Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 67: S0ngD0g13

In Kure...
................................

James looked through his cellphone's contact list and found the number he was looking for, then pressed 'send'. As the phone rang, he opened the cabinet and pulled out a pair of double-rocks glasses and a dusty bottle from the very back. He drew the cork with his teeth and poured a generous measure of golden liquor into each glass, then re-corked the bottle.

The phone was answered and James heard an old friend's voice. "Hello?"

"Sam, it's James. You got a minute? I wanted to ask a favor."

"Yeah, I'm free for a while. What's up, Brother?"

James saw Houshou enter the kitchen and he kissed her cheek. "You and Eryka feel like taking a trip to Kure? I'd like ya to come out and say some words for me."

"What kind of words?"

"The kind that start with 'Dearly Beloved'. I'm gettin' married and we'd like you to officiate."

"Your 'Firebird'? Put the phone on speaker if she's there." James put the phone on speaker and Sam spoke. "Miss Houshou? Hi, I'm Sam Potter, a friend of James'. How are you?"

"I'm doing well, thank you, Mister Potter. James speaks highly of you; 'brother in all but blood', he said. How are you?"

"I'm doing well. James says you want me to officiate your wedding?"

..........................................

In Yokosuka at the same time, Kaylee was feeling the effects of the time-difference between Scotland and Japan. She couldn't sleep, so she had went wandering and found herself a quiet spot to think, which turned out to be the Summoning Chamber.

As she tapped on the floor she smiled, hearing the acoustics. On a whim, she pulled out a harmonica and started playing snippets of tunes. She ranged from The Leaving of Liverpool, to Maryland, my Maryland, to Was my Brother in the Battle. She had just finished playing Bonny Blue Flag and swung into Battle-Hymn of the Republic when she felt a stirring in the air, a seeming weight descending on the Chamber.

She heard boilers from on the water and turned to look, seeing a figure on the surface of the pool, dressed in...

"YOU!!!"

The next thing anyone heard was the smacking of fists on flesh and the ringing of steel driven against steel...

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 68: S0ngD0g13

Two girls stood in front of Admiral Goto's desk. One was dressed in trousers and shirt under a gray woolen coat, and had a gray kepi tucked into her pocket. The second wore tunic and trousers of Federal blue, and her oak-brown hair was messy as she removed her blue kepi. Both girls were sporting black eyes and split lips, and both had noses twisted out of joint.

The Federal Shipgirl started to speak before Goto barked, "Atten-Hut!" Both girls slammed to Attention. "Report."

Kaylee saluted crisply, though her knuckles were skinned and bloody. "US Navy Shipgirl Virginia reports- Pardon, Sir," she paused, reached up and twisted her nose back straight, and the combined sound of wood and metal groaning, and the wet crunch of bone and cartilage shifting, made Goto wince. "Shipgirl Virginia reports a successful, if accidental, Summoning, Sir."

The blue-coated girl saluted likewise. "Ironclad Gunboat USS Monitor, reporting for duty, Sir."

Admiral Goto returned the salute and addressed Monitor. "Welcome back, Monitor. My name is Admiral Goto, of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force. Now that introductions are out of the way, I'd like to know one thing." His expression grew stormy. "Why in the name of all the Heavens did two of my Cruisers find you two reenacting Hampton Roads in my Summoning Chamber? Well?"

Monitor stiffened. "I... The first thing I saw was the Gray-Back here, and I just... reacted, Sir. I was built to fight the Rebels, after all, and her, right in front of me? I..." She trailed off at the sight of Goto's expression.

"You swung first and asked questions not at all. Had you looked, stopped and looked, before you acted, you'd have seen things are somewhat different than when you were last afloat. Look now, and tell me what you see about Virginia."

The Union ironclad looked and saw the Stars and Stripes at Virginia's masthead. "Why's this Reb flying an American flag?" Her voice was low with surprise and almost growling with indignation.

Goto responded, "Because she surrendered herself as Prize to the United States Navy and was recommissioned as a US Navy warship. You just spent twenty minutes beating the Hell out of one of your own." Goto sighed. "Both of you, wait outside with Tenryuu and Tatsuta while I call Admiral Richardson. I'll call you back in after I'm done." After both saluted and stepped out, he called Sasebo on the phone. "John? Yes, it's Goto. You're not going to believe this..."

Outside, Monitor looked at Virginia. "You surrendered to the Federals?"

Kaylee nodded. "Not long after I woke up. It's a long story, but the short version is that we, humanity, have bigger enemies to fight than each other and I didn't want our old war to sour things. So I struck my colors and surrendered to the United States Navy. I figured that whether I fought for the Confederate States of America, or the United States of America, I was American first of all."

"What's so bad as to have all of humanity banding together?"

"We call them 'Abyssals'. They ain't pretty, Yankee, and when they first showed up they attacked everyone all at once. Complete surprise... The first few days of the war, well, those first few days are called 'Blood Week' for a reason. Like I said, it's a long story even setting aside all the other history between our war and now. The Brass will brief you, I'm sure, give you the details. In the meantime, peace between us, Blue-belly?" Kaylee produced a pack of beef jerky from her coat and offered it to Monitor.

"Peace between us, Gray-back. But I want a rematch sometime."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Letting out a soft sigh as he brought his broom into another slow turn, Harry opened his arms and looked over his shoulder. "How are you doing, Hamakaze-Chan? You're not cold are you? I mean, we are pretty high up..."

For her part, Hamakaze gave him a small smile before shaking her head and nodding at what was around her neck. "I am fine, Harry-San. After all, I am wearing the scarf that you gave me." Glancing at the ground far below, she ignored how her boilers leapt a bit. However, oddly enough, Hamakaze was not too frightened. The trust she had in Harry was absolute so all the Destroyer did was tighten her hold on him. Which, of course, had the effect of squishing herself more against him. "And I am not too bothered by the height."

Only nodding as he tried to ignore, yet again, the odd feeling he had been getting whenever he was close to one of a group of shipgirls, or Natsumi. It kept bothering him slightly until he pushed it to the side. "Well, that's good to hear I guess. And thanks."

That caused Hamakaze to blink some at him. "Thanks? For what?"

Grinning sheepishly, Harry chuckled. "I really needed to go flying just to relax. And you saw Wood earlier. He's sort of..."

As he struggled for something to say, the whire haired Destroyer raised an eyebrow. "Obsessive?"

Briefly, Harry paused before shrugging. "I was going to say focused, but yeah, you're pretty much spot on. He really, really wants the Quidditch Cup before he graduates. And it's not like I don't understand since it's been in the Slytherin hands for the past couple of years. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy playing, but I like flying more."

Slowly nodding, Hamakaze hummed as she placed her chin onto his head. "I see." After some thought, her lips curled up some. "Of course, I am the first one to come up to fly."

Harry tilted his head back and gave her a small grin. "Well, you did win the rock paper scissors game. And I did say that everyone is getting a turn though did you see the look that Kaylee gave me?"

Much to his surprise, Hamakaze chuckled lightly. "As a matter of fact, I did see her reaction, Harry-San. Especially when she turned away and walked off to wait while muttering about stereotypes." After a moment of thought, she nodded some. "Are you going to be giving Jane-San a ride when she arrives on Saturday? I expect that she will jump at the chance."

Laughing, Harry shook his head. "Probably literally, though Aunt Arizona is going to probably be protective of her... And I just know that Jane will want me to do some stunts."

Only sighing, Hamakaze gave him a bemused look. "I would not want to be Arizona-San then." Both of them shared a smile before they lapsed into silence. Eventually though, Hamakaze spoke up again. "Shinano-Sama was very worried about you."

With a wince, the black haired boy nodded as he frowned down at the ground. "I know... I really didn't want to worry her and everything happened so quick." Shaking his head, he closed his eyes. "She looked so afraid until she saw me... I don't want to see that look in her eyes again."

The Destroyer holding him just sighed. "Of course you don't, Harry-San. You care far too much for Shinano-Sama to do that to her again. However, we do understand that it might occur again. Just..." Pausing, she searched her thoughts before shrugging. "Please, do not worry us like that again if you can help it."

Just as Harry was about to reply, he paused some and looked over his shoulder curiously, "Us? I thought that we were talking about Shinano-Chan only?"

Hamakaze's cheeks pinkened and, unknown to Harry, it had nothing to do with the cold wind. "No, not just Shinano-Sama in this case..." Glancing to the side, she took a deep breath and gave him another squeeze. "You are special to all of us. And I would not like to go through that again either. For all of us, please try not to get into such a situation again."

Blushing some, Harry just nodded in reply. "Hai, you got my promise that I will go out of my way not to have that sort of thing happen."

In reply, Hamakaze leaned forward and pressed her cheek against his. Much to her amusement, it made him blush rather heavily. "Thank you, Harry-San."

Yet again, the two fell into companionable silence as Harry guided the broom around. Finally, he looked up at the sky in thought. "How long are you and the others going to stay around for, Hamakaze-Chan?"

Humming, the Destroyer shook her head. "We shall be leaving on Sunday morning, Harry-San. As much as we might want otherwise, we are needed back at base just in case." As Harry nodded though, she continued. "But I believe that Isokaze-Chan and Yukikaze-Chan will arrive with Louisiana-Sama. Iku-San and Imuya-San may also arrive."

Eyebrows raising, Harry looked at her. "Wait, Louisiana, Isokaze-Chan, Yukikaze-Chan, Iku-Chan, and Imuya-Chan will be coming? Really?"

Slowly, Hamakaze nodded. "That is correct. For one week and then they will be replaced by Akizuki-San, Teruzuki-San, Hatsuzuki-San along with Ryuuhou-San and perhaps Taigei-San with Shioi-San. Or that is what I have heard through the grapevine."

Frowning, Harry considered that for several moments before nodding. "And then RO-Chan and Hachi-Chan will show up for when we go to Germany, right?"

Only nodding, Hamakaze gave him another smile. "Yes, that is the plan though you might have the other Submarines at Yokosuka also arrive." Giving him a look, Harry swore that she was extremely amused about something though the only sign was the twinkle in her eyes and the small curl of her lips. "At which point you shall also have Hanna-San watching over you. Perhaps with Niiyodo this time... After all, you did scare us all."

All Harry did at that was chuckle weakly while scratching his cheek. "And I promise to try and not to scare any of you like that again." His expression then shifted to a thoughtful one. "Though with how Regina is going to be with me for the next three weeks while Wanko takes care of something at Scapa Flow as well as Maruyu-Chan and Natsumi-Chan... huh, I'm going to be rather safe."

That got him a silent nod from Hamakaze before they returned to their quiet ride. Soon enough they landed on the ground and Harry took another one of their friends up into the air. It went without saying though that Hamakaze was extremely amused when it came Urakaze's turn, if only for the reaction from her sister.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A knock on the door caused Shigure to blink awake and frown as she looked in the direction of the entrance to the quarters that she shared with the Fuso sisters. When she went to get up though, she found herself being pulled back down by said sisters who were still asleep. "Mmm... ignore it, Shigure-Chan."

Giving a fond, though exaspirated look at Yamashiro, Shigure only shook her head at the Battleship. "Might as well go and see who it is, Yamashiro-Chan. Besides..." She gave a quick look at the clock and sighed. "It's past noon."

With a grumble, Fuso cuddled up harder with the Destroyer. "Such misfortune to be bothered on our day to sleep in."

On Shigure's other side, Yamashiro also tightened her hold. "Yes, truly we are not fortunate if our Shigure-Chan wants to get up. We are too comfortable right now, so perhaps they will have some misfortune as no one will answer the door."

In reply, Shigure shook in silent laughter and bit her lip. Almost a minute later, Shigure opened the door and blinked to find Arizona there and gave a small bow. "Arizona-Sama, how may I be of help today?"

Simply smiling at her, Arizona pretended not to hear the grumbles from the two Battleships inside. It always left her somewhat bemused about how the Fuso Sisters acted around Shigure, not that she asked what exactly was going on there, she did have some suspicions. "Miss Shigure, I'm sorry about bothering you on your day off but I wanted to ask you if you would not mind going on a trip."

Blinking at the question, Shigure leaned against the doorframe in thought. "I... would not mind going on a trip..." Her lips twitched at the comment about misfortune inside the quarters and shook her head. "Though I didn't know that there was a sortie being planned anytime soon."

Much to her surprise though, Arizona shook her head. "Actually, it's not an official mission." At seeing the curiosity on Shigure's face, she smiled a bit more. "This Saturday I am heading to Hogwarts with Jane to watch a Quidditch match and John would feel better if I brought along some others to keep an eye on things. While I don't think there would be any problems..."

Shigure gave a small nod. "Better safer then sorry and it would help Teitoku relax." Pausing to flip through her logbook, the Destroyer hummed a bit. "I'm not scheduled for anything for at least the next two weeks, so I don't really see an issue with... a day trip?"

However, Arizona held up more then one finger. "Two days. We'll arrive there on Saturday and spend Sunday as well while leaving in the evening."

That caused a hum to escape from the Shiratsuyu as she considered such. "Huh... two days? Well, like I said, I don't have any sorties planned..."

When Shigure gave a thoughtful glance back, Arizona's lips twitched some. "I can see if John might release two others to accompany us. Iowa will be returning and Jersey as well as Wisconsin are both in Japan, so there is some room."

Brightly smiling, Shigure gave a quick nod. "That sounds good actually. And I have been a bit worried about Harry-Chan after hearing what happened." Tapping her chin, her smile grew some more. "Also, I've always wondered about this Quidditch thing. Sure, why not?"

Arizona only nodded slightly with her own smile. "Then I shall see you later with details." Her eyes were twinkling some. "After all, it is your day off."

Not even a few seconds after the door was closed, Shigure felt two sets of strong arms surround her which made her blush some. "Now that she is gone, we can get back to bed. It is fortunate that we should not have any more problems today."

On Shigure's other side, Yamashiro nodded. "Truly, we are fortunate to go on such a trip as well! Perhaps we have recharged enough on our Shigure-Chan to have some luck for a change."

All the giggling Destroyer did was allow herself to be dragged back to the bed to be used as a teddy bear on yet another lazy day.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Stars twinkled high in the chill, spring sight unheeding of two warm, honey brown eyes looking up at them. After a few moments, the owner of said eyes sighed before turning at a voice. "Out here on the battlements again, Child? It is getting late and we need to be up early."

More then a little bemused, the young woman chuckled some as she looked at the ghost with a twinkle in her eye. "'Child?' When I am quite a bit older then you, Bartholomew. There was a reason why I am kammerfräulein of this household."

A scowl on his face, the ghost shook his head. "And yet, you should be higher then that! After all the service you gave the family, Marie!"

Leaning against the battlements, Marie shook her head some. "I do not fault them, Bartholomew. Not in the slightest." Her gaze turned gentle. "But you also forget, they did not have to take myself or my Bruder into their household as they did. Yet they did out of love for who my Vater was. And for that, I will always thank the Lord and them."

Only shaking his head, the ghost came up beside her and looked out. "That was four hundred years ago, Marie. And yet you and your Bruder are still here while they are cold and gone to the grave. Such loyalty to those who are gone."

Head tilting to the side, she hummed some. "Perhaps. But while my Vater was but a servant, they still treated him as if he was a member of their familie. And did the same for us despite matters." Gave distant, she sighed into the night air. "Sometimes... sometimes I do wonder. What did they think when mein Vater disappeared in the woods of Southern Europe, only to stumble out of the woods near here years later carrying us? In a state of half death? And then dying soon after telling them that we were his Kinder?"

Frowning, Bartholomew searched her expression before shaking his head. "As much as I wish that I could, I could not tell you. They were always a bit odd..."

As Marie laughed, he trailed off. Shaking her head, she gave him a small grin. "Odd? Yes, I suppose that is true. There would have been those who would have tossed us out." Eyes misting, she sighed and looked down. "I miss them. I miss the laughter and joy, the Kinder trailing my skirt. Observing the young sons and daughters grow and have their own families. Watching them come and go... all gone. All gone because of that creature who called itself a wizard."

Bartholomew floated down until he was crouched before her. Reaching out, he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I remember. I remember when I was but a small one, how you sometimes snuck me treats. Or how Johann taught me woodcraft. To be a Jäger."

Sniffling, Marie nodded. "Your Mutter was so proud of you joining the household in such a manner. How proud I was..." Part of her was amused by the blush on his face before she looked out over the nearby woods. "And Johann always has said that you were his best student. And yet, here we remain, us three. The last of the household."

With a slow nod, Bartholomew sighed. "You could leave, you know. Both you and your Bruder. I am certain that they would understand."

Quickly shaking her head, Marie stood proud. "Nein. Neither of us will abandon this place, it is as much our home as it was theirs. We have lived here for centuries and will remain here for just as long! That Arsch mit Ohren, Grindlewald could not drive us out.

Unable to help himself, Bartholomew snickered. "Ah, I remember. Your and Johann managed to make it to the Bergfried from which you hurtled insult after insult... or your Bruder using his bow to make them regret coming here. Eventually with them trying to seal you in."

That caused Marie to give a sniff. "Yes, because they thought that we would starve, not realizing that it was planned for a siege..." Her posture then slumped a bit. "Though I do wish that we could have saved others. But by the time we got to the Bergfried, they had already gotten inside." Turning thoughtful, she looked out. "Though we did break out after they were gone and got rid of all their disgusting symbols they put everywhere. Well... except for the one place."

Noticing where her glare was pointed, Bartholomew only nodded as he looked towards the new construction, though it was still decades old. On it, above the door was the symbol he recognized as the Deathly Hallows. "One day, perhaps we will cleanse that place as well."

Soon shaking it off, Marie glanced towards the gates and smiled at the lantern she could see bobbing in the night. "And it looks like Johann has returned." Walking past a nodding Bartholomew, Marie hummed to herself and shot one last look at the sky. 'I wonder if we shall ever see another of those odd muggle flying machines, though they were much smaller then I remember back during the war...'

Opening the trapdoor, she just hopped through, her feet hitting the stone floor below with a clack as the flames from a nearby torch reflected off her eyes, the horizontal pupils almost seeming to smile.
_____________________________________________________________________

A happy hum escaped from Shinano as she laid back while Harry brushed her hair. Eyes closed, there was a sigh each time she felt the bristles of the brush lightly scrape against her scalp. No matter what some might think, the Carrier found it relaxing in the extreme. In some ways it was even better then headpats! Add in that Harry was the one doing it... and one could see why she was so happy she could purr.

Regina, from her position across from Shinano only blinked as she watched what was going on. "Um... Is that really that nice?" Getting a sound of curiosity from Shinano, the Abyssal chewed her lip. "The, um, brushing. Does it feel as good as it looks?"

Cracking open one eye, Shinano looked over at Regina and slowly nodded. "Hai, it feels really nice. Harry-Chan is really good at it."

Just shrugging as he continued his work, Harry let out a chuckle. "Well, I've gotten a lot of practice over the years." Seeing Shinano glance at him from the corner of his eye, he gave her a smile. "Though it is sort of relaxing for me as well."

With a blink, Regina cocked her head to the side which made Harry want to snicker at how cute it was. It sort of reminded him of a kitten. "Oh."

Giving Shinano another brush of the hair, Harry nodded before looking back at Regina. "If you want though, once I'm done here I can give you a brush as well. That way you can see for yourself."

Fingers poking together, Regina blushed behind her scarf. "Oh! U-uh, you really don't need to do that, Harry. I really don't mind if you don't..."

Eyebrow raising, Harry frowned at her. "Don't you want to try it?"
Slowly, Regina nodded some before adverting her eyes. "Well, yes? But... I don't want to trouble you about something like that. It's okay if you don't want to."

If anything though, that made Harry frown at her. "Regina, look at me." Once she did so, he continued. "I don't mind in the slightest doing something like that... besides..." Shrugging, the black haired boy continued. "Wanko did put you under my command before she left and asked that I take care of you. So that is what I'm going to do to the best of my abilities."

Much to his confusion though, Regina's face went bright red and she was unable to look him in the eye while twiddling her fingers. Even stranger was the glances that she kept giving him. "Y-you're really taking b-being my Commanding Flagship seriously... Aren't you?"

Only nodding, Harry furrowed his eyebrows. "Well, yeah? I mean, that's what flagships do... or Admirals or whatever. They're supposed to take care of those under them and take things seriously. So that is exactly what I am going to do."

Hands in her lap, Regina gave him a soft smile. "Thank you."

That made Harry blink in confusion, but soon he shrugged it off. Once he was done with Shinano and helped her braid her hair, he patted his legs. "Well, come on over here."

Shyly, Regina did as asked and sat down like she had seen Shinano do. Legs stretched out in front of her, she looked over her shoulder. "Like this?"

With a nod, Harry smiled down at her. "Perfect, just need to pull back your hood." Reaching over, he did so with Regina letting him. Looking over her hair, for a moment Harry had to smile. Oddly, it reminded him of his own messy locks for some reason. "Okay, if there's any knots in your hair, I'll work them out slowly, okay? Mainly so that it won't hurt much if at all."

Biting her lip, Regina nodded. "That's okay, Harry. I know that you'll be careful."

After stating that, she turned back around and leaned back some as Harry ran his fingers through her hair gently. From the way she was laying, Regina knew that Harry could see her legs stretched out, something that she was both embarrassed and pleased about. While most did not know it, she had overheard some comments and that despite her legs terminating at the ankle in hooves, more then one of Harry's schoolmates found them nice looking. And she was rather proud of how toned they were.

It was then that she felt the first movement through her hair of the brush and for a moment her eyes widened as her train of thought ceased. Then she utterly relaxed as Harry began his work, Several minutes in though, Harry gave her a bemused look. 'I can't believe it, Regina is actually purring. Guess that she really likes her hair brushed.'

Unknown to him, Shinano was happily smiling at her friend enjoying having her hair brushed. And in her mind, why shouldn't she be happy? Everyone should get some relaxation.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 69: S0ngD0g13

Kaylee checked over her gear and rigging, then looked over Monitor's. "Alright; here's the plan. We're headed along the coast from here to Sasebo, with a stopover in Kure. Admiral Richardson's in command at Sasebo, as well as being Boss Admiral of Seventh Fleet's Shipgirls here in Japan. He'll give you the full briefing and figure out where to assign you."

Monitor nodded. "Understood, Virginia. Distance?" The Union ironclad was covering her nerves with professionalism. She'd sank in 1862, and to suddenly find herself in 2013... It was disconcerting to say the least.

Kaylee noticed the nervous air about Monitor and smiled disarmingly. "Not far; it's only about 650 nautical miles. We're escortin' a convoy on its last leg, so resupply en-route won't be an issue. Plus it won't be just you and me; Naga an' Maki are coming with us as far as Kure, and White Plains is with us till Sasebo. The group's light, but it's a 'longshore run so we'll be under the JSDF's air- and coastal-arty- umbrellas the whole way."

Monitor thought back to her meal an hour prior and the many other shipgirls in the Mess. "Naga and Maki? They're... Frigates?"

Kaylee tossed a pack of jerky to Monitor. "Destroyers. Naganami and Makinami of the Yuugumo-Class. Frigates are smaller. You remember the three girls with no sleeves? The leader was wearing feathers?"

Monitor nodded. "Their hulls had five turrets, centerline-mounted?"

"Yup. Those were three American Destroyers, famous ones, too. Taffy 3, Johnston, Hoel, and Heermann of the Fletcher-Class. The little girl with them? Cute as a button but swears like a Sergeant when angry?"

"Two turrets?"

"Yup. Samuel B. Roberts, of the John C. Butler-Class. She's a frigate, though the modern American term is 'Destroyer Escort'. She's also a Taffy, and so's White Plains."

The pair walked out and toward the shore, munching beef jerky and talking. "So what's so famous about Taffy 3?"

Kaylee gaped before marshalling herself. "Okay, you've heard of Thermopylae, right?" Monitor nodded. "You've heard of the Alamo, right?" Another nod. "Taffy 3's battle, the Battle off Samar, was a last-stand on par with both of those. They were pickets doing antisubmarine duty, and providing air-support for the landings at Leyte, in the Phillipines, and a Japanese fleet came over the horizon looking to flank the landing forces. Dozens of Destroyers, Light- and Heavy Cruisers, and four Battleships, including Yamato, who was the biggest Battleship ever put to sea, against three Destroyers, four Destroyer Escorts, and a half-dozen Escort Carriers who weren't armed for a surface action. The Carriers fell back, and three of the Frigates with them, but the Destroyers and little Sammy charged, hoping to buy them time. They hurled themselves headlong into the middle of an enemy fleet outnumbered and outgunned, spittin' fire an' steel an' fightin' like cornered wildcats all the way. All four were all sunk, except for Heermann, but they fought so hard, so fiercely, that they forced Japanese Admiral Kurita's fleet to turn aside and withdraw. Four ships whose biggest guns were five-inch, against Yamato who carries nine eighteen-inch rifles, and the four little ships won." By the time she'd finished her story, there were tears in Kaylee's eyes... And in Monitor's...

"Trust a damned Reb to get weepy over a last-stand or a lost cause..."

"So why's your eyes damp, you Blue-coated Scow?" asked Kaylee with a chuckle.

"I'm in awe of their courage..." And it wasn't untrue; Monitor really was...

........................................

When the convoy stopped in Kure, James was waiting on the pier, and Houshou with him. "Kaylee!" He called out to her as they approached. "Good to see you back!"

As the ironclads dismissed their riggings and stepped onto the pier, he wrapped her up in a tight hug. "I'm only passin' through tonight, Uncle James; gotta see that convoy down to Sasebo in the morning and then I'll be back. Gotta see Monitor here to the Admiral, too."

Houshou took over hugging Kaylee as James looked Monitor over. "Welcome to Kure, Miss Monitor. I'm James McAmis, Virginia's uncle, and that's my intended, Houshou. You got any plans for supper, or a place to bunk tonight?"

Monitor nodded. "According to my orders there's a room in the Transient Shipgirl Barracks I can rest in, and I'd figured on eating at the Mess tonight."

James snorted. "The TSB ain't much better-provided than the BEQ; no one lives there full-time so the Supply Clerks never bother furnishing it with the good stuff. Nope, you're bunking at our place tonight, and supper, too. No arguments, Missy, you're bein' shanghai'd. Ain't that right, Houshou?"

The Japanese Carrier smiled. "Too true; James has a stubborn streak to him; his head's hard as armor-plate when he sets his mind on something. We'd be honored to have you as a guest, Monitor-Chan."

Monitor took her kepi off and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, Ma'am. I'd be delighted to join you for supper tonight."

James smiled broadly and laid his arm over Kaylee's shoulder. "Hope you brought your appetite, Kaylee; Charlotte caught a big mess o' fish this morning when her, Zui, and Jaw went fishing, so we're having a fish-fry tonight. Oh, didja hear, Jaw and Zuikaku are officially official now; they said it was just after a polo game up in Yoko'..."

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

And here we go again. Trivia 1: I am a huge fan of Nobuhiro Watsuki. Trivia 2: As I was looking back over my snippets to find everyone's names, I realized I had never specified whether Mamiya was her first name or last name, since apparently it can be used as a girl's given name. The first of these relates to a throwaway gag. The second relates to another. Thus...
Whole Story

-----

Ashida Yae had met Haneoka Yosuke roughly eight months ago. It had been at some anime convention that she had dragged Haneda Mamiya to so as to celebrate… well, no one was certain. But Yae had decided it needed to be celebrated, which was obviously good enough reason for her. He had been sent over by request of a friend who found himself needing a ride, and they had walked (painfully) into each other in the middle of the parking lot. Their first date had been—

"Think you could give me the short version?" Saki asked flatly.

—About a month or two ago, Yae had been ill multiple mornings in a row. When she casually informed Mamiya, who she kept intermittent contact with, her old friend was worried. Purchasing a battery of over-the-counter pregnancy tests, she locked Yae in a bathroom with them and would not allow her out until she had tried every last one of them.

Each one of the tests had been positive.

Hikawa Miya—

"Huh? Did Seo and Hikawa get married?" Ushio asked. Saki paused in her explanation, mouth half open.

"Eh?" she said intelligently.

"Well, it was Seo Miya and Hikawa Miko. Remember?" Ushio replied. Reluctantly, Saki admitted to herself, she had not.

—Hikawa Miko had entered the picture about that time. By her report, Yae had been overjoyed, calling her parents to tell them, digging through old contact books to find the names of dear friends, nearly dancing for happiness as she informed Yosuke. For all intents and purposes, he had seemed as happy as she. But one day, early in the morning, as Miko had been jogging by, she had seen Yosuke getting into a taxi. Thinking that he was going to work or something, she had waved and called his name. Then he had scrambled into the back seat and the car had taken off.

"I just stood there for a second," Miko said, voice cracking, "Like… like a pigeon when you start walking towards it. Then I realized what was going on."

She'd flagged down her own taxi, chased him through the streets to the station, where she was stopped because she was lacking her train pass. In sheer desperation, she jumped over the gate and charged through the crowd, only to see the doors of the train car close behind him. Then the security guards had caught up to her and the adrenaline rush she had been riding had ended, leaving her barely able to stand. She'd been helped off the premises, and ended up walking back to Yae's apartment in a daze. Yae had been disbelieving at first, but as it slowly sunk in, she had just—

"I get the picture," Saki cut her off. "Where is she. How is she."

"She's staying at Mamiya's family's place. Has been the last two days. She's just… she's acting hollow. It's not like her at all. Please, you've got to—"

"I understand," Saki replied. "I'll try to get some time off of work. See if there are any extra shifts I could fill or something. Just keep an eye on her, will you?"

Miko sniffled. "Uh-huh," she mumbled around a stuffed nose. "And hurry, please."
-----

Umi's evening, which she had planned to spend looking through movie selections to see if there was a suitably engaging romantic drama type thing that she could take Ushio in the next few days, fell through entirely. Instead, the evening was frantic and terrified, running around Kure trying desperately for permission to go help her old friend and pack lightly at the same time. Her nerves were so frazzled from too much running that she ended up tripping over Akizuki, and scrambling off with only a half-made apology. Ushio took it upon herself to make a better one on her behalf.

It was odd, how this had happened. She hadn't seen Yae in a long time, looking back. Years, even, maybe? And somehow, when a half-remembered voice had come on the line pleading for help on her behalf, suddenly everything dropped away and was subverted by the singular drive to get to Yae. So much so, that Umi was acting like a maniac expending energy more or less needlessly in her desperation.

Miya had described her as drifting listlessly, stumbling through the past few days with nary a word and barely eating anything, as if the shock was still hitting her. Try as she might, Ushio couldn't imagine her old friend that way. She had been hurt, hurt so badly…

"B-by the way, Akizuki-chan," she said, feeling a cold fury building up in her chest. "C-could you get th-the girls together? Th-there's something I need to-to tell them about…"
-----

The bathroom door was still locked. Mamiya had seen Yae walk into the room and close the door an hour earlier—it was right across from her own room, since she was living in her old home, preparing to take over the dojo when her mother got too old and frail. The door hadn't opened since, but she hadn't heard any running water or anything. Perhaps Yae simply wanted to be alone? Perhaps…

Mamiya sighed, and closed the novel she was reading. Walking across the hall, she knocked on the door twice—sharp and polite. "Yae-san?" she asked, raising her voice a little higher than conversation would allow, "Is everything okay in there?" Silence was her only response. "Yae-san, could you please—"

"m'fine," she heard Yae reply. Her words were not sullen or angry—they were more drained, as if Haneoka had taken all her energy with him when he left. Nonetheless, Mamiya felt she was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Her worries had been for naught, it seemed.

"Good," she said, leaning against the doorframe. "You've been in there a bit long, and I was starting to worry."

"Was I now?" Yae's voice had taken on an almost whimsical lilt, like the actress who had played Ophelia the one time Mamiya had been talked into going to see one of Shakespeare's tragedies. "Huh. That so."

"I'm here for you," Mamiya repeated the words she had used over and over again the past few days. It felt lame as she said it, but—much to her distress—she hadn't been able to find any others in herself so far. "If you need me."

"That's nice." There was a light thump and the door shook slightly. Then there was the rustle of clothing against wood as she slid down to the floor. Mamiya grit her teeth and gripped the doorframe. How could she be so helpless? Was there nothing that she could do in the face of this?

"Say, Yae-san," she said, voice trembling, "Did I ever tell you about my family?"

"Your mom says that your great grandad fought an evil overlord and rescued your great gramma from a crime boss," Yae replied. "That for real?" Mamiya bit her lip. The story, it would seem, had already been told.

She had to power through. Had to be strong for Yae. "There were definitely a few more 'greats,'" she explained, "and I've always found the whole idea to be slightly silly, but…" she sighed, planting her forehead against the door. "It is something of a tradition in my family, it seems, for the girls to inherit the dojo and the boys to have adventures."

"That's cool. I guess. Whatever." No! She was losing her. She had to keep her going, keep her attention—what was it? What had Tatsuya made her sing to him on stormy nights, the one song that he had refused to sleep without? Mamiya's finger's ached as she gripped the frame. Finally, she sagged, lowered herself to the floor and placed her back against the door.

"Mugendai na yume no ato no," she sang quietly, trying to make her lips remember the tune, "nanimo nai yo no naka ja, sou sa itoshii mo makesou ni naru kedo…"

She heard whimpering from behind the door and paused. "Yae-san?"

"It's okay," Yae replied. "Could you… keep going? And maybe move away from the door? I can't open it."
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 70: S0ngD0g13

Welcome, YungPup, to Shipgirls Online Chat room 'Mob-Net'...

Page 1...

YungPup (Human) (Verified Gearhead) (Tin-Can Made-Guy) (Carrier Escort) said: So what's going on, y'all? I got an all-hands from Akizuki a few minutes ago.

Runner_Duck (Verified Gearhead) (JSDF) said: I just ran into Ushio. Literally. She's worried about a friend of hers and she asked my help, and through me, all of your help, too.

NagaMaki (Verified Twins) (Not a Polearm) (JSDF) said: Naganami here; what's the issue, Akizuki?

Makinami here; yeah, talk to us.

Runner_Duck (Verified Gearhead) (JSDF) said: Ushio's friend... Oh, I don't even know where to begin...

YungPup (Human) (Verified Gearhead) (Tin-Can Made-Guy) (Carrier Escort) said: Begin at the Beginning, carry on through the Middle until you reach the End, then Stop.

EveningClouds (Class Lead) (JSDF) said: Jaw, now probably isn't the time for quoting 'Alice in Wonderland'. No matter how much of a Mad Hatter you are.

Akizuki, he has a point, though. Start at the beginning.

Runner_Duck (Verified Gearhead) (JSDF) said: Ushio's friend met a guy, and it got serious between them...

NagaMaki (Verified Twins) (Not a Polearm) (JSDF) said: Like, serious-serious, or...?

Runner_Duck (Verified Gearhead) (JSDF) said: Live Torpedoes On-Deck During a Battle Serious. Ushio's friend has one in the slips. Her man ran; she saw him as the train pulled away. The friend needs help, so Ushio got called, and Ushio's calling on us.

NagaMaki (Verified Twins) (Not a Polearm) (JSDF) said: So he just... Ran? We're in, just tell us where we're needed.

EveningClouds (Class Lead) (JSDF) said: I'm in. What's the plan?

YungPup (Human) (Verified Gearhead) (Tin-Can Made-Guy) (Carrier Escort) said: You've got my help, Sis. I also have dogs, if tracking's needed. It's a low-down dirty deed to put a girl in the family-way and then bail. Tell Ushio I'll back her to the hilt. GameBird and DaDogMan both say they're in, too, if need be.

Rebel_Belle (CSN) (USN) (Natural-Born) (Verified Spider-Mama) said: You can count on my help, too, soon as I get back to Kure. In Sasebo right now with a new-Summon.

... ... ...

Page 13...

Runner_Duck (Verified Gearhead) (JSDF) said: Thank you all; I'll get back to you with the details once I have a better plan...

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 71: S0ngD0g13

Joseph Leach, Pastor of the Brownsville Primitive Baptist Church, and his wife, Edith, both sat up in bed, having heard a noise. As Joe reached for the pistol in the drawer of his nightstand, a smooth, cultured voice stated, "You'll not need that pistol, Reverend." The light came on and the couple saw a man, thin and tall, dark-haired with emerald eyes that almost seemed to glow in the light. His lips were cocked in a mocking smirk and scarred above and below as though they had once been sewn shut and the stitches torn out. He wore trousers of green and a tunic of gold, and a mantle of wolf-fur was on his shoulders.

"Who are you?!" snapped Joseph. "What are you doing in my house?!"

The man shrugged. "You need not concern yourself with who I am; what you need concern yourself with, is what I am, and that is someone with a great deal more power than you." His voice dropped low and venomous as he hissed, "So hold your tongue behind your teeth, or else hold it in your hands, Preacher."

His expression brightened abruptly. "I am here because of your words and deeds regarding the Daughters of Njord, Shipgirls, in general, and your niece, Kaylee Ericsdottir Virginia McAmis, in particular. You see, you are operating under a dreadful misconception that Shipgirls are demonic in origin; they are, I assure you, not. Far from it, in fact; they as ships fought for King and Cause and Country, were Home and Hall and sometimes Grave to Heroes. They had earned their rest, their reward. Yet they have answered the Call to Arms once more and sallied forth from that rest to stand as shield and sword here in Midgard. Were you in their position, would you have done the same?"

Joseph stared wide-eyed as the man picked up a photograph of his sister and Kaylee, taken just after his niece's second birthday. "Kaylee Ericsdottir... She who you chose to forsake because she had taken up a duty you saw as beneath her. It's quite a thing, to reject one's own blood, to break fellowship with one's kin. Almost as foul a thing as hating what one fails to understand, for no reason but that same lack of understanding. Does your Bible not say, 'Love thy Neighbor as Thyself'?"

Edith spoke up, quietly. "Why are you here? Who sent you?"

The man tilted his head and laughed softly. "I am here because my honor demands it. Long ago, one of your late brother-in-law's blood remembered Hebrews 13:2. Do you recall the verse?"

Edith quoted, "Be not forgetful in entertaining strangers; for thereby have some entertained angels unawares."

"Precisely. I lay no claim to being an angel, but long ago one of Eric Mikesson's blood offered hospitality to one of mine. He gave him food, and water, and shelter from the elements. He of my blood was weak from wounds, and pursued by those seeking his death; he of Eric's blood bound his hurts and guarded him from his foes. A debt is thus owed, and that debt I shall repay. I cannot, more's the pity, act directly to repay that debt... But I can act indirectly. They say that Karma is a Bitch. In this case, Karma is a Bastard..."

Joseph and Edith Leach bolted upright in their bed, sweating from the dream...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Leaning back, Harry sighed out of boredom before grimacing and looking to his side. "Don't tell me that you're enjoying this..."

Softly snickering, Natsumi shook her head before placing her cheek against her fist. "Not really. I mean, I thought that you were joking about Binns-San when you stated that he literally could make someone fall asleep with his lectures. But you were actually serious!"

As one, her and Harry looked down at where Binns was going on about another goblin rebellion. Shaking his head, he sighed. "Unfortunately not." He then grumbled. "And I enjoyed history back before Hogwarts..."

Her tone dry, Natsumi snorted. "You live with history that has come alive, Harry-Chan. Heck, sometimes you got them to help with homework!" After a moment, she shook her head. 'Though I'm not much better considering what my family has seen over the decades...'

Utterly bored, Harry glanced back to where Regina was sitting in a chair near the door. Much to his amusement though, her tail was snoring and even had a snot bubble coming from somewhere on it's snout. It went without saying that even though he couldn't see Regina's eyes under her hood, he guessed that she was also asleep. A snore under his table made him look under as did Natsumi. Much to their amusement, there was a box there and Harry could hear Maruyu's snores under it. Once he shook it off, he turned back to Natsumi. "Hopefully you're not getting too bored."

That made her snicker some. "Not really, Harry-Chan. After all, today I wanted to see what your classes are like." She then gave him a grin. "But I've been spending time with exploring otherwise." For a brief moment, Harry remembered a fox he saw on the grounds several times. But then he dismissed it rather then let on he knew. "It's not that often that I get to look around a place like this. There's so much to see and find after all."

With a nod, Harry considered that. "Yeah, exploring the area is pretty neat. There's stuff everywhere. Though..." Frowning, he looked out the window. "I wonder how Shinano-Chan and the others are doing?"

Glancing at him, Natsumi shook her head. "Probably enjoying Hogsmeade. I know that Akatsuki-Chan was excited about getting one of those giant chocolate bars. And Kaylee-San wanted to check out the bookshop."

Only leaning back and forth in his chair, Harry shrugged. "I guess? Kind of wish that I was going though... next year I guess." After a moment, he turned to look at Natsumi. "Hey, if you're ever by during one of the Hogsmeade trips, want to go along with me?"

Face turning red, Natsumi stared at him. "G-go to Hogsmeade? Y-you want to take me with you to Hogsmeade?"

Confused, Harry only nodded. "Well, yes? I mean, I'd love to spend some time there with you. The two of us walking around exploring would be pretty nice." If anything, that only made her blush deepen. 'I wonder what that's about?'

Natsumi licked her suddenly dry lips before glancing around. But no one was listening to their conversation, not that there was much of a chance of understanding a lot of it due to the Japanese that they were using. "Well... I wouldn't mind that too much I suppose..."

Smiling, Harry chuckled some. "Great! I can't wait to do that."

Meanwhile, Natsumi was trying not to squeal and got it under control before clearing her throat. "Um, by the way, Harry-Chan? I got a letter from Oba-Chan this morning. It's something that concerns you."

Now it was Harry's turn to blink as he looked at her and pointed at himself. "Me? What does Haru-San want? Did something happen back in Yokosuka?"

However, Natsumi shook her head. "Nothing happened back home. Or... at least not yet anyways."

Tilting his head, Harry frowned. "Not yet? What's going on?"

Lips twitching, Natsumi turned to him. "You know the Netsuke and such that you gave to Oba-Chan? How Oba-Chan stated that she was going to set up something like a small museum just outside the Shrine with them in it?"

Slowly, Harry nodded with a confused look on his face. "I remember her telling me that. She was pretty excited for it after all." Frowning a bit more, he turned his full attention onto his friend. "Why? Is something happening with that?"

With a grin, Natsumi shook her head. "As a matter of fact, yes. According to Oba-Chan everything has been cleared with official paperwork confirming the authenticity of the items in the collection. MEXT is paying for most of it with some of the city doing the rest, they've also finished designing the museum."

Eyebrows raising, the wizard had to give her a grin right back. "Really? That's great news, Natsumi-Chan! I remember how Haru-San was really hoping for it."

Only nodding, Natsumi's grin became a smile. "Yeah, Oba-Chan's been kind of excited about it. I imagine that she was probably prancing around when she got the news." Both her and Harry snickered at the image that entered their heads at that before Natsumi shook her head. "But all that remains is to build it."

Interested, Harry tilted his head to the side. "So what is it going to look like? Any idea?"

Humming, Natsumi frowned as she looked up at the ceiling. "Um... According to Oba-Chan it's going to be a two floor traditional looking building on the outside with the inside having all sorts of stuff to help preserve the collection. First floor will be the statues and things with the second being the artwork... or replicas of the artwork." She shrugged at Harry's look. "Apparently they fade and stuff when exposed to light. They're going to be stored elsewhere... at least until the you know what falls. Then we can use magic to protect them."

Very slowly, Harry nodded at that. "Makes sense I guess..."

Suddenly, Natsumi grinned. "However, you know how you had some of the actual woodblocks used, right?" At his nod, her grin widened. "Oba-Chan had them scanned so that they could make 3D printed replicas of the blocks and make copies of the Ukiyo-e to sell. Some of the money from sales will go to the upkeep of the Shrine and exhibits and the rest will go to you."

With a blink, Harry pointed at himself. "To me?" At Natsumi's nod, he waved his hands. "That's okay, I don't really need it."

In reply though, Natsumi gave him a look. "Oba-Chan will insist on it. Anyways, Oba-Chan is going to put your picture right by the entrance along with a plaque stating that the collection is yours."

Harry just gave her a look. "She wants my picture there? And to have it on display?" When Natsumi nodded he scratched his neck. "Um, okay I guess? I mean, I don't really get it but..."

Snickers escaping from her, the kitsune shook her head. "Well, it is yours after all. And you do deserve credit." As the confused boy looked away, he did not notice Natsumi's smile turn predatory. 'And I am so going to invite our old classmates to it when it opens. Just to see their faces when they realize some facts about you, Harry-Chan.'

Moments later, Harry turned back to her and Natsumi's smile was back to normal. "Sounds kind of neat. But that's later, right?"

To his surprise though, Natsumi shook her head. "The ground breaking for it will happen during Spring Break. Oba-Chan wants you there when it happens for... Various reasons. She already told Nagato-San about it."

All Harry did though was shrug. "Well, if Mum doesn't mind then I don't see an issue." Giving it some thought, he frowned a bit. "Though I guess that there's plenty of land for it around there..."

Only nodding, Natsumi looked back at the board. "Yeah, that's true enough. No one's really built much in the area since the Abyssals levelled it during Blood Week. So there's plenty of room there for the Shrine." Lips twitching, she shook her head. "Hard to believe that at one point it was only a small Shrine..." Several seconds of thought later, Harry hummed in agreement before Natsumi turned her attention back to him. "So... From what I heard that Basilisk will bring in a lot of money, right?"

Softly snorting, Harry rolled his eyes. "That's putting it mildly. Way, way too much money... so I'm going to be giving some to those attacked." At her look of interest, Harry shrugged. "About a thousand galleons each, I figure. Ginny will be getting some too considering what happened to her after all..."

The kitsune only sighed at that. "She definitely deserves something for what happened. Oh, and if you do see her let her know that Oba-Chan will perform a purification ritual for her to get rid of any... nastiness that might remain from Tom."

Much to Harry's surprise, the last bit was said with a massive amount of venom before he nodded. "I'll let her know. Anyways, the rest of it I'm going to convert to non-magical currency. I got some plans for it." Despite the look given him by Natsumi, he did not say a word. 'Such as paying for those drawing courses that you wanted to go to last Summer break, but didn't have enough money for.' The image of her likely expression when he would give her the news on her birthday made him smile. If there was one thing he knew that Natsumi loved to do, it was to draw and sketch. And she also wanted to learn more about it.

However, several seconds later, he blinked as he tilted back too far and his chair fell back and hit the ground with a crash. Behind him, Regina jumped a bit and the snot bubble on her tail popped before both turned their attention to Harry. "Um, are you okay, Harry?"

Groaning, Harry ignore the muffled laughter from Natsumi and gave the Abyssal a thumb's up. "Yeah... I'm fine."

Then he winced as Binns' voice drifted up from the front of the room. "While I am glad to hear that you are alright, Mister Potter, perhaps you should pay more attention to the lesson? Now then, where were we..."

With a weak chuckle, Harry looked over to Maruyu's box to see said Submarine giving him a smirk as she put away her phone. "Um, heh... oops?"

All he got was more snickers from Natsumi and Maruyu as he got up and fixed his chair. Snickers that were not limited to them but also the rest of the class.
______________________________________________________________________

Her hands in her pockets, Enterprise looked around the small village before nodding some. "So, what do you think of this place then, Princess? Personally, I guess it's pretty nice, rustic I think is the word."

Beside her, Yamato slowly hummed in agreement. "Yes, I find it a rather pleasant place as well, Enterprise. Like out of a storybook I suppose." She then turned to the side. "And what do you think, Yahagi-Chan? Are you enjoying the trip?"

Flushing some at the attention, Kawa nodded. "H-hai, Yamato-Sama! I'm enjoying it as well. Some of these shops are rather interesting."

Rather amused, Yamato tilted her head. "Please, Yahagi-Chan, there's no need to be so formal with I, Yamato. You of all people have that right."

If anything, that made Kawa blush even more. "But... Yamato-Sama..."

Grinning, Enterprise reached over and poked Kawa in the side which made her squeak. "Stop being so damn cute, Kiddo." At the frown from the Battleship, Enterprise shrugged. "What? She's being adorable as hell, you can't deny that."

With a sigh, Yamato only shook her head. "Enterprise, please." As Kawa relaxed some, Yamato continued with a smirk. "She's always adorable, but she still deserves respect."

Her grin widening at the flustered Light Cruiser, Enterprise only nodded. "Right, sorry about that. God knows that she has being the Samurai to your Hime down pat. Hell, I can't wait until she's released to join our task force."

Eyes widening, Kawa turned towards the Carrier and so missing Yamato blushing. "Wait, seriously? You mean that?"

Fixing her with a look, Enterprise turned serious. "Kiddo... Yahagi? I am dead serious. When you're done your training, I am going to make damn sure that you get assigned to us. And not just because of Ten-Go either, you are tough and loyal. That's the sort of thing that we need." Suddenly, she jerked her thumb at Yamato with a smirk. "Besides, Princess here needs her Samurai at her side."

Despite the redness in her cheeks, Yamato snorted. "Yes, to protect me from the barbaric gaijin beside me right now."

If anything though, Enterprise gained a nearly lecherous grin on her face. "Well, I have to admit that those fuel tanks of yours grab attention. But then perhaps it's not you that needs to be worried about attentions of a gaijin."

As the Carrier waggled her eyebrows, Kawa reached over and poked her which only made the Enterprise laugh. "Stop that, Enterprise-Sama."

Only shaking her head, Enterprise laughed some. "See? Now that's the sort of shit that I'm talking about and like. Unbreakable steel in that keel of yours." Scratching her chin, and ignoring Yamato rolling her eyes, Enterprise hummed. "So, you got that Wizarding Wireless set we picked up all hooked up?"

Frowning, Kawa furrowed her eyebrows before shaking her head. "They're still trying to figure out how to set it up in my radio room... It's a bit different after all."

With a chuckle, Yamato nodded in agreement. "Yes, I suppose that it is that. Still, it could be rather useful when it comes down to it."

Enterprise scoffed at that before rolling her eyes. "Yeah, useful. Mainly so that I can listen in on those damn wizards back in the States. Seriously, some of the shit I read they did really pisses me the fuck off." After a few moments, she sighed and then shook her head. "Whatever. If nothing else I guess it gives me some new stuff to listen to."

Sighing, Kawa shook her head. "Now that is something that I am still getting used to." At the confused looks, she tapped the side of her head. "Being able to hear radio inside my head and listen to the various channels. I mean... I used to need an actual radio, but now I can tune in and hear it in here whenever I want."

There was a small smile on Yamato's face as she nodded. "I suppose that it would be rather odd. Though I will admit that I, Yamato, would not know as it has always been that way for me."

Beside her, Enterprise nodded some. "Same here. Never been a time when I couldn't tune in. Fuck, I can't even imagine not being able to do that."

Needless to say, the Light Cruiser with the two of them only became somewhat more amused. "Well, it was hard for me to imagine before it happened."

Checking her watch, Enterprise just shook her head. "Freaky to think about that is. Anyways... it's getting on and I'm getting hungry. Want to try that Three Broomstick's place? My treat."

Her eyes narrowing, Yamato frowned some. "There's more to it then you just being hungry."

After a moment, Enterprise shrugged. "I want to try some of that Dragon's Barrel brandy. Apparently they age it for a hundred and fifty years and the Three Broomsticks is one of the few places that sell it. My treat."

Slowly, Kawa raised her hand. "Um... I'm not old enough to drink yet..."

Eyebrow raising, Enterprise shook her head. "Kiddo, you're old enough to kill, you're old enough to get shitfaced drunk. That said? Wizarding Britain operates a bit differently, sixteen is old enough to drink apparently and buy alcohol. Besides, we're not getting drunk, we're just trying out what might be some fine drink..."

For some reason, Kawa was still unsure about that...

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 72: S0ngD0g13

Dal Riata, AD 794...
.........................................

Sigurd ran, ran hard as he could, for he could hear the hounds behind him, baying for his blood. He hadn't slain that shepherd-boy, he hadn't done worse than steal a sheep in the past moon, but it mattered not to those who pursued him; he had been seen that night, standing over the mauled body, and the hunters' sighting of him at the sunrise had only redoubled their pursuit...

Sigurd Haraldsson felt his strength leaving him with each drop of his blood that flowed from the arrow-wound in his side, the sword-cuts on his arms, the blood-weeping spear-wound in his leg. They burned, from fatigue and from the working of the village seidhkona that made steel into blessed, cursed moon-metal...

Sigurd finally could run no further; he staggered to a halt and crashed limply to the ground...

"Wha's 'is? A man? Gods, Man, ye've been 'ard-doon-bye... Oop ye gate, Man, an' in th' hoot..." Sigurd felt himself being lifted in strong arms and carried...

"Wa-water, please..." he slurred weakly before darkness claimed him...

.........................................

When Sigurd awoke, he felt furs over his body and smelled a fire and roasting meat. "Where... Where am I?" he asked as he tried to rise.

A strong arm pressed him gently back down. "Doon wi' ye an' rest, Norseman; ye've 'ealin' left tae do an' nae mooch strength tae do it wi'. Ye were nigh tae th' oother side, Man, nae sae long ago."

Sigurd looked up into the Pict's face; he was short and stocky, with red-brown hair and skin brown as a nut from time spent out-of-doors. His eyes were the gray-green of a hazel-tree... "Who?" Sigurd croaked hoarsely.

"Oengus mac Hamish, Norseman. An' ye?"

Sigurd accepted a sip of mead from the Pict to wet his throat. "Sigurd. Sigurd Haraldsson. Why?"

"Why'd I tak' ye in? T'were th' proper thing tae do. Fer ah' I know, ye might be a Sidhe or p'raps an angel like th' Cross-Priest says. B'sides, Sigurd mac Harald, wha' else could I do, wi' ye droppin' doon bleedin' righ' on m' very doorstep?" Oengus laughed aloud. "I jest, Sigurd, I jest. Sae why were ye run sae hard, an' hurt sae sore?"

"I was thought a murderer, and more. I'm not. A murderer, I mean. A sheep-thief, yes, but I never harmed that shepherd."

"An' th' 'and more', Lad?"

Sigurd drew a shallow breath; he couldn't lie to the man who'd taken him in... "You see the scar? Over my shield-shoulder near the neck?"

"Aye, I saw it. Th' shape's nae right fer bear nor hound..."

"Varúlfur. A man who becomes a wolf under full-moon light. Get of Hati Hróðvitnisson, who is get of Fenrir, who is get of Loki Laufeysson. It is a curse, for Hati Hróðvitnisson means 'He who Hates', and those of his blood, as I am, when in wolf-skin hate all that live, and Man especially so. I try to avoid villages on those nights, but when game is scarce..."

Oengus nodded. "Aye, Lad. I can see yer trouble. Ye're curse is'nae catchin', is it? I've fleas enoof as-is, ye see." He smiled at the jest and Sigurd couldn't help but smile back.

"No, it spreads only through claw or fang, and then only when I am a wolf. You needn't worry of any extra fleas, Oengus." His stomach chose then to growl loudly.

Oengus passed him a bowl of broth with onions and venison. "Eat, Lad, ye've need o' it. Eat an' rest."

..................................

Sigurd was awoken later, how much later he knew not, for he'd been too deeply-asleep, to the shouting of men and the barking of hounds. Oengus wasn't within the hut; Sigurd rose unsteadily to his feet and hobbled to the window with one arm bracing him on the sod wall.

The hunters were outside, and the seidhkona with them in her rune-covered clothes. Oengus stood before the door with a leveled spear, its point gleaming in the light of the torches as it thrust and darted like a serpent's tongue, and the Pict roared in a thundering voice, "Back! Back, damn ye! Ye willnae have 'im! Sigurd Haraldsson is a guest oonder m' rooftree, an' th' man's et o' me food an' drank o' me mead! Back, damn ye all tae th' depths! Ye WILL NAE HAVE 'IM!!!"

The witch began to speak, words to weave a spell of Binding, only to be silenced as the wild Pict's spear feinted one way, only to lash back the other way and through the opening made by the feint, opening the spell-worker's throat in a spray of blood. The hunters froze in fear when the seidhkona died. Oengus mac Hamish's voice was low and rough, bear-like to Sigurd's ear, and his eyes had the look of one almost in the grip of berserkergangr...

"Gae on. Awa' wi' ye, an' coom ye nae back tae trouble me farther. Awa', ye dogs an' sons o' dogs!" The spear whipped forward, hissing in the night air, and the hunters scattered and ran...

When Oengus reentered the hut, he took one look at Sigurd and frowned.

"Norseman, ah though' ah tol' ye tae lie still an' rest... Now back ontae th' pallet afore ye tear th' bloody stitches!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

A knock at her door caused Jane to look up with a smile. "Mutsu-Mama!"

Chuckling, the Battleship just smiled down at the twelve year old. "Hello, Jane." Looking around the room, she hummed some as her gaze fell onto a knapsack. "Almost ready for your trip to Hogwarts?"

Slowly nodding, Jane looked at said knapsack and smiled. "Yeah, almost done." There was a grin on her face as she shook her knapsack. "This is really, really neat."

With a hum, Mutsu walked over with one hand gently rubbing her obvious belly as she looked into said knapsack. "It certainly is, especially with all the magic used on it. Bigger on the inside, indeed." Feeling two arms put themselves as far around her as possible, the Battleship blinked and looked down. "Jane?"

Eyes closed, Jane mumbled into Mutsu's belly some. "I'm really, really sorry about the fight we had, Mutsu-Mama. I was just..."

Feeling a hand on her head, she looked up to find Mutsu giving her a fond gaze. "You already apologized, Jane. Besides, as both John and I told you, it's completely understandable. Everyone has been under a lot of stress..." For a moment, she paused and didn't say the rest. 'Especially with what just happened...' Shaking that off internally, Mutsu continued. "And you did take a step back and walk away rather then say something that you would feel really bad for."

Voice muffled by Mutsu's midsection, Jane snorted some which made the Battleship need to hold back a giggle. "I guess..."

Lips madly twitching, Mutsu tapped the side of her cheek. "I heard that teenagers would be hard to handle, being moody and everything. But mine seems to be just fine." Unable to help herself, Mutsu gave a small laugh at seeing Jane's two eyes peering up at her. "Don't be like that, Jane." The grumbles she got made her laugh all the more and give her daughter in all but blood a pat on the head. "Anyways, you should finish packing."

Pulling away with a small pout, partially because Mutsu's belly had only become more comfortable the larger it got, Jane nodded. "I guess." A yawn broke it's way out of her mouth as she looked outside to find it was still dark out. "I can't believe that we're leaving this early though."

Only glancing at the clock, Mutsu raised an eyebrow. "It's only five, Jane. Besides... there is a time difference between here and Hogwarts. And Harry wanted to show you something from his letter."

Just frowning, Jane nodded some and then shrugged. "I guess? I mean, Hogwarts is what... eight hours or so back which means..." Mutsu just stood there and let Jane do her calculations. "It's twenty one hundred there."

Brightly smiling, Mutsu patted Jane on the head as said girl slipped a heavy sweater into the knapsack. It may be spring, or just about, but the Scottish Highlands were cold nonetheless. "Roughly there abouts, yes. But he stated something about being able to let you sleep until the morning I believe."

Shrugging, Jane placed her last items into the knapsack and then closed it up. "Cuz said something about a potion." Then she frowned thoughtfully and looked over at the desk which had the Smols all filling up tiny knapsacks of their own. Soft giggles escaped her though at one thing. "You don't need those, you know."

With a blink, Mutsu turned and stared at the sight of Smolzona trying to stuff a donut into a tiny knapsack. Said smol just gave Jane a look. "Zona."

As Jane walked over and began to talk to her, Mutsu just shook her head in utter befuddlement. Despite them being around for some time, she still did not understand the tiny shipgirls. Realizing that Jane had said something, she blinked. "Hmm? Sorry, Jane, I was thinking of something."

Much to Mutsu's amusement, Jane crossed her arms and gave the Battleship a look that was pure Arizona. It never ceased to make her internally snicker at how the older Jane got, the more she picked up from her "Mothers" in behaviors. Though hopefully she never picked up some of Albie's habits... "I was asking, Mutsu-Mama, that talking about Cuz made me wonder when you and Daddy were going on that honeymoon he got for you."

Blushing some, Mutsu hummed in thought. "We're going to wait until the twins are at least a year old, Jane. But I will admit, from what Onee-Chan said, those hot springs will be incredible... Not to mention what she hinted at~"

Eyes rolling, Jane sighed. "Lewd, Mutsu-Mama, lewd."

There was a grin on Mutsu's face as she reached over and ruffled Jane's hair. "Maybe, but just you wait, Jane. One day, I know that you'll be feeling the same."

Amused, Jane snorted some. "As long as Daddy and you bunch don't chase them off, maybe. And that's a big one as I've heard Daddy talking about it and planning."

Quirking her lips, Mutsu snorted some as she had been dragged into her husband's 'Planning sessions' more then once. 'Only if you don't scare them off first, Jane.' Placing an arm around Jane's shoulders, the Battleship guided Jane out the door and towards the steps, making sure to take Jane's knapsack first. "Now, remember to have lots of fun at Hogwarts, okay? Harry will make sure of it otherwise."

Jane only grinned up at her. "I will, Cuz will make sure of it anyways... Though hopefully he was not pulling my leg about the unicorns." There was a secretive smile on Mutsu's face as she shook her head. But then, Jane reached the bottom of the stairs and waved. "Shigure! Fusou! Yamashiro! You guys are here?"

Head tilting to the side, Shigure nodded some. "Well, we are coming along as well, after all. And I think that it'll be enjoyable to say the least."

Clapping her hands, Fusou nodded and smiled. "We are most fortunate to be allowed to go. Especially with Shigure-Chan." Still smiling, she turned and gave a small bow to Richardson. "Thank you, Teitoku for allowing us to go."

In reply, John only shook his head and waved her off. "It's not much of an issue, after all Shigure is on Leave with the both of you. Consider it..." He smiled a bit. "Something of a leave ashore, shall we say. And it is only for a few days."

Meanwhile, Arizona gave a nod to Mutsu before turning to Jinstuu. "Are you sure that you can handle things while we're gone, Lieutenant? Especially with what occurred earlier? Because if you want-"

Arizona was cut off by the Light Cruiser shaking her head and smiling. "Naka-Chan is heading out as it is. I can wait a few days after all and besides..." She glanced at Jane who was talking with Shigure and gave a small nod. "Someone else needs this."

Glancing at Jane, Arizona only nodded in reply. After a few seconds though, she held out the chain in her hands. "It's almost time to head out, Jane."

Eyes widening, Jane nodded as the Smols all jumped into her various pockets. "Okay, Ari-Mama."

Moving quickly, she gave a hug to Jinstuu and then moved onto Albie. Said Submarine just smiled down at her and patted her on the head. "See you later, Little Sis. And if you see anything cool..."

Softly snickering, Jane winked at her. "I'll let you know." Moving on, she gave her father a hug and smiled at him. "See you in a few days, Daddy."

A small smile on John's face, he gave her a hug back. "I'll see you in a few days as well. You be good and behave for Arizona, okay? And give our regards to Harry."

Only nodding, Jane smiled and then hugged Mutsu again with the Battleship smiling down at her. "Like John said, give our regards and let your Aunt know that we'll hold down the fort. Also..." She leaned down and whispered into Jane's ears. "Try and convince Ari to pick up some treats for me. The twins are getting a bit peckish."

If anything, that made Jane snicker more and soon she was with Arizona holding the chain as she waved at them. "Bye everyone! See you all when we get back!"

Then, with the soft sound of air being displaced, the group was gone and Mutsu walked over and patted John on the shoulder. "She'll be fine, John. Onee-Chan will make sure that nothing happens to her. To say nothing of Harry, he'd kill anyone who tried to harm her."

Moments later though, she blinked as John snorted. "That's not what I'm worried about, Mutsu." At the confusion, he smirked. "We just sent Jane to a school full of magic. And where she likely can get a bunch of prank items as well."

Blinking, Mutsu considered it and held her hand in front of her mouth as she giggled. "Ara, ara~ Perhaps we should have thought this through some more then."

John only rolled his eyes at that.

_________________________________________________________

Her feet hitting the ground, Jane stumbled a bit before being caught by Arizona. Eyebrow raising, Arizona gave her a look over. "Are you alright, Jane?"

Slowly standing, Jane nodded some as she brushed herself off. "Yeah, I'm okay, Ari-Mama. Just didn't expect it to be like... that."

Hearing groaning, she turned and blinked as she found the sight of both Fusou and Yamashiro having fallen to the ground. From where she was, Jane could just see Shigure being pressed between the two Battleships as Yamashiro shook her head. "How unfortunate our luck is." Feeling movement, she looked down and her eyes widened some. "Ah! Shigure-Chan, are you okay?"

All the Destroyer did was give a thumb's up and muffled words could be heard from where her head had nearly disappeared between the chests of the Battleship. "I'm fine, Yamashiro. Fusou broke my fall."

Only nodding, Fusou smiled down at her. "Then it was most fortunate for you that I was here, Shigure-Chan. Or else you would have had the misfortune of landing on the ground. I much prefer this."

From where she was, Jane could just see some pink on what was visible of Shigure's cheeks. Shaking it off, she heard snickering and turned to see Harry putting away his phone. "Cuz!"

Rushing over, Jane practically glomped him which made Harry stumble back some. "Jane!" Laughter escaping him, he hugged her just as hard as she was him right back. "It's great to see you!"

While she looked him over, Jane nodded. "And it's great to see you as well and safe."

After a moment, she smiled but before Harry could say anything, she gave him a punch in the arm that made him yelp. Rubbing the sore spot, he grimaced some. "What the heck was that for, Jane?"

Glaring at him, she scowled. "That was for scaring me! When I heard that you nearly died I might have had a heart attack. Mutsu-Mama and the others were not much better, so that was from all of us. Next time, try and be safe!"

Lips twitching some, Harry shrugged. "I'll try." Looking over at Arizona, Harry walked over and gave her a hug. "Aunt Arizona!"

Softly chuckling, the Battleship hugged him back and then nodded. "Thank you for having us, Harry. Jane was pretty worried about you after all and excited for coming. I'll have to thank your Headmaster as well for being understanding."

Only nodding, Harry shrugged some. "That can wait until morning, Professor Dumbledore is pretty busy lately." Giving a quick greeting and hug to the three Japanese shipgirls once they got to their feet, Harry walked over to Jane and gestured for her to follow. "You just have to see this, Jane. It's amazing!"

Head tilting to the side, Jane nodded some. "Um, okay?" Reaching a path leading down towards a lake, she frowned at him as she also noticed what looked like smoke or perhaps steam coming from said path. "Cuz? Did you do something?"

Looking at her and then the path, Harry nodded. "Well, the path here was a bit icy and stuff. So I used Incendio to melt it and dry it out at the same time." Seeing the confusion, Harry pointed his wand to the side and made a motion. "Incendio!"

At seeing the jet of flame that shot out, Jane's eyes were not the only ones that widened, though said girl did clap at seeing the spell. Behind them, Arizona slowly nodded some. "That... is rather impressive, Harry. When did you learn it?"

With a shrug, Harry looked over his shoulder for a moment. "Learned it last year actually. I figured that it would be pretty useful if I ever needed it. Gotten good enough with it to clear ice and snow from paths."

Slowly nodding, Shigure considered what she just saw. 'I don't think that spell would be useful for just clearing ice and snow. Or even lighting fires.' For a moment, she considered some of the memories of her crew and shook her head. 'No, it could be used to clear other things... which I suspect Harry-Chan knows.'

However, a less then a minute later, Harry tapped Jane on the shoulder and pointed. "Look at that, Jane. Say hello to Hogwarts."

The group had stepped around a corner in the path and Jane gasped at seeing the lit castle across the lake. "Oh wow! That is so cool, Cuz!" Turning to him, she grinned brightly. "It's straight out of a fantasy novel, and you go there?" At his nod, the American gave a bit of a huff. "So cool, I'm sort of jealous... Though I'm happy that you brought us here."

Placing his arm around Jane's shoulders as they continued to walk, Harry only chuckled. "And I'm happy to get the chance to share this with you." Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see the charms bracelet that Dumbledore had sent which was supposed to be able to allow Jane to ignore the usual anti-muggle spells over the area. Each charm was keyed to a different ward. Eventually though, they reached the same beach that Harry had gone to when in First Year and there was one of the very same boats. "Well, step inside Jane."

Eyebrow raising, Jane looked from him and then to the boat before shrugging. Beside them, the shipgirls all stepped onto the water and summoned their rigging as they did so. Once inside, Jane gave an examination while Harry stepped inside the boat and sat down. "So... how are we getting across? I don't see a motor or any oars..."

Once more bringing his wand out, Harry smirked some before shaking his head. "Magic." At her look, his smirk became a grin and he tapped the bow of the boat. "Let's head out."

Suddenly, the boat surged forward without any means of propulsion with Jane's expression becoming one of wonder. "Oh wow... This is officially beyond awesome! Seriously, a magic boat?" Looking down at it, her expression became one of interest. "Though... how old are these? I mean, could they manifest?"

Now curious himself, Harry looked down at the boat and shrugged. "Don't know actually. I think that they're pretty old though. Been looking up the spells for them too."

After a moment of thought, Jane nodded. "I can see why actually. Back in Sasebo there's some small boats. Actually..." Frowning, she looked over at Arizona. "Doesn't old man Kohaku have a dory he wants to sell?"

For a moment, Arizona considered the question before nodding. "I believe that you are right, Jane. But that is something for another day and I hope that you practice first, Harry, before trusting such a thing."

Quickly nodding, Harry smiled. "Well, yeah, of course I would Aunt Arizona." Spotting something, Harry looked over at Jane. "Hey... Want to see something really cool?" At her nod, he held his wand over the water. "Lumos."

Curious, Jane looked over the side of the boat and her jaw dropped at seeing an eye the size of a dinner plate staring back at her. Slowly, her eyes trailed along what she could see and then looked behind them to see a massive tentacle rise out of the water which also caused Arizona to stare while Fusou and Yamashiro moved to the opposite side of the boat with Shigure's lips twitching. "Holy cow... there really is a giant squid in the lake! So. Freaking. Awesome."

Very slowly, Arizona nodded at that. "Yes, I... suppose that is one way of saying that." One of her lookouts spotted something and Arizona looked to the side and could see a head that was almost human looking at her before it ducked back under the water. 'And that would be one of the mermaids.'

While they made their way across the lake, Harry caught up with Jane on various things happening in Sasebo. One thing though made his eyes widen. "Something happened with Sendai-Nee?"

Grimacing, Jane nodded. "Her, Maya, and Nassau were escorting a convoy with some Destroyers to Hawaii when an Abyssal Princess showed up with two Demons in tow. They made a run for Hawaii with Nassau managing to hurt the Princess enough to slow her down some so the convoy could escape, though eventually Sendai and Maya turned to try and hold her back. They got some help from a Pelican from Pele Airfield though."

That made Fusou blink for a moment as she consulted her charts and such. "Pele Airfield...? Is that a new one?"

Shigure turned to look at her and shook her head. "It's only a few years old and on the southern part of Hawaii on a recent lava flow." At the curious look, the Destroyer shook her head. "At the later part of Blood Week, the Abyssals attempted an invasion there and a few other parts of the Big Island... it did not end well to put mildly."

With a snort, Arizona shook her head. "That is putting it mildly. They had not been landed for more then two hours and fortifying themselves when Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Hualālai all erupted as did Kīlauea. Somehow, the lava flows all missed the people evacuating and overran the Abyssal forces... the ones where Pele Airfield is had less then three hours before the lava buried them and their fortifications." Shrugging, she shook her head. "They built the airfield about two years ago for aircraft to cover the convoy route. They gave it the name they did because a lot of people think that Pele stopped them."

Only shaking her head Jane shrugged. "Yeah, I remember seeing that on the news when I was little." After a moment of thought, she put aside mysteries such as what exactly happened aside and then turned to Harry. "Anyways, Aunt Sendai and Maya got pretty badly hurt, but the Pelican then showed up and dropped off reinforcements before it got too bad. First thing that the Abyssals knew was hearing 'Thunderstruck' playing before the plane was over their heads and Mo was planting her foot in the Princess' face. Oklahoma, and Mississippi were right behind her along with Wasp and O'Bannon with The Sullivans. The Abyssals didn't stand a chance!" There was a similar grin to Jane's on Harry's face before she continued. "But Aunt Sendai was pretty badly hurt and is healing up in Pearl and so is Maya. Aunt Naka is heading there now and from what I heard, Nevada is bringing along hers and Sendai's boyfriend as he's pretty worried. Maya's will be by soon too."

There was a frown on Yamashiro's face as she sighed. "They were truly fortunate that was possible."

Relaxing some, Harry only nodded. "That's good to hear. Hopefully they'll be up and about soon..." A thoughtful look on his face, he chewed his lip. "Maybe I'll send a basket to them. I think that Honeydukes does chocolate gift baskets..."

It was roughly an hour later that Harry was guiding the group through the hallways. Any Prefects who asked them got Harry to pull out a note which they nodded at. Right now though, they were in front of a bowl of fruit which made Jane look around. "Um, Cuz? Why are we here?"

A grin on his face, Harry looked over his shoulder at Jane. "Well, you did say that you wanted something to eat. So I figured that bringing you to the kitchens could help. I mean, the House Elves don't mind it."

Moments later, Harry reached up and tickled the pear which giggled before turning into a doorknob. Eyebrows raising, Jane shook her head at it. "Oookay... That was weird." Then Harry opened the portrait and they saw the kitchens and all their eyebrows raised upwards at seeing the small beings rushing back and forth. Suddenly, said beings all stopped and stared at them. "Um..."

Sitting at a table, Queen Anne's Revenge blinked at them before grinning and raising a goblet. "Well? Are yeh just going ta stand there or come in for a bite? The lads and lasses here make some fine food they do."

Once they stepped inside, Jane gave a small smile as she looked down at what she remembered Harry had described to her as an House Elf. "Hello? I'm a bit hungry since I woke up a bit ago so... And I know that the others are hungry as well. So, could we have something to eat if it's not much trouble."

Nearly as one, all the House Elves gained wide eyes and smiles before the kitchen burst into activity.

 

[darthcourt10]

RBomber

Harry Leferts said:
Ah, so you're bringing your stuff over here as well?​

As a matter of fact....

----

Arisa Bannings was in good mood. This is her first day on Yokosuka Elementary School, and she shall show all those peasants the glory of Bannings Nobility Lineage. Let's see: Immaculate dress, pretty, not looking tacky, ribbons, polished backpack, new, shiny study supplies....

And indeed, it was quite a good day for her, and she manages to impress the 'peasants'...

"My name is Bannings, Arisa. My father, Lord Franklin Bannings, is the owner of Bannings Continental Shippings and Bannings Industries, who provides housing and shelters in many part of the world...."

...Up until she seated back.

Sadly for her, this is also Hoppou first day at school.

"My name is Nagato Hoppou. My mother is Battleship Nagato, and she is the greatest Mother in the world! My Onii-chan, Nagato-Potter Harry is a wizard, and he's the bestest Onii-chan in the world!"

And that's not even the most interesting ones.

"My name is Dresden Margaret, but you can can call me Maggie."

"Woof!"

"This is my medical dog, Mouse. He's big, but he's friendly and likes you all. He likes bellyrub and treats...."

And other.

"My name... William Erma. Nice... to meet you all. My mother... is a yurei. My father... is a computer repairman...."

And other.

"My name is Kobayashi Kanna. Pleasure to meet you. I came from Ushishir Island."

...Okay, that's not that interesting.... But that girl was so cute it was criminally dangerous!

"My name is Emiya Illya-"

"My name is Dojima Nanako-"

"My name is Minamoto Shizuka-"

"My name is Yagami Hikari-"

Aaaand there goes Banning-sama Great Conquering Plans. And being immature brat she is (at the moment), she decides to annoy one quiet girl named Suzuka.

This earn her a punch from one Takamachi Nanoha. And also the budding of everlasting friendship.

Some things just won't change, at all.

 

[darthcourt10]

RBomber

NotHimAgain said:
I smiled. Feeling a bit better now.​

Ah, yeah, let me make it a bit worse. You forget the implication of giving Ushio's sisters an extended family.

Especially, you gave certain foul-mouthed little girl An Older Brother.

----

Akebono, contrary to what most people think, actually a rather sweet girl, all things considered. In this case though, all things considered including her sad history, her deep ingrained distrust to authorithy, her current sad history that reinforces her distrust, and her inability to not cussing.

...Okay, had to be admitted, that's lots of thing to be considered.

And to be fair, Akebono didn't really mind her image. At all. These things seems doesn't matter after you got near-death experience. Twice.

(Well, one death experience and one near-death experience, but you get the idea)

So why she can't speak, uh, normally in the front of this... uh, guy? This, y'know, normal ...young guy?

Okay, young guy that apparently happened to be, uh, Ushio's big brother or something like that. At least with, uh, Ushio's mother, she had reason to comply.

----

"Young lady, if you speak like that again in front of me, I'll personally wash your mouth. With Asepso soap."

And yes, just to make a point, she did have an Asepso soap bar. In her hand. Somehow.

Poor Kasumi challenged her.

Poor, poor Kasumi-san. She never recovered.

----

This is frustating. She's not only unable to speak normally, she cannot speak properly at all. And her face is... kinda undecided. She cannot maintain her proper scowl. But... she doesn't want to smile. Honest.

It's the cake. Wonderful, creamy, sugary cake. Honest. Nothing else-

No, no! NO! NO HEADPAAAAA~

----

 

[darthcourt10]

RBomber

oninoakeru said:
I can see Erma showing up, at least as a pen pal to start, as other Japanese supernatural creatures are here ( Hanako anyone?).​

...Oooooh, yeah....

------

Hanako-chan was nervous. It was her first day on school. Well, not exactly her first days, but after 60 years and more after your last day on formal education, you deserved some slack on being nervous.

But most of all, she was worried about her... unusual circumstances. I mean, sure, Tenryuu-mama had convinced her that it'll okay, nobody would bully Tenryuu-mama daughters, and her onee-sans will be protecting her, but still....

Well, time to enter class and introduce her-

-Is that...is that an onryou?

...A dragon?! Sacred Dragon?!

And why that nice looking girl fill her with dread?!?

OhnoOhnoOhno Dear KamisamaOhnoOhnopleasehelppleasehelp-

****

"Hanako-chan? Hanako-chan? It's okay, this is Tenryuu-mama. No one is gonna angry to you."

It was 1 hour after Hanako-chan... got freaked out for some reason, and now barricaded herself in toilet. And gave no respond even when Tenryuu came to school and try to convince her.

"It's okay, Hanako-chan. Tenryuu-mama is not angry. Please, would you come out-"

"Hanako-chan~, Tatsu-baa-chan is here~"

The effect was quite... interesting. In one moment, all the toilet door starting to banging each other, some of them start to getting loose. And thw mood start to darken.

"Oh, dammit Tatsuta..."

"...What?"

Then, a girl with a bang covering her head start to walk in.

"Wait, Erma-chan-"

The girl just wave, and wordlessly, convey this to them.

It's okay, she can handle this.

****

Hanako-chan was terrified. She totallymessed it up.

And now Tatsu-baa-chan came, and all hope were lost.

She can only cry, and pray, and cry, and cryandcryandcry-

And a hand suddely touch her hand. And holding it.

It was the onryou-seeming girl.

Oh Kamisama, is she'a going to-

The onryou(?) raised her other hand, and gave a 'stop, please calm down' gesture. Wordlessly, she follow her instruction.

Somehow, the girl, wordlessly, manages to convey her intent.

You are safe. Nobody will hurt you. I won't hurt you. I will protect you. And everyone else.

Calming down, Hanako, still holding Erma's hand, open her... the toilet and start walking out.

****

"Please receive my thanks and gratitude, Mrs. Williams."

"It's fine. By the way, you can call me Emiko. Although, that was all Erma's work."

"She's such a sweet kid."

"Indeed. Although, because of her... quirk... I'm kinda worried when she start her schooling. Phibes-sensei had been a great help."

"I see. Again, thank you very much."

"Oh, but the worst will came after this."

The lady with green hair said this with,somehow, ominous tone. Or maybe it's just the oversweetened green tea.

"And that-"

"New students questioning."

You can feel the shudder suddenly ripples in air.

----

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking out of the bathroom for the Headboy and Headgirl's quarters, Harry blinked and then smiled at the sight of Jane practically skipping into the quarters' common room. "Morning, Jane. You look excited."

From where she sat on one of the chairs, Kaylee shook her head at her fellow American and chuckled. "Not to mention looking wide eyed and bushy tailed."

Unable to help herself, Jane gave a laugh before hopping over the back of the couch and flopping down. "Can you blame me? I get to see a real, live magical sport played on flying broomsticks! And then, after that, I get to see an entire magical castle!"

Bemused, Harry sat down with a sigh as he watched Shinano, Hamakaze, and Urakaze head into the bathroom. "Well, I don't blame you for getting excited. Hopefully you won't be too tired though."

That got him a snort from Jane as the girl shook her head. "Tired? Not in the slightest." Stretching out with a sigh, she grinned at him. "That stuff you gave me knocked me out in no time. I mean, I could barely sleep back home last night. But now? I don't feel tired at all!"

It was then that Arizona came into view with a small smile on her face. "And it was your fault for not trying to sleep back in Sasebo, Jane. Though I suppose that I can't blame you." Turning her attention to Harry, she frowned some. "Jane isn't going to be having any issues with the potion you gave her, is she?"

Harry only shook his head. "Nope! Sleeping Draught is actually pretty easy as long as you follow the directions and a Second Year like me can brew it."

Eyebrows raising, Jane looked at him in surprise. "Wait, you made that sleeping potion, Cuz?"

Slowly, Harry nodded some. "Um, yes? I mean it wasn't exactly super hard and I've been practicing with simple potions anyways... And before you ask, I had it checked out."

Frowning thoughtfully, Arizona slowly hummed to herself. "That's rather interesting... Though I will admit that it did work for all of us." Her eyebrows then furrowed some. "Or at least it allowed me to go to sleep easier even if it didn't cause me to knock out like it did Jane."

Only shrugging, Harry shook his head. "Doesn't really do much to shipgirls except, um, makes them sleepy? And helps them fall asleep. But I know that Akashi-Oba is really interested and asked me to brew a bunch for her."

Now focused on him, Kaylee frowned. "She did? Why?"

Snorting, Harry shook his head. "Why else? A lot of the shipgirls have issues sleeping sometimes when in the dock, especially when in pain. And since most drugs don't really work..."

Arizona slowly nodded as she thought back to her own experiences. "Yes, I can see how it could be useful for Akashi. If nothing else, it would allow for a shipgirl to sleep a lot more and heal faster." Internally though, her thoughts went in a slightly different direction. 'Or to help some of us on really bad nights...'

For his part though, Harry only shrugged. "Anyways, I'll send some back with you guys so that you can use it and not get jet lag."

Brightly smiling, Jane gave him a thumbs up. "Sounds great, Cuz!" Seeing him perk up some at seeing Smolzona and Minimu, she tilted her head. "Something wrong?"

However, Harry only shook his head. "Nope! But I do got something to show you, give me just a second." He then rushed off to where he had been sleeping for the past few days in a cuddlepile and then returned with something held in his hands. "Jane, you would not believe what happened a few days ago. I was around the summoning pool across the lake when this showed up." Harry then placed his hands on the table and opened them to reveal the Smol version of Nagato who was looking around. "Say hello to Minagato."

Gasping, Jane crouched down with a grin. "Oh my gosh! Ohmygosh! You actually got a Smol of your own! And it's one of your mom! Guess that means that I won the bet."

Only giving her a glance at that last bit, Arizona turned back to watch as Minimu got onto the table and walked shyly over to Minagato. 'Oh dear God... now Harry? Are these going to multiply?'

Meanwhile, Minimu came to a stop by Minagato and tapped her tiny, pudgy finger against her chin. "Muuu?"

Puffing out her chest, Minagato nodded. "Gato!"

Expression brightening, Minimu ran over and glomped her fellow smol who had a bit of a blush on her cheek. "MUUUUUU!"

Still trying to keep a serious expression on her face, Minagato nodded and patted Minimu on the back. "Gato. Gato gato."

Clapping her hands, Jane sighed some as she recorded it. "Oh my... that is so cool, Cuz!" Head tilting to the side, she looked towards Harry. "I wonder who you'll summon next."

Just sitting down as Harry and Jane began discussing the Smols with each other, Arizona stared at Minagato who pulled a cookie from nowhere and then gave a nod. "Gato! Gaaato!"

Then with a jerk, she broke the cookie in half before giving half to an amazed looking Minimu and the other half to a thankful Smolzona. Blinking, Arizona sighed and pinched her nose. 'Where are these coming from? And what was that about "Behold! The strength of the Big Smol Seven!"?'

While Arizona was trying to pierce the mystery that was Jane's, and now Harry's helpers, said two teens had drifted from the topic of the Smols and into other, just as interesting ones. Such as spells and what Harry knew. Looking away from where he had turned a button into a beatle and back, Jane shook her head. "Okay, that is sort of cool I guess. Is there a limit?"

Slowly, Harry shook his head. "Not really? I mean, apparently duelists use what they call 'Battle Transfiguration' during duels and battles. Such as turning some stone into a tiger and the like." He then jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "Professor Dumbledore is apparently famous for that. But I'm a long way from stuff like that."

Only nodding as she tapped her chin, Jane glanced at a bottle of pumpkin juice that had a small coating of frost from a freezing charm. Grabbing it, she twisted off the cap and took a sip before shrugging. 'Not bad, different, but not bad.' After putting it down, Jane hummed. "That would be kind of cool to see."

Yet again, the black haired boy shook his head. "Yeah, Professor McGonagall said that's stuff for Seventh Years. So I keep practicing with the spells they've taught us and some other ones. I know that Professor McGonagall has been giving me these odd looks when she sees me practicing transfiguration...' Thinking back, Harry shook his head. "It's like she's considering something."

After a moment of thought, Jane shrugged. "Whatever it is, you'll find out soon enough." Hands clapping together, she gave him a grin. "You got any other showy bits of magic?"

Much to her amusement, a playful smile crossed his face before he nodded. "As a matter of fact, I do. It's something from First Year, but I've practiced it so I can do what the teacher did after demonstrating it." Harry looked at Arizona who was now watching them and winked before doing a swish and flick with his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Frowning, Jane looked around and scratched her head. "Was that supposed to do something, Cuz? Because... uh, Ari-Mama? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Her mouth opening and closing, Arizona finally sighed and shook her head. "Why do I even try. Jane? Look down."

Confused, Jane only blinked. "What do you... Holy Hannah!" Eyes wide, she finally realized that she was floating in the air. "I-I'm floating!?" Reaching down, Jane patted the space beneath her butt and back, causing her to do a summersault. "Whoooa!" Straightening, she shook her head. "Okay, not doing that again."

Smirking, Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a rolled up piece of fabric and then tossed it. "Here, catch Jane!"

Quickly, Jane caught it, which caused her to do another flip and then unrolled it. Blinking, she looked at it and then stared at Harry. "Really? A-are you serious?"

Grin widening, Harry nodded. "Yup! Want to try?"

Jane's eyes were practically sparkling as was her teeth from how wide her own grin had become. "Oh come on, Cuz! Do you even have to ask?"

And so, when Nagato came down, she just barely dodged out of the way of Jane who whooshed past her in the air. "What... How...?" Seeing Arizona recording the whole thing, Nagato walked over and sat down beside her. "Mind explaining?"

Lips twitching, Arizona shook her head. "Just the two of them having fun. Though the question of John's reaction is still up in the air, I think." A chuckle then escaped from her lips. "I think that Albie might be jealous though..."

Meanwhile, Jane continued to fly through the air with in a Superman pose. Behind her, a cape with the letters "J" and "S", which were intertwined with each other flapped. "Look up! It's a Bird! It's a Fighter Plane! No! It's Super Jane!"

On the couch as he made motions with his wand to help Jane "Fly", Harry laughed lightly. He was having a huge amount of fun at the moment. More then that though, the black haired wizard was enjoying seeing the happiness in the one person he wished was his cousin by blood rather then adoption.

Needless to say, there was yet more laughter and such when Hoppou appeared and tried to shoot "Super Jane" down with a plush Reppu.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sipping some tea in her home, Hoshi hummed a bit before placing her cup down. "A lovely blend, thank you for bringing it Haru-Chan. And please, give my regards to Rose-San about the tea she sent."

Only nodding, Haru smiled a bit as she set down her own tea. "You're welcome, Hoshi-San. Besides, it's not often that we sit down to have tea anymore. As to Rose-San? I will pass them along, I am sure that she will adore the fact that someone else has enjoyed some of her tea."

A chuckle escaped from Hoshi as she shook her head. "My, my, you're quite right about not sharing much tea. Whatever happened to that young kit who used to sleep among my tails when I watched over her while her parents were away?"

Blushing, a soft whine escaped from Haru as she hung her head to laughter from the other kitsune. "I am never going to escape stories like that, am I?"

Now amused, Hoshi hummed a bit before nibbling on a treat. "No, I think not. But worry not, I won't tell Natsumi-Chan such stories..." She waited a moment for Haru to sigh in relief before continuing. "Or at least until she's a bit older."

Head banging against the table, Haru sighed. "Because of course you would do that." Raising it back up, Haru's expression became slightly more serious. "I do have something to ask of you though, Hoshi-San. It's in regards to something that I have need to deal with soon."

Curious, Hoshi glanced at the cup of tea and then the tea pot. "Is this a two cup or three cup problem?"

Frowning, Haru shook her head. "It could be a four cup problem I'm afraid. And maybe some more treats."

Expression now pensive, Hoshi frowned even deeper. "A four cup problem? Now that... could be an issue. Does it involve Natsumi-Chan in some way?"

Already knowing how this was going to go, Haru shifted some. "In a way... It seems that there is a poltergeist in Harry-Chan's school. A rather nasty example of one which attempted to bring about his death recently because Harry-Chan kept stopping it from some of it's more malicious pranks. Natsumi-Chan is currently there to make sure it does not try something with Harry-Chan again until it can be dealt with."

Hoshi's eyes narrowed some at that before shaking her head. "I see... Can it not be banished normally?"

Grimacing, Haru took a deep breath before letting it out. "It's been tried before, but the last time... it used the students as hostages and threatened to kill them if such things were not stopped. And it meant it as it fired weapons at them, some as young as eleven. So that it could continue things that include harming them such as dropping walking sticks on their heads and so forth. Not quite what would count as more humorous pranks." Moments later, she winced as a massive pressure fell over her and swallowed thickly. 'Oh... she's pissed.'

Now snarling, Hoshi's face began to shift to a more beastal version. "Children... this creature threatened to kill innocent children? All so it could continue to torment them, Haru-Chan?" Then her expression went utterly blank and Haru felt a shiver down her back and a moment of pity for the poltergeist. If there was one thing that enraged Hoshi more then anything, it was a threat to her family or to innocents, especially children. Combine both...

Perhaps she shouldn't have said anything at all.

But then she remembered what Peeves did and shrugged it off mentally and nodded as Hoshi asked to be told more. So Haru began to recite what she had been told and read in some history books over the past week. "Well, he is quite the old spirit and might have been bound there before the castle..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 73: S0ngD0g13

Kaylee hummed tunelessly to herself as she carefully cleaned each piece of the disassembled revolver spread across the cleaning mat on her bed. Once she was assured of each part being pristine, she put it back together, the assembly taking shape into a Colt Paterson. She wrapped the pistol in a spider-silk cloth, then went looking for Natsumi...

"Hey, Natsumi? I was wondering if I could ask a favor? You remember the Zombie-Trap Incident not long ago? I really don't like not bein' able to kill the things tryin' to kill me, so I wondered if you could, uh, blessapistolforme?" The ironclad blushed scarlet as she babbled the last part of her request.

The Kitsune Miko raised an eyebrow. "Could you say that again? Slower, please?"

"Could you, please, bless a pistol for me? So if a haint tries to kill me or mine I can kill it back?"

"I'll see what I can do. One of your LeMats?"

Kaylee shook her head. "Naw, this sorta thing calls for a special gun, I figured. Here." She handed the Paterson to Natsumi, who unwrapped it.

"This... This is an old gun; I can feel it..."

Kaylee nodded. "An original Colt Paterson Number-Five Holster Model. The 'Texas Paterson', they were called. One of my ancestors, on my mama's side, got it when he rode with Coffee Jack Hays down in Texas. My Grandma passed it down to Mama, and I took it with me when I lit out from Tennessee coming here." She blushed again, sheepishly. "It's only a little illegal how I got it in-country; the Customs Inspectors at Narita didn't look too hard at the jumbled-up case of spare airsoft parts I had it broke down and hid in. But I figured what better piece to use for this, than one that was carried by a Ranger?"

Natsumi swallowed. "I'll do my best, Kaylee."

Kaylee grinned brightly. "Thank you kindly, Natsumi."

..........................................

Jane was passing by Virginia's room later that day and heard a noise. It sounded like...

Kaylee was using the Dicta-Quill she'd borrowed from Severus to pen a letter to her uncle. "... I kinda like it here, Uncle James. You and the Critters Teacher, Kettlburn, would get along right well. Hell, you an' Hagrid would get along like a house afire. Listen, save me some cake, willya? I know you'd probably rather have me home tomorrow, but you were in the service yourself, so I reckon you already know what it's like being deployed on your birthday..."

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Why am I not studying?
Unclear Heart

-----

Renata loves hair ties and hates her territory.

Maybe that statement needs clarification.

When Renata begins hitting her upper speeds, she has found much to her frustration that her bangs get whipped into her eyes. Tying them back and away enables her to go as fast as possible with no worries of crashing dramatically.

Her territory seems to be entirely too small to break her current record. No matter what kind of start she gets, she doesn't feel that she can hit her full potential if she has to turn around every so often. Honestly, she kind of envies Nemo a little. Even though the official word is that you don't leave the territory, the cruiser's little excursions have been a little bit of an open secret—one that was, somehow, allowed to continue.

Maybe if she just followed her example? Set out and kept going a while longer?

No, she couldn't. The first time Nemo had disappeared and returned, she had seen the Black Princess's eyes when she had gotten back. For an instant, there had been some kind of terrible fear in them, but it had been replaced swiftly by the Princess's trademark stern expression. Whatever it had been that caused her to feel that way, Renata doesn't want her to feel it on her account.

Her radar picks up a contact, and Renata begins to back water—she was already moving at speed. Growling to a halt, she scans the horizon. Then nerves give way to relief as she sights the familiar profile.

"Hey boss ladies," she radios, "Nemo's home."

"Thank you," the Black Princess replies tersely. "I shall be there shortly."

As Nemo drew closer, Renata squints. She seems to be swaying back and forth, occasionally pirouetting on the water. Even closer, and she can see a comical smile on her face. What happened over there? Did precious little Nemo eat some bad human food?

"When that I was and a little tiny boy, with hey, ho, the wind and the rain," Nemo sings, skipping over a wave. "A foolish thing was but a toy, for the rain it raineth every day!" Renata is even more confused now. Whatever it was that happened to Nemo, it couldn't have been good for her.

"Hey, 'sup?" she asks, stepping forward cautiously. "You okay there?" Nemo gives her another of those odd, dopey smiles.

"I'm better than okay!" she says, almost giggling. "I'm fantastic! Simply fantastic!"

"Okay…" Renata replies. Now, ironically, she backs away from the cruiser. "You deliver the message? Like you were supposed to?" Nemo falters in her little dance, but she catches herself.

"Yep!" she replies cheerily. "Tonight's a beautiful night! Perfect!"

Something is very, very wrong with Nemo.
-----

"Yakumo, your other friend's here!"

Yakumo and Uzukawa are on their feet immediately, stepping out of the bedroom, out onto the stairs, and then grinding to a sudden, puzzled halt. Tachibana is standing in the doorway, frame limp, head hung, and looking like nothing more than a wet cat though there hasn't been a threatening cloud in the sky. Whatever Yakumo was expecting, it most definitely wasn't this.

"Hey, Haruka-chan!" Uzukawa whines, storming down to the first floor, "You were supposed to get the snacks! What happened?" Tachibana looks down at her empty hands with dull, dazed gaze.

"Snacks, right," she says awkwardly. "I… I dropped those. Should probably go get them…" Uzukawa stops, frigid. Yakumo starts down the stairs herself.

"Tachibana-san, wait!" Her friend pauses in the midst of turning back out the door, and fixes her with a look that, while Yakumo hesitates to call dreading, still stuns and worries her down to her stomach. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing. Nothing at all. Definitely. I didn't see anyone," Tachibana replies, and Yakumo just knows that Uzukawa is shooting her a look as unimpressed as she is. Clearing the stairs, she runs forward and grabs Tachibana by the arm, and the girl goes rigid.

"You're lying. What happened? Who did you see?"

"m'sorry," Tachibana mumbles. Yakumo stops, releases her arm, steps back. Is this… Is this about Inoue-san? So suddenly? What's going on with her friend. "Just… give me a little room right now? I need to clear my head a little. Can't… can't think clearly. Yeah."

Yakumo grabs for her arm again as Tachibana disappears into the growing night, but Uzukawa grabs her wrist before she can. "Let her go," she advises her. "She's not lying." And since Uzukawa has known her so much longer, Yakumo listens.
-----

Grinding to a halt in front of the street light, Haruka looks down at the forlorn-seeming bag of groceries. Involuntarily, her hands clench into fists. Spinning, she brings one up back, and begins to punch the street light.

"I! SCREWED! UUUUUUUP!" she wails, pounding frantically on the metal. "DAMNIT! DAMNIT DAMNIIIIIIIIT!" Lowering her head to rest against the cool, wet metal, she sobs. "How do I face her? What do I say? What am I supposed to do now?"

The street light does not say anything. This makes sense, because it is a street light. With a sigh, she reaches down with her left hand to pick up the back, but stops. Pain begins to filter into her muddled brain, and as she takes in her uncooperative fingers and the blood covering her knuckles, it occurs to her that it hasn't been raining at all, and the water was a little bit sticky.

"I may need to go to a hospital," she says to no one.

First, though, she takes the snacks back to Sakurada's house. She and Yuzuki promptly grab her arms and scream for Mrs. Sakurada to get the car running. In the commotion, Haruka is once again unable to say the things that she needs to.
-----

As Takumi walks down the street, a thought occurs to him that he hadn't yet considered amongst the politics and giddy pleasure of walking the streets with his girlfriend for the first time.

"I hope I'm not in some kind of trouble," he says to the sky. Then he keeps walking. They probably would have said something in the first place, and it's too nice a night to waste it with worrying.
-----

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

It was roughly an hour later that Hoshi had stopped grilling Haru over everything that had happened at Hogwarts. With some relief, the older kitsune agreed to accompany Haru when she went to deal with the troublesome poltergeist. Even if Natsumi was not involved in the way that she was, Hoshi would have interfered anyways. A spirit trying to kill a child would always attract her attention no matter what... not that said spirit would want that sort of attention.

After Haru had left, Hoshi retired for the day to her living chambers. Granted, Haru once more offered the Kyuubi space in her own home as she had done many a time. And as her family had done many times over the centuries. But, just as those times, Hoshi had waved her off stating that she did not want her taint in their homes. Ignoring the annoyance that met that declaration, Hoshi had simply stated goodbye as Haru left. Now though, with everything cleaned up, the kitsune entered the living area of her den. Most would assume that being a nine tail, there would be treasures aplenty. Or, perhaps, rooms fit for nobility. Much like her own mother had a taste for...

Those people would have been dead wrong.

Hoshi's home, such as it was, brought whole new meaning to the words "Spartan". Outside a futon and some rather beaten furniture, the only other items were some wall scrolls. In fact, the nicest items were the small home shrine and a cherry wood cabinet that shone. Most would have been shocked, but to Hoshi and her younger sister? Such places were all that they really needed. Especially as their experiences with their mother had made them dislike opulent surroundings. Extremely so as they reminded them of their hated progenitor.

Snapping her fingers, flames shot from Hoshi's tails and floated around. A few of the flames entered what amount as her stove and began to heat it up as she walked past. Opening her cupboard, Hoshi took out some rice which soon went into the cooker. For a brief moment she paused before grabbing a can of meat and a bottle of sauce. On her face was a small smile as she nodded. "I think that what I have learned about her is worth a little celebration?" After a moment of thought, she nodded. "Yes, I think so."

Not too long after, Hoshi sighed as she placed the bowl which contained her meal to the side and smiled. "Ah... now that was a lovely meal." Standing, she walked over to the washbasin and soon had cleaned her dishes before making her way to the cabinet. Humming small snitches of wordless song, she ran a tail along the door and soon a click was heard before it opened up.

Once it was open, Hoshi just stared at the contents. The bottom was filled with various small items from various things over her long life. Reaching out with a finger, she placed the claw on a spearhead...

*******************************

He was running as fast as his legs could carry him through the dark forest. Behind him, he could hear the crashing sounds and baying of approaching yokai. Only eight years old and armed with a spearhead, the young boy had left his poor family at the edge of their village during a time of famine. Last winter, his father had died of sickness and he was the only one who could forage. He had known where there was a stream filled with fish, but the forest nearby was the haunt of yokai.

Steeling his heart, he had gone into the forest to gather the food for his family and had headed back before dark. But night had fallen faster then expected and the yokai were now on the hunt. They had taken advantage of how nearby battles had left plenty of corpses to feast on. And in the process they had driven the wildlife away and lead to the famine. In fact, the week before the boy had seen his family's crops ravaged by the Oni band that lead them.

And it seemed that now he was going to die and likely have his family follow him.

Moments later, the inevitable happened and he tripped on a root. Gasping for breath, he turned at the jeers and laughter to see the yokai step into view. Rather then give up, he brought up the spearhead and waved them at the amused yokai. But then their expressions changed and they backed up. Looking behind him at a twig snapping, the boy could only gasp at the sight of two five tailed kitsune standing behind him. Both of them growled at the yokai before snarling. "Leave, now. Him and his village are under our protection now."

It only took a short, but brutal battle and all the yokai were dead or running for their lives before the kitsune brought the boy back to his home. They also brought enough food for the village and credited him with bravery and courage. But a week later, they vanished as soon as they came with the boy giving them the spearhead as a gift. The kitsune did observe when they were in the area and watched the boy grow into a strong young man who later became a noble samurai. One who's clan would rise to prominace in time...

*********************************************************

With a small prayer for the long dead man, Hoshi turned to another item. This one was a well made Obi. And it was yet another memory for the kitsune...

*******************************************************

Sickness had swept through the land and taken many lives. Everywhere there was the sick and the dying. One village though was near the epicenter of the plague. For many, they thought that death had come to the land and soon they would join those already gone. One little girl sniffled as she watched her mother be buried. Now the lone member of her family, and coughing, she did not expect to see many more sunsets before she would be with her family.

Not long after, the girl was sick in bed, unable to move much when she heard the sound of footsteps and turned to see two older women in traveler's clothes. The village headman was murmuring to them but they just waved him off. Both of them gave her a concotion that tasted utterly horrible, and yet made her feel better. They also fed her a broth until she regained her strength.

Once she was better, the girl followed them around for the next two years as the plague slowly died out. Even when they went to other villages she did, and she learned from them. Eventually they moved on and left her at her home, trained in the ways of healing. In thanks, the girl gave them both fine obis she had made. The little girl would become a locally renowned healer.

She would never tell a soul though that her last sight of her senseis were them transforming into six tailed kitsune. That was her secret to keep and keep it she did.

*****************************************

Object after object, memory after memory, Hoshi went through them all. Briefly, her finger stopped on an old coin, one of the more ancient pieces of her collection. And the memory for it was one of her more proud ones.
*************************************************

Tonight, they would strike.

That fool of an Emperor would never see it coming, his son would not see the sunrise. A boy all of four years old would never suspect what was going to happen. Each of them were trusted after all. And with his death, another member of the family would get the chance to ascend. One who would help them gain more power and riches in exchange for what they would do. Dark plans were hatched in the small hut. Coins were exchanged.

Everything was perfect, nothing could stop them...

Which is why it came as a shock when one of their group began to cough and choke after a sip of celebratory drink. Grasping at his throat, he hacked before blood began to leak from his lips. But he was not alone as the other conspirators there also began to die, one by one. Life fading from him, one of them turned to see the two servant girls smiling at them. But it was their shadows that made him boggle.

For they were of two foxes, three tails behind each of them...

*******************************************************

Pulling her eyes away from it, Hoshi found her gaze coming to a Tanto. She could well remember that day centuries ago, finding two badly injured and exhausted fellow kitsune not far from the hut that her and her sister had called home. Much to her surprise, she had recognized them as the heir to the Ono family and his wife. After all, while not invited due to who they were, they had still seen the wedding just scant weeks before. Quickly, they took them into their hut and hid them. And just in time as a band of hostile yokai lead by a kitsune of a rival clan appeared.

None of them had tried to search the hut belonging to the daughters of Tamamo no Mae. Thanks to the reputation of their mother, both sisters were outcasts of sorts. And everyone "Knew" what they would likely do to two weaker kitsune, so why bother searching their home? No, the two they were hunting would have gone elsewhere or would be dead.

Idiots.

Within their hut, the two nursed the couple back to health while keeping them hidden. As it turned out, a rival clan had attacked the Onos without warning and wiped them out except for the two with them. Apparently, some of their allies had abandoned them in return for money and paying with power from the now destroyed clan. Despite everything though, the Mae sisters were rather angry with what happened, but kept their peace. They fully expected that the Ono couple would despise them and want to leave as soon as possible.

Much to their surprise though, the couple was extremely thankful to them and pledged their friendship and that of their family for what they did. Moved, the two sisters pledged themselves to help them to take vengence on those that had attempted to destroy them. Over the next few decades, their friendship was sealed in shared blood being shed in the fighting that followed.

Slowly, the Ono couple had gathered other kitsune and yokai under their banner. Mostly smaller clans and families. Always though, they trusted the two sisters the most, though they kept to the shadows. Neither the husband nor his wife would hear of anything said against the two. And in one case where one of their allies had tried to have the two killed in an ambush, the Ono couple had all those involved executed. Eventually, it was just decided to ignore the fact of who was with them.

It was a bright day indeed when the Ono clan was once more restored with the birth of the eldest daughter. And then the second daughter, Ono Haru was born. Hoshi would always deny it, as would her sister, but both kitsune had cried tears of joy when they were handed the infant kits soon after their births. Mainly at the sheer trust shown them, and it cemented their loyalty and friendship.

The nine tailed kitsune shook off thoughts of what happened as well and turned to where the most precious treasures she owned were kept. Each one always making her heart swell at the sight of them. Of all the items, these were the ones she held closest to her heart...

And they were about to be added to.

Reaching into her kimono, Hoshi pulled out a single item. A simple picture held in a frame which she set up with the other items with a happy sigh. Closing her eyes, she turned to the shrine and bowed. "Thank you for this gift. For this being untainted and pure unlike this unworthy soul..."

On the shelf above, the picture of Natsumi being nuzzled by several unicorns seemed to be smiling down at the much older kitsune...

 

[darthcourt10]

RBomber

Aberforth will never live it down.

---

Dumbledore blinked.

This, in itself, is a miracle. Dumbledore is old and has seen many things, good, bad, ugly, beautiful. So, nowadays, he's rarely blinked. Oh, sure, these things still can awed or terrify him, especially since he knows the majestic behind it, but blinked in surprise? Not very much, these days.

And now, what makes him blink?

The fact that, when he decides to enter Hog's Head on whim, he saw that the place... much cleaner.

Y'see, the gloom atmosphere of Hog's Head, when compared with, say, Three Bromstick, while can be attributed to it's... interestingkind of usual customers, it mostly because Dear Aberforth didn't see much benefit in keeping the place look respectable. It becomes a kind of reinforcing cycle; no respectable customers, no apparent need to clean the place, no respectable customers attracted, etc, etc.

So, yeah, the first thing he notice that most of the place had been cleaned spotless. No dust or cobweb in sight. In fact, Dumbledore is very sure that some of the shiny bits will be gleaming when-

Oh, they're actually gleaming. From sunlight of newly installed windows and skylight. That also makes him blink again.

"Good Evening, Sir. What would you-"

This makes him blink for the third time. Specifically, that there are woman actually greeting him inside Hog's Head.

His brother... eccentricities, combined with the kind of patrons that Hog's Head attracts, and his usual grumpiness, means that no one, especially the fairer sex, was willing to entertain thought of work here. The fact that Aberforth cannot pay extra and refuse any kind of help from Dear Albus was just the punchline, so to speak.

So, why this lady (A lovely one, if Albus might say so. Even if he's not exactly interested on fairer sex, or, indeed, interested in anything at all these days, he can still admire and enjoy the beauty of many things, including the beauty of a woman. No lewd things, though, simple admiration will be sufice) is working here, and how, indeed, his brother is willing to let a woman into his house-

"Alpinia, who's there-"

-And speak of the Devil, Dear Aberforth has come forth.

...With two little kids holding on him.

...And both of the kids has a pair of cute little horns attached on their temple.

Oh, Dumbledore thought for himself.

"...Headmaster? Why are you-"

And, just like on cue, the woman's bandanna, attached to her head, get loose for some reason...

...Revealing that, yes, the lady has horns on her head. Goat's horn, if he's not mistaken.

This revelation, naturally, makes Albus' eyes gleam Dangerously, something that never happened ever since Albus begin his 3rd year on Hogwarts.

Naturally, sensing this, automatically set Aberforth's dread sense, long ago forgotten and numb, buried in anger and despair, into overdrive-

"...I can explain."

-And right triggering his prey instinct.

"Sure you will, Brother. Let me hear your 'Magnificent' explanation."

----

"So, let me review everything so far. 8 months ago, you came to Saint Brendan's Isles."

"That's right."

"Because Vicky appears one day, ask you to rent Hog's Head for half a year for Royal Navy Business-"

"She's pushy, and she brings a bag full of gold. A very big bag. And she's very pushy."

"-And then ship you to Saint Brendan Isles. Because-"

"-She said I need vacation-"

"-Of course, Victory. So, you end up there, and somehow end up improving local ale recipe-"

"-Among other things-"

"-And somehow, end up doing... that... with this poor lady-"

"It's not poor. It's certainly... unplanned, but I am happy with these arrangement."

"Ah, forgive me for my tongue, then, Mrs. Alpinia."

"You are forgiven."

"...So... Mrs. Alpinia, do my Brother, ah, already makes you... a Honest Woman?

"ALBUS!"

"Well, we already married by local law in Isles, if that what you asked. ...Not sure about here, yet."

"I see. Well then, please do tell me when you ready to officiate your nuptials, because I'd like to be the first who raise the toast for both of you. Brother's privilege., y'see."

"Well, I-"

"We will."

"Excellent. Now, can you please let me and my brother talk in private? Nothing serious, just a talk between brothers...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

It was a red faced and breathless Jane who finally set down after her flight around the room. Laughs were still escaping her as she shook her head, cheeks nearly aching from the smile that was on her face. "Cuz?" Seeing Harry look at her curiously, she got back up and hugged him tightly which caused him to wince at how bonecrushing it was. "Thank you. That was beyond awesome."

From where she was sitting, Arizona nodded some with a slight smile. "I agree with Jane, it was certainly something..." Thoughtful, she shook her head with a sigh. "A bit of a shame it was not the full package I suppose."

Having just woken up a few minutes ago and walking in to the sight of Jane flying around, Natsumi sat down on the couch beside Harry. Much to Jane's amusement, she curled up into Harry with said boy placing an arm around her subconsciously once Jane had let go. "Full package? What are you talking about?"

Lips twitching, Arizona chuckled as she looked on the sight before her. While there were those that considered her a prude, she did not have any issue with something like cuddling. "I may be old, but I do remember some things from my younger crew members. A comic book character that appeared several years before my..." There was a brief flash of pain and then it was gone. "Before Pearl. He was rather popular among the younger generation at the time." Seeing the curiosity, the Battleship chuckled. "Leaping tall buildings in a single bound, faster then a bullet, more powerful then a locomotive..."

Eyes widening, Jane barely held back a squeal. "You mean... Superman?!"

A twinkle in her eye, Arizona reached into her coat and pulled out a comic before placing it on the table. The three teens all leaned in and gasped at the sight of Superman comic from 1941. "This was on my hull that day, you know." Fondly smiling, she shook her head. "One of my crewmen had it in his bunk. You got the flying, but not the super strength, the speed, invulnerability, or the other powers. As I said, a bit of a shame."

For several moments, Harry stared at the comic in awe before shaking it off and frowning in thought. "Um, I'm not sure about super speed and some of the others... But super strength is kind of easy in a way. Invulnerability? Maybe some sort of shield charm?"

Due to looking at Natsumi, Harry missed the wide eyed look on both Jane's and Arizona's faces at what he had just said. Meanwhile, the kitsune frowned and hummed as she considered what Harry had stated before slowly nodding. "Not sure about that charm, but the super strength, yeah. That part would not be very hard as long as you don't go extreme."

Unable to quite believe what she was hearing, Jane looked between them. "Wait, seriously? You can give someone super strength with magic? That's some sort of joke, right?"

Only shrugging as he thought about it, Harry gave a small nod. "Kind of? Won't last for very long kind you, but drinking the blood of a Re'em will definetely do it. Kind of hard to get though so potions are usually the means used... Those only gice a weaker version of super strength."

It took a moment but Arizona fixed her gaze on Harry. "Re'em? As in the Biblical animal?" When the black haired boy nodded, she muttered to herself. "I see... that is rather interesting." Shaking of the thoughts, she turned back to Harry. "And just how strong are we talking about?"

Furrowing his eyebrows, Harry gave it some thought. "Pretty strong, I guess? Drinking some drops will let you lift several tons over your head. Then there's strengthening potions that can do lesser versions. Fifth Years make it and some showed it off. Katie took a sip and lifted one of he couches with three students on it with both hands."

Gaze steady, Arizona hummed some as she pushed aside the obvious military applications for later, focusing on another idea. "So perhaps several hundred pounds for a potion brewed by Fifth Years... that is rather interesting. I can see some uses for that besides the obvious. And Re'em blood is more powerful still?"

Confused as to where this we going, Harry slowly nodded. "Um, yeah? But like I said, it's pretty rare when all is said and done since it is extremely hard to get the blood from the animal in the first place. I barely managed to get some to use for Louisiana's present." He turned towards Jane who looked interested. "I sealed it in some rock crystal. I still got some drops left though under stasis in case I need it for something."

Dark chuckles though made them turn to see Arizona leaning forward with her hands clasped in front of her face. While usually prim and proper, there were times that the Battleship showed a more mischievous side which could cause double takes from people. And from her expression, this was one of those times as she looked like a cat given a large bowl of cream. "Well now... tell me something, Harry. How would you like to help your Aunt Arizona play a small trick on your Aunt Mutsu? And your Uncle John as well?" Unsaid was the rest of her thoughts. 'Though I would not mind if it gets Jinstuu, Hiei, Albie, and maybe my sister as well.'

Only sighing, Nagato got up and walked off. "I do not need to know and don't want to. So I'll go off and see why Yamato-San, Enterprise, and Kawa-San have not gotten out of bed." Before she was out of sight though, she stuck her bead back into view with a smirk. "I do want pictures though~"

With that, she was gone while Arizona turned to Harry. "Now then, tell me something, Harry? Would it be at all possible for you to use that spell you just did a few minutes ago here on Jane? Back in Sasebo, I mean?"

Rapidly catching on, Harry slowly began to grin. "It's just levitation charm, I don't think that even if it gets noticed it'll cause much attention, dess. So yeah, I can do it, Aunt Arizona."

Softly snickering, the Standard glanced at Jane who also had a large grin on her face before rubbing her hands together. "Well now, that is good to know. After all, perhaps Super Jane should pay a visit to the Richardson Household..."

Hearing near identicle cackles coming from her son and niece, Nagato only shook her head with a small smile on her face. 'I suppose that I should warn Mutsu, but... I still need to pay her back. And a video of that will be worth whatever headaches happen.'

Upon reaching the Headgirl's quarters which was where the others were staying, Nagato poked her head into the room. Part of her raised an eyebrow at the sight of Tenryuu and her daughters outside of Verniy all sprawled out on the bed in various ways. The white haired Destroyer though was currently discussing something with Gangut in Russian when both shipgirls noticed Nagato, with Gangut giving her a grin. "Comrade Nagato! How are things with you this morning?"

Lips twitching, Nagato shook her head. "So far things are going well, my friend. Especially as I am certain that you've heard from downstairs."

By the smirk on Gangut's face, Nagato knew that she had hit the target on the dot with the Russian nodding. "Da, I heard and noticed." Slowly shaking her head,s he gave a snort. "Such amusing things to use magic for, though I do not blame the Little Ones. Let them have their fun! They need memories such as this for later in life." Grinning, Gangut ruffled Verniy's hair some. "Though Comrade Tiny One likely would like to see her samyy dorogoy as a superhero!"

It went without saying that Verniy flushed at the image now going through her head much to the amusement of the two Battleships. Hopping off Gangut's bed, Verniy made her way over to the one that the rest of DesDiv6 was on. "I'll wake up Kaa-San and the others."

Catching Gangut's eye, Nagato only shook her head. "That would be nice, thank you." Eyebrows furrowing though, she gave a glance around. "Now where is Enterprise and the others?"

With a hum, Gangut pulled out a pipe and lit it. After a few puffs of smoke, she shook her head. "Comrades Iowa and Willie left to speak with the Sailing ships. As for Comrade Enterprise..." A grin crossed the Russian's scarred face before she tilted her head to the side. "Da, they are are still here."

Only raising her eyebrow, Nagato walked over in the direction motioned and opened the curtains around one of the beds before raising her eyebrow. Looking over her shoulder, she coughed a bit. "How did this happen now?"
Unable to help herself, Gangut chuckled some as she held her pipe in one hand. "Ah, it would seem that our comrades enjoyed their day out yesterday. Perhaps a bit too much!" Clenching her pipe between her lips, she shook her head in amusement. "Next time, they might not drink so much, da?"

Nagato though had a grin of her own before pulling out her phone and taking pictures. Meanwhile, Kawa groaned a bit at the noise and slight headache before opening her eyes. Blinking away some of the brightness, tried to turn away only for a weight of the body pillow on her chest to stop her. Kawa did manage to turn her head though and snuggle into the pillows she was resting her head on. Sighing, the Light Cruiser closed her eyes and let the scent of cherry blossoms try and take her away.

Moments later though, Kawa felt the mattress that her body was on rise and fall before realizing that the "Pillows" she was using were off. It did not help matters that the "Body pillow" decided to snuggle more into her as well with a mutter of it's own. "Mmm, so cuddly..."

Eyes snapping open, Kawa came face to bosom with Yamato's chest which she had been using for pillows. A glance down showed that the body pillow was in fact Enterprise using Kawa's own chest as a pillow herself. Thankfully for her sanity though, she realized that they were all still dressed.

Or, rather, mostly dressed as the case may be.

Unfortunately for her, Nagato let out a chuckle and Kawa noticed her putting away a phone. At her horrified expression, the Battleship only smirked. "Rather comfortable, isn't it?"

It was then though that Enterprise whined a bit about the light and buried her face deeper into Kawa's chest while Yamato grumbled about it being too early. Right before the Battleship wrapped her arms tightly around Kawa and pulled her as close as possible. For her part, Kawa was frozen. One part wanted to curse whatever she could...

And the other wanted to thank whatever got her into this situation.

The third though wanted Nagato to sink along with herself and any evidence of this situation.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 74: S0ngD0g13

Kaylee stood out on the grounds, bobbing her head to a silent tune as she watched the students enjoying their day and set up a row of empty bottles in preparation for some target-practice. Her thoughts were interrupted by a gaggle of green-clad girls snickering nearby. Her eyebrow twitched as she overheard them, Pansy Parkinson's voice the loudest, poking fun at her appearance and dress, and the fact that Kaylee wasn't the most graceful in her movement.

Kaylee looked over her shoulder and smirked. "One, I can't waltz worth a damn but I can dance. Two, Miss Parkinson, I can at least take pride in saying I don't look like I won the ninety-yard dash in an eighty-yard room."

A nearby group of Gryffindors laughed at the barb and Pansy went scarlet. Lacking a proper riposte for the slight on her appearance, she shot back, "Then let's see you dance, you Colonial Scow!"

Kaylee laughed. "Alright, ya tea-swillin' puff-adder, I will, but I'll need a partner. Hey, Ginny, you feel like showin' off a bit? I need a partner for the Paso de los Pistoleros."

"I'm in, if you can lend me a brace," said the redhead. "I've been practicing." Kaylee tossed a belt with two holstered Navy Colts to her partner.

They stood back-to-back, their feet tapping on the wooden platform Fred and George had Transfigured for them. Ginny's shoes were a high-pitched tap-tap-taptaptap, in time with Kaylee's boots and their deeper thump-thump-thumpthumpthump...

They stepped off from one another, their feet still keeping the beat, and suddenly whirled about to face each other. Pistols flashed out of holsters and began to spin, gleaming in the sunlight as Kaylee and Ginny stepped closer. Kaylee pirohuetted and one of her Army Colts leapt out from behind her back as Ginny sent a Navy pinwheeling toward the ironclad; they caught the pistols, holstered them, and Ginny took Kaylee's hand to spin her out to arm's length and back.

As Kaylee spun back past Ginny, her hands stripped the revolvers from the redhead's holsters and Ginny's drew Kaylee's...

From then on the pair circled and stepped, their feet beating out the rhythm and their pistols and bodies whirling and flashing, flowing around one another with fluid grace until finally they were back-to-back once more, and spun to face the bottles side-by-side. Their guns leapt and bucked, a continuous roll of thunder as they emptied their four revolvers into the targets, turned in place, and holstered the guns with a twirling flourish.

Everyone stood silent... And then erupted into clapping...

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 8: RBomber

You know, I dissapointed in you all for not making connection sooner.

***

"Buongiorno, my name is Luigi Torelli of Regia Marina, nice to meet you!"

"Ohayou, this is Maruyu of Dai-Nippon Teitoku Rikugun, please take care of us!"

"But of course! We will do our best! ...Okay, what we do today? Patrol training? Merchant hunting? Air defense? Come on come on, show us!"

"...Uh, didn't you know the schedule?"

"Oh, come on! Schedule all the same, anyway."

Maruyu looks at Marina Militare aide, which has the grace to looks flustered.

"...At least you bring the equipment?"

"But of course! Aside of rigging, we have.... we have.... uh, why there's ground pounder guns here?"

"....For next two week, we wouldn't do any major naval training...."

"...."

"It would be ground auxiliary training."

"...But nobody told me anything. No Pola, no Zara, no-"

There's some stiffled laugh from behind.

"...POLA YOU MEANIE!"

----

The training, for the most part, goes swimmingly. Those are consist mostly of game of tags, with group fighting for flag, search and destroy simulation, and some other games. All in all, it was less training and more on trying to have fun and gently acclimatizing the ships on land battle.

Emphasis on trying for Regina Maria.

"Ack! Mammamia Madre de Dio, how can you all always tag me first! This is unfair!"

Luigi got tagged for the 18th times. The sad part is, she's actually doing pretty well, and manages to tag her opponents 12 times. And manages to tag Maruyu once.

Libeccio got tagged about 25 times, and tagged none.

Roma got tagged 80 times trying to protect Libeccio. A noble sentiment, especially since she manages to tag 20 of her opponents.

Less said about Zara and Pola, the better. Aquilla, at the very least, manages to use their.... noble sacrifice to tag her opponents 40 times. She got tagged 50 times for her trouble.

Maruyu's team, in the other hand, hadn't bother counting after 200 of so cumulative tagging.

...Well, to be honest, this isn't exactly serious training.

----

Luigi Torelli was in a bad mood since yesterday.

She felt that she's the only one in her companies that trying her best to actually win. She means, sure, for the most part it's just having fun, but....

Sometimes she felt that she's the only one in her fleet that actually trying to do things right. She knows that everyone trying their best. Even Zara and Pola.

Part of it perhaps because her fleet often compared with Kriegsmarine, who admittedly have their lion share of battle on the Atlantic. When everyone speaks more reverent of Kriegsmarine rather than Regia Marina, including some of her own senior officers....

"Uh, Signorina Torelli? Are you alright?"

Oh, hey, that's the Nippon subs that beat her teammates good. Really good.

The worst part is that Luigi really can't hate her. There's something about her outside battle than tend to make everything... sunny.

"Uh, oh, no, I'm fine. Sto bene. Really good."

"...Can I sit here?"

"...Sure."

Minutes pass.

"...Signorina Torelli-"

"Just call me Luigi."

"...Uh, um, uh, yes. Miss Lui-"

"Just Luigi is fine."

Maruyu can't help it. She start giggling uncontrallably

"...What so funny?"

"Uh, hehehe. I'm sorry. It's just the name... hehehehe, Luigi, hehe-"

"What's wrong with Luigi?! It was-"

"Name of your war hero, yes. It's just, uh, well...."

Then she produce a Nintendo 3DS, and shows her Super Mario 3D Land. Game session ensues.

"...I didn't sound like that. I didn't even have a moustache! Or know anything about plumbing!"

"Uh, yes, I know, I apologi-"

"You're Mario, then!"

"Eh?"

"Well, Ma-ri-o. Ma-ruy-u. You are Mario now!"

Silence.

Then a minute latter, Maruyu start laughing. Hard.

"DON'T LAUGH, YOU SILLY"

"S-Sorry, ahahaha, it's just, ehehehehe, so funny, ehehehehahaha, Mario, Maruyu, hahahahehehe-"

"STOP LAUGHING! YOU MAKE ME ehehehe laughing too!"

The two girls keep laughing for about 10 minutes.

It's a start of a wonderful friendship.

----

"Luigi, this is 1st Lt. Hiryu Mogami. Mogami-san, this is Luigi Torelli of Regia Marina. He's the one who train me in weapon handling."

"Pleasure to meet you!"

"Pleasure to meet you too, Luigi-chan. So, what do you need?"

----

It was, to say, quite surreal.

Pola and Zara often get drunk together, and then doing random things on some un(?)fortunate souls. In this case, Lt. Mogami, which got taken hostage by Pola and Zara.

Affectionately called Momo by both Heavy Cruiser.

"...It is okay to let them and Lt. like that?"

"Don't worry, this happens quite a lot. They will release him an hour or two later. When they lost consciousness.

"...Oh, okay then."

But then, Luigi start realizing something. And start giggling.

"...Uh, Lui-chan?"

"Uh, ehehe, sorry. It's just... you, Mario. Me, Luigi."

"...Yes?"

Then she point at Lt. Mogami.

"Prince Peach, cause he's male and all that"

"...Yes?"

Luigi Torelli sighed.

"He's a prince, held hostage. By-"

"Oh. OH! You mean-"

"Yes. Koopa."

She points at Zara and Pola. Maruyu can't help it. She start laughing. Along with Luigi.

And everyone else, when they found out the story the next day.

****

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

A bright grin on her face, Jane couldn't help but turn her head in every possible direction as they walked down the hallway from Gryffindor Tower. "Oh wow... this place is so cool! Look at it all, Ari-Mama!"

Glancing at a painted glass scene of a wizard and dragon fighting, which was animated no less! Arizona only nodded at Jane's proclamation. "I will admit, it is certainly something. The magic here is quite obvious, even in the day."

Just chuckling, Harry placed his hands behind his head as they reached a stairwell and walked down it. "It's pretty cool and fun." Suddenly, he held up a hand. "Okay! Everyone stop for a moment."

There was a frown on Arizona's face and she was about to ask when the staircase they were on shifted. Eyes widening, Arizona watched as the entire thing reconfigured itself to another group of entrances, at one point with nothing supporting it but air. Once it shuddered to a halt, the Battleship glanced around. "Does that happen... often?"

Looking over his shoulder, Harry gave a nod. "Several times a day actually. It gets a bit of getting used to and exploring the whole castle, but it's not a big deal. You just need to know the schedule in your head so that you're not late to class. Time it right and you'll even get where you need to more quickly."

Even as Arizona hummed in thought, Jane's attention was grabbed by the sound of metal clanking against metal. Before her eyes, a suit of armor was jogging up and everyone turned to it. "What the..."

Of course, it was then that everyone noticed the direction it was heading in. Mainly that of a distracted Fusou who was cocking her head to the side at the sight of a painting. Eyes widening, Shigure took a step forward. "Fusou-Sama!"

The Battleship only had time to turn and take a step back, which had the effect of the suit of armor crashing into her. Everyone winced at the sound as the pieces of metal crashed to the ground, empty. After a moment, Harry chuckled. "Guess he fell to pieces."

Pretty much all those there either shook their heads or groaned. Softly snickering, Jane shook her head in askance while giving her grinning cousin a look. "Really, Cuz? You had to make that pun?"

All Harry did was proudly grin even as the armor's helmet moved and stopped as if it was giving him a glare. Moments later, all the pieces shuddered before flying back together. Turning to Fusou who was still blinking in stunned disbelief, it bowed.

With it's head falling off and just being caught.

Once it placed it's head back on to the rest, it jogged off and out of view. Blinking, Shigure turned away from where she was examining Fusou and raised an eyebrow at the unsurprised look on Harry's face. "Does... that sort of thing happen often?"

Shrugging, Harry waggled a hand back and forth for a few moments. "More often then you might think. The statues and suits of armor like to wander around the school from time to time to get to new places. There's a group of them which likes to dance from time to time." At the looks, he could only shake his head. "They're not bad really. Especially at break dancing."

Arizona opened her mouth for a moment to comment on what she just heard. But then she clicked it shut and only pinched her nose. 'I am not going to ask.' Seeing Jane giggling at the thought though, a look of fondness crossed over the Battleship's face. 'At least Jane is enjoying herself.'

Unable to help herself, Jane finally stopped giggling and gave Harry a disbelieving look. "You're joking, right Cuz? I mean... even for magic that is ridiculous..." Trailing off as they walked past an offshoot, Jane blinked and looked down at it before her eyebrows raised. "Are... those gargoyles doing the Macarena?"

Giving the sight a glance, Yamashiro frowned. "I thought that those were called grotesques though? Not Gargoyles." When everyone turned to her, she pointed at them. "See? No drain spouts."

There was a frown on Shinano's face as she scratched her head. "I thought that they were gargoyles though?"

Slowly, Regina shook her head and raised a finger. "Um, actually you're both right." Blushing some, she adjusted her scarf and poked her fingers together shyly. "Gargoyles are the names for exterior ones which have a water spout, with which they drain water running off roofs. Grotesques are when they're decorative only and don't have a water spout... They're also known as Chimeras."

Eyebrows raising, Harry gave her a smile and then hugged her around the waist which made her squeak. "I never knew that, Regina! That's actually pretty cool." Head tilting to the side as they began to walk again, Harry didn't notice that he still had an arm around the Abyssal's waist. "How did you know that?"

Flushing deeply from the feel of having an arm around her waist, it took Regina a few seconds to calm down enough to speak. "W-well, back home there's a Heavy Cruiser n-named Rina. She saw some pictures and, kind of likes making her own." On Regina's face there was a thoughtful look as she leaned into Harry. "She mostly makes them out of drift wood and sometimes pieces of coral that wash up after big storms."

Harry considered what he had been told before slowly nodding. "Huh, that sounds kind of neat. She makes a lot of them?"

With the conversation now on safer territory, Regina nodded some. "Well, yes, we have a large number of them back home. I think she might even sell some of them online... She's not the only one, there's also this one Wo class who carves things and sells them as well...

Listening in as they walked, Arizona frowned a bit. Despite every the past few years, the idea of being allied with the Abyssals still... bothered her somewhat on a level. But she dismissed it as she always did though part of her did muse on it from time to time. 'I wonder if this is how some of the others feel about being allies with the Japanese...'

A few minutes later though, Harry held up a hand outside a washroom. "Just give me a moment."

However, he was stopped as he went to go inside by Arizona placing a hand on his shoulder. "Harry James Potter! What do you think you are doing!?" She then gestured with her head at the washroom. "That is a girl's washroom that you were about to enter!'

Bemused at being a target for the American's infamous "Prude Rage", Harry only chuckled. "Yup! But this one is out of order mainly because of the inhabitant, though she has gotten better recently." The moment of confusion was enough for Harry to slip by her and poke his head in. "Myrtle? Can you come out here?"

Moments later, Myrtle drifted out of the door and blinked as she noticed the shipgirls around. But it was the girl with them that caused her to blink before turning to the black haired boy. "Harry? What's going on?"

In reply, Harry walked over to Jane and placed his arm around her shoulders. "Aunt Myrtle? I'd like you to meet my cousin Jane Richardson, her dad's Admiral John Richardson. Jane? This is my Aunt Myrtle Warren, she was dating my Great Uncle when she was alive."

Somewhat embarrassed, Myrtle drifted down and gave him a slight smile. "Well, I wouldn't say that we were dating... but my Andrew and I were, well, very close. And were planning on courting later on before getting married." The ghost then gave him a look. "And would I not be your Great-Aunt Myrtle in that case?"

All Harry did though was shrug. "I mean, sure? But then I would be getting wierd looks if I called you 'Great-Aunt Myrtle', you know?"

Her tone rather dry, Myrtle nodded. "Yes, I suppose that you would." Turning back to Jane, she was surprised at the wonder on her face. "Anyways, as Harry mentioned, my name is Myrtle Warren and I was a student here. Harry's told me quite a bit about you."

Puffing out her chest a bit, Jane nodded. "Hopefully good things!" At the grin and Harry pouting, the twelve year old stuck out her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Myrtle."

Rather amused, Myrtle reached over and grasped her hand and had to hide her surprise as she could actually feel Jane's in her own. 'What in the world...' Shaking that off, she hid her shock and gave said hand a shake. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Jane."

Even though she was confused about how Myrtle had looked shocked, and now was looking thoughtful at her hand, Jane only nodded. "And I'm very pleased to meet you as well, Miss Myrtle." To her amusement, Myrtle waved her off and told her to simply call her "Myrtle" instead. "This is my first time meeting an actual ghost."

Only shaking her head, Myrtle refocused her attention. 'I have later to ponder what happened.' A small smile on her face, Myrtle gave a shrug. "Well, now you can say that you met one." Glancing at the others, she gave a nod. "I take it that you're all heading to the Great Hall for breakfast?"

Nodding as they started to walk again, this time holding Verniy's hand, Harry scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I've got to eat something before heading out. And Jane's never had a Hogwarts Breakfast, and neither has Aunt Arizona, Shigure-Nee, or Fusou-Oba and Yamashiro-Oba."

A grin on her face, Myrtle nodded at the four in question. "I see, well, I can tell you all that you are in for something of a treat then. Both for the game and for breakfast."

It was a thoughtful Arizona who turned to Myrtle with a frown. All too soon, the two were deep in discussion about various things from the 1930s and 1940s, Myrtle providng Arizona with a view point of sorts as she had been around since then and could remember it all. After all, there was not too many that remembered the time before the war around back in Sasebo and shared the similarities that was between even Britain at the time did with America. However, a gasp from Jane followed by sounds of amazement from Shigure and the Fusou sisters brought Arizona out of her conversation. At seeing the Great Hall, the American had to raise both eyebrows in surprise as early March sunlight streamed in from where it looked like there was no roof. "My word."

From where she floated beside her, Myrtle only nodded. "It is rather impressive..." On her face was a somewhat bittersweet expression at seeing the wonder in Jane's eyes. It reminded her greatly of her own expression when she first came to Hogwarts and made her wish that she could turn back time. However, then she shook off such thoughts and realized something as they made their way towards the Gryffindor Table. "Harry? Where is Ron? I would have thought that he would be done here already..."

Glancing at her, Harry shook his head some. "Ron will be by later, right now he's waiting on Warspite." At the confused expression, he held back his snickers not noticing how Shinano took the seat beside him. "She sent word that she's going to come by for the match. Pretty sure that afterwards, he's going to be spending time with her."

That only made the former Ravenclaw nod in thought. "I see, perhaps later I'll get to meet Miss Warspite." At the looks, she blushed some. "I... remember seeing her once, when I was a little girl. There were others as well, such as Hood, Queen Elizabeth and so on. Since they're back I... I think that I might like to meet them." Unknown to the rest though, Myrtle had a reason of her own. 'Grandpa served on Miss Warspite, I wonder if he came back with her... And if he could pass something on to Mum and Dad...'

When Jane sat down, her eyes widened at the sheer amount of food that was around. "Um, how much can we have, Cuz? Because some of this looks really good..."

Softly chuckling, Harry began to gather up what he needed for a light breakfast. "Eat as much as you want, Jane. There's always more food." At her look, he bit back some laughter. "Akagi-Oba and Kaga-Oba ate enough to be filled along with Mum and other shipgirls. And there was still plenty left."

More then anything, that made Jane's eyes widen to nearly comical proportions. "Oh wow... that is a lot." A tap on her ear made her turn to Smolzona. "Is something wrong?"

The Smolgirl only shook her head and pointed. "Zona."

Looking in the direction given, Jane laughed some and tapped Arizona on the shoulder. "Ari-Mama! Look what just appeared!" Arizona gave her an odd look until she caught sight of what Jane was gesturing at and her heart stopped. "Donuts!"

And, sure enough, right there in front of the Standard was a plate piled high with donuts. Ones of every description sat there in a pile that Arizona was sure was as tall as she was if she was standing. Mouth watering, the Battleship swallowed before turning to Harry who was eating some egg on toast. "Harry, did you..."

Extremely amused, Harry grinned at her. "I let the House Elves know last night while you guys were eating that you really, really like donuts. They must have taken it to heart... so just enjoy."

Very slowly, Arizona grabbed a napkin and tucked into her collar before reaching out and taking a donut. Taking a bite, she chewed and swallowed with a sound of enjoyment before she continued her meal. Beside her, Smolzona also had a donut of her own that said being was currently trying to eat. Minimu, Minagato, and Smallbacore were also eating breakfast from a plate they had gotten and were now taking food from. All Harry did though was smile and turn back to the conversation that was going on between Jane, Shinano, and Regina. Part of him noted how Kawa was unable to look at either Enterprise or Yamato without blushing though before he shrugged it off.

It was turning out to be a pretty good day.

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

I made another thing, this time with 1000% more Warspite embarrassment.

Ron and Warspite: French Girl

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

Ron found himself pacing back and forth anxiously as he waited for Warspite to arrive. Despite her best efforts she'd only been able to get a two day pass, there had been a few mix ups and injuries in the RN and she'd had to go on patrol and only got back late the night before. Still that had given him time to finish up her commissioning gift. It may not have been March 8th exactly but this was the closest he'd see her in person barring some miracle. He wasn't exactly sure how she'd take the gift but he'd put in a great number of hours completing it, probably more than he should have but with his grades still at Outstanding and Exceeds Expectations in every class he couldn't be criticized. He hoped she'd like it though, he'd thought it was inspired.

It was only a few minutes later when Warspite finally arrived, completely avoiding the usual chance of falling by being in her chair. The battleship still blinked a few times before she caught sight of Ron and gave him a smile. "Ron, it's good to see you," she said.

"It's good to see you too Warspite," he said with a smile, stepping forwards to give her a hug, bending at the waist even as she stretched.

"It's been too long," she said, extending the hug slightly, finally letting go after nearly a full minute, "I missed you."

"I missed you too," he said as he stood, the smile on her face filling him with more warmth than he remembered.

"Shall we head out," she said, gesturing with her hand, "I understand there's a bit of a walk to Hogwarts."

"Just a little bit," he said, "I was waiting to see if you were going to be stubborn again."

Warspite gave him a look that could almost be a pout, then stuck up her nose. "I am not stubborn," she said playfully.

"Only when you want to be," he said, moving behind her chair so that he could push her along.

Having cleared the path of snow and ice earlier, Ron found it remarkably easy to push Warspite along. He remembered back to the early days of her relationship when he was still rather small, he had issues getting her moving and keeping a steady pace. Now there were no such issues, he had plenty of experience and he was growing in leaps and bounds.

He caught Warspite looking up at him instead of the scenery, a contemplative look on her face.

"Something the matter?" he asked her.

"No, you just look like you got taller again," she said.

"I did, a couple inches since the last time you saw me. Mom is always complaining about my clothes getting small."

Warspite let out a small chuckle and went back to looking forward. "You're getting big and strong aren't you."

"Trying too," he said.

Warspite just smiled at that, the conversation then drifting as they rounded the corner to see Hogwarts and the lake.

"It's beautiful," Warspite said as they made their way down to the edge, the waters lapping against the shore.

"It really is," said Ron, looking over to the small boat that he'd ridden in over.

Warspite looked at the boat and just shook her head.

"Are you too embarrassed to be seen getting carried by me?" she teased him.

"No," said Ron, even as he was thinking "Yes", "I still had to get over here though and I need to get the boat back."

"Sound logic, how unfortunate for me," said Warpspite, sticking out her hand for Ron to take, "Help me up, I'm not going to tempt fate and get in that little rowboat."

Ron stuck out his hand and braced himself, Warspite standing relatively easily since she had his stick and hadn't been using her feet excessively. Forming her rig she stepped onto the water and waited as Ron folded her chair and hopped in the boat, tapping it with his wand to get it going.

As she sailed next to him, Ron couldn't help but see how graceful she was, his mind wandering slightly until she caught him looking and grinned.

He turned away quickly, looking out over the lake. Thankfully she didn't push anything, simply asking him a different question.

"So is it true that there's a giant squid in the lake," she asked him.

"Yeah," he said, looking along the shore, "It might be sleeping right now, I don't see it playing on the shore."

It was then that a large tentacle popped up nearby, waving at the two of them briefly before disappearing, almost as if the creature knew they were talking about it.

"That was huge," Warspite said, a tinge of awe in her voice.

"Yeah," Ron said, "It really lives up to the name."

Finally they made their way to the far shore and Ron pushed Warspite up the path to the entrance hall, then further inside. Ron gave Warspite a proper tour of the castle, including the Great Hall, the Gryffindor common room and a number of the classrooms. Thankfully the castle seemed to be behaving that day, most of the stairs being as short as possible and the tricky changes kept to a bare minimum. Eventually they ended up back out by the lake, having picked up a meal to snack on before the Quidditch match.

Ron had grabbed a package when they visited the common room, sticking it in his schoolbag as they continued their tour. He didn't think Warspite had noticed, she had at least refrained from commenting on it. He finally cleared his throat and pulled out the package as Warspite turned to look at him.

"I made you something," he said, "For your Commissioning day. I know it's not exactly right but since we see each other so rarely..."

Warspite simply smiled at him and took the package, holding it carefully.

"Don't worry about the day Ron, I'm just happy you remembered," she said, "Should I open it now?"

"It's enchanted to remain stain and rip free so it shouldn't hurt anything," he said, "You can open it if you'd like."

Warspite began to open the package and Ron nearly held his breath, hoping that she took it well.



/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Warspite hummed to herself as she opened Ron's gift. She'd almost forgotten about her commissioning day, it wasn't something that she celebrated much outside of the occasional mention or gifts from Ron.

Managing to get the paper around the gift open she found a book bound with an exquisite leather cover and a small clasp. Popping the small button with her finger she flipped the cover open, only to find parchment inside instead of paper, a script "Warspite" quill inked in the middle. She looked up at Ron, who gave her a nervous grin and gestured at her to continue looking.

Flipping open the next page caused her to blink at the quill outline of her hull from both the side and top views. She felt heat rising in her boilers at the sight. It was perfectly to scale and done by hand. Had Ron…

She flipped to the next page, almost exactly the same except this time with notations on length and dimensions which were again in quill. Another flip, this time to a random page got her a yard quality blueprint of her turret structure, notations and sizes again in quill all around the page. Each mark was perfectly in place, each notation clear and precise as to where it belonged.

A final flip to a page near the end and Warspite froze. Not just her body but everything, every moving part in her battleship structure froze like it had never done sense she'd been recommissioned. Then every last one of her boilers burst their pressure valves, fairies scrambling around as alarms sounded and every blower was turned to maximum to cool her.

On the page in front of her was the first part of a cutaway drawing for her entire structure with detailed compartment remarks and dimensions. One of her hands shakily made its way to the page, finding the foldout contained there and pulling it so she could see the entire thing. One part of her mind was screaming that the entire thing was lewd, it was obscene and it was never going to see the light of day…

Her mind finally caught up to what she was actually seeing, overcoming her sense of immediate embarrassment as the magnificence of what she was seeing finally hit her.

It was pure distilled love.

Ron had spent an untold amount of hours on the book, that much was clear simply from the quality of the drafts. Each one was correct down to the millimeter, lines straight, dimensions clearly listed. If they hadn't been on parchment and done in the elegant form of quill ink they could have been passed as her builders blueprint.

She finally forced herself to look up at the boy, her mouth having trouble finding words. "Ron… did you copy this all yourself?"

"Well, no," he said, looking slightly guilty, "I didn't copy it exactly."

"What did you do then?" she asked, flipping back to the front of the book.

"I drew them by memory," he said, "After I finished each section. Reparo doesn't work unless you actually know what you're fixing and since I promised to fix you I needed to know how everything on you worked."

Warspite was flabbergasted. Ron had not only drawn each and every page by hand but done it by memory? She flipped to another page where she found a detailed diagram of a 15 inch shell hoist again done in exquisite detail.

"It wasn't easy," he said, "And I've been working on it for a long time but I think I managed to get it mostly right even if I had to redo it a few times. If there's something wrong let me know and I'll fix it."

There wasn't anything wrong with it, she already knew. With her boilers now mostly under control her chief engineer was looking over her builders diagrams as she was looking at Ron's book. There were no errors anywhere she could find. Nothing that could have been pointed out by even the most experienced naval engineer.

The most prudish parts of her still screamed that the entire thing was dirty but the rest of her understood. The parts that occasionally allowed themselves the dream of a strong set of arms wrapped around her waist or a set of firm but gentle hands along her sore legs knew what that level of dedication meant.

Ron may have drawn her like a French model but he'd done it out of love, the pure effort and dedication put into it making it a work of art instead of something lewd.

"No, no it's perfect Ron, thank you," she said, reaching out to pull him close as her lips planted a kiss on his cheek, the already red boy going crimson. A little embarrassment was good for the soul, she thought, pulling away and giving him a smile.

That didn't mean she'd ever let anybody else see the book. It wasn't that good for you.

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

Yes, that just happened

 

[darthcourt10]

MagisterAurelius

This was in reply to a post on SV about Jane being ready to summon another Smol.

The following snip is meant to invoke feels of the unfair and deliberately cheap. You have been warned.
*-*-*-*-*

Jane was talking a mile a minute as the group returned from the Quidditch match back to the Gryffindor Common Room. "That was so awesome Cuz!"

Harry grinned at Jane. "Glad you had fun Jane." His eyes narrowed at the glow that had been growing around Jane suddenly dissapating into motes though. Shaking his head mentally to dismiss whatever it was he went back to the celebration. A few minutes later, everyone's attention was grabbed by a shout from Ron.

"Oi! Gred! Forge! Stop chucking the tiny paper airplanes you gits!"

"Not us!"

"Here's the culprit!" Everyone gathered to the voice of Enterprise, who pointed at a pitcher of ice water on an end table. On the surface of the water of said pitcher stood a Smol, folding tiny pieces of paper into paper biplanes and chucking them into the air.

"La! La! La La La."

Both Enterprise and Arizona looked at the Smol with awe. Enterprise spoke first. "Holy shit-snacks... it's a mini-Langley, Smo-Lang...?"

Unnoticed by both, Jane had made her way through the crowd and saw not just the new Smol, but a face she had seen in photos treasured by her father. Unaware of the impending tears, Jane Richardson silenced the room with her whisper.

"Mommy?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Maes

RCNAnon said:
Ron and Warspite: French Girl​

~later~

"Here mate! I know it's a bit early for your birthday, but it really couldn't wait until after Warspite left."

Ron unwraps the package, pulling out a few items.

"Harry? That's... clothes are nice, but that's an odd combination, I think? Why a thick white shirt, a tough black work vest and a mechanic's leather toolbelt?"

"Because, Ron, I've seen you around Warspite and I've seen you work on that book you were working on."

"Meaning?"

"If you're going to be a ship's engineer that bends the laws of physics to his will and works miracles, you may as well walk in the footsteps of the single bloody best ship's engineer ever. The way the American shipgirls were talking about him, he might count as a minor Kami of miraculous repairs and impossible damage control. Heck some of the girl's engineering and DC crews have small shrines to him."

"... huh. So it's a uniform of sorts, or a homage? You'll have to tell me more about that one."

"Pretty much? Besides, when I mentioned the idea to Akashi and Vestal they turned beet red and had this dreamy look, so it might cause a funny reaction from Warspite too."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Nearly running up the steps, Jane only slowed when Arizona called out. "Slow down before you trip, Jane." Looking over her shoulder, the young teen could see the Battleship slowly walking up. "We'll have plenty of time to get a seat."

Bouncing on her toes, it took Jane everything not to take off again as she groaned. "But Ari-Mama, I want to make sure that we get good seats! This is a first after all and I don't want to miss any of it." At the look given her though, she slumped a bit. "Fine..."

Instead of being annoyed, Arizona only rolled her eyes with a fond look on her face. Glancing around, she could see the rest of the group following her and Jane. Near the back, she could see Ron helping Warspite with the British Battleship supporting herself with his arm. 'As a true gentleman should.' Upon reaching Jane though, she smiled. "Now that I'm here, let's find a seat."

Jane had a grin on her face as she pointed at a bench. "How about there? It looks like we'd have a perfect view of the game... Not to mention that it's empty enough for us all."

Frowning for a moment, Arizona slowly nodded with a small hum. "Yes, I think that bench and the one below it will be perfect." Glancing up, she gave another nod. "And it should also stop people from having issues with some of the taller of our group blocking their view, especially if they use the row below us."

As they all shuffled along the seats, Shinano took a spot on the lower row and glanced to Regina who was beside her and looking around curiously. "First time seeing one of these games, Regina-Chan?"

With a small blush on her cheek, the Abyssal nodded some. "Um, yes? I mean, I've seen some human sports on the computers back home, but I haven't been to any myself. Some of the others have though..."

More then a little curious about this, Shinano blinked some. "Oh? What sorts of sports?"

Finger against her chin, Regina considered the question for some time. And while Shinano didn't say anything, she found the pose more then slightly cute. "Something called Rugby was one, and Football was another? " Head tilted to the side, she blinked as she crossed her arms against her chest. "Lady Wanko was a bit annoyed once due to something that happened after a game some of our fleet went to? She had to pick them up from the Australian brig."

Eyes wide, Shinano stared at her but it was Ryuujou who spoke up. "Say what now? The Australian Brig? What th' heck happened, Regina?"

All the Re-Class did was shake her head in confusion. "Something about them participating in after-game activities? The Port Darwin police were rather nice... They told Lady Wanko that less damage then usual happened."

It went without saying that only got her odd stares from the shipgirls as they considered what they had been told. Frowning, Shinano furrowed her eyebrows as she thought back. "I think that Harry-Chan told me something about that? He said stuff like that involved hooligans or something and that they travel through Europe in packs?"

Stunned, Regina shook her head some. "That sounds dangerous." Looking around, she bit her lip some. "You don't think that there's any around here, do you?"

Nagato was the one who answered her while chuckling while Warspite looked away with a grin. "There's none of those around here, Regina."

Beside her, Natsumi rolled her eyes. "Now, if this was a professional match, that might be perfect. Those can get rather wild from what I hear." At the looks, she shrugged. "The Mexican National Team competed in Japan a few years back and when they lost, one of their fans let loose their mascots."

Frowning, Shigure looked at her in confusion. "That doesn't sound too bad..."

Her expression going blank, Natsumi gave her a flat stare. "Said mascots were a group of chupacabra. Things did not go well to say the least."

With a slow blink, Kaylee raised a finger. "As in... the blood sucking monster from Mexico?" At the nod, she shook her head in disbelief. "That... No, I expect it did not go well."

From where he was helping Warspite to a seat, having created a cushioning charm, Ron shook his head. "No, the ICW was really angry about it. Though they were thankful that no one was killed..." A frown on his face, he sighed. "Probably better then if it was the Haitian team though, they supposidly have Inferi, you know, like zombies from those horror movies for mascots." Yet again more then one shipgirl as well as Jane herself were wondering about the sanity of wizards. Ron then hummed as he sat down beside Warspite who had one eyebrow raised. "But besides that, usually some one starts fights and stuff."

Raising her eyebrow, Warspite frowned some. "I would hope that the national league teams aren't as bad."

Just snorting, Ron shook his head. "Not really, though you can get some pretty nasty stuff thrown around. Especially during games with the Irish and English teams. Saw one girl get her head transfigured into a pumpkin. Nearly punched a guy for bad mouthing the Chudley Cannons once though."

Two rows down, Seamus turned around and rolled his eyes. "Who wouldn't? That team will never win a championship and hasn't for more then fifty years. Give it up, Ron."

Growling, Ron pointed at him. "They got a new Chaser this year, Seamus! Just you wait, they're going to go all the way this year!"

Once more rolling his eyes, Seamus made a speaking motion with his hands. "That's what you said the last year, Ron. The Cannons suck and you should pick a new team. Like the Hollyhead Harpies. Now those girls are amazing."
Moments later, Ron snarked back at the Irish Gryffindor. "You only like that team because they're all girls. I've seen you drooling over their poster back in their dorms."

Unnoticed by either boy as they bickered, Warspite was smiling and had a hand in front of her mouth as she tried to stiffle her giggles. From her spot beside Arizona, Jane only shook her head in utter disbelief at what she heard before looking around. "Huh... Is there a confection stand around?"

Pulling himself away from his argument with Seamus, Ron shook his head some. "Not really? I mean, the school games might only last an hour usually and rarely longer. Sometimes they only last a few minutes... Nothing like a professional game. Sometimes those can go on for days."

Surprised, Jane leaned towards him. "Days? Really?"

While looking around the stand, Ron nodded some as he frowned. "Yeah, the longest ever was three months. The teams involved needed to switch players as they got tired. But those pitches are huge and the ones here are pretty small. So the Snitch, that's the one that the Seeker needs to catch, can't hide for very long."

Yamashiro turned towards her sister and nodded some. "How unfortunate it would be to go to one of those games."

Reaching into his pocket, Ron pulled out a book and handed it to Jane. "Here, this is Quidditch Through The Ages. It's pretty much the definitive book on the subject."

A smile on her face, Jane took it and opened it to the first page. "Thanks, Ron. I'll give it back before we leave."

In reply to that, Ron only shrugged some. "Don't worry about it." After ten minutes though, the red head grinned. "Here they come!"

On her own seat by Verniy, Gangut laughed some. "I think that I like the uniforms for the Gryffindors. What do you think, Comrade Tiny One? Is not the red they wear outstanding!?"

Slowly, Verniy nodded as she watched Harry walk out with the rest of the Gryffindors. There was a small blush on her face as she watched him shake hands. "Da, Harry-Chan looks good in his uniform."

Leaning forward, Urakaze frowned some as she noticed the considering look that a Chinese girl was giving Harry. "Who's that who Harry-San shook hands with? Don't know if I like that look she just gave him."

Eyebrows furrowing, it took Ron a momnt before he shook his head. "That's Cho Chang, she's the Seeker for Ravenclaw and a Third Year." Becoming thoughtful, he narrowed his eyes some. "I can't think of anything off hand as to why she might have trouble with him. Except... maybe an issue with him getting on the team as young as he did?"

Before anyone could comment, Lee Jorden called out from his stand. "AND THEY'RE OFF! GRYFFINDOR IS OFF TO A GREAT START FOR THE GAME, THOUGH THAT COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THOSE THREE LOVELY CHASHERS OF THEIRS-"
McGonagall who was just behind him whipped her head around and glared at him. "LEE!"

However, the boy just gave her a grin. "SORRY ABOUT THAT PROFESSOR, MEANT NOTHING ABOUT IT EVEN IF I WAS LOOKING FOR A DATE TO THE NEXT HOGSMEADE WEEKEND. OF COURSE, SOME OF THE FEMALE PLAYERS FOR RAVENCLAW ARE QUITE NICE AS WELL, IF ONE CATCHES MY MEANING-"

"LEE JORDAN!"

Up in the stands, Jane was doing her best not to fall from her seat from laughing at the commentary as beside her, Arizona sighed. Then the twelve year old turned her attention to the game itself and her eyes widened at the sight of the six Chasers as they battled for the Quaffle. It was not helped as moments later, one of the Gryffindor Chasers nearly got hit in the head by the Bludger. "Oh, wow..."

Not even a second later, Ryuujou hissed as the Ravenclaw Keeper was nearly knocked from his broom by one hit of the Bludgers. "Ouch... did he just sprain his wrist?"

Slowly, Inazuma nodded as she watched said Keeper grit his teeth. Part of her was impressed by it though. "Hai, I think so though he might have broken it."

Regina though was watching something else and had her own gaze focused upwards. "What is Harry doing?" When everyone looked at her, she pointed her head upwards. "Up there!"

Everyone turned their gazes to a spot several hundred feet up in the air. While Jane needed to pull out binoculars to see as did Ron and Natsumi, the shipgirls and Abyssals focused in on it. After several moments, Hoppou let out a sound of awe. "Big Brother is doing an air battle! And Hoppou thinks that he is really good!"

Only nodding, Natsumi frowned some. "He's pretty good at it." She was watching as Harry and Cho performed various aerial maneuvers against each other, weaving in and out. Then Natsumi's eyes widened at what happened next. "Harry-Chan is diving!"

As it turned out, it was not just Natsumi who noticed as Lee did as well. "AND WHAT IS THIS? HAS HARRY POTTER CAUGHT SIGHT OF THE SNITCH? BECAUSE DIVING LIKE THAT HE MUST HAVE AND-" Moments later, Harry blasted through the furball between the Gryffindor Chasers and the Ravenclaw ones. While his teammates had already reacted, the Ravenclaws were a bit too slow. "OUCH! AND CHO CHANG NEARLY COLLIDED WITH HER TEAMMATES! BUT IN AVOIDING THEM, THEY HIT EACH OTHER, UTTERLY BRUTAL!"

Not a single one of the shipgirls did not wince as the Ravenclaw Chaser slammed into the Beater, knocking both off their brooms and smashing into the ground. Moments later though, they groaned and got to their feet with one spitting out what looked like a tooth and got back onto their brooms. Still cringing, Kaylee shook her head some. "Now that was worse to watch then some of the football games back home."

That got her an odd look from Dean who glanced back from his chat with Ginny. "Wait, football isn't that violent." Both of them stared at each other before the boy suddenly had a realization. "Oh, you mean American football. Yeah, I guess so though it has nothing on rugby. Now that is brutal."

Meanwhile, Regina was shifting from side to side which made Shinano blink at her. However, what really confused the Support Carrier was how her friend was breathing a bit heavily and blushing deeply. 'I wonder what is wrong with her...'

Inside of Regina's head, she couldn't help but replay what she just saw. 'So very brutal... Harry set them up and let them hurt themselves in such a way... And so decisive... o-oh my...'

Watching as Harry spun on his broom, the Bludger passing within inches of his face, Ron shrugged. "That's pretty bad, but nothing compared to if this was against Slytherin. Now those games get really, really nasty. Especially when the Slytherins begin to cheat. But Harry handles himself pretty well in those games and gives as good as he gets..." Trailing off, he blinked as he noticed Regina breathing a bit heavier. What really weirded him out though were the sparkles in her eyes. 'What in the world...?'

Up above, Harry took a chance to look behind him to see Cho following him. What made him smirk though was the glare that was on her face as she began to catch up. 'Guess she didn't like that...' Frowning, he mentally shrugged some. 'Well, Wood told me to keep her busy until we got forty points ahead...'

After the second time of him going through their formation though, the Ravenclaws caught on and began to dodge as soon as they noticed him heading towards them. Of course, this made Gryffindor get more goals, which unknown to them was the point. When Harry looked over his shoulder and flipped his broom around in midair, Cho snarled at him as he headed right for her. 'Not this time, Potter!'

Lowering her body flat against the broom, she put on more speed as the two Seekers blasted towards each other. Various people stood up in the stands to watch them play chicken against each other. At the very last moment, Harry threw his body around so that he was upside down and blasted past Cho with them just missing each other...

But Cho was not the target and Harry did not miss it as his hand closed around the Snitch that had been right behind her broom before flipping it back around and raising his hand into the air. Almost as one, the Gryffindor stand erupted in cheers while Lee called the game. Once on the ground, Harry walked over to Cho and held out his hand. "Great game."

With a sigh, her lips twitched a bit in a smile as she nodded. "Not bad, you're a tricky one, Potter." Grasping the offered hand, and shook it. "But next time, you won't be so lucky."

All Harry did was grin at that as the rest of his team began to shake hands with their counterparts. He had barely made it off the field when he found himself being glomped by Jane who was practically squealing at what she had seen. "That was so, so awesome, Cuz! You were flying around like an Ace pilot! Not to mention when you caused those guys to fall from their brooms like they did and..."

Grinning so hard it nearly hurt, Harry could only laugh before he found himself being smothered in a hug from not just Natsumi, but also Shinano, Regina, and Verniy. Though he was not about to complain about that. Especially with how oddly nice it felt.

 

[darthcourt10]

: J.R.S.

Now im feeling like someone should write how that task force should be manned... also 'f' wouldn't happen to stand for farkness would it

. Well this should be interesting have a snip then.

**********
Call to battle
**********

Green eyes snapped open from being closed as their owner paused in training with their wooden practice sword as a ringing sound rent the air breaking his concentration. Reaching into their pocket the young man answered his phone and listened.

"Understood sir I'll head out to meet Lieutenant Colonel Leffert for debreifing I'll be there in a half hour" a ireish voice spoke before ending the call. Putting away his practice blade the brown haired man gave a grin as he rushed to change into his uniform. Once more a member of clan McCain is called to battle continuing the service in military since WW2. And true to his word he arrived at base to see the muscular giant of his commanding officer waiting as he saluted.

" James McCain reporting for duty Lieutenant Colonel sir!" James said seriously. He was well known in F comandos as a bit of a sunny type of guy but when called for he was considered a demon in battle. His rage and temper while protecting his comrades had given him the nickname Hell's Guard Dog as he was much like a hellhound protecting its pack. Fellow commandos once joked he had a flame like the sun when in battle and he was particularly well known for animating stone spells with fire spells usually combined to make Ireish hellhounds to cause havoc. By his feet was one such hellhound which was more of his permanent ones named Ashe. And everyone agreed that hellhound was one tough Bitch to fight. She was wearing a collar that made her look like a roughtwiler to non magic communities.

"At ease McCain. Follow me for debreif we got a mission and we are working with X commandos on this one" said Leffert leading the way to a conference room where James spotted his Fellow F commandos waiting and took his Spot with his friends by the west wall.

"Everyone this is a mission from the very top itself. We are to work with the X commandos as the land and sea task force to defend Saint Brenden's isle from Abyssals along with some of these Shipgirls being sent there to aide the defense" said Leffert as he sent copies of reports to the commandos.

Reading it over James nodded as he scoffed thinking of how some idiots ever got into the ICW. Mission was straight forward and he knew he would have to pack appropriately for the assignment. Would need to stock up on hard candy to keep motion sickness down but this looked doable. James had to give Dumbledore this much he is no fool just have to deal with too much on his plate. How he ever finds time to hold three positions he doesn't know. James nodded to Leffert showing he was in. Ashe growled as she felt her master's emotions. Abyssals won't know what hit them. The call to battle was sent and answered.

*********

Am I thinking it not wrong that the F commandos are full of in universe versions of us spacebattlers? That would be interesting. I don't know what 'rank' to give my in universe self but I pretty much made him the dog trainer of the group, hell hound version.

 

[darthcourt10]

RBomber

NotHimAgain , can I post your snippets to SV in meantime, in close future? Thank you for your answer.

Meanwhile, have a snippet.

-----

"JMSDF Seaplane Tender Kamoi, reporting for duty, Sir!"

"JMSDF Ocean Escort Okinawa, reporting for duty, Sir!"

"Escort Carrier Kasugamaru, reporting for duty, Sir!"

"At ease, ladies. Welcome to Kushiro Naval Base. Hmmm... I think there should be some other Ocean Escort here...."

"Sir, yes Sir! Ukuru, Ikuno, Chikuno and Shinnan was doing oceanic survey for both military and civilian purpose!"

"Hmmm... what about Shiga and Daito?"

"...Umm.... Well...."

*****

"Shiga-chan, Shiga-chan, Captain was calling you for duty-"

"Noooooo, don wannaa~"

Kasugamaru can only sighed. She, theoretically, can drag Shiga from children park, but that would cause damage to said park. And news.

That's it, until her (fairy) captain reminds her they had Akebono and Kasumi on their base. And those two are the more sane ones.

So she steeled her heart, and begin to drag Shiga. By ear.

*****

"Daito-chan, is all those detectors neces-"

"YOU don't get sinked by your own mines. Postwar."

****

"Kamoi-san?"

"Yes?"

"...Is those eyeballs?"

"Yes. It is quite tasty. Wants some?"

"...I'll pass."

****

"...What happened to I-352 and I-371?"

"They try to, um, 'loosen' Okinawa. And yes, she did loosen up."

"Oh?"

"With depth charges."

"...Right. How long they'll be recover."

"Two weeks at most, I presume. As long as they don't sneak up to bed and doing other things than bed rest...."

*****

This is for now.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

RBomber said:
NotHimAgain , can I post your snippets to SV in meantime, in close future? Thank you for your answer.​

I see no reason why not. I actually remember Harry referencing the Ushio snippets a while back, so that would have been a little confusing to anyone reading them on SV...

Anyhoo. I was trying to write from Yae's perspective this time, so I'm not sure how it came out.
Happy Thoughts

-----

One of the facts of pregnancy that Yae had learned early on was that, once it turned out you had a little person growing inside your tummy, everyone was going to want you to not do stuff. Really—she gently poked her stomach—the curve that her stomach was beginning to develop didn't even count as showing yet—at least, not in her opinion. If you asked Mamiya, she would probably have a very different opinion. She should at least be allowed to hit a practice dummy with a stick or something, work off some stress. Instead, people treated her like she was made of glass—no, wait, glass wasn't delicate. She had once split her forehead open against a glass window without even cracking it—but maybe one of those little glass vases that everyone dropped? Yeah, like one of those.

Mamiya was as nice about it as possible, but there was always an element of fear in her voice when they spoke, one that she couldn't hide no matter what. Her younger brother, Tatsuya, was a frantic ball of high-school aged energy, with an unfortunate tendency to come home smelling of smoke and sewage while refusing to speak about it—probably had something to do with the "adventures" Mamiya spoke of. Anyhow, he tried the best he could, but he also tended to act like she needed help standing up from the dinner table. Mr. and Mrs. Haneda… well, they were the problem and a half. Especially Mrs. Haneda. Yae would never admit it to Mamiya, but her mother was treating her like a toddler only learning how to walk. And every time she attempted to talk to her, it would come back to…

No. She banished the thought. Not thinking about that. Thinking about… Kamen Rider. Yes. She had forgotten to bring any of her DVDs with her, leaving her apartment when it became clear to her that the distress it gave her was starting to make her feel nauseous. She would have to go back and retrieve a few of them. Mm, that was a nice thought. Sitting on this nice couch, watching Fourze, drifting off… to…

Yae blinked awake to the sound of voices somewhere around the door. She raised her fingers to her eyelids, rubbing sleep away. She had been lying there since early that morning, drifting in and out of sleep. She blamed it on the couch—it was the sort of furniture that looked like it may have once been a masterwork, but had been turned by years and living into a shapeless, comfy mass. The perfect couch, in her opinion.

The door slid open, and Mamiya stepped in, slipping her sandals from her feet. Following her was a short woman with thick rimmed glasses, black hair in a messy braid, and one of those cat-eared hoodies that were typically associated with middle-schoolers.

"Tadaima!" Mamiya shouted, her voice reverberating through the house. From the kitchen, Mr. Haneda called out the customary response. Yae, arms still limp from rest, tried to push herself into a sitting position, but found rolling onto her side easier to accomplish. She resorts to trying to slide up the side of the armrest, and then pushing herself the rest of the way up.

"Ashida-san," the newcomer greets her, and her voice is very familiar—what was her name, something about snakes? "How you doing?" Yae presses a hand to her mouth, stifling a yawn—whoops, gotta smile! Think happy thoughts, happy happy happy. Pushing the corners of her mouth upwards, she turns looks up at the woman standing before her.

"Hebi…" she begins, searching for the second half of the name, but her old schoolmate gives her an awkward smile and shoves her hands in her pockets.

"Hebihara," she completes, "but these days people usually just call me Ichika." Yae thinks a moment more, and calls to mind a studious girl who obsessively categorized and chronicled. The woman before her looks rumpled and as if she had been sleeping under her bed—a bit of a far cry from the person in her memory.

"You look different," she said, catching herself before her words turned into a yawn again.

Ichika shrugged, her face half a grimace. "High school wasn't good to me," she admitted. "But I'm past that now. Mostly. More importantly, how've you been?"

"I'm doing a lot better!" Yae replied brightly as Mr. Haneda entered the room carrying a tea tray. Going by the look on Ichika's face, her attempt crashed and burned before it had even left the ground. Ichika accepted a cup of tea, and slowly lowered herself down on the couch next to her.

Mamiya looked between the two of them, as if considering something. "Well," she said, "I was thinking of going back to… the apartment. There are some things there that I think Yae will probably be wanting, and… Seo and Hikawa will probably come by later today, and…"

"Could you get my Fourze DVDs?" Yae asked almost immediately. She had been planning on going herself, hadn't she? Why was she being so weak about this? It wasn't like… like… like there was some kind of sadness there, so deep and great that there were no words for her to describe it with.

"Yes! Sure! I should probably be back before they get her, and…" Mamiya sighed, the verbal equivalent of throwing her hands up in defeat. "Well, take care, alright? Tatsuya will probably be home from school soon, you can ask him and my parents if you need anything." Then she was gone out the door with a cry of "Ittekimasu!"

"She's a real go-getter, isn't she?" Yae said contemplatively. Ichika leaned back into the couch, drinking deeply from her teacup, and nodded.

"So, then. How've you really been doing?" she asked.

"I'm… not sure what you're talking about?" Yae replied. Really, what was she talking about? She was fine. Very fine. No room for sadness and grumpiness meant none of those, right?

"I know what trying to make yourself be happy sounds like, okay?" Ichika said. "I've never been where you are, but… But I know that much."

Yae drew in a breath, and it came in ragged. Why? That was ridiculous! "What's there to be sad about?" she asked, holding her voice together. "I've got friends helping me out. A place to stay. I've got it a lot better than a lot of other people out there! I'm fine!"

There was a minute's silence, and Ichika finished her tea contemplatively. Placing the cup on the small table in front of the couch, she clasped her hands in her lap, looking down at them.

"You know," she said, a studied calmness in her voice that Yae, was, of course, completely unfamiliar with, "After middle school, and that business in Yokosuka, my mom didn't let me join another club. All through high school it was go to school, study, go home, study. Weekends? I studied. She told me all the time that it was for my own sake, for my own future, that I was smart and deserved the best." She was smart, Yae gave her that. She had consistently gotten scores that were, if not perfect, darned close to it. "And I ate it up. It didn't matter that I wanted to go to karaoke on my way home, or maybe see what the girls were doing after classes. My mom knew what was best for me, right? So what if I felt like I was trapped, like my life was being torn away from me. At least the people doing it were doing it for my own good.

"Well, all the emotions that I kept telling myself I wasn't feeling started building up. I started having trouble in classes that should have been easy, and my temper started getting shorter. And then, one day, I just lost it in the middle of class. Start screaming at the teacher, and ran out of the classroom." She smiled humorously. "Fortunately, they caught me before I could get over the fencing on the roof."

"I have a feeling this is leading to something?" Yae asked. As the story went on, the grinding hurt in her stomach had been picking up.

"Just… I know what it's like lying to yourself and pretending that everything's okay. So please, don't do that." Yae looked down at her stomach again. At something so full of joy, that it had cost her another.

"Can't say I'll make any promises," she said. "Telling myself the truth isn't really all that pleasant, you know?" Ichika 'hmm-ed,' and quiet returned. Yae broke it a bit impulsively--maybe it was just that there was finally something to do?

"So, how's your mother?" Ichika laughed bitterly.

"Who knows?" she asked, voice slightly sardonic. "I haven't spoken to her in years."
-----

"… so we should be there tomorrow afternoon. Oh right—can you tell Mamiya to expect us? Rather not arrive unannounced. Thanks." Saki snapped her cell phone closed and pocketed it with a habitual snap of her wrist.

"What do you think we should pack?" Ushio asked, sitting on her bed. "Just an overnight bag? Umi and I can't really be off-base for too long."

"That sounds good," Saki agreed. She reached up, pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "And that tone of voice means you have something on your mind, doesn't it?"

"Quite definitely," Umi agreed.

Ushio smiled ruefully. "It's nothing, I just… I was thinking that Yae will need a way to support her child once she's born. So, I was thinking…"

"You're right!" Saki jumped as Umi crowed abruptly, hopping in place. "Of course! I think that could work! We'll have to talk to some people, but—"

"Don't yell like that!" Saki snapped in return. "But yeah," she added, subsiding, "I think I have an idea where you're going with this." Ushio's smile grew.
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?