Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Dances in Shadows Omake: Oh shit.

This half omake is brought to you by 20oz of beer and 8+ oz of mead. ( Don't judge me. )

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The sound of steel ringing against steel sounding out beneath him a lone man sits on a tree branch, beer bottle in hand. As he takes a swig a feminine voice calls out to him.

"What are the odds of me getting one of those?"

Reaching into the pocket of his denim jacket he pulls out another long neck before passing it to his well dressed, but "fashionably" late companion.

"Looks like its your lucky day"

Popping the cap and taking a sip she levels an annoyed stare.

"Any idea why we both got called here?"

Taking another swig he gestures out at the chaos below them.

"From what I can tell sister number one has been away for a while and does not know that sister two is now a harmless idiot. Sister two evidently used to be quite sadistic to sister one, so now sister one assumes that sister two is going to kill someone."

Tossing back another sip he continues.

"Now their brother was trying to interrupt the fight when sister one's understudy? Apprentice? Her something attacked him. Oh and there are some wizards watching from a distance from what I can tell."

"O...K.....but why are WE here?" Pulling out her phone she gestures to the screen.

"Why did the both of us get alerts to haul ass over here? Fights like this are hardly our jurisdiction."

"I haven't figured that out yet, hmm looks like the fight is moving behind those trees."

With a crash the aforementioned trees collapsed into toothpicks.

"Ah how fortunate. Think they can resolve this without anyone getting killed?"

"If they're lucky"

Suddenly one of the combatants screams over the din of combat.

"His name is Harry James Potter, AND I'LL MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER IT AS THE LAST THING YOU HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE!!!"

Slumping his shoulders the man sighs.

"Ah crap baskets, its a code P"

Leaning back he downs the rest of his beer in one long drag.

"Well lets get to work, ill start on the left.....and you've run off again...great...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Laying back in bed, Rose frowned in thought as she looked at the phone in her hand. A kind, soft voice thought brought her back to reality. "Is Rose-Chan alright?"

With a slight blush, Rose turned to Haruna who was beside her in the bed. On the shipgirl's face was a slightly concerned expression, which caused her to shake her head and give a small smile. "I am quite alright, Haruna. A little concerned over the phone call from Miss Juuchi, but that is all." Eyebrows furrowing, Rose frowned some. "I am not quite sure what she was on about though."

All Haruna did though was shake her head. "Haruna does not think that there is much to worry about, Rose-Chan." Leaning forward, she gently kissed her wife with a small smile. "So do not worry, Rose-Chan."

Sighing against the soft lips on hers, Rose gave another kiss before pulling back some. "I will not, I suppose." Not even a second later, there was a beep on her phone and she relaxed. At the curious look from Haruna, the tsukumogami shook her head. "It is from Miss Shiromizu. As I could not get much from Miss Juuchi, I contacted her and she has stated that there is nothing to worry about and that Miss Juuchi is mistaken. Also, to continue to enjoy my honeymoon."

Haruna only nodded at that and pressed her lips against the corner of Rose's as her body pressed into the tea set's side. "See, Haruna is right. Now, just relax some."

Just as she was about to say something, Rose felt her wife's hand against her bare stomach and giggled some. "Oh my, Haruna!" As it moved some, a hum escaped from the woman as her eyes became hooded and she raised an eyebrow. "Have you not had enough?"

On Haruna's lips was a smirk not unlike that which sometimes appeared on Kongou's. Granted, those smirks were also done privately in Goto's residence. "No, Haruna will never have enough of her Rose-Chan. Especially after how long we had to wait."

Even though she was blushing, Rose could only shake her head. "Oh, Haruna... I feel much the same way." Her eyes softening, she continued. "I do hope that it was not much trouble."

In reply, Haruna shook her head some. "No, it was no trouble at all, Rose-Chan. In fact, Haruna thinks it made things all the better." Gaze softening like Rose's, she smiled. "And Haruna is looking forward to a very long time with Rose-Chan."

Gently, the tsukumogami kissed her before pulling back. "As am I, Haruna. As am I." Cupping the other woman's cheek, she sighed as she rubbed one thumb along it. "Something that I am looking most forward to."

Her eyes sparkling, Haruna grasped Rose by the hips and pulled her on top, making the smaller woman squeal. A squeak then escaped the tsukumogami as she buried her nose into the crook of Rose's neck. "Mmm..."

Then there was a grumble which made both their eyes widen.

Unable to help herself, Rose gave a light, musical laugh as she looked down at the blushing Haruna. Rubbing her nose against the shipgirl's, she smiled. "As hungry for me as you would seem, my dear Haruna, it also seems that you are hungry for something else." Sitting up, Rose allowed the blanket to fall away from her as she giggled again. "But first, perhaps a bath would do us? Together?"

With that, the Battleship's eyes widened some before she nodded with a gulp as her gaze raked over Rose. Something that the smaller woman knew if her amused expression was anything to go by. "Haruna thinks that... a bath would be nice."

Granted, Rose also gave her a look over before humming and standing. Looking over her shoulder, she smirked a bit. "Coming, Haruna? After all, I could use some help to wash my back~"

Needless to say, Haruna practically leapt to her feet and followed Rose into the small bathroom of their suite. She looked around the small, tiled room before Haruna closed the door behind them. It was roughly an hour before either of the two left, with Rose being the first. Sitting down, the tea set sat behind her wife as she ran a brush through the dark silver hair. Eyes closed, Haruna allowed a sigh to escape her lips as she felt Rose work. "Haruna enjoys this very much."

From where she sat behind Haruna, Rose let out a hum. "As do I, Haruna." Leaning forward, she kissed the taller woman's ear before softly whispering into it, provoking a shudder. "Something that I believe I will continue to enjoy."

Blushing lightly, Haruna gave a small nod before closing her eyes once more and enjoying the ministration. Something that she returned once Rose was done and it was the tsukumogami's turn. Once they were both dressed though, they pressed a button and stood at the entrance to their suite. It was less then a minute before the door opened and a young woman in a uniform not unlike a butler's was there. Bowing, she smiled up at them. "Haruna-Dono, Rose-Dono, how may I be of assistance at the moment?"

Gently taking Haruna's hand in hers, Rose smiled back. "I believe that the two of us are rather peckish at the moment. Perhaps some brunch would be in order?"

Just nodding, the female butler bowed slightly. "Of course." Holding out an arm, she titled her head some. "If you'll follow me, I shall bring you to your dining room. And once you order, I will speak with the chef while you watch the scenery. It is rather nice this time of year."

Less then an half hour later found the two sitting at a table with silverware softly glinting in the morning light as they ate their brunch. Every so often, Rose or Haruna would take a forkful of food and hold it out for the other. Something that caused the one taking a bite to blush and smile at. Eventually, Rose sighed as she dabbed at her lips with a napkin and looked around the dining room and shook her head. "My word, things have certainly changed since when I was young."

Also glancing around, Haruna could only nod before looking back at Rose. "But does Rose-Chan enjoy this?"

Rapidly blinking, Rose held one hand in front of her mouth and giggled. "Of course I do, Haruna! This... this is truly wonderful. And thank you ever so much for making reservations for this." Hand reaching across the table, she laid it on Haruna's. "Thank you."

Brightly smiling, Haruna nodded some as her eyes sparkled, clasping the hand and running a thumb over her wife's knuckles. "You are very welcome, Rose-Chan. Haruna is quite happy that you are happy." With a glance at their now empty plates, the Kongou stood and brought Rose to her feet. "Perhaps Rose-Chan might want to go to observation?"

Head tilted to the side, Rose gave a nod. "That sounds wonderful, Haruna." Tilting her head back, she claimed her wife's lips with her own, tasting a bit of the sweetness left over from breakfast there. Pulling away, both of them were breathless as they stared in each other's eyes.

An hour later found the two in observation dancing as one of the staff played the piano that was there. Bodies moving together, they glided across the floor, Haruna leading as Rose placed her arms around the Battleship's neck. "Do you think that we'll do this often, Haruna? What we're doing right now?"

Lips curling, Haruna gave Rose another soft kiss before pulling away. However, she did lay her forehead against the tea set's. "Hmm... Haruna would not mind that much, Rose-Chan."

Suddenly, the lights outside went out and the lights above turned on looking like candles as they softly glowed. Turning to the windows, Rose smiled some. "Ah, it seems that we have entered Kamon Tunnel. Soon we'll be back on Honshu I think."

Nodding, Haruna continued to sway to the music. "Mmm, Haruna agrees. And then from there Haruna shall ride this train with Rose-Chan all the way to Hokkaido..."

Hand coming up and cupping Haruna's cheek, Rose gave a nod. "Lovely, and magical." Placing her head under the taller woman's chin as they danced, she closed her eyes. "Once more, thank you, Haruna."

Only kissing the top of Rose's head, Haruna smiled. "Rose-Chan is very welcome."

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

Regalia stood silently at the water's edge, staring out into the sea.

It was finally happening.

For her whole life, she'd been a fish—er, ship—out of water, literally. Tens of thousands of tons of Abyssal steel, and one strong wave would crack her lopsided hull like an egg and sink her. Left with little else to do about it, she'd simply come to accept her limitations, tried to find some other way to live her life. But despite making it work, despite finding something that made her happy, gave her a way to give back to her family for their kindness, there was always that inkling of a feeling in her heart. A yearning for the sea, which she could never hope to fulfill safely.

And then, she met Grandma Hoppou… and in a matter of just a few weeks, her life was turned upside-down. Now, she was standing in front of the ocean, preparing to set sail for the very first time, in earnest. She was going to join her family on the sea, for the very first time.

"Regalia!" Blinking, Regalia glanced back to see Sunny approaching, a sheaf of papers held up for all to see. "Check it out! We're kosher, now!"

Regalia couldn't help but chuckle at her aunt. "That's great news," she said with a smile. "And my mom?"

"She hung back to work on the issue of her island's status with the Russians. Hopefully they'll get that business sorted out soon."

"Cool."

Also, the treaty signing happened today. Regalia was sad to say that she was only able to hold out long enough to watch her mother shake hands with the humans and sign her name on the treaty, before she quietly and politely bowed out and came here. She appreciated her mother's offer to come attend, and she was overjoyed at the prospect of her family solidifying their peace with humanity, but the numerous cameras, government officials, and shipgirls present had her on edge… which did not help the knot in her stomach caused by her worrying about what was about to happen now.

The demon put away her copy of the treaty and stepped up beside Regalia. "You seem tense," she said softly. "I figured you would be ecstatic about all this."

"Yeah…" Regalia glanced back to the water. "I am. It's just that… this is all a lot to take in, still. So much has happened, so quickly. If you told me a year ago that I'd go from being a defective Re-class to a healthy, premature Flagship-level Re, I would have thought you were joking…" she gestured to herself. "But, here I am. Preparing to put my new hull to the test, in front of my whole family."

Sighing, Sunny patted Regalia lightly on the back. "You're taking this too seriously. I mean, it's not like you haven't sailed AT ALL before. I remember that stunt you pulled back on the island…" she clasped her hands together, a faux-dreamy look on her face. "Taking to the water—despite the threat to your life—to chase after your family as they sailed towards an uncertain fate, ignoring the pain it had to have caused you. Rushing headlong into your mother's arms, begging for forgiveness, praying that maybe… just maybe… you had a chance to live a normal life with the rest of us."

The young Re-class could feel her cheeks burning as she gave her aunt a look. "Stop that, you're making it sound weird…" Regardless, she was smiling.

The demon grinned playfully. "What? It's like something out of a sappy love story. Bottom line, you've sailed before. It's just that this time, it's gonna be a lot easier, and a lot less painful. Just keep that in mind, alright?"

Regalia sighed in defeat, rolling her eyes. "Alright, fair enough." Looking past Sunny, she saw Nuri and Patty approaching, their own copies of the treaty in hand. "Where's Mom?" she asked.

"She and the others stayed behind with Mother to discuss some stuff with Admiral Goto," Patty said. "They'll be out shortly."

Sunny folded her arms, pouting. "How rude of her. She's going to miss her daughter's (second) maiden voyage!"

"Tell me about it! I even got the champagne for the christening dealio and everything!"

Sunny's gaze shifted past Regalia, to the new voice behind her. "Oh, hey Revina, I thought you would be off with Aunt Wanko right about… wait, where'd you get that bo—OH SH—"

Confused, Regalia turned around… just in time to see the object rushing towards her face.

XXXXXXXXXX

"So…" Admiral Goto said slowly, hands tented on the table in front of him, "Just let me see if I have this correct."

He gestured to Hoppou. "You had a daughter that was born… more or less schizophrenic. A Re-class."

Hoppou tilted her head slightly in confusion, before Ritou leaned over and whispered something to her. She nodded. "…Hoppou thinks that is what it was, yes."

"We've come to believe that most, if not all, Re-classes suffer from a sort of schizophrenia," Ritou noted. "Or something like it, at least. That's the closest human analogue I can think of."

"I see… in any case, your daughter's was particularly bad," Goto continued. "And it went undiagnosed, and untreated, allowing her condition to get even worse. By the time you all began to notice, it had progressed too far, in her own eyes, for her to continue living peacefully in Unalaska."

The girls all nodded, looking guilty.

"And now, years later, after the siege of Unalaska and your eviction, you've received word from beyond the grave that not only is she still alive, but she is trying to come back to you."

The Abyssals once more nodded in unison.

For several tense seconds the Admiral stared at the nervous girls, silently sizing them up. Internally, the girls worried that they may have made the wrong choice, bringing this to the humans so soon after their peace was cemented. Worried that their request for help may come off as an act of laziness, of unwillingness to bear the full responsibility if, for some reason, they were forced to commit fratricide.

Finally… he shrugged. "Well, it's not the wildest story I've heard." He inclined his head towards Hoppou. "My condolences for what happened to your girl. Mental illness can be an ugly thing."

"Thank you, Mister Admiral," Hoppou replied solemnly.

Looking back up to the taller, yet younger princesses, he frowned. "Now, judging from how you've brought this to my attention… I take it you want to try to bring her in, get her the help she desperately needs?"

Sonata nodded sheepishly. "We have an idea of where to look, and we have the numbers to do it… but the ink on our treaty quite literally hasn't dried yet. We doubt you guys would want Abyssals strolling merrily through your territory, even friendly ones… at least, not without your permission—and/or your 'supervision'."

Goto rubbed his forehead with a sigh. "And for the most part, you'd be correct in thinking that." He shook his head. "Look, girls, I understand your feelings, your intentions, on hearing another one of you is out there somewhere, looking for you. But the fact that she is one, a Re-class, and two, mentally-unstable even in a best-case scenario, complicates this matter immensely. A CSAR mission like you're recommending just poses too much of a risk for all parties involved."

The girls looked to each other with crestfallen expressions. Tanith brought a hand to her chest. "But my sister…" she said. "If there is even some… small part of who she used to be… still inside her, I know… Renita would never attack anyone."

"So you say. But my point stands. A rogue Re-class battleship is extremely dangerous to approach head-on in an engagement, let alone try and make civil contact with. Make no mistake, I've known Hoppou here long enough to trust her on this, and I've got friends who trust me enough to do the same. But for everyone else, what's going to get their attention when they're told this story won't be Renita's peaceful baseline personality—it will be her instability. The possibility that, even if contact is made, some small innocuous thing could trigger her to attack anything in sight."

Ritou stepped forward. "Sir, we understand your fears. We agree with them. And to tell the truth, if our sister really is too far gone to be saved… I don't think we have it in ourselves to put her out of her misery." There were murmurs of agreement from the others. "But if she's not… we can't just leave her out there, wherever she might be. So many of us remember Renita as our sweet, affectionate, artistic sister; stolen from us in a cruel twist of fate. If she's out there, suffering… searching for her family, her home… the thought of doing nothing about it tears us apart." She took a deep, shaky breath. "We just… want to have closure. To help our long-suffering sister, finally find peace… whether it's in this world or the next." She paused to rub a tear from her eye. "Please, sir. We can't do this without your help."

Goto was quiet for a long while, eyes closed, deep in thought. Eventually, he sighed.

"…I can try to make some calls. Get the word out, organize a search for rogue Re-classes." He held up a finger on seeing the girls' brightening expressions. "But… that's about the extent of what I can reasonably provide you in this situation. If or when someone manages to locate one, and it turns out to be her, it will be up to you girls to pursue and pacify her… or, if necessary, neutralize her. Do you think you can muster the willpower for that?"

The Abyssals inhaled sharply in unison, now looking and feeling deeply conflicted. Silence dominated the room for the better part of a minute, before someone spoke. "…Not all of Hoppou's girls were around the same time as Renita. Don't have the same connection, same memories of beloved sister," Hoppou said softly, clutching her chest tightly. "Idea of forcing responsibility on them tears Hoppou up inside… but may have no other choice, that won't leave all of Hoppou's girls feeling guilty forever."

"Sometimes… you just have no choice but to delegate." Goto nodded grimly. "Well, then… that's my offer. Is that acceptable to you girls?"

The Abyssals looked between each other quietly, deliberating, before turning back and nodding. "It's less than we hoped… but it's better than fumbling in the dark, on our own." Tanith bowed lightly. "Thank you, Admiral Goto."

Goto nodded slowly. "Alright, then. So, to begin: do you have an idea of where to start looking?"

XXXXXXXXXX

Ruins. Ruins. More ruins. At some point, it all started to just blur together.

Another island, another razed human settlement. This town seemed to have gotten it particularly bad, as there were maybe a couple buildings out of several dozen still standing; the rest, long ago collapsed to Abyssal bombardment and subsequent erosion. At the very least, the destroyer thought, these ruins often had some interesting stuff in them.

No signs of fellow Abyssals, however.

Next to her, the Re-class sighed in resignation. "Nothing…" she mumbled. "There's nothing alive, out here."

The destroyer nuzzled against her flagship, trying to comfort her. "We can't rule this place out just yet. Let's get a closer look."

For hours the pair navigated the ruins, ignoring the buzzing of the recon plane that had become omnipresent over the past couple months. There wasn't much in the way of obstacles to impede their straightforward progress—the last Abyssals to come here evidently did a good job leveling the town—but that's not to say there were none to be found. There were a handful of other structures still standing upright, and the debris needed to end up somewhere—leading to piles of rubble all over the place. If they wanted to search this island properly, they could leave no stone unturned… and so, they dug through the wreckage for clues.

It was as the Re-class was clambering over a destroyed wall, hoping to glimpse into the exposed room beyond, that something happened—a chunk of masonry came free under her grip and tumbled down the pile of debris, dislodging other bits and pieces on its way. One of those things must have been load-bearing, as seconds later the chunk of still-standing wall next to the Re-class began to tip over. Looking back to the noise it caused, she saw what the wall was going to land on—but she was too late to call out a warning.

The collapsing wall struck the destroyer square in the head, coming down on top of her with a resounding crash that threw up a cloud of ash and dust.

"DOGGY!" Panicking, the Re-class leapt off the pile and started tearing through the rubble that had buried her friend—ignoring the nerves in her degloved arm screaming in protest. The destroyer may have been made of steel like any other warship, but she was no Re-class, nor a cruiser—blows that would likely be shrugged off by other Abyssals could still pose a threat to her. And having a wall land on top of you is one hell of a blow.

She was not alone in her efforts, as the entire pile began to shift and shake before her—giving her hope that the destroyer wasn't hurt badly by the collapse. It took the better part of a minute, but at last the destroyer's snout broke free of the rubble. Taking hold and gently lifting the destroyer up by the nose, the Re-class swung her tail into the pile beneath her, sweeping a significant portion of it away and clearing a path for the destroyer to get out.

Immediately, the Re-class was at her side, stroking and petting her frantically. "I'm so sorry I don't know what happened I was just climbing one moment and the next the wall was coming down and I don't know why—"

"Flagship!" the destroyer yipped, cutting off the Re-class's rant. "I'm okay. I'm okay. Nothing's hurting, you can relax."

"But, b-but, we don't know that for sure," the Re-class stammered as she began to circle the destroyer, inspecting every inch of her hull for damage—then stopped.

There—a hairline fracture in the destroyer's carapace. About a foot wide in length, just behind the destroyer's right eye.

The Re-class's heart sank. "Your hull… your hull is cracked…"

"Really…?" Pausing, the destroyer went still, looking inward to her crew for a second opinion. After a minute, she returned to her senses. "Huh. I didn't even notice it before you pointed it out." She shook herself slightly, trying to knock off the dust on her body. "At any rate, my crew's telling me it's nothing major. I'll be fine, see? You didn't hurt me."

The Re-class sagged in relief. Leaning forward, she pressed against the destroyer's side. "Thank goodness… I'm so sorry, doggy."

"It's okay, flagship. Mistakes happen..." The Re-class slid off the destroyer's flank, stepping away as she rose up. "Let's just keep going, shall we?" Although no real harm was done, the pair was nevertheless conflicted on further excavation of the rubble. Instead, they made for one of the still-intact buildings, an old warehouse. A cursory exploration turned up nothing major, although they did find some old rations stowed away—workable in emergencies, at least.

As they made their way to the next building, however, something about it caught their eye: a brackish residue, smeared on the floor beyond the open doorway.

To another species, it would probably be seen as just another stain. But the pair instantly recognized it for what it was: Abyssal blood.

The mere sight of it was enough to have the pair on edge. All else was forgotten as they rushed to the bloodstains—and discovered there was more. A trail of blood, leading further inside the abandoned house. They followed the trail down the hall, through an old kitchen; cautious, but anxious to see what lay at the end of the trail.

And then they saw her.

Rounding a corner into a living room, the pair found a lone Ne-class cruiser, slumped against the couch.

Her entire tail was gone, ripped free from her abdomen. Her one remaining arm was wrapped protectively around her waist—striving to hold in the exposed vital organs underneath, keep them from spilling out of her body. Her face was frozen in sorrow, her dull, glazed-over eyes staring out a nearby window.

It was quite clear to the destroyer: this Ne-class died a long time ago.

"Ugh… what an awful way to go…" Shaking her head, the destroyer let out a sigh. "You may have been right after all..." Shuffling back, she began to fidget in place, trying to turn around to get to the exit. "We should probably leave."

The Re-class, however, continued to stare at the corpse, eyes wide. "Flagship…? Are you okay?" the destroyer asked, halting in her efforts.

The Re-class was silent as she took a step forward. A pause, and then another step. "…no…" she finally whispered, almost inaudible. "…no…"

Looking on this familiar body—her tall and lean build, the length and silkiness of her hair, the shape of her face—a spark of light ignited in the Re-class's mind. Images, memories of a home, a family, taken away from her long ago. Kneeling before the Ne-class, she gripped her leg, her still-intact set of nails digging underneath the metal that reached up to the cruiser's mid-thighs. Before the destroyer could ask what she was doing, there was a crack as the armor peeled free…

<…just don't tell Mom I got this, okay…?>

…exposing a tattoo in the shape of a dolphin, the colors still bright on the pale flesh of the dead Abyssal's calf.

The Re-class froze, staring at the tattoo. "…Nelia… no…"

The destroyer's eyes widened. "Wait, you know her? Is she one of your sisters!?"

But the destroyer was ignored. Slowly, the Re-class's arms rose, gently wrapping around the Ne-class. "I-I'm… I'm sorry, Nelia… I failed you…" she whimpered, pulling the dead Abyssal close. "I failed you… I f-failed my sisters… I failed Mommy…" Her tears began to flow freely as she tapped her forehead against her fallen sister's. "I'm s-so… so sorry…"

Wordlessly, the destroyer squeezed through the doorway and came to a rest next to her flagship. The Re-class trembled as she wept silently, still clinging to the Ne-class. "I'm… sorry, that we had to find her like this… but… there's nothing we could have done," the destroyer said softly. "Even if we'd gotten here the same time as her… she was hurt too badly. Too far away from anyone who could help her." She paused, trying to think of what to say next. "…I'm sure she's… in a better place, now. Not suffering anymore."

"no… you're wrong…" The Re-class said with a sniffle, shaking her head slowly. "I-I could have… stayed. Trusted them… to help me fight the… evil thing inside me." She hugged 'Nelia' tighter. "I could have… been there, to protect them… from the very beginning."

"…despite the fact you'd likely die, too?"

"I DON'T CARE!"

The destroyer jerked away, startled by the Re-class's sudden outburst. "I don't… care." There was a pause, as the Re-class took in a shaky breath. "Anything i-is better than… being a c-coward. Running from my family… from the world." She looked back to Nelia, to her dead eyes. "How many? How many of my sisters died… because I came back too late…?"

The destroyer was at a loss for words. "I… I don't know."

"It's all… m-my fault…" the Re-class continued, struggling to speak through the sobs rising from her chest. "I-I'm useless. I d-don't deserve their kindness… their l-love… b-b-but… but I just…" Finally, she could hold it in no longer. With a cry of anguish, she let Nelia drop back to the floor, throwing herself against the destroyer. "I don't wanna be alone anymore!"

The destroyer felt a deep pain in her boilers, watching as the Re-class broke down sobbing next to her. Had this happened to her, for one of her siblings, she wasn't afraid to say she probably wouldn't bat an eye—hell, she'd probably celebrate, in the case of that bitch of a flagship. She just couldn't bring herself to care about those who treated her harshly, coldly. The Re-class, though… she recalled a fleet full of kindness, forgiveness, peace… a fleet full of love. She would go anywhere, do anything, to be with them all again… and she had been making good on that promise so far… yet finding just one of her fallen sisters was devastating her.

She didn't understand. How could anyone bear to bond to so many people in such a way, when the loss of even one of them seemed enough to break one's spirit as deeply as this?

"Mommy…" the Re-class whimpered, clinging the destroyer's side as if her life depended on it. "I'm sorry, Mommy… I'm so sorry…"

She didn't know… but she wanted to. If for nothing else, so she could try and bring her flagship some small measure of peace.

The destroyer would stay there until the next morning, motionless, as the Re-class slowly but surely cried herself to sleep. And for the first time, there was no nightmare to catapult her from her slumber.

But she never stopped crying.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 49: S0ngD0g13

DARTHCOURT NOTE
This is Broadly Canon but is an example of Early Installment Weirdness
*-*-*-*-*
Jackson Graves lay prone on a rooftop across the street from the warehouse where the Scourer Regional Cell-Leads were to meet. "Boneyard, this is Gravedigger; I have eyes on a vehicle approaching the target building."

"Roger, Gravedigger; maintain monitoring. We want the lot. Boneyard out."

The nondescript Honda pulled up and a man, the New York Cell-Lead, stepped out. "I have positive ID on Codename 'Zombie'." One by one over the next few minutes, they arrived. 'Werewolf', from Baltimore; 'Banshee', from Philadelphia; 'Ogre', from Bangor; 'Gnoll', the arms-dealer from North Carolina... "Boneyard, Gravedigger; I have positive ID on Codename 'Vampire', in company with Codenames 'Fog' and 'Rusalka'."

The Boston Scourer-Cell's leader had arrived with the Potions Master and the Supplier of Formulae.

"All Lucky-13 callsigns, report status."

One by one, the soldiers of the 1313th Infantry, Company 'D', reported. "Bats, reporting ready-op."

"Spider-bite, ready-op."

"Rotten reporting mean and green, Boneyard."

"Mirror and Glass report ready to go."

"Kicker here; ready to boogie, Boneyard."

"Waheela, Wendigo, and Skinwalker are in position."

"Gravedigger... ready." Jackson felt himself sliding into the cold, emotionless place in his mind, readying himself to do what needed done.

"Go."

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

The first sign the Scourers would've had that things had gone wrong was the feeling of Anti-Apparation, Anti-Portkey, and Anti-Floo Wards going up. Unfortunately, those Wards going up happened simultaneously to Sergeant First-Class John 'Kicker' Tolson, Corporal Leslie 'Bats' Barrett, and Corporal Jessica 'Mirror' Gibson breaching the doors with explosives, leaving the Scourers too distracted to react. It was over in moments; the Luckies' M4s made short work of those who tried to fight, and the Stunner-enchanted beanbag rounds in the underbarrel Masterkey shotguns dropped those who tried to flee. With the prisoners secured, Waheela, Wendigo, and Skinwalker, the MIB Chem-Weaps team, started searching the area for traces of the reagents the Scourers had been stockpiling. Mirror and her twin-sister, Cathy 'Glass' Gibson, headed for the offices to go through the hardcopy files, alongside Alphonse 'Spiderbite' Diaz, who'd be after the computer hard-drives. 'Rotten' Randy Conrad, the team's Legilimens and Medic, would help Jackson interrogate the captured Scourers.

Graves stopped in front of one prisoner, staring into the man's eyes in silence. He kept his eyes on 'Gnoll', but spoke into his radio. "Team, this is Gravedigger; progress?"

"Glass here; we're grabbing every bit of paper we can lay hands on, right down to the John-Wayne-paper from the restrooms, but so far nothing's standing out."

"Gravedigger, Spiderbite; I've got their drives. Anything on your end?"

"Gravedigger, this is Waheela; Full-House, say again, Full-House." Jackson sighed with relief; 'Full-House' was the codeword for having found the reagents, but no agent already mixed. They'd have to inventory everything to make sure that they'd gotten all the reagents, but still...

"Rotten, something about Gnoll here doesn't sit right with me; check him for coercion?"

The medic moved in, expertly drawing a blood-sample to run through field-tests for potions and did a spell to check for work-related effects before locking eyes with the arms-dealer and probing his mind. The potions-tests and spell-scan were negative for any form of controlling-agent. When Rotten looked away, the medic shook his head. "No control, no coercion. He was willing, Gravedigger."

Jackson nodded. "I understand... Rotten, get cracking on the others; I want either them spilling their guts or you spilling their guts before our extraction arrives."

Randy nodded slowly; their was an odd tone in Jackson's voice. "Alright, Gravedigger..."

After Rotten had moved out of earshot, Graves met the arms-dealer's gaze again and asked simply, "Why?"

"For revenge. It was fucking Wizards who murdered my aunt and uncle, as well you know, Jackson, being the one who covered it up."

"And you'd betray your country for revenge, Boy? You swore the same Oath I did, Mike; you swore to defend this nation. You swore to defend this nation, and now you've broken that Oath."

"American Wizards murdered my aunt and uncle; the one who gave the order was an American Wizarding-cop. An American Wizard, you, covered up that murder, and on the orders of an American Shipgirl, you murdered that crooked Wizarding-cop and made it look like a mugging. All to preserve your precious fucking Statute of Secrecy. I swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; I'm keeping my Oath, you traitorous son of a bitch."

Jackson Graves, Sergeant First-Class, 1313th Infantry Battalion, US Army, stared sadly into the hate-filled eyes of US Marine Corporal Michael E. McAmis II...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Standing before the Bridge windows, Richardson took a deep breath and then let it out as a sigh. Down below from where he stood, he could see various crowds going back and forth over events at Sasebo for Fleet Week. There were even some people who had come aboard Hiei's steel hull as it was docked and tied up. Granted, there were only a few, but Richardson fully expected for there to be more as the day went by.

Out of nowhere though, a hand appeared holding a mug of coffee in it. "Here you go, John." Turning, he was confronted by Hiei who gave him a wink. "I thought that you needed it."

Eyebrow raised, John grasped the cup and made a show of examining and sniffing it. At the huff from the Kongou, he smirked and took a sip. "Hmm... Well, my insides are not melting yet."

Puffing out her cheeks, Hiei glared at him though there was a twinkle of playfulness there. "Hieeee! Stop being mean, John!" Then she smirked right back at him. "Besides, its not like a single sip would be enough for such a case."

With a small chuckle, Richardson took another sip. "True enough."

Both of them stood there for several moments before Hiei looked at him and frowned. Moments later, she was shaking her head and placed her hand on Richardson's shoulder. "John, relax some. Everything will be fine."

Glancing at her, he sighed. "Hiei-"

Just interrupting him, Hiei scowled and wagged a finger at him. "John, relax. Mutsu is fine, and more then that Ari is right there with her. And we both know that battlewagon would be more then capable of taking care of Mutsu... not to mention that the Shimakaze sisters as well as Zuihou are there. She'll be fine for a few hours."

Shoulders slumping, John shook his head. "Am I really that obvious?"

Expression softening, the Battleship gave a nod. "To me? Yes." Arms crossed, she raised an eyebrow. "We've known each other for how many years?"

About to take another sip of coffee, Richardson hummed. "Since about eight months after Blood Week. So almost seven years, I think."

Hiei then gently squeezed the shoulder under her hand and smiled softly. "Then believe me when I say that you need to relax. Fleet Week is supposed to be a time when you relax some." After a moment, she then nodded and began to guide him away from the windows. Once they reached the Captain's chair, Hiei patted it. "Now come and sit down where you belong."

Rather amused, Richardson gave her a look. "Where I belong, hmm?"

The Japanese shipgirl had an serious expression on her face. "Yes, where you belong."

Surprised, John searched her face for several seconds before frowning. Then he slowly shook his head. "You mean that, don't you? You really, truly mean that."

Arms crossed, Hiei nodded. "I do, John. Now, have a seat." Once he was seated, she then took her own seat on one of the armrests. Despite what she should have weighed, even as only a woman, the chair did not move in the slightest. "There we go. Comfy?"

Bemused, Richardson gave a chuckle and nodded. "Very much so. You?" Getting a nod, he snorted some. "Hiei..."

On Hiei's face was a smirk that would not have looked out of place on the eldest of the Kongou's sisters as she answered. "John..."

Simply jabbing her in the side with a finger, and making the Battleship squirm some, Richardson shook his head. After a few seconds though, he fell into silence as the two sat there. Roughly a minute later, Richardson sighed. "I'm sorry, Hiei, it is just..."

Trailing off, he found that the shipgirl in question had placed her finger against his lips and was leaning close to him. "I know, John. We all know, and more, we understand. Mutsu may not say it, but a part of her is scared as well. But you know what?"

Eyebrow raising as she pulled her finger away, Richardson cleared his throat. "What?"

Lips curling into a soft smile, Hiei sighed. "Whatever comes next, will come. But what matters more is that we, all of us, will face it as a family. And that means that we will weather it and come out the other side triumphant. Which is why you need to relax, John. We're all in this together, and together we will carry each other. So lay down your burdens and trust us."

For several moments, John's eyes stared into Hiei's own before he sighed. "Dammit." Looking away, he grumbled a bit. "Since when are you like Kongou?"

Unable to help herself, Hiei grinned. "Hieee! I am the second of the Kongou class, so I learned a lot from Onee-Sama." Then she tapped John on the bill of his hat. "But more then that, I know you too well."

John frowned before making a sound of agreement. "That is true enough." At the same time he said that, memories bubbled to the forefront of his mind. Good times and bad since the first shipgirls appeared after Blood Week, when both him and Jane had been stranded in Japan when air travel halted. Back then, he had been ragged, his daughter the only thing that kept him going when he should have collapsed. And then Hiei had been assigned to him, followed by Jintsuu and Mutsu as well as others as a sort of exchange. But two more recent ones appeared before his eyes. One was shortly after he married Mutsu, when him and Hiei, much like now, had a talk with each other. Then, the two had discussed, obliquely, their relationship and 'What might have beens".

However, the more recent memory, or rather memories, were of something that had occurred over the past few weeks.

Leaning forward, Richardson continued to roll those two groups of memories around in his head. "A family..."

While she understood that something more then just Mutsu's pregnancy had been bothering him, Hiei stayed silent. She knew that John would come out with the problem eventually, so all the Battleship did was sit there with understanding. 'Hmm...'

Eventually, John turned to her and frowned some. "Hiei? What is going on?"

Understanding the unsaid question, Hiei considered it and her answer. Most people knew her as a goofball of sorts, playful. But like her oldest and sort of youngest sister, Haruna, and it was sort of because no one could quite figure out if the youngest was Haruna or Kirishima considering things, Hiei did have hidden depths to her. She simply did not show it very often, but they were always there. "That is a good question."

His eyebrows furrowing, John placed his coffee to the side onto a table that appeared there. Not that he bothered to question it. Instead though, he took off his cap and scratched his hair. "I'm asking because I don't understand. Why?"

Finger tapping her chin, Hiei continued to think. "I don't know if I have an answer, or at least for now, John." Her own eyebrows furrowing, she shook her head. "I still am not sure why after that night, I fell asleep in your bed on the opposite side of where Mutsu was. Maybe some of it was exhaustion, but..." Sighing, the Kongou turned to look directly at him. "Well, when I woke up, I was embarrassed and mortified."

Simply raising an eyebrow, the American had an considering look before he spoke up. "Yet, you still continued it."

Continuing to tap her chin, Hiei frowned. "I have, and to be honest it sort of feels... right, somehow." Suddenly, understanding bloomed on her face. One borne of how long the two knew each other. "That's it, isn't it, John? It does not bother you that it happened or continues to as much as... how it does not bother us, bothers you."

A grimace on his face, John could only nod. "That... is part of it. Perhaps a large part of it." Looking at her, he sighed. "Any other situation... why?"

In reply, he got silence as the short haired woman scratched her head as she tried to come up with an answer. Growling, she narrowed her eyes. "Dammit, Onee-Sama is better at this sort of thing then I am but..." Sighing, Hiei turned to him. "John, what are we?"

Eyebrow raising at the question, his answer was immediate. "Friends, family, women, people-"

Hiei then interrupted him. "Ships, John. We're ships, and that's..." Still frowning, she was silent for a moment. "I don't... we don't..." Hand making grasping motions, the Battleship's frowned deepened before an explosive sigh escaped her. "I don't know how to explain it, John. But we don't think quite the same way as, well, you or a woman. I mean, can you explain to me how a normal man thinks?"

Opening his mouth, Richardson then paused and considered the question for several seconds. "That... is an interesting point." A slight smirk then crossed his face as a thought occurred to him. "Though I think that you might understand better then a normal woman."

Chuckling, Hiei shook her head. "I guess, though Onee-Sama is better then I am in that considering she's older. But..." Finger tapping her thigh, she nodded. "Remember when Ari went out on that date with you? When she made that offer?"

Confused at what she was getting at, the Admiral's mind went back to that day years before. Granted, a part of it was also rather stuck on how Arizona's dress clung to her body, but then he remembered her question and the rest. "She offered to become my wife, to give Jane a mother..." Eyes widening, he turned to Hiei in surprise. "And you all helped get her ready and knew she was going to do it."

Slowly, the second oldest of the Kongou class nodded. "Hai. And you know our feelings at the time as well, especially Mutsu's." The small flush in Richardson's cheeks made her smirk for a moment before Hiei's expression became thoughtful and she continued. "But also consider our family."

That made John frown slightly. "Our family? What about it?"

Raising a finger, Hiei gave him a look. "John, do you think that under normal circumstances, it would have worked? What we have done in our house? Not just with Jane, but the rest?"

It went without saying, that made John think for a few seconds before he shook his head. "No, I... I don't think that it would have worked quite as well as it has." Chin leaning against one closed fist, he closed his eyes. "Is that what you mean?"

Unseen by him, though she knew he understood she was doing it, Hiei gave a shrug. "Kind of? We're... we're human and think that way, but at the same time we're not and don't. Its hard to put into words, but..." Pausing, she took a deep breath and barreled on as usual for a Battleship. "It does not bother us because of that. Neither I nor Mutsu would have been bothered if, for example, the other one was Arizona or Jintsuu. It's... it just is."

Grimacing at that, John groaned some. "Langley would be laughing her ass off at me right now. I know it. And knowing her, she would be giving me a shove with a grin."

Just waving a hand in the air, Hiei shook her head, though she had to smile a bit. "So? What happens, happens, John. Like I said, we're a family and that is all that matters in the end." Seeing him roll his eyes, part of her was glad that he had relaxed some. "Anyways, enough of that serious stuff! Finish that coffee and lets head down to my deck, Jane is walking around in her Sea Cadet uniform."

His lips curling up into a smile, John patted her leg which made Hiei blush, though her grin grew some. "That sounds good, Hiei." Grabbing his coffee, he began to drain it only for him to pause as the door opened and Jane poked her head in before taking a picture of the two, John in the Captain's chair and Hiei lounging on one arm, leaning against his shoulder. Then the thirteen year old was gone and left the two adults blinking. "Hiei?"
Nodding, Hiei was still staring at the door. "Yes, John?"

Eye sliding to look at her, Richardson continued. "Didn't you just say that Jane was down on your deck?"

Once more, the Battleship nodded even as she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Hai."

Sighing, he only pinched his nose. "I am not even going to ask."

"Hieeee! I am so confused!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts Omake: [A Frozen Moonlit World - 10,000 Cuts Under The Blood Moon]

Have something of an omake...
____________________________________________________________________

Harry frowned as he looked at Juuchi who's sheathed blade was beside him. Part of it was that she had wanted him to do so, another part was wondering what she had wanted. All she had told him though was to hold onto her blade and fall asleep, which he was doing. With a shrug, Harry grasped her hilt and then laid back before closing his eyes. It did not take him long to do so and he fell asleep...

And woke up somewhere else.

The very first thing that Harry noticed was cold. No, it was not cold, it was beyond that to be honest, beyond freezing. It was a cold that cut through flesh right to bone in a way that was almost painful. Breath fogging in the air, the teen looked around in utter confusion. Everywhere, there were snowdrifts that rose high above his head. Then Harry noticed that they were stained red, as if by blood and looked to the side to see a massive, full moon lighting the place.

What truly caught his notice about it though was how said Moon was shone down with coldness in the light. As if it had frozen the world and caused the temperature in the strange place he found himself in. Besides the Moon, stars twinkled coldly high above and the Milky Way stretched across the heavens itself while he could just catch the aurora at the peaks of the distant horizon. Looking in one direction after another, Harry frowned. "Where am I?"

"In a very special place, Harry."

Head whipping around, Harry found himself staring at Juuchi's avatar on a snowdrift looking down at him with a smug smirk. Blinking as a cutting cold wind pushed past him, icy shards of snow seemingly slashing against him, the black haired wizard looked up at him. "A special place, Juuchi... Wait..." With another look around, Harry frowned. "Juuchi Yosamu... ten thousand cold nights..."

Smug smirk growing, Juuchi walked down the snow drift. "Indeed. Apt, is it not that this is my world?"

Eyebrow raising, Harry turned back to her. "Your world?"

Chuckling, the Muramasa took a deep breath and then sighed as she came to a stop. "Hai, my Lord. This was a skill that your ancestors created based on legimancy, a sort of bastardized reverse engineering of how a Baku affects dreams, and what Onmyouji illusionary magic among others. By even making an opponent drowsy, a Potter could draw them into here, another world. Another reality... if you will." Stretching out a hand, she shook her head. "Here, the one casting it rules and it can be quite deadly."

Suddenly, her true form appeared in her hand which made Harry blink. "So... what happens if one dies here?"

The answer he got was one he did not expect though as Juuchi chuckled. "Simple, they die in real life and any wounds they got appear on their bodies as if by magic as that is exactly what is causing it. Fun and useful to take out entire groups of sleeping enemies and scare the others. This is as real as reality can be, a world within a world that rejects the outside." Then she shrugged. "The spell is highly complicated though and the chant needs to be said, which makes it easy to interrupt. Another danger is that the one casting can also be harmed inside this world. So you are quite some way from it."

Blinking, Harry only nodded at that though her words were niggling at something.

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord K

A.N./ I'M FINALLY DONE!

Been down with the flu, so I figured I'd put my time to use writing, and just churn it all out in one go and end on a degree of resolution, since people were apparently sick of things on SV, and I was feeling guilty for holding Harry up.


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


"Ow."

Opening her eyes, Norimune blinked.

Why was the world all topsy-turvy?

Oh, right.

Painfully, the Unrepentant Blade peels away from the tree trunk she has become lodged into upside down, and hits the ground like a sack of bricks.

"Again. Ow."

Shakily, planting herself into the ground, the nodachi then uses her true form as a crutch to rise to back to her trembling feet, while looking herself over.

'I look like I just got hit by a truck,' she thinks to herself. 'Feels like it too. I'm going to be black and blue in the morning.'

Which she is immensely thankful for, since it means her opponent probably wants get information out of her first, rather than just leaving her a puddle of messy gibs and steel shavings for everyone else to find later.

"Well. That was enlightening." Running her tongue along her teeth, the nodachi winces and then spits. What comes out is a lot of red, and something she's pretty sure is a tooth. Glancing down, she then notes a sizable chip in her edge. That's going to suck to fix. "And Embarrassing. That's what I get for letting myself go for 70 years I guess."

Still trying to shrug off the worst of the effects of getting taken down in a matter of seconds, the Unrepentant Blade shakes her head. "Way to say 'hi again' Honjo-"

Before the nodachi can continue her rambling, she is stopped by the tip of the sword that enters her field of vision, pointed down at her like a barrel of a gun. "Start talking."

"You know, most people normally ask me to sto-" The Masumune's frigid glare intensifies, as does her grip on her sword, causing the Muramasa to gulp fearfully at the realization of how much Honjo is definitely not in the mood for her fucking around. "That'sNottheKyoshuYouGuysKnow!!!"

Honjo blinks, trying to process the Muramasa's statement. "Explain."

"She lost her mind! Somehow! Nobody ever figured it it out! It was those Unit-731 guys, I swear! That may as well not be Kyoshu! She's basically an entirely different amnesiac kid with brain damage wearing someone else's face!"

"Then why are you here?" growls the Masamune.

"What?!" Norimune stares "We should be asking you guys that! We were here first! Why are big timers like you two slumming it in a place like this, rather than Tokyo or Kyoto anyway?"

Honjo glares "My patience is wearing thin, mercenary. Especially so, when my allies are wounded or fighting."

Norimune blinks owlishly at that one. "Allies? Wait, you include Juuchi in that statement?"

Somehow, her glare deeps, causing the Unrepentant Blade to shrink and hurriedly launch into a rambling explanation.

"Chisuheri practically lives over the hill these days! She works with the JNHRO, and we all take turns looking after Kyoshu, since she's basically the Tsukikomogami version of the Tard-Strength meme. No brain, even if she does have a lot of her old skill and powers, but it's only reflex! And even that's not always reliable! She forgets everything! In minutes- sometimes seconds even! I don't think she is even capable of holding a train of thought long enough to modify memories now! Today's supposed to be Akutoku's day to look after her, but she's doing a panel event at the festival, and I was supposed to be looking after her, but then I lost her, and now I'm here, and Juuchi doesn't know because nobody talked to her, because nobody knew how she'd react, and nobody wanted to admit they're scared of her, buti'mmorscaredofyounow,pleasedon'thurtme!"

Honjo's gaze narrows, mind racing as she picks apart the nodachi's panicked flurry of words. "Why should I trust you. You say the military did something to her. But you fought during the war."

Norimune cringes, shame briefly replacing fear in her expressions. "Something I regret doing...."

"That's not exactly a convincing explanation of your story or innocence. Especially not when I find you standing over a kohai of mine, who has obviously suffered from something at your hands."

"She attacked me first!" counters Norimune childishly. "I tried to get her to stop, but she wouldn't listen! And so I took her down as best I could without any lasting harm, I promise! Some milk and murtlap and she'll be fine, I swear!"

Honjo stares down at her prisoner, silent and assessing. While it's been a long time since she last actually interacted with Norimue..... she does remember that the sword has a tendency to come off as rather backhanded and confrontational to people who weren't familiar with her at times. Granted, she doesn't remember her being this sour and acerbic either.

Then again, Norimune was also supposed to be a luck magnet. Why would her luck let her get caught by and have the stuffing beaten out of her by a stronger sword spirit.

"How can I trust you?"

The Unrepentant Blade blinks "What?"

"How can I be sure, that whatever you say isn't some modification to your memory that Kyoshu figured out over the 70 years I've been gone, or that you aren't in cahoots with her if the military made the rather unwise decision to let themselves get involved with her. We all remember what happened with the ICW and the imposing of the Statute, don't we?"

"H-Hey! I remember that, alright! My memories are fine! And I know who can prove my word! Umistubame and Kagotsuruhe! They're actually already on their way!"

Unnoticed by the two sword spirits, the menuki on Norimune's hilt briefly pulses with a faint golden glow.

Honjo raises an eyebrow. "Oh really."

"Yeah!"

"Then when will they get here?"

Norimune wilts uncertainly. "S-Soon. I think..."

Honjo narrows her gaze, causing the nodachi to panic. Meanwhile, her menuki dim back to their normal luster. "I'm not lying! Trust me! They'll be here before you know it!"

Which is right about when a Prius plows through the bushes on the other side of the clearing, partially tearing off it's fenders, before clipping whats left of a ruined bench, sending it into a spin towards the two swords.

Honjo backsteps away out of instinct, but beaten and wound, Norimune trips, leaving her to crab-walk backwards in fear, as the fish-tailing rear end slides closer and closer towards her. Finally, the car's skid comes to an halt, leaving Norimune starring at a bumper sticker bearing the caption "I Do My Own Stunts".

Raggedly, Norimune lets out a sigh of relief. "Hail Hachiman, Jesus and Buddha. Praise be the Saints and peanut butter, thankyouthankyouthankyou."

Honjo meanwhile, finds her interest being focused on the two occupants of the vehicle, each of whom are looking at her through the cracked windscreen with shock and impassiveness respectively.

"I think we picked the wrong end of the park," observes Kagotsuruhe dryly.

Umistubame curses, not even bothering to physically get out of the car, but instead dismissing her avatar and then resummoning it outside. Rounding the car, she then finds the pale and bloody Norimune, unsteadily using herself as a crutch to get to her feet once more. Awkwardly, the sword grins.

"H-Hey. Umi-chan. How's my favorite imouto doing?"

The Waterwitch Blade doesn't answer, her face running through a range of expressions such as outrage, disbelief, exasperation, and fury, until finally all she can do is just eye smile as she marches towards her sister silently.

"Oh hell-" Realizing that her sister has literally transcended rage, Norimune cringes. "Umisu-"

Before the younger sister can even say another word, Umistubame abruptly cold clocks the Unrepentant Blade, fast enough that even Honjo has a hard time realizing what has happened. Norimune actually spins in place for a moment from the force of the punch, before her avatar goes cross-eyed and vanishes. Before the battered nodachi left behind can even begin to tip over, the Waterwitch blade then smoothly grabs her sister's true form and tosses it into the car.

Observing all this, Honjo purses her lips with uncertain displeasure.

"I see.... then I suppose Norimune was right, and things have changed since I was last home."

Umistubame groans with frustration, as she begins fishing around in her pockets for something. "You don't know that half of it. I've graduated from herding cats, to nekomata while you've been gone apparently. Have you seen Chisuheri? She's taken a shine to wearing tailored suits since you last saw her."

The Masamune pauses as something then occurs to her. "I... think I did... but I thought she was someone going to help fight Kyoshu."

Umistubame grimaces as she pulls out various slaves and potions, and after a nod of permission from the Honjo, then kneels down by Tsukikari's side and begins hurriedly applying them. "You do realize that Juuchi left Japan before Chisuheri became all about peace and love, right? And that she also considers herself one of Kyoshu's primary protectors and caregivers. Just putting that out there, because apparently we're all operating on things we all thought everyone else already knew or had been told because it's such common knowledge today."

Honjo pauses, not really sure what to say to that. Suddenly a lot of the dots become easier to connect, and everyone's reactions to them wanting to prepare for a confrontation with Kyoshu start making sense under new lights. "....Oh."

Awkwardly, she casts about for something to say. "Well.... at least she is better armed and enchanted than most for facing Juuchi, even if she can't outright negate or no-sell her.

Umitsubame cringes. "Actually, Chisuheri welded herself into her scabbards during the war, as a middle finger to those who wanted to manipulate and exploit her like they did to Norimune." Honjo recoils, both in horror at the thought of what could drive someone to do that to themself, and also mild regret for her comments and disbelief toward the Unrepentant Blade.

"So yeah..." finishes the Waterwitch Blade, as her hurried medical ministrations at last seem to quell the worst of Tsukikari's pain. "She got her wakizashi back out of necessity during Blood Week, but other than that, she's basically half-gimped."

From the car, Kagotsuruhe then speaks up, frown of concentration on her previously inexpressive brows. "I hate to interrupt, but.... I've been trying to get a sense for the emotions in the area, and I really think we ought to get moving. Like. Now."

Worry flickers across Umitsubame's features. "Chisuheri?"

The Blade of Hopelessness nods. "I'm picking up a lot of fear and pain. Call it a hunch, but I don't believe she's doing to good."

As Umitsubame moves to stand, the Waterwitch Blade looks to Honjo. "Stay with the kid. If we can handle Kyoshu, we can handle Juuchi."

The Masamune shakes her head. "I'll come with you. I've been with Juuchi for most of the past few decades. She'll trust me enough to listen once calmed down, and I can actually take her in a fight. You stay with Tsukikari and look after her."

"Actually," interrupts Kagotsuruhe as she points at Tsukikari, who is now awkwardly trying to sit up, and blinking the worst of the lingering stinging and potions out of her eyes. "We should probably bring her. Considering the emotions I'm picking up from who I'm guessing is Juuchi, we're going to need that kyu gunto if we want her to calm down. At least, not without someone dying."

Still in a fair amount of pain and discomfort, Tsukikari takes a moment to look around owlishly, noting the fact that there is now a half-wrecked car in the clearing, and two new sword spirits she doesn't recognize standing alongside Honjo.

"Wait, who needs to calm down who? And who are you two?"

Umitsubame and Kagotsuruhe share a look.

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


Kyoshu screams as Chisuheri falters.

Cuts cover her hands and forearms, where in spite of all her techniques and skills, nothing has proven to be definitively capable of stopping Juuchi's blade. In defense of another, she can only turn aside blows for so long, before she has to block rather than redirect or dodge.

Blood wets the pavement around her as she resolutely climbs back to her feet. Blood enough, that any human would be incapacitated, if not dead. But Chisuheri is no human. She is a Muramasa.

Unsheathing her Wakizashi, Chisuheri then stabs it into the largest of the puddles of blood that have been slowly growing around her. In a manner reminiscent of a liquid metal robot from a film Tomokako once tried to make her watch, blood seeping from her wounds and staining her suit reverses it's course. Meanwhile, the pools at her feet, and even some of the closer stains upon the ground, begin to congregate and roll towards her blade, like liquid metal to a magnet.

Then Kyoshu gasps. "L-Look out!"

Throwing herself to the side, the Bloodlust Blade is just in time to avoid the icy blast that hits the ground where she was standing.

While she has the presence of mind to take her wakizashi with her, it's been a long time since she was in a situation where rationing her supply of blood was an issue, or that taking damage was a consideration to worry about at all.

Precious carmine she could have used to heal herself, now becomes dead and unusable. Frozen puddles upon the ground, that Juuchi now slowly strides over, eyes gleaming with madness normally only ever seen in her less worthy wielders.

"I don't want to do this Chisuheri. Step aside."

Pushing herself to her feet, the Bloodlust Blade resheathes her wakizashi, and falls into a trembling jujistu stance. "Juuchi! Listen to me! This isn't the Kyoshu you know!"

"And how am I supposed to believe that when you don't even seem to know how to wield yourself properly!"

Chisuheri's vision wavers, a light headedness settling in that's more than just a sign of blood loss. Until the edges of her vision start fading or becoming tinged with red though, she'll determinedly keep fighting.

She's operating more on willpower than anything else at this point, and she doesn't have much more blood to expend if she's to keep healing and repairing herself. If Kyoshu weren't nearby, she'd almost be tempted to break the peace-bond on her katana, and give in to the blood rage long enough to recoup the strength to flee. With how much blood she's already lost though, she can't trust herself to differentiate between friend or foe, or stop herself if she does too much damage. Never mind if her rampage took her out of the park...

Realistically the idea was rather slim one anyway. Her vs Juuchi was a match up she wouldn't hedge her bets on, even on a good day.

"Last chance," growls her sister as she begins circling, trying to find an opening to strike at Kyoshu once more.

Chisuheri lets her actions speak for themselves, and slowly begins to match the other blade's movements.

Juuchi sighs.

And then without a word, their fight recommences.

Chisuheri narrowly dodges the slash intended to cut her down from neck to hip, then tries for what at first looks like an attempt to disarm, but is in fact a fake-out into a joint-lock in response. Hampered by her injuries and blood loss however, her movements are just too slow.

Deflecting her sister's attempts, Juuchi retaliates with a fist to the chest that crackles with lightning. Winded and twitching from the attack, the way Juuchi's hand balls in her shirt makes the Buddhist's instincts scream. Light flares around her hands, as she grabs Juuchi's blade, moments before the her sister's thrust connects with her skin. Chisuheri's efforts to stop the move she herself has used more than a few time in the past for up close and personal kills, isn't quite successful however.

Though Juuchi fails to run her through, the greatest of the Muramasas is also not most blades. In spite of the protections around her hands, blood begins to leak through her fingers, and inexorably, the point slowly starts to slide closer and closer to Chisuheri's chest.

"J-Juuchi! Stop!"

The younger Muramasa doesn't reply, and finally, with her strength failing and fearing impalement, Chisuheri is forced to give ground. Her exhausted trembling increasingly obvious as the Bloodlust Blade takes a step backwards, the sign of her inevitable victory nearing brings a gleam to Juuchi's irrational gaze.

Seeing Chisuheri then shifting her footing a second time, her grin widens as it looks like she might even just be able to drive the Bloodlust Blade all the way back to her real target. For a moment, she wonders if killing Kyoshu would undo her effects over everyone still alive. That would be the kind of happy ending everyone else would deserve.

Then to her shock, Chisuheri's foot lashes out, very nearly catching her in the gut. Shocked and enraged, Juuchi's reaction is natural for any Muramasa. She attacks.

"ARGGGH!!!!"

"Chisuheri!" Kyoshu looks on with terrified horror, as her sister now receives a wound to her calf, unlike all the rest of the Bloodlust Blade's more grievous wounds up until now, this one does not repair itself to a merely superficial condition. After a few moments, the worst of the damage is reversed, but then it halts, still in a rather debilitating state.

Looking down at her wounded foe, Juuchi gives a smug smirk as she sees Chisuheri's gaze briefly flickering from her usual green to red, all while she blinks rapidly for some reason. "Well.... There's the Chisuheri I know. Glad to see she couldn't remove all of you I see."

Watching as the Bloodlust Blade proves definitely unable to stand, when attempting to do so causes her to collapse back down with a muffled howl, Juuchi grins. "You just stay right there oneesan. Your younger sisters need to have a talk." Slowly, her gaze turns to Kyoshu, who looks up at her with trembling terror as tears roll down her face.

"I've thought of a wonderful present for you Kyoshu. A little something to give you now that I'm home." Ice crunches under her feet, while Chisuheri's blood slowly drips from her blade as she stalks towards her prey. "A gift I found on my travels, that I'm quite adept at giving. But then. I learned from the best." Kyoshu whimpers as madness gleams in Juuchi's gaze. "Shall I give you despair?"

Kyoshu's eyes widen.

"RAGGHHHH!!!"

"What the- ARGH!" Something collides with Juuchi's back, and for a brief moment, panic flares as she feels steel briefly brush the neck of her avatar but fail to find purchase with all the panicked flailing.

Grabbing her attacker and flipping them off her, Chisuheri hits the ground painfully, wakizashi in hand and green eyes speckled with red. Juuchi rewards the Bloodlust Blade for her efforts, by stomping on her hand hard enough that she lets go of her smaller half, then delivers a violent kick to her sister's face to stun her.

"I WON'T BE DENIED!"

Juuchi moves to turn back to Kyoshu, to then trip and fall instead. Looking down, she sees Chisuheri, grasping onto her boot with one hand. Her eyes now almost fully red and with blood streaming from a broken nose, the Bloodlust Blade looks positively feral, as she snarls with a furious determination to halt her sister.

"LET! ME! GO!"

Punctuating each word with a kick, Chisuheri finally seems to slump lethargically. Releasing her hold from Juuchi's boots, the daisho sword set disarms her avatar of her true forms, and then hurls both blades away from herself, while curling into a ball as shudders and flinches run through her body.

"S-S-Sarveshaam Svaastir B-Bhavatu. P-Poornam Bhavatu, Sarve- Sarveshaam M-Mangalam Bhavatu."

Ignoring the oddity of the Bloodlust Blade hurling her own weapons away, and then the strangeness of her faltering attempts to begin reciting a Buddhist chant for health, peace and tranquility for some reason, Juuchi turns her gaze to the one thing she has eyes for. Panic begins to overtake Kyoshu, upon seeing the unhinged thirst for blood and vengeance for vengeance that fixates upon her.

"Ch-Chisuheri! H-Help! Th-Th-The crazy lady's going to get us! CHISUHERI!"

The Bloodlust Blade however, remains insensate to Kyoshu's cries, and continues to repeat her mantra over and over.

Slowly, like a specter of death, Juuchi rises from the ground. This time there won't be anyone to save her.

A maddened grin spreads across her face, while Kyoshu looks up at her, petrified with silent fear. "His name. Is Harry. James. Potter."

Even gripped by the midst of quivering terror, the Sword of Faded Memories can't help look at her with trembling confusion. "Wh-What?"

Anticipation courses through Juuchi's veins, as she raises her blade above her head.


Which is about when a now thoroughly wrecked and beaten Prius explodes out of the frost coated bushes at the edge of the devastated field Juuchi's battle with her sisters has made. Dragging greenery and fence posts caught in what's left of it's bumper, sparks and plastic fly as the hybrid careens wildly between fallen tress and stumps. Fishtailing as the tires spin on the icy ground, it's engine protests the attempts to push it beyond it's economical ways at the hands of the driver and her passenger.

There is no hesitation from Juuchi. No fury, nor caution, nor even consideration for confirming whether or not those approaching are friends or foe. Turning in place, her deathblow intended for Kyoshu, then becomes a horizontal slash at the approaching vehicle. Savage glee fills her, as for the briefest moment, she sees the whites of the passenger's eyes as they catch sight of the crescent of magic cleaving through the air towards them.

Like a knife through butter, the roof of the Pirus is decapitated from the vehicle and peels away, but the greatest of the Muramasas isn't done there. Seeing the occupants duck down and knowing they will have lost sight of her, Juuchi slashes at the vehicle once more, this time vertically. With an explosion of sparks, shrapnel, and shredded plastic, the roofless Toyota is then cleaved in two down the middle. Each side tipping over and skidding along the icy ground, Juuchi grins at her handiwork as the halves slide by to either side of herself and Kyoshu.

'Job well done,' she thinks to herself with smugly unhinged satisfaction.

Right up until there is the whirring whistle of something sailing through the air, followed by the grating thunk of magically protected steel spearing into the frozen dirt.

Turning around, Juuchi then finds a Su Yari spear, embedded in the ground between herself and Kyoshu. Angled into the dirt slightly, as if thrown from the direction of the now empty passenger side of the Prius, the weapon almost seems intended to block her path.

And then with a hazy shimmer of light, the inevitable happens. The weapon's spirit appears, resolving itself into an avatar that almost takes her aback for a moment. It's like looking at a disgruntled, slightly taller and lankier version of herself, who got a mom-haircut and couldn't be assed to dress up beyond what she wore around the house.

"I'm going to hope that was just an accident and not an end to the possibility of a diplomatic option." Giving a resigned sigh, Juuchi's not-quite doppleganger brushes herself off and rests a hand on her hip. "Hi Juuchi, long time no see."

Even as she tries to pose an aura of calmness and non-threatening presence, the unhinged look in Juuchi's eyes raises the hair on the back of her neck.

Meanwhile, details race madly in the mind of the greatest of the Muramasas, gaze leaping between the two sister she has already has at her mercy, and now this strange semi-clone of herself that has turned up. Why does she look like her? Why is she obviously protecting Kyoshu?

"And who that fuck are you supposed to be?" bites out Juuchi. "Me but Stronger?" she asks sarcastically.

"Technically, I'm your diet-lite version." Looking at the katana, the spear frowns. "Juuchi, it's me. Umitsubame. I might not have had an avatar before you disappeared, but surely you remember me. I was one of the only other ones who could hold their own against Kyoshu."

The katana snarls and steps forwards. "Then you understand why I have to do this!"

"That just it! This isn't the Kyoshu we knew back then!" Juuchi pauses as Umitsubame spreads her arms, not reaching for her true form, but still moving to block Juuchi's path as well. "Listen to me! You've got the wrong girl. As far as anyone can tell, Kyoshu's been dead since the war!"

The Muramasa pauses. Staring as her mind whirls and hanging by a thread, she points her blade at her sister uncertainly. "And how are you sure of that!? YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DOES!"

"What she did Juuchi!" In spite of the weapon pointed at her, Umitsubame remains adamantly in place. "You haven't been here for almost four hundred years! A lot can change in just seventy!"

"That's not true!" Something tightens in Juuchi's throat. "Tsu-Tsukikari...."

The Waterwitch Blade holds up her hands, gesturing for her to calm down. "Your student is fine Juuchi! Honjo stepped in, and I saw to her myself! She'll be none the worse for wear in only a few hours!"

"NO! SHE'S JUST FAKING IT! IT COULD ALL BE A PLOT!"

"Going on seven decades? Juuchi, listen to yourself! You said you know how she operates. The only ones of us with worse self control were Chisuheri and Akutoku! She would have done something long before now if she were still the same!"

Juuchi trembles, shaking her head and trying to wrap her head around the impossibility of the cognitive dissonance she is being presented with.

That's... that's not right... that can't be right.... Kyoshu.... Kyoshu always comes back to haunt her.... Kyoshu. Always. Comes. Back.

Kyoshu's right there

She finally has her dead to rights!

Kyoshu's did came BACK

That thing! That nightmare!

Kyoshu always comes BACK

She can never be free unless she's dead!

KYOSHU'S RIGHT THERE!!!

And Umitsubame wants her to let her go?!?!?!

KYOSHU

She's

ALWAYS

So

COMES

Close

BACK







"Fufufufuf.... Dear Sister. As if you could banish me from your life."

Breath catching in her throat as talons of icy fear grip her heart, Juuchi looks up to Kyoshu, cold, wounded, trembling and vulnerable upon the ground.

"I will never be just a memory."






Instinct screams to Umitsubame, the instant she sees the shift in Juuchi's eyes. Grabbing her true form, spear meets sword as the last vestiges of rationality temporarily take their leave her elder sister's gaze.

"I WON'T LET HER WIN!!!"

Gritting her teeth, Umitsubame holds her ground, matching the greatest of their sisterhood blow for blow. In an eye-blink, the ground around them becomes broken and torn by slash marks and the concussive force of their blows, but the Watchwitch Blade neither gives ground, nor attempts to take it from her sister.

Even in the full hold of a fear-induced psychotic break however, Juuchi is still cognizant enough to notice that this fight is different from most. For one thing, Umitsubame's un protected true form resists all attempts to cut or cleave through her.

"SO YOU THINK JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN RESIST ME, THAT MEANS YOU CAN TAKE ME ON?!? IS THAT IT?!?!"

Edge crackling with power and flames, Juuchi hurls an incendio at Umitsubame, only for the Waterwitch Blade to counter with an Aqua Eructo. Fire meets water in an explosion of steam and mist that obscures the Muramasas' views of each other.

"No," comes Umitsubame's calmly level voice from within the fading mist, causing Juuchi to grit her teeth and snarl, blade held level and at the ready for the expected attack.

Movement shifts in the fog out of the corner of her gaze.

There!

Dodging aside the thrown projectile, Juuchi's brain then hits a speed bump as she attempt to process what's happening. Umitsubame has obviously thrown herself. But not only has the spear aimed too low and to the side, making avoiding the Su Yari with a casual shift child's play, but the spear has thrown herself at Juuchi haft first. Realization then hits her, and the katana spins about, just in time to catch sight of the spear refroming her avatar behind Juuchi's back. Catching her haft, and already facing the right direction, Umitsubame immediately reverses the direction of her thrown course into a slashing thrust. A movement that over-commits her, and Juuchi instantly capitalizes on to punish her. The spear's hand darts out, grabbing the katana's hilt to stop her blade's descent, but the motion also upsets her own attack, allowing Juuchi to easily dodge the blade aimed at her hip.

At least... that's what she thinks at first.

Because to Juuchi's shock, just as she twists away, her sheath goes in the opposite direction, the leather belt at her waist onto which she tied the braided sageo cord of her saya, now severed by the Su Yari's pin point and unorthodox targeting. Dropping her own true form to the ground, Umitsubame's hand lashes out with the speed of a striking sea serpent, and then grabs her sister's sheath, immediately then bringing it to the tip of Juuchi's blade, only for the katana's hand to catch her wrist.

Tussling, the two sisters end up face to face, blade and sheath between them.

"You think you can sheath me?!"

"Not on my own," admits Umitsubame as Juuchi proves to slowly but surely be the stronger of the two. "But she can."

"What?" Blinking, Juuchi at last looks beyond her immediate targets to kill, for the sake of everyone around her. Over the course of their struggle, Kyoshu has ended up to her right, rather than directly ahead of her. This also affords her a look to what was once her six o'clock and is now to her left. A flank that in her single-minded desperation to kill her elder sister, she has paid almost no attention to.

A sword spirit stands there. Calm and unphased by the scene before her, even as her clothing ripples in a nonexistent wind, and darkness slowly seems to exude into the world from her presence. At first Juuchi doesn't recognize the face or clothes. But upon sighting the black metal blade in the sheath at her hip, horror courses through her as she realizes who the shapeshifter before her is.

"Greetings Juuchi."

Reflexively, the greastest of the Muramasa, superior to all other sword of her sisterhood, tries to retreat.

To unabashedly flee, and put a safe distance between herself and the one Muramasa that even Kyoshu always feared.

But Umitsubame is still holding onto her hilt and sheath.

"NOW KAGO!"

With a flick of her thumb and the click of metal, Kagotsuruhe bears the first inch of her blade, and the seal is broken.


Immediately, Juuchi feels like she's been doused in freezing water. Pushed deep down and drowning, into the suffocating bone chilling cold. The temperature change is almost like a physical blow, and already she can feel the strength being sapped from her limbs as the air becomes clammy and choking to breath.

"n-no... NO!"

With all the will power she possesses, Juuchi fights.

"I- Can't- Let- Her- WIN!"

Umitsubame stares in disbelief, as her sister not only remains standing, but continues grappling with the spear to regain a hold of her hilt and sheath. "H-Holy shit! Kagotsuruhe! Give her more!"

Securing her hold on her hilt, the Blade of Hopelessness draws herself out to a full third of her length. Juuchi howls in defiance as the choking presence further crushes down with it's drowning weight. All traces of summer are gone, as her ragged breaths now turn visible in the near arctic air, while a creeping frost of wrongness begins to crawl across the ground between herself and Kagotsuruhe.

"NOOO!!! I HAVE TO KILL HER!!!"

From a distance, she hears shouting. "What the-?! Where am I?! Wait- THE FUCK IS THIS?!? ARE YOU TWO INSANE!?!?"

"Damnit, shut up and help us!" cries Umitsubame.

Blond hair, blue eyes, and pale skin already beaten black and blue enters her field of vision, winding her with a punch to the gut before joining Umitsubame in trying to trying to force the katana's blade into her sheath. Eyes shrinking to terrified pinpricks, Juuchi watches as they manage to line up the tip with the saya and force in the first few inches of steel.

"SHE'LL COME BACK! SHE ALWAYS COMES BACK!!!"

Staring with disbelieving horror, Norimune watches as, in spite of the combined efforts of herself and Umitsubame, Juuchi not only continues to resist their efforts, but then takes what must feel like a Herculean step in Kyoshu's direction, all while the two of them continue grappling against her.

Watching these developments, Kagotsuruhe responds by drawing herself out to the two thirds mark. Frost now not only begins forming on the clothing of all those present, but even Norimune and Umitsubame break out into cold sweats, despite not being the intended target. As the first of the haunting screams of memory begin to echo in her ears, Juuchi thrashes and shrieks incoherently.

"SHE'LL FIND ME! SHE'LL TAKE EVERYONE AGAIN!!!"

Ice and lighting arc off her hands and blade as she casts whatever she can out of desperation while struggling against her sisters. Norimune curses as bolts run up her arms, while Kyoshu screams in terror as an ice arrow narrowly misses the side of her head by inches. Kagotsuruhe isn't quite as lucky, as though she deflects the majority of one projectile sent her way, the ensuing mass of shards still peppers her in the face, breaking her concentration. Before Juuchi can capitalize on the brief reprieve from the suffocating, downing cold, something grips her boot. Looking down, Juuchi only has a brief glimpse of white hair and green eyes specked with red, before the crawling Chisuheri drives a gold-lit fist into the back of her leg, causing Juuchi to collapse onto one knee.

Even with the combined efforts of four Muramasas, three of whom are now literally hanging off her, Juuchi still refuses to go down.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL SHIT!?! KAGO! JUST FUCKING BRUTE FORCE IT, BEFORE SHE KILLS US!!!"

The hand of the Blade of Hopelessness hovers uncertainly at Norimune's request, even as sweat begins to bead upon her brow. "But you'll all be caught as well!"

Grimacing and gritting her teeth, Umitsubame looks to her sister. "Norimune's right! JUST DO IT!"

Closing her eyes, Kagotsuruhe tightens her grip on her hilt.

Then she opens them, a now hollow and craving look in her empty eyes, as she draws the full length of her disturbing, black metal blade.

To Juuchi, it is as if the sun were gutted out. No light, nor warmth, nor anything good in the world can exist in the presence of such wrongness. The last vestiges of her strength begin to fail her. Someone is screaming, and she isn't sure if it is her, or someone in her memories. With panting gasps, she now finds herself on both knees, despite Chisuheri giving a shudder and releasing her. Soon Juuchi's vision dims, to the point that she can't even see Norimune letting go in turn, the nodachi's second wind slowly expiring under the soul-crushing weight pressing down on her. Neither is Umitsubame immune, despite the Su Yari seeming to suffer the least from the draining cold and suffocating hopelessness that their sister exudes. Sweat even beads upon the brow of Kagotsuruhe herself, while faintly her outline begins to waver. Shifting and blurring as her concentration is taxed, glimpses of featureless waxy white and living darkness offer hints at the true nature of the nightmare before her.

"n-no..."

She won't give up when she's this close!

Summoning the last of her strength and will power, Juuchi pours her all into one final attack.

Releasing her grip from her blade and sheath, Umitsubame's eyes widen in shock as the sword begins to slide home without any resistance. But in that brief window, with everyone else disoriented and crushed by the presence bearing down on them, Juuchi turns. Turns to face Kyoshu, who is now even more helpless and immobilized, just from the periphery touch of Kagotsuruhe's aura.

Time slows, even as a shape darts from the treeline, no doubt to protect the nightmare of her youth, now curled up into a ball and clutching herself as her once aristocratic lips move soundlessly. It's too late. The curse from Juuchi's hands is already in flight.

And then her heart stops.

Because skidding to a stop in front of Kyoshu, arms spread wide, but only just realizing the severity of the dark spell headed her way, is Tsukikari.

NO!

Movement, faster than Juuchi even, announces a flash-step.

HONJO!

Each heartbeat is an eternity as the Masamune slashes.

This is it!

She'll kill Kyoshu, and save Tsukikari from her own curse in a single swipe!

Except.... without any sign of effect, Honjo's blade passes through the insensate Sword of Faded Memories like a ghost.

Juuchi's mind freezes, even as the Masamune also passes through Tsukikari, before finally connecting with Juuchi's curse and deflecting it off into the trees.

Confusion courses through her mind, as with no more strength and mental fortitude to spare, the dual-pronged efforts of Umitsubame and Kagotsuruhe at last allow the Waterwitch Blade to sheath her sister's blade fully.

Now broken, defeated, and utterly helpless under the weight of the accumulated exhaustion, all Juuchi can do is wonder 'why?'

She was so close....

For the first time in centuries, as Juuchi's awareness leaves her and her avatar fades, she sinks into unconsciousness accompanied by the painfully familiar feelings of anguish and a despair she'd prayed to never experience again.

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


Cognizance and consciousness, are things she almost dreads as she realizes she is 'waking up'.

Kyoshu has won, she realizes with hollow, grating despair.

What horrible tortures and fates has she visited upon everyone she knows this time?

If she had an avatar right now, her stomach would be turning.

But then.... something flickers through her mind..... the oddity of the final moments of her fight.

What were Umitsubame and Kagotsuruhe doing there? Umitsubame was supposed to be resistant to Kyoshu's fuckery like her, and Kyoshu actually feared Kagotsuruhe thanks to how well their older sister countered basically anyone with bad memories, or if given sufficient time to brute force through even the strongest of wills without the need for contact.

Speaking of resistance, what was Honjo doing?

Did... Did Honjo save Tsukikari and Kyoshu?

What the fuck is going on?

Uncertainly, she extended her awareness, to try and get an idea for her surroundings. The overkill, multi-layer sealing ward/enchantment thing, that is likely the work of at minimum four different contributors judging by the number of styles alone, is almost expected. Of course Kyoshu would want to make sure her 'audience' stayed in place for whatever unfathomable show of sickness and sadism she'd want to inflict upon Juuchi as a 'homecoming' for her amusement.

Outside of the temporary prison meant to contain her however.....

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! I CAN'T FUCKING BELIEVE YOU! I CAN'T EVEN-! WORDS FAIL ME RIGHT NOW! REALLY! THEY REALLY DO! ARE YOU SURE KYOSHU IS THE ONLY FUCKING RETARD AMONG YOU?!"

That.... Juuchi doesn't recognize that voice.... Nor does that sound like the kind of thing she'd expect from a gathering involving Kyoshu celebrating her victory over her long lost favorite sister to torment.

"S-Sempai- Maybe this isn't the best-

"HONESTLY! DO YOU OVERSIZED BUTTER KNIVES REALIZE HOW MUCH FUCKING TROUBLE COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF YOU JUST! FUCKING! TALKED TO EACH OTHER?!?! I DON'T CARE HOW WORRIED, SCARED OR EVEN FUCKING SCAROUSED YOU WERE OF HER, OR OF HOW SHE'D REACT! BECAUSE THANKS TO COMMUNICATING INTENTIONS IN MANNERS BEYOND SWISH-SWISH-DEATH APPARENTLY BEING A BIT BEYOND YOU, YOU'VE FUCKED UP AN ENTIRE GOD DAMN PARK!!!! THERE'S A FESTIVAL GOING ON RIGHT NEXT DOOR, AND THE ONLY REASON THE AURORS HAVEN'T TURNED UP TO JOIN THIS PARTY OF FAIL AND AIDS, IS BECAUSE THEY'RE EITHER TERRIFIED OF JUUCHI, OR THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING WITH ME!!! HOW THE FUCK ARE WE SUPPOSED TO HIDE THIS?!?!"

"To be fair," comes the unflappably neutral tones of Kagotsuruhe, "We kind of assumed that if she did go after Kyoshu, she'd do her homework first. Study up on the target. Formulate a plan. Talk to people who would actually talk back. Generally behave a bit more rationally."

"WELL YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ASSUMPTIONS?!?!"

'Okay, what the hell?'

Now utterly lost and confused, Juuchi summons her avatar into being, looking with physical eyes, past the hazy rings of shields, wards and bounded fields that keep her contained and her magic dulled. What she finds though, only baffles her even more.

Off to the side nearest her prison, and obviously actively maintaining some of the various Shinto and Buddhist style barriers, is Chisuheri, being looked over by Haru as her wounds slowly heal. Still deathly pale however, the Bloodlust Blade sips blood from a transfusion bag via a straw, holding it in hands that shake like an addict going through withdrawal even as they take a hit.

Further off, Norimune sits quietly, bound in a multitude of plasters and bandages. At first she thinks the nodachi is supposed to be guarding her, but then she realizes the Unrepentant Blade is simply doing her own thing. Not quite looking at anyone in particular, head hung low, and with her sheathed blade slung over her shoulder for transport rather than the draw, seemingly lost in old thoughts, going by her thousand yard gaze.

Then she catches sight of Kagotsuruhe. Kagotsuruhe who is not only standing next to Shiromizu who appears fine and unharmed, but also a woman who plays havoc with Juuchi's senses. Life, death, humanity and divinity, form a living contradiction in the immensely pissed off and heavily scarred young woman in biker leathers, who also bears green hair, deer-like horns and white scales. Juuchi would almost be tempted to think her a mere hanyou, if it wasn't for the fact that the woman alternately feels like she should either be a low ranking kami, or a very powerful onryo. With a flash of realization, it then hits her that this is Shiromizu's sempai.

'Who apparently cleaned up very well for the wedding, if this is her usual kind of garb.'

Turning her gaze to scan the rest of the area, what she sees then freezes her in her tracks. At least for a moment. Then it leaves her mind struggling futilely to process what's going on. Because a fair distance away from her, is Umitsubame, kneeling beside Kyoshu, carefully checking over the Sword of Faded Memories' now bandaged wound and placing a blanket around the smaller sword spirit's shoulders in an almost comforting manner.

For her part, Kyoshu doesn't seem to even register that Umitsubame is even there. Instead Kyoshu simply sits in place, knees up to her chest and hands balled in her hair on either side of her head, whispering the same thing to herself over and over again. Though too far away for her words to reach, Juuchi can still read her lips well enough to recognize her seemingly catatonic mantra.

"Just let me die. Just let me die. Just let me die. Please, just let me die."

Over and over, Kyoshu begs, with a gaze that stares past Umitsubame, and seems lost in another time and place with no idea why.

Something in Juuchi's stomach turns, even as her brain struggles to process the utterly incompatible and unfathomable gathering of people who should be trying to kill each other.

Finally, Juuchi voices the whirlwind of confusion threatening to overwhelm her brain. "What the hell is going on?!"

"SEMPAI! YOU'RE OKAY!"

The joyous shout makes Juuchi startle in surprise and turn around.

"Tsukikari!" Shock and relief overwhelm her, although they are also swiftly followed by self-recrimination and guilt, as she sees the kyu gunto covered in damp bandages and potion soaked towels on the other side of the ring of barriers. "Are you okay?"

The younger sword spirit winces, but nods guiltily. "It still stings a bit, but I'll be okay."

Nervously and looking slightly ashamed of herself, Tsukikari then fidgets. "I'm sorry for worrying you. Norimune threw a whole can of bear mace and me, along with this old can of Stinging-Weep Gas and some other stuff that really sucked."

Juuchi feels her train of thought derail itself for a moment, as suddenly her brain races to figure out the situation with this new reveal of her mistaken perceptions. "Wait, what?"

Tsukikari nods. "Yeah. Apparently we.... kinda of made things worse for each other. B-But in my defense, she was just so irritating and- and- arrghhh!"

"Yes, that does rather match most people's first impressions of The Unrepentant Blade," chips in Honjo as she makes an appearance, approaching to join Tsukikari at the barrier by the kyu gunto's side. "Granted, I believe that statement could describe the average first meeting with most Muramasa Blades in general."

Juuchi simply stares, too baffled, confused, and lost to even think about rising to the open jibe.

"Honjo? Y-Your here too?" Head practically spinning, she looks from the Masamune, to the distant Kyoshu who is only just being calmed down by Umitsubame, to Honjo, and then back to the does-not-compute Sword of Faded Memories once again. "What the fuck is going on here?!?"

"Apparently a failure of intelligence gathering capabilities and diplomacy on multiple parts," is the Masmune's dry reply, before then flushing slightly in embarrassment. "Admittedly including our own."

Juuchi just stares, bewildered and at her wit's end. Finally, she voices the one thought her brain keeps fruitlessly supplying. "....what?"

Honjo opens her mouth to answer, but before she can, movement interrupts them. Storming towards them, her face a portrait of irritation and exasperated fury, is the green-haired biker dragon.

"Oh good! She's up! Now let's get this out of the way before the Aurors finally find their balls, so we can all fuck off home uninterrupted!"

Honjo straightens up, but doesn't quite seem certain how to handle the dragon's way with words. "Ah- Mizuchi-san. We were just about to-"

"I don't wanna hear it!" Interrupts the dragon with a growl. "I'm done with this shit! I did one-twenty through a school zone just to get here, after everything is already over anyway, and to find you fucked up the home of a friend of mine! I'm going to have a dozen fucking speeding tickets after today!"

"You know," observes Kagotsuruhe as she glances at the bits of automotive plastic and steel now scattered across half of the park. "If we're tallying up personal costs from this event, no amount of magic is going to save my car at this point."

From afar, Norimune looks up, broken from her funk. "Don't you drive a Prius?"

"Yes."

"Then nothing of value was lost."

The mizuchi meanwhile, ignores the byplay and continues her rant. "Frankly, after this clusterfuck, I wouldn't trust you lot to order a pizza without somebody getting stabbed."

"Hey, who told you about that?! And that was Akutoku's fault that time, not mine!"

"Not. Helping." grits out Umitsubame through her teeth furiously, from where she is still beside the now mostly calm (but still rather teary and now immensely confused) Kyoshu, causing the Unrepentant Blade to quieten.

The mizuchi snorts as she turn to look at Juuchi. "Right. So. To pardon the pun, it's time to cut through all the bullshit. Pick yourself up."

Juuchi stares. "What?"

The dragon roars. "YOU'VE BEEN SAYING A LOT OF WHAT TODAY BUTTER KNIFE! HAVE THEY BEEN SPEAKING TO YOU ONLY IN WHAT OVER IN ENGLAND?!"

Juuchi is so confused. Nobody has dared speak to her is such a way in... she can't even remember. More than that though, after everything this day has thrown at her.... she doesn't know whether to break out in tears, or just start praying this whole terrifying, baffling and insanely fucked up day is only an overly long nightmare.

"N-No!"

Maybe she's still back in the box, waiting for Harry to find the three of them, and finally snapped?

Scales begin creeping across the bridge of the mizuchi's nose as she angrily marches towards the barrier, while the sclera of her eyes bleeds into toxic black.

"THEN PICK YOURSELF UP, AND DRAW!!!"

Looks of alarm spread through out those gathered, as the confusingly dark aligned mizuchi, then strides straight through the bulwark of barriers and wards meant to keep Juuchi contained.

"Hey!"

"What the hell?!"

"ARE YOU MAD?!?!"

"Sempai? SEMPAI WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!"

Juuchi blames the fact that it's been a stressful day on what happens next.

Even if the mizuchi seems to anticipate it and is totally nonplussed, Juuchi still has to take a moment to realize she just stabbed the minor water god in the shoulder.

The not all that powerful, but still very old water god.

Who, according to the ominous black blood that clings to her blade more like muddy poisonous sludge than actual carmine, is also somehow dead, yet not.

Idly, some part of her notes that it's been a while since she saw somebody with double immunity to Kyoshu. The larger part though, points out that the last time she stabbed something this ancient and exotic, she was also in a much better mental state and level of preparedness.

"-the hell are you?"

The mizuchi takes a step forwards, ignoring the the fact that she is driving herself further onto the sword.

ssslorp

Trembling slightly, and more than a little intimidated about the undead god pissed off enough to not even give a fuck about impaling itself, Juuchi then finds herself stumbling back up against the transparent walls of her prison. Practically eye to eye, with a rather irritated minor kami, with her true form stuck in it's shoulder.

Then the mizuchi speaks. Talking in no tongue of humanity, but in the language of water, and air and stone. An ancient, elemental sound of magic and nature, that though the Muramasas are too much the refinements of man to speak themselves any longer, they remember and understand in the iron of their steel. Something Kyoshu would never have been able to implant, and any speaker of which, would have been too primordial and alien compared to the human mind, for her to influence.

"Harken, iron and earth molded by the mad swordsman, named Ten Thousand Cold Nights, for I am The Embroidered Long Ago River. Receive thine words, and know them right. Verity, without illusion or colluded intent, for no ill will borne to thou or thine house. The one thou seekth is no more, and the grudge once justly born, sheds only innocent blood from an untarnished soul in it's place."

Wincing, the mizuchi then coughs and rubs at her throat. "Urgh, I hate doing that shit in this form. Nothing ever fucking sounds right. And of course I can't dragon-up with all the god damn Aurors and shipgirls about-"

Juuchi however, has no response to the dragon's ramblings, and can only stare with pale disbelief. Her knees feel week, and like the world is about to fall out from beneath her.

That... that can't be....

Kyoshu's.... but she's right there....

Looking to the side, she spies the specter of her darkest nightmares, her personal tormentress from her earliest days, gazing around vapidly like a confused imbecile.

"G-Guys... what's going on? And why is there this hole in my shoulder?" The Sword of Faded Memories, once the living embodiment of soulless beauty and evil in the guise of sultry sophistication and high class, now whimpers and looks to the Waterwitch Blade beside her. "Mou... Umitsubame, it kinda hurts....."

Emotions twist and coil in Juuchi's gut and heart. She doesn't know what to feel.

Dare she hope... that this isn't another trick?

"Is.... is this real?"

The mizuchi rolls her eyes, opening her mouth to speak-

- And then a golf cart stickered with Yokosuka Fleet Activities Base markings, ramps off of a collapsed piece of fence as it tears out of the bushes and comes into view, only to promptly writes itself off with the landing. But not before it's occupant takes a flying leap from the cab at the apex of the jump. Doing a series of flashy acrobatic feats as she flies through the air, in spite of the bags of festival-swag and stall purchases by her side, the purple haired sword spirit then lands in the center of the group, between the already contained Juuchi and Kyoshu.

Striking a pose, the Sword of Corruption smirks smugly as she pushes up her glasses. "Never fear Kyoshu! For Akutoku is here!"

A silence mixed between various degrees of stunned, disbelieving, and outright awkwardness is her only answer. After a few second of delay though, she at least gets a very late reaction from Kyoshu. The Sword of Faded Memories lone clapping is somehow even more awkward than the silence. "Yay! Akutoku!"

The sword spirit in question holds her pose, glancing around uncertainly for a few moments before cursing. "FUCK ME, IS IT ALREADY OVER?!"

"Way to miss the party dipshit!" shouts Norimune. "Even when you don't do what I tell you to, you fuck it up!"

"Bite me!"

"Eat me!"

"No thanks, but if you want, I can draw it?"

Juuchi watches the byplay between the two as they continue to rile and antagonize each other with a strangely hollow sense of disconnectedness. Something that only worsens as Kyoshu then chips in excitedly, face lighting up, and the last of her haunted, traumatizing thoughts seemingly vanished and forgotten.

"Akutoku! Akutoku! Look!"

Putting her argument with Norimune on hold, the Sword of Corruption spins around to look at the source of so many of Juuchi's traumas, childishly pointing at the ward bound Muramasa who is also still impaled in the draconic-onryo's shoulder.

No.... she then realizes.

Akutoku isn't pointing at her.

She's point at the kami.

"Look! Look! I found the mizuchi! Can I get a prize now?!" Kyoshu then pauses for a moment uncertainly. "Mou....Can it be to fix this hole in my shoulder? I don't know where I got it from... but it really hurts...."

This.... This is too much for Juuchi.

Slowly her eyes roll back up into her head, as the greatest of the Muramasas collapses into a dead faint, avatar vanishing before it even hits the ground.

Seeing what has happened, Jin facepalms. Giving a grunt of annoyance at the sword-spirit not even having the manners to pull out, the ex-kami then grabs the insensate Juuchi's hilt and yanks the blade out of her shoulder. Watching as the wounded flesh turns to water and sludge, then back to her more usual level of scar-crossed scale and skin with a fresher addition to join the rest, the mizuchi then looks to Chisuheri with mild irritation.

"No offence, but the next time you need a Kyoshu-sitter? Let me know so I can make plans to spend the day in a neighboring Prefecture instead."

 

[darthcourt10]

MWKillKenny84 Omake: Rome Meets Morrigan

Snippet: Rome meet Morrigan.



Morrigan was fuming.

How they dared to cricticize her for the the blessing she had given in the past?

When many of them had done the same?

What if she left her 'blessed ones' without nothing outside the blessing? The strong lived and became better warriors, and the weak… well, they weren't of importance.

And, because some of the foreigners where making a ruckus, now she was under 'house arrest' in the Celestial Halls.

Oh, her fellow Celts were clever in leaving some oblivious loopholes in her 'terms of arrest' that would have apparently let her get out quickly, but would have also sent her right in the territories of those that claimed she wronged the ones under their patronage (and thus were collectively hunting for her blood).

But the was she found to leave unopposed the Halls…

It was older than her undeserved punishment. An old passageway, made by those that believed in them, that now emerged in the no-Gods-land that was Italy.

That one, she was perfectly free to use. After all, it was centuries from the last time the so-called True God and its messanger had show their faces.

No one was there to feel her appear in the Mortal Realm.

And, thanks to the zealots that were the followers of the 'True God', no other deity had ever gone in the area (the Olympians had retreated ages ago in their Greek strongholds, the cowards) in recent times.



=0=


The city of Rome was awake.

A state of being that had been facilitated by Halifax's Awekening, on the other side of the Atlantic, followed by her fellow Mediterrean city Athens.

She had arisen to stop the emanations of the Hatred of the Sea from harming her children, those that lived inside her borders.

For now, she was content to being an hidden watcher.

The joungsters were perfectly capable of fighting the menace on their own.

No, Rome preferred to act against those that would have hindered the soldiers by helping their enemies.

The Cultists of the Abyssal Ones had learned swiftly that even unchanted walls had ears, here in Rome… or there, up nord, in Venice.

And if her merchant-based sister limited herself into sic'ing soccer hooligans against the cultists so to help them vent their frustrations, she… she had shades of blackshirts seeking redemption for their role during the Fascist Regime and their partisans counterparts to call forth and give the cultists a Lesson (capital L required).

But now… now, she was feeling an intruder.

An intruder that was trying to put something on one of the policemen of her 'material' self.

A quick suggestion in the back of his mind to leave the area and ignore both the intruder and her avatar, and she was there.

Instantly recognizing who and what had entered her borders.

She also felt Vatican's avatar leaving the border of Vatican City.

Good, the little terror had the uncanny ability of always having what was needed on hand.

"Celt. Leave. These are not your lands, and the people here are not your to interfer with."

"Oh, and what would do to me, little earth godling, if I was to continue and resume in what I want to do, like blessing that noble soul with a worthy reward and duty? Would you fight me, Morrigan?"

Rome's reply was not a smile, she was only showing more teeth. Her wrinkles and grey hair added to the scary factor…

"Yes." Was her simple reply, the City Incarnation stopping to contain her presence at a level comparable to a Ship Incarnation's.

Unseen by anyone, the borders of her 'urban' self shone with a gold light, right in the instant a barely-fifteen girl with purple eyes, covered heat-to-toe in a white nun's garb and armed with a spear that reminished the pilums used by the Roman Armies in ages past.

A spear that was giving both her and the deity in front of her bad feelings.

"Vatican. Here to take a piece of this celt too?"

"No, oh no, it would be such a diplomatic accident! I'm here only because His Holiness felt that ensuring no permanent damage will be done was the best thing to do."

"And the god-harming spear you have, Incarnation?" Asked Morrigan pointing at the spear, recognizing her all too well.

"Oh, but using this on you as Vlad the Impaler would have done would go against His Holiness' orders! No, this is here only to ensure that you can't get out of our borders… quickly."

Morrigan smirked, eager to prove the little one wrong… only to feel her divine ties to her native lands and faiths out of her reach.

"What?"

"Seven hills surrounded by swamps. Two brothers, founding a city that became the center of an Empire that span the know world, covering even your lands Celt.
"That Empire is no more, but the memories of its strenght and authority remain. I am urbe, Rome, the first City of the Western Civilization. And by the authority that being the capitol of the Empire gave me, I cut off your link with your land, Celt." Declared Rome, a faint outline of a stone-and-wood rigging not so dissimilar to a shipgirl's materializing around her, her sheperd's crooked staff no more a walking's supplement, but something that was both a simbol of the beginning of her life and of the power the civilization spawned from her had.

"The faith of billions, be they in the past, the present or the future found a material center in me. I am Vatican's City. I was the capitol of the Papal States. I am the Temporal Seat of the Power of the Church.
"Vox Populi, Vox Dei. The Voice of the People is the Voice of God, and their voice, their will, is that you are no longer a god they recognize as theirs, even in the distant lands of Ireland. " Added the nun that was the Incarnation of the seat of Christiandom's power on Earth, her lance glowing with the same gold color that had perfused moments before Rome's borders.
And that statement also explained how she had been able to cut Morrigan out of the power of faith that her past followers (and the minor amount that resurged after Blood Week, even more so in the wizardling community) granted her, seeing as the majority of the Irish people nowaday were Chatolic.

"Now, let's see how you fare on a fairer groud, Celt."

What followed was what something that was both painful and enjoyable for Morrigan, but sadly narrating the combinations of moves from at least a dozen fighting styles plus street-level dirty tricks used by Rome and the full extent of the Ancient Celt Martial Arts used by Morrigan is forbidden in the majority of the civilized world.

Apart Australia, but it is the only exception.

Suffice to say, Morrigan reappeared in the Celestial Halls bruised as hell but satisfied by the brawl she had with the City Incarnation.

Satisfied enough that, at least for now, she was willing to stop giving her blessings to mortals. For now.

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

NotHimAgain said:
I'm sorry, didn't I already ask you to not?​

Right, distraction needed...


So. Saw the jaw-dropping amount of worldbuilding Lord K got into with 1) the Magical Tokyo Riot and 2) Kogamaru's land. And over the past few months I've been pondering how I'd take a stab at mapping out what Antillia will look like once the Atlantic is pacified and Porta starts developing her land as a properly industrialized develop(ing) economy. And that means trains! My old schtick before I discovered the Titanic in First Grade. But it did give me the chance to sit down and actually name the cities of the Island that are supposed to be there, which will be important once Porta gets properly involved alongside the humans. The island was allegedly settled by Visigothic refugees from the Islamic jihad that conquered Iberia in the 8th century, so I figured that they'd name their cities after either great Visigothic Kings, Saints of Martial Prowess, or concepts pertaining the theme of going home and reclaiming their land.

Anyway, imagine this as a fake wiki. Sadly, my failtastic art skills mean that it's an article with zero images.


------


Imperial Antillian Railway

Origins
As part of the Imperial Invigoration Initiative, starting in the late 2010s, Empress Atlantia approached several foreign companies in mercantile and industrial markets to invest in the newly proclaimed Abyssinian Empire. One part of this was in the development of the laying down of a 30-Inch narrow gage railroad across the capital island of Antillia, connecting the seven cities with each other, as well as connecting the agricultural and vitally important Bio-Oil fields with the Imperial Port on the eastern end of the island.

The gage was chosen both for its ease of laying down and maintenance, as well as a conscious choice by the Empress to help lessen the impact of Industrialization on the land.

The locomotives built for the Imperial Antillian Railway were built by GE Transportation, a small fleet of twenty-nine narrow gage diesel engines based on their Evolution Series locomotives, and ten additional shunting engines, plus all required rolling stock. The company also co-founded the Imperial Locomotive Works alongside the Empress and independent investors to both maintain the engines and to build any new ones as required. The last payment for the rails and these original engines was made in May 2071, and GE's shares in the ILW were bought out by Empress Atlantia over the course of the early 2070s.


The Lines
The main purpose of the railroad was to link Antillia's seven cities along with the various Bio-Oil Cultivation Centers to each other and the port in order to encourage freight (principally oil and oil byproducts, but also the goods of the island's citizenry) throughput throughout the island and to the port. The largest of these being the Main Line, which was the main artery that looped around the island, connecting the cities directly, and provided linkages to the other lines. This was completed by June 2021, with the Atlantic Line, which broke off from the Main to direct traffic coming and going from the Main Line to the docks of Visigothia, the port city of Antillia, being completed the next month.

December 2021 saw the completion of Petroleum Line Prima, which services the Imperatrix Ultima Oil Refinery complex in the heartland of the island. With these three rail lines operational, the Imperial Antillian Railway was deemed 'predominantly complete' by Her Majesty.

Over the course of the 2020's, Petroleum Line Beta and Petroleum Line Omega, which services the Neptune Atlantic Oil Refinery offshore complex on the western end and the Prometheus Complex on the Northwestern corner of the island respectively, were also completed, with the Vulgaris branch lines, that provide both emergency or maintenance bypass traffic, runs through the center of the island, and connects the more isolated residents to collect or deliver their own goods, being laid down starting in 2029 and the last segment of track being completed in early 2034.


Imperial Passenger Service
With the increase in tourist traffic starting in the 2040s, Empress Atlantia saw the need to provide a passenger rail service on Antilia's narrow gage main line, providing easy connections between the island's seven cities, and to further advertise the agricultural and industrial heartland of The Empire's Jewel. In light of the Imperial Decree banning motorized vehicles save for electric scooters, it was decided that both the engines and the passenger service itself had to be tourism draws on their own. With this in mind it was decreed by the Empress that all passenger train engines were to be steam-powered, to appeal to novelty and nostalgia, leaving the present and future diesel engines – ruled out as dirty and inelegant in design – would remain with the island's freight traffic.

After studies, and compelling proposals sent in by steam enthusiasts domestic and abroad, it was decided that the steam engines would be – as much as practical and economical – small reproductions of historic locomotives, or otherwise novel. To determine the specifications of these engines, the Empress formed the Steam Engine Committee – consisting of Empress Atlantia, Princess Angband, Imperial Architect Rigar and Apprentice Architect Soba, and domestic Steam Rail enthusiasts and steam historians from abroad. After six months guidelines were agreed on:

1) Balancing the expected traffic and the needs to support it, it was determined that between six and nine engines would be required, with the final number decided to be ordered being seven.

2) All of the engines were to be built to the main line's 30-inch narrow gage.

3) Given the readily accessible source of oil due to Antillia's Bio-Oil industry, the engines were to be either pure oil or 'mix fuel' burners, burning the mix "waste products" of gasoline, butane, kerosene, diesel, and other fuels no longer needed in the growing global Post-Oil economy.

4) Each one had to be unique, to encourage interest in the railroad.

Starting in August 2050, IAR released a statement announcing that the company was now accepting design proposals for passenger cars. Specifications included per car seating of between 30 to 50 passengers for coach, and 20 to 35 passengers for first class. Proposals also needed to include designs for dinning cars, observation cars, lounge cars, baggage cars, and postal cars, with an observation lounge car to serve as an end of train car. Designs required that passengers be enclosed and protected from the elements and in all comfort. Ultimately, CAF won the bid, with the first cars being delivered starting in 2052.

Imperial Steam Engines
Spoiler: Empress of Abyssinia
Engine Number: 1
Builders: Various foreign voluntary contributions; Imperial Locomotive Works
Design Work Start: 2051
Entered Service: 2062
Gage: 30-Inch
Fuel: Oil
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-10-6-2

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the initial idea of the Empress of Abyssinia, or "Empy Aby" or simply "Aby" as she is affectionately called by fans, came as the Steam Committee was researching engines to model the line's passenger locomotives off of. According to Princess Angband:

"Mother was looking through a book of American steam engines, when all of a sudden she stood up and flew into an inarticulate rage at seeing a pair of 'triplex' engines that apparently didn't perform very well. She screamed about the blatant design flaws and said that 'we will prove that this can work,' and she was so furious and so insistent that we weren't able to talk her out of it. And that's how the Aby became the first engine to be greenlit.[citation needed]"

The engine was inspired by the only two triplex engines ever built: The Erie Railroad No. 2603 Matt H. Shay, and the Virginian Railway No. 700. Both engines were built in the 1910s as helper engines for steep inclines. However, both engines suffered from both unacceptable wheel-slippage (due to the rear drive wheels being under the tender, which lost traction power as the weight of coal was burned), and not being able to produce enough steam for all six cylinders (due in part to their proportionally undersized fireboxes, and the steam for the end drives being recycled waste steam from the center drive).

While the firebox for the Empress was indeed enlarged, as all of the Imperial steam engines were to burn oil for fuel, and oil releases more energy per unit than coal, the firebox for the Empress did not need to be increased as much as the old triplexes should have been. Furthermore, while the historical locomotives used a complicated system of high and low-pressure cylinders, the Empress was given six uniform high-pressure cylinders much like the Union Pacific Big Boys, thereby ensuring that the boiler could provide adequate steam. This also gave the added bonus of simplifying maintenance and construction. To correct the issue of wheel slip, the historical rigid configuration was thrown out and redesigned. In the Shay and Virginian Triplexes, the rear drive and trailing wheels were built underneath the tender, while the forward and center drive wheels were built under a more conventionally-sized locomotive boiler and cab. In contrast, the Empress' main body was elongated so that all three sets of drive wheels were under the weight of the engine, and thus always ensured consistent tractive power, with the forward and rear drives articulated to the central drive to better navigate the curves of the main line. As the central drive wheels would always be underneath the center of the locomotive, it was given 5 axels to make the most of the weight, while the leading and trailing drives were reduced to three axels to reduce risk of them slipping. To fuel the locomotive, the tender was converted from a surplus oil tank car from the recently defunct and reorganized Imperial Oil/Imperial Polymer Chemical Company's own out of service rolling stock.

Despite being the first engine to be approved for development, the engine was the last of the seven engines to be completed and placed on the line. The design and construction phases were slowed down several times by the Empress' order, to encourage the engineers to take their time perfecting the design to ensure that the engine would perform as expected.

The Empress of Abyssinia excelled as hoped, despite constant ridicule by critics throughout the entire construction, and has become a crowd favorite not only for citizens, but internationally as well, attaining meme status in 2069 with a series of caption images juxtaposing the Empress with her larger American ancestors, portraying the engine as the illicit lovechild of the Shay and the No. 700, sent away at birth to avoid scandal[Flagged as questionably relevant, and has been removed several times].

However, despite the success and the popularity, the engine was pulled from continuous service after four years due to passenger traffic not being sufficient for all seven engines. The engine is on static display in a special siding in front of the Grand Imperial Rail Station in her registered city, the banking city of Sancti Georgii, for most of the year, save for special occasions and the annual Proclamation Day festivities when tourism is at its peak, and whenever one of the other engines is out for maintenance.

Spoiler: Charybdis
Engine Number: 2
Builders: Various foreign voluntary contributions; Imperial Locomotive Works
Design Work Start: 2051
Entered Service: 2057
Gage: 30-Inch
Fuel: Oil
Wheel Arrangement: 4-8-4
Namesake: The Mythical monster from The Odyssey

Unlike all of the other engines of the Passenger service, which are reciprocating piston rod locomotives, Charybdis is a Turbine. Much like her older sister Empress of Abyssinia, she was designed around 'perfecting' a historical engine concept that never had the chance to showcase its merits, with special influence from Turbomotive, the only turbine engine to see significant line service.

Among the issues with applying Turbines to locomotives compared to ships and power stations was that, comparatively, the turbine had to be compact and relatively light compared to the scale they could achieve elsewhere. Hence why when the concept was attempted in the 1930s the locomotives had to many teething issues for experimentation at a time when the Steam Locomotive was facing extinction from diesel power. But with an additional century of material science development and an environment of novelty trumping economics, the Imperial Locomotive Works and volunteering engineers were able to arrive at a practical design.

The main drawback of the historical turbine engines was the usage of Direct Drives, where the revolutions of the wheels was the same as the number of revolutions made by the turbine. This meant that the turbine was running inefficiently for most of the time it was in activation, as turbines are only efficient when running at top speed.

Taking direct influence from Her Majesty's own fleet's naval turbine propulsion plants, the drive of Charybdis' turbine was indirect or geared. Like the Turbomotive, Charybdis has two turbines, but where the Historical engine had two, one for forward and the other for reversing, Charybdis' are a high pressure and low pressure, with waste steam from the high pressure turbine feeding the low pressure, ensuring that the most energy is used from the steam, and in the event of a catastrophic failure of one, it can in theory be cut off so that the other can take the engine and her train to the nearest station and into a siding for maintenance. These two turbines are connected to a drive shaft that in turn rotates the drive wheels, and does so due to a complicated gear transmission. This way, the engine can move at any speed, and even change directions, while the turbines spin at their maximum speed at all times. This has lead to the engine being nicknamed "The Crying Whistler," due to the loud and distinctive whine of the turbines once they are up to speed.

The initial plan was for the steam plant to be a closed loop like in maritime steam propulsion plants, with 'condensing tanks' running along the sides outboard of the driving wheels. This was scrapped when calculations showed that the steam would not condense fast enough for a sufficient amount of water to be collected and pumped back into the boiler. Additionally, it was found that all stations would have required their boarding platforms to be partially demolished and rebuilt to accommodate the extra width of the engine. So instead the waste steam is vented like in traditional locomotives, and must be replenished during refueling.

The engineering of the drives was the most complicated engineering challenge, and even with the input of Chief Engineer Ron Weasley of the Royal Navy the engine was very nearly canceled on two occasions. But after six years of drafting, building and testing, Charybdis was operational in time for her to pull her maiden run for Proclamation Day, 2057. She runs the Main Line starting at Imperial Visigothia Port Rail Station twenty circuits a day, six days a week, year 'round.

Spoiler: Abyssal Enterprise
Engine Number: 3
Builders: Imperial Locomotive Works
Design Work Start: 2051
Entered Service: 2053
Gage: 30-Inch
Fuel: Oil
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-4
Inspiration: The Milwaukee Road class F7

Inspired by an American engine from the 1930s, Abyssal Enterprise seemed destined for express service. Whereas the Empress of Abyssinia and Charybdis both took years of often frustrating work to design and complete, Abyssal Enterprise, despite being ordered two months after Charybdis, and five months after Empress, was completed just in time for Proclamation Day 2053, after only nineteen months of design and construction. And in the weeks to follow she was to prove to be faster than expected, with her fastest record being on May 3rd, 2054, estimated at being 79 mph/127 kph on The Roman Road, the longest straight away on the Main Line, on the North side of the island, and purportedly had her right-side wheels leave the track due to not sufficiently slowing down in time for the first curve at the end of The Road, derailing one passenger car and very nearly resulting in a catastrophic crash. Other than a passenger suffering a concussion, plates and silverware in the dining car being smashed on the floor, and an engineer breaking her collar bone after falling out of the cab, no casualties occurred in IAR's first passenger train incident.

This speed in fact lead to the first instance where Charybdis was seriously threatened with cancellation, when it was supposed that, with Abyssal Enterprise's speed, the engine could run the line fast enough where the troublesome engine was no longer needed. However, the matter was dropped after it was calculated that, once engines 4, 5, 6 and 7, all well underway in various stages of design or construction, were online, Abyssal Enterprise would be unable to take full advantage of her speed, as she would be constantly slowing down to avoid crashing into the rear cars of either her sister trains, or those of the freight trains. Therefore, Abyssal Enterprise is forced to travel at more sedate speeds.

Calls to Racing
Despite the incident of May 3rd 2054, Abyssal Enterprise has never actually reached the engine's top physical speed, when it was discovered that the valve was only 70% open at the time. Throughout the locomotive's life, there have been a steady stream of petitions and movements asking for Empress Atlantia to permit Abyssal Enterprise to be temporarily moved to a line either in Europe or the US in order to truly open up and to see just how fast the tiny narrow-gage locomotive can go. The most vocal proponent being the retired JMSDF Destroyer Shimakaze, demanding a race between herself and the locomotive. "Or at least let [her] have a ride when she redlines!" All such pleas and cries have been either ignored, or dismissed by Her Majesty. Reason being "she was not meant to be a racer, she was meant to move people around the island. And even if such a stunt were to be entertained, there is no road on the planet that is both of the right gage nor with a stretch long enough to make the effort worthwhile, and even if there were, there is no owner that would tolerate the notion."

The locomotive runs the circuit starting at Blessed Angband Imperial Station in the town square of the city of Saint Michael.

Spoiler: St. Elmo's Fire
Engine Number: 4
Builders: Imperial Locomotive Works
Design Work Start: 2053
Entered Service: 2055
Gage: 30-Inch
Fuel: Oil
Wheel Arrangement: 4-2-2
Inspiration: The GNR Stirling Single

Based on the GNR Stirling 4-2-2, St. Elmo's Fire, along with the Imperatrix Vult, are the only engines to be directly modeled on a specific extant engine, with the National Railway Museum Shildon giving the engineers exclusive access to the No. 1, the sole member of the class to be preserved, in order to recreate the engine as closely as practical.

The engine runs the passenger circuit starting from the Commerce Station in the city of Reconquista.

Spoiler: Imperatrix Vult
Engine Number: 5
Builders: Imperial Locomotive Works
Design Work Start: 2053
Entered Service: 2056
Gage: 30-Inch
Fuel: Oil
Wheel Arrangement: 4-4-4-4

Based on the T1 Trust's Pennsylvania 5550, the engine is the only one to be paid for in any amount by foreign funds, with approximately 50%-57% of the funds going into the construction coming from a fundraiser organized by the T1 trust in the United states, the organization that funded and built the 5550 over the course of 2017-2035, and broke the World's Steam Speed Record in 2039. The engine runs the circuit starting from the Victoria Maxima Boulevard Station in Theodorica

Spoiler: Maria Theresa
Engine Number: 6
Builders: Imperial Locomotive Works
Design Work Start: 2054
Entered Service: 2056
Gage: 30-Inch
Fuel: Oil
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-4
Inspiration: DGR Class 05

The engine was the brain child of Princess Angband, who was inspired by seeing engine 05 001 during a diplomatic mission to Germany in 2049, who liked the unique appearance of the locomotive and its streamlined design. The engine caused a stir in the fanbase of the engines on her maiden trip on June 9th 2056. As her home city is Reccared Gloriosa – which is at the start of The Roman Road – the engine was free to accelerate with little concern for curves and other traffic, and as such very nearly matched Abyssal Enterprise's speed record without incident. Ever since, there has been a good-natured rivalry between the fans and crews of the two engines over which is the fastest on the line.

Superstition
According to the engine's crews, the engine doesn't smoothly run at speed unless Ordinary Day by Great Big Sea is playing on a loop.

Spoiler: L'etat C'est Moi
Engine Number: 7
Builders: Imperial Locomotive Works
Design Work Start: 2054
Entered Service: 2057
Gage: 30-Inch
Fuel: Oil
Wheel Arrangement: 2-8-2
Inspiration: Saxon XX HV

Nicknamed 'Fire Demon' due to her black and red color scheme – the only engine to not sport the IAR Passenger service's iconing Blue and Green livery – or 'The Great Snob' due to the name, the engine is registered at the city of Chindasuinth y Recceswinth, initiating her loop from Regal Authority Avenue Station.

Pop Culture
In the 2084 100th Anniversary series of Thomas And Friends, Empress of Abyssinia was a one-shot character in the episode The Three Train Engine.



------

And now that I've put some work into these things (that won't likely ever show up in any snips due to being long after the story is over), I'm pondering what their Tsukumogami might be like... Stupid imagination. Never figured out how to turn it off. Though as you can see, after engine three I started running out of ideas.

And RCNAnon, sorry to get Ron involved without input.

Also, apparently, narrow gage passenger cars can be surprisingly comfy. Imagine my surprise at seeing these beauties.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain: Rome meets Morrigan, another version

TempestK said:
And NotHimAgain you can always simply ignore it.​

I suppose you have a point. Though, if such an exchange were to be attempted, it would probably go a little more like this:
*-*-*

Though Morrigan far preferred the greenery of her homeland, she couldn't help but admit to admiring Rome's beauty. And also gelato—she liked gelato. Which was why she had waited in line for thirty minutes for the frozen dish, to let the anticipation season her food. And was why she felt rather justified in being put out when she turned a corner and slammed into someone who literally appeared there before she could react, causing her to drop the treat.

"Celt. Leave," the woman who stood there chanted sternly. "These are not your lands, and…" she trailed off. Morrigan was on hands and knees, staring down at the remains of her dessert. "… What are you doing?"

"I'm mourning," Morrigan snapped back at her.

"Th-that's—you're mourning gelato?" the genius loci, if Morrigan was correct in her assumption, exclaimed. She looked angry, confused, scandalized. Morrigan rolled her eyes.

"I waited in line for that gelato," she replied, "I'll mourn it if I bloody well want to!" The woman's face twisted, before she forced it back into a mask of resolution.

"Leave this place," she said, once again resolute. "These are not—"

"I'm sorry, can't I get a new gelato?"

"Your l-lands—what? No! I will not allow you to interfere with these people!"

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

"These people! You're going to try to bind them and force them to battle monsters!"

Morrigan blinked. "Why would I do that?" she asked.

"Because that's what you do!" the city made manifest all but shouted. Morrigan groaned and palmed her face.

"Why," she complained, "does everyone immediately assume that I'm going around binding people as Select? I already have a family around Florence, why would I need one here?"

"Th-then…" Rome stammered, "why?"

"Because I wanted gelato."

"Just… leave. Now. Before I—where are you going?"

"Away. Like you told me to."

"S-seriously?"

Morrigan rolled her eyes. "I like to think," she said sarcastically, "that I'm a little more polite than most people seem inclined to give me credit for."

Then she went to Paris to see if she could find some crepes.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Standing in line for the International Pavilion, Harry's phone buzzed and he pulled it out. A frown grew on his face and his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the number on the screen. Natsumi, upon seeing that raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong, Harry-Chan?"

In reply, he held up a finger. "Give me a second, its from Shiromizu." Knowing that the others were now looking at him, Harry raised the phone to his ear. "Shiromizu? What the heck is going... Okay, what?"

"{Look, uh, Harry? Yeah, just calling to check up on you. So where are you?}"

Eyes narrowing, Harry frowned. "We're about to go and grab some lunch. What the heck is going on?"

Nervous chuckles came over the phone before the young Mizuchi answered. "{Well... nothing for you to worry about. Just something that came up that I had to deal with. Annoying, but needed involving people who won't communicate.}"

That, if anything, made Harry's frown deepen. "Shiromizu, my Mum is in the military. I grew up on a military base. Needless to say, telling me that something annoying happened involving people who won't communicate is only going to make me really concerned. In other words, the exact opposite of not worrying."

Jin's voice came over the phone as if it was a distance away. "{Don't be so nervous. If he's asking, tell him that he needs to promise you not to be angry.}"

Slowly taking a breath, Harry let it out. "Shiromizu, tell your Sempai that I have seen Hellsing Abridged. I know exactly how that phone call goes. And also, tell her that if she is going to tell you that you were just minding your business in hopes of me saying Bull, that won't happen. Because I have already said it before she could."

For several moments there was nothing and then Shiromizu repeated his words and Harry could hear Jin grumble. "{Dammit, let me have this... I need this...}"

Closing his eyes, Harry held back a groan. "Tell her no, she does not need this. And that was also an entirely different phone call. Just let me know one thing..."

Weakly chuckling, Shiromizu spoke up. "{Um, yes? What?}"

Only sighing, Harry continued. "Is anyone dead. Because I have a feeling that something happened with Juuchi and it involved you bunch somehow."

There was a pause before the Mizuchi spoke up. "{Um, no? No one is dead. Some are hurt, but, uh... its sorted itself out in the end? I think?}" Another few seconds passed before she continued. "{Just... Juuchi meeting up with her sisters. I think that this is normal for Muramasas or something from what Sempai and Honjo keep grumbling about... and the property damage is easily fixed? I think?}"

Utter silence met her before Harry spoke softly enough that only the phone could hear, as well as the Yokai around him who had gathered to help block the conversation. "So Juuchi met her sisters and fought each other? And there was property damage?"

Harry could almost see Shiromizu wince from the other side of the phone call. "{Um... yes?}"

Suddenly the black haired wizard shrugged. "Eh, as long as no one got killed or badly hurt. No worse then some of the incidents that I've heard. How bad?"

At the other end was a sigh before Shiromizu spoke up. "{That time the German High Seas Fleet and the Royal Navy girls who were at Jutland ended up in the same bar? While England and Germany were playing each other in Football at the World Cup? About... three quarters of that?}"

Ignoring how Jin was asking her what the fuck happened that would make what was around them less then, Harry nodded. "Ah, that is not too bad. Could have been worse to be honest. Just do me one favor, Shiromizu?"

Hesitant, her voice came across the phone. "{Uh, yes?}"

Unknown to her, Harry was smiling much the same way that Juuchi would when about to cut someone down. "Tell Juuchi that there will be no blood oranges for the next week and I will make sure of it. Same with Nichijou."
On the other end, Harry could hear a hiss. "{Brutal.}"

Simply shrugging, the wizard shook his head. "Yes, exactly the point. Oh, and tell Honjo that I will somehow make sure that she does not get any apples as well. Pretty sure that she was involved in this in some way. Tsukiakari... not sure to be honest, but I will come up with a punishment as well."

After a few seconds, Shiromizu let out a sigh. "{Doubly brutal, but I'll let them know... Though if her sisters ask for it to be lightened up?}"

With another shrug, Harry snorted. "Then they can talk with me." Once he said goodbye, he rolled his head. "Greeeeat."

Raising a finger, Asuka frowned though she had winced partway through the conversation. "What was that about a football game?"

Just blinking, Harry looked over his shoulder and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, um... how to put this?" Crossing his arms, he tilted his head to the side. "Right, so long story short football is big back in Europe and is taken extremely seriously. You had the German High Seas Fleet as well as the Jutland Veterans of the Royal Navy. Both of whom are very fanatic about their national teams when the World Cup comes around. And their nations were facing each other... it started with insults and escalated very, very fast to the point where it was basically Jutland II, Electric Boogaloo. Thankfully, they kept it to just fists and such with the odd bottle... table... or other object thrown in."

If anything, Asuka was more confused about that before she thought about it. Remembering how strong shipgirls were, she winced at what likely happened. "How... how bad was it?"

Tone dry, the Kitsune of the group's expression was blank. "They have been banned in Wales from having both groups in the same bar watching the World Cup." A frown then appeared on her face. "Better then the next World Cup."

More then a little interested, Kaku raised an eyebrow. "Why? What happened then?"

Now smirking, Natsumi gave a snort. "The some of the French shipgirls sent a picture to both the Germans and the British showing them holding up a flag showing the Polandball versions of both their nations beating each other... and then flipped it over to show the France Polandball holding the World Cup with the message that both Albion and Germany sucked."

Hands in his pockets, Harry scowled. "Screw the frogs." Then he snickered. "Granted, that caused the German shipgirls to invade France via the Low Countries with the Royal Navy shipgirls hitting them from the west. Still better then that one incident in Boston with New Jersey and some others."

Curious, and feeling her tails twitch despite her disguise, Rika blinked. "Oh?"

Nodding, Harry snorted some and rolled his eyes. "Jersey opened her mouth during a World Cup match with Kriegsmarine girls, British girls, French girls, Italian girls, and the few Dutch ones. Really long story short? She claimed that she did not see the big deal since it was 'just soccer' and was nothing like 'actual football'." Fingers snapping, he shook his head. "She really got what was coming to her then. Honestly... Bloody Yanks."

Unable to help herself, Natsumi giggled some. "Though the image of a New Jersey having the Dutch shipgirls nearly chewing her legs off while being dogpiled by Uboats and both the Royal Navy and French ones smashed bottles on her head... followed by the Italian ones jumping in."

Simply sighing, Harry flicked a non-existent tear from his eyes. "For once, Europe was united in something." Then he shook his head. "Though there was that one time involving the Canadian shipgirls and the Russian ones at that one hockey game. Apparently the City of Vancouver stated that it was just like the playoffs..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Weaver

Friday, 23rd August 2013

Once again, Awa Mari found herself looking out of a train window, this time as industry and the construction of more of it gave way first to marshland and then a town where gaps in the buildings and new construction marked where Abyssal shells had fallen in the past. She stayed on the train past the station she'd got off at in the past and disembarked at the next one, finding Dan waiting for her on the platform. He smiled when he saw her.

"Hi."

"Hello. Happy birthday."

"Thanks. How's everyone at the base?"

"They're fine. Vetch and the French sisters are out on convoy duty, as are some of the frigates you met at the summoning but apparently everything has been quiet recently so they're not worried."

"How are the girls we summoned doing?"

As they left the station Awa Maru noted an obvious cleared away bomb site on the corner of one of the streets but didn't comment on it. There wasn't much that could be said after all. Instead she replied to Dan's question.

"They're doing well. There's still some uncertainty about where the British ships going to be posted and the American ones are waiting to go back to the USA, but they're adjusting to everything well enough. I've been getting along well with Ambrose, we never met in our first lives but there were a number of years when we possibly could have if circumstances had been different and she was a liner before she was requisitioned so we have things in common."

"Happy to hear it."

The rest of the walk was taken up by meaningless small talk until they arrived at Dan's house. Opening the front door he let Awa Maru enter first. The liner took her shoes off just inside the door and noticed that Dan did likewise before he called out.

"Mum, Awa Maru's here."

A shouted reply came from the back of the house, probably the kitchen.

"I'll be there in a second."

A moment later a woman walked out of the dining room.

"Hello, it's so nice to finally meet you, Dan's told me so much about you. I'm Patricia."

Awa Maru was too taken aback to respond. Dan's mother was about average height, with the same dark brown hair and brown eyes as her son, and wearing an apron over a blouse and jeans. She was also about three hundred and seventy feet long, with a beam of around thirty eight or thirty nine feet, what looked to be a displacement of just under three thousand tons, and a respectable amount of armament. She also reminded Awa Maru more of some of the ships she'd seen in her first life than the ones she'd been living with for the past few weeks. Oddly, that side of the woman in front of her also looked less solid than she was used to and going by the available evidence was completely unaware of it.

While the Japanese liner was busy thinking about what was in front of her, the woman in question started to look concerned and confused.

"Is there something wrong?"

"N..No."

Suddenly remembering her manners and feeling a little flustered she bowed and apologised.

"Gomen nasai . It's just.....Ano..."

This was not a situation she knew how to deal with.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Everyone giving each other looks, Asuka eventually coughed. "So, um..." Looking around, she spotted one of the menus written on blackboard and pointed on it. "That's what they're serving?"

Giving an amused look to Natsumi, Harry nodded. "That does seem to be what they're serving for lunch."

A thoughtful look on her face, Usagi hummed some as she looked it over. Furrowing her eyebrows, she slowly shook her head some. "Not too much on there for me... maybe the bumbleberry pie?"

With a glance at that, and remembering that she was vegetarian, the wizard tilted his head. "Well, that is one to be honest. But I would also suggest the bannock bread as well as the Montreal style bagels. Maybe some Oka cheese as well since that seems to be there as well..."

Her eyes roaming over what was written down, Ayaka pointed at another one. "Montreal style smoked meat sandwiches? Are those any good?"

Natsumi let out a groan and patted her belly. "Oh, they really are. Its a sort of spiced and smoked meat that's cut into this really thin slices and placed in a sandwich with rye bread. Haida made some the last time she was by and everyone ate them." Licking her lips, she shook her head. "I am definitely having some of those."

Beside her, Asuka frowned before looking at Harry and Natsumi. "Pou-tine? What is that?"

Glancing at her, Harry chuckled some. "Its a dish that has french fries as a base with cheese curds and then smothered in hot gravy. Not that bad and I know that Akagi-Oba enjoyed it."

Just jerking back, the Daitengu blinked. "Fries and cheese curds in gravy? That sounds... sort of gross actually. I mean, do Canadians actually eat that?"

Somewhat amused, Natsumi looked at her and nodded. "Poutine is really, really popular over in Canada actually. They got restaurants that specialize in just different kinds of poutine since what Harry-Chan described is just the basic. I mean, you can have stuff like toppings such as smoked meat, bacon, and the like on it. But..." With a look at the menu, she shook her head. "Looks like they just got the basic kind."

Only shaking her head, Asuka pressed her lips together. "Not sure if I want to even try. I mean, Ai and Kiba said to try new things and such like foods. But, um..."

Finger pointing, the Nekomata of the group shook her head. "Looks like they got a 'Small' portion? Could go for that, I guess?" Looking at Asuka, Rika smiled. "Though if you want, I don't mind buying a portion and sharing it between us. We can just split it."

Considering it, Asuka slowly nodded some. "That sounds good?"

As he scratched his chin, Kaku hummed. "Hot chicken sandwiches? I can guess that the chicken is served hot with them? But... doesn't make much sense otherwise why they would be their own food."

However, Natsumi shook her head. "Actually? Its a chicken sandwich with gravy poured over it and peas added. Also pretty good."

Several moments passed as they looked from her and then back at the menu. Then scratching her head, Ayaka blinked. "Okay, I thought that it was American foods that were fattening. I mean, do they have that sort of thing for all their foods?"

Tone dry, Natsumi gave her a raised eyebrow. "The Canadians must have a lot of energy in order to work in the frozen wasteland that is their homeland. Thus large meals of rich, fattening foods as well as very sweet ones are needed in order to stay warm in the harsh, Canadian winters. Such as when they enter adulthood by fighting a moose with their bare hands."

Eyes sliding over to her, Kaku gave her a look. "Okay, now I know that you're joking."

Grinning, the Kitsune gave a shrug. "You caught me, not all the foods are fattening."

Needless to say, outside of Harry and Natsumi, they were all giving each other looks of befuddlement. Unable to decide if she was joking or not, Asuka looked further down the menu. "Sort of interested in the deserts though. I mean, I am always up for something sweet... Though butter tarts? Grandpères?"

Unable to help himself, Harry pointed at the last. "Grandpères? Those are a type of sweet dumplings... boiled in maple syrup. Sort of interested in the blueberry grunt though. I mean, its a cobbler that is boiled in blueberries and has cream or ice cream added to it when served."

Eyes widening, the other teens all looked at it as well. Several minutes later found them all sitting at a table and looking at their various meals. Looking down at the poutine in the cardboard plate, Asuka frowned. "Um... so... you eat this with a fork?"

Spearing some on her own plate with a fork, Natsumi nodded. "Hai." As she pulled the fries away, strings of melted cheese broke. Then the Kitsune popped it into her mouth and hummed. "Yeah, this is pretty good."

Only looking from Natsumi to her own plate, Asuka raised an eyebrow before taking a deep breath. It took a few seconds, but she was able to get a mouthful and paused. Chewing, Asuka swallowed and then blinked. "It's... not bad? I mean, not like I was thinking."

Meanwhile, Ayaka grabbed her smoked meat sandwich and took a bite out of it before giving a nod. Swallowing, she smiled a bit. "It really is good!"

Kaku chuckled after having taken a bite of his hot chicken sandwich, though he wiped his hands on some napkins. "Huh, better then I expected. A bit messy though." Then he shrugged and grabbed it again. "Still, pretty good."

Finger raised as she saw him take another bite, Rika grinned. "I'll trade you some of my smoked meat sandwich if you trade me part of your chicken."

Looking from his food to hers, the Tanuki gave a nod. Meanwhile, Usagi was rolling her eyes. "Carnivores." At their smirks, she put down the honey covered bread she had and speared one of the Grandpères. "Granted, this means more desert for me!"

That got eye rolls for her from the others before the teens all turned to arguing over her eating deserts before they could get at them.

Not far away, Taichi suddenly noticed his sister at the table and blinked. "Wait, Natsumi-Chan's here? Seriously?"

A warm chuckle made him turn to where Kaga was watching him with a slight smirk. "Is that so surprising? It is lunch time after all..." Glancing at her watch, she gave a small nod. "Though they were smart at going when they could just avoid the lunchtime rush."

Biting into his own sandwich, Taichi raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Does it get that busy around here?"

In reply, the Carrier took a bite out of a slice of the full Canadian pizza on the large plate. Something that made Taichi also glance at the rest of the food she had around her. "One would not think it, but the International Pavilion is rather popular." With a shrug, Kaga shook her head with a curl of her lips. "It would seem that a lot of people here in Yokosuka, as well as elsewhere in Japan, like travelling simply to try food from around the world. Something advertised."

Taichi considered that as he leaned his fist against one cheek and took a sip of soda. "Huh. Makes sense, I guess." With a look towards the cooking tent, the Kitsune could already see the lineup grow. "Must be costly though getting all that food here."

However, much to his surprise, Kaga shook her head. "Not really, the Canadian government, from what I have been told, sees it as an investment." At the confusion, she hummed. "It is, in Naka's own words, good PR. As well, it creates interest in their nations when they serve up the food with information. Sort of opening themselves to Japan."

More then a little thoughtful, Taichi frowned. "I guess? Though the closest that I've come is Akage no An and that time Haha-ue took us to Canadian World in Hokkaido."

Now it was Kaga's turn to blink. "Canadian World?"

Only shrugging, the Kitsune turned back to his food. "Its a theme park up in Hokkaido dedicated to Canada. They got a house there based on Akage no An's, and Haha-ue as well as Oba-San are both fans." Blinking, he chuckled some. "Its also pretty popular among Yokai orphans, especially... well, after the war and Blood Week."

Kaga rolled that around in her head for a few moments before nodding. "That would make sense as it seems it was extremely popular during the reconstruction, I have heard." Finishing off the slice of pizza, she could only shake her head. "Though that was one thing that was surprising. The idea of a western book becoming so popular among Japan just after the war."

All Taichi did though was scratch his head. "Well, from what Haha-ue told me, it resonated with orphans on both sides of the divide. I mean, there's even a magical play here in Japan that makes its rounds among Yokai based on the book. Some of the Yokai escaping from the reserves have even read it if you'll believe it."

Surprised at that, the shipgirl could only shake her head. Granted, there was a part of her that wanted to see said play. But then Kaga turned to more important matters and placed her hand on Taichi's. "Taichi-Kun? Thank you for treating me to lunch."

Blushing, he could only scratch his cheek. "Hehe, you're welcome, Kaga...Chan?" At the smile she gave him, Taichi felt his cheeks redden all the more. "Besides, you, um... I thought that you might get a bit hungry."

Just nodding, Kaga took another slice. "And I was, so thank you. Though perhaps you could treat Akagi-San to a meal as well?"

Confused, the Kitsune blinked. "I was? I mean, I thought that would be nice?"

If anything, his confusion grew as Kaga's smile did as well. "And it would be very nice... though as an aside, Akagi-San would not mind being called Akagi-Chan by you." Then she held out the slice to him. "Here, try some of this."

As he did so, Taichi did not see the gleam in Kaga's eyes. Oh yes, she could have gotten more food then she had. But she did not want to strain his wallet. Especially as Kaga knew that he would also be treating Akagi. Granted, unknown to him, the two were also planning on treating him to a meal each later on in the week. And as he continued their conversation, Kaga knew one thing.

This was a victory in her books.

 

[darthcourt10]

RBomber

Because I'm bored, and bevause someone in SV pointed out that many Vatican's Swiss Guard weapons are pretty old. Like, tsukumogami old.

*****

"Uno, due ,tre, quatro! Uno, due, tre, quatro! Uno, due ,tre, quatro!"

"Hey, Gio, do you know where- Where's all these ragazinne came from?"

"Tenere! ...Stop!"

"...I don't remember we had appointment with Nationale Giovani Esploratici or something today."

"No, we don't. A proprio agio. Squadra, riferire."

"Si! Il mio e Triella. Numero di identificazione HR1646D0223."

"Il mio e Rico. Numero di identificazione HR1722B2215."

"Wait. Isn't that identification number-"

"Il mio e Henrietta. Numero di identificazione HR1812B3359. Ciao, mio fratello!"

"...Tell me this is prank or something."

"Fratello, sei cattivo! Mi sei stato oliato stamattina. Con quell'olio giapponese-um, uh-"

"Choji olioato. 1% di chiodi garofano oliato in olio mineralo."

"-Cisa ha detto Triela."

"...What."

"That's my expression, too. Now help me herd these... girls. Oh yeah, Prefecture had been notified, we would have either rank induction or... something else by this afternoon."

"...'Something else'?"

****

"Nobody asked for exorcism?"

"No. Not after Father Maxwell... Happened. There's no question on their life sanctities and faith. All we discussed now is how to reintegrate them, either to Papal Guard or into new division or something."

"They say Father Anderson wants to recruit them into Bestiam Dominus or something like that."

"That would be centuries before Holy See ever considering his wish. Father Anderson had been a faithful sheperd, but his method... leaves a lot to be desired."

"Even if they are necessary."

"Even that."

 

[darthcourt10]

It_agn02

Stretching her arms, Tsushima Maru tugged at the submarine's casual T-shirt as they wandered the International Pavilion.

"Mama, look! Look! It's Honolulu-san!" she exclaimed, pointing toward one of the booths.

"What did I say about calling me your mama, Tsushima?" Bowfin lightly scolded. Looking at where the transport ship was pointing, she spotted a certain pair of cruisers wearing naval-style Hawaiian shirts. "Well, you don't see that every day," Bowfin commented as she saw the smaller cruiser hand over a lump of green…stuff toward a waiting customer. "Want to say hello?"

The transport ship nodded, dashing over to where the cruisers were serving. In the front taking orders, light cruiser Honolulu simultaneously laid out brick after brick of the stuff Tsushima Maru recognized as the yummy Spam sushi she eats every week. In the back, a much larger cruiser manned the stove and oven, rotating out her finished goods with the items she thankfully prepared much earlier. In the background, a CD player played Hawaiian songs on loop.

"Hey! Honolulu-san!" Tsushima Maru greeted.

"Hey, Tsushi!" Honolulu responded. "How does it feel to be back in Japan?"

The transport gave a smile. "I love it! Things changed so much and I got to see all my friends again!"

"Well that's good," the cruiser responded. "Yo! Bowfin! Finally getting out of Pearl, I see."

The submarine gave a wave. "The admiral…he found out about my…um…" The submarine looked away in embarrassment. "…you know…"

Groaning, cruiser pointed her tongs at the sub. "And he has every right to be pissed off about you keeping that a secret!" she scolded. "Tired people make mistakes. Costly mistakes. Mistakes that you would regret to the end of your days!"

"…I know…"

"What's more…" she said, her face softening, "…Tsushima Maru is here. She's doing all right. You don't have to worry about hurting her anymore."

Bowfin looked aside. The cruiser was right, of course, but something still stung at her heart. Something that, no matter how hard she tried to sleep, would still shake her from her slumber.

No matter how hard she tried, her dreams still ended in screaming.

"Whatever the case," Honolulu continued, "As long as you're here on a mandatory vacation, you might as well have some grub!" She handed the menu to the transport ship. "What'll it be today?"

Snapping out of her funk, even just a little, Bowfin shot a look at the cruiser. "You and Hawaii are manning a Hawaiian food booth?"

"A travesty, innit? I'm not even from Hawaii. I'm from Brooklyn. The class and the city."

"You mean you were built in Brooklyn. But aren't you still, you know, named after the city of Honolulu?"

"So? Still doesn't mean they can just scoop up Hawaii and me for any Hawaii-related sh…" Brooklyn glanced at Tsushima Maru, then at a disappointed-looking Bowfin. "…Stuff. That's just profiling, know what I'm saying?"

As Tsushima Maru continued to peruse the menu, a trio of destroyers walked up to the counter. Placing the current conversation on hold, Honolulu turned to them.

"Mutsuki-chan, check it out, they've got mochi. Though…why does a Hawaiian food booth have mochi?" the black-haired girl asked.

Honolulu shook her finger. "Don't knock it before you try it. This here is butter mochi." She put forward a sample tray. "Unlike the mochi you girls know, this stuff's got a Filipino twist with coconut milk, condensed milk, and all that good stuff. Baked like a cake, too."

"…And this saimin, poi?" the blonde girl asked.

"That's a Japanese-Chinese ramen fusion!"

Mutsuki spoke up, pointing to one of the balls of fried dough. "Aren't those from Okinawa?"

Honolulu nodded. "Yep! Hawaii's getting in a new batch of andagi right now if you want to eat some hot and fresh!"

The black-haired girl nodded in amazement. "Are a lot of the foods you have here fusions of something or other from any place in the Pacific?"

Hawaii turned around from her cooking and greeted the trio. "Other than the native Hawaiian dishes, you would be correct. Way back then, a lot of immigrants came to Hawaii to work in the plantations. Their cultures and food intermingled and that's what we have there today."

Fubuki skimmed the menu, the CD player changing tracks in the background, each dish seeming more attractive than the next.

On the other side of the counter, Bowfin leaned on the counter and studied the menu in Tsushima Maru's hands. Now that she thought of it, despite all the time she had in Hawaii, she never tried a lot of the local cuisine. Most of what she ate came from the mess hall at Pearl, surrounding fast food joints, and family restaurants that catered to tourist clientele.

If she wasn't going to try anything, then when would she ever get the chance?

With Fubuki ordering a kalua pork plate and Mutsuki ordering the laulau, that left the third to figure out what she wanted to eat.

Looking at the menu, Yuudachi noticed one small word that caught her attention.

"Poi?"

Honolulu nodded. "Poi."

"Poi, poi?!"

Again, the cruiser nodded. "Poi."

Hesitantly, the destroyer extracted a 100-yen coin from her coin purse and placed it on the table. "Poi."

"Poi?"

"Poi, poi."

Nodding, Honolulu took the coin and replaced it with a paper cup that she pushed toward the destroyer filled with some purple…stuff. "Poi."

Yuudachi pointed at the cup. "Poi, poi?"

Honolulu handed the girl a spoon. "Poi."

The destroyer took the cup and the spoon nervously, then she put a spoonful of the poi in her mouth.

"POI!" she cheered.

As the group happily left with their food, Bowfin leaned over with a stupid grin on her face. "Did you even understand what she said?"

The cruiser shook her head. "Not a word." She looked down at the submarine, who was holding her smartphone. "Please tell me you didn't record that."

"I did, and I'm sending a copy to Jersey."

Instead of feeling miffed the light cruiser smirked at the trolling in progress. "Cold."

The sub put the phone away and handed Tsushima Maru's menu back to the cruiser. "I think I'll take the 'Kamehameha Combo' and one…um…strawberry passion smoothie?"

Tsushima Maru raised her hand. "I like hamburger, so I'll take the loco moco and some pineapple juice!"

After paying, the girls took their plates (in Bowfin's case, eight of them) to one of the nearby tables, where they sat near a boy surrounded by his friends.

It was the first time Bowfin took a bit out of that good Hawaiian food, she knew that despite how mandatory this vacation was, it was worth it in the end. Now if only she had some help finishing all eight plates.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

As they stood on the wharf, Asuka was looking at the various ships further down. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Tenryuu's hull pull up and the gangplank come out. Moments afterwards, the first of the passengers who had taken a short cruise on her came off. More then a few were excitedly talking. The Daitengu could also see Tatsuta's hull pulling away and further out onto the harbour herself.

Besides the shipgirls though, Asuka could see the normal steel hulls. The JDS Kongou sat at her berth, all her colors out and on display. Part of Asuka wanted to go and visit said vessel as she could remember seeing it when they fled on another JMSDF Destroyer from Izu Oshima. But considering the memories still brought an ache to her heart, she shoved that to the side. Oddly though, the Kurama kept drawing her eye. Why, the Daitengu did not know. But there was something about the vessel that did so. What that was...

Rika finally speaking up though caught her attention. "There Harry-San is along with Nagato-San and... wait, what the heck is he wearing?"

When Asuka turned, she, like the others outside of Natsumi, blinked at the sight of what Harry was wearing. "Wait, isn't that the boy's summer uniform for our school? Why is he wearing it? And where did he even get it?"

Softly snickering, Natsumi only shook her head. "Harry is registered at our school you know. And our uniform, especially the summer one, is pretty close to an actual sailors uniform due to also serving the personnel on the base. Hence why Harry-Chan is wearing his." Then she gave a nod of her head towards the thirteen year old wizard. "Also, look what's on his head."

It took the Daitengu to realize what her friend meant. "Isn't that the same hat worn by the Akatsuki sisters? Outside of, um, Verniy-San?"

Her arms crossed, Natsumi nodded. "Hai. In fact, that is Verniy-Chan's old one." At the surprised looks, she smiled in remembrance. "When she got her rebuild from Hibiki into Verniy, she gave Harry-Chan her old cap. And it means a lot."

Even though they were confused by what she meant, they nodded as Harry got closer. Once he got close enough, the black haired boy grinned and gave them all a wave. "Hey guys, sorry about the wait. I had to get changed and everything." Hands in his pockets, he chuckled. "Ready for a cruise?"

Just nodding, Usagi grinned back at him. "I know that I am." With a look towards Natsumi, she hummed. "Haruna-Sama's hull was one thing, but this is another. I mean, she was docked but Nagato-Sama is actually going to go cruise out on the harbor!"

With a sigh, Asuka pouted some. "I wish that I got the chance."

Gently patting her on the shoulder, Rika gave a shrug. "Well, now's your chance. And its even better then it was."

Somewhat amused, Nagato raised an eyebrow as she reached them. "So I take it that all of you are ready for a short trip?"

Turning, Harry stood at attention and gave her a salute. "Hai, Mum! We're ready for our cruise!"

Lips twitching, the Battleship took in the sight of her adoptive son. The sight of him there in his uniform made her want to coo. Instead though, all she did was smile down at him while straightening it some. "You look so handsome like that, Harry... I mean, Ensign Potter."

Rather then be embarrassed as most boys would be though, Harry's expression brightened which made Nagato's do much the same. It was for things like this he lived for and, more then that, soaked up the affection even now like a plant needing water. "Thanks, Mum."

Only giving him a final pat, Nagato did a short stretch before placing one foot on the wharf. Then, she leapt off and landed on the water a distance away. Slowly, the Battleship spread out her arms and closed her eyes as she concentrated. Taking a hold of the spiritual chain between her self and her hull, she began to pull it up in her mind. Meanwhile, outside, the water began to bubble and froth around her.

Up on the wharf, more then one of the kids looked on in awe as the water also began to glow softly. Leaning forward, Asuka shook her head with wide eyes. "That looks so cool! I mean..." Blushing at the slight amused look on some of the others' faces, she chuckled weakly. "Um, I mean it looks different seeing it from here then on the television?"

Instead of giving her any grief, the others simply nodded in reply. But then their attention was grabbed as the first bits of Nagato's steel hull rose above the waves. Her superstructure was soon followed by her guns and then her deck. The rest of her hull also then rose with water streaming off it. Finally, as the last of the water left her deck, her gangplank lowered down to the wharf and Harry walked up it to where his mother was before saluting to the stern and then to Nagato who saluted back with a small smile. "May we come onboard for our cruise, Mum?"

Chuckling, Nagato gave a small nod. "Permission granted, Ensign Potter. Welcome aboard the Battleship Nagato, first of the Nagato-class."

Not able to help himself, Harry rapidly nodded. "And its great to be on your hull, Mum." Looking around, he let himself feel the awe from what he was seeing. "This is really awesome. Way better then seeing it in pictures."

Simply giving him a pat on the head, the proud Momboat hummed. "I'm glad to hear of it, Harry." Eyebrow raising, she glanced at one of the ghostly crew that dotted her hull and tilted her head some before nodding. Turning back to Harry, Nagato cleared her throat. "Ensign Potter, as much as I would rather not ask... would it be possible for you to greet those coming aboard at the bottom of the gangplank? It would only be for a half hour."

Almost immediately, Harry nodded and gave her a smile. "Sure, Mum. I can do that!"

Just as he was about to speak to Natsumi, the Kitsune beat him to the punch and shook her head. "Go ahead, Harry-Chan, we can wait here for you."

Quickly, he gave her a hug before making his way back to the wharf where he stood at ease at the bottom. The next half hour passed pretty rapidly and the only issue was at the end when Harry closed up the gangplank after getting the signal that Nagato was about to head out. Said issue was three young men who started to run towards him. "HEY! STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!"

Eyebrow raising, Harry frowned at them and shook his head as he set up the chain as they continued to run. He did know the rules that were set out for the wharf for the cruises. "Sorry, but we're currently not taking . You'll have to wait until we return or go out on one of the other ships."

Growling, one of them stepped forward. "Oh, yeah? And who are you to say that?! We've been waiting for this!"

Arms crossed, Harry's frown deepened as he had the idea that these were likely 'Fans' of his mother. But that did not matter and only solidified his stance as he had a very good idea of what sort they were. "If you were here five minutes earlier, then it would be okay. But the rules state that once the signal is given, no more are allowed to board until those return and leave the ship."

With a scowl on his face, the leader of them took a step forward. "Oh yeah, Gaijin? And what if we don't want to wait and just move you aside..."

Trailing off, he went pale as did the others with him as Harry gave him a version of his mother's glare. However, there was also a small, predatory smile on his face. "Well, I would say you could try, but that could be quite... Hmm, troublesome."

Up on Nagato's deck, behind Harry were the spirits of several of her burliest crewmembers. All of whom were glaring down at the young men as if daring them to even attempt it. One of the Officers was even fingering the hilt of his sword with a cold smile on his face. Finally, the young men backed down and started to walk away. "Yeah, we can try later, I guess..."

Simply watching as they grumbled and walked off, Harry nodded before heading back up the gangplank. Upon reaching the end, he gave a salute and a smile. "Thank you for the backup."

Returning the salute, the spirits smiled back at him with the Officer chuckling. "You are very welcome, Harry-San. We do not mind at all after all. Please, come onboard."

As he chuckled himself, Harry did so and soon the gangplank was pulled back up as the Battleship was pushed away from the dock by some Tug-girls. Soon enough, Nagato's screws bit into the water and she was out onto the harbor under her own power, blowing her horn to let any ship or boat know that she was underway as Harry made his way along her hull to where Natsumi and the others were, as was his adoptive mother. Along the shore, meanwhile, various people were taking pictures and video of the event as were those onboard.

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord K

Unable to help herself, Sachiko giggles at the current topic of conversation she and her newfound sharer of tastes are arguing over, like the diehard fans they are.

"You heathen degenerate!" she says with faux-offense. "Season one was way better than season two! They messed it up completely! They had so much opportunity to make up for not including stuff they couldn't fit in S1 because of budget and time constraints, and then they just filled S2 with blatant pandering and fan service."

Kogamaru clutches his purchase to his heart, feigning being wounded as they walk through the car park. "But what pandering it was! While I admit the fan service was a bit cringy, come on! You can't tell me the adaptation of the fight from the Chapter 45 arc wasn't everything everyone dreamed it to be!"

Sachiko's pretty sure they were supposed to be waiting for her sisters, but at this point, she doesn't entirely care. "Okay, okay, I admit that was pretty cool," she concedes with a grin.

"But in counter point, the Hot Springs arc."

Kogamaru winces. "Okay, point to you for that one. Turning one of the major moments in the manga into an excuse for fetish-bait without any of the original character development or plots that made it so good, was a rather glaring fumble by the studio."

Sachiko just grins smuggly, before they both then start laughing.

Today has been a good day. Who thought get accidentally spat on with someone else's coffee, could lead to a chance meeting such as this?

There's something easy about talking to this guy. On the surface, he has all the hallmarks of a politely chivalrous and formal gentleman from another era. But once broken through, thanks to their surprisingly shared love of similar anime and video games, the person beneath the exterior is almost as big of an awkward nerd as her. He's almost adorable in how dorky he is!

And more than that, as strange as it sounds, he knows how to talk to her. Not in an emotional or sappy romantic sense, no, but in spite of how weird it might come off to those who don't understand, he knows how to actually talk with her in a physical and mental sense.

She knows the wheelchair and her ill health sometimes put people off. But this guy doesn't even bat an eyelash. The wheelchair is not only blasé to him, but it's like he's used to interacting with someone in one. It doesn't feel like he's looking down to her when they talk. And when they navigate the stalls and crowds, rather than subconsciously threading between the masses in gaps more optimal for him to slip through, or letting her take the lead, he somehow knows how to move in tandem through the slower, sometimes meandering course she has to take between the shuffling forests of kids, teens, fans, cosplayers, collectors and otaku. Somehow, even his walking speed automatically assumes a varying rhythm, as if used to the push-coast-push of somebody moving themself along in a wheelchair.

In the course of only a few hours, it feels like she's run into an age old friend she's known since forever. Someone who enjoys all the things she does, and is used to her ailments after a lifetime of not minding living around them.

Although..... As silly and embarrassing as it is to admit.... There is just one issue Sachiko now realizes.

She's met this awesome, funny guy, and has pretty much spent most of the day with him discussing, buying and window-shopping a plethora of manga, anime and video games. And she doesn't actually know his name.

She's not sure whether he mentioned it earlier and she missed it, or if she forgot, or if they somehow simply never actually introduced themselves, and have both been to embarrassed to admit the fact to the other throughout their meanderings around the festival. Now however, it is time to part. And before they do so, Sachiko knows that she needs to admit to her rather silly lack of a rather important bit of infomation, considering how they have been hanging out together for the past few hours.

"This has been a great day."

"It has hasn't it?" he agrees with a smile, before awkwardly rubbing at his neck awkwardly. "Aside from the whole coffee thing."

Sachiko laughs. "Coffee thing aside."

"Yeah." He pauses still looking a little awkward. "By the way, before you go.... I kind of have to ask something...."

Oh kami, does he want her number or something?

"I-I-I suppose I have to admit there is something I wish to ask as well."

Hesitating for a few moments, and blushing slightly in embarrassment, Sachiko looks down at her lap and fidgets. Then hurriedly, she blurts out her admission.

"This is going to sound really stupid, but what was your name again?" / "I... uh, might have missed your name when we first met?"

It takes the two a moment to realize they both blurted out their shameful admissions at the same time. Starring at each other in disbelief, they both then breakout into laughter, neither quiet able to get over how mortifying, yet comedic the situation is.

"Okay," offers the guy with a ruefully grin. "Who first?"

"How about you, 'o gallant provider of jackets," suggests Sachiko with an embarrassed smile of her own.

The guy grins behind his shades, playfully doffing his baseball cap and to reveal hair so fair it is almost white, while jokingly giving a gentlemanly bow. "Then allow me to introduce myself," he declares with faux-dramatics, causing Sachiko to stifle a laugh.

"I, am...." for a second he pauses, as a strange look crosses his face. "Chisuheri?"

Sachiko blinks in confusion. "What?"

That's... an odd name. Isn't that one of the Muramasa blades. One who also normally takes a female form.

Starting, and then looking back to her, the guy then shakes his head. "Wha- oh, no- my friend from before- she's over there and-"

Following his gaze, the shewolf then gasps. Because there, at the other end of the parking lot and crowds, is a rather odd group attempting to surreptitiously make their way towards a hired van, half of whom look like they have been in a brawl. A rather bloody brawl at that, judging by the bandages and stains on the clothes of two members of the group in particular. One of whom, currently supported by two of the less bedraggled looking women- no- sword spirits judging by the blades on their waists and backs, is the very same woman who's spittake covered them in coffee early.

"Oh shi-itake mushrooms," the guy hastily corrects himself. "I apologize, but- I have to go- my friends-"

Sachiko nods. "I understand, don't worry about it."

A grateful look briefly shines through the guy's worry and concern for those he knows. "Thank you. Sorry for taking off but, well....."

The shewolf just gestures with a smile. "I understand, it's fine. Today was fun, but your friends might need you now I think."

Nodding, he then takes off at a run. "It's been an amazing day and it was great to meet you!"

"You too!" shouts back Sachiko, before something then occurs to her.

"Wait! Your jacket!"

"I'll get in touch later then!"

A flash of mortified realization then hits her.

"But we still haven't traded names or numbers!!!"

By this point however, the guy is already weaving between the crowds of people going to and from their vehicles, cutting through the masses on a bee-line course for the beaten up group. He doesn't hear her.

Mouth agape as the fact hits her, Sachiko slumps.

They didn't get to trade name or numbers......

Just then, she notices a presence appearing by her side. "M-Moriko!"

The elder sister looks down at her younger sibling, with the grin of one who just knows they have stumbled upon prime teasing material.

"So....." she observes casually. "You said you were going to wait for Suzume at one end of the festival, and then I find you by the stalls all the way over on this end instead."

A mischievous smile tugs at her lips. "And with a guy leaving just as I happened to turn up."

Sachiko goes redder than a tomato. "I-It wasn't like that!"

"Oh really?" Moriko waggles her eyebrows. "Did this handsome coat-lending knight at least leave his name when he swept you off your feet?"

Despite the embarrassed flush of mortification that covers her face, Sachiko can't help but look down and touch the letterman she is still wearing, with a quiet emotion she can't quite place. "No.... he didn't actually... we just got so caught up talking that it never really.... occurred."

Moriko chuckles and just pats her sister on the shoulder. "Well then.... it looks like we have a regular case of Cinderella on our hands. But with less stupid high heels for the princess, and more jackets for Prince Charming instead."

"M-Moriko!"

The elder shewolf just laughs. "Come on Sachiko. Let's go home and get into something clean. Coffee's not really this seasons 'in' shade of brown anyway."

"But the jacket?"

Moriko shrugs and points at the nameless masses of the crowd before them. "Well, he's already gone now anyway. Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll have a name tag or some business cards or something in there?"

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

Rushing through the crowd until he arrives at the beaten and battered group as they climb into the van hired earlier in the day for the purpose of bringing everyone to the base for the festival, Kogamaru stares.

"Guys, what happened?"

Chisuheri and Kyoshu have obviously had the worst of it, judging by their bandaged wounds, with Norimune coming in a close third judging by how beaten up she appears to be as well. Accompanying the collection of Muramasas are also two different sword spirits he doesn't immediately recognize. One who he could almost swear is some kind of Masamune, and a kyu gunto that to his canid senses, smells eye-wateringly like mace, Stinging-Weep Gas and pain underneath the already potion scented bandages she has been wrapped in. Then, as if to cap everything off, he catches sight of a familiar green-haired figure and her young kohai-mizuchi as well.

"Jin-? You're here too? What the heck is going on?"

The older for the two mizuchis just gives a long suffering sigh. "You don't want to know. It'll make your brain hurt."

Broadly, the scarred dragon gestures at the swords pilling into the van, barring Akutoku and Kagotsuruhe who are almost playing bodyguard to Kyoshu for some reason, and moving to take the Sword of Corruption's car instead. A Civic with an itasha wrap, that even without expressing any emotions, Kagotsuruhe seemed loath to even be near, let alone seen in. Kyoshu meanwhile, happily runs up to the rolling anime disaster and otaku mobile, then merrily waits for Akutoku to open the vehicle for her, due to her dominant arm being in a sling and the fingers of her left being covered in Hello Kitty plasters.

"I gotta take the Butter-knives back to the shrine, and help run anti-murder boner duty," elaborates Jin. "Because apparently we should have hired a short-bus for them, rather than a van."

Kogamaru looks from the mizuchi, to the battered sword spirits, and then back to the dragon. "That's... not exacty much of an explanation."

Passing by as she fishes her key fob out of her pocket, Akutoku grins smugly. "~People got stabbed and mindfucked, and for once it wasn't my fault~" sing songs the Sword of Corruption, causing Norimune to growl.

"Fuck you!"

The okami tries to process this worrying revelation and blinks owlishly. "That just raises more questions!"

At that moment, Kyoshu notices him, and seems to forget that she's supposed to be waiting by the car. Flouncing over, the Sword of Faded Memories grins excitedly. "Ko-chan! Ko-chan!"

The okami in question cringes at the use of a toddlerhood nickname of his. Fifty years on, and unfortunately she still recalls of that old baby-tongue introduction from when the sisters first came to the mansion in search of answers or clues that might be gleamed from his uncle so many decades ago. Sometimes annoyingly more easily and regularly than his actual name as well, despite the fact that he's been working on trying to correct her ever since he was old enough to realize how embarrassing it was, much to everyone else's mirth. It's hard enough to make her remember new things, but conversely, it's sometimes even hard to make her unlearn old info.

"Hey, Kyoshu." he greets while ignoring how Jin snickers, neutrally taking in her various plaster-covered cuts and scraps on her hands and face, as well as the rather noticeable bandage wrapped around her shoulder. "What have you been doing today?"

The Sword of Faded Memories smiles with bright-eyed excitement. "I found Akutoku today! And then I found a Mizuchi! And then I got a prize!"

Pausing for a moment, she then blinks uncertainly. "mou.... at least I think I did? Maybe it was this hole in my shoulder? That would make it a sucky prize though...."

Frowning, her pout then disappears, replaced by puzzled curiosity. "OH! And we met somebody today! But I can't remember who..... who..." Kyoshu then tilts her head in confusion. "....who is Harry James Potter even supposed to be anyway? That sounds like an unimportant name. Like Dave. Or John Doe. Or Richard Head and Benjamin Dover."

From where she is helping Chisuheri into the van, Umitsubame turns around and stares daggers at Akutoku and Norimune, who then immediately point at each other in turn.

Facepalming, Jin turns back to Kogamaru. "Look, whatever. Just FYI, but the clean up on aisle seven is a bit beyond even the Aurors at this point. So once the worst of it is gone, in about half an hour or so, someone's probably going to ring the police and try to sell some bullshit story that a rig hauling an assload of liquid nitrogen lost it's breaks, T-boned a Prius, and then went sailing into the Blood Week Memorial Park in a way that took out or froze a shit ton trees and other junk, but somehow miraculously didn't kill anyone or pose any threat to the festival."

The Okami stares. "WHAT?!?! Then what about those three?!"

"Akutoku and Kyoshu are going back to Zuchi." answers Jin. Then Kagotsuruhe's coming back here."

"Why?!"

"Well she is an actor, and it's her car that got mulched anyway, so now it's time for her to earn her keep."

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

Awareness comes back to Juuchi slowly.

Dimly, her sense return. The smells of old wood, sea air, but also trees, and fox.

She's back at the shrine and leaning against somebody. Sitting on an empty space on a couch and propped up against someone else's avatar. No doubt a seat that has been left for her, in case she wished to assume an avatar upon waking.

It is Tsukikari that she is resting against. It sounds like Honjo is on her other side. Something that a glance then confirms.

Curiosity gets the better of her.

Immediately upon appearing in the middle seat of the couch however, all of the murmured chatter she hasn't really being pay attention to until now, fades away.

Actually properly looking around, Juuchi then blinks. "Oh."

Her sisters are here. Most of them anyway.

Umitsubame occupies one of the other chairs, apparently having been in the midst of a conversation with Honjo, while Tsukikiari has seemingly been in the middle of an uncertain, but excitable conversation with Norimune for some reason. Further off to the side, Chisuheri sits in the midst of the sun's rays that are cast through one of the windows, still rather pale and heavily bandaged, but for now sitting in a Siddhasana pose and meditating of all things.

It takes a while for her brain to restart and remember that the baffling disconnect of the scene before her, is because apparently things were very, very different to what she remembered. Something that is then emphasised when she notes the heavily scarred mizuchi, slouching lazily in one of the corners of the room with a bottle of sake, and starring at her with a flinty gaze, that her devil may care appearance belies.

Still, it helps ease the hair-trigger tauntness of her muscles, and the paranoid tension in her mind, to realize that Kyoshu isn't present. Neither is Kagotsuruhe either. Somethng Juuchi considers a win-win book, since it hopefully means the Blade of Hopelessness is not near her, while Kyoshu is with her greatest counter instead.

Suddenly realizing that all eyes are on her, Juuchi shifts uncertainly at the growing awkwardness in the room. What do you say to sisters you haven't seen in almost 400 years? Over 400 considering the length of time since her last run ins with some of those present.

What do you say to sisters you haven't seen in over 400 years, and the first thing you did do once you ran into them, is accuse them of being mindfucked, and then nearly kill them out of under-informed paranoia and psychosis?

Juuchi casts about for something to say, but finds nothing.

Then to her surprise, it is the bandaged and bruise covered Norimune who breaks the silence. "You know.... If it, er, makes you feel any better.... The first time Kyoshu turned up out of the blue on her doorstep after the war, Umitsubame stabbed her in the chest and would have left her for dead, if she hadn't run off to get Chisuheri for help."

"Norimune!" The Waterwitch Blade glares daggers at the nodachi, while Juuchi chokes and looks to the Su Yari in confused disbelief.

"What! It's the truth isn't it?" Norimune pointedly gestures at the Muramasa members of their present company. "I'm pretty sure the only ones of us who didn't stab her on reflex the first times we met the new her, were Chisuheri and Kagotsuruhe! And that's just 'cause Chi punched the stuffing out of her, rather than do any stabbing when she thought Kyo-chan had figured out how to hide from her Detect Evil knock off."

Juuchi stares. "Wait.... Really?"

Norimune nods. "Kago's the only one who didn't do anything, because Kyo has no resistance to her anymore and she was unfortunately familiar enough with that fucked up head space that apparently she could immediately tell that the lights were on, but a new tenant was in."

"Oh....." offers Juuchi uncertainly.

Well. At least it's nice to know she's not the only one who has 'mistakenly' tried to deliver justice and 'proactive self-defence' upon the 'wrong' Kyoshu.

"So then....." Not quite daring to believe, Juuchi bites her lip. "So if you all tried then.... she really doesn't remember?"

"Nope," supplies Norimune. "Not a thing."

Umitsubame answers with a more detailed summary. "She basically has near total Retrograde Amnesia. Baring a few minor and mostly incomprehensibly traumatic tidbits which seem to have been permanently burned in, she lost everything except her procedural memory during the war, and even that is hit-and-miss in her ability to recollect at times. She also seems to have some form of Anterograde Amnesia, although considering she can make new memories if the infomation is repeated enough, the jury is still a bit out on whether it actually is Anterograde, or if it's related to either the physical damage she took while being 'studied' by Unit-731 during the war, or if it's something psychological or soul related."

Juuchi stares. "So.... So that's it then? She's really gone? She's been gone for almost seventy years already?"

"Essentially, yes."

"And she's definitely not faking it?"

"Playing the long game is not exactly something any of us have ever been good at," adds in Chisuheri from her side of the room neutrally.

"So she's never coming back. At all. Never."

"Never ever!" quips Norimune.

Juuchi shakes her head. "I- I can't quite- I almost feel like I can't believe it."

Norimune shrugs. "To be fair, it took us a while as well. You should have seen Suisei the first time she came over to Umi's, before she and Chi let anyone know that they were keeping her there and trying to figure out what to do with her."

Juuchi frowns and searches her memory. "Who is Suisei?"

"Oh, you wouldn't remember her, she wasn't anyone important while you were still around." Norimune grins. "She thought Kyoshu had come to fuck with Umi now that the war was over, so.... she stabbed her 37 times in the chest."

"What!" Juuchi blinked. "That kills people! Shouldn't that have killed her?"

The nodachi shrugs. "Kyo tends to have the luck of the devil. Also, I think Suisei wanted to draw it out. She's good with knives, and not just because she's a tanto. She's a baker, and kind of like that recipe for sweet rolls she once gave me. Soft and sweet, but if you put on the heat just a bit too much, hard and black as night to those who fuck things up."

Across the room, Chisuheri raises an eyebrow, even as she remains posed and doesn't open her eyes. "That... metaphor certainly went places."

Shifting her gaze from Norimune to the Bloodlust Blood, Juuchi shakes her head. "Okay.... So apparently even the mundane Muramasa's can take her on now..... I.... feel really out of the loop."

"Well, it has been four centuries," offers Chisuheri in answer. "Things change. People too. Even out of view, the world continues."

"Speaking of things changing," continues Juuchi, "what the hell!"

Baffled, she gestures up and down at the meditating sword spirit, who she last remembers as a raging, blood-thirsting, battle hungry, blood knight. "When did this happen?!"

Norimune rolls her eyes. "About a decade or two after you left."

Juuchi just continues to stare in disbelief. "I still can't wrap my head around it. An eternity reduced to a brain-damaged idiot is the kind of ironic justice I could almost imagine dreaming about someone inflicting on Kyoshu, knowing how much she'd hate it, but.... You, I'd have thought..... Why? I thought you hated and looked down on anything that didn't involve fighting. And this is like the exact opposite of fighting in every way!"

"Is it?" asks Chisuheri, causing Juuchi to blink.

"Well.... You aren't aren't you?"

The Bloodlust Blade offers a wry smile that doesn't quite hide her proud smugness beneath. "What is better? To search endlessly for good to fight for, until you are part of the same cycle of evil in your efforts, or to fight endlessly to overcome your own evil nature through great effort?"

"Then what about that?!" asks Juuchi, gesturing at the welds binding the katana of her elder sister's daisho set into her sheath.

"That..." offers Chisuheri, "is a long story."

Glancing at Honjo for a moment, a silent exchange passes between the two blades, before they then look back to the rest of the Muramasas.

"I think," says the Masamune, "that when getting up to speed on what happened while we were gone, there were some things we missed.... And that there are probably more than a few long stories that the two of us need to hear about, that others and the history books may have glossed over."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts Omake: Kyoshu loves muffins

Jaws.7 said:
I find it interesting, and for Juuichi concerning that Kyoshu remember Harrys name even if she equated it to a john doe type name.
RCNAnon said:
Well, she did try to burn it into Kyoshu's memory rather hard, enough for the rest of her life. She just expected the life to be much shorter.​

True enough, which makes it interesting.

RCNAnon said:
It also gives Kyoshu more reason to show up in Harry's kitchen randomly.​

Let me just say again how amusing it is to imagine...
___________________________________

Softly humming, Harry reached into the oven and pulled out the pan that was inside. Placing it to the side, the wizard took off his oven mitts and turned off the oven. However, the teen's thoughts were derailed as a voice spoke up. "Ooh! Muffins!" Turning, he was treated to the sight of Juuchi falling out of view in surprise as Kyoshu grabbed one of the muffins and chomped down on it. "Mmm! Yummy!"

Just slowly blinking, Harry raised an eyebrow in amusment. "Hello, Kyoshu."

Meanwhile, Juuchi's head popped over the counter and she pointed at her sister with a hiss not unlike a cat. "What the hell are you doing here!"

As if noticing her for the first time, Kyoshu blinked. "Juuchi! What are you doing here?"

Eyebrow twitching, Juuchi growled a bit. "I live here!"

Once more, the other sword blinked. "You do?"

Harry barely held back a laugh as Juuchi glared at her sister. "Yes! I live here with my Master!"

Befuddled, Kyoshu tilted her head to the side. "Master? Here?"

Pointing at Harry, the Muramasa without memory problems snarled. "Yes, my Master! Harry Potter!"

Frowning, Kyoshu blinked. "Harry Potter is your Master?" Then she smiled. "Congratulations!" Looking around though, she frowned again. "Mou... where are we?" Kyoshu then gasped. "Ooh! Muffins! I love muffins!"

At the expression on Juuchi's face, Harry started laughing while Kyoshu asked what was funny. And then she asked Juuchi what she was doing there. Meanwhile, Tsukiakari only sighed. "I'll call your sisters, sempai."

 

[darthcourt10]

Weaver

Friday, 23rd August 2013

To her relief, Awa Maru was granted a reprieve from the situation she found herself in by a timer going off in the kitchen.

Patricia, the woman who was an unknown and unknowing ship, looked over her shoulder and then back at Awa Maru.

"Sorry, I need to get something out of the oven. You make yourself comfortable in the front room."

After his mother had headed back to the kitchen, Dan touched the Japanese liner lightly on her arm.

"What's bothering you?"

Awa Maru hesitated for a moment as she thought.

"It's not urgent and it's not anything bad, in fact it might be a good thing, but telling you what it is will probably disrupt your plans for today. Can I tell you later?"

Dan looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay. But I will be asking you again later."

With that he led her into the front room and got her settled on the sofa. Awa Maru dug through her bag and produced an envelope and a small package.

"I was told that I should get you something."

"You didn't have to."

Nevertheless he accepted the proffered items and opened them. The card wasn't anything special, just a standard birthday card, while the present turned out to be a Swiss Army knife.

"I wasn't sure what to get you so I asked some of my crew for suggestions."

"It's great, thank you."

A couple of minutes later his mother reappeared to ask if they wanted anything to drink, with both of them accepting the offer of elderflower cordial.

Several minutes and a quarter of a glass of cordial later Dan's friend Luke arrived at the front door, followed by Adam a few minutes later. Awa Maru inquired about her other two summoners and was told that Matthew wasn't invited and Lewis was busy with a part-time job. A little while later Dan's father, who Awa Maru had met twice before, arrived home from work and said his hellos and a couple of minutes after that it was time to eat.

Dinner roast pork and vegetables with all the usual trimmings, not Awa Maru's first choice of meal even with less than a month of first hand experience with food, but tasty enough. Apart from a few bits of small talk conversation was put on hold until after the roast dinner was eaten and cleared away, a cake was brought out, "Happy Birthday" sung, and the cake divvied up. Then Patrica spoke up.

"So, do you know when you'll be going back to Japan yet?"

Awa Maru nodded as she cut a piece off her slice of cake.

"I'll be going on Thursday."

"Oh, that soon?"

"It's what's been arranged."

Dan chose that moment to butt in.

"We can still keep in touch. The wonders of modern technology and all that."

Awa Maru nodded firmly.

"Yes, we can and I'm happy that we can do so a lot more easily than during my first life."

A pleased smile tugged at the corners of Dan's mouth at her comment.

After that the conversation turned to Awa Maru's first life which inevitably included the time she'd run aground on the rocks and Patrica's grandfather's roles in saving her crew and helping refloat her, although the latter hadn't been much more than providing muscle when needed. This led to a couple of her fairies coming out and exchanging their stories of the young bachelor and his parents they'd known for Patrica's stories of the old man she had. Everyone other than Awa Maru was a bit confused about how they could understand the whole conversation when as far as their ears were concerned about half of it consisted entirely of "desu" but they just rolled with it.

An hour, a relocation to the front room and several changes of conversation topic later Adam had to leave to catch his bus home. Luke said his goodbyes about half an hour after that.

Dan waited a little while longer until his parents were both out of the room, his dad having gone to loo and his mum to get a drink, before turning to Awa Maru.

"It's later and everything I had planned had been done. What was bothering you?"

The liner took a deep breath and sighed.

"It's about your mother."

"What's about me?"

The boy and the kanmusu looked up to see the woman in question standing in the doorway, glass in hand. Awa Maru shifted awkwardly in her seat.

"I'm not sure how to explain but I'll try. You should probably sit down first though."

The unknowing ship did so and set down her glass on the coffee table while Awa Maru thought about what she was going to say. Before she could say anything though Dan's father returned. Sending the mood of the room he looked at his wife.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. Awa Maru was about to tell me something."

At that the man sat down next to his wife and joined her in looking at the liner expectantly. Said liner decided to give up on delicacy and just go for it. She looked straight at the other woman then spoke.

"I don't know how it's possible but you are like me. I look at you and I can see a ship. I don't known what kind but it's a warship that's bigger than a destroyer and I think it's from the the First World War. You look a little like some of the ships I saw back then."

The revelation was met with absolute silence that seemed to drag on for an eternity before Patrica broke it.

"Oh. I wasn't expecting that."

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord K

Seraphim500 said:
Kyoshu is starting to sound like Rasputin with the amount of killing shes taken and yet not dead​

Tugging slightly at his uniform's collar, and then checking his brief case and clipboards if only to distract himself, the young Jiroumaru waited for his next appointment uncomfortably. The corridors and seating areas of the facility were surprisingly clean and innocuous considering some of the things that transpired within the surrounding walls and wings of the research labs and testing rooms. If one didn't know, they would almost think they had been dropped into a military hospital or medical study.

At least until they talked to the doctors of the place. Or met the 'patients' held in the 'care' of the facility. The test subjects, supposedly 'doing their part' for the good of Japan and in service of the Emperor.

There is one such subject, sharing the same waiting area as him, right now.

There is a figure, strapped to a gurney on the other side of the room, currently being ignored by everyone but him. Not the passing medi-wizards, nor the magical researchers, nor even the receptionist, spare a passing glance for the destroyed thing that might have once been a feminine figure.

There is a sword in a glass container, heavily warded and enchanted to negate power, strength and movement, clamped onto a stand attached to the foot of the gurney which itself paralyzes the subject in place. Even if the blade wasn't missing all of it's decorative fittings and hilt, Jiroumaru isn't certain he'd be able to tell what or who the blade is supposed to be. Any chance of glimpsing a maker's signature, is obscured by the caustically bubbling, acidic yellow liquid the blade floats in, along with the strange, magi-tech 'spiders' that crawl about within the vessel. Poking, scratching, scraping, and doing who knows what else to the blade periodically.

Jiroumaru has seen swords disassembled before. Even those who do have spirits. It's a matter of mundane maintenance more than anything else, neither fascinating, nor sensual in the slightest. It's more like polishing one's boots more than anything else, keeping them presentable and in good condition, protected against any wear they might have accumulated.

But this..... There is something defiling, and torturous, and wrong about what is going on here. Something that is reflected in the state of the unknown blade's avatar as well.

Chemical burns and lesions cover her arms and legs, along with numerous needles linked to wires, tied to a variety of magical devices he can't even begin to comprehend and recording who knows what. A simple white cloth over her body at least preserves some modesty, not that there's much else humane or even human about her current condition. If anything, it strikes Jiroumaru as how callously a mechanic might offhandedly cover up his work when done, simply to avoid the dust and dirt from someone else's activities getting in.

Blood dampens the cloth, contouring it to the ravaged mass beneath, turning it into a diamond of red sheerness, that runs from below the belly, to the bottom of the throat. The space between the rise of the breasts is not only too wide, but also too deep. Creating a cavity within the valley, inside of which something pulses with forced evenness. Too mechanical to be natural for anyone in such a nightmarish state. No doubt, the unseen organ's artificial pace is also tied to the bellows-like machine, from which rubber hoses then run up to, and then under the bloodstained sheet as well.

It takes the Okami a moment to realize what he is looking at. The sword spirit has no breath of her own in this condition. Instead, there is only the hum and whir of the machine each time it compresses, followed by the silent rise of her chest, and then a gurgling whistle that is not like any kind of exhale he has ever heard.

Looking further upward, a single eye then catches his gaze. The cognizance present horrifies him and turns his stomach.

Complete awareness, no doubt fully perceptive of her condition, filled with hopeless despair, and a silent pleading. Only her left is visible, the right side of her face is covered by some sort of contraption, that at first glance he takes to be some sort of oversized eye-patch. Then he realizes the mechanical apparatus on the exterior is periodically raising something needle-like, up and down. He can also see blood around the seams of the patch, trickling down the far side of her face like tears.

Her hair, likely once shimmering tresses of midnight, is now patchy and unevenly shorn close to the skull. It is something that makes Jiroumaru's stomach turn. Over the course of his observations and reports to his father on 731's activities, he's become familiar with this strange unevenness.

It's what happens when a craniotomy is carried out, usually on regenerators or unusually tough subjects, who only end up with parts of their skulls removed at different times, or for multiple 'local studies' due to difficulties posed by their hardier physiologies or more-magical-than-physical natures. Then, either their accelerated healing is allowed to take hold, or they are force fed potions to replace 'sampled tissues', resulting in the oddly uneven hair growth after already getting it all shorn off.

The fact that this tsukikomogami has hair, is also rather telling in itself. The fact that she's lived long enough to start growing more hair again, possibly implies how much time she's already spent in 731's care.

The despairing eye flickers between him and then glances downwards once more, drawing his attention to something else. Somebody has stuffed her mouth full of wadded up gauze. Gaze full of pain, the sword spirit's lone eye flicks between him and the gauze, silently begging.

Uncertainly, Jiroumaru reaches out.

"Uh-uh-ah," tuts a voice that makes the young Okami jump and turn around in shock. "That one's plugged for a reason."

"Doctor Enatsu!" spinning around, Jiroumaru bows. "My apologies doctor. I didn't realize there was a reason. I simply assumed one of the orderlies had been..." the okami's mouth sours as he bites back what he really wishes to say. "....overly zealous in preserving a more pleasant atmosphere for the work place."

The wizard simply chuckles and shakes his head. "Oh, if only it were only so. Unfortunately, this one thought it could take an easy way out, but we are far from done with such a promising subject of study as this."

Wretched anguish blooms in the eye of the test subject, who has already been so dehumanised and debased that she cannot even die.

Uncaringly, Enatsu continues. "Unfortunately, we here won't have much more time with it to ourselves. Apparently those down in Kure believe they might have a better and more immediately applicable use for it, if they can crack the secret to subject's abilities. We'll be sending it down to them on Monday for some more invasive testing than what we can do here."

"I see," says Jiroumaru not quite sure how anything could be more invasive than this, and increasingly sure he doesn't want to find out either.

On the gurney, the sword spirit gives a near silent wheeze as her gaze begins to water. In his time doing these observations for his father, he has heard screams of agony, weeping distress, and near silent depression and acceptance of the inevitable, but this is easily one of the most broken and despairing sounds the okami has ever heard.

A clap on his shoulder, then interrupts Jiroumaru from his thoughts.

"Yes, well, idle curiosities aside, you didn't come here to gawk at the disappointing wunderwaff did you?" Asks Enatsu jovially. "Come, come, let me show you the real work we have been making progress on. No doubt, it will be news your father will be pleased to hear. Speaking of which, my thanks to him for the latest shipment of 'logs'. Those anglos are always so much hardier than those sinoese chattel."

As the doctor turns away, Jiroumaru hesitates for a moment, as the sword spirit catches his gaze one last time. Pleadingly, it flickers from him to his waist.

To his pistol.

Silently, she begs him to let her die.

Shame burns through Jiroumaru, as he instead forces himself to turn away. Realizing what is happening, the sword spirit's mounting distress and despairing hopelessness becoming visible in her eye before he completely does. Something that causes Jiroumaru to hate and revulsion for himself to grow just a little bit more. Another face, to join the masses that have slowly gathered over the months since he took up this job, that now haunt his gaze every time he closes his eyes. He doesn't dare look back.

However, even as he follows Enatsu, and pulls out a clipboard to begin rapidly jotting down notes as the doctor prattles on about whatever new atrocity they have devised to help the war effort, Jiroumaru's lupine senses hear her. With a crackle, the PA sparks to life, while pair of orderlies that pass by himself, then grab either end of the sword spirit's gurney. Not even bothering to glance up, the bored receptionist leans towards his microphone. "Doctor Suriwara, please report to Theatre 4. Your 11 o'clock is now ready for neural plasticity testing."

Even without a voice, Jiroumaru hears her silent scream.

Harry Leferts said:
I love every bit of this to be honest. Sachiko is just as cute as to be expected really and Koga really is a dork. Ironically? That would make him even better in her eyes if and when she finds out. I am also waiting for the moment when Koga realizes what happened and how he left his jacket with someone whose name he does not know and who doesn't know his.​

Kogamaru is and always will be a dork, and an adorable one at that

Speaking of which, as a little bit of lightness to offset the above, and which I've not really found any snippets or circumstances to insert it into, have this as a stand alone

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

The grainy camera footage rolls, stained yellow from age and the low quality of 1950's home film, especially considering what was available in the early decades of post-war Japan.

After a few seconds of bubbling, discolored, and scratchy frames, the reel progresses onto something that is comprehensible.

A trio of okami children, two boys with clan markings of the Hokubu Main Family, and a slightly older girl with the markings of the Hokubu-Setto branch line and keepers of the Hokubu-no-Okami Shokonsha Yashiro Shrine.

Heedless of their importance as heir to the Hokubu, second in-line, and future shrine maiden, right now there is only one thing obvious on the minds of the three children. Ice cream, as a hand enters from off screen and then begins handing double-scoop cones to each of the three. First the youngest, the tiny Kogamaru, then the middle cousin, Ryougamaru, and then the oldest, Kariudoko.

Eagerly, the three kids then begin licking their ice creams, racing the drops of runny sweetness the hot summer sun is making faster than they can catch. Faster in particular, than the little Kogamaru, who struggles to keep up. Inevitably, hurried fixation combined with childish awkwardness, then becomes his desserts undoing.

While the grainy yellowing 8mm film doesn't have sound, one can almost imagine the muted wet splat from both of Kogamaru's scoops detaching from the cone and then hitting the ground, thanks to his vain attempts to lick the ice cream dripping around his fingers. There is a noticeable pause, as all three children look to the splattered ice cream on the ground, and then to the youngest's empty cone.

Then Kogamaru starts to sniffle, eyes threatening to water, prompting Kariudoko to immediately begin doing her childish best to placate him.

Ryougamaru meanwhile, creases his brows in childish thought. Taking the now empty cone from his cousin's hands actually manages to avert the waterworks as well, as both Kariudoko and Kogamaru watch their middle cousin curiously. Tongue sticking out as he frowns in concentration, Ryougamaru then carefully tries to maneuver the top orb of ice cream off of his double-scoop, onto the now empty cone.

Unfortunately, his efforts to turn one double scoop into two single scoops, ends with two more balls of chocolate and vanilla landing messily on the ground.

The three cousins stare.

Then in tandem, Kogamaru and Ryougamaru burst into tears, captured in silent moving imagery by the home film.

As the two younger okami turn on the waterworks, Kariudoko meanwhile looks between them, the ice cream on the ground, their empty cones, and then back to her own. Giving a sigh and pouting, the eldest of the three cousins then grudgingly picks up her top scoop of ice cream, ignoring how her fist becomes disgusting and sticky, and plonks it on top of Ryougamaru's empty cone. As the middle cousin stops crying in surprise, Kariudoko then simply gives Kogamaru her remaining ice cream and cone entirely, bringing an end to his waterworks as well.

As the two smallest of the cousins smile and return to gleefully licking their newly reacquired ice cream, Kariudoko huffs and crosses her now not only sticky and messy, but also empty hands in annoyance, not realizing how she is now dirtying her kimono as well.

Jaws.7 said:
I find it interesting, and for Juuichi concerning that Kyoshu remember Harrys name even if she equated it to a john doe type name.
RCNAnon said:
Well, she did try to burn it into Kyoshu's memory rather hard, enough for the rest of her life. She just expected the life to be much shorter.

It also gives Kyoshu more reason to show up in Harry's kitchen randomly.
dan-heron said:
I can't wait for the moment Juuichi realizes she burned Harry's name in Kyo's mind, just like wanted it to

:3

Finding the mizuchi is also a fairly recent objective, so mizuchi+Harry may come up to her mind from time to time, and there's one place where people can help her find a mizuchi and a Harry​

Juuchi should have been careful what she wished for

Barricade said:
Now, to complete the 'Kyoshu gets stabbed at first glance by sisters' tradition....

Tonbo hasn't shown up to meet them yet. Considering her status as an 'ex-' serial killer-killer, she might almost hit Juuchi's panic levels of stabbity stabbity, but not quite Suisei's record.​

Watching as Umitsubame began bandaging the wincing and confused Kyoshu's wounds, Norimune did the only thing she could do nod. Nod and quip.

"See, this is why we can't get insurance for her anymore."

Harry Leferts said:
Softly humming, Harry reached into the oven and pulled out the pan that was inside. Placing it to the side, the wizard took off his oven mitts and turned off the oven. However, the teen's thoughts were derailed as a voice spoke up. "Ooh! Muffins!" Turning, he was treated to the sight of Juuchi falling out of view in surprise as Kyoshu grabbed one of the muffins and chomped down on it. "Mmm! Yummy!"

Just slowly blinking, Harry raised an eyebrow in amusment. "Hello, Kyoshu."

Meanwhile, Juuchi's head popped over the counter and she pointed at her sister with a hiss not unlike a cat. "What the hell are you doing here!"

As if noticing her for the first time, Kyoshu blinked. "Juuchi! What are you doing here?"

Eyebrow twitching, Juuchi growled a bit. "I live here!"

Once more, the other sword blinked. "You do?"

Harry barely held back a laugh as Juuchi glared at her sister. "Yes! I live here with my Master!"

Befuddled, Kyoshu tilted her head to the side. "Master? Here?"

Pointing at Harry, the Muramasa without memory problems snarled. "Yes, my Master! Harry Potter!"

Frowning, Kyoshu blinked. "Harry Potter is your Master?" Then she smiled. "Congratulations!" Looking around though, she frowned again. "Mou... where are we?" Kyoshu then gasped. "Ooh! Muffins! I love muffins!"

At the expression on Juuchi's face, Harry started laughing while Kyoshu asked what was funny. And then she asked Juuchi what she was doing there. Meanwhile, Tsukiakari only sighed. "I'll call your sisters, sempai."​

Maximum kek.

Alekese said:
Is... is no one else going to comment on the Llamas with hats reference? because that was the cherry on top of this whole entertaining fiasco of a sundae for me.​

I was beginning to wonder if anyone had noticed

 

[darthcourt10]

Fafnir(Kaliedoscope)

Soooo, I'm gonna try to do a snippet concerning one of our side characters since it interests me,

*dryly* Though don't expect it to be good though.

Takes place before Repairing Hannah's Bear

Matilda's Misadventures
Quartermaster Mutiny
Matilda looked around the room in boredom, after living in her kittens' home for a while even a lazy reptile like her cannot stand a lot of time sleeping in the sunlight, even when she was promptly put into the best sunspots by her favorite one, she could not spend most of the days given to her just laying about the nice and comfortable sun.

Shaking off the feelings of lethargy Matilda got up onto her claws and pushed her body from the ground, whipping her torso and tail slightly into the air, removing the numb feelings from her spine. Crawling over to the gate of her metal cage, she squeezed one of her claws an opening in the cage and placed it onto the strange piece, then she flips it upwards and pulls it backwards. Satisfied that she had copied all the steps one of her kittens had done, she then pushed on the gate and crawled out onto the floor as it swung open.

Finally able to move as she pleased, Matilda walked out onto the floor and began to stride towards the nests of her kittens, digging her claws gently onto the cover of the first nest, she pulled herself up, landing on top of favorite one's nest. Walking towards the center of the nest, she then spread herself fully onto the nest and began to playfully roll herself sideways from top to bottom, getting wrinkles all over the nice sheet.

Finally down with her rolling, she pounced onto the feather-bag for her next action and began to knead it, enjoying the feeling of softness, but dare not claw open it for its fluffy feathers. Unsatisfied with just playing on one of the nests, she began to climb on the wood holding the nest up, careful not to hit mini-kitten, and finally reached the top nest. This time she bounced on the nest, amusing herself with the feeling of the air slightly whipping in her face before performing her last jump right onto the feather-bag.

Mostly Satisfied with her boredom she turned around andjumpedintotheair-

Oh.

Its just little kitten's precious thing.

Carefully eyeing the thing to make sure it is not hurt much further, Matilda felt relief that little kitten's thing has no new wounds, it would not feel nice for little kitten to feel sad. She then turned towards the other the other nests and flicked her tongue out in anticipation.

=========

Boredom satisfied, Matilda felt hungry and in her hunger walked to her kittens' foraging grounds. crawling towards the bottom of the waterfall-maker, she gripped onto the wood and climbed to the top, then went onto the smooth stone that held the handle of the cold-blower. Before she went onto the cold-blower's handle, she breathed in and out deeply several times, allowing power to flow from her to her skin.

Her scales now properly fortified, she jumped onto the handle, pulling down on it and allowing the cold-blower to open. dropping to the floor, she then walked towards the entrance, quickly scanning for her new favorite meal. Finding it, she jumped into the first ledge grabbed the packet of tasty food before jumping back down towards the floor, she then started to crawl back to her nest with her prize but stopped abruptly, before casting a curious gaze on the other places with handles.

=========

Humming happily, Seydlitz opened the door to her quarters, before she suddenly stopped in shock almost dropping her new model box. Her eyes began to widen as she saw Kibble spread out across the entire floor from the bedroom to the kitchenette, specks of brown matter strewn out. They widened even further when she noticed all the cupboard doors, including the fridge were wide open, and she finally felt them widen fully to the size plates when she saw the state of all the beds (Thankfully all of her model planes were in untouched).

She finally turned her eyes to the sole occupant of the room, scaled kitty face full of smug, mischief and innocence, with her tail whapping from side to side gently.

"MATILDA!!!!"

==========

.....Sooooo yeah, cat shenanigans with Matilda, I was like why not? its a short thing I might continue this, depending on my mood and whether my muse will pop up, also some of the stuff Matilda does are a bit of an assumption. The time this snippet takes place is before Harry And The Shipgirls: A HP/KanColle Snippet Collection | Page 1151 (Repairing Hannah's Bear) but enough time has passed so that Eugen is not annoyed with her when she finds out what happened from Seydlitz.

Also was kinda experimenting from an animal point of view that is intelligent but is not sentient/sapient.

And to think I got the idea from Bongo cat.

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord K Omake: "Dammit Godric!"

Harry Leferts said:
Hehehehe, I for one am looking forward to how this may develop... Also, Koga's reaction once he realizes what just happened himself. They are adorable together though...​

Oh they are

Harry Leferts said:
I can literally see Mary sighing and wanting a headache cure potion, or perhaps an Advil.​

"Damnit Japan..."

Harry Leferts said:
And we get a look at what happened which caused him to try and kill himself and later to go after others...​

Just one of many, many reasons.

Harry Leferts said:
So the question is... who shows this to Sachiko since Kogamaru's father is dead?​

well, Kariudoko is always up for a good laugh at her 'baby cousin's' expense

Harry Leferts said:
Oh my God, Karl! I saw what you did!
I just missed that...​

Harry Leferts said:
True enough, which makes it great.​

I aim to please, even in the quality of my evil.

Yellowhammer said:
Have to second that. While Kyoshu was a grade A bitch, and capital-E Evil, she did not deserve that.

If in fact her current condition is the result of her using her powers upon herself either to try to end her existence or end the memories of what she endured, it is totally understandable. In fact, that makes alarming amounts of sense, since Jiromaru clearly 'met' her during the war but apparently could not remember her after the war, which implies that Kyoshu turned her enchantments upon herself to destroy what she had become.​

Less that he forgot her, and more that she was just so completely unrecognizable, thanks to what had been done to her, even at this point.

I couldn't quite fit it in, but the time frame of this snippet is supposed to be late 1944 or very early 45. So there's still at least most of a year worth of the war, and thus 731's 'care', left.

gaea said:
Well damn. This is makibg me wonder about the manifestations of the Swords and assumptions I had. I always thoughts the human bodies were just 'hard light' projections that mimiced humans to an insane degree (re: Juuchi possibly carrying next Potter Heir) but something they could dismiss when ever. That they were able to capture her and prevent her from withdrawing into her steel self...

The fact that they cracked her rib cage to manually pump her heart and were, what, attempting to determine if her ability could run along her optical nerve? Or is this honestly more pointless depravity regularly performed by IRL Unit 731?

Actually, how would the manifestion biting it's tongue off to die effect the sword?​

The eye thing was more, trying to figure out how she actually would come up with implanted memories, before they are inserted. Are they just 'facts' the victim then fleshes out them self? Does she have to visualize and craft the details herself through her own senses? Or does she just 'want' something to be, and 'because magic' or some unconscious part of her powers extrapolates that into the finer details of the false memories?

Consider how murky our own modern understandings of the mind and memory are, then wind back the 'scientific' understanding of the mind to something probably actually even a bit behind most non-magcial knowledge and literature of the time (because 1940s nationalism on top of 'because wizards'), and then toss in magic and souls as variable unknown elements that can possibly be factors.

Also, the test subject is totally unwilling, is a known psychopath and liar, who has given reams of false, inaccurate and conflicting information under previous 'test conditions', but has now also reached a point where they would don't even care about withholding secrets anymore, they just want to die so the 'studies' can end.

Yellowhammer said:
I'm not sure, honestly. Although something terrible just struck me.

Apparently in this snippet, Kyoshu's blade was still intact and 'only' missing the fittings and hilt. She had 'survived' Unit-731's ministrations for an exceptionally long time when Jiromaru saw her.

I repeat. Kyoshu did not deserve what happened to her. No one deserves that.​

I was wondering if anybody would pick up on that little detail. At this point, she is in fact, still fully in control of her faculties, despite already having been there for good long while. Also to consider, is not just how nightmarish her state would be to physically be in, but also mentally.

Kyoshu's montrousness stemmed from her desire to be the best, and superior to all her sisters. She not only had to be the most 'powerful' (in her mind), but she also had to be the prettiest, the most cultured, the strongest willed. Nobody ever truly mastered her, not like Juuchi with the Potters or Kagotsuruhe and Umitsubame with their masters, nor like Chisuheri and Norimue who even if they went through multitudes of hands, some did occasionally wield them well, nor even like Akutoku who was at least just misguided and not malicious in her bad habit of sowing death and chaos. Nobody ever mastered Kyoshu, and she suffered none to believe they succeeded for long. She was independent, and master of herself. A Superior to all, which thus justified (in her mind) anyone not worth respecting or fearing, as irrelevant things for her to toy with for her amusement.

And then she is reduced to this. A disgusting slab of violated steel and vivisected flesh. A helpless wretch, below even the lowest of the Muramasas she was supposed to be the best of. Not only incapable of movement or speech, but even simply dying. She had become a thing, referred to simply as 'test subject' and 'it'. Forcibly kept alive by magic and machines, while her once razor sharp mind and pride, slowly begins to unravel from being essentially a prisoner in her own corpse, constantly aware of what's being done to her as 731 leaves nothing beyond consideration or restraint in their quest to figure out what makes her memory powers tick.

As mentioned though, there's still at least 8-10 months to go.

And as Enatsu and Jiroumaru's conversation implied, there's still unspeakably worse yet to come.

Finbar said:
You know, for all the talk about what The Sword of Gryffindor would look like, it's triggered one of my biggest loathings of the HP movies.
We know Hogwarts is over a Thousand years old. This means Gryffindor was, likely, an Anglo-Saxon, one of the locals.
The sword shown in the movies is a style that is SIX HUNDRED years later in development. That isn't a Goblin sword or a Saxon sword, that is an Italian sword. More to the point, it is a decorative, regalia sword. It is never meant to be used, it is 100% ornamental. A Saxon blade was just under a meter long and likely twice as wide as what is shown in the movies with a completely different pommel and crosspiece. It was closer to the Viking style of sword, since the military influence was still recovering from raiders in the past few hundred years.
Heck, it may even have been a Roman or Normal style blade, in which case, it was even bigger or wider. The point is.....the movies flat out got it wrong.
The weapon you see Neville having his moment of badassness with? By the standards of the time, it would be a childs weapon. To light to be practical.​

"Godric.... why do you have a training sword?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Godric... you can't kill people with a training sword."

"Well, considering I just did...."

"Godric-"

"Oh come on! This is great! Did you see the looks on their faces when it went through their blades like butter."

"God damnit Godric."

"Come on, let's go raid their supply wagons!"

"Dare I even think to ask why?"

"I want to see if they have any rubies here. I'm gonna have rubies all up in this biotch! So then when people see this thing, they're gonna be like, 'Ha! He brought a training sword to a sword fight! and a decorative one at that!' And then I can be all like 'snicker-snack bitches!' And then, uh... I guess I'll get to laugh. And point. And then laugh some more and tell everybody else 'Hey! Laugh at those idiots! They died to a guy with a training sword!'. And then I'll be hot shit, because, like I'll the guy that killed a bunch of guys with a just training sword."

"..... you're a special kind of stupid, aren't you Godric?"

"Hey! My mum just says I'm braver than my brains are fast..... whatever that means."

*sound of face meeting palm*

Amused Bystander said:
Welp Lord K i dare say you have succeded in making me feel sorry for Old Kyoshu. As bad as she was that was a fate worse then an outright execution. Cruel and Unusual to the max.

There are always far worse things than death.

Death at least, no matter it's form, is an end.

 

[darthcourt10]

Year Three - Prisoner of Shipping Prelude C, Split Point due to Keep Filesize Down

START

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Standing at the bow, Asuka blinked some as the sea air blew past her. The smell of the salt and the water filled her nose as Nagato's steel hull cut through the waves of Tokyo Bay. Not far off, the teen could see various Destroyer girls, Destroyer-Escort, and the like. All of them keeping a cordon going to prevent any Abyssal Submarine from sneaking in.

The thought of which caused a shiver to run down her spine and for her to kick into the deepest, darkest corners of her mind.

Much to her relief, Harry walked up to the group with an easy smile on his face. Somehow, the cap on his head was not affected by the wind in the slightest. "Enjoying the cruise so far?"

While the others nodded or made comments of agreement, Asuka frowned some before using a small amount of the wind magic that Ai taught her to keep her hair from blowing in her face. "Um... I do have a question?" At his nod, she continued with a slight flush. "Is... is this really as fast as we can go?"

Grinning, the wizard's chuckle made her relax some at having not insulted him. "Nope, not at all. Right now..." Quickly doing some calculations in his head, Harry frowned in thought. "Hmm... I think that we're about half Mum's top speed, so about 13 knots, or 15 miles per hour. Not that fast, but once we're far enough out Mum is going to put on the real speed."

Eyebrow raised, Usagi tilted her head to the side. "And what's that?"

Finger tapping on one arm, Harry smiled a bit. "Mum's top speed is roughly twenty six and a half knots, or almost thirty miles per hour." With a shrug, he shook his head. "Doesn't seem that fast though on her, but she is thirty three thousand tons displacement, so that does speak of how powerful she is."

Arms crossed, Kaku snorted and shook his head. "It really does." Looking over the Battleship's deck, he chuckled. "I never thought that I would get the chance to actually stand on the deck of a Japanese Battleship though. Its... so cool!"

If anything, that made Harry's grin widen. "Of course it is, it's my Mum after all. And she's pretty awesome and cool all the time."

Tone dry, the Kitsune of the group gave him a look. "Unless she's telling Puns..." Pausing, she continued. "Or Dad jokes."

Blinking, Usagi gave her a look. "Wait, Dad jokes? You mean..."

Harry snickered some and nodded. "Once, I told Mum while Natsumi-Chan was there that I was tired. And she said...-"

Just as he was about to say something, Nagato's voice cut in. "Hello, Tired, I'm Mum."

At the looks, she gave a wink and then disappeared which made the teens outside of Natsumi and Harry jump. Looking around with wide eyes, Asuka tried to see where she had disappeared to. "I, what? Where did she go? How did she just appear..." Then she frowned. "That wasn't apparation. I mean, she just appeared without disturbing the air."

Lips twitching, Harry shook his head. "That? Shipgirls when they manifest can disappear and reappear anywhere on their hulls as they please. They just think it and they're there." He waved one hand around them. "In a way, I guess their hull is a spiritual and mental construct? Its like how you can appear anywhere in your mind, the steel hull is them after all."

Frowning as they all considered that, Rika felt her hidden ears twitch. "Huh. That's actually sort of neat and..." Then she blinked and looked around. "Wait, she had to have heard us in order to know what we were talking about. Yet..."

Natsumi only gave her a raised eyebrow. "Like Harry-Chan said, we're on her body right now. The walls literally have eyes and ears, nothing can happen here without her knowing about it. So she can hear us talking, and probably everyone else as well."

Eyebrows furrowing, Ayaka looked around. "That's kind of creepy when you think about it. I mean... she's sort of spying on everyone."

However, the wizard of the group shook his head. "Not that creepy. And it is also pretty useful as well. Think about it, Mum is able to tell if someone is about to go overboard for instance or doing something dangerous, and can appear there in a heartbeat to stop it."

Considering that, Ayaka gave a slow nod. "I guess that makes sense?"

With a sigh, Harry stretched some and smile. "Besides, it doesn't bother me at all. Heck, I feel safe right now like you would not believe." Raising a finger, he made a motion with it. "Because I know that Mum would never let me get hurt."

It was then that they all felt Nagato speed up and go into a turn. Eyes unfocused a bit, Asuka's eyebrows rose. "Oh wow... that's kind of neat." Noticing the looks, she blushed and made a motion with her hand. "Um, I mean how the wind is blowing along her hull. Its my first time on a warship and, well... it feels neat now that she's starting to get up to speed."

Only nodding in agreement, Harry didn't say anything. Suddenly, he grinned a bit. "If Shimakaze-Nee ever manages to summon her hull, then you should get onboard her. She can hit forty knots, or forty seven miles per hour." Then the black haired boy frowned. "Sort of got her in trouble a few times when I was growing up."

More then a little intrigued, Rika turned to him and cocked her head to the side. "Really? How?"

Taking a moment, the wizard gathered his thoughts. "Once, when I was a little boy, Shimakaze-Nee took me up on her shoulders and went out onto Tokyo Bay and went to her top speed. I mean, I was in a lifejacket and everything so I was safe. But being on her shoulders as she hit nearly forty seven miles was something else. A real rush... Mum, meanwhile, was not so happy with her. Especially after Shimakaze-Nee told me that we were racing her."

Just wincing at that, Asuka shook her head. "Sounds sort of like Ai does when I, um..." Noticing the looks directed in her way, she weakly chuckled. "When I get caught up in some shenanigans..." Part of her hoped that Ai never found out about one car race...

And unknown to her, that was one of the DVDs being sold along with other "Road races" involving Haruna and Akagi which were being shown, having been accidentally slipped in, with Ai not far away.

Back on Nagato, Asuka blinked as she had a feeling that she should be praying for Kiba. Shaking that off, she turned to where the rest of the group had shifted the conversation. Gesturing at one of Nagato's turrets, Ayaka had an slight frown on her face. "Do you think that Nagato-San might fire off her guns? That would be something to see."

Coughing into a fist, Harry shook his head. "Not going to happen, Ayaka-San. Or at least not unless Mum moves everyone to the other half of the ship before firing the turret furthest away from everyone. And probably not even then."

Lost, the Inugami frowned at him. "Why? Its just a gun, right?"

The winces she got not just from Natsumi and Harry, but also Asuka confused her. Before she could answer though, the Tengu raised her hand. "Um, its because the air pressure and such. If they fire, and you're by it... doesn't matter if you're human or Oni, you'll likely die because it'll pulp your organs and stuff."

Eyes wide, Harry then smiled at her before jerking his thumb in her direction. "She's got the basics of it. Its like if you tossed a stick of dynamite into a pond and stood close to it. You'd be a bag of busted bones and ruptured organs. Not the most pleasant ways to die..."

Not one of them had a good look on their faces at his description. It was then that Asuka noticed Harry scratching at his elbow. But it was something she caught sight of which made her blink. "Is that a bite mark?"

With a blink, Harry followed her gaze and then nodded as he held his arm out. "Yeah, that's where I got bit by the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets in Hogwarts. A thousand year one and if Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's phoenix, wasn't there and crying..." Letting himself trail off, he shook his head. "Anyways, it's dead now and I killed it. Granted, still not sure what I'll do with all the hide..."

Rolling her eyes, Natsumi shook her head. "We just need to find someone who can work leather. And I know some people who can... though the better question is what to do with the leather. I mean, dragon hide is pretty expensive, so basilisk hide, once worked would be worth even more I would think."

Much to her surprise, Asuka raised a hand with a sheepish grin. "Um, if you make a wallet or something, could I buy it? I mean, I sort of want to get Kiba a good gift and that would be kind of nice?"

Only smiling, the English born boy chuckled. "I don't mind, besides... Shiromizu wants me to have a leather jacket made for her. One that can grow for some time with her, so there's that as well."

It only took Asuka a few moments to piece it together that the Mizuchi wanted to look more like her sempai. Along with the thought to make sure to have a camera, she was also wondering what would happen if she got a leather jacket herself...

 

[darthcourt10]

U.N.Spacy000

Right, so since I was afraid of upsetting the Muramasa family reunion in ways that hadn't been planned for but still wanted to write Juuchi, Tsukiakari, and Honjo, I figure I'd either need to write something in the future – like Juuchi getting ahold of Super Mario Maker and designing nigh impossible levels with no dev skips so she can feast on the tears of children and people like Ryukahr – or follow up on something that happened previously. Something like Riotous Recruitment Refuted where the main plot left my slow writing self behind.

As it has again.

Or maybe post Muramasa reunion I could write about Juuchi conning Kyoshu into attacking Aurors because they enforce the will of the Magical Diet, and there will be no dessert after dinner if the Magical Diet Enforcers are not driven off.

But that's for later. Let's look at what happened when the three swords tracked down Carnwennan and why none of them had fun at the riot.

_____


Decisive Delivery Delayed

"I had a feeling you lot would show up," Carnwennan said as he eyed the three swords approaching his table while Natsumi happily showed off his true form to Rika. "Or that you'd get involved in the riot – one or the other."

"And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for meddling Suzu-chan delaying me long enough for Honjo to show up," Juuchi said as she puffed up a little.

Carnwennan stared at her. It was the stare of a man who was too tired to put up with a youngster's bullshit despite the mug of navy coffee in his hands.

"It is good to see you again, Carnwennan," Tsukiakari said with a bow.

"And it is always a pleasure to see you as well, young one," Carnwennan said with a fond smile before he reached out to ruffle the youngest sword's hair and caused her to blush.

"Carnwennan," Honjo said as she bowed in proper deference to the elder legendary blade after setting her cider jug on the table.

"Honjo Masamune," Carnwennan said in acknowledgement before he turned to Juuchi. "No."

"You don't even know what I was going to do," Juuchi said in mock affront.

"I've known you for centuries – I know what you were planning on suggesting," Carnwennan said before he let out a sigh. "However, I will suffer your presence for the sake of my favorite granddaughter."

Tsukiakari blushed as she leaned into Carnwennan's head pats.

"Oh? If she's your granddaughter, what does that make us?" Juuchi asked with a smile.

"You're obviously my rebellious daughter – the punishment I have for being a man," Carnwennan said as he rolled his eyes before turning to Honjo. "And you're the well behaved niece I can't help but compare Juuchi to and wonder where she went wrong."

Honjo giggled as Juuchi brought her hand to her chest in mock affront before she said, "Yeah? If I went so terribly wrong, then why did Suzu-chan turn out so right?"

"Obviously she's rebelling against you by being the best girl she can possibly be," Carnwennan said sagely as he nodded his head. "Truly, it is your punishment for being such a loose woman that changed hands so frequently before settling down with the Potters."

Juuchi's began to speak and Tukiakari started to blush before her jaw clicked shut while her smug smile faltered as her eyes flickered to Natsumi and then back to Carnwennan as she asked, "Who's Kuroshi?"

Carnwennan shrugged before he said, "Some no-name monstrous spider woman thing. A joro-something or other."

"A jorōgumo?" Honjo asked with a raised eyebrow before opening her jug and taking a sip.

"Sounds right," Carnwennan said with a shrug. "She'd been terrorizing that backwoods town Shiromizu came from and was the reason she had to flee in the first place – apparently she summoned an absolutely massive undead skeleton of some sort. A gasha whatever."

"A gashadokuro?" Tsukiakari asked after bringing her hand up to her mouth to cover her gasp while Honjo began to choke on cider.

"Again, that sounds right," Carnwennan said before taking a swig of his coffee. "Haru and Nagato absolutely destroyed it."

The raw, undiluted desire to kill something – someone, anyone, everything – flooded through the room for a moment before it blinked out like it had not been there to begin with.

"And here I thought complaining about him fighting evil spiders without a proper weapon at his side was a good jest after I learned about the overgrown snake," Juuchi said calmly and serenely before she smiled at Carnwennan. "Besides, you were there, you killed the bitch who threatened them, and if things had truly called for it, you would have taken matters into your own hands to keep the children safe."

Carnwennan shifted a little and hastily brought up his coffee mug so he would not have to answer.

"Oh, you don't have to answer, pretty boy," Juuchi said as she slowly invaded his personal space by sidling up to him. "I know that underneath that brooding assassin demeanor you have the heart of a knight in shining armor ready to save damsels and children in distress – especially from horrible monsters."

"Why can't you be more like your cousin Honjo or anyone else from Japan?" Carwnennan said grumpily. "Once upon a time I thought all people from Japan were uncouth savages when we first met, but then Tsukiakari was brought into the family, and seventy years ago an armory worth of your fellow Japanese blades joined us and I realized you are the outlier."

"And now you're trying to divert my attention because you're uncomfortable with how we know that deep down, you're such a chivalrous individual," Juuchi said with an entirely too wide smile as she leaned against him. "Not to worry old man – it's an attractive trait, and I'm sure at least a few of my sisters will agree with me… Maybe I should find Akutoku and introduce you."

Honjo and Tsukiakari choked at her words before Honjo said, "You're not the only one with sisters."

"Senpai," Tsukiakari moaned piteously without bothering to specify which of the two she wanted to stop.

"Say, why don't you go get something to eat and drink," Carnwennan said as he pushed Juuchi off himself and away from him on the bench they were sitting on.

"And give you a chance to run off and hide? Nope," Juuchi said as she continued to smile. "I'm going to stick with you and show you how pleased I am for looking after a certain foolish wizard."

"I'll stay with him while you assault the buffet table," Honjo said as she waved Juuchi off. "And take Tsukiakari with you so you don't get lost on your way there and back."

"Me get lost?" Juuchi asked indignantly as she brought a hand to her chest.

"I know it isn't easy for most people to lose their way and end up in Tokyo, but for some reason, I think you could pull it off," Honjo said dryly before taking a swig of cider.

"You wound me," Juuchi said as she feigned a pain in her side.

"I wish," Honjo grumbled as she lowered the jug.

"Ah, Carnwennan, can you recommend anything?" Tsukiakari asked.

"The coffee they have is Navy Coffee – and it's as black and bitter as my soul," Carnwennan said. "They also have donuts."

"Alright, we'll be back," Juuchi said in an overly cheerful tone as she snagged a flustered Tsukiakari. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do – or would do."

"Is-is there anything I could get you, Honjo-senpai?" Tsukiakari asked.

"I'm good for the moment," Honjo said as she held up the glass jug of apple cider she had been drinking from.

"Well, she's pissed," Carnwennan said as he watched the Muramasa flounce her way to the buffet with her junior in tow.

"Indeed," Honjo said before bowing to the older blade. "I would like to request a favor."

Carnwennan looked up to the ceiling and mouthed 'why me?' before he turned back to Honjo and asked, "What favor would you ask?"

"I would appreciate it if you were to distract Juuchi for the evening and keep her from leaving for Tokyo," Honjo said quietly while Juuchi and Tsukiakari discussed food options with Kaga and Akagi after showing the two carriers the IDs Rose had helped set them up with.

"So you can run off to Tokyo instead?" Carwennan asked and caused Honjo to wilt slightly.

"Ah, that is, my countrymen need me," Honjo said. "To, to deliver them from this travesty of injustice!"

"It won't work," Carnwennan said after taking a sip of coffee. "As soon as Juuchi notices you're gone, she'll go tearing after you – and she'll probably drag me along for the ride."

"Maybe if I got Juuchi drunk," Honjo mused.

"No," Carnwennan said as he glared at the Japanese sword.

"Okay," Honjo said quickly.

"The donuts really are good," Tsukiakari said as she dropped down onto the bench.

"I expected something more delicious when Carnwennan compared this stuff to his soul," Juuchi said as she settled into her seat with a frown. "It's missing something. Tears, perhaps?"

"Har-dee-har-har," Carnwennan said in a deadpan voice.

"Alright, I'm going to get something for myself," Honjo said

"But you have alcohol," Juuchi said as she pointed to the cider. "What more could you want?"

"Donuts," Honjo said as she gave Juuchi a look. "How else am I supposed to fully enjoy cider?"

"You can't argue with that, senpai," Tsukiakari said with a nod.

"And I suppose I did give her the cider to begin with so I shouldn't begrudge her search for donuts," Juuchi said as she brought her fist to rest under her chin in a faux thoughtful motion.

"I shall return," Honjo said.

"Alright, MacArthur," Juuchi said as she waved happily to the Masamune moments before Honjo tripped and fell face first onto the floor. When she stood up, she shot the dirtiest of glares at the Muramasa before making her way to the donuts.

"I'm pretty sure she's going to call you out on both of you being Japanese when she gets back," Carnwennan noted.

"Eh, I fought alongside and for the Allies during that war,"Juuchi said with a shrug.

"How could I ever forget with all the war stories you kept telling everyone while we were in storage," Carnwennan said drolly.

"Senpai's the best," Tsukiakari said in awe as she edged closer to Juuchi. "I especially enjoy the story where you slew the partially mechanical dragon."

"If only Honjo had not been brought to Britain, you would have probably won yourself a number of retainers among your original countrymen with your stories alone," Carnwennan said dryly. "Speaking of them, are they still in Britain or did they make the trip back with you?"

"They came back with us, and they opted to go with the flow of things and return to their original families," Juuchi said bitterly. "Those families that gave them up to begin with."

"Senpai, we were in storage for a long time, and they never really got to know the Potters," Tsukiakari said carefully.

"I know, it still hurts though," Juuchi said grumpily before she smiled and pulled Tsukiakari into a hug. "But I've still got Suzu-chan, and now that Honjo's leaving, it's back to just the two of us."

"S-senpai," Tsukiakari stuttered out.

"Oh? And what about Zhar-ptitsa?" Carnwennan asked.

"I haven't seen Firebird in a while, actually," Juuchi said with a frown. "If it turns out to be one of that idiot's pranks…"

"Actually, Harry shuffled off Zhar-ptitsa to one of his romantic partners much like he did with me," Carnwennan said before taking a sip of coffee. "So I imagine we'll 'rejoin' the Potter armory around the same time."

Juuchi smiled and said, "That just means I need to make the most of my time with Tsukiakari without anyone to ruin her training and my fun."

"Have you actually taught her anything or are you just chasing her around with your true body?" Carnwennan asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Juuchi-senpai has taught me how to cast using my blade as a focus," Tsukiakari said with a slight blush.

"That is impressive for one your age," Carnwennan said after letting out a quiet whistle. "You have done well, Tsukiakari no Suzu, and I am certain you will only continue to grow in your power and legend."

"Suzu-chan is indeed an exemplary student," Juuchi said as she preened beside the younger sword on her behalf since Tsukiakari was too busy ascending to new heights of blushing.

"Congratulations on teaching her as well, Juuchi," Carnwennan said as he shifted his focus to the older of the two Japanese blades. "I didn't think you were capable of tutoring anyone, but I suppose with such a wonderful student, your only option was to succeed."

Juuchi choked, and the words she tried to form kept her choking in rage until Tsukiakari broke in and said, "Hey, uh, when do you suppose Honjo-senpai will be coming back?"

Carnwennan shrugged while Juuchi regained her composure and turned thoughtful before her eyes widened in realization.

"Damnit, Honjo snuck away to have all the fun herself," Juuchi said as she pounded her mug into the table.

"Senpai, she wouldn't have left us," Tsukiakari said in shock that Juuchi would even suggest such a thing.

"I was goading her to go moments before we left the apartment – she's ditched us with Carnwennan as the new designated 'responsible adult,'" Juuchi said with a frown as she used her fingers to make quotation marks in the air and turned to Carnwennan. "Tell me I'm wrong."

"You're wrong," Carnwennan said as he rolled his eyes.

"Wait, really?" Juuchi asked after doing a double take.

"No, but you told me to tell you you were," Carnwennan said with a shrug and a small smile.

"Evil, you're an evil blade," Juuchi said before pulling out a notepad and scribbling something on it. "One point for you."

"But I told her I wasn't going to babysit you since I had no desire to be in on your mad scheme to track her down," Carnwennan said as he turned back to his coffee. "I've got a task to do here – one that your current favorite Potter himself delegated to me."

"Current favorite Potter?" Juuchi asked as she tilted her head.

"There is only one at the moment," Tsukiakari said quietly.

"Right," Juuchi said as she looked away. "Right."

"Senpai, is that Honjo-senpai outside?" Tsukiakari asked.

"Yes, yes it is," Juuchi said in wonder. "Being led away by base security, too."

"I don't, what," Tsukiakari as her brain shorted out.

"I hear that the navy – or maritime defense force or whatever they like to call themselves – take security very seriously here," Carnwennan said as he tried to remember the correct one of those silly moon speak words that usually did not come up in conversation. "Something about Otacons or octopi and shipgirls?"

"Otaku, the word you want is otaku," Juuchi said.

"Eh, whatever," Carnwennan.

"Didn't you tell me about the importance of knowing the language of the locals after we met?" Juuchi asked.

"I'm still doing better than you," Carnwennan said as he rolled his eyes. "Isn't this the point you run off to Tokyo to wreak havoc and stuff?"

"No, the mood's been ruined," Juuchi said in defeat.

____


"And that's why Honjo Masamune is in the brig for being on base without identification, possession of alcohol, and public intoxication," Ooyodo said as she finished reading the report.

Goto sighed and longed for the days when he only had to deal with the absurdities of shipgirls.

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

Harry Leferts said:
That actually makes a lot of sense to be honest. I like it.​

…..
------

Halifax Base Shipgirl Dorms, Sometime in the Future...

The Installation Woman Halifax made her way through the RCN base, looking for someone. Netal Day Weekend had come and gone, and Fort George was nowhere to be found, and Halifax was starting to worry. She checked around the fortification itself, but Georgie wasn't there, and the reenactors there said that she was last scene the morning before. For hours Halifax traipsed about town, checking every restaurant, pub, bar and club, and eventually she was able to piece together the events of that night. The last bar she visited pointed her here, the Shipgirl apartments in The Narrows, where Georgie was likely going given that she had gotten roped in among a gaggle of them.

In the quiet of the mid-morning, Halifax picked up the sound of a muffled scream - indignant and embarrassed to the Installation's ears, not pain, panic or horror - which was followed by the rumble of someone collecting their affects and finally the door to one of the apartments burst open. And there, with her hair a mess and her normally impeccable uniform quite disheveled, was Georgie, running out of the door and making a run for it. Unfortunately for her, she was not paying attention to what was in front of her, resulting in her running into the larger installation woman's stomach and rebounding.

"H-Halifax?!"

"Hello there Georgie! Have a good night?"

It could be fairly safe to take the fact that she didn't correct Halifax's use of her name as a sign of how distraught she was.

"I-I I'm a mess. I think I had to much to drink. I most assuredly don't have any memory at all of who I did here!"

Georgie's face turned red when she realized what she said, avoiding Halifax's amused expression.

"What. I meant what."

"Oh honey~!"

"You forgot something gorgeous!"

"Don't you want breakfast?"

Georgie said nothing. She did not follow Halifax's gaze to the door she just ran out of, where Ontario, Empress of Asia, and Malaya (the latter lighting a cigarette, and Asia with a bundled white cloth with frills in her hand), stood leaning on the doorframe, and all sporting smug expressions on a level that was, when taken together, in the same league as that cute little sword that Potter kid had with him.

Halifax looked down on her sister-installation, a raised eyebrow of amusement on her face even as Georgie ran off like it was Blood Week. Halifax looked back to the three shipgirls, who in turn looked back at the Installation Woman like the kids that ate all the cookies in the cookie jar.

"You three look like call girls at a cathouse."

The trio just laughed at her joke. Ontario shrugged her shoulders.

"We've been gunning for last night for years Hali. Can't blame us for taking the time to enjoy it."

"So. You beat every interested party to the punch. What's next for you lot? Off to another target?"

The battleship, the ocean liner, and the cruiser looked at each other, as if contemplating that same question amongst themselves without words. Then they smiled and laughed.

"No way!" Malaya declared.

"Yeah," Ontario agreed, "the pursuit was as much of a blast as the prize! I bet we've just Flowers of Algernoned ourselves."

Halifax nodded in agreement, crossing her arms under her bust.

"Good to hear. Georgie might be stuffy, but she's what the Japanese call a maidenly sort. It wouldn't do for her first lovers to break her heart by going after another conquest. So. Are you going to include anyone else in your little fleet?"

The three sobered up (emotionally) at the question, turning to Ontario.

"We've talked about that actually. We're thinking maybe a guy to finish up. But we want to wait for things to settle down, then find someone that we all hit it off with at the same time."

Halifax nodded and walked away. The three seemed to have things figured out. Now she needed to get a move on if she was going to rendezvous with her boyfriend.
------
The UK, Some Sixty Years Later...

Jamisu Potter (going by James, it was easier for his English-speaking classmates and professors) was in high spirits. His backpacking trip across Europe was a completely success, and the friend the Kitsune left with was now his girlfriend! Yep. Life was good. Having said his goodbyes so that Angband could get her dorm room squared away, James turned the key and waltzed into the dorm, finding his roommate, Reggie Conrad, sitting on his bed, looking very confused.

"Reggie? Are you all right? Did your trip to America not go well?"

The muggle man looked to his roommate and audibly gulped before looking back to the point in the floor he was staring at.

"I uh... Mate... You've got shipgirls for moms, right?"

"Yeah... What of it?"

"I uh... Well... I know I talked a game at being a player James but.. Well, it was just that. Talk. And then, in Canada, I run into three shipgirls - Ontario, Empress of Asia, and Malaya and..."

With a red face and not another word, he dug through her bags and pulled out three bras, each one a larger size than the last.

"Oh..."

Reggie scoffed at the Kitsune, at how his black ears perked and his tail bushed. "Yeah. And then, in my backpack I find this note here!"

James took the offered folded paper and read the note inside.

Hey lover boy, we've got a timeshare in the Caribbean with a private beach, and we'll be trying to convince Fort George to join us. Do well enough on your finals and we just might invite you over for Christmas!

And next to the three signatures was a trio of unique winky faces.

"James... Mate... What does that mean? What do I do?"

James looked between the other man and the note a few times. Then he took a breath and patted his roommate on the back.

"I suggest you focus on acing your finals. Then I suggest you stock up on pepper up potions and condoms."

*-*-*

Much thanks to the Amicus Review sub-forum for making sure this is good to post.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

About The Other Guys...

Festivals were loud, Sayaka decided. Too loud. Too many people talking, bright colors, cheery music, too many things that she was numb to. Somewhere along the line, in the jumble, it looked like she had purchased a ikayaki, which she was carrying indifferently for the sake that she couldn't care enough to throw away.

What a pain, she thought. Her parents had been smiling brightly when they brought her here, gave her allowance, and told her to run along and have fun. All she really wanted was a private corner somewhere out of the way. Which wasn't as easy as it looked, because it was a freaking festival.

She turned a corner, hoping that maybe she would be able to sit down and do some mulling, but almost as immediately flushed and turned away, leaving the couple there to each other. Seriously, what a pain. She continued walking along the edge of the crowd, hoping to maybe find a way to a back alley or some spot off in the trees nearby.
-----

"Hey, Tonbo, what're you doing?" Tatsuya asked. The Muramasa looked up from her spot on the couch, and he smirked and rapped his knuckles twice on the side of the stairwell. Tonbo sighed and turned her attention back to the laptop that she was skimming the internet on.

"Nothing much, she said, turning it to face him. Some web article about the stolen swords from earlier that day.

"Didn't we already decide that none of those were magical?" he asked, walking over to sit beside her.

"Mmm," she agreed absently, closing the page and bringing up another. "Just got one of those feelings, you know? Like this is important, and if we don't act now we're gonna miss something." Tatsuya consider this. Tonbo had been doing this for far, far longer than he or Benio had, so it made sense that she would have better instincts for this sort of thing…

"So you think that we should check it out further?" he asked. Tonbo looked at the screen pensively before groaning and stretching.

"Who knows?" she said lightly, leaning back. "Not like there's no one who would want to steal some really old, really valuable swords that could be sold for a lot money, huh? Maybe… just pass something on to Juuchi next time we see her, just in case and keep an eye on the news."

"Ah!" Mamiya said, and they turned to see her walk into the room. "About that. I was wondering if maybe you had any other family lately… you know, you called Juuchi Yosamu your sister when you last talked about her, didn't you?"

"Huh, did I?" Tonbo asked, closing the laptop and setting it aside. "Let's see, sisters… Wow, it's been years. Last one I saw must have been… Kyoshu? Or was it Chisuheri…" She paused, then laughed sardonically. "Though neither of those meetings went well at all."

"How's that?" Mamiya asked.

"Uh, chased a guy into Chisuheri's temple for justice and vengeance, and Kyoshu's a bitch."

Though one got used to it with Tonbo, the two Haneda siblings were still taken aback by the somewhat blunt assessment. Tonbo glanced between them. "Umitsubame's cool, though," she added. "Probably. Haven't seen her since Tokugawa, and people change… but she was cool when I knew her. Hopefully still is."
-----

Sayaka leaned against a tree, sighing as she dropped down to a sitting position. She wasn't that far from the crowds and the stalls, she could still hear everything off to one side, but it was quieter, more bearable now. She could think now.

Momo would have been dragging her from booth to booth, demanding to try each game in its turn and complaining when she lost.

Sayaka's shoulders jerked as the thought hit her, and she curled up into a seated sort of fetal position. What was she going to say to her sister today?

"Mato!"

That… hadn't been her.

Sayaka sat up, peering over her knees. Before her was standing what looked like a cartoon parody of Yamato, staring soulfully into her eyes and… drooling? Sayaka blinked as she realized that the ikayaki was still in her hand. She moved it back and forth experimentally, and the tiny Yamato followed it back and forth with her eyes.

Oh, what the heck. "Here you go, then," Sayaka said, holding the snack out to her. Tiny Yamato snatched it and pointed it into the sky triumphantly, as if it were a sword. She then began to nom on the side.

"Mmdoo mmdoo," she mumbled through her food, eyes glowing as she walked over and slouched beside Sayaka's spot at the tree.

"Sorry your friend yelled at you," Momo said through her noodles as she sat down beside Sayaka. The older girl forced a smile and ruffled her hair.

"Don't worry," she said to her protesting sister, "it wasn't your fault. She'll come around sooner or later anyway."

Sayaka stood rigid upright, causing the little fairy creature to flop over on her back dramatically. "Come on," she said tersely, "let's go find out where you're supposed to go."

"Mato?" Tiny Yamato asked, lowering the ikayaki from her mouth and looking up curiously.

"Just come on," Sayaka growled, and began walking. After considering this, the Tiny Yamato Fairy Creature followed after her, still nomming on the ikayaki.
-----

Now, there is the challenge of thinking up a name for Smol Yamato.

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Maes Omake: Potter Magpie-ness strikes again

Harry Leferts said:
Prydwen wakes up next to her new wife and quietly curses as she realizes that now she's involved with the Potters as well.​

*-*-*
I'm expecting a monumental spittake and a bit of rant when she spots a certain very old clay cup in the Potter House cupboards.

"Do you have ANY IDEA how long we've been looking for THAT?!?"

"But... why? I think Gramps' diary mentioned something about finding a neat cup, with a bunch of other stuff, in an antiques shop while he was touring the Middle East back in the 30s?"

". . . an... an antiques shop? Seriously?"

*shrugs* "Yeah, haggled it down to nine quid and a sandwich."

"fml potter bullshit"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Climbing the stairs, Harry opened the hatchway and stepped onto Nagato's bridge. Behind him, the others were looking around curiously. Owlishly blinking, Asuka glanced at him. "Is this really Nagato's bridge?"

Fully stepping inside, Harry gave a hum. "It is actually." Walking towards the bridge's windows, the wizard stood at ease and held his hands behind his back as he softly smiled. Unknown to him, Natsumi's eyes widened briefly as she had an odd vision. Rather then the currently thirteen year old Harry, it was instead an older one who looked like he was in his late twenties and wearing the uniform of an JMSDF Officer. On his shoulders were the rank insignia of an Admiral and at his side, Juuchi hung. Turning, he gave her a smile which made her blush a bit at how handsome he was as well as the look he was giving her. "Natsumi-Chan?" And then she blinked and was once more in the present where Harry was giving her a curious look. "Natsumi-Chan? Is something wrong?"

Weakly chuckling, she shook her head and walked up beside him. "Um, no, nothing is wrong, Harry-Chan." She then came to a stop and looked out onto Nagato's bow as it cut through the waves in Tokyo Bay. Eyes widening, the Kitsune gasped a bit. "Oh wow... it looks so different from here."

Also standing beside her, Kaku could only nod. "It really is." Slowly, he gave the bridge a once over. "I mean, its one thing to read about in history books and the like, but this is something else."

It was then that they all heard warm chuckles and turned to find Nagato smiling down at them. "And I thank you all for the compliments." Head tilted to the side, she considered her son with a small smile on her face. "Harry?"

Looking up at her, Harry blinked in confusion. "Something wrong, Mum? I mean, one of your sailors did ask for me to come up here."

Rather then answer right away, the Battleship stepped up until she was beside her adoptive son in much the same pose. More then one of the other teens were struck at that moment by just how much Harry resembled his mother in mannerisms at times. After almost a minute of silence, Nagato turned to Harry and gave him a small smile. "I asked for you to come up here as I have... something that I wish to do."

Confused, Harry tilted his head to the side. "You do, Mum? What do you want to do?"

Pulling her hand from behind her back, Nagato revealed a book in said hand. Both Harry and Natsumi widened their eyes as they recognized a crew manifest before the shipgirl began to speak. "I... wish to add you to my crew, Harry." A far off look came over her expression. "Not that there is much need, but this makes it official in a way."

Lost, Ayaka raised her hand. "Um, Nagato-San? What do you mean its not needed? I mean... I'm confused."

With a hum, Nagato turned to her and sighed. "Harry has told you about the Basilisk as well as being bitten?" When they nodded, she continued. "He came... very close to dying at that time which revealed something to me."
Eyebrows furrowing, the Daitengu of the group looked from the mother to son. "It revealed something to you?"

Taking a deep breath, and letting it out, Nagato nodded. "Hai, it did. You see... for a small amount of time, Harry began to manifest as a fairy upon not just Verniy, but also myself. My son... nearly died and in doing so would appear on me as a fairy. Thankfully, he survived, but it showed that he was already accepted as crew. And this..." She tapped the manifest with one finger. "Would be making it official in a way."

A male voice then chose to speak up with a chuckle. "Indeed, it would, Nagato." When they turned, all of their eyes widened slightly at the sight of the ghostly Yamamoto that was standing there. Giving a nod to Nagato, he then smiled at Harry. "I hope that neither of you mind if I witness this?"

Just shaking his head, Harry gave a small smile. "Of course not, Yamamoto-San." That got him a small nod from the long dead Admiral before he turned to his mother. "Mum? I would be honored to sign your manifest."

Nagato gave him a smile even as her eyes watered a bit. Then, with great gravitas, she opened her manifest and the pages turned until it was on the last page before she gave him a pen. "Thank you, Harry."

Only smiling, Harry took the pen before writing his name down. After a moment of thought, he then placed his rank as ensign. With that done, he then hugged his mother. "Thanks, Mum."

Hugging him back and sniffling, Nagato kissed him gently on the brow after removing his hat. "No, thank you, Harry." Gently stroking his head, she held him close before clapping could be heard and they all turned to find that all of Nagato's Captains and Admirals now stood on her bridge and were applauding. More then that, they could see enlisted poking their heads in with large grins on their faces before they also began to clap.

Needless to say, both mother and son were blushing, but at the same time very happy.

Slowly, the various spirits left the group there by themselves. Once they were all gone though, Nagato gave a sly smile to Harry. "There is one thing to do..."

Eyebrow raised, Harry blinked up at her. "There is? What?"

Lips opening slightly into a grin, the shipgirl's eyes sparkled. "Well, to celebrate some. And while the other people onboard won't know it... that is what is to happen next."

About to ask, Harry was interrupted by Usagi speaking up. "What the? Everyone is leaving the bow? And there's some of her spirits down there doing so?"

For her part, Asuka nodded as she scanned the bow. "They're nearly done too. But why?"

His eyes widening, Harry looked at Nagato who nodded and made a motion with her hand. Before their eyes, her forward turrets moved as she turned so that they faced the open sea. Less then a minute later, she gave a nod before looking at Harry. "Would you like to do the honors, Harry?"

Unable to help himself, Harry grinned widely. "Really?" When she nodded, the black haired wizard cleared his throat and stepped up. Taking a deep breath, he made a motion with his hand. "FIRE!"

The words had just left his lips when the turrets did exactly that and fired blanks out to sea. While the teens besides Harry and Asuka cringed some at the loudness, they could not help the gasps that escaped them of awe. Meanwhile, the Tengu tilted her head to the side and nodded some. "Wow... I knew that the air pressure from the back blast was something, but not like that."

Feeling Nagato's hand on his shoulder, Harry looked up at her with a smile so large it actually hurt before turning back to the windows. Though he did lean into her some. "I love you, Mum."

Gently kissing the top of his head, Nagato sniffled a bit. "And I love you too... Sochi."
____________________________________________________________________

Taking a sip of his bubble tea, Harry sighed some as they sat at a table while the evening wore on. "Man, what a day!"

With a nod, Natsumi also nodded as she ate the last of her dinner. "Yeah, it was fun and everything else." Stretching, she let out a sigh of her own. "And we still got six more days of Fleet Week."

Simply considering that, Rika tapped her fingers against the table top. "Speaking of that... what are we doing tomorrow? I mean... there's still plenty to do."

Usagi scratched her chin in thought as she looked off into the distance and smiled. "How about we head over to see the tours of the tunnels accessible to the public? I mean, I've always wondered about them and I've heard that there's stuff to see there."

As she snorted, Ayaka sipped her own drink. "That's because you're a rabbit."

Lips curled into a smirk, the Inaba raised one eyebrow. "Yes, and? Its really actually pretty interesting. And don't tell me that you're all not interested... well, besides Natsumi-Chan and Harry-San. You both probably have seen most of the tunnels anyways."

Jerking her thumb at Harry, Natsumi shook her head. "Not as much as Harry-Chan here. He's seen stuff that even most of those who work here haven't seen in those tunnels."

Softly snickering, Harry shook his head. "Well, some of it anyways." Then he tapped his fingers against the tabletop. "Hmm... Well, the tour does hit some of the more accessible areas and is interesting. It ends at Houshou's Bar which is inside the tunnels. It also shows some of the entertainment rooms and the small theatre that's there as well."

For several moments the other teens there stare at him before turning to Natsumi who simply nodded. Then they turned back with Kaku speaking for all of them. "Wait... there's an actual bar down in those tunnels? And entertainment rooms and theatres? Seriously?"

Humming, the wizard nodded. "Hai, there are." With a glance around, he leaned in. "Pretty sure that Junyou-Oba and Ryuujou-Oba used magic to shore up the tunnels, they're a lot more stable now then when they started to shut them down with the end of the Cold War."

While the others continued to chat though, movement out of the corner of Asuka's eyes caught her attention and she turned towards it. By the time anyone noticed, a minute had already passed and Usagi spoke up. "Asuka-San? Is something wrong?"

In reply, she raised a finger and jabbed it in the direction of Harry's drink. "Um... is there something in your bubble tea? Because the straw is moving a bit. And its not the wind because I could tell if it was."

Confused, Harry looked towards it before grabbing the straw and stirring. Then he lifted it up to reveal a Smol version of Iku and Hachi holding onto it with swirly eyes. "Huh... When did you two appear?"

Shaking her head, the Iku blinked and blushed some. "Ku..."

The Hachi just looked away and adjusted her glasses. "Chi..."

Asuka though summed up the thoughts regarding it for those not used to it. "Wat."

 

[darthcourt10]

Maes Omake: Pepper spray sucks.

Yellowhammer said:
Tsukiakari did.

*-*-*-*
Juuchi: "Hey, been meaning to ask. When you got mace'd, why didn't you just dispel your avatar and reform it elsewhere? It's not like the pepper spray on your blade-self would have actually done anything."

Tsukiakari: "I did! It doesn't work when it's already inside your nose! It still burns just as much even you're not physical!"

Juuchi: "Ick. . . well, that's one thing I'm glad I never got to learn for myself."

*completely unamused sword-kohai*