beaming smug smile. Monika was at the keyboard playing her heart and soul out in a duet of love and compassion with Claire's powerful and rich voice.

Monika's green eyes met his and electricity ran through him. She smiled and blushed as she shifted into a song from a movie that he had showed her and the other Dokis right after they arrived. A song sung by a troubled young woman who was striving to break free of the shackles of pain and regret and sorrow forged in her past to eventually be with the ones who loved her.

"And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back, the past is in the past!

Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn!
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone!
Here I stand in the light of day!
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway"

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

(sometime after Savato's 10th snippet) FoL Adjusting to Humans


Yokosuka, Japan,

Tanith was taking a break between her recruiting efforts and managing the Fleet of Laughter visiting Japan. There were a few applicants coming in after the first batch of flyers were posted. Hopefully, there would be more coming soon. In the meantime, she was feeling a bit tired and was urged by her sisters and family to take a break. Thus she chose to spend some time with her mother in the Nagato residence at Yokosuka Naval Base.

Hoppou was still dressed in her uniform, having dropped off her backpack in her room. Happily munching on a cookie baked by Harry, Hoppou spent some family time with her daughter and her mother. Tanith was listening as Hoppou went on about her day in school when suddenly there was a knock at the door. Nagato shook off her Nagamon persona and went to see who was waiting.

She was surprised to see a Canadian Naval Officer, his rank insignias marking him a Lieutenant, accompanied the Canadian Ambassador to Japan, the latter carrying a Briefcase. The officer saluted Nagato before introducing the Ambassador. The seasoned diplomat shook Nagato's hand and spoke quietly with the battleship, Tanith unable to hear what they were saying. Nagato soon led the two Canadians inside her apartment, where the Ambassador went to shake hands with Tanith before Nagato offered him and his escort to sit down.

"Hello, my name is Mackenzie Clugston, I am the Ambassador of Canada to Japan. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I bring greetings to the Fleet of Laughter."

Tanith understood some diplomatic protocol and spoke formally as representative of her sisters and children.

"Greetings, I am the Northern Water Princess, Tanith, of the Fleet of Laughter. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"The Government of Canada wished to express our gratitude for what the Fleet of Laughter had done. With the capture of HMCS Regina, it was clear that the Fleet of Laughter, despite pressure from hostile abyssal forces, treated our ship and crew with dignity and respect, and aided in their escape during the battle for Unalaska. Against all odds, you saved our ship and helped HMCS Regina and her crew return to Canada. My country recognizes that despite tragedy and loss, you saved Canadian lives and brought them home. Given the losses you suffered, Canada owes a debt to the Fleet of Laughter.

First, the Government of Canada is considering a trade envoy to Avrora Island with the potential of the creation of a consulate general. subject to approval we will be requesting permission to establish a trade office on Avrora, with the future possibility of redesignation as a formal Consulate. In short, unless we hear of any reasonable objections to the contrary, Canada is prepared to establish trade relations with the potential for full diplomatic recognition. Given the circumstances, it is the least we can do. Second,"

The Ambassador opened the briefcase and passed several documents and a letter to the tall abyssal Princess.

"We have a letter for the Fleet of Laughter regarding your sisters."

Hoppou interjected, showing a mix of pride and expectation.

"Tandy and my Wardens, they are joining your navy soon..."

"Err, yes, Miss Hoppou. The Wardens will be participating in a ceremony to formally join the Royal Canadian Navy. After some negotiations with our partners, we can permit family and relatives to witness this occasion. We hereby invite your fleet to send a representative or representatives to this occasion. In accordances with the Accords signed, we are granting visas permitting travel to British Columbia, Canada. We will need to know who is going within a week, so Miss Tanith, we ask that the Fleet of Laughter provide an answer of who will represent your fleet as soon as possible. I am presenting a card with contact information for the Embassy."

Tanith skimmed through the letter and nodded.

"We will need time to discuss this. Thank you, Ambassador."

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, thank you for your attention. If transportation or escort is required, please let us know. I hope this may mark the true start of relations between our peoples." He held out his hand.

Tanith carefully shook his hand, before radioing the Fleet.

"This is Tanith, we have news from Canada. We will need to hold a conference soon."

*******

A lorry arrived in front of what appeared to be an old manor, where a well-dressed man awaited. The driver of the lorry stepped out and approached the couple with a clipboard. He looked around with perplexion. The address was in the middle of nowhere and the manor was surrounded by overgrown flora.

"Good afternoon, Mister Greengrass, your shipment has arrived."

"Good afternoon, sir. May we inspect the cargo?"

The driver shrugged, "Sure, right this way, sir. Not exactly sure what all this stuff is for, but not my problem."

Cyrus Greengrass gingerly stepped up onto the back of the lorry, where bundles of wood, junk metal, glass, and jerry cans of motor oil and fuel lay. He nodded.

"Perfect, just need you to drop this off outside my gate, we'll take it from here."

The driver was confused, given he could have dropped them off inside, but he agreed.

After the last of the cargo was dropped off, Cyrus signed the documents with a fountain pen (which also surprised the driver), who soon departed, muttering about crazy jobs. After making sure no one was around, Cyrus called for his house-elves.

"Wally, Tilly, I'll need your help bringing this all to the storeroom next to our new chamber."

They responded quickly.

"Of course, Master"
"Right away, Master"

He used his wand to levitate a pile of steel, while the elves took care of the rest.

Cyrus was helping his eldest daughter with a project of hers and her friend Tracy. They wanted to see if they could summon the family narrowboats, and asked for summoning supplies and help with making a rough summoning chamber. Once they were done school, they would help finish the chamber and start trying to summon the boats back. He had asked Daphne if she could ask Harry for some more information discreetly about what could improve their chances of summoning the family boats.

Cyrus was trying to distract himself from the online humiliation he recently had after several matches resulted in him singling out enemy Japanese destroyers and getting killed in the progress. But in that time, he became interested in a particular destroyer class. It was in a Tier 10 match where an enemy Shimakaze was about to torpedo his battleship yet again when a pan-Asian destroyer, the Yueyang, rushed in and detonated the Shimakaze with a 5-inch salvo. It seemed to resemble the American Gearing, but was shorter and seemed closer to a Fletcher. It was apparently an Allen M Sumner-class, and somehow, he started to research the class and its history.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Well, this was fun. Unfortunately, it's not the Olivia McKay snippet (that one might be a little longer yet), but I feel happier for having this out there.
The Chase

"… So now, Nokia's still crying and Arata is stuck up the tree with her." Takumi grinned wryly at the memory, and Nemo giggled. "And it's me, Yuugo, and Yuuko on the ground. The first thing that I've got to do is convince Yuugo not to climb up the tree after them. So we sat down in a circle, and we started talking about what three little kids could do to rescue their friends from a tree. And right about then, Yuuko gets a pretty bright idea."

"Call the fire department?" Nemo supplied. It was what Takumi had prefaced the story with. Her boyfriend shook his head.

"Cut the tree down," he corrected her. A tiny bit in horror ran through Nemo's laughter this time. "I know, it seems impossible in hindsight, but back then we knew that we could do it. Especially since Yuuko had figured out how to get into the drawer where my grandmother kept her cooking knives. So Yuuko and I head back into the house to get ahold of the biggest cleaver we can, while Yuugo stays behind to keep an eye on Arata and Nokia."

Nemo snickered into her ice cream. "Let me guess," she smiled. "Your grandmother found you with it."

"Right after we had gotten it out of the drawer. We were able to deflect for a while, but soon enough we remembered the most important detail."

"Which was?"

"She was the only one who knew how to make dango." She laughed again. "So we caved, and she came outside with us to see. And then…" Takumi pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to hold back a laugh. "You remember how Yuugo wanted to go up the tree after them?"

Almost reflexively, Nemo slapped a hand over her mouth. "He didn't."

"He did. And that," Takumi punctuated the word with a finger jab and a cockeyed grin, "is when my grandmother called the fire department."

Nemo had to hold her ice cream out and away from her body to make sure that she didn't drop it laughing this time.

"What happened to them?" she asked once her breathing was back under control. "Your childhood friends."

Takumi sighed. "Well, Mr. Kamishiro finally got his web browser off the ground. When he got it working, he ended up having to move to America for… economics, I guess. Yuuko and Yuugo went with him. After that… the rest of us just kind of fell apart. Last I heard, Nokia was volunteering at a nature park, and Arata was…" He frowned. Worried at the expression, Nemo leaned into his side, and he gave her a smile. "He moved away a few years later. He stopped writing back after a few months, and… I think that he was getting involved with a bad crowd. He didn't send enough to say for certain."

And she had just brought a bitter memory up like that. Nemo looked down at her ice cream apprehensively. "Sorry for bringing it up," she said quietly.

"Don't be. You were going to hear about them sooner or later." Humming thoughtfully, Takumi crossed his arms behind his head. "Now that I think about it, though…"

"I think that sounds wonderful."

He turned an amused eye to Nemo. "I didn't even say what I was thinking about." She smiled, and flicked him on the nose.

"You don't need to say anything. I'm your girlfriend, I know this stuff. How do you plan to go about getting ahold of all of them?"

"Well now, that's the question, isn't it… Nemo?" The cruiser was quiet, glancing through the crowds nervously. Someone was coming towards her—someone she had taken great pains to avoid for months on end.

One of the Fleet of Laughter ships was coming straight for her.

The Fleet of Laughter. Who she had been ordered to stay the hell away from.

Grabbing a quietly protesting Takumi by the wrist, Nemo began to drag him away from their spot at the outdoor café, never once looking away from the direction of the signature. The crossing signal was on—she pulled him across the street, nearly yanking him from his feet.

"Nemo! Ow!"

… Oh.

"Sorry," she said, glancing aside unhappily and releasing her grip. "Fleet of Laughter—"

The signal course corrected. Still aimed straight at her.

Closing fast.

"HEY!" A voice, one that she didn't doubt was aimed at her, came. "HEEEEEEYY!"

All was lost.

Sweeping Takumi up into her arms, Nemo turned on her heel and ran.
-----

Dana and Regalia watched as their quarry fled past a corner and out of view.

"He hypmatized her," Dana said solemnly.

Regalia nodded. "We're gonna need some help."
-----

That was fun to write. Not my best, but fun. Next scheduled snippet, let's see if I can do some more with Haruka's new... friend.

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Watching as Goldie hopped off of the horse before placing a hand on the flank, said horse shrinking down to the size of a small toy which the Roman blade placed into her pocket, Urakaze hummed some before turning to Carnwennan, "Ah have to ask, are those only horses? Or are there other ones as well."

Hands in his pockets, Carnwennan was thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head, "Not all of them are horses, no." Wagging his hand a little, he continued, "While they cannot be enchanted to fly without a lot of work, there are others like hippogriffs, gryphons, dragons, chimera, lions, and such. Although those were more often used to guard homes and the like. Granted, they were much more common before the Statute."

Eyebrow raised, Isokaze leaned forward, "Really? Why?"

Lips curling a little, the Arthurian dagger shook his head, "Back before the Statute, their most common use was to watch over the household and the children on the property in case 'Witch-hunters' came by. Considering that most of them had actual metal teeth and claws? I don't think that I need to mention what would happen to said hunters when facing something of magically hardened and animated stone when most of what they had was crossbows and perhaps swords with even early muskets not very effective past knocking out chips."

That made more than one shipgirl cringe a little as they imagined what would be the result, which in a word would have been 'Messy', to say the least. Harry just nodded a little bit, "But against wizards and witches with blasting charms would be much less effective."

With a small nod, Carnwennan smiled at him, "That's right." He gave a small shrug, "Though I think we have a few bronze lions laying around. Those, when properly hardened, were like iron or steel and thus more able to stand up." A frown crossed his face and he pointed towards the gatehouse, "One of them has this big old dent in the side from when a group of witchhunters armed with a minion cannon attempted to attack the Potters while the men were gone. Apparently they were going to use it against the manor, but underestimated the females of the family greatly and forgot the old adage about mother bears protecting their cubs."

Goldie had a small, smug smile on her face, "Indeed, that was the first time that I tasted blood alongside Juuchi with Andraste deflecting cannonballs. Many fell to our combined might that day." Her smile then became a frown and she pointed towards part of the village, "We were among the lucky ones, however as were the Dumbledores who had been tending their bee hives for mead. They used spells to direct their bees into their attackers. But a dozen others were killed nonetheless. It was not the first, nor the last time, such groups attacked people, Umu."

A grimace on her face, Andraste nodded a little, "The English Civil War left quite a few weapons floating around for anyone to use them. Add on that a number had fought in said war or during the Thirty Years War..."

Grimace on her face as well, Shinano was staring at the gatehouse in question, "They had military experience. And with how the King and Queen at the time would not put a stop to them..." Only getting nods, she sighed a little, "I think that I can see how the Statute came into being and why it was thought to be a good idea."

Hands in his pockets, Harry was also looking at the gate in deep thought, "At the time, it was heading for war between the magical and non-magical. One that could have spread from Britain to the continent. Don't know who would have won, but..." Shaking his head, he sighed some, "The Statute was likely making the best of a bad situation."

For several moments, they were all quiet as they imagined what might have happened in said war. One that, quite possibly, would have been an equivalent of the Thirty Year War, except it happening across Europe and Britain. Towns scorched by fire magics, magical schools with children inside blasted to ruin, the dead piled high. Very likely, no matter who would win in the end... they would also lose.

Briefly, it felt like the temperature dropped and they all shivered.

And then the moment was gone and they decided to leave such dark thoughts behind with Shinano clearing her throat, "Um, how about we go to the manor and look at it before we... er... continue on?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Harry gave her a thankful smile, "That does sound good."

While they were walking, the Tsukumogami with them pointed out various things and gave small amounts of information. Pointing at the ruins of an old, thirteenth century tower, Sabah smiled, "In the middle of the circle there, about... oh, six feet down? Around that, there is an old stone coffin, inside which there are six or seven cauldrons filled with gold and silver coin."

Upon hearing that, the shipgirls came to a stop with Ooi looking at the ruins with wide eyes. Then, she turned towards Harry with a stunned look, "You have actual buried treasure on your property?!"

More than a little amused, Harry gave a smug smile, "Actually, more than one buried treasure." He gave a shrug at the stunned looks, "There's several spots like that buried around the property, but they're all decoys."

If they had not been shocked before, the shipgirls were now with Hamakaze blinking, "They're... decoys?"

Lightly chuckling, Andraste crossed her arms and smiled, "They are." At the confused looks, she shook her head, "Most of them have galleons or sickles in them. We would not be the first ones to attempt to get around the goblin rebellions by having buried gold and such. And the Potters have always suspected that the goblins have spells to seek out gold and silver that they have worked. Thus, goblin teams and cursebreakers would likely look for gold, sense the galleons and sickles, recover them, and believe that they got the actual Potter treasure. Meanwhile, the actual funds and such would be safe in the treasure room."

Coming to a stop, Kitakami blinked and stared at him, "The Potters... have a treasure room? Really?"

Just flashing her a grin, the shield nodded, "They do indeed." She turned to the other weapons and held a silent conversation before nodding and looking back at the gathered shipgirls, "We can show you if you wish..."

Ooi blinked and looked at the others before coughing, "I... are you sure that..."

More amused than anything, Carnwennan laughed and shook his head, "Well, Miss Ooi, you are joining the family as our Master's sister from what I have heard. As for the others..." He gave Shinano a look that made said Carrier blush and look away while poking her fingers together, making him chuckle, "I don't think that there is much issue there."

For her part, Shinano nodded through her blush, "H-hai..."

Taking her hand, Harry gestured with a smile though his lips twitched at seeing how both Ooi and Kitakami were blushing, "Well, show us the way then, guys." Giving Shinano's hand a squeeze, he smiled up at her, which she returned a little bashfully. It did not take them long to reach the manor, which made Harry blink a little, "Is it in the manor itself?"

With a nod, the Arthurian blade smiled, "It is, as a matter of fact, Master. Now, if you'll open the door, we can go there."

Quickly, Harry pulled out a key ring and unlocked the door before they walked inside. The stone floors were clean and shone, though obviously not yet polished fully. Something that the teenage wizard knew would wait until the walls were painted and the like, but before the furniture would be added. Because of that, none of them were too worried about still wearing shoes from outside.

Looking around the entry hall, Yukikaze shaded her eyes as she looked around, "Oh wow... this place is beautiful!"

Softly smiling, Sabah turned to her and nodded, "It is, and will become yet more beautiful once painted and all the mountings are in place. Trust me on that."

Just walking over to the polished wood staircase, Kitakami ran a hand along the banister before leaning to look up it, "Huh... there's a third floor?"

Hands in her pockets, Tsukiakari joined her, "Hai, as a matter of fact. We can explore a little afterwards if that is what you want."

Eyes wide, the Light Cruiser looked over at Ooi before turning back to the Kyu-Gunto and nodding, "I think that I might like that a lot, actually." Making her way over to Ooi, she giggled a little and took her friend's hand, "So... where to next?"

Motioning with his fingers, Carnwennan chuckled, "Downstairs in the basement, as a matter of fact..."

It did not take them long to reach the basement through the kitchen though Harry summoned a ball of light which allowed for them to see. He could see the lights in the ceiling that could be turned on to provide illumination, but the power was still out currently. Said power would be supplied by solar panels and a small hydro dam near the mill pond that would provide electricity. Seeing a door at one end, he pointed, "That has to be the boiler room."

Brightly smiling, Tsukiakari nodded, "That's right, Master. In there is the magical boilers that will provide for heat. They use a broken ruby gifted to the Potters back in the 14th Century after they rescued the spirit that was inside during a trip in Scandinavia." Seeing the looks, he shrugged, "She wasn't an evil spirit, apparently, and had been trapped by a dwarf clan inside of said gem to heat their forges. There was also a spell to keep her parents and sister from finding her, which Hardwin the II broke along with the ruby freeing her."

Snickers escaped from Carnwennan as he shook his head, "Ah, yes, Eisa. Now there was a real firecracker. Only reason that Hardwin the Second survived the blaze that immolated the attacking dwarves as her family arrived was that Eisa used her powers to shield him. Her parents were quite thankful to him and..." He paused for a moment and then shrugged, "Well, gifted him the broken ruby, which was hot to the touch as it still contained Eisa's essence among other things."

Just slowly blinking, the black haired wizard gave him a look, "Did they...?"

However, Carnwennan shook his head, "Hardwin the II was married actually, and while she was quite smitten, she understood. Though..." Frowning, he scratched his chin in thought, "From memory, a Seer who visited while Hardwin was recovering mentioned that their lines would merge in the future there was a chance that their lines would merge."

Cocking an eyebrow, Harry didn't say anything in regards to it, simply shrugging.

Andraste than pointed at another room as they resumed walking, "And right there would be the wine celler, Master. Though more than just wine would be stored in there including brandy and whiskey." She tapped her chin some in thought, "We do have at least several bottles of Dragon Barrel Brandy..."

Suddenly, Harry perked up and looked towards Tsukiakari, "Didn't you say that Colombe was a brandy connaisseur?"

Understanding the question, the Japanese blade smiled and nodded, "Hai, she is in fact one. Perhaps send her a bottle?" When she got a nod, she smiled though she remembered nights when Ian, Lyra, and Colombe would share a bottle, 'Ah... that brings back memories.'

Eventually, though, they reached the main well under the manor. Blinking, Harry turned to the weapon spirits, "Wait... the treasure room is in the well?"

A grin on her face, Tsukiakari nodded, "Hai, it is." Walking around the well, she tapped various parts and the well glowed before the ground around it fell away a little before a hole in the wall opened and they could all hear grinding sounds. With a nod, she gestured for them to follow, "Come on."

Each of the shipgirls and Harry shared a look before following and finding that, somehow, the inside of the well had expanded until it was big enough for a spiral staircase going down that jutted out of the wall. Slowly, they went down the stone stairs until they reached a platform just above the water level. Tsukiakari reached over and pushed in a group of stones, which Harry memorized, and then the stones pulled apart to reveal a doorway which the group entered into.

Immediately, though, Harry and the others came to a stop as they stared in disbelief.

There within their sight was lots of gold, silver, and the like in various coins. From Roman ones all the way to almost modern including gold bars. So, too, were there chests filled with gemstones that gleamed in the light. Boggling, Shinano swallowed as she looked at one chest that was spilling out with emeralds, some of which were the size of her fist and one nearly the size of her head, "T-this is the Potter treasure room?"

With a hum, Goldie placed her hands on her hips and gave a nod, "Umu, is it not magnificent? Truly, the Praetors have been gifted well."

Reaching into one chest, Isokaze pulled out a handful of silver that had a cross on it, "H-how... how did the Potters come to have all this?"

Arms crossed, Carnwennan smirked smugly at them, "Though various means." He gestured at the chest of silver she was by, "For example, some of the Potters went privateer... and pirate, preying upon the Spanish Main." He nodded towards the emeralds, "A number of those, including the one that you're holding, Miss Shinano, Master Hadrian, who had accompanied James Weasley to the New World to get his 'Vulcanium', bought them from the Spanish."

Blinking, and looking down at the massive gemstone, Shinano looked back at him, "From the Spanish?"

Only shaking his head, the dagger chuckled a little, "Believe it or not, the Spanish sold them for what was cheap. Because they wanted gold and silver, not emeralds. So Hadrian gave them several bags of gold for said gemstones, which they handed over with a laugh." Somewhat amused, Carnwennan snorted some, "Hilariously, gemstones of this quality are very valuable in magic."

Meanwhile, Hamakaze's eye was caught by another chest and this one she opened, "Shinano-Sama? Come look at this!"

Everyone made their way over to where the white haired Destroyer was. Reaching into the chest with wide eyes, Shinano pulled out a massive gold coin, "A Koban..." Eyes furrowing, she read the inscription before staring, "This... is from the Keichō era..." Looking at some chests nearby, the Yamato pulled out another gold coin and frowned, "Um... this one is also Japanese, but... I can't read it."

Leaning forward, Tsukiakari blinked and took a picture before raising her finger, "I'll be right back..."

With that, she left the treasure room and the others continued to look at the coins with Hamakaze. Some were silver Shu, others were of Chinese make from roughly before the Shogunate according to Yukikaze who was able to read the inscriptions. Finally, Tsukiakari returned and they looked up at her with Harry tilting his head to the side, "Tsukiakari?"

The Kyu-Gunto had a thoughtful frown on her face, "According to Senpai, those coins are koshukin that were minted by Takeda Shingen. The Potter that brought her home from Japan collected a large amount of Japanese coins."

Just wiggling her finger in her ear, Ooi frowned a little, "Wait... wasn't that from just after the start of the Shogunate?" When she got a nod, her eyes went wide, "Oh..."

Humming, Tsukiakari nodded a little, "Hai, he also gathered as many unique coins that he came across in Japan, multiple ones. All to show off back here in Britain, after which they were placed here in case the Potters needed funds." She pointed at another group of chests, "Master Ian did much the same and placed them in that small chest over there and..."

Sabah nodded with a thoughtful look, "The Potters liked to gather small amounts of coin until they filled a chest, and then put it down here. There's coinage here going back... a thousand years. There's also the bars of metal as well."

For several moments, Harry slowly blinked before looking at the Japanese coins, "Shinano-Chan?" At her nod, he gestured at the trunk with the coins from when Juuchi was brought back, "Could you place that into your ship's safe? Maybe Haru-San would like to display them, or maybe a museum might want them."

Eyes wide, Shinano straightened and saluted him, "Hai!"

Lips twitching, the nearly fourteen year old gave a nod and they went back to exploring the room. But, soon enough, they left it and the door closed behind them as they did so...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Family That Slays Together.... (V)

16 July 2014

Norimune's farm in Uenohara-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture, 74 miles west of Tokyo, Japan

Spoiler: Casa De Breuil


Akutoku's car fishtailed and skidded to a halt in the driveway of the farm as all four tires smoked from the brakes being stood on. Even before the overheated motor was turned off Norimune had thrown the car door open and jumped out with her oversized body in hand.

"Hey, Wait for me!" Akutoku called as she sprinted after her sister. "I told you, I called dibs on killing her!"

Norimune snarled. "I kill her first for getting half killed then you kill her for the car thing! She's my daughter!" She threw the door to her farm open as she unfastened the last lock.

"Fair enough. Where's the Vanishing Cabinet?" Akutoku conceded as they rushed inside.

"Delilah," Norimune's voice cracked at the mention of her youngest daughter, "put it in the spare bedroom. Second screen on the right upstairs."

The two Muramasas took the steps three at a time neck and neck. The screen was flung open violently and two hands reached for the handle of the American Chestnut Vanishing Cabinet that stood there.

15 July 2014

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

On the other side of the International Date Line, the doors of a matching cabinet in the hidden subbasement were violently tossed open. Norimune and Akutoku stepped into the octagonal room and looked around.

"So now where?" Akutoku sprinted toward the Vanishing Cabinet across the way.

"No, that leads to Colombe's Castle Moulbaix in Belgium. The door over to the left." Norimune snapped, freezing Akutoku in her tracks as her sister reached out a hand for the other Vanishing Cabinet.

"Asshole!" Akutoku snapped as she headed toward the door behind Norimune.

Norimune grabbed the handle...

...pulled the door open...

...And a split second later was blown into Akutoku as the Haitian Voudou Petro Hex calling upon the fierce and angry loa Erzulie Dantó that was the first line of defense for the De Breuils was triggered and exploded throughout the room.

Upstairs

Ehren burst through the door to the kitchen with blade in hand, startling Claire who was washing the dishes.

"Claire, wake Mutti and Jackie up now then watch over Aunt Del." Ehren barked out in an iron-hard voice as she moved into ambush position for the door to the root cellar. "We have intruders below."

As her sister dashed upstairs, Ehren flexed her hand, summoning a heater shield patterned on those used by the Teutonic Knights to seize control of Prussia with fire, faith, and steel. She then took a deep breath, remembering her grandmother Norimune's words as they prepared to face Verdun.

Ehren, listen well. In there, there's no rules, and no points for second place or neatness. Kill or be killed, and you have a dark side just like me and my kids for a reason. Don't be afraid to embrace it to get an edge to survive.

Ehren's eyes hardened as she took and held a deep breath.

Her family, her sister Claire, her helpless aunts Delilah and Zamarad were relying on her to hold this door at all costs until help arrived.

When she exhaled, her clothing shimmered and reformed into the black wool and silver braid of the Allgemeine-SS. The blade of her dagger gleamed with a hungry light as her hand gripped her hilt more firmly while she crouched ready to spring.

Downstairs

"Owowowow fuck me that hurts." Norimune gasped out as the room finally slowed down its spinning.

"You said it, what the flying fuck was that?" Akutoku groaned as she tried to shake the cobwebs out of her head. The Muramasas slowly and painfully untangled their battered avatars from where they had been thrown into the wall.

"Damn, Jez has gotten paranoid in her old age. Spell I taught her, learned it from... that bokor on Hispaniola when I was pirating around the Caribbean. At least she used the nonlethal variant of it. I think. It's been a while; I don't remember it having so much of a kick." Norimune scowled as she looked at the glowing white hot heart formed from barbed iron crossbars that was shimmering angrily from the door. She then sighed as the matching hex glimmered from the doors of both Vanishing Cabinets. "I'll have to talk to her about using Voudou black magic on me."

"Wait here until she investigates the commotion?" Akutoku asked nervously. "I get the feeling this was her warning shot."

"Yeah, wait here. I can see she's got something else rigged to this hex locking the room down. If I start tampering with it it will blow. I don't want to see her followup." Norimune muttered, staring hard at the veve of the 'furious spirit'. "She must have been really pissed to summon the vengeful aspect of the Dark Mother."

Upstairs

Footsteps sounded, and Colombe headed into the kitchen with her rapier drawn. Behind her Jackie had a cutlass in one hand and a pistol in the other.

"Clear, Mutti. They haven't gotten past me and the cellars are locked down with anti-transport wards." Ehren reported sharply, her eyes still locked on the door.

"Good job, Ehren. I'll take point. You back me up. Jackie, any way to determine where they are and how many?" Colombe snapped out as she moved to cover the door.

Jackie shook her head. "Upstairs is where Jez keeps the controls to her little House of Horrors. We will have to wait... ahh."

Jèzebel's image suddenly replaced a still life painting next to the pantry door. "My older self says there's two unknown intruders in the subbasement transit room. All exits locked down and defensive spells at maximum, but there may be more outside sight of the surveillance spells."

Colombe nodded, and then looked at Jackie. "Right, you know the layout better than I do. Suggestions?"

Jackie smirked smugly at Jèzebel's portrait. "Tell Aomi to get me snuffbox out of me room and run it down to us. We can use it and you to communicate with her upstairs."

Ehren cocked her head as the painting gave a nod and matching grin. "Snuffbox?"

"Aye. I acquired it in 1779 and Jez enchanted it in the 1880s. It's linked to the same set of paintings that her portrait is, so we can communicate to the painting that hangs in her study using the miniature portrait on the lid of the box." Jackie said as she leaned against the kitchen counter. "Then she just lowers one set of lethal chokepoints at a time to let us pass and raises them behind us like an airlock."

Colombe grinned nastily and saluted her younger sister with her blade. "Clever. And that way Jez can monitor our progress while we sweep and clear her basement."

The image of Jèzebel nodded and vanished to return the still life to normal. Ehren chewed her lip while they waited and finally spoke, "Tante Jèzebel is a formidable foe."

Jackie laughed darkly. "She isn't known as the Black Widow of MACUSA for nothing. I happen to know that among other things buried down here she has a way to dispose of bodies. Used it a time or three meself on her behalf."

Downstairs

"Wonder what's taking them so long?"

"Dunno. It would blow goats if they were all out getting potions or something."

"No shit, Akutoku."

"Your ex is a vicious little bitch from the sounds of those stories about her."

"Yeah, she could be. I hope she's not still mad about me knocking her up with Delilah. She could nurse a grudge like Kyoshu could."

"Fuck."

Suddenly the fireplace warped and a trio of figures flash-stepped out from the flames with blades drawn. For a brief second all was quiet, then three shocked voices sounded.

"Dad/Father/Oma?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Coming up from the basement, Ooi just shook her head in disbelief, "I still cannot believe how much money your family really has, Otouto. That..." She motioned with one hand, "Well, yeah..."

Somewhat amused with their reactions, though a little stunned himself, Harry nodded, "It is a little surprising, hai."

Only shaking her head, Kitakami snorted some, 'A little surprising he says.' Walking out into the kitchen area, she tilted her head a little as she looked around. It was obvious where various appliances would eventually go, but like the rest of the house the kitchen really only needed such as well as a coat of paint and a nice clean of the floors before it would look nice. Running a hand along the polished stone countertop close to her, Kitakami shook her head, "This is really impressive."

Just nodding as he looked around, the black haired wizard hummed a bit, "Tell me about it, I'm amazed at how nice it actually looks." Head tilted to the side, he looked towards the Potter weapons in thought, "Is this close to how it looked?"

As they closed the door to the basement behind them, Carnwennan nodded, "Aye, it is pretty close to how it appeared, I think."

When he looked at her, Tsukiakari smiled happily, "It is very close to how it appeared, though it needs paint and such." Tapping her chin, she hummed, "I think that won't take much more than a week, however. Same with placing various pieces of furniture throughout the house."

Thoughtful, Harry was quiet for a few moments before giving a slight shake of the head, "Maybe I should invest in some vanishing cabinets myself..." After a few more moments, he gave a shrug, "Should we look at the rest of the house?"

Softly snorting, Ooi gave him a little smirk, "A house he calls it." Reaching out, she ruffled his hair, "Never change, Otouto."

Grinning back, the nearly fourteen year old boy snickered, "I'll try my best, Yuuko-Nee-Chan."

Once more, as usual, Ooi's face lit up in pure happiness before they started their walk through the ground floor. As they did so, Sabah was describing things, "The ground floor of the manor didn't really have any sleeping quarters. About the only ones that they did have were, in fact, the Servant Quarters."

Interested, Hamakaze looked towards her, "The Servant Quarters?"

With a hum, Sabah smiled with a fond look of remembrance on her face, "Yes, a house of this size needed servants after all. The Potters did have a house elf or two, and they were always treated well. While the magic of house elves prevents them from having what some might think were proper clothes, the Potters always made sure that they had the best fabrics available to make their own clothing from." Coming to a stop near a stone wall, she hummed a bit before knocking her knuckles against it, "This is actually part of the original manor that survived even the Death Eaters and was where the house elves stayed."

Fingers running along the wall, she dug into a small crack and pulled with a section of wall smoothly rotating to reveal a room behind it. Said room was roughly the size of a large living room, complete with a small fireplace with rich, wood paneling. The floor itself was flagstone, but polished through years of feet coming and going. Eyes wide, Harry walked in, "Is this really where the Potter elves lived?"

A soft smile on her face, Andraste nodded, "It was, Master. As a matter of fact, it was an argument between your ancestors and their elves as said little beings wanted to stay in the basement. That way, they could be out of sight." Smirking slightly, the shield spirit looked towards him, "Your family got around this by hiring the legendary Nicholas Owen to build a small room for them in exchange for some magical help. It was slightly amusing how they reacted to it as a matter of fact."

Lips twitching, Harry raised an eyebrow as he remembered his own experiences with house elves, "I can imagine..."

Closing the door, they continued on their tour as they walked through the first floor. They were rather impressed with the dining room, especially the size before they left. Entering one large room, Harry and the shipgirls with him blinked as they looked around. The walls were of oak paneling with what looked like antique lighting attached while the floor was of polished granite. At one end, they could see a raised portion with two steps leading to it. Above, wooden arches could be seen crossing the roof. One thing that made Urakaze's eyebrows raise was what hung from one, "Is tha' there a chandaler!?"

Unable to help herself, Tsukiakari giggled some, "Of course, what would be a ballroom without one?' Stepping out onto the floor, she gave a small twirl, "Which is what this is, the manor's ballroom. A small one perhaps, but still a ballroom."

One eyebrow raised, Harry hummed, 'Right, small...'

Meanwhile, the Kyu-Gunto gestured towards the raised portion, "The dais over there would be where the band would play music, though often it was one member of the household or another who would be playing." Tapping her chin, she hummed a bit, "I think that we have the old John Broadwood & Sons piano in the shed under a stasis charm."

For several moments, Harry looked out at the ballroom quietly before suddenly smiling. To the others confusion, he walked over to Ooi and whispered into her ear. Said Light Cruiser blinked for a few seconds before smiling and nodding. Ooi then walked over to the dais and held out her hand with a number of her fairies coming out to stand on it.

Said fairies having instruments that they began to play.

Walking up to Shinano, Harry bowed a little before taking her hand and kissing the knuckles, "May I ask the lady for a dance?"

Her face bright red and steam coming from her ears, Shinano gave a squeak, but nodded just the same. A few moments later, her and Harry were dancing across the ballroom floor. She soon relaxed, however, and leaned into him. And out of the corner of her eye, Shinano could see Ooi dancing with a slightly blushing Kitakami. What she did not catch, of course, was how Hamakaze and the others were recording what was happening on their cellphones.

Both Harry and Shinano looked at each other with a soft smile as they danced, happy, though it had to be said that the Carrier was imagining the room fully done with her in a dress when doing the dance.

Eventually, they did leave the ballroom, however, and continued the tour of places such as the study, the lounge, and what would become the library. That last one got a happy squeak from Kitakami as well as her asking to help Harry set it up when the day came. Something that he readily agreed to happily. Another room had been set aside as a sort of game room/bar for people to enjoy, complete with bar counter. Something that got a few intrigued looks as well as ones of amusement.

With the downstairs done, they walked up the grand staircase to the next floor of the manor and walked along. Footsteps echoing down the hall, Ooi looked around curiously, "Is this where the paintings and such will be placed? Once it's done, I mean."

Nodding, Harry looked at her with a small smile, "That's right." Scratching his chin, he hummed a bit, "Might set up some small statues and perhaps some tables with vases?"

Hands in her pockets, Tsukiakari considered that, "I think that might look nice. And Master Ian brought back a number of Ming vases..." Reaching a door, she opened it, "And this would be one of the bedrooms, all of which are mostly identical."

Jaws dropping as they entered, the shipgirls as well as Harry looked around in awe. Said room was about the size, entirely, of a large apartment back in Japan. Stepping a bit more inside, Yukikaze twirled a little with her arms held out wide, "Look how big this is, Shinano-Sama!"

Bringing up a finger, Isokaze pointed at one wall, "There's even a stone fireplace over there!"

Eyes wide, Kitakami walked up to the fireplace in question and ran her hand along the stone that made it up before looking up at the shield, "Beautiful..." Poking her head inside, she looked up the chimney with a blink, "Oh wow... can you imagine staying in this room on a cold night, Yuuko-Chan?"

Ooi crossed her arms as she looked around, "Actually? If Harry-Chan has the same sort of beds as back in Hogwarts here? As well as seating and such... well, the only thing better would be to have you to snuggle up to, Rika-Chan."

At that, the other Light Cruiser looked away slightly with a blush, "Perhaps... but I could say much the same about you."

The two girls shared a small smile at that, only to blush as Carnwennan spoke up with a slight smirk, "I should note that the Potters do have a few bearskin rugs as well..."

Meanwhile, Harry looked around in thought before humming. Finally, he turned to Ooi and smiled a little, "Well, if you want, you can choose a room here, Yuuko-Nee." At her look of shock, the teenage wizard shrugged, "What? You're my Onee-San, right?"

Upon hearing that, Ooi felt like her chest was about to burst as some tears came to her eyes. Walking over, she gave him a hug before speaking in a voice thick in emotion, "Thank you, Otouto." Everyone watched it with happy smiles, especially Kitakami. Pulling away from the hug, eventually, Ooi wiped at her eyes, "Thank you... you don't know what this means to me."

Looking her in the eyes, Harry smiled back, "I think that I do, Yuuko-Nee."

Only nodding, the Natural Born Light Cruiser gave him a watery smile, 'I think that you do, Otouto. You really do...'

Sabah shook her head a little before clearing her throat and gesturing at the door, "Of course, there are a few other things. We will be bringing in one of the walk in wardrobes for the room. As well..." She gestured at a door, "There is also the ensuite bathroom."

Jaw dropping, Urakaze stared at her, "Ya mean that these rooms come with private bathrooms!?"

Highly amused at the reactions, the Arabian blade smirked and nodded, "As a matter of fact they do come with private bathrooms." Gesturing with her finger, she walked over to the door and opened it, "See for yourself."

Each of them shared looks before walking through the door into the bathroom. Most of them were amazed as it was roughly the size of the main room in an apartment in and of itself. The walls were stone, with tiles coming up partway with flagstone as the floor itself. Over to one side, inside of a small offset alcove was the toilet, with the sink and mirror across from the door. Polished brass sparkled in the light from the sink, while the edges of the mirror gleamed gold.

It was then that Shinano noticed the rest, "An enclosed shower! And look at that bathtub!"

Walking over to the bathtub which was under a windowsill, Ooi recognized it as being very similar to the one at Hogwarts, if smaller. It was obviously large enough for at least two or three people to sit in comfortably and made out of shaped stone. The size was especially apparent when she took off her shoes and climbed into it before blinking as she looked down to where she sat, "It feels like there's a cushion here... magic?"

Amused by her reaction, Andraste happily nodded, "That's right. There's a cushioning charm there as well as a light heating charm to keep the stone from being chilled." Then, she pointed at a slot in the wall above covered by a grate, "And that would be the heating grate which takes heat from the boilers downstairs and pipes it up into the bathroom."

Just nodding, the brown haired Light Cruiser looked around and noted the scones in the walls where one could put candles. Her mind suddenly went to am image of nighttime with herself and Kitakami having a bath in the candlelight and felt her cheeks heat up a little, 'That... might be a little nice.'

Once Ooi got out of the bathtube, the group left for the Master Bedroom and boggled a little. If the other rooms were large, this one was twice as big and had a walk in closet. So, too, was the bathroom bigger than the others. In the bedroom itself, along side one of the windows, was a bench that one could sit on. After that was done, they went upstairs to the second floor/attic, which was mostly empty rooms for storage and the like.

That all done, they went back downstairs and through the one door that they had not been through.

Upon entering, the shipgirls all stopped at the sight of what resembled the Head Boy's Bath at Hogwarts and was roughly the same size though the bath itself was about twice as big. For several moments, they all stared at it before walking over and examining it. They did note that the reason that the bath was a bit bigger was that there was a shallow area, roughly the depth needed for a child to sit in comfortably. Around the walls, there were fluted columns of stone and one area set aside for decorations.

Looking at the windows, which showed the back, Hamakaze turned back to Carnwennan, "Wouldn't that allow for people to see through?"

However, the Arthurian blade shook his head, "Not at all, as a matter of fact. They're charmed so that people trying to look in from the outside will only find the glass too fogged to make out anything, while people inside will be able to see out. Though we did add one bit at a suggestion from Miss Hibiki." He pointed towards one door and smiled, "An actual sauna, Russian style. Miss Gangut sent some of her fairies to build it as a matter of fact."

With her hands on her hips, Goldie smiled and gave a sharp nod, "Truly, a Roman bath, Umu!"

Poking her head into the sauna, Shinano looked around it. She could see the basin where hot stones would be kept, along with what looked like a branch on fire beneath. All the wood that paneled the room was polished and reflected the heat back into the room. However, she could also see a door on the other hand and walked over before opening it. Much to her surprise, it opened to the back of the manor, "Um, guys?"

Moments later, everyone joined her and stepped outside with Harry pointing, "Huh, there's the pool."

Kitakami shook her head and pinched her nose, though she had a smile on her face, "Because of course there would be a pool. Why wouldn't there be a pool out back?"

Blinking, the Carrier turned towards her, "Um, because of the sauna?" At the look she got, she blushed lightly and scratched her cheek, "I went to Vladivostok for a convoy once and met Gangut there. She took me to a sauna and we ran out of it once we were done and jumped into a cold pool of water." Rubbing her arms, Shinano shivered a bit, "It was freezing, but kind of fun. And she says that is how one ends a sauna session."

The two Light Cruisers blinked at that before giving a small shrug.

Of course, that was when Ooi let out a squeal as she pointed to a raised area, "Look at that! An actual hot tub!"

Both her and Kitakami grinned a little and could not help but imagine themselves using it. And they were not the only ones either as the others were also nodding. Granted, Harry noticed that Andraste whispered something into Sabah's ear, which made the Arabian blade blush deeply even as the shield grinned.

Soon after, however, Harry shut the door and locked both it and the front before they began to make their way over to the Potter Storage Shed.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking across the grounds, Ooi looked over at Kitakami in interest, "Rika-Chan?" Said girl turned to her, so she continued, "You haven't been in the storage shed, have you?"

Slowly shaking her head as she frowned, Kitakami blinked, "No, I haven't." Then, she turned and gave Ooi a soft smile as she reached over and grasped the other Natural Born's hand before giving it a small squeeze, "But wasn't it where you got the jewelry box?"

Lightly blushing, the other Light Cruiser looked away even as she entwined her hands with Kitakami's, "Ah, hai, that's right, Rika-Chan. Otouto offered it if I wanted to and I paid him some money, though I had to convince him to take it."

Giggling a little, Kitakami gave a nod, "It is a very nice jewelry box, Yuuko-Chan. You have a very good eye. Though the bit about Harry-Chan..." She looked over to said boy who was chatting with Shinano, "He's kind."

Expression becoming gentle, Ooi smiled softly herself, "He's like that and... I'm proud that he sees me as his Nee-San. Because he is the sort of Otouto that I wished for."

Only nodding, her friend didn't say anything for a few moments. Then, Kitakami kissed Ooi on the cheek, "Hai, that is true enough." Turning back to the approaching doors, she hummed, "So what is in there exactly? Some of the other shipgirls speak as if it was full of treasure. I wouldn't have believed them, but..."

Her lips twitching, Ooi giggled some, "Except that you just saw proof for yourself." At the nod, she hummed and continued, "Well, there's all sorts of things in there. Old furniture going back hundreds of years, statues from all over the world, armor, weapons obviously, jewelry, paintings... a lot of things. From what Harry-Chan told me, his family never threw much away unless it was unable to be repaired even with magic, which means that there's a lot in there."

Eyes wide, Kitakami stared at her for a few moments before turning back to the shed as it was opened, "Huh..."

They all watched as Harry walked up to the door and opened it before entering. Upon doing so, Kitakami boggled at all the various items that were there. As Ooi had told her, there were all sorts of things from all around the world.

Meanwhile, the nearly fourteen year old wizard picked up what he had begun to call the "Inventory Book" and opened it before looking towards Sabah, "So... Um... where might the platinum be, Sabah?"

Lips curling into a soft smile, Sabah nodded some and made a gesture with her hand, "If you'll follow me?"

As they began walking along, the shipgirls as well as Harry looked at the various items that could be seen. Kitakami did blush a little as they passed a sculpture in what seemed to be marble of a woman looking over her shoulder at her bare buttocks before looking away. Unfortunately, that meant that she was looking at Ooi who glanced at the statue and then back at Kitakami and winked, making the Natural Born's blush even worse.

Unable to help herself, Ooi leaned towards her girlfriend with a smile before whispering into her ear, "That's a copy of a statue called the Venus Callipyge which means 'Venus of the Beautiful Butt'."

Glancing back at the statue just before they got out of view, Kitakami muttered under her breath that she could see why, which sent Ooi into a fit of the giggles.

There were, of course, other things that caught her interest including statues and the like. At one point, they passed what looked like an old Chinese style table that had sculptures on it carved from ivory of what looked like Chinese figures. Seeing her stop to look at them, Harry blinked and wrote something after examining them and nodded some, "Ian Potter brought those back from a trip to China."

Eyebrows raised, the Light Cruiser shook her head in disbelief, "They're beautiful..." She pointed at another spot, "And that's a really old Go board."

Harry only nodded in agreement before they were once more off. Eventually, they did reach their destination which included an old work bench among other things. Walking up to it, Harry ran a hand along the old, worn wood before turning to Sabah, "Um, Sabah?"

Understanding the unasked question, she walked up and ran a hand along the work bench herself with a small smile, "This was used by Hadrian Potter's grandson, Edmund Potter. He wanted to become something of a jeweler, you see and learned the craft. He was quite good at it as a matter of fact. So much so that during a trip to the Middle East, he managed to gain himself a wife after gifting some of his pieces to her family. She was very good with fire magics and together, the two worked all sorts of artistry."

More than one of those thought that there was more to her grin, from which her white teeth flashed, than she was saying. But none of them asked before Hamakaze began to move around, "So the platinum is here?"

With a hum, Sabah gave a nod, "It is, as a matter of fact." Making her way over to a group of chests, she pulled them out, "Right here." Tapping one chest, the Arabian blade nodded, "This is the cauldrons and the other are the bars of metal. While they didn't quite understand what they called Vulcanium, they thought that it could be valuable in various applications."

Andraste walked over to two more chests and pulled them out, "These are from a later trip. Apparently, Master Hadrian found out that someone counterfeited coins with Vulcanium and managed to bribe one of the Spainards to gift him with a large amount of the coins which he transformed into bars of metal to move it easier. He was going to separate the gold from the Vulcanium, but..."

Slowly, Harry nodded with understanding, "The price fell through on both Volcanium and gold, thus it wasn't worth it to do so. Huh..." Glancing at Shinano, he took a deep breath before opening the first chest, "Well... we're going to need to start bringing them out, I suppose..."

He then brought out his wand and began to stack the bars of platinum from the chest onto the floor in front of Shinano, slowly piling it up. Once the chest was empty, he was not the only one who boggled at the amount in the stack with everyone feeling a bit faint. Swallowing, the Carrier took it bar by bar and placed them into her pocket. Inside of her hanger, her fairies did the same thing they did last time, piling them up in stacks on a pallet, which was moved to the scale to be weighed.

When that was done, the pallets were taken to the enclosed part of her hanger and guarded.

Even as she was doing that, however, Harry was bringing out the cauldrons and using quick transfiguration to make them into bars of metal roughly the size of the others and began to make another pile. He did cast an Onmyouji spell to make sure that none of them had a spirit, and not a one did much to his relief. After all, unlike the Room of Requirement, they were not frozen in time. That said, he did keep a number of cauldrons for future use, including some with artwork on them.

Granted, it was not just his eyebrows which twitched when he brought out one cauldron big enough he could have bathed in it.

Once those were done, and Shinano had begun moving the metal into her hanger, he moved onto the trunks Andraste brought out. From there, he removed the bars of metal inside. They looked liked gold, but the color was slightly off, a bit lighter than they should have been. None of them knew exactly how much platinum were in them, however, but... it could have been enough just the same.

It did not take him long to bring out the other bars of metal so Harry had to wait for a time as Shinano continued to load up. Seeing Ooi walk over to the work bench and look at a nearby ring, he raised an eyebrow before remembering something and walked over to Kitakami and dropping his voice to a near whisper, "Rika-Nee?"

Pulling her eyes away from the mountain of precious metal, one bar of which likely worth more than she had ever had in her life, Kitakami looked over at him, "Hai, Harry-Chan? Is something wrong?"

With a glance towards Ooi, who was examining a ring that held an emerald the width of a person's thumbnail, the teenage wizard looked back at her, "Yuuko-Nee's birthday is coming up, right?"

Eyebrow raised, Kitakami nodded with a thoughtful look, "It is, on the fifteenth as a matter of fact." A small giggle came from her and she shook her head, "The same day her steel hull had been launched... Why?"

Lips curling into a small smirk, Harry had a gleam in his eyes, "Well... is there any place near where you lived that Yuuko-Nee either really liked, or really wanted to go to? One that would be somewhat formal?"

There was a small inkling in the Light Cruiser's mind, but she nodded, "There was this one resturant that Yuuko-Chan went to once or twice when her parents had to bring her along. Never been there myself as the food is slightly expensive... but it is good food and service. I think that her parents knew one or two people there because otherwise they would never have set foot in the door. She really enjoyed it..." Suddenly, the pieces fell into place and she gave him a knowing look, "You want to take her to said resturant for her birthday?"

Grin on his face, Harry hummed a bit, "Hai, I do..."

Considering, Kitakami tapped her chin with an almost conversational tone, "But there is the fact that her parents might hear about it and drop by."

Eyes sparkling and what looked like an evil smirk on his face, the nearly fourteen year old nodded, "Not impossible, of course. But in such a place they would not be able to raise a stink, no matter what." Sighing a little, he motioned with his hand, "Of course, being that it is a formal place, what sort of Otouto would I be if I did not make sure that my Nee-San did not have the best... accessories possible. A horrible one, in such a case."

Vicious gleam in her eye, Kitakami nodded with a gentle smile on her face, "Oh yes, Yuuko-Chan would need to dress the part certainly. And I am sure that there's a few pieces here that she could use that should look good with her. Especially with a dress that I have in mind..."

With a glance at her, Harry cocked an eyebrow, "Of course, you would need something yourself."

Lightly blushing, the Natural Born nodded, "I suppose so, and that will be something that I will deal with for Yuuko-Chan."

Both teens, shipgirl and wizard shared a look before walking over to Carnwennan. Said blade seemed amused by what they asked them and, after a short talk with Shinano, walked off. They did return about forty minutes later with smirks on their faces.

Smirks that made Ooi rather suspicious.

However, she shrugged it off soon enough as Shinano finished loading up on the precious metals. After a few minutes, one of the Carrier's fairies stumbled out with a completely crazed look before handing her a piece of paper. For several moments, Shinano stared at the inocculous piece of paper before her glasses slipped down her nose. Slowly, she turned towards Harry with her eyes wide, "H-Harry-Chan... there's forty tons of Platinum here. A-and... twenty tons of the alloy..."

No one said anything as they just stared at her before Harry gave her an unsure smile, "A-are you sure that..." When she nodded, he blinked, "Oh."

Everyone was utterly silent at that for almost five minutes as they tried to process what they were just told. Seeing Shinano take a step towards Harry, however, Isokaze brought up her phone and began to record with a small smile. About to ask, Kitakami stopped and her eyes widened at what happened.

Mainly, Shinano pulling Harry in and kissing him, hard.

Once more, no one said anything as what happened played out. By the time that Shinano pulled back, Isokaze had put away her phone with a slight smirk. Ooi, for her part crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head some, 'Nice one, Otouto...'

_________________________________________________________________________

Returning to Yokosuka, the group were almost immediately bundled into a Type 89 IFV which made its way to a warehouse. As it was nighttime, almost no one noticed though more than a few eyebrows were raised. Upon arrival, they all got out with the shipgirls taking escort positions around Shinano, Ooi and Kitakami circling as Harry and the Potter Weapons stood beside the Carrier. Internally, Harry did raise his eyebrow at seeing a number of Pre-Dreads standing guard over the warehouse.

Though, perhaps, he thought a moment later, he should not have been so surprised.

Within less than a minute, they were hurried into the warehouse where several armored trucks were waiting along with a number of men, also armed with guns. Somewhat to their bemusement, a number of people in suits rushed over before bowing to them, "Shinano-Sama..." They then turned to Harry and, to his surprise, also bowed deeply which he returned, "Potter-San, welcome back."

Straightening from her bow, Shinano had a small blush on her face, "Thank you, we are glad to be back." Turning to Harry, she smiled a little, "Harry-Chan, this is Hase-San, from the Japanese Mint."

Once more, Harry bowed, "Pleased to meet you."

Just smiling slightly, the man bowed back, "And pleased to meet you as well. You are doing a great service for Japan." With a deep breath, he let it out, "Shall we start?"

Glancing at Shinano, Harry cleared his throat, "We have the full load of platinum, but... there were some other things as well that came up." At the raised eyebrow, he continued, "One of my ancestors apparently bought counterfeit coins from the Spainards in Mexico. They were counterfeit, in their view, because someone had mixed the platinum with the gold, making it valueless to the Spainards. They melted the coins into bars and were going to separate the metals, but..."

More than one of those from the Mint went quiet and stared at him before looking at Hase. Said man licked suddenly dry lips and nodded, "I... see, well, we can easily separate the metals so there is no need to worry, Potter-San. Is there anything else?"

Scratching his neck, Harry gave him a sheepish smile, "Well, my family also picked up a large amount of Japanese coins? Both during the opening years of the Shogunate, some of which were originally from China, and others having been minted by various Daimiyos. Also, from the years during the Restoration. I feel like they should be returned to Japan since they are part of history and perhaps displayed for future generations? Would it be possible to have them examined?"

For several moments, there was silence before Hase gave him a slight smile, "Hai, we can do that, Potter-San. May we see them first before we get to the more... exacting bit?"

With a nod, the teenage wizard smiled at Shinano who reached into her pocket and pulled out the chests from the treasury. Hase gestured for one of the older women to come over and she had a man following who had a camera. Slowly, gently, she opened the lid of the first and gasped at the sight of the coins and koban. With a shaking hand, she grasped one of the smaller ones and stared in awe, "Hase-San... this... this is a Shindan Koshuken... and this..." She grabbed another one, "And this is a Kichi Kobundō!" Seeing a bag, the woman opened it gently and froze, "This... is magic, is it not?"

Confused as to why she was acting that way, Andraste nodded, "Um, hai?" The shield frowned a little and scratched her neck, "It is actually enchanted to keep whatever is inside safe, dry, and in a sort of stasis, why?"

Pale faced, the woman lifted out a small piece of paper. It took a few moments, but one of the members of the mint spoke in a soft, awed voice, "Yamada Hagaki... T-that's..."

Eyes wide, Hase stared for a few moments before looking at the other chest and plucking a gold coin before staring at it, "Ah... this is a Satsuma Mon... Well..." He placed it back, gently followed by the woman placing the note back into the bag and closing it. Swallowing, Hase nodded towards Harry, "I... hope that you do not mind, b-but we shall leave these with Shinano-Sama, for now. We must put together a team to properly look at them. Historians from MEXT and the like."

Just blinking, Harry flushed a little, "Of course." He watched as they handed back the chests to Shinano, who placed them back into her ship's safe. Clearing his throat, the teen gave a weak chuckle, "I guess that we should move onto the business then?"

Rapidly blinking, Hase nodded, "Yes, of course. Let us begin, if you will, Shinano-Sama?"

Walking over to the scale, Shinano had her fairies bring out pallet after pallet of platinum. All of which were weighed by the people from the Mint as they took excited notes. The platinum was then placed to the side until Shinano was done. Once she was, the Carrier began to bring out the pallets of the gold alloy, which were also weighed one by one.

Finally, they were done and the people from the Mint stared at the numbers before looking at each other. Hase took a deep breath before nodding with a smile and one of those members brought out a bottle of sake from one of coolers, which they poured into small cups, each person from the Mint as well as the shipgirls getting one. Much to his surprise, Harry was handed one and he looked up at the older man, "Um..."

A slight smirk on his face, Hase gave a chuckle, "Somehow, Potter-San, I do not think that anyone would object to this considering the circumstances."

Only internally shrugging, Harry drank it much the way as everyone else did, blinking a bit at the burn. Then he returned the cup with a small bow, "Thank you."

That only got him nods and he gave a hug to Shinano before he watched as they had the Yamato reload the platinum and gold alloy onto herself before she stepped into one of the armoured trucks with the other shipgirls following, the door closing behind them. As they left, the teen could see a large number of police cars forming up for an escort as well as various wheeled IFVs. All to make sure that the cargo on board got to the Mint safely and quickly. Smiling a bit, Harry gave a small salute before getting a ride home.

Later, he found out that the gold alloy was 40% platinum by weight much to his surprise, though the Mint and MEXT was also very happy with the historic currency he returned. Haru was able to display two Oban, however, in her little museum.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Family That Slays Together.... (VI)

15 July 2014

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

"Dad/Father/Oma?" The shocked question rang from three sets of throats as crystal blue, honey-hazel, and steel-blue eyes all locked on the battered avatar of the Unrepentant Blade.

Norimune gave a weak cocky smile. "Hello Colombe, Jacklyn, Ehren. Don't mess with the doors, they're booby trapped. Stuck in here too?"

Colombe shook her head. "Just clearing the basement since Jèzebel reported... two.. intru... ders...." Her voice tailed off as she stared at her father and Aunt Akutoku. "Merde!"

Beside her, Jacklyn pulled out an ornate silver snuffbox. "Jèzebel, we found the intruders. Did you invite Dad or Aunt Akutoku to come over?"

Norimune visibly started at Jèzebel's voice issuing from the snuffbox. "I"ll relay that up to the study. Checking."
Spoiler: A Butterknife Family Reunion

Akutoku gave her grandniece a cheeky grin. "Nice job putting on the Reich there, Ehren. It suits you well."

Ehren's suddenly ashen face froze as the blood drained from it. Ehren bit her lip hard enough to draw blood as her blade trembled minutely.

Colombe's grip on her hilt tightened as her knuckles turned white.

Jackie sighed at her aunt and shook her head.

Norimune suddenly whirled and punched Akutoku full in the face. "Akutoku!! Take that shit about my granddaughter back!" Norimune snarled in a voice filled with fury.

"What was that for?!" Akutoku shouted, spitting out a tooth, "All I said was..." Her eyes then focused on the visible self-hatred and pain on Ehren's face as it twisted and her shoulders shook with the whiplash of her barely-controlled emotions. Akutoku swallowed as the light visibly came on for her. "Oh fuck me. Oh. Fuck. Me." She swallowed again. "I'm sorry! I didn't know that you were forged by them."

Colombe stepped forward. "She was." The rapier's voice was heated and yet aristocratic, filled with the pride of her heritage in each precisely formal syllable in the French of her youth, and her eyes blazed with her emotions. "{She may not be my daughter of blood and birth unlike Ying, but she is my daughter of choice and my heiress as du Chasteler. I could not be prouder of Ehren's steel no matter the forge that birthed her.}" Her spine was as stiff and strong as her rapier blade as she said her piece. Her eyes filled with the unspoken challenge that anyone who said otherwise in her hearing would have her steel taste their blood.

Ehren closed her eyes and breathed in and out harshly. She turned her face away from her family as she fought for control over the tide of emotions racing through her. Her shoulders shook violently as she whispered something inaudible and her tears trickled down her pale cheeks from her closed eyes.

Colombe looked into Akutoku's eyes and then nodded in satisfaction at what she saw there. She sheathed her rapier before she turned to her daughter. One hand, calloused and scarred with the trials and agonies of her three centuries, reached out for Ehren and drew her into a hug, uncaring of the naked steel in her daughter's trembling hand.

Norimune gave Akutoku a challenging stare then joined the embrace of her youngest granddaughter alongside her oldest daughter.
--------------------------

Jèzebel's voice sounded from the snuffbox. "I did notify Nori. Jacklyn, confirm. You remember the Polyjuiced assassin in 1868 that used my daughter's face."

Jacklyn sighed and muttered something inaudible under her breath as she shook her head at Jèzebel's words. She then got a broad smug grin. "Hey Dad?"

"What, Jacklyn?" Norimune asked curiously as she looked over Ehren's shoulder.

"What was I wearing when ye came aboard me ship for that run down to get the rum?" Jacklyn's grin grew more saucy and roguish and her eyes twinkled.

"What...? You weren't wearing anything at all but those hickies and love bites, Jacklyn..." Norimune said with a confused look on her face and a slight blush.

Akutoku's jaw dropped and she stared at her smirking niece. Then she got a broad happy grin of unholy delight.

Ehren's eyes popped open and she boggled at her aunt. Automatically she sheathed her dagger body on autopilot.

Colombe stiffened like she had been shot and glared at her unrepentant rogue of a sister. "ME! MY DAUGHTER! DEL'S MOTHER! AND NOW FATHER?!?!?!" The rapier's face turned red and she yelled at the top of her lungs as Jackie doubled over laughing at the point scored on her. "DAMMIT JACKIE!!!!"

Jacklyn got out through her laughter, "It's Dad all right, Jez. Go ahead and release the lock down."
--------------------------

Norimune looked back and forth between her daughters (one fuming, one still giggling) and granddaughter (with a cool expression back on her face) as they waited for Jèzebel to finish releasing the security lock down on the basement. "So... how bad is Delilah's condition?" Norimune asked quietly and hesitantly.

Colombe sighed. "Physically, she and Zamarad are on the mend. We have her in a tank of repair fluid and have been feeding her broth laced with Healing Potion and Blood Restoring Potions. But she's not waking up." The rapier shook her head with concern on her face. "To-chan... Tokunotakai said that it is because they had exhausted their spirits. She plans to try a ritual to strengthen it."

Norimune sighed and shook her head as her eyes grew shiny. Akutoku hugged her sister around the waist. "If there's anything we can do," the Sword of Corruption began, "let us know."

Jacklyn walked over to join the embrace of Norimune, then after a brief moment of internal struggle Colombe followed suit. The rapier hugged her father for the first time and softly said, "Family looks after family... Father. Never more so than when one of us needs help."

Norimune returned the embrace with her sister, and both daughters, then a moment later her granddaughter as Ehren joined. She visibly cast about for something to say to release the emotion of the moment and finally spoke. "Jez's letter said something about a daughter-in-law. What's up with that?"

Jacklyn grinned, "Delilah and Zamarad have been married since 1946. You would not believe what kind of a bash it was."

"Why the fuck wasn't I invited?!?" Norimune snapped out after a moment of stunned shock. "I mean I'm her father!"

Colombe sighed deeply. "We wanted to, believe me we all did, but... you were in jail then. And I was barred by my oath from breaking you out to... settle matters before inviting you to the wedding."

Norimune subsided. "Oh. Yeah. That would make things tough to get me into a wedding kimono to give Delilah away." She paused, then shook her head. "All that time I wasn't there for you. So what other things did I miss?"

Ehren smiled smugly. "In the excitement of your arrival, I was unable to notify Mutti of this news." She pulled a folded parchment out of her pocket and handed it to Colombe. Ehren then pulled out her camera phone and aimed it at her mother's face as Colombe unfolded the letter.

Colombe stared at naked shock as she read and reread the Hogwarts acceptance letter addressed to Ehren.

Tears fell from her eyes and her face split in a proud, happy smile. "Oh Ehren...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Getting off of Jin's motorbike, Asuka's smiled as she pulled off her helmet at the sight of her friends, "Hey guys."

A grin on his face, Harry gave her a wave back, "Good morning, Asuka-San. Ready for a bit of shopping?"

With a nod, the Tengu rubbed the back of her neck, "Hai, I am." Lightly blushing, she scratched one cheek, "I, um... am pretty excited."

Softly snorting, Jin ruffled the younger Yokai's hair and smirked at the squawk from her, "That's putting it mildly, Bratling. You had trouble sleeping last night." With a small shrug and ignoring the redness in the Tengu's cheeks, she grinned, "Practically had to slip her some sleeping potion to get her to sleep."

Needless to say, Asuka gave the Mizuchi a glare that bounced right off her even as the other teens either grinned or snickered. Shaking that off, the Tengu turned towards where Nobu and the others were, "Nobu-San? What are you doing here?"

Grin on her face, Nobu gave a shrug, "Well, we've been seeing Natsumi-San's and Harry-Kun's velomobiles...?" She turned to said two teens and got a nod, which she hummed at, "Well, we figured that we might as well come have a look ourselves in case there's something that catches our eye."

Rolling her eyes, Okita sighed a little before grimacing, "Besides, it gets really annoying having my... Nii-San drive us around places." Crossing her arms over her chest, she grumbled a little, "Really annoying."

Upon hearing a cough, she turned towards Uesugi who seemed to be caught in a laugh and hiding a grin, "Right, right... sorry about that." She pointed at her throat, "I think I swallowed a bug."

Eyes narrowed, the former Captain of the Shinsengumi glared, "I'm sure."

Taking that in, Jin chuckled a little in amusement, "Anyways, I'll be keeping an eye on things since Kiba's at work. Hope you don't mind."

Just looking at each other, the teens all shrugged before Natsumi shook her head, "We don't mind." Looking the biker clothes wearing dragon up and down, she smirked some, "I don't think that we need to worry about Asuka-Chan getting any bad deals."

That got her a laugh from the Mizuchi before they began heading towards the storefront, "Trust me, that's part of the idea."

It was obvious to Jin as they approached the store that the place had been likely either a car showroom or one for motorbikes. With how gas prices had spiked with the war and rationing, car sales had gone down as well as motorbike ones unless they were either really efficient in gas milage or electric. So, very likely the owner of the store had gotten the place cheap as it was not much use otherwise.

Only scratching her chin in thought, Jin didn't bother looking at the showroom windows before walking in. As soon as she did, however, the undead Kami stopped and blinked as she looked around. It looked like a car showroom, but instead of cars one had velomobiles and the like everywhere, all shining under the light like the top sportcar models, 'The fuck?' Leaning towards the closest teen, which turned out to be Harry, she cleared her throat, "Hey, kid... these are all pedal driven, right?"

Blinking, Harry looked over at her with an odd expression, "Um, hai? I thought that you knew that?"

Yet again, Jin looked around and scratched her head, "Uh, yeah... just kind of surprised?" That got her another odd look before the wizard shrugged it off. Meanwhile, Jin herself was just frowning, 'Right... what the fuck, is this stuff that popular?'

Meanwhile, Asuka was looking around the room in awe, "This is... so cool!"

With wide eyes, Usagi nodded some as she also glanced at some of the models on display, "Tell me about it. These are really nice!"

Right then, the main salesperson came walking up with a smile on his face, though it faded some when catching sight of Jin. Said woman simply gave him a flat, even stare not unlike that of a snake which made him twitch a little before he covered it up with a cough, "Um, right. I'm Takahada, may I be of service?"

Jin gave a small chuckle and walked up to pat Asuka on the shoulder, "Sure, this is Miku Asuka, she's sort of my adoptive niece. We're here to buy a velo-whatchamacallit."

Lost, the Tengu gave Jin a look, "Uh, a velomobile, Jin. Or an enclosed electric bicycle." Still confused at what was going on, Asuka shook it off before looking around, "I didn't know that there were so many though to choose from!"

Giving another glance to Jin, the salesman smiled at her, "Well, they have surged in popularity due to the war. Especially among those who are unable to afford the price of gas or have a lack of space for a car to be parked. Thankfully, that means that we have many options for the discerning buyer."

Interested, Asuka blinked before frowning, "Huh... what sort of options do you have?"

The salesman chuckled a little, "Well that depends on what you want." He walked over to one, "This is the most basic of the enclosed models being a fiber glass chassis, the seat, and aluminum tube body. Nothing more and it comes in at about 65,000 Yen.

Nobu let out a low whistle as she poked her head inside and looked. As noted, it was bare bones and the seating was just plastic with a little bit of a cushion, 'Huh... I think that we will want something more than this.'

Said thought was echoed out loud by Asuka who was guided around as were the others by the salesman. Her eyes were caught by one in particular and she walked over to look at it which Takahada nodded at, "This is the Tanto from Kaze Velomobiles, it is reasonably popular as a matter of fact. Very aerodynamic as well like all their Velomobiles which makes it easier for the rider to pedal at faster speeds, though not breaking the thirty kilometer limit unless you chose that specific version of the model."

Eyebrow cocked, Jin gave him a look, "Thirty kilometer limit?"

With a hum, the salesman nodded, "Hai." He gestured around them, "Electrically assisted vehicles can count as bicycles, and thus do not need a license to use, as long as they do not break higher than thirty kilometers per hour on a level street. Above that, you need a motorcycle license to drive them."

Considering that, Jin scratched her chin, "Huh." Looking over the sleek, black vehicle, she frowned a little. There was something almost predatory in an avian way about the velomobile in front of her. Putting that aside, for the moment, the Mizuchi began to run a practiced eye over it. Walking up to the front, she raised an eyebrow at the headlights which were partially recessed into the "Nose" of the velomobile, "So... these headlights from a bicycle?"

Just nodding, Takahada nodded a little, "In a way though they are slightly more powerful than your average ones. These are LED lights which means that they use less electricity, but are also brighter and last longer than the old headlights."

Only cocking an eyebrow at him, the Mizuchi frowned some, "How bright are we talking about?"

Rather than say anything, Takahada walked to the window and reached in before flicking a switch, which made the headlights come on. Each one was bright, though small, it was easily visible even in the daylight, "They're quite bright, which improves safety when using them at night."

Frowning, Jin grunted a bit before continuing her examination of the outside, though she raised an eyebrow at the back which one red light, once more something from a bicycle and circular about as wide as her fist, as well as a spot for a vanity plate. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as the salesman reached back inside and the backlight came on which made her nod, "Nice and bright, LED as well I suppose."

Lips twitching, the salesman nodded, "Hai, they are."

With a glance at him, Jin noted that Asuka had was looking in surprise and scratched her chin, "These things use batteries, right?" At the nod, she continued, "Wouldn't this sort of thing kill the battery?"

Slightly bowing, Takahada nodded, "If this was five years ago, I would agree with you. But battery technology is leaping forward every year now with more power in a more compact space. They also last much longer than they used to and also are easier and quicker to recharge." He gestured at the Velomobile before them before raising a finger, "There's three main ways to charge the battery. The first, of course, is to simply pedal with most everything else except the electric assist motor turned off, which generates enough electricity to power the motor." Raising a second finger, the salesman continued, "Second is to buy one of the small solar panels and place it inside with one end in the small charger when not in use. Doing so will trickle recharge the batteries. The third..." Takahada walked around to one side and pulled out a small panal, which revealed a cord and a plug, "Is to plug into a recharging station. The velomobile will recharge in about an hour or two."

Eyebrow raised, Jin blinked, "Neat." Crouching down, she looked up at the undercarraige as best that she could with a hum before looking into the wheel wells, "Suspension does look good... what's the inside like?"

Asuka was looking into the window and blinked, "Looks pretty nice."

Catching the look from the Mizuchu Biker, the salesman walked over to the desk and took a few seconds to find a key. Thumb on the button, he smiled a little, "You might want to stand back a little." Each of the teens did so, and he clicked the button with the doors rising up like gullwings revealing the inside. Gesturing at the inside, Takahada nodded a little, "As you can see, the inside is quite nice though this model is only for one person and perhaps a small amount of cargo behind the seat."

To demonstrate, he pulled a latch and pushed the seat forward and down to show a small space.

With a blink, Asuka became thoughtful as she examined it, 'I could easily put my schoolbag there...'

Meanwhile, Jin was examining the doors and blinked, "Wait, the windows use the old style cranks? So you can lower and raise them?"

Slightly nodding, Takahada smiled, "Hai, such a system doesn't need electricity after all and allows for one to raise and lower the windows as you mentioned." He also gestured at the windshield, "There is a small windshield wiper as well with the controls for it here."

Upon seeing him point at a switch, the Tengu glanced at him and got a nod. Flipping it, her eyebrows rose as a small wiper began to move across the windshield, "Wow..."

Hands in his pocket, Harry glanced at Takahada, "Out of curiosity, what sort of features does it have? I mean... my Sinclair has a heater and AC as well as heated and chilled cupholders."

Not missing a beat, the salesman nodded, "Those would come with the deluxe edition of the Tanto. They've made them more energy efficient after all for velomobiles. All models come with a port for one's phone and for a music player as well. I know of at least one man who uses an old cassette player to work somehow for it."

That got him snorts from the teens before they went back to looking. After a minute or two, Asuka rubbed her chin and looked at him, "Um... how much is the deluxe? Just to know?"

Giving Jin a look, Takahada sucked his teeth for a few moments, "Roughly... 450,000 Yen."

It went without saying that everyone winced a bit at that before Asuka coughed, "I, um... I'll look around a bit first."

All Takahada did was nod at that and chuckle, "Understandable."

Once the teens walked off to look at the others, Jin walked up beside him and raised an eyebrow, "So... these velomobiles really are that popular?"

With a small shrug, the salesman shook his head, "Very popular as they don't use gas and one doesn't really need to worry about the weather outside in the fully enclosed models or where to park them as most are small. Granted, most of the types are from Europe, in particular the Netherlands."

Eyebrow raised, Jin gave him a look of some surprise, "The Dutch? Really?"

Lightly laughing, Takahada shook his head, "Hai, believe it or not they're at the forefront of Velomobiles along with Sinclair, which is a British company. They're popular over in Europe after all. But there's some Japanese companies coming up behind them fast such as Kaze while Toyota, Yamaha, and others acquired some companies that make them as well to get a share of the pie."

Simply nodding in thought, the Mizuchi didn't say anything and simply resumed following the teens.

_____________________________________________________________

However, as it turned out, Asuka eventually did buy the Kaze Tanto, in a black color though she had to come back the next day to get it. A grin on her face with the windows down as she pedelled along the streets heading into Zuchi, she gave a laugh, "This! Is! Awesome!'

Beside her, Natsumi laughed as well as she leaned her arm against the side of her own velomobile, "Told you! These are great!"

On the other side to the Tengu, Harry laughed as he listened over his phone before shrugging, "Freeing really."

The two Yokai only nodded with grins of their own before the lights changed and they resumed their drive, feet pumping and hearts pounding. Asuka did make a stop at the donut shop not far from the Zuchi beachhouse before continuing on. Pulling into the driveway, she let out a whoop as she came to a stop.

Said sound caught the attention of Porkchop who was working on his bike and he looked up. Upon seeing who it was, the pig Yokai gave a low whistle as he stood up with a grin, adjusting his leather jacket, "So this is your new ride, huh, Asuka?"

Doors opening before she got out, Asuka nodded with a massive grin, "Hai, it is!" She rubbed the velomobile gently, "So cool..."

Unable to help himself, the Yokai biker laughed, "I can imagine, didn't have this sort of thing when I was younger." Shaking his head, he smiled softly, "I remember my first ride... always special those are." Not saying anything, Asuka simply smiled brightly before blinking as Porkchop called out, "HEY GUYS! ASUKA'S BACK WITH HER RIDE!"

Within seconds, several of the other members of the JNHRO came out to have a look. Rapidly blinking, Koga walked over and looked it over, "The hell? This is a bike?" Frowning a little, he scratched his head as he noted the pedals, "Looks like a car."

Various other compliments were paid to the Tengu, with Asuka preening much to the amusement of the other two teens as well as a number of adults. She then looked over at Kiba who was examining her vehicle with a thoughtful look on his face, "What do you think, Kiba? Awesome or what?"

The Okuri Inu gave a small nod, "Pretty nice actually..." Internally, Kiba gave a small sigh, 'At least it seems to be worth the price she paid. So I can tell Ai to relax about that at least.' Glancing at her, he smiled a little, 'Though she seems happy and proud of herself.' As he walked around, he paused a little at the back before blinking, "Huh..."

Looking away from where Koga had sat down in the seat, Asuka blinked a little, "Something wrong, Kiba?"

With a blink, Kiba looked at her before shaking his head, "Nothing wrong, but..." A bemused expression was on his face as he scratched his head, "Kaze Velomobile? I recognize that name now seeing their logo."

Jin looked away from where Asuka had been trying to push a snickering Koga out with the Tengu also stopping what she was doing. Eyebrow raised, Jin frowned a little, "We told you about them last night, Kiba."

Simply shrugging, the Inu Yokai shook his head, "Yeah, but it wasn't until now seeing the logo that I recognize them. It's been... five, six years now?" At the looks, Kiba scratched his head a little, "I remember them coming to get some money to start up a company and Kaze was one of the names they tossed around. It was like... five or six Kotengu, one of which had a Raiju for a wife. They wanted to start up some bicycle company and we gave them the seed money. Never expected this though..." A slight smirk came across his face as he ran a hand along the velomobile, "Feels good to see their hard work pay off."

If anything, that made Asuka all the happier.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Family That Slays Together.... (VII)

15 July 2014

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

Norimune slowly climbed the polished oaken grand staircase toward where her ex-lover Jèzebel de Breuil and her comatose and perhaps dying daughter Delilah de Breuil rested on the second floor. She felt all her failures, her flaws, her mistakes weighting her down.

Ahead, she could faintly hear the sound of a piano and her lip quirked in a small, bitter smile as she watched the ramrod-stiff resolute posture of her granddaughter Ehren du Chasteler become more erect, stronger, more steadfast, underneath her black SS uniform.

She knew the spirit of the unseen piano who was playing her heart out as her youngest grandchild drew strength from the music helping her struggle with her tortured psyche.

Claire du Chasteler. Ehren's older sister and the gentlest and most kind of all her descendants. Yet... Norimune sensed that the piano's spirit was in her own way no less stubborn and obsessed as any of her kin among the Demon Blades. Just... different.

With that her hand clenched on the banister as she looked at her two oldest daughters leading the way. Colombe du Chasteler, the oldest, was as equally stiff and proud as her daughter Ehren was, yet Norimune could see the signs of tension, care, and worry hidden underneath the cool aristocratic facade of competence and control.

To Colombe's right, Jacklyn Fox was grinning and laughing... yet the smiles and laughter never reached her shadowed and concerned eyes. The Mask of Command, Norimune knew it as, for she had had to assume that mantle too on the decks of her beloved ships when enemies, wind, and wave threatened her existence, or in the hell of battle as she led her subordinates to triumph or die.

Norimune glanced over at her own elbow, where her sister Akutoku walked with a shadowed look on her face too. Both of the sisters knew well the pain of separation, loss, and grief, of friends and owners slain and forgotten.
Spoiler: Father And Mother At The Sickbed

At the top Colombe paused and looked over at Jacklyn, who nodded as she stopped in turn. The French rapier cleared her throat and spoke in a suspiciously hoarse voice. "Del... is behind the last door on the right. Father...." The rapier's voice trailed off and cracked before she resumed after a deep breath. "I need to talk to Ehren about Hogwarts, so I shall be inside the next door with Ehren and Claire if you need me... need us."

Jacklyn chimed in with her own sad expression. "Aunt Akutoku, I'd like you to meet Aomi for a bit. Dad...." The cutlass swallowed. "I'm sorry that it had to be like this for us... but... Just let Jez say her piece.... Please?" Another swallow and Jacklyn finished in a bare whisper. "Del wanted more than anything to have her parents talk... please do it for her?"

Norimune nodded and braced herself as she walked forward alone. Her footsteps sounded loud in her ears, as loud as the drumbeat in her soul as she had marched into battle surrounded by the screams of the dead and dying falling under the steel flail of war. Just as loud as her heartbeat as she braced all her courage for this walk to face what lay beyond.

She finally reached the door and pushed it open.

Her breath caught in her throat at the scene beyond.

Delilah and Zamarad lay side by side with wax-pale unmoving expressions under heavy bandages. A set of braziers surrounded the bed and even from the door Norimune could smell the incense being burned, which reminded her of her service in the Levant and the Spice Islands. To the left, a repurposed fish tank was filled with repair fluid with Delilah's revolver body immersed in it. Even from the door the scorch marks and soot were clearly visible on her daughter's true body.

To the right, a silver-gray head bowed as aged and gnarled fingers changed the blood-soaked dressings on Delilah's... no... their daughter's face. Norimune's heart filled with pain and grief as she saw the tear tracks and etched lines of pain, and loss, and grief in the ancient face of the woman that she had loved a century and a half ago. There were still faint traces of the young woman that she had known even now as she closed on her second century of life.

A woman who had borne her youngest daughter.

A woman whose betrayal had cut her as deeply and violently as the deaths of Sally Gray and Julie d'Aubigny had.

Jèzebel whispered with tears in her voice from her bowed head. "Nori... please close the door."

Norimune closed and locked the door and then walked hesitantly to the side of the bent old woman.

Only a foot separated them as they stared at the unconscious forms of Delilah and Zamarad.

Only a foot... and sixteen decades of pain, loss, and recriminations.

Only a foot.

How long Norimune stood there in silence, she would never know.

Jèzebel finally sighed, and brushed a stray lock of hair from Delilah's cheek. Her lips opened and she spoke in a tear-choked sad and regretful voice without looking at Norimune, "Delilah was my second chance, you know. When... when I realized that I was with your child I promised you that night in my prayers that I would make her into someone that you would be proud of one day. Give you something that could never be taken away from you by the ICW or MACUSA, or the devil himself. That if nothing else, Muramasa-no-Norimune would be known as the father of Delilah Naomi de Breuil. I pushed her so hard to redeem my great failure, and now I sit here looking at my baby girl and wonder where I went so wrong. When she was an infant, I used to sit by her crib at night just watching her sleep. But... not like this. I never wanted this for her... for you. I'm sorry for driving you away by accident, you deserve better than the foolish girl that I was back then, or the fool that I am now."

Norimune swallowed and spoke hoarsely. "You did well with her, Jez. I couldn't be prouder of her. I shouldn't have returned your letters unopened, not run and hid and lashed out. I... should have listened to what you had to say back then. I should have been there for you, for her. I'm a shit father to all my children, but most of all to Delilah. She... she was the first child of mine that I allowed to get close to me. She told me that night that all she wanted was to bring her parents together so we would talk. All for your sake, not so much for hers. But... not like this." Norimune knelt, still not looking at Jèzebel and took her daughter's cold and limp hand in both of hers. Her voice broke and her tears flowed as she swallowed and then spoke to her daughter and her old lover. "You did so much for me, Delilah. Both of you did, I know that now, and I don't deserve it. It's my fault too. If I had been there for her, if I had told her how proud I was of her when I had the chance, she wouldn't have gone into the flames to try to prove herself one more time to me... and to you."

Norimune's tears flowed and she kissed the cold and lifeless hand of Delilah. Her lips parted and she whispered in a choked emotion-filled voice. "I'm sorry... daughter. I'm sorry... Jez. You both deserve someone better than me. A coward who ran and hid rather than fight for what she valued back then."

Jèzebel hesitantly reached out and placed her hand over Norimune's. "We are both such fools. Come back to us, please, Delilah."

Together they squeezed Delilah's unresponsive hand as the waning moon slowly rose. "Please come back... daughter. Please forgive us."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Hands in his pocket, Harry looked up as Nagato spoke to him, the Battleship placing a hand on his shoulder, "Are you ready for the day, Harry?"

Unable to help himself, the teen grinned up at her, "I am, Mum." Raising an eyebrow, he looked behind her, "Though I have to ask if you are since you'll be left all alone with Hoppou and Seiko."

Glancing behind them at the two little Abyssals, the two older members of the family watched as their newest member put a sour lollipop into her mouth. When he glanced back at his adoptive mother, Harry noted the small blush on her face. Seeing that he noticed, Nagato blushed a little, "I... I will be fine, Harry." After another look at her daughters, the Battleship's blush deepened, "J-just fine..."

Only raising his eyebrow still further, Harry crossed his arms, "Uh-huh..." However, he shook it off with a sigh, 'Too late now, I suppose...'

Before either could say something else, however, a car pulled up and the window rolled down to reveal Ooi there with a smile on her face, "Hey there, Otouto! Ready to head over to Rika-Chan's house?" She then gave a small nod towards Nagato, "Good morning, Nagato-San."

The Battleship returned the nod and the smile both with a chuckle added to it, "Good morning, Ooi-San. Happy birthday to you."

Smiling brightening some, Ooi had a slight bit of red on her cheeks, "Thank you." After a few moments, a thoughtful, almost sad look crossed her face, "Hard to believe that I'm twenty six already..." However, whatever thoughts she had, she shook them off with a chuckle, "Twenty six and loving it! Ready, Otouto?"

Lifting up a knapsack, which the Light Cruiser blinked at, Harry hugged his adoptive mother before getting into the car, "Sure am!" A chuckle escaped from Ooi and, after accepting some candy from Hoppou as well as a broach from Nagato, the group headed off. Inside the car, Harry gave a smile to the shipgirl beside him, "Hey, Kita-Chan!"

Kitakami Maru had a small blush on her cheek as she smiled back at him, "Good morning, Harry-Nii!" With a nod, she grinned, "Ready for Kaa-Chan's birthday celebration?"

Noticing that Kitakami, who was driving, was looking at him via the rearview mirror, the nearly fourteen year old gave a nod, "You bet I am. I'm ready and prepared for all of it!"

Somewhat confused, Ooi had a frown on her face as she looked back at him and thus missed Kitakami's smirk, 'Huh... feels like he meant more than he let on there for some reason...' With a mental shrug, she turned back in her seat and glanced at him in the mirror, "So, I heard that you met someone yesterday?"

Just nodding, Harry gave a small chuckle and scratched the back of his head, "Yeah, I met an old friend of my family named Colombe du Chasteler. My great-great grandfather, Ian as well as my great-great-grandmother, Lyra, knew her."

Cocking an eyebrow, Kitakami gave him a look, "Knew her or knew her?"

Only shaking his head, he gave a weak chuckle, "Um... the second. Not that I know the specifics, thankfully."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Ooi frowned, "Huh, somehow I'm not too surprised."

Harry shook his head a little and grinned a bit sheepishly, "Well... I'm not either to be honest." Then he frowned a little in thought, "We were going to do another meet up, but... something happened and they needed to go home early. Something about family, which I don't mind."

Glancing in the mirror, the brown haired of the two Light Cruisers gave a nod, "I can imagine, Harry-Chan." Ooi gave him a small smile, "After all, family is important to you."

Simply watching as he nodded, Kitakami smirked, "Very important indeed..."

Needless to say, that got her a look from her fellow Cruiser, but she didn't say anything more on that. Meanwhile, Harry was looking around the car they were in with a thoughtful expression. From the sound he could hear, it was obviously an electric vehicle which did make him wonder...

Eyebrow raised, he looked towards Kitakami, "Rika-Nee? Where did you get the car?"

Humming a little, Kitakami glanced over her shoulder, "Where?" Getting a nod, she shrugged a little, "Yuuko-Chan and I did one of those advertisement campaigns. You know, where we have a car, they shoot some video for commercials, and we actually show up places with it? Also going around to tell people that to help with the war effort they should go electric to save gasoline. That sort of thing."

After a few moments, Harry gave a small nod, "Like Ryuujou-Oba and the like?"

With a small nod, the black haired Cruiser nodded, "Exactly! And, afterwards, we got the car for payment for it. They consider it free advertising and let's face it... this is a nice car."

Leaning back, Ooi nodded a little, "Sedans are pretty nice." Sighing, she scratched her cheek, "Though I sort of wish that we could have done one for Kia for those new cars of theirs. I mean..." The Natural Born sat back up and started doing a dance, "You can go with this, or you can go with that! You can go with this, or you can go with that!"

Snickers and the like met her, especially from the two younger people in the back seat. Unable to stop himself from grinning, Harry shook his heads, "You don't look like a hamster, Yuuko-Nee."

With a sigh, Ooi shook her head with a grin, "Sad, but true. One could always dream though~"

It went without saying that laughs met her at that which made her shake her head in amusement. As the conversation drifting to other things, Ooi looked to the window and paused at the sight of her reflection. Something that brought up what she had mentioned before to Nagato as well as the thoughts that said realization created. When she awoke, almost ten years ago, she had been seventeen years old. And now? She was twenty six...

And looked roughly eighteen, maybe nineteen at the most.

Twenty six and she looked about eight years younger. Kitakami's parents had started to get wrinkles and from grey hair, while their daughter and her friend had stayed youthful. And she was not the only one either from what she could see because a number of shipgirls who awoke older than her also stopped aging, or did so at a crawl. Naka was another one who barely looked this side of twenty and that was when she dressed up to look a bit more mature. Ooi would say that it didn't bother her much, after all who didn't want to stay young forever...

But, looking in the rearview mirror, she grimaced slightly at seeing Harry laugh.

Not because he was laughing, not in the slightest. In fact, if she had her way? Her little brother figure would be all smiles and laughs all the time. But what bothered her was that while she had barely aged, Harry had grown from the young, shy boy into a more confident teen. She had barely changed at all, while her little brother, who she loved as much as if they were flesh and blood, had gotten older.

It made Ooi's boilers hurt and ache at what that meant. Because one day, Harry would look the same age as she did right now. And then he would look older. If what some of the others said was true, she would still look young and hale even when Harry himself was covered in wrinkles and grey. Eventually, he would pass and she would still be alive and the thought of that... hurt. It hurt a lot.

Her thoughts were derailed, however, when she noticed Kitakami giving her a concerned look. Laughing a bit, Ooi gave a small shrug, "Sorry about that, Rika-Chan. Just thinking about a few things."

While it was obvious to her that her oldest friend did not believe it, the other Light Cruiser only gave a nod, "Ah, I see."

Once Kitakami turned back to the road, Ooi let out an internal sigh of relief before scratching her chin in thought, 'I... suppose that the only thing that I can do is make sure to spend enough time with Otouto and build up the good memories... and maybe summon my hull so that he can sign my crew log.' Stretching some, she sighed, 'At least Rika-Chan agreed that when he becomes an Admiral, we'll serve under him. He needs some Light Cruisers at least, and we're some of the best!' Ooi gained a grin and clenched her fist, 'And only the best for my Otouto, fufufu!'

Unnoticed by her, Kitakami gave her a glance before shaking her head at seeing Ooi's "Yandere Mode" expression, 'Either she is thinking about me, or about Harry-Chan.' Hearing Harry clear his throat, she blinked a little and perked up some, "Is there something wrong, Harry-Chan?"

Just shaking his head, the teenage wizard frowned, "Not wrong, but... I'm wondering about your parents. What are they like and such." Catching the glimpse in the mirror of Kitakami looking at him, Harry shrugged a little, "You've talked about them before, but..."

Slowly, Kitakami gave a small nod, "It is not quite the same about telling you more about them."

Arms behind her head, Ooi had a smile on her face, "Actually? Rika-Chan's parents are great. They're nice, kind, friendly, and the like." Briefly, she felt a sour taste in her mouth, "Everything that my own aren't."

Wincing a little, Harry nodded, "Ah, I see..."

Beside him, Kitakami Maru shook her head, "You'll see, Harry-Nii! Obaa-Chan and Ojii-Chan are great! When they met me they gave me hugs and all sorts of treats!"

At that, the teenage boy nodded slowly, "I see..."

Lips twitching, Kitakami giggled a little, "Not yet, but you will, Harry-Chan. Trust your Nee-Sans on that."

Simply nodding, Harry looked out the window at the passing landscape. Eventually, however, they entered the two Cruisers' home town on the outskirts of Tokyo. Looking around in interest, the nearly fourteen year old blinked, "So this is where you grew up?"

With a hum, Ooi gave a small chuckle, "Hai, both Rika-Chan and I grew up here. Hasn't changed too much, thankfully..." A small grimace crossed her face, 'It has weathered the war better than Sangenjaya...'

The reminder of said district always made Ooi's chest tighten with pain. Her grandparents had been visiting a friend that lived there with her family when the Abyssals first attacked Tokyo. Abyssal Bombers with incendiary bombs had turned it into a charnel house... her grandparents having been among the uncounted dead that could not be identified due to being burnt to ash in the resulting firestorm. Even now, Ooi was unable to visit said district and always made sure to go as far around it as possible. Her grandparents were the only ones in her family that had actually loved and cared for her, and that was why she avoided the area entirely.

Feeling a hand squeeze hers, however, she looked up to find Kitakami giving her a gentle, understanding smile. Which did not surprise Ooi as her friend likely knew what she was thinking after all. Taking a deep breath, the Natural Born let it out before nodding and squeezing back, her gaze telling her best friend of so many years how thankful she was for it and getting a nod back.

Shaking that off, Ooi chuckled a bit as they passed a school, "Hey, Otouto, that was where Rika-Chan and I went in elementary you know?" A grin on her face, she looked towards her fellow Cruiser, "Maybe Rika-Chan's Okaa-San might show you pictures of her in her old uniform. She was so adorable!"

Cheeks flushed, Kitakami gave her a look, "Stop..."

Meanwhile, in the backseat, Harry gave a wink to Kitakami Maru before turning back to them with mock wide eyes, "You went to elementary school? Really?"

It took a few moments, but the two Light Cruisers clued in. Gobsmacked, Ooi twister around in the seat, "Oy! Are you calling us old?!"

Still with a wide eyed innocent look on his face, though the twinkle in his eyes betrayed him, Harry shook his head, "Didn't you say that you were twenty six? That's like... ancient, prehistoric even." Looking out the window, he cocked his head to the side, "I wonder where you used to keep the dinosaurs you rode to school..."

Unable to help herself, Kitakami Maru giggled madly as Ooi puffed out her cheeks, "Grrrr! If we were not in the car right now, Otouto, I would make you regret that! I am not old, right?! Rika-Chan?"

Expression carefully blank, Kitakami looked at her, "Well... you might want to look for a few grey hairs..."

Ooi's shout caused laughter to burst out in the car, not just from the passengers in the back but also the driver. And after a few moments they were joined by Ooi as well.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Family That Slays Together.... (VIII)

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Spoiler: A Hero's Reward

Thunder shook the earth and split the endless skies as a thousand upon a thousand buffalo stampeded before the waving torches and cries of the hunters.

The pounding hooves of White Leg, her beloved spotted Appaloosa horse, caused the endless green of the tallgrass prairie to flash the same color as her eyes as the joyously laughing young woman galloped along the flank of the herd. Chestnut-red hair, confined only by a beaded headband, flew like a banner in the wind of her passage as she soared above the endless grasslands that she loved so dearly.

Suddenly a second horse and rider joined her in the pursuit of the stampeding herd. This Appaloosa was a fellow mare with a black coat and white snowflake spots ridden by a fellow member of the tetonwan, the people of the Great Plains who had joined her in the buffalo hunt. A copper-skinned young woman's face with dark soulful eyes grinned broadly as her blue-black hair's braided pigtails streamed and waved in the wind of their passage. The two horses and riders moved as one in this perfect moment of time as they paced the stampede.

Behind them both a third horse followed, this one a purebred chestnut Thoroughbred, carrying a stocky young man dressed in ranching clothes with a wide grin under his mustache and pince-nez glasses who handled reins and rifle as an expert would.

The Sioux woman pointed out a massive mature bull barely visible in the dust and heaving bodies of the herd and grinned at her friend. A teasing voice spoke in the throaty sounds of Lakota. "{Think you can drop that one, Kills Many?}"

A smug smile split Delilah de Breuil's face as she drew her bow from the saddle holster and nocked a flint-tipped arrow. The Thunderbird feather marking her fletching tickled her cheek as her eyes gleamed with unbridled joy. "{You're on, Louise Winona. When have you ever seen me miss a shot, my blood-sister?}"

As the bowstring sang, Theodore Roosevelt leveled his Winchester rifle at his own chosen buffalo bull with his own broad grin of delight.

The arrow flew from Delilah's bow in a perfect arc through the air of the Happy Hunting Grounds.
--------------------

Bright golden flowers flamed under Zamarad's bare feet as the growling Ifrit chased a giggling toddler through the meadow filled with beautiful wildflowers

Eventually longer legs and superior skill gave the Ifrit princess the advantage as she finally 'caught' her niece.

Zamarad scooped up the giggling messy-haired young girl with a sudden dash, cuddling her to her chest as they whirled around under the cloudless blue sky.

A warm perfumed breeze blew and rustled the flowers around them as Zamarad finally lifted the dizzy child to her shoulders. They then began to walk back toward the two figures waiting for her.

"Down, down!" the toddler demanded imperiously and squirmed as they neared the man and woman.

Zamarad laughed out. "At your command, oh Sultana!" She then swept her niece around before lowering her to the grass.

Zamarad then walked to the dark-haired woman waiting for her as the toddler made a beeline for the laughing blond-haired man standing by his wife's side. She embraced the slightly taller and older woman warmly as she felt the joy flame in her heart.

Emerald eyes met dark pools filled with emerald flecks that shared the flame of her heritage as they hugged. Tamenokalt Potter, her beloved elder sister, gently bopped her giggling baby sister on the nose.

"You are such a tease spoiling my little Easel so." The man's voice joined them as Karl Potter held his drowsy daughter in his arms as he walked to join his wife and sister-in-law.

Zamarad laughed happily and nodded with a broad grin to her beloved oldest sister. "She is such a dear." Zamarad reached out and gently ruffled the messy hair of the young child.

The three turned to see the sun slowly sinking into the western ocean as the first stars lit in the skies above the Fortunate Isles. "Easel is. She is such a wonderful little scamp."
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Spoiler: A Hero's Choice

Moonlight silvered the fields and trees of Elysium as Zamarad stirred in the carved hardwood and soft silken cushions of her canopy bed. Emerald eyes blinked open and she snapped her fingers to create a small flame.

She had dreamed...

She had dreamed of...

She had dreamed of an endless ocean of grass...

She had dreamed of a horse and rider traveling across the prairie...

A laughing young woman with chestnut-red hair and leaf green eyes full of fire and life....

The Ifrit frowned, then slid on her slippers and walked outside in her nightgown.

The full moon silvered the fields and trees, and turned the sea into an endless expanse of quicksilver.

The beauty was enough to make her weep.

But it was lacking the person who was part of her very soul...

Zamarad closed her eyes and listened, hearing the faint beat of a heart in rhythm with her own fiery pulse.

She slowly turned, and followed the sound as she began to walk.

She did not know how far or where she walked, but when she finally opened her eyes, she found herself contemplating two gushing springs of water. She stood on the crushed marble of a path next to a broad basin containing the one spring. To the right, a slate-gray path led to the black basin of the other path.

She slowly looked back and forth between the springs and finally spoke into the waiting silence. "This... this is not real, is it?"

A powerful and yet not unkind male voice spoke from behind her. "It is as real as you wish it to be."

She turned to see a broad-shouldered man dressed in a jet-black chiton with gold embroidery at the hems. Dark and powerful eyes surveyed her and white teeth shone from his jet-black beard.

Zamarad's eyes widened and she curtsied. "You are the ruler of this realm that I am in?"

He nodded sharply. "I am."
--------------------

The Council Fire lit in celebration of the hunt along the bank of the great river where the camp had been pitched was guttering and dying as Delilah de Breuil stirred under her buffalo hide blanket. She looked around at the racks containing the hides and blankets, then at the sleeping faces of her friends who she had celebrated with earlier today.

Louise Winona.

Her head turned the other way.

Emily Dickinson.

She closed her eyes, remembering the excitement of today's buffalo hunt. The joy of being with her friends in this world that she had fought so long and so hard to protect and save and preserve caused her to sob from the beauty of it all.

Driven by an impulse she could not enunciate to herself she grabbed her holstered revolver and stepped out of the thípi. Her lips curled in a happy smile as she saw the one next to her where Theodore slumbered between his wives, both Alice who had been taken so young and so terribly from him, and Edith who had filled the bleeding hole in his heart.

Clad only in her skin, she walked to the campfire and knelt there, watching the sparks flare and join the river of stars overhead.

A branch popped and the flames flared green briefly.

Emerald green.

Emerald.

Zamarad.

The name struck her with a sudden meaning that shot fire through her very being.

With that, still naked under the stars, she turned and began to walk up the bluff. As she did a faint white glow, more sensed than seen, formed before her.

At the top, she stood for long moments, looking down on the camp. She then turned to the now-visible white glow as all became still and silent. Her voice sounded harshly in her own ears. "She cannot come here, can she?"

The glow solidified into a pure white buffalo who spoke to her gently. "Not yet. Not until the choice is made by you both. Once she passes on, then yes, she can join you here as you can join her."

Delilah's eyes widened and she spoke with respect "Ptesanwi." She bowed her head. "Then this?"

The buffalo looked into her eyes with infinite compassion. "Is the reward that you have gained with your heroism, Delilah de Breuil. You know where you stand."

Delilah nodded and looked out across the endless starlit prairie as a clean, fresh, fierce unspoiled breeze blew through her hair. "The Happy Hunting Grounds. So I am dead then." Her lips twisted in a sardonic smile. "I knew that I would die there at the end, but if I could trade my blood for time...."

White Buffalo Woman spoke gently. "Which you did. The innocents in the town were saved and your foes were routed. Your father and mother even now are speaking once more."

Delilah breathed out a sigh of relief as tears fell from her eyes. "Good. I was worried that my sacrifice would count for nothing."

"Oh my child, heroism such as yours never counts for nothing." The compassionate words warmed Delilah's heart. The spirit flickered into a regal Sioux woman dressed in spotless buffalo-hide robes who hugged Delilah gently before she continued, "But now we come to it. You have a choice to make."

Delilah returned the hug before whispering. "You speak of a choice?"

White Buffalo Woman squeezed her in the hug and stepped back, turning back into the great snow-white buffalo. "As you fell mortally wounded, your love Zamarad came to your aid. She was able to save the last flickering embers of your spirit from destruction, but she too fell in your defense with her own grievous injuries as she sacrificed herself in turn for you. Now you both stand on the border between life and death."

Delilah nodded slowly in deep thought, biting her lip. "That is why you said a choice. I can stay here, or try to go back."

"You can try, but of all the warriors who have sought a return to the Lands of Pain, very few have completed the trek." White Buffalo Woman said sadly.
--------------------

Zamarad looked at the springs in front of her. "The white marble basin is Lethe, I shall forget all the agonies and pains of my life and return to Elysium to wait happily for Delilah to join me and me her in bliss eternal."

Hades nodded. "Correct, The other in the black slate is Mnemosyne, the Spring of Memory. If you drink it, you shall remember all, and be barred from entrance into this realm until your fate claims you on the future date Fated. It is possible that your future actions shall bar you from Elysium and send you to a different darker fate. As well, in order to leave My Realm, you must be tested for worthiness. Many, many heroes have failed that test."

Zamarad looked at the two springs. "And Delilah faces the same choice as I do in this instant. If I leave and she stays I shall never see her again until I fall at last."

Hades nodded compassionately. "Correct." A golden goblet formed between the two springs. "It is time now."

Zamarad nodded solemnly and picked the beaten gold up in both hands. "Delilah. I shall be with you." The Ifrit whispered as she scooped a cupful of shimmering water from the spring that she Chose.
--------------------

White Buffalo Woman reared and then slammed Her hooves into the bluff that Delilah stood on.

Two springs gushed forth from her hoofprints as she stepped back.

A waterskin crafted from the stomach of a buffalo formed at Delilah's feet.

A spring of pure water poured down in a singing waterfall to the river that flowed past the waiting camp.

The other was an alkali pan filled with bitter water.

"It is time, My Medicine Woman. Make your Choice." White Buffalo Woman's dark eyes stared into Delilah's as she spoke quietly.

Delilah picked up the waterskin at her feet and knelt by the spring of her Choice.

"Zamarad. I shall be with you."

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

Well, took over a week in Amicus, but it got approved (though personally I doubt it needed approval, but Harry asked) - Here we have ze frank's likely video for the Shirime.
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Transcript of video True Facts: Shirime - by zefrank1, premiered on 6-17-2021

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Spoiler: Required Audio



True Facts About the Shirime

*footage of a Shirime - the species being grey in color and with smooth skin, and looks largely like a mutated human about 4.5 feet tall if standing upright - plodding along in a woodland*

What the- Jerry, do we need to blur that out? No? But it's a naked man- oh, that- that's him isn't it? All right, but don't come crying to me when YouTube demonetizes this thing.

This is Sammy. And his is a Shirime.

*footage of Shirime from various sources, sometimes singly, sometimes in groups*

The Shirime is what is known as a Yokai. Native to Japan, Yokai represent an entire chunk of the Animal Kingdom that Scientists suddenly have to find places for, despite their defiance of all previous understanding thereof. Kind of a d*** move really.

Now, you may have noticed something off about this creature. And if you said anything at all you would be correct. But one of the most astonishing traits of the Shirime is how it is shaped like a hairless man, a man that looks like his got in a fight with an octopus and lost his face in the process, and yet it walks on all fours and walks backwards. And that is because of it's most startling feature: It's giant eyeball. That is in what ought to be its anus-

*close up of footage from a lab, spreading the 'buttcheeks' to show the eyeball, roughly the size of one's fist, an almost reptilian 'secondary eyelid' blinks over the eye*

Oop, yep. That's.... That's a butt-eye all right.

*more generic footage of Shirime*

Imagine having only one eyeball. That is in your butt. And your tears are your own digestive juices- Jerry what in the world is this that's not a- ...Oh my.

*last clip shows a Shirime 'squat' over a refuse pile and "cries" a stream of "tears" onto it*

Well. That's... That's how the Shirime do. I guess.

*footage of Shirime rummaging in refuse piles, 'weeping' on them, getting comfortable, occasionally bubbles come up around it as it sits in the juice pool it makes while absorbing it*

The Shirime has no orifices, no digestive system, nor any reproductive organs of any kind. So in order to attain newdtriuntzh, it cries a caustic stream of enzyme-rich fluuurd called 'eye-pee' by me, and dribbles this eye-goop from my nightmares onto poop. Or your neighborhood garbage pile. Or any place with rotting, decaying organic matter. This turns it into a thick, soupy leekuid which Sammy here then rolls around in, and sits, looking like a filthy idiot, sucking in the trash juice through tiny little pores on his skin. And it's disgusting.

And amazing.

Because of this method of eating, scientists presume that the Shirime is in fact a very advanced species of fungus. One that can walk around, and make terrifying-yet-cute movements.

*pictures of Shirime in a domestic setting among Youkai in the reserves, almost like a pseudo-dog*

*footage of a group of Shirime wandering around a Youkai reserve village*

The Shirime is prized among the rural yokai communities of Japan. Two or three of these amazing beasts can easily convert a small villiage's poop, trash, and table scraps into fertile so-ill. Some are even kept as pets! I mean, look at him, this one is dressed up like a cowboy.

*focus on a picture of a Shirime in a canine Woody costume in the arms of a little inugami girl dressed up as Jessie*

With the sheriff badge pinned to his butt! Actually that's likely rather painful. I mean, can you imagine, having a safety pin jabbed into your butt-meat? I know it doesn't have a nervous system, but come on man. I mean, that's rather rude isn't it?

*more footage of Shirime 'in the wild'*

Considering their awkward posture and docile-seeming disposition, you may be wondering, 'how can something that stupid-looking have survived?' Well, like all such wonderous creatures, the Shirime has a unique adaptation thanks to it's magical nature - it is a master of camuflauzhe.

*footage of a forest floor, specifically a small boulder and a rotting log*

Here we see a Shirime in it's natural environement, taking advantage of the terrain to hide from potential predators. You see that rock?

*the log turns into a Shirime*

[narrator speaks around his giggles] That wasn't him! And with a little training, the Shirime can camuflauzhe himself as a person!

*footage of a Shirime standing on it's front legs, hobbling for a few steps before falling on it's back*

[narrator sighs] Try again David... There you go. See, very convincing, isn't he? And when threatened, the Shirime can use his eaty-holes to take in air and squeeze it out, like when playing with a whoopy-cushion, and some owners train their pet Shirime to talk!

*footage of a pet Shirime, jerking and twitching, making noises that can vaguely be made out to be the Japanese words for "hello," and "excuse me."

[Narrator struggles to contain his laughter] And that is terrifying to look at. And amazing. Apparently, this is an old traditional prank.

*cut to drawings from the only folk tale of the Shirime, where a samurai encounters one in disguise on the road and runs away in a panic*

Dress them up in some clothes, train them to repeat a couple of words, shove them at some random stranger on the road late at night and watch the fun. Which sounds like a fun Saturday night at college when you and your friends get drunk and can't think of anything better to do.

And it's quite a neat trick when you think of it. You try walking around on your arms, dressed up as if you were a normal, leg-standing-person, and try and hold a conversation for any length of time before stripping naked.

That is how the Shirime do.

*footage of the Shirime preparing to reproduce, which is largely as described: it gets comfortable among a refuse pile and the budding begins*

After three years, the Shirime goes into a dormant period, a little bit like me on Thanksgiving when I eat too much turkey. And then the miracle of life begins. You see, the Shirime has no reproductive organs. No corkscrew penises, no eggholes, no pouches, none of that. The Shirime instead undergoes an asexual method of repruduction called Budding. Which sounds less terrifying than it really is. After finding a nice big pile of sh*t to sit in, the Shirime's body develops teeny-tiny bumps, hundreds of them, form, all over its body, which over the course of weeks grow and gestate, like tiny, Horror Movie tyuumuurs. Growing tiny legs, and arms, with little feet and grabby-grapy hands. And eyeball anuses. Then, like something from an Alien movie, the young proceed to pee on their parent, dissolving them, and then consuming them, like the ungrateful little bastards that they are.

*footage of the tiny Shirime babies - no more than maybe a half-inch long - weeping on the parent, absorbing the juices, then they wonder off into the wilderness*

Then the young behbehs go their separate ways, never to see each other again.

Which is likely a good thing. I mean, can you imagine the conversation at the reunion? 'Hey Timmy, long time no see! Why, the last time I saw you, you were peeing on Dad and eating him!'

I mean... It would be awkward.

And so, the miraculous circle of life, continues...

Until they end up in someone's soup.

Because apparently Shirime behbeh ramen is a delicacy in some places. Don't judge, after all in some cultures it's no big thang to just gobble down live cockroaches. But don't google it, it's disgusting.

*screen goes blank, then the footage and audio credits appear on the screen*

I mean sure, they're basically mushrooms that walk but... Goodness, that is some next level desperation eating sh*t right there.

*footage of juvenile Shirime baby walking along a log, then loses balance and falls in a creek*

Da- David, honey, just stand up.

*"David" thrashes, trying to clamber onto a loose log*

I mean, it's not even that deep, just stand up and- no, no! That log's not going to-

*the log tips over and "David" falls back into the stream*

[narrator sighs] Jerry I told you not to use David anymore... Because he's an idiot obviously.

Kids these days, I tell you.

*end video*