Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part II)...

Higashiguchihongu Fujisengen Shrine (Base of Mount Fuji)
Spoiler: Higashiguchihongu Fujisengen Shrine


Spoiler: Prayers For The Ascent

Colombe rinsed her hands and mouth in the shrine's spring just like she had done at Hachimangū while snow from the flurry the night before coated the roofs and trees. Her lips curled in a smug smile as she thought back to her travels, and the lesson that she had learned that "Custom is the King of All." The smile then warmed as she remembered Professor Aetios back at Beauxbatons tutoring her in Greek as well as Charms.

I had such a crush on her Fourth and Fifth Year. Beautiful, intelligent and highly competent, one can do worse as a schoolgirl crush. I do regret never telling her that introducing me to Herodotus stood me in good stead when I started my travels around the world.

"Σας ευχαριστώ Madeline Aetos," she whispered as she finished the ritual.

Next to her, Tokunotakai gave an inquiring glance.

Colombe blushed slightly. "One of my old teachers at Beauxbatons back in the 1720s. I had a schoolgirl crush on her back then, nothing came of it though. I was remembering one of the things that she introduced me to. Two and a half millennia ago, a Greek scholar named Herodotus wrote The Histories. One of the things he mentioned is that 'Custom is the King of All'. Something that has served me well in my travels since generally customs are in place for a good reason and should be respected until you find out the reasons for them. Such as our preparations here by praying at the shrine for the kami of the mountain for a safe ascent that honors Fuji-san."

Toku nodded slowly. "Wise words indeed." She then laughed a little after they prayed to the shrine, resulting in an inquiring glance from Colombe.

"I... underestimated you when we first met. At the time, I saw you as an arrogant gaijin who looked down on The Land of the Gods , like many others who I had heard of during that time. Not as a pilgrim looking to gain understanding humbly - well as humbly as you can, which is not very!" Colombe laughed and stuck out her tongue at Toku, which caused the Masamune's cheeks to redden as she finished her explanation. "And now I learn a piece of wisdom as I venture out into the unknown path ahead of me."

Colombe took Toku's hand and squeezed it gently. "Nervous?" A hesitant nod answered her. "Excited?" A more confident nod. "So am I. Now, Fuji-san awaits us."

"Indeed it does." A voice to their right sounded and both looked to see a shrine maiden with pink hair in cherry blossom patterned robes by a small stand. "Avalanche threats have closed Subashiri and Gotemba trails and I do not recommend that you use them. Your best choice is Tsuki e no jōshō now."

Tokunotakai's eyes widened and she bowed deeply. "I thank you for the kind advice. I confess that while I have heard of Tsuki e no jōshō, I do not know how to get there from here."

A serene smile. "Few do. From the fifth station of Subashiri, head north toward Kofuji peak and pray at the Komitake Shrine that you find in your path."

Colombe bowed in turn. "Thank you very much. I wish to purchase two walking staves for myself and my companion along with two headbands, although I am unclear as to which ones to get since I do not read kanji..."

Toku picked two out. "These two, they say Tōkon. Fighting spirit."

Colombe smiled as she paid the miko. "Perfect. You told me that these are used in kendo and were originally worn under a helmet in war to keep sweat from the eyes of a samurai and pad the head?"

Toku took the hachimake and tied one around Colombe's forehead before doing the same with her own dark hair. "Yes. now they show that the wearer is filled with the spirit written on them."

Colombe handed the staff to Toku and squared her shoulders at the looming bulk of the mountain ahead. "Well then, let us draw upon our fighting spirit to fulfill our promise to climb Fuji-san."

As they left the shrine, Konohananosakuya-hime watched them go with a knowing smile on her face as she put away the money that the two junior kami had offered her.

-----------------------------
Spoiler: Ascent

Komitake Shrine, 6.9 kilometers from the summit, 2000 meter elevation

Colombe dug the end of her staff into the virgin snow of the path and heaved herself up another step up the slope. While her legs were burning with the efforts of the last four hours as they continually trekked up the mountain slopes, it was a old and familiar pain. Unlike Tokunotakai's experiences.

With that she looked back at her Masamune love. The elder sword was certainly fit and active, but had never subjected herself to the grueling push of unrelenting constant effort that Colombe had in her centuries of exploration and war. Measuring the determined look in Toku's eyes, and the tightness of her grip on her walking staff, the Muramasa came to a decision. "Once we reach the top of the ridge here we take a brief rest."

Toku nodded and levered herself up through the ankle-deep snow covering the steps to the shrine as they made their way through the cedar trees. "Hai, Co-chan." She then continued up the path to the top and looked around briefly as they entered a small clearing. The woods were hushed, and she could see several crows int he upper branches surveying them curiously.

Then her eyes narrowed at the sight of the simple shrine in the middle.
Spoiler: Komitake Shrine

"This is the Shrine?" Colombe asked as she unslung her pack with a hiss of relief

"Hai, it is." Toku gave a gentle smile as she lowered her own pack and sat on a boulder. She then whispered a prayer and her eyes glowed. "It is warded too, and...there is a well four meters to your right. We can draw water there to purify ourselves for our prayers."

Colombe nodded and then moved in the indicated direction, finally finding the promised well with a stone cover. Lifting it off, she frowned. "Rats, it's too far down. Hm. To-chan, can you get me my true body? I have a spell that should work."

Tokunotakai pulled Colombe's rapier body and swordbelt out from her pack and carried them over as the Muramasa cleaned out the basin for the water.

Colombe drew herself and saluted the well, then gestured with her swordpoint, a rolling blue-green aura surrounding her blade. "Right, let's do this. Ο Ποσειδώνας φέρει το νερό από την άνοιξη!" With a roar, water shot forth in a rope to fill the basin as the ground shook slightly. Colombe smugly smirked at a somewhat wide-eyed Toku. "Ta-da!"

Toku blinked twice and then bowed. "Impressive. What was that spell you used?"

Colombe shrugged. "I called upon Poseidon, ah the Greek deity of the ocean and earthquakes among other things. I had a very old girlfriend teach me that invocation, actually shortly after I found out what I truly was."

Toku nodded and pulled her own sword body out of her pack. "There is a story involved there, I suspect."

"Oh yes. This happened, oh back in 1745. At the time I was working as a mercenary in the Mediterranean and got hired to protect a trade ship out of Venice to Istanbul. Well we got attacked by pirates enroute, and boarded." Colombe's eyes grew distant and she had a smug smile. "anyway, it was a rough fight, especially since they had a mage. I was dueling him while I fought off the boarding party and deflected a Blasting Curse he tossed into the quarterdeck where one of our cannons was being loaded. Well it exploded and the blast knocked me over the far rail."

Toku's eyes widened as the Muramasa laughed. "So I landed in the water with sword in hand and decided to swim for it. Fortunately, I had learned, and also the Aegean is filled with islands. I wasn't feeling that strong, though, so dropped my sword to keep afloat." Colombe shook her head. "Back then I had no fucking clue that I was the sword, I just knew that it was magical and was 'right' in my hands. Anyway, I found out the hard way that if my avatar is separated from my blade by a certain distance, this 'me' blinks out and reforms wherever my sword is."

Toku shook her head. "So you would have...reformed where your sword was?"

Colombe laughed. "Oh yes. Fortunately, I immediately realized that I was deep underwater, and cast the Bubble-Head Charm to get myself some breathable air. Remind me to teach you that one just in case. Of course I had no clue where I was, so cast a divination spell, then started walking the way it suggested I go. Eventually I walked ashore... days later perhaps? You lose track of time underwater."

"I finally made landfall on a rather nice uncharted island. With only one inhabitant who found me when I crawled ashore."

Toku blinked, "Didn't this get made into Lady Chastity #2, Lady Chastity and the Witch of the Waves?"

"Oh yes. In brief, she nursed me back to health although I had a few suspicions about her and her suspiciously tame housepets. So I seduced her...well we seduced each other, she really really did not like men. Then I did some research while playing dumb, helped by the fact that Professor Aetos had taught me Old Greek so I could read her scrolls and figured out that she was Circe. Not wishing to find out what kind of an animal she would turn me into when she tired of my skills in her bed, I decided to escape first. I recognized one of the potions she had brewed as Felix Felicis, so I swiped and chugged it and then blind Apparated myself off the island." Colombe smirked, "I wasn't lying when I told her that I was terrible at brewing potions, but I paid attention in class when it came time to identify them."

"Anyway, I popped back into Papa's castle and after the family reunion took a horse for Austria since Circe was associated with ships and supposedly a vicious bitch who lived on that island. Spent the next decade out skirmishing with the Ottomans and Italians well away from salt water until I got the notice that Papa had died, which is a different tale." Colombe finished as her face clouded.

Toku hugged her and then nodded to the basin. "Still, let us pray now."

Colombe nodded and began to wash her hands and mouth. "We wash our hands and mouth to purify ourselves, ring the bell twice if present to alert the Kami to our presence, bow twice to the Kami, then clap twice to signify our wish to speak, and finally bow once more, correct?"

"Hai, and then leave an offering. For this shrine, I brought daifuku cakes."

Colombe frowned thoughtfully at the enshrined object as she carefully left her pink-colored daifuku rice cake at the shrine."That is a bronze axhead, but..not a weapon, I think. A tool, perhaps."

"A woodsman's axe, such as I saw in my youth." Toku said thoughtfully. "Perhaps it could be...." She walked around the clearing and then paused as a patch of undergrowth faded like mist to reveal a path leading away. "Co-chan, I believe that we have found our path to the summit of Fuji-san."

Colombe shouldered her pack. "Well let's be about it. Daylight is fading."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking through the base, Tanaka smiled a bit and glanced to the side where Akebono was beside him. At first, the Destroyer didn't notice until she looked up and flushed a bit, "What? Is there something on my face, you Shitty Admiral?"

Lightly chuckling, the new Admiral ruffled her hair which made her squawk a bit, "It is nothing, Akebono. Just thinking over some things..."

Akebono raised an eyebrow before huffing and looking away, "I am sure that you were."

Humming, Tanaka placed his hands into his pockets, "Yes, such as if you and Kasumi enjoyed your gifts for White Day. At least I hope that you did."

Both Destroyers flushed at that before Kasumi, who had been silent up to this point, spoke up, "Hai, we did. And it was... acceptable, I guess." Wagging a finger, she ignored her own blush, "Just don't be bringing up that sort of thing!"

Unable to help himself, Tanaka laughed a bit and ruffled her hair, "I am glad then that you enjoyed the cakes." He then turned his attention towards the building that they were heading towards, "Well, there were a few delays, but it seems that they're finally finished with the Summoning Pool." Scratching his head, the Admiral frowned a bit, "Which means that we can get to work summoning soon."

Lips pressed thinly together, Akebono snorted, "Ugh, don't remind me! We should have been finished back in February, not part of the way through March!"

A frown on her face, the other Destroyer shook her head, "It could not be helped much, I am afraid. What with the storms and the like. I am just surprised that we finally finished! Heck, I was expecting it to be April before we could do anything."

Tanaka had a small frown on his own face, "Though that does beg the question of how many ships we might get back. While there is still a number..."

Glancing at her fellow shipgirl, Kasumi shook her head, "There are those five Natural Borns that Harry-Chan informed us of. If we awaken them, we could pad out our numbers some up here."

Only humming, the Admiral gave a slight nod, "That is true... though we're waiting on them to see if they come or not, right?"

Crossing her arms, Akebono scowled, "And they are taking their time to do so. Harry-Chan told them that we might have a job for them after all if they come here. Ugh! I hate having to wait!"

Just looking at her, Tanaka wagged a finger, "Yes, and?" A small smile on his face, he shook his head, "We're going to give them the time and space that they need. It is not like we are in that desperate need quite yet."

Both Destroyers sighed at that before they reached the Summoning Pool and entered the building. It was less than a minute to reach the actual Summoning area and there was a large number of the base personnel that were there. As well were the spiritual components of the ritual that were there. One was a Buddhist Priest speaking with a Shinto Priest... as well as a Ainu Village Chief. Upon seeing Tanaka, the three quieted down and waited until the Admiral reached them and bowed, with them bowing back. Much to his surprise though, the Ainu bowed deeply before holding out his hand, "Thank you, Admiral Tanaka."

Somewhat confused, Tanaka frowned a little bit, "For what?"

In reply, the Ainu man raised an eyebrow and gestured at the still empty summoning pool, "For this, for the honour that you have brought to my people. Know that we consider you a friend."

Glancing at the floor of the Pool, Tanaka felt a slight bit of heat rise to his cheeks. Various Summoning Pools in Japan used tiles at the bottom to create a picture. Some were of nature scenes, or mythological beings. The Summoning Pool at Kushiro followed that... with the exception that it was not Japanese imagery being used. Because the tiles at the floor of the pool showed slightly choppy sea and from it rose a Killer Whale spouting, while a mischievous young man with a harpoon rode it.

The Kamuy, Repun Kamuy, who ruled over the seas in Ainu mythology.

For several moments, Tanaka was silent. Then he turned to the Ainu Chief and smiled a bit, "One of the things that struck me that I have heard from shipgirls, not just mine, was that they were returning because they wished to wash themselves clean of the past. That by protecting the future, they could overcome their past." Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted one of the television cameras for a local station filming and continued, not caring how some might take his words, "Hence, I feel it best to overcome the past for a brighter future. Hokkaido is the Land of the Ainu, it is only just honour to acknowledge this when building this pool by having Repun Kamuy as it's symbol."

Understanding with a glance at the camera, the Ainu Chief bowed a bit once more and stepped back. For his part, Tanaka glanced at the other shipgirls there. His girls... Each one of them gave him a nod or a smile and he stepped up to the pier overlooking the pool and took a deep breath before being handed a small device. Pausing, he looked towards the Ainu Chief whose eyes widened a touch before he walked up beside him. With a glance towards the cameras, he whispered softly, "You are taking a risk, Admiral."

A smirk on his face, Tanaka whispered back, "Not the first time." Holding out the device, he waited until the Ainu also grasped it. On it was two switches and the looked at each other before they flipped one switch and turned back to the pool. Almost immediately, there was a slight rumbling sound before water began to gush in and fill the pool and everyone there could smell salt. Which was not a surprise as the water came direct from the ocean after all.

Water began to rush over the artwork and slowly rose upwards as they watched. The picture at the bottom of the pool seemed to take on a new life, seeming to shift a bit here and there as the water above flowed with waves lapping against the side of the pool. It did not take long for the water level to reach the proper height and Tanaka bowed at the Ainu who bowed back before walking back to the Shinto Priest and Buddhist Priest.

Once he was back, the Base's own band began to play Kimigayo while Lieutenant Hokubu, recently promoted like others, sang the words as various personnel came to attention. The song was soon followed by Warship March, after which the three religious figures began to bless and sanctify the pool.

However, unknown to those there, just outside the building was a pile of old material left over from building it. Slowly, the steel, along with the cans inside of a recycle bin nearby, began to dissolve into motes of light and flow into the building through a window. At the same time, the left over fuel from the construction equipment. Inside, various MPs blinked as they swore their guns got lighter all of a sudden and gave confused looks at them.

Feeling a prickling on his neck as the Ainu performed the rites for the Kamuy, Tanaka's eyes widened slightly. Especially as he realized what it meant and just as the last rite was performed, Akebono gasped and turned towards the pool. Not realizing everyone's attention was on her, she furrowed her eyebrows, "I am hearing twelve shafts!?"

Before anyone could say anything, there was a burst from the water and three girls stood there. One of them was obviously a Destroyer who wore a white and light blue school girl uniform with a cap on her head that had a blue ribbon. Much to Tanaka's confusion, she had what looked like a Wakaba mark on her hat. Along with that, she had brown hair that changed to a reddish color at the tips. Snapping off a salute, she took a deep breath, "Destroyer Nashi... or, um..." For a moment, she seemed unsure before nodding, "Or JDS Wakaba, reporting!"

Just behind her was two others, both of them being Carriers. The two of them wore Kimonos whose sleeves for some reason looked almost like wings, one with white hair and blue eyes and the other having brown hair and eyes. Catching sight of them, the brown haired one was the first to salute, "Improved Shoukaku Class, Chidzu!"
On her side, the silver haired one also saluted, "Built from the keel up as an Armoured Carrier, Improved Shoukaku Class, Ryukaku!"

More than one jaw dropped at that and they all looked at each other before Akebono facepalmed, "Oh boy... What the fuck is going on here...?"

The old Ainu Chief looked at a stunned Tanaka and chuckled a little, "Well now, this is rather unexpected, I think."

Shaking it off, Tanaka sighed a bit with a slight smile, "Unexpected, yes. Welcome? Very much so." Throat clearing, he took a deep breath before letting it out as he saluted them, "Thank you for returning and welcome home."

All the three shipgirls did was salute him right back with smiles on their faces.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part III)...

Komitake Shrine, 6.9 kilometers from the summit, 2000 meter elevation
Spoiler: The Tsuki E No Jōshō

Colombe looked at the trail that had just appeared between two trees encircled by a shimenawa rope. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she realized that the rope was part of an obscuring and muggle-repellent network in the shrine.

"I agree, this must be the start of the Tsuki e no jōshō route that we were going to climb. Shall we, To-chan?" The Muramasa rapier said thoughtfully as she buckled her swordbelt to her side.

Tokunotakai smiled in response and then slid her own true self through her belt loop. "Hai. We should see how far that we can get before we need to camp and rest in preparation to see goraikō."

Colombe looked at Tokunotakai curiously. "That is... 'arrival of light'?"

The Masamune katana nodded. "Correct. It is the view from the top of Fuji-san of Amaterasu-ōmikami as she travels from the east to shine upon the Land of the Rising Sun at the breaking of dawn."

Colombe hmmed thoughtfully. "Something to look forward to then. Well we should get goin---" She broke off as she stepped between the trees and the 竹取翁 kanji formed on her staff. "What is that about?"

Tokunotakai smiled serenely as she followed and an identical 竹取翁 kanji formed on her staff. "It is the name of Taketori no Okina, The Old Man Who Harvests Bamboo. I see that the legend about this trail being associated with the Tale of Princess Kaguya is true, and I suspect that the names of other people and places from her story will appear as we travel it."

Colombe smiled and began to descend the ridge toward the next faintly glowing magical trail marking. "You will have to tell me the tale as we travel then, To-chan."

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

As dusk fell, Colombe grunted in effort as they approached a rock tied with a shimenawa. They had left the forest behind and all that was around her was volcanic rock, ash, snow, and ice. The going had been treacherous and she blessed the mountaineering staff that she had bought, along with the rope that she had hastily summoned to tie herself to Tokunotakai.

She bowed to the marker in respect and felt her staff warm as yet another kanji imprinted itself upon her staff to join the seven already there. She turned it and looked at the 月の都 kanji curiously as Toku struggled up the slope to join her. The elder sword shook her head wearily. "Tsuki no Miyako, the Capital of the Moon. I think... we would be wise to find shelter for the night, Co-chan."

Colombe nodded and looked around, summoning a ball of light to illuminate the area. "There! That dark spot looks to be a cave." She pointed at a small ledge thirty meters away.

Tokunotakai whispered through chattering lips, "Good enough for me." With that they struck off the path as snow began to fall around them.

Colombe looked at the rock as they entered. "It is a lava tube. I saw these before in the Sahara and elsewhere. In an eruption, molten rock carved these out from the core of the mountain." Toku nodded wearily then gasped as she lowered the pack to the rock floor of the tube. Colombe meanwhile gestured, forming alarm and privacy wards before dropping her pack.

"There. To-chan, how are you holding up?" Colombe looked at Tokunotakai with concern.

"Sore. Tired. I never knew that my legs could hurt so." the Masamune replied.

Colombe nodded and pulled out a small flask from her pack. "Here, take two sips of this. It's brandy laced with healing potion. You are just not used to this level of continuous effort."

Toku took the flask and drank. "Hai. It is... different than the dojo. Is it always like this?"

Colombe shrugged as she dug out her sleeping bag. "Sometimes. Sometimes worse. Do me a favor and attach our two sleeping bags together then eat one of the high energy bars I packed for you, and get in the bag. Now where did I...?"

Toku wearily complied and then wiggled into the double sleeping bag. Colombe gave her a smile. "Good. Now strip down. Once I find the heating and healing salve I'll rub it into your legs and back so you won't cramp up. Expansion charms are so useful for this."

Toku paused while unlacing her second boot. "Aren't you hurting too?"

"I am, but I'm used to this. Compared to walking out of the Congo, or really any of my African trips when I had to abandon a dead horse and keep going on foot with the necessities of life, this is not that bad. It's just uphill. At least we are close to the summit. So we rest here until before sunrise then head up. Aha! I knew it was in here!" Colombe pulled out a brown stoneware jug triumphantly as Toku's sweatshirt and jeans flew out of the sleeping bag.

"Right, just relax." Colombe pulled off her boots and crawled into the size-expanded enchanted sleeping bags alongside Toku and began to use the oil from the jug to massage Toku's legs.

"Aiii! What is in that thing you brewed, it is like liquid fire, burning and soothing at once!" Toku hissed as strong but gentle fingers rubbed the massage oil in as her abused muscles unknotted.

"I'm not sure, To-chan. Umitsubame made it for me when I asked her last week. To be honest, I'm terrible at brewing potions." Colombe shrugged as she felt the Masamune loosen up under her ministrations. "Now roll over so I can get that ankle of yours taken care of."

"Hai, Co-chan." Toku sighed in relief as she melted in Colombe's arms.

--------------------------------
Spoiler: The Trek to the Summit

Tsuki e no jōshō Station 8, 0.6 km from the summit, 2950 meter elevation

Colombe shook the amorous octopus that she was sharing a sleeping bag with. "Time to wake up, To-chan."

"mmmph" Tokunotakai mumbled something indistinct.

Colombe kissed Toku's ear and then whispered. "Fuji-san awaits, To-chan."

Blue-green eyes blinked open in the predawn darkness and then focused on the blonde visible in the light of a Lumos spell. "Hai. Co-chan. One moment." With that Tokunotakai kissed Colombe passionately and gave her a firm hug. "Thank you for being there for me on my journey, Co-chan. Now, let us ascend Fuji-san together."

Colombe nodded and began to pull fresh clothes from her pack.

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

After a breakfast of a trail ration bar each and snowmelt water, the two swords made their way out onto the pristine snow. At a unspoken communication, they proceeded up the slope toward the looming summit ahead.

An hour later as the stars in the eastern sky began to fade, the two passed through a magically enchanted torii gate just below the summit hand in hand. As they did so, the final kanji formed on their walking sticks.

富士山

Mount Fuji.

Colombe looked into Toku's eyes and gave a weary but triumphant smile, matched by Tokunotakai's own smile. The two then turned to the east as the sky lightened and leaned against each other.
Spoiler: Goraikō

Tokunotakai softly sang as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the tears of joy on her and Colombe's faces. After a moment, Colombe joined in on the singing of Kimigayo.

Kimigayo wa
Chiyo ni yachiyo ni
Sazare-ishi no
Iwao to narite
Koke no musu made

Colombe then glanced down at Toku. "So, now we pray at the shrine here to give thanks to the kami for our safe trek to the summit and then make our way down?"

"After we take pictures, yes." With that Toku took out her smartphone and snapped photos of Colombe, who retaliated with her own phone. After the photos and video of each other, the clouds below, and the rising sun, they headed to the nearby shrine at the lip of the crater.
Spoiler: Kususha Shrine

Colombe raised an eyebrow at the pink-haired miko waiting for them and bowed low. "Greetings again... Konohananosakuya-hime. I thank you for your guidance."

The mountain kami matched the bow. "And greetings to you both, Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler, Masamune-no-Tokuntakai. You are welcome. I trust that you found what you sought when you tested yourselves against me?"

Tokunotakai bowed, "Hai. It was enlightening for us both. Truly there are two types of fools: those who have never climbed Fuji, and those who climb Fuji more than once."

Colombe nodded agreement. "Do you have any advice for us?" The blonde inquired gently as she adjusted her hachimaki headband slightly.

"Merely this. You may wish to take the trail down from Hakusandake Peak." An enigmatic smile flickered around the mountain kami's lips.

Toku smiled, "The highest of the Eight Peaks of Fuji-san. Very well, we shall. Again, thank you very much for your consideration to these humble pilgrims." With that she bowed and handed over the last of their daifuku cakes as an offering to the spirit of the mountain that they had just climbed..

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

"MY SUPPLIES!"

Blinking, Chidzu gives an unsure look at the odd looking Battleship who is on her knees crying out to the sky, "Is... is she okay?"

Just sighing, Tanaka gave a nod, "She is, just give her a few moments-"

Eyebrow twitching, the purple haired Destroyer walked up and smacked Settsu who was dressed up as Ooyodo on the head, "Knock it off, you Shitty Battleship! You are not Ooyodo!"

Rapidly standing up, Settsu adjusted her glasses so that the light glinted off them, "I have no idea what you mean, I am the Light Cruiser, Ooyodo, first of my class." She then slumped, "My supplies..."

An expression of bemusement, Ryukaku looked at him and Tanaka shrugged a little bit. Granted, inside of his head he was laughing a little, 'The Dragon guarding a hoard, indeed.'

Meanwhile, in Yokosuka, a certain Light Cruiser was growling as a dark aura rose from her. With one raised eyebrow, Goto chuckled a bit before going back to his work even as she grumbled about killing a certain cosplaying Battleship. After all, chances were that if she spotted him, she would pile on more work.

It was what she usually did when she saw him taking amusement at her expense.

Back in Kushiro, Tanaka hummed a bit as he looked over some files before closing the folder and looking up at the three newest ships of his. The two Carriers seemed extremely interested in his office and some of what was around, though they turned to him when he cleared his throat, "I am sure that you have a number of questions, just like I do as well." Placing his hands on the folder, he gave a smile, "I hope that you do not mind much if I ask some to get a better idea of what is going on here."

Chidzu waved her hand a bit, "No, no, we're actually fine with this. Though... um..." Glancing at the calendar, she frowned, "I... take it that it has been some time since the war?"

From where she stood beside Tanaka, Kasumi nodded, "It has. The year is 2014, or Heisei 26, the Emperor being Hirohito's son, Emperor Akihito."

Another voice spoke up, "We lost the war, I remember that. But..." When they turned to her, Nashi continued, "While we lost the war, the Americans were not exactly cruel and helped us rebuild." Seeing the looks, the Destroyer blushed a bit, "I served in the JMSDF until the 1970s, so I saw a lot."

With a small nod, Tanaka smiled, "That is good to know, Nashi. And we're happy to have you back."

Ryukaku frowned a bit and furrowed her eyebrows, "I do have a question..." Once she got a nod, she took a deep breath, "You brought us back in a ritual, so I was wondering how much you know?"

Leaning back, the Admiral considered how to best to answer the question and nodded, "If you are asking about if we know about magic, Yokai, and the like, we do. While the Statute is still operating, it is falling apart rapidly. Enough so that the truth about magic will be more well known within a few years we expect."

Jaw dropped, Nashi looked back and forth, "W-wait... magic exists?! And so do Yokai?!"

Arms crossed Kasumi gave her a look combined with a raised eyebrow before gesturing both at herself and Nashi, her next words getting a slight blush from the newly summoned Destroyer, "We are both currently talking to one another as girls, instead of ships. And you wonder if magic exists?"

Cheeks flushed, the JMSDF Destroyer looked away, "I... suppose that it was a silly question."

Waving her off though, Tanaka shook his head, "It was not that silly of a question. And to be honest, I am still getting used to the idea myself." Seeing as Nashi relaxed, he frowned for a few moments before turning back to the Carriers, "I take it that this means that you are both of the magical side of the navy then?"

Just nodding, Chidzu bowed slightly, "Hai, that is correct, Teitoku."

Thoughtful, the Admiral hummed a bit, "I see... though, I do have a question." When they looked at him and nodded, he continued, "Improved Shoukaku Class?"

Straightening a little, Ryukaku nodded, "Hai, we are an improved version. As the Taihou was being designed by the No-Majs, our designers looked at the modifications and added them to a version of the Shoukaku design that was an Armoured Carrier from the keel up. I, myself was built in a shipyard within a caldera not far from where Yokosuka was."

Hand against her chest, Chidzu continued, "And I was built in a shipyard in the Ryukyu Islands."

When they turned back to her, her older sister smiled, "I first set sail in 1941 out of my birthplace. I was heading to participate in Operation MO when I was... sunk."

Eyes narrowing, Tanaka leaned forward, "And what sunk you, if I may ask? From what little information we have, it was unknown."

Lips pressed together, Ryukaku shook her head some, "I... my pilots identified several unidentified vessels. They were not Japanese, of that I can be certain. In fact, they looked like ships from before the turn of the century and yet... wrong in some manner. My Captain felt that they might have been from MACUSA and that they might have pulled them out of some boneyard to use against Magical Japan. And being as we were heading to fight the No-Majs, he felt that it would be best if we got in some, ah... target practice in first being that they were all old ships even then. And so he ordered us to attack."

If anything, that made the Admiral's eyes narrow still further with Akebono, Kasumi, and Settsu all becoming serious, "I take it that it was not as easy as he believed and that they punched well above their weight."

At realizing that he made a statement, but not a question, Ryukaku frowned a little but continued, "Hai. In fact it was as if we were fighting a fleet of nearly modern ships. But the ones that sank me were three smaller ones. Their decks were just above the waterline and the first sign any of us had that something was wrong was when the lead one seemed to bump above the water revealing a head that had a... large chin, from which a torpedo launched and revealed that they were Torpedo Rams. I was far too close and they hit me amidships. The other two were alongside me and launched multiple torpedoes from what I assume to be underwater torpedo tubes." Grimacing, a shudder went through her, "I took no less than ten on either side and rapidly sank. Though I know that my pilots killed them and their fellows."

Suddenly a growl could be heard from Nashi who flushed as she placed a hand against her stomach, "Um... hehe? Oops?"

That was followed by two larger growls that shook the room as both Chidzu and Ryukaku placed their own hands against their stomachs, brightly blushing. Rapidly blinking, Chidzu looked down at her belly, "I... I'm hungry?"

Eyes rolling, Akebono crossed her arms and huffed, "Of course you are! You're not just a ship anymore, but also a girl! And girls get hungry!"

Before either of the newly summoned shipgirls could talk, the door opened and Kamoi walked in pushing a cart piled high with various foods, "Did someone state that they were hungry? Because I brought some food."

Much to the relief of Tanaka and others, the food was normal Japanese fare, and not the sort of thing that the white haired shipgirl was known for. Not noticing, the two Carriers began to drool as Kamoi piled rice bowls high and handed them to the two shipgirls, with a smaller portion for Nashi. Soon after, it basically turned into the three shipgirls eating as Tanaka explained about the current war while the newly summoned listened. None more so than Ryukaku herself who frowned some, "So that was what sunk me... those Abyssals."

Swallowing her mouthful, Chidzu frowned and shook her head, "Better then me... I was sunk by American Bombers. Pretty sure that they were squibs as they knew exactly where to hit when I was in dock despite the wards." After a couple of bites of beef stew, she snorted some, "At least Sado was not summoned yet."

Confused, Kasumi looked at her, "Sado...?"

In reply, the Carrier motioned with her chopsticks, "An Armoured Carrier. They took the idea of that one Carrier, Shinano I think that she was called? Anyways, they went with a modified version of the B-65s from the Keel up. Only met her a few times, but... more than a little nuts. Always talking about how her boilers were burning hot for her Commander while stating she made the rest of us obsolete. Barely got out of the dock, from memory, before she was torpedoed and sunk."

Tanaka felt a shiver go down his back and looked around before shaking his head, 'Wonder what that was about...'

Once they were finished, Ryukaku smiled a bit and bowed, "Well, it would seem that we are in your care, Teitoku. Please take care of us."

Scoffing, Akebono looked at Tanaka with a sneer on her face, "This Shitty Admiral? You don't need to worry about it. If there is one thing that he is good at, it is taking care of us."

Beside the Admiral, Kasumi was nodding in agreement before jabbing her finger at him, "Even if that means that he doesn't take care of himself as he should!"

As the two berated him, Tanaka only leaned back with a grin, which only made the two Destroyers tsun all the harder much to the amusement of the others. Moments later, they had new targets for their ire as I-371 poked her head in with a bowl of fruit and a can of whipped cream, "Oh, Teitoku~ I head that we had new friends and thought that we could bring... dessert~"

Needless to say, the two Destroyers turned their full Tsun up to maximum as the newly summoned looked on and giggled a bit. They felt like they were going to like it there, for the comedy if nothing else...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Harry Leferts said:
This was pretty great, though... it seems that there might be an adventure awaiting them still.​

The Kaiju is Wise....

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

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part IV)...

Hakusandake Peak, Summit of Mount Fuji

Colombe smiled happily as she reached the summit and turned in a slow circle, the wind blowing her golden hair around her face as she gazed out upon the sunlit clouds and land of Japan below her. Next to her, Tokunotakai smiled in turn as she surveyed her homeland laid out beneath her.

"It is beautiful, isn't it, To-chan?"

"Hai, Co-chan, it is." Toku blinked tears from her eyes - surely the wind! - as she admired the love of her life, and then snapped photos of Colombe plus a video montage. She whispered as the Muramasa rapier automatically posed with one hand on her hilt while the rising sun haloed her in light, "you are...."

"Now for the trail down." Colombe spoke as she sketched a sinuous shape in the air with a fingertip while chanting in Chinese. Her eyes glowed silver. "Aha, enchantments on that massive boulder to the northwest. That is probably the start of the trail down."

Toku nodded and hefted her staff as she looked at the revealed pathway down next to the boulder. "I agree. Why are you pulling out the rope, Co-chan?"

Colombe tied the summoned rope to her waist. "Because until you are back home, you need to take precautions. Just because you are heading home does not mean that the worst can happen."

Tokunotakai nodded and then shrugged as she submitted to the safety line being tied to her.

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

Four hours later, they were well downslope from the peak. Colombe smirked smugly as the trail turned across an old lava flow to enter the forest. "Clever of the mages, someone persuaded the muggles to build a tunnel through this part of the mountain rather than cut a canyon. and it even has retaining walls 'for rockslides' which prevent us being seen by the cars on the road below us. Add in some illusion and notice-me-not work on the path, and we are invisible to the tourists driving by. So, To-chan, want to hike up the road and take a bus out?"

Toku shook her head as she untied the rope. "I'd rather walk in the forest with you to the end of the trail. It seems a little more romantic than trudging along the pavement."

Colombe nodded as she untied and coiled the rope in her pack. "I agree, and I'd rather walk in the shade myself." With that, she led the way along the trail into the awaiting forest.
Spoiler: The Sea of Trees.

As the two blades entered the forest, the air seemed to deaden and mist crept to envelop them. The sun faded and an eerie hush filled the woods. Colombe turned in place and her eyes widened as instead of the chiseled stone steps that they had descended out of the lava flow, a solid unclimbable wall of volcanic stone confronted her in place of the path that she had descended.

"Um, To-chan? I think that the path is one-way..."

Tokunotakai's own eyes widened and her face paled. "Aokigahara..." she whispered as her knuckles clenched white on her hilt.
Spoiler: The Suicide Forest

Colombe's own eyes scanned the mist shrouded woods and she slowly drew herself, tensing. "To-chan...what is Aokigahara?" Colombe asked in a whisper.

Tokunotakai gulped as she drew herself in turn. "It is a forest north and west of Mount Fuji. Inhabited by yokai, creatures of magic, and yūrei, the restless spirits of the dead. It is... a popular place for people to end their lives. Hundreds travel here every year and...never return. In the past, during the years before I was born, those elderly who were a burden to their families were taken here to die." The Masamune licked dry lips as she whispered in an equally hushed tone.

Colombe's eyes narrowed as she examined the faintly glowing trail markers leading into Aokigahara. "Right. Can't go back the way we came, and these woods are enchanted with confusion spells, if we head off the path we will probably wander in circles and get utterly lost." Her lips thinned. "In that case, nothing to do but go ahead. But To-chan, we are doing this prepared. We will tie ourselves together with the rope, so we do not get separated, and in the event of trouble fight back to back. Keep a shielding spell up at all times, and a light spell for illumination too."

"H-hai."

The Masamune tied the rope to her waist and then tied her avatar to Colombe's as the Muramasa gave her a cocky smile and a kiss. "Don't worry, To-chan, I won't let you come to harm."

Tokunotakai nodded as she drew herself again and held her blade in a two-handed grip as a brilliant flaming orange aura surrounded the steel and the kanji for Heroic Courage flared to life on her true body. "I am ready, Co-chan." She declared resolutely as she followed Colombe into the woods.

Aokigahara Forest (The Sea of Trees)

Colombe frowned as she continued along the trail, breaking the way for Tokunotakai. She was no stranger to places of darkness, but these woods were making her instincts scream louder with every step along the path. For a brief moment as she stepped over a rotting log, she flashed back to Le Mort Homme outside Verdun, remembering the knowledge that something inhuman was watching her there, waiting for her to make a mistake so IT could claim her. Sweat ran down her hilt from her palm as she clenched her gold-glowing sword tighter, and she reviewed her arsenal of combat spells again as her eyes flickered from tree to moss covered rock to bush.

Presently they reached a dark colored stream flowing from Fuji. A pair of trees hewn down crossed the stream as a crude bridge and Colombe halted at the edge eyes narrowed at the steam rising from the stream. Her eyes widened as a ripple in the stream revealed a bone-white skull in the riverbed, obviously the corpse of a traveler through these haunted woods. "One at a time, To-chan."

The Masamune nodded, her face was filled with an expression of calm determination. Colombe's already high regard for Tokunotakai raised another notch. If these woods were unnerving her, a survivor of the hell of the Western Front and someone who had traveled through equally dark and haunted woods in the Congo, how much worse must it be for her inexperienced companion to have heard the terrifying stories of Aokigahara while sheltered in her shrine and for her first trip outside the safe walls to be here?

I won't let Toku come to harm even if I have to fight my way through every creature and spirit in these woods and burn the forest to the ground to boot. I swear.

With that oath, she crossed the bridge, on edge to defend herself. On the far side, she nodded to Toku. "Your turn, To-chan."

The Masamune nodded and crossed in turn. As Toku's booted feet hit the moss-covered lava stone of the path, a female scream sounded from the woods to the pair's left.

"Aiii! Mercy, please!!"

Colombe grabbed Toku's shoulder to stop the Masamune's charge forward, and hissed. "Wait, it may be a trap!" With that the Muramasa summoned a second rope and hastily tied it around her waist and then a tree next to the bridge. "This way we can follow it back to the path. "

The Masamune nodded as another scream sounded. "Hai. But we need to help whoever it is... just in case."

Colombe nodded. "You take point, To-chan, I'll back you up."

Toku nodded and leapt off the path into the undergrowth, blade held ready.

Twenty meters in, the Masamune paused at the edge of a clearing.

Ahead a man's voice chuckled harshly. "Oh, look, the bug wants us to play nice. Beg some more bug!"

"m-m-mercy pleas----?" The woman's voice was despairing, trailing off into a scream as a crackle of energy sounded.

Toku gently parted the leaves and froze. Ahead, in the clearing where several trees had fallen, a trio of mages stood. One of them concentrated on a web of ofuda surrounding three figures, binding them in ropes of white light. A second leaned against a tree, the insignia of an Auror plainly visible, while the third raised another ofuda, changing the ropes binding the largest one to a angry scarlet.

That was not what stayed Toku's hand, though. The largest figure trapped was a skinny and dirty jorōgumo woman, and and the horrified Masamune watched, the magical binding pulled at her spider legs, breaking one of them with a sickening crack and a whimper from the yokai. Toku realized that well over half her legs had been broken already.
Spoiler: A Jorōgumo...

The other two figures were clearly children, equally dirty and thin, one was a Jorōgumo child clearly related to the elder spider-woman...
Spoiler: Her Imouto....

...while the third was a young tanuki in equally desperate condition.
Spoiler: And Her Imouto's Best Friend

"Tell us about the smugglers!" The visible Auror demanded, a smirk on his face that caused the Masamune's blood to boil. Beside Toku, Colombe watched, trembling with rage.

"I-iii--don't know. Why don't you believe me...?" The elder jorōgumo whimpered.

"SOMEONE helped you escape the Reserve. If you won't talk... we can see if your little bug brat and her pet dog know how to swim, I suppose..."
Spoiler: NOT MY FAULT

Colombe whispered, "Cut them loose and protect them, the mages are mine."

Toku nodded. Man-eaters or not, what was happening was cruelty of the worst sort. Her dove engraving blazed white, matching the etching on Colombe's crossguard as the Muramasa flash-stepped into the clearing with the Masamune hot on her heels.

"Zawbieat Alghadab!" Colombe snarled, and a wave of air carrying twigs, branches, and volcanic black sand slammed into the mages like a sledgehammer with a savagely smirking Muramasa hot on its heels. The mage controlling the binding charms was bowled over and flew into the nearby stream.

The one at the tree staggered but threw an ofuda at the Muramasa coming his way with murder in her eyes. "Hachiman no ketsugō kusari!" The ofuda glowed white and chains of energy leapt from it to touch Colombe... and then vanished instantly.

The rapier lunged, slamming her true self to the hilt in his chest and pinning him to the tree next to him like a butterfly in a box. His despairing eyes looked into merciless crystal blue as the rapier gave a vicious smug smirk. "Hachiman wants to talk to you about invoking Him... personally." Colombe whispered into the dying Auror's face as he coughed up blood.

With that she turned... just in time to catch a bolt of scarlet energies full on.

"CRUCIO!!"

Toku's head jerked around as her true self severed the bindings for the young jorōgumo. The torturer was blasting a bolt of scarlet energy into her love, who collapsed to one knee, whimpering in pain. Then her head snapped up and her eyes locked on the mage.

"I. Have. Been. Hurt. Worse...." Colombe hissed as she slowly stood, vibrating as she took an unsteady step forward. The mage pulled out a fresh ofuda and Toku's eyes widened as she read the kanji on it.

死去

Death.

With that the Masamune flash-stepped, her blade flashing in a silver arc as for the first time in five centuries of life, she did what she had been forged to do. Carmine sprayed across moss and leaves as the Dark Wizard was cleft from head to crotch in a Men strike.

Colombe gasped as the Cruciatus curse energies faded from her and then looked at the two corpses, three Yokai staring at her with different degrees of shock and hero-worship, and the pale-faced Masamune with her blade scarlet from point to guard in the clearing. "Well, fuck me."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Frowning, Fubuki pressed her finger against her chin as she looked over the various vegetables that were in the base grocery store. Ironically enough, since the Yokai children had come to live with her and the others, her grocery bill had barely changed. In fact, all together they ate maybe a quarter of what Kana did. Something that sometimes they teased said Battleship about.

Mainly because they found her getting all flustered as adorable and hilarious.

Still frowning, Fubuki picked up one of the heads of lettuce that was there in thought. It had been grown in the hydroponics under the base of course according to the sign, so it was fresh. One of the benefits of living on the base, "Hmm..."

A voice though made her blink and turn to find a smiling Akagi there, "Shopping, Fubuki-Chan?"

With a nod, the Destroyer smiled, "Hai, Akagi-Senpai." Putting the head of lettuce back, she checked another, "Just choosing which ones to get."

There was a slight look of amusement on Akagi's face as she nodded, "Yes, I suppose that one would need to be careful." Picking up a bag of onions, she placed it into her own cart, "Especially with how growing children have their own needs."

Lightly chuckling, Fubuki shook her head, "You don't need to tell me, Akagi-Senpai. I know that all too well." Briefly, a frown crossed her face before she shook her head, "Considering what they went through..."

Frowning, the other shipgirl sighed, "Yes, no child should go through such a thing." As she glanced at Fubuki's cart, Akagi nodded, "Though judging by that large container of vitamins, you spoke with the base doctors?"

As she blinked, Fubuki looked herself at the container in question that contained children chewable vitamins and hummed, "I did, it was one of the first things that I did when I brought them to the base." Picking them up, she shook the container some, "They really like these and it helps them get over the deficiencies they have. But they're recovering, though slowly." Fubuki put the vitamins back into her cart, "It is slow work, but they will get there, especially with good food to go along with it."

Slowly, Akagi nodded though she chuckled which made the other shipgirl cock her head to the side. Waving her off, the Carrier shook her head, "It is nothing, Fubuki-Chan. Just that if there was anyone at all who would make sure that they would be cared for? You would be right at the top of the list, I suspect. And do an extremely good job as you would do your best to do so."

Blushing, the Destroyer bashfully smiled, "Thank you, Akagi-Senpai."

Once more, however, Akagi waved her off, "You fully deserve it." Looking over the rest of the cart, she raised an eyebrow, "Muffin mix? Cake mix?

Eyes lighting up, Fubuki held said bags up, "Hai! They're useful because they come in bulk." Holding them in her hands, she nodded, "These make a number of muffins or, in the case of the cake mixes, cupcakes. With the muffins, I can add various things like chocolate chips or the like to them to mix it up a bit. There is nothing so adorable as seeing their faces light up as they bite into a warm muffin."

Unable to help herself, Akagi laughed a bit at the image that was within her head, "Really, Fubuki-Chan?"

With a nod, the other shipgirl pulled out her phone and began going through pictures and video, "Give me one moment, Akagi-Senpai." Unnoticed by her, the Carrier in question was biting her lip in order not to say anything. Finally, Fubuki nodded and held it up, "See, this was the first time when we made some chocolate chip muffins."

Leaning in, Akagi watched as one of them, a Neko from what she had heard, took the muffin with pure awe, "Ah! Is this for me, Fubuki-San!?"

On the video, Fubuki could be heard answering the young girl, "Hai, Natsuki-Chan, this is for you. Fresh from the oven and just cooled enough to eat, so enjoy."

Eyes wide, Natsuki stared at the muffin before taking a bite and her eyes lit up, "It's so good!" Taking another bite, she hummed happily with her tails moving behind her as she bounced a bit in place, "Thank you, Fubuki-San!"

Glancing at the Destroyer in question, Akagi smiled a bit at the happy look on her face. Suddenly, Fubuki began going through her library and brought up another video, "Oh! You have got to see this one, Akagi-Senpai! It was when I gave Fu-Chan as well as Kasumi-Chan a peanut butter sandwich, their first one!'

Akagi watched as the Kitsune sniffed a piece of bread that had some peanut butter on it and cocked her head to the side like a dog. Then she turned to the screen with a frown, "Kitsune like this, Fubuki-San? Really?"

The screen bobbed a bit showing that Fubuki had nodded before she answered, "Hai, a lot of Kitsune and Inugami love peanut butter. Some of those that I know swear by it as being the food of the Kami themselves they think it is so delicious. Natsumi-San and her family being some of those."

Unable to help herself, the Carrier giggled as Fu-Chan and Kasumi, who was beside her, both gave Fubuki disbelieving looks. Moments later, Natsuki's voice could be heard as well, "Come on, Fu-Chan! Fubuki-San wouldn't have brought you something that she would not think that you would like. And maybe it is good?"

Crossing her arms, Fu-Chan frowned a bit before sighing. Taking the half of sandwich, she glanced at the screen and then at Kasumi, who took the other half. Briefly, an unsure look crossed her face before she closed her eyes and took a bite. One chew went by, and then a second and a third before she stopped. The Kitsune's tail fluffed out and her ears shot straight up, while the Inugami beside her had a similar reaction. Eyes opening, the Carrier swore that she could see sparkles in Fu-Chan's eyes, "It's... so... yummy!

Beside her, the Inugami was unable to reply as she shoved the whole sandwich into her mouth and was trying to chew it as laughs could be heard, Then, Yuudachi took pity on her and appeared with a glass of milk in her hand, "Here, Poi! Try this, it'll help."

Taking a few sips, the Inugami gasped a bit, "Gooood!"

More laughter met that both in the video and the outside world as the two Yokai proclaimed their new found love of peanut butter. Hand in front of her face, Akagi shook her head, "Oh my, they are so adorable."

Expression softening, Fubuki only nodded, "Hai, they are. And I'm happy..."

For several seconds, Akagi softly smiled at her before shaking her head, "You seem rather happy with being their guardian, Fubuki-Chan."

Also gaining a soft smile, the Destroyer sighed, "I am still not sure why, but..." She turned to Akagi and continued, "When I come home from a short patrol and see those faces just... light up at the sight of me? And how they run to hug me and the like? It does things to my boilers, like they are running warm, but not hot. A gentle warmth that makes me want to scoop them all up and hug them tightly, which I do."

Chuckling, Akagi's smile grew a touch, "Ah, I see. Well... I have felt somewhat jealous of you."

That made Fubuki blink in surprise and confusion, "Wait, you felt jealous of me?"

With a hum, the Carrier nodded, "Hai, I have." Seeing the confusion, she laughed lightly, "You have children waiting for you when you come home. Who welcome you when you enter the door... That is something precious." Placing a hand against her stomach, she sighed a bit, "One day, I look forward to the same and hope that I am as good a parent as you."

Flushed cheeks, Fubuki looked away, "I am not a Kaa-San."

If anything, that amused Akagi and she wagged a finger, "I never said that you were, Fubuki-Chan. What I said was that you are a good parent, and you are. Those children do not have any, and you have taken them under your wing. And I know that you will raise them with all the love and care that they both need and deserve."

Her cheeks feeling hotter, Fubuki hummed non-commentative. Suddenly, she smirked a bit, "Well, I am sure that you will make a good parent as well, Akagi-Senpai. Especially as some of yours might have fluffy tails as well~"

Needless to say, that time it was the Carrier's turn to blush and to live up to what her name meant...

Less than an hour later found Fubuki getting out of the van that they had gotten and walking up to the house. Before she got too far, the door opened and Fu-Chan as well as Natsuki and the others came rushing out, "FUBUKI-SAN!"

For most people, they would have been knocked on their butts by the Yokai children tackling them. But Fubuki was a shipgirl and simply laughed as they hugged her with her hugging them back, "I wasn't gone that long."

Fu-Chan just looked up at her with those eyes of hers and smiled, "Hai? But you were gone."

Only chuckling, Fubuki shook her head and smiled before heading in to put away the groceries that were within her hold, "Hai, hai... now who wants to make chocolate cupcakes?"

Various shouts from the children that they wanted to made her laugh again as she walked inside her home.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Sitting on the couch as the animated movie on the television was almost over, Fubuki noticed a weight against her arm and looked to the side to find a sleepy Fu-Chan leaning against her and fighting to keep her eyes open. A quick glancing around showed her that the Kitsune was not the only one which made her smile. They had all settled into their new lives well enough adapted to their changed circumstances. It brought to mind how Nagato had told her, years before when referring to Harry, that children were nothing if not adaptable as long as they had support.

Which made Fubuki also remember how hard the children were working as well. Not only did they keep their rooms clean, she had spotted them more than once cleaning parts of the house. Because if they were going to live there, they were going to keep it clean and tidy, unlike where they had lived when they were on the streets. It both made her proud and saddened at the same time.

Granted, she wondered why Yuudachi and the others had looked so amused when they caught her taking pictures of the children dressed in their cleaning outfits...

At the same time, they still kept some habits of when they lived on the street. Such as eating as fast as they could in order to make sure that they had food. Or the fact that they sometimes nearly ate themselves sick, so Fubuki and the others had to keep a close eye on them as they did eat. Just to make sure that they did not overdo it. And that was just a few of the issues.

Thankfully, they were slowly working it out with them. Fubuki, especially, showing a lot of patience with them. Recently, they had also begun getting tutored as well by Kashima in preparation for re-entering the school system. Most did not know this, but the Light Cruiser, before being awoken, was actually a paid tutor alongside her job at Lawsons. A large number of students had made use of her services and now she often helped out shipgirls who were studying and getting an educations. Which meant, she was more than willing to help out where the children were concerned.

However, at the moment, the Destroyer had another issue... or rather, a number of sleepy issues. Glancing at her friends and getting a nod, Fubuki smiled a bit, "Okay, Fu-Chan. Time for you to head to bed."

Rubbing at her eyes with one balled up fist, Fu-Chan frowned, "Mmmnot sleepy, Fubuki-San..."

One eyebrow raised, Fubuki chuckled a bit, "You're nearly falling asleep, Fu-Chan. Also, it looks like Natsuki-Chan is also falling asleep."

Said Neko was mumbling into her friend's tail which she was clutching to her, "Sorry, Fu-Chan..."

Unable to help herself, Fubuki chuckled a bit before standing up. Looking at the Oni twins, she got down, "Okay, you two get up on my back." Both Akari and Atsuko didn't need to be told twice and their arms went around the shipgirl's neck. Standing easily despite their weight, Fubuki then lifted Fu-Chan and Natsuki into her arms before smiling, "Now, let's head upstairs to bed..."

Mumbling a bit, the Kitsune mewed a little as she snuggled into the Destroyer, "Okay..."

What followed was getting the sleepy children all changed into their night clothes and brushing their teeth. Poking her head into the bedroom for the youngest members to find Mutsuki sitting on the bed beside them. The other Destroyer only gave Fubuki a glance before turning back to the storybook that was open in her lap, softly reading from it. Walking in, Fubuki gave both Nekos a kiss on their foreheads before following it with Kasumi's and the like, "Sweet dreams, you guys."

In return, she got some good nights of her own and walked out. She did poke her head in to say good night to Yoshi and Daichi, who thanked her and wished much the same back. Both boys smiling brightly at being remembered before they snuggled into their covers. Granted, part of Fubuki was amused at how there were a few shipgirl posters on their walls already. But then, she shrugged it off as there was no real issue.

Turning away, Fubuki made her way to where Fu-Chan and the others were. All four who called that room were already in bed and snuggled under the covers. Softly smiling, Fubuki made her way over and crouched down to see Fu-Chan holding Chicky close to her as she smiled up at the shipgirl, "Fubuki-San..."

Simply reaching out, the shipgirl brushed the Kitsune's hair out of her eyes, which made her sigh, "Mmm?"

With a yawn, Fu-Chan looked at her, "Um, I heard Yuudachi-San mention something about escort... Are... are you going to be leaving soon?"

Lips curling upwards a bit, Fubuki shook her head as she stroked the Kitsune's hair, "Not for at least another month, Fu-Chan. But I have already gotten several people that I trust willing to check in on you all while I am gone. And I know that they will be taking good care of you all as well. So don't worry... besides which, I will be calling you whenever possible, okay?" That got her a nod, she leaned forward and gently kissed the Yokai's brow which was followed by doing the same with Natsuki's. Going up the ladder, she did the same with the twins as well before coming down. Head tilted to the side, Fubuki chuckled a bit, "Is there anything that you might want?"

It took a few moments, but Natsuki looked up at her, "Um... can you sing for us?"

Only chuckling, the Destroyer nodded, "I can, though I don't understand why you all seem to like it. After all, my voice isn't that great."

However, Natsuki shook her head, "Uh-huh, it is really nice, Fubuki-San. And... and it helps me sleep."

Bemused, Fubuki sighed a bit before sighing, "Okay then..." Clearing her throat, she began to softly sing, "A twinkle in the night sky, far, far away... A golden star, I gazed upon in my dreams... On a sleepless evening, I sing alone... Tomorrow I'll sing with you, on the wings of a dream."

As she sang, the two Yokai's eyes slowly closed as they drifted off to sleep. Once they were asleep, Fubuki gave them a nod before getting back up and quietly leaving the room. Entering the Master Bedroom, she gave a nod to the others and got confirmation that they were all asleep as well. Getting into her sleep clothes, Fubuki paused as she felt a warm body embrace her from behind, two hands sliding across the skin of her stomach. When she looked over her shoulder, she found herself looking into the two red eyes of her friend who smiled at her, "You are really good at that, Poi. Being a parent."

Lightly blushing, Fubuki stole a kiss from her which made the other Destroyer's hair flaps waggle some. A reaction that never failed to amuse her and got a giggle like it did not, "Thank you, Yuudachi-Chan. And, well... Akagi-Senpai said the same thing."

Pulling on a nightgown, Kisaragi chuckled a bit, "Well, Akagi-San is right and so is Yuudachi-Chan."

Just shrugging, Fubuki shook her head, "Well, if you all say so than I suppose that it is true." Stretching a bit, she sighed and nodded, "Anyways, we all need to be getting to bed as well. What with the Summoning attempt tomorrow."

Mutsuki gave a nod of her own, "Hai, and maybe we can pull off what Kushiro did and get a few Carriers."

Softly snorting, Fubuki could only shake her head. It was not long after when her and the others were in a cuddlepile. As per usual, Kana was at the bottom of the pile and Fubuki was in the center. After a few good nights, they all fell asleep.

But, in the middle of the night, two eyes snapped open and their owner frowned. Shifting a bit, Fubuki looked this way and that before furrowing her eyebrows. As she got out of the cuddlepile carefully, Yuudachi blinked some as she woke up partway, "Fubuki-Chan...?"

Waving her off, Fubuki gave her a smile that she didn't really feel, "It is okay, Yuudachi-Chan. Everything is fine... I am just going to check on something."

Not feeling like there was any real danger, the blonde haired Destroyer yawned and snuggled back in, "Okay... Fubuki-Chan."

Opening the door silently, Fubuki made her way quietly through the house before she reached where the children's bedrooms was. Pausing, she tilted her head before her frown deepened and she looked at Fu-Chan's bed. Gently, the Destroyer opened the door and could see Natsuki look up at her while another rise in the bed shook a bit, "Fu-Chan?"

The Kitsune poked her head out from under the covers, "F-Fubuki-San?"

With a hum, Fubuki made her way over, "Hai, it's me. Is something wrong?" Chewing her lip, the Kitsune looked around, "Fu-Chan?"

Ears drooping, Fu-Chan sniffled a bit, "I... I had a really bad dream. A-about... about what happened with Kaa-Chan..."

Her expression softening, Fubuki reached into her shirt and pulled out a napkin which she used to clean the wetness from the Kitsune's cheeks, "Oh, Fu-Chan. Do these nightmares happen often?" It was a few moments, but she got a nod which made her sigh, "Ah, I see."

Wiping at her face, the Kitsune shook her head, "I-it's okay, Fubuki-San, I don't want to bother you."

A moment later though, she got a poke to the forehead which made her blink as Fubuki frowned, "You are not bothering me, Fu-Chan. None of you would about something like this. And if there is one thing that I know? It is all about nightmares of the past." Getting a mumble, the Destroyer smiled a bit, "Scoot over a bit."

Confused, Fu-Chan did so, only to be surprised as Fubuki slipped under the covers, "Fubuki-San? What are you doing?"

Lightly smiling, Fubuki pulled her close, "What else? Nothing like a nice cuddle after a nightmare." Gently, she rubbed her hand over the Kitsune's back, which relaxed the young girl even as the Destroyer kissed her on the top of the head, "I'm right here."

Taking a deep breath, Fu-Chan could smell cordite, oil, saltwater, and mint from Fubuki's favorite shampoo. Another deep breath, calmed her still more and seemed to wash away the lingering bits of the nightmare. From behind, the Yokai could feel her best friend hold her close and she could hear Fubuki's boilers. Soon enough, she drifted off to a more peaceful slumber as the Destroyer held her.

And that morning, as Fubuki held the Kitsune and Neko close, all three asleep, they did not notice Yuudachi tiptoe into the room to take a picture with a small smile on her face, 'Just like a real Kaa-San, Poi...'

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part V)...

Aokigahara Forest (The Sea of Trees)
Spoiler: Another Day For Colombe Du Chasteler

Colombe looked at the Auror as he slid to the forest floor in bisected chunks of viscera.

Her eyes raised to the wide-eyed Masamune who had just killed him. Tokunotakai swallowed visibly, the only color on her face the bloodspray from the killing stroke that she had just delivered.

Then she looked over at the crippled piano-sized woman-spider...thing. Yokai was what Toku had called her. Right.

Finally she looked at the two Yokai children, one another woman-spider and the other one some kind of a fuzzy animal, maybe a badger-girl? Whatever.

Two corpses, but there had been three Aurors. Which meant that the third Auror was no doubt getting friends to hunt down the evil rapier that killed his asshole friends unjustly. Again.

At this point, there was only one heartfelt thing that could be said to sum up the situation at hand.

"Well, fuck me."

Colombe's voice was weary with the knowledge that the results of doing the right thing was going to all fall on her head. Again.

Automatically, Colombe walked over to the tree where her true body was pinning the first Auror and pulled herself loose. She turned to stare at the four others in the clearing by the stream with her. "Right, vacation is over. To-chan."

"H-hai?" The Masamune gulped as her point trembled minutely.

Colombe winced mentally as she steeled her voice to confident command when all she wanted was to hug and cradle her love. "Sheathe yourself for now and check on the kids. I'll get us clear."

Her head turned to the trembling jorōgumo woman. "I suppose that you can't walk, Miss?"

"iie..." A hesitant shake of her head and increased terror in her eyes at the whispered statement.

Colombe winced. "I'll use magic to lift you to the side of the stream to get you out, just relax. Wingardium Leviosa!" She gestured and carefully shifted the spider to the indicated spot. "To-chan. Have the kids take your hands in a chain."

She slashed through the two ropes at her waist and then swung her pack off, digging through the side pouch to find a small leather coin pouch. Thank you Del. You can be a smug insufferable bitch at times, but I owe you massively for setting up this emergency exit plan. Not that I will ever admit it. "Right. To-chan, you have the kids? Walk them over close enough so their mother can take her daughter's hand. Everyone hold on tight."
Spoiler: Coin Pouch...

Colombe shrugged the pack on and then looped the leather thong of the coin pouch around her right wrist as she walked over to the group. She grabbed the spider-woman's free hand with her left one and then unsnapped the pouch with her right hand reaching inside to touch the gold coin inside.
Spoiler: And Portkey

With a flash the 20 franc antique gold coin discharged its portkey energies, leaving nothing but corpses behind.

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

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

Ehren du Chasteler leaned back in the desk chair in the study and surveyed her successful last-minute sniper bid for a signed soccer ball and poster for Die Mannschaft on the computer tab for eBay. A smug victorious smile flickered around her lips that widened fractionally as she forwarded an e-mail from Jardine Shipping to her mother's inbox to be handled when Mother returned.

She spun the leather chair around to look out the window at the predawn stars and leaned back, propping her feet on the windowsill and humming happily.

The smile faded in an instant as a bang of displaced air happened behind her. Ehren spun back around, tensing with her hand on her dagger hilt before relaxing.

Mother was bent over with her hands on her knees and vomiting. Next to her, a piano-sized giant spider-woman was equally nauseous, in addition to bleeding a bright blue over the carpet. Two smaller figures, a badger-girl and a spider girl were dry heaving in turn, as was a Japanese woman with a bloody katana dripping on the now-ruined Arabic carpet that was fast approximating a bad abstract painting.

Ehren stifled both a happy smile at the sight of Mother again and an attack of highly inappropriate giggles with a signal effort of Will. As she did so, she closed down her purchase history on the computer with her hidden left hand. Schooling her voice to chilly professionalism, she finally spoke in her driest possible voice.

"I see that I shall have to arrange for the carpet in here to be dry-cleaned. Guten Morgan, Mutti."

Colombe blinked at Ehren. "Ehren, get Kasuyu, this girl needs medical attention!" With that the rapier turned to the wall and grabbed a medical kit from where it hung between a set of African weapons and a bookcase.

"Jawohl." Ehren snapped her heels together and sketched a quick bow as she headed to the door at double-time.

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

Tokunotakai blinked and swallowed as the world stopped spinning. Her hands shook as she felt suddenly weak in the knees and her eyes watered.

The room she found herself in was...cozy in a word. A unlit stone fireplace smelled faintly of smoke and ash, the walls were veneered dark wood paneling with bookcases and odd weapons and masks hanging on them. A blonde girl wearing a black T-shirt with incomprehensible writing around an American flag and white sweatpants who looked a handful of years younger than her Co-chan was staring at Toku with an expression of very well-hidden surprise.
Spoiler: Ehren's Shirt

"Ehren get Kasuyu, this girl needs medical attention!" Colombe snapped out the words in a crisp tone as she began to hastily bandage the jorōgumo's wounds.

"Jawohl!" The girl snapped to attention and headed for the door.

Toku swallowed hard. Her thoughts of protesting, warning Colombe that the jorōgumo was a deadly threat, a man-eater, died at the look of mixed disbelief and gratitude in the jorōgumo's eyes as she teared up.

She couldn't believe that anyone, that Co-chan, would treat her with basic human kindness; with Compassion rather than see her as a beast to be put down, as a means to test her sword....

Like she had killed that man to save her Co-chan. The hot salt spattering her face as the blood flowed....

Somehow Toku found her way to a chair and collapsed into it, her legs giving out. She shook uncontrollably, her bloody hand clenching on her hilt.

"MOTHER!" The door flew open and a black-haired missile in musical-themed pajamas launched herself upon Colombe's back.
Spoiler: Claire's PJs

"Bonjour, Claire." Colombe wheezed as the brunette girl hugged her tight. "I need you to do me a favor, summon yourself and play happy tunes for our new guests to enjoy."

The brunette girl's - Claire's - smile lit up the room as she nodded happily and walked to a corner, where she concentrated and began to glow gold.
Spoiler: Claire Does Variations On A Theme

With a crack of air a massive piano appeared in front of Claire. She slid onto the bench and began to play a mysterious piece of music that caused Toku's spirit to lift. The two children listened enthralled with wide eyes and Toku teared up at the beautiful sounds.

The door swung open again and a large bare-chested black man wearing duck pajama pants with an axe at his belt and a satchel over his shoulder headed in, followed by Ehren.
Spoiler: Duck! It's a Kasuyu!

"Kasuyu, tend to her." Colombe snapped. "Damn Aurors were torturing her, and at least one of them knew the Cruciatus. Bastards." Colombe then looked and her eyes lighted on the trembling Tokunotakai. "Oh hell. I'm sorry, To-chan. Ehren, can you be a dear and fix some food for our guests. Ahh, I'm not sure what you eat Miss...?"

The jorōgumo blinked twice and softly responded, "Meat if possible, but we can eat anything a human can in need."

Ehren nodded her head. "Schweinswürste, Schlakwurst, Edamer Käse, und Weizenbrot kommt auf!"

As she left, Colombe called after her, "And coffee for everyone!"

The Muramasa then walked over to the chair where Tokunotakai sat and collected the Masamune in her arms. "God, what a morning. I suppose introductions are in order quickly. I am Colombe du Chasteler, my daughter at the piano is Claire du Chasteler, my other daughter fixing breakfast is Ehren du Chasteler, and the fellow splinting your leg is Kasuyu. O-namae wa nan desu ka?"

The jorōgumo hesitantly smiled, "Watashi no namae wa Fujii Miho desu."

Toku buried her head in Colombe's shoulder, shaking in shock and the aftereffects of her first actual combat.

Colombe looked at the others. "Kasuyu, I'll be cleaning To-chan... Toku up. I'll be back shortly. Take care of Miho Fujii and her children as if they were one of the family."

"Yes, Mistress Colombe."

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

Colombe half carried and half supported Toku down the corridor to the master bathroom and locked the door behind them with a gesture. Three more gestures raised the in-built privacy wards, lit the fire in the fireplace, and opened the taps with steaming water.
Spoiler: The Bathroom


Colombe carefully removed the sheathed katana from Toku's waist and placed it on a waiting table with a sword maintenance kit, then hung her own swordbelt from a peg nearby. "To-chan?" she whispered gently as she began to undress the numb Masamune.

"H-hai?" Toku responded as Colombe threw her soiled and bloodied clothes in a waiting hamper, and followed them with the blonde's own.

Colombe looked at her with love and concern as she guided Toku into the waiting tub, and drew the shower curtain behind them, cleaning the Masamune's avatar of the dried blood staining her. "Do you want to talk about it? It helps... a little."

'Toku closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. "No... I mean... yes?" She leaned into the spray of hot water from the nozzle that the blonde was using to rinse her off into the now pink-colored water. "I... You must think me terribly weak."

Colombe turned her around gently but firmly and gazed into Toku's haunted blue-green eyes. "Not at all, To-chan. You are handling this much better than I handled the first man I killed. The fact that you can feel what you feel: the guilt, the shame, the regret, the pain, makes you human."

Colombe then shook her head as she spoke in a quiet voice filled with old pain. "Maybe I would have killed him before he got that spell off at me, I was trying to prepare a lightning bolt when you... did what you did. But maybe not. In that instant, when you made your choice, you held his life in one hand and my life in the other and you had to determine who lived and who died. It is... the greatest responsibility that anyone can have and perhaps the greatest burden anyone can possibly carry. I won't say that it gets easier. It never does and it never should. But it is a necessary burden to preserve what humanity we can when we are called upon to make that choice."

Toku slowly nodded as the words sunk in just like the heat from the steaming water. She then blinked as she noticed the faintly haunted look on Colombe's face under the concern for her. How long had her Co-chan carried that burden alone?

She opened her mouth slightly, then closed it, unsure what to say to help her love. Finally, she whispered plaintively, "Co-chan? Hold me please?"

Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa Du Chasteler gathered Masamune-no-Tokunotakai in her arms under the flowing showerhead as the bath slowly drained the blood washed off them both. Colombe leaned in and breathed into the Masamune of the Warrior's Virtues' ear. "As long as you need me to, To-chan."

A brief hitch in her voice and a tighter embrace as two hearts thudded as one. "as long as you need me to..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Eyes fluttering open, Fu-Chan yawned a bit as she woke. Much to her confusion, her pillow was slowly rising and falling. It took the Kitsune a few moments to realize what was likely happening and opened her eyes fully before blushing. And sure enough, she was laying on top of a sleeping Fubuki, the Yokai's head on her chest with one arm around Fu-Chan holding her close and protectively.

Remembering the previous night, the Kitsune sniffled a bit as her eyes began to tear up. Before it could get too far, a small voice spoke up, "Desu desu desu?"

With a blink, Fu-Chan noted that one of Fubuki's fairies was now on the shipgirl's chest and looking at her in concern. Blinking away some wetness, she whispered to the small being, "Sorry, just... just remembering my nightmare last night. I am really sorry..."

The fairy though only shook his head and crossed his arms, "Desu desu, Desu. Desu desu desu desu desu desu. Desu desu desu." His expression became gentle then and he pulled out a handkerchief which he proceeded to use to gently dry Fu-Chen's face, "Desu. Desu desu desu?"

Lips twitching, the little girl gave him a smile which made him smile back at her. As he put away the cloth, she hummed, "Thank you."

The fairy only chuckled a bit and nodded back, "Desu desu."

With that, he climbed back into Fubuki's hull and Fu-Chan closed her eyes to enjoy what was happening. It had been years, not since her mother had been alive, that the Kitsune had such feelings. Not since then had she felt warm, safe, and protected as she did now. For some odd reason, she somehow knew that no matter what, Fubuki would protect her and the others. Making sure that their lives would be far better from now on. and so far, she had. That feeling of protection, of warmth and safety, of love was why she softly sighed and snuggled more into the shipgirl's body.

Also, Fubuki was really great to snuggle against, that was extremely important.

Granted, the others were great to snuggle up to. Kana being a close second behind Fubuki herself. The Battleship being very comfy to lay against for some reason, though all the children had decided that Fubuki was better. That said, they were confused about a few days back when the Destroyer had cheered about how she was catching up with someone named Lycoris. Or how she had become very flustered and chased Yuudachi around the house to laughter from the two Destroyers when she had claimed that it was because Fubuki was now a mother. When they had asked Kana, the Battleship had turned bright red and sputtered before holding her face in her hands.

Deciding to ignore that question for now, Fu-Chan closed her eyes and softly sighed as she could hear the boilers of her guardian in her ear at work. Everything had to come to an end and eventually, Fubuki began to stir. As she felt the hand of the shipgirl gently rub circles in her back, she opened her eyes and the golden orbs met the soft, gentle brown of Fubuki. The Destroyer smiled down at her before giving her a kiss between her two fox ears, "Good morning, Fu-Chan."

Brightly smiling as her tail swisher beneath the blankets, Fu-Chan giggled a bit, "Good morning, Fubuki-San."

Still rubbing the Yokai's back, Fubuki chuckled before her expression became soft and gentle, "How did you sleep after your nightmare?"

Fu-Chan bit her lip some and buried her face in the shipgirl's chest, "A lot better, Fubuki-K-... San."

Eyebrow raised, the shipgirl just nodded, "That is good to hear then, Fu-Chan." Sitting up, Fubuki let out a groan as she stretched. Her hair out of it's usual ponytail fell over her shoulders in waves as she popped various joints. Seeing the Kitsune staring at her, she blinked, "Is something wrong, Fu-Chan?"

Unsure, Fu-Chan twiddled her fingers a bit before looking at Fubuki, "Um... Fubuki-San? Do... do you think that one day I might be as pretty as you."

Heat rose in Fubuki's cheeks as she smiled a bit and scratched her cheek, "You think that I am pretty?" Getting a quick nod, she smiled slightly larger, "Thank you, Fu-Chan. And as to your question? I am sure that you will grow up to be a very pretty girl."

The Kitsune's eyes widened at that, "You really think so?"

Ruffling her hair, Fubuki gave a chuckle, "Think so? No, I know so, Fu-Chan. You will be a very pretty girl one day, though..." Leaning down, Fubuki tapped her on the end of her nose, "To be honest, right now you are very cute and adorable as it is."

Musical giggles escaped from the younger girl which made the shipgirl smile all the more. That, in itself was far more rewarding than anything else. As was the hug that Fu-Chan gave her a few moments later, "Thank you, Fubuki-San."

Gently patting her back, Fubuki gave her another kiss on the top of the head, "You are very welcome, Fu-Chan." Looking at a spot behind the young Yokai, she smiled, "And you are also cute and adorable as well, and will grow into a very pretty girl one day, Natsuki-Chan."

Blinking rapidly, Fu-Chan looked over her shoulder to find her friend there. When a lightly blushing Natsuki looked at her, the Yokai nodded, "Hai! Fubuki-San is right about that, Natsuki-Chan."

It was much to Fubuki's amusement that the Neko flushed deeply at that.

Lips twitching, the Destroyer swung her legs out over the bed and stood up. She cut a figure standing there in a tank top and shorts, but unknown to her, once more the two young Yokai wished that one day they would look as pretty as her. Meanwhile, Fubuki helped them both out of bed before reaching into a pocket and pulling out an elastic band. With practiced ease, she put her hair into it's usual hair style and smiled before holding out a hand, "Shall we go and get some breakfast?"

After a quick trip to the washrooms on that level, the three of them headed downstairs and into the usual chaos that occurred in the morning. Yuudachi and Mutsuki were both at the stove cooking breakfast as Kana and Kisaragi as well as any of the children who wanted to help brought them what they needed. Besides that, the room was filled with the sound of chatter from the amount of children there. Fubuki didn't mind the noise though, not at all. Rather, she enjoyed it and spent a moment just soaking it in before nodding.

Soon enough, the two young girls were seated at the table and Kisaragi set some plates in front of them with food. Patting their heads, she nodded, "Eat up now, but not too fast!" As she passed Fubuki who had a cup of coffee in one hand as a plate with toast, she giggled a bit, "Here, let me." Taking it, the Destroyer set it down on the table and then placed a plate in front of where Fubuki would sit, "Here's your breakfast, Fubuki-Chan."

Kissing her on the cheek, and getting smothered giggles from the children, Fubuki smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Kisaragi-Chan."

Just winking, Kisaragi returned the kiss to the cheek and nodded before heading back to the kitchen, "You're welcome, Fubuki-Chan~"

Bemused, the other Destroyer shook her head and took a sip of her coffee. Raising one eyebrow, she hummed a bit as she caught the looks of amusement on the faces of the various children there, "And what are you bunch finding so funny?"

Almost as one, they answered her back, "Nothing..."

Snorting softly, Fubuki shook her head, "Sure it is nothing." Only getting more giggles, she opened the jar of peanut butter and began to spread it on the pieces of toast she brought over before placing them onto Fu-Chan's plate as well as Kasumi's, both canine Yokai lighting up before they happily began to munch on their food. Lightly laughing, Fubuki spread jam and the like over the others before handing them out. It was only after that was done that she began to eat her own meal, though she jabbed her chopsticks at the Fu-Chan and the others first, "Now, I want you all to eat as much as you can, okay? I want you to grow up big and strong, but don't overdo it. Once you're full, you're full."

Once more, almost as one the children answered, "Hai, Fubuki-San!"

There was a soft smile on Fubuki's face as she began to eat herself.

Being as her meal was much bigger than the children's, it was of no surprise that they were finished before her. Part of her was happy though that they were not eating nearly as fast as they had been. It was still quick, but at least she was not worried about them choking. That said, by the time she was finished, Yuudachi and the others had joined them with their own food. Getting up, Fubuki poured herself another mug full of coffee and walked back over as she stirred in the milk and cream, "So, what are we all doing today?"

Mutsuki blew on her own coffee before taking a sip, "Well, we're going to the park in a bit to enjoy ourselves. After all, it would be a waste since it is nice out right now."

With a quick glance at the window, which showed that it was a sunny day, Fubuki nodded some, "That sounds good, Mutsuki-Chan. We can even have some fun in the fields and such... I think that I have a baseball or frisbee so we can play catch with it." The happy looks she got from the children warmed her at that, "Hmm... we could also go to Mamiya's later for a snack and go to the Mess Hall for dinner. I don't think that we brought any of them there yet."

Thinking it over, Kana shook her head, "No, we haven't brought them to either place."

Confused, the children glanced at each other. Head cocked to the side, Yoshi frowned as his monkey tail swished behind his seat, "Um, Mamiya's? What's that?"

Sipping her coffee, Fubuki smiled a bit, "She's a shipgirl, a Food Ship as a matter of fact. She runs a small eatery here on the base with all sorts of treats. I am pretty sure that you'll all enjoy what she has there."

More than one eye widened at that and they looked at the other shipgirls who all smiled and nodded. Something that got cheers that made the older girls laugh. Clearing her throat, Kana than spoke up, "We could bring them to the summoning as well that will be happening later."

Fubuki took another sip of her coffee and thought it over for several moments as she considered it. After a few seconds though, she gave a nod, "I don't see an issue with them being there." She then turned to the children there and laughed at seeing their excited faces, "Well, I don't think that I will need to ask if you're excited to go!"

Blushing, Akane glanced at her twin sister, "Um... we heard about it before, Fubuki-San. B-but are we really allowed to go?"

Gently, Kisaragi stroked her head and got a light purr from the Neko, "Hai, you're all allowed to go there. And no, you don't need to hide what you are once inside, but it would be best to do so anyways."

That got her nods from the others before lone blonde haired Destroyer got up. Walking over to the cupboard, Yuudachi brought out the bottle of vitamins and began to place some into her hand, "Okay, time for your vitamins, Poi! And these are the good ones!"

Chairs scraping against the floor, the orphans all got up and quickly made their way over. After all, they trusted Yuudachi... one of those whom they considered their new mothers. And the vitamins were not that bad either alongside the headpats they got with them.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Eyes nearly glowing, Momo clasped her sister's hand in hers as she lead her along. Glancing up at her, the resurrected Natural Born grinned, "Isn't this neat, Onee-Chan? My first summoning!" Pausing, she tilted her head and frowned, "Um, well... besides when I came back."

For a brief moment, Sayaka looked stricken at the reminder of what happened to her little sister. Shaking it off, she gave a nod, "R-right."

Unknown to her, her little sister's eyes also narrowed for a second or two before they went back to normal. While she was still a little girl, and thought like one, Momo was also somewhat more mature for her age. She had an idea of what was going on with her sister and it hurt. Thus, she spent time with Sayaka to try and help her with what had happened. As well, Momo had brought her to the shrine to talk with Haru, which she had.

Though Sayaka's reaction to finding out that Natsumi was a Kitsune was sort of hilarious.

Just the same, it seemed like talking with Haru had, much like it had with various shipgirls and military personnel who visited the Miko to talk, helped out some. Other ways that she had tried to help was by spending time with her sister. Such as having Sayaka help her catch up on missed schoolwork, though the Coastal Defense Vessel was careful not to ever make mention of why she needed to catch up. Still, it was helping bit by bit.

Looking around the crowd that was in the Summoning Chamber, Sayaka had wide eyes. She knew that it was big and such, but now being right there hammered it home like nothing else had. Around the perimeter of the room she could spot various naval artifacts here and there along with candles and incense burners that were gifting off various scents that wafted through the air and tickled her nose. She could see the pool itself not far away and hear the water inside of it lapping at the sides.

At the same time though, the teen could feel... something else in the room. It wasn't anything threatening or the like. But it was there at the edges of her senses. For some reason, she could not help but feel like she was in one of those whirlpool tubs, but supersized. The "Water" was not swirling fast, but... it was swirling enough to just be noticed. Even now, she could somehow feel it brushing against her skin, the hairs on her body raising in response to it. But before she could comment, Momo gasped and the little girl's eyes widened. Worried, Sayaka looked around, "Is... is something wrong, Momo?"

Just looking up at her, Momo gave her grin that for a moment made her heart pang, "Nothing's wrong, Onee-Chan! But look right over there!"

Confused, Sayaka followed her sister's finger and blinked. Because Momo was pointing at a familiar group of Destroyers along with a Battleship and a number of young kids who were looking around with awe. Furrowing her eyebrows, the teen frowned, "Um... you mean Fubuki-San?" A light blush rose up in her cheeks at her sister's confusion, "W-well, she is kind of cool..."

Only shaking her head, the younger of the two smiled and pointed, "Nope! That little girl right next to her, holding the other one's hand!"

Now looking again, Sayaka could see who Momo meant as there was a somewhat brown haired girl holding a whitish-blue haired girl's hand. Once more, she felt more than a little confused, "What about her?"

Grinning up at her, Momo shook her head, "They're shipgirls, Onee-Chan! And that one is of my, um, half-sisters, I think? Ship wise, I mean."

That made the older girl blink some as she was dragged along, 'Wait, half-sister? What?'

Before she could say anything though, her much stronger little sister had dragged her over and was now examining the other girl who moved a bit behind the bluish haired one, "E-er... c-can I help you?"

Seeing the raised eyebrow of Fubuki, Sayaka blushed deeply in embarrassment before bowing, "Sorry about this, my Imouto saw you and wished to talk you... I think."

Now it was Momo's turn to blush as she realized what she did and bowed, "Sorry about this. I was just so excited at seeing one of my half-sisters that I had to come over and talk with you."

That made the blue haired one blink and look at her friend, who seemed unsure, "Um, half-sister? Natsuki-Chan? Do you know her?"

Quickly shaking her head, the now identified Natsuki frowned, "No, Fu-Chan, I don't know her."

A giggle made them turn to Yuudachi who smiled a bit, "I think that she means ships, Natsuki-Chan." Tilting her head, she turned to Momo who was blinking, "Right, poi?"

Momo quickly nodded some, "Hai!" Turning back to Natsuki, she hummed before nodding again, "You have the same hull, but where I have the double Third year type 20 cm/50 caliber guns, you have the triple 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type. So half-sisters!"

Blinking rapidly, the other girl stared, "Oh, um, thank you?"

The only thing that Momo did was grin at that.

Soon enough and after introductions, the two joined Fubuki's group and Momo began to make friends with the others there. Glancing over at her sister, Sayaka sighed a bit, happy that her sister was making some friends. Though she was confused about Momo asking quietly about fluffy tails... Shaking that off, she flushed a bit at the amused look Fubuki was giving her, "Um, sorry again..."

Chuckling, Fubuki waved her off, "It is not an issue, Sayaka-San. Besides which, I have been hoping that they might be making new friends. So your Imouto coming to introduce herself was a good thing."

Just nodding, Sayaka still had a bit of a blush before noticing that they had arrived at the rail to the Summoning Pool. Looking down into the clear water, she couldn't help but widen her eyes at the image on the floor of the pool. To say that it was a work of art was putting it mildly as what looked like petals of the sakura were adrift on an endless sea. The images of the petals themselves seeming to shift and move with the waves above them. A hand on her shoulder brought Sayaka back and she bashfully smiled as Kana looked down at her, "It is really beautiful, isn't it?"

All Sayaka could do was nod, "Hai."

It was not long after the ceremony started and the teen observed everything as it happened in interest. Beside her, Momo had grasped her hand again and was humming along with the music. Looking down at her, Sayaka smiled even as she felt a tug at something inside her. Rather than fight it, she simply... allowed it to be released and swore she felt the whirlpool created as the summoning ritual continued swirl all the more. Seeing her sister happy at finding one of her sister-ships, in turn made Sayaka happy oddly enough. Just as there was a 'Snap' feeling, she had the stray thought about what Momo's other sister ships were like.

Right then, the ritual finished as the supplies vanished and sparkles of light flowed into the water, followed by an explosion. The teen would not be ashamed of stating that she was shocked, but then blinked at what resulted. One of them was obviously a Carrier of some sort, an Unryuu Class. And another was a Destroyer which made Yuudachi squee, with said Destroyer bowing, "I am Umikaze, the Seventh of the Shiratsuyu-class Destroyer, and the First of the Revised Shiratsuyu-class. I'll be in your care, Teitoku!"

The Carrier, who was dressed in a green colored Kimono, then bowed, "I'm Amagi, an Unryuu-class Carrier. Thanks for your recruitment, Admiral. Amagi will concentrate!"

Clearing his throat, Goto nodded from where he stood, "Welcome back, both of you." He then nodded at the other three, "And welcome to you as well."

One of them, who looked the age of some of the Destroyers, but with a massive turret, bowed, "I am Ryuusou, of the Ryuusou Class Monitor. I will defend Japan with all the strength of my steel!'

Despite the murmurs, the next one pushed forward. She was seated on her rigging as if it was a chair with three triple gun turrets on her hull. Over a top that was not much different than Tatsuta's, which strained at her bust, was a white navy jacket. Black hair tumbled over her shoulders as gold colored eyes looked out at the crowd while she held a sword in her lap, "I am Midori, the third of the Ishikari Class Super Cruiser, designed for night torpedo runs and supporting firepower. It is a pity that I was not finished before the war ended... I am specialized in night raids, but for torpedo runs it'll be a little... ahahaha..."

The last bit was said with her smiling and scratching her cheek.

It was the last one though who caught the most attention as she had two red horns that came up from her forehead. Besides that, she was about the size of the average Destroyer in height and, like them, wore a schoolgirl uniform of sorts with leggings and behind her was a large rigging with two large turrets and she held a sword in one hand. Another thing that most noticed was that she was... also like Hamakaze or Ushio up top. Bowing, she smiled, "I am Kyushu, the second of the Honshu Class Coastal Defense Vessels. I will be in your care." As she stood up, she noticed an excited Momo waving and her face lit up, "Honshu-Onee-Sama!"

Still waving at her, Momo giggled, "Kyushu-Chan! It's great to see you!"

Beside her, Sayaka was silent and staring at the newly summoned shipgirl, then at her younger sister. Finally, she looked down at herself and held her hands inches from her chest, 'Is... is that what Momo will look like? What I might look like...?'

Moments later though, the teen was being dragged along by her little sister to meet the newly summoned shipgirl. Upon reaching them, Momo hugged her 'Little sister' tightly, Kyushu smiling, "Onee-Sama, it is good to see you again."

Humming happily into the other shipgirl's stomach, Momo nodded, "Hai! And it is good to see you again." She pulled back some and gestured at an unsure Sayaka, "Oh! I got reborn as a normal little girl and this is my Onee-Chan, Sayaka! She's your Onee-Chan as well!"

Sayaka sputtered a little bit and not seeing the thoughtful look in the other Coastal Defense Vessel's eye, stared at her sister, "Momo-Chan!" Turning, she sighed a bit, "I am really sorry, Kyushu-San-"

The teen was unable to finish as Kyushu pulled her into a hug, and since Sayaka's head height was to her chest, into marshmallow hell as well, "That is okay, Onee-Chan."

All Sayaka could do was mumble as her cheeks burned in embarrassment while Momo giggled.

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

Props to Barricade for helping me with the depiction of Sherri's damage.

XXXXXXXXXX

Sherri clutched the sides of the toilet bowl with trembling hands, gasping and heaving. Her throat was burning… she could taste nothing but bile. Her sister Carrie hung over the side of the bathtub, in a similar condition.

They knew Mother hadn't been telling them everything about their race… about the Abyssals. She had repeatedly tried to skirt around the issue, only ever telling them that their family was "the one good apple tree in an entirely rotten orchard". But they wanted the truth—the full truth. They had wanted to know everything about their race.

And now, they knew: they were monsters.

Sherri couldn't get the images she'd seen out of her head… images of towns and cities laid to waste by the Abyssals. Images of girls who looked exactly like them torturing and slaughtering scores of innocent people. The Abyssals had thrown the entire world into chaos… even their "Princess", for all her kindness, had played a part in it.

She fell back on her haunches. Staring at her gauntleted hands, she made an internal command, and watched as her rigging coalesced around them. She looked at her rigging—at the barrel jutting from ugly metal jaws—and was filled with revulsion.

This was a killer's weapon.

She dug her fingers underneath the steel and began to pull—

XXXXXXXXXX

Millie was horrified. "You… you did this damage to yourselves!?"

The two of them, together with Nuri, sat at one of the picnic tables. A decent amount of food was laid out in front of the fledgling Mi-class, for her to eat her fill… but she was struggling to find her appetite, after hearing Sherri's story.

This Ri-class… she'd done more than just rip her turrets off. She'd torn away the turret rings. Gouged out a sizable chunk of her forecastle—throwing away not just her anchors, but also much of the structural bracing for her bow. Even portions of her superstructure were missing. Never mind the fact she was incapable of combat… just trying to sail in choppy waters would present a very real danger to her compromised frame.

But that was secondary to the real mystery—how could she still move her ARMS, after the damage she had done to herself!?

Sherri nodded slowly, leaning forward on the table with a somber expression. "We… weren't thinking straight. We were only a few weeks old, at that point—more easily influenced by our emotions, than we would be now."

"But… but why?" Millie just didn't understand. "Why would you do that to yourselves?"

The Ri-class shrugged. "Horror, disgust, hatred, fear… you name some negative emotion, we were probably feeling it when we pulled off our rigging." She unconsciously brought a hand to her neck, rubbing the flesh where her Abyssal steel was once located. "Our emotions motivated us enough to resist the pain and take it all the way."

"But your arms…!"

Sherri pulled the hand away from her neck, glancing at it. "You're wondering why they're even still attached to me, let alone functional?" When Millie nodded, she shifted in her seat, presenting her shoulder to the Mi-class. "Take a closer look at my hull."

Millie took her aunt's advice, gazing closer, underneath her skin… and her eyes widened. Hanging off the sides of the Ri-class's fore and aft hull, just beside the holes where her turrets used to be, were two sets of cranes—bolted to the hull and heavily reinforced. "Those… those are permanent fixtures?" She asked. "They look…"

"Awful?" Sherri filled in for her. She shook her head. "Yeah. My sister and I just threw them together to begin with, so we could tear up our turrets bit by bit and throw them away. Afterwards, though, we just sort of… kept them."

The Ri-class waved her hand; on her hull, Millie saw the forward cranes swivel in their mounts. "You made those into your arms instead…" she gasped in realization.

Sherri nodded. "I'm not sure how it ended up working like that. I think it's because of that thing they accuse shipgirls of… MSSB. Either way, once Carrie and I adapted to it, we learned that having cranes represent our arms resulted in some… interesting changes, both good and bad."

She leaned forward, reaching for the full platter of brownies sitting on the table. Nuri and Millie watched in confusion as Sherri pinched the rim of the platter with her thumb and index finger… and to their surprise, effortlessly lifted it off the table, keeping it perfectly level as she held it in the air in front of them. "I doubt anyone in the fleet will ever have better grip strength than us," She gloated before setting it back down.

Nuri blinked. She reached out and tried to imitate Sherri's feat, but was unable to hold up the platter steady with only two fingers. "Wow. That must come in handy for heavy lifting."

The Ri-class grimaced. "Yeah, it does… but that's pretty much all it's useful for. Cranes aren't exactly designed for ruggedness or durability—they can't be protected with armor like turrets."

"So your arms are fragile?" Millie asked.

A nod. "The rest of my body is as tough as any other Ri-class. But my hands and arms?" She held her hands out, palms-up, for the other two to examine. Looking closely, Nuri and Millie could see small, almost-unnoticeable marks on her skin—tiny scars, left behind by scrapes and cuts she'd accumulated through her life. "I bet a normal person could break them, if they hit me hard enough." Sherri looked down and squeezed her bicep. "What's more, they're really sensitive to pressure. You know how when you lay on your arms or legs for an hour or two, and they fall asleep? Well, for me and Carrie, it only takes a couple of minutes. Makes it really hard to relax sometimes, when it's so easy to give ourselves pins and needles."

Nuri couldn't help but wince in sympathy. "But… if you've come back to your fleet," Millie continued, sounding increasingly concerned. "Then we can fix you, can't we? We can put back your guns the way they were—"

Sherri's hands abruptly clenched into fists. "No!" She growled, causing the other two to flinch. After a moment, she let out a sigh. "S-sorry. It's just that my sister and I… we did what we did for a reason. We wanted to have normal lives. No weapons, no metal bits, no ability to fight… we just wanted to be human. If we let Mother restore our rigging… we'd be right back where we started. We don't want that."

Millie could feel an intense ache in her chest, looking at Sherri. Seeing an Abyssal like this, damaged, missing pieces of herself, and they were refusing help… it just felt so wrong to her. Was it because of her instinct as a repair ship?

"Mother said she's doing research," Sherri added, her expression softening somewhat. "She's doing what she she can, to try and redesign mine and Carrie's riggings. If she can restore our hulls without turning us back to our original selves… that'd be nice, sure. But until that becomes possible… we'd rather just stay as we are now."

"Hey, Sherri!" The three turned to see Ridgeline nearby, waving. "You coming back to finish the job, or what?"

Sherri stood up from the table while she wrung her hands nervously. "Sorry, sorry!" She called out. "I stopped for a drink and got distracted! I'll be right there!" She looked back to the mother-daughter pair. "It was nice to meet you, Millie. Sorry for taking up your time."

Millie was left looking conflicted as Sherri took off, returning to her work. Nuri rested an arm around her daughter's shoulders, hugging her lightly. "Don't take it personally, honey. It's not like she's not thankful for your offer to help. She and her sister… they've simply led different lives from the rest of us. They care a lot about being able to live free of the conflicts and prejudice we may see as proper (for lack of a better term) Abyssals. Does that makes sense?"

After a few seconds, Millie slowly nodded. "Yeah. I understand." She looked to her mother. "She said Grandmother is working on fixing her, without making her look like a normal Ri-class again. Do you… do you know when I might meet her?"

Nuri smiled. She had a good idea as to just why Nuri was asking that question. "I'm sure she'll come by in the next couple of days to check up on you, seeing as you're the first-ever Abyssal repair ship…" She pushed a plate of in front of Millie, holding a ham-and-cheese sub. "But right now, I think you've put off eating for long enough. You're a big girl, a capital ship, so you need plenty of food to stock up all your various supplies. We're not going anywhere else until your tanks are full, you hear me!?"

Seeing the appetizing sandwich under her nose, Millie could hear and feel her stomach growling.

Mother was right, she decided. Her holds needed filling, after all…

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part VI)...

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium
Spoiler: Cleaning Up And Moving Forward

Finally feeling clean in body if not totally in spirit, Tokunotakai stepped out from the clear water in the tub and began to towel off. Colombe followed her and grabbed her own heated fluffy towel.

"These feel good, how did they get warm?" Toku mused.

Colombe smiled and touched the brass bars. "Warming charms on the towel racks. I had... lots of time in the 1870s to work on things in here." The smile faded and a shadow filled the Muramasa rapier's blue eyes as she sighed bitterly.

Toku wrapped the towel around her avatar's torso and hugged Colombe from behind, resting her cheek between the blonde's shoulder-blades and smelling the peppermint scent of Colombe's shampoo in her wet hair as the Masamune closed her eyes. "Bad memories?"

Colombe nodded slowly. "Oui. Hippolyte." The blonde rapier's voice was quite flat and monotone.

Toku's arms tightened, hugging Colombe closer to her as the Masamune's expression, unseen by her lover, hardened. She knew very little about Colombe's treacherous grandnephew, but she knew that his treachery and kinslaying had nearly shattered her love and perhaps was the wound on her soul that cut the deepest. Gradually she felt the tension in Colombe's frame subside and become hidden once again, before releasing her and opening her blue-green eyes.

"Can you hand me another towel, so I can do my hair?" Toku's voice was calm and gentle.

Colombe gave the ghost of a smug smirk as she picked up a pistol-shaped plastic device from a rack next to her brush. "Oh, I can do better than that. Sit here and I'll use my hair dryer on you."

After finding out the wonder of a hairdryer, and then learning to use one on Co-chan in turn under the Muramasa's tutoring, Toku turned to the table containing their true bodies. She sighed at the remnant of dried blood caking herself as she drew her katana from its sheath. "I wish that I had my Honyama whetstone here, but it is back at the temple, alas."

Colombe slid across a blue-yellow stone with a visible strata between the two sides. "Use my Belgian Coticule. The blue is for the initial coarse work, then use the gray/yellow side to refine it. Just a little water on the stone and...."

Toku smiled as she took the sharpening stone and began to clean and hone herself as Colombe headed through the door at the far end of the bathroom and came back with a second whetstone and a bottle of oil several minutes later. "I haven't used this one in decades... not since World War II when I picked it up in England after I fled there. Kept it in my room as a paperweight because I love that Coticule. Mineral oil work for you?"

Toku extended a hand for the bottle, not looking up from her work. "Hand it over please, I need to see how light it is." She placed a drop on her thumb and then rubbed it with her forefinger followed by another drop on her blade. "This will work. Thank you very much."

"De nada. I'll clean out the interior of your scabbard." Colombe took the scabbards to the tub and chanted, flushing their interiors out with hot water and then hot air to remove traces of blood from inside. "Found that out the hard way in 1738. Didn't clean out a dagger sheath properly and blood got into the tang and rusted it. Snapped it off when I used it next."

"Ouch. Just ouch. At least Masamune-dono's apprentice was kind enough to enchant me to prevent that." Toku mused as she plucked a hair from her head and split it on her blade.

"Amen. Maintenance spells are amazing, but nothing beats a proper cleanup and workup of your blade. It's like a spa visit, a hot shower, and a soak in that onsen of yours all rolled into one." Colombe spoke absently as she oiled down her now honed and cleaned rapier body."I don't need one, since I have those spells too, but life isn't worth the living without it."

"Hai, hai." Toku sheathed herself then performed a fast iaido draw and resheath with a sigh of happiness. "Thank you again, Co-chan."

Colombe drew and resheathed herself in turn. "Think nothing of it, To-chan. Are you feeling better?" Colombe spoke with subtle emphasis on the last sentence as she looked at the towel-wrapped Masamune.

Tokunotakai bowed. "Very much so. I have a little more inner peace now. Thank you for your words and understanding, and the use of your house."

Colombe smirked and opened the door to her bedroom. "Fair enough, let's raid my closet and see what fits on you."

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

Toku pulled out a black T-shirt with a wanted poster for a ring on it and a pair of black slacks and put it on. "I know there is a joke here, but I am not sure what."
Spoiler: BreadKnife Of The Rings

Colombe grinned, "Blame Jackie for that one, and I'll show you the movie later." With that, she pulled out a blue T-shirt of her own to put over her underclothing. "Let me know if the intimates start chafing."
Spoiler: Butterknife Mom T-Shirt

Toku shook her head. "They are not uncomfortable, just... odd. I purchase for utility and simplicity, not this silk and lace."

Colombe pulled on her T-shirt. "Well I have some of those packed away someplace in the storerooms, but it seems that Kasuyu was washing my sports bras and traveling clothes when we appeared suddenly back here." Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth as she carefully did not look at the wardrobe drawer with her more 'practical' undergarments.

"I... see" Toku slid on a set of Minnie Mouse fuzzy slippers from the selection at the bottom of Colombe's clothes closet, and after a chuckle, the Muramasa rapier slid on matching Donald Duck slippers.

The Masamune looked curiously at her hostess and Colombe grinned. "Jackie, Del and I made a tradition for the last half-century or so, ever since World War II to get funny and embarrassing clothes gifts for each other for Christmas. We all got each other the same Minnie Mouse fuzzy slippers in 1989.

Toku chuckled, then looked curiously at a antique black lacquered wall screen with masterwork Chinese gold leaf engravings showing the reunion of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. "I was forged on the Seventh Day of the Seventh Moon," she spoke quietly. "That screen is beautiful, and fit for the Imperial Palace."

Colombe sighed as a tear trickled down her cheek, "Yes it is. It was... in the Summer Palace outside Beijing when the British and French burned it in 1860. I wish that I could have saved more...."

Toku turned and hugged her, "But you acted to save what you could, and that is not nothing. And knowing that the sakura blossom shall fall from a tree in a few short weeks makes its beauty even greater. You still have your memories of your travels, no?"

Colombe nodded and spoke thoughtfully. "True, true. Just like our memories of scaling Fuji-san together, or my seeing the Smoke that Thunders in Africa. Speaking of Fuji-san, we should check on our houseguests."

Toku nodded as they walked down the hall. "Two jorōgumo and a young tanuki cub," she spoke musingly as she pinched her nose, "The tanuki are one thing, but jorōgumo are...." She trailed off with a frown.

Colombe paused at the closed study door and lowered her voice. "What concerns you To-chan?"

Tokunotaka's frown deepened, "In legend they are man-eaters. Preying on foolish young men and solitary travelers while being mistresses of deception, poison, seduction, and dark magic. But yet," She paused, "All the tales I have heard indicate that a jorōgumo would sell out others in an instant to save her own skin, but this one refused to speak of the smugglers and was trying to protect not herself, but her kin and the tanuki child. Who was free and not webbed up to be used for lunch."

Colombe nodded slowly and then spoke with a tone of finality. "I will keep an eye on her and speak to Ehren and Kasuyu about what you just told me so they can do the same. But I won't just kill her out of hand, not unless she is a murderer or a clear threat to my children, or the muggles nearby. I," Colombe scowled murderously, "know full well where the end of the path that leads to demonizing a race for things that perhaps a few did leads. I saw that with the Nazis and never again." The scowl turned into a smirk as she finished, "Besides, Ehren would gut me if I thought about that, and she would be right to do so."

Toku nodded in agreement. "Agreed. I confess their condition and actions raises questions I want answered."

Colombe opened the door and her eyes widened in shock. Next to her Toku's jaw dropped.
Spoiler: Spider and Axe

Ehren was leaning against the desk along with the remains of a tray of sausage, bread and cheeses and a collection of a dozen emptied espresso glasses. The German dagger had a poker face that was cracking around the edges badly as the corners of her lips twitched helplessly.

Claire was playing a melody Colombe remembered from a recent Disney marathon as she sat in Colombe's desk chair at her keyboard. The Piano's smile was a little maniacal and Colombe was reminded of Jackie in A Mood.

The bench for the piano had been moved over and magically expanded to support Miho's bulk as she hugged her children. Kasuyu and Miho were singing a duet to the room as the spider swayed drunkenly.

"Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast"

Colombe's head slowly turned to meet Toku's eyes as the Masamune faced the equally shocked Muramasa.

"WHAT?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Still hugging her new 'Onee-Chan', Kyushu hummed a bit before feeling a tap. Looking at Momo who was grinning up at her, she blinked, "Hmm? Is something wrong, Onee-Sama?"

Giggling, the little girl nodded, "Hai." She then pointed at her sister, "I don't think that Onee-Chan can breathe that well."

With a blink, Kyushu looked down and noticed that the teenager was still struggling a bit and let go, "Ah, sorry about that, Onee-Chan."

Taking deep breaths, Sayaka waved her off, "T-that's okay..." She ran a hand through her hair, 'I thought that I was going to die!'

Meanwhile, the newly summoned shipgirl leaned towards her older sister and whispered to her, "Is she okay?"

Only humming, Momo nodded as she whispered back, "Hai, she is." She then took Kyushu's hand and gestured at where Goto was talking to the others, "We should probably head over to Teitoku so that you can get debriefed." A throat being cleared made her turn and blink, "Onee-Chan?"

Unsure, Sayaka looked at Kyushu, "Um, Kyushu... Chan?" Getting a smile and a nod, she continued while pointing at her forehead, "Er, can you do anything about those horns of yours? I mean... it might cause a few issues? What with how things are out there."

Blinking, the shipgirl considered things for a few moments, "Hmm... give me a second." Kyushu then closed her eyes and slowly, the horns retracted into her forehead as if they did not exist. Opening her eyes, she smiled, "There, better?"

Wide eyed, Sayaka nodded, "Uh, yeah... a lot better." As Momo took her hand and began to lead them over to the others, the teenager frowned, "Um, by the way...? Why do you have horns?"

Head tilted to the side, Kyushu frowned, "Well, it is because of my crew."

Now lost, the other teen furrowed her eyebrows, "Your crew? What does that have to do with it."

At that moment, a small fairy with horns came out of her shirt and looked at her. Nodding at it, Kyushu smiled a bit, "Most of my crew were Oni, so I guess that when I came back it was at least partially as an Oni? Or something like that."

Only nodding, Sayaka hummed a bit before shrugging, "I... guess that makes sense?"

Before anymore could be said though, they reached Goto and the man smiled at them with a nod, "Ready to go?"

Spotting that Kyushu's horns were gone as he got nods, he raised one eyebrow. To which, the Coastal Defensive Vessel shrugged, "Onee-Chan said that it would be best if I hid them for now."

Just nodding, Goto smiled thinly, "For now, at least. Depending on how things might turn out, it could be another year or two, but you would be able to walk around without needing to hide who and what you are."

With a few more seconds of talk, they headed out towards the main offices for a briefing for their return and to get caught up. Meanwhile, both Kyushu and Momo were talking to each other over the magical airwaves. As they talked, with Momo cluing her into various things, the newly summoned shipgirl had various expressions cross her face. Having talked about her death, and resurrection, Momo squeezed her new little sister's hand, {You're not angry at Onee-Chan, are you?} She then continued, {Onee-Chan really, really hated herself over it.}

Considering things, Kyushu sighed a bit, {No, not really? I mean, she didn't know that magic was real or anything like that. And, well... even my crew is having issues with believing what happened. Something like what you just told me, Onee-Sama? That would have caught even them by surprise.}

That made Momo relax a bit, {That is good to know, Kyushu-Chan. I'd hate for you not to get along with Onee-Chan. She's really nice after all, though, um...} Glancing at her sister, she continued, {She's been really clingy with me. And sometimes she gets really sad as well because of what happened and I need to give her lots of hugs to make her smile again.}

For a few moments, the other Coastal Defense Vessel considered that before giving a sharp nod, {I am an Oni, Onee-Sama! I do not turn from a fight and this is one that I will gladly help you battle! And together, we will make sure that Onee-Chan gets better!}

Giggling over the radio, Momo nodded, {Hai! With you, I am sure that we'll manage it.}

For her part, Sayaka glanced at her sister, and new sister as well, 'Wow, that is going to be weird... I have a new Imouto? But she looks older than me... How does that work exactly?' Such thoughts took up most of her mind as they walked along, though soon they reached the Admiral's office. Coming to a stop, she chewed her lip before glancing at Momo and then at Goto, "Um, Sir? I... I'll go and wait downstairs... or ask for them to get the food ready." Pausing, she continued with some confusion, "And to tell our parents that they have a new daughter."

Slowly, the Admiral nodded with a smile which made Sayaka blush, "Thank you, Sayaka-San. It won't be too long, I hope." With that, the teen headed off as Momo waved to her, Sayaka waving back. Once she was out of view, Goto turned to the others and gestured for them to enter his office. After they were all seated, he took out some folders and passed them over. But before they could open them, the Admiral held up his hands, "Before we get any further..." He then turned towards Ryuushou, "Ryuushou? If I may ask..."

Chewing her lip, the Destroyer sized shipgirl took a deep breath, "Well... um, when they were planning the coming war, Captain Aranami Kaito put forward a plan to cut MACUSA off in the Pacific and to isolate Australia and the like. To do that, we would need to cut off International Floo Access across the Pacific. So while he took care of the islands necessary for the effort, he had me and my sisters designed. We were supposed to shell the areas in the Aleutians and Alaska that were Floo nexuses and destroy them as well as help in the various strikes on islands in the Pacific. But... we were not laid down by the time that the war started."

Goto leaned back some and thought it over before glancing at Nagato who was silent. On the Battleship's shoulder though, Yamamoto was in deep thought and nodding, "Desu. Desu desu desu."

The human Admiral nodded some, "Yes, in a way it is like how you planned to hit Hawaii and also Panama to cut the Pacific off from the Americans." A thoughtful look on his face, Goto turned back to Ryuushou, "So then, what happened?"

Blinking, Ryuushou took a deep breath and continued, "No one was sure that we would be even built at that time, but... the Kamo government had a break as suddenly some turrets from a Battleship named Shinano were now available. With some modifications to us, it was decided that we would have those turrets for fire support and as the Americans got closer, for possible defense against landings from them or the Soviets."

Eyebrow raised, Goto looked at her and noted that she did indeed resemble said Carrier to some extent. Not much, but it was there. Making a note, he gave a nod, "I see, that actually answers several questions." Seeing the frown on the Monitor's face though, Goto raised an eyebrow, "Is there something wrong?"

Just scratching her head, Ryuushou shook her head while furrowing her eyebrow, "Not wrong, exactly? But, um... one of my Imoutos might show up for the Americans, or something?" At the look of confusion, she blushed, "Minai, at the end of the war had one of the MACUSA Captains, a Jackie Fox, try and claim her. I think MACUSA sunk her with the rest of us, but I'm not sure..."

Only nodding, the Admiral frowned, "I... see." Shaking it off and deciding to send a note to John, Goto continued, "Now, as to the present..."

For the next half hour, the group of shipgirls listened and asked questions as they were informed of the present day as well as the war that was currently going on. As they listened, their expressions became stormy. Especially when they saw the pictures of various Abyssals, though they relaxed some when told that a few had defected to their side.

Soon enough though, the briefing was over and Goto sent them on to get some food. Reaching the lobby for the building, Momo waved at her sister with a bright smile, "Okay, Onee-Chan! We're done!"

Unknown to Sayaka, Kyushu noted that the teen seemed to relax as soon as she saw Momo, as if a tension escaped from her. As if... she was scared that Momo might have disappeared. It said a lot and, once more, she made a promise to help her new sister out as much as possible. When they entered the Mess Hall though, her eyes widened some and she looked around in surprise. Compared to her war time experience, there was quite a bit of food there and the Coastal Defence Vessel could feel her boilers grumble in want for fuel as did her crew. Hence, she decided to go ahead and do so and followed Momo and Sayaka to the line.

At another table, meanwhile, Fubuki was smiling down at Fu-Chan who was eating some lasagna, "Well? How is it?"

Chewing it, the Kitsune swallowed before smacking her lips and smiling, "Really good, Fubuki-San!" She rubbed her stomach some, "Really nice in my tummy."

Lightly laughing, Fubuki poked said tummy which made Fu-Chan squeak, "I suppose so! Especially with how it is getting all squishy." Poking her again, the Destroyer snickered some as the Yokai squirmed some, "Which makes it all the better to poke."

More laughter met her as Fu-Chan stuck her tongue out at her and went back to eating. Feeling a hand gently come down on her head in a chop, Fubuki blinked as Mutsuki winked at her, "Now, now, Fubuki-Chan, don't be teasing them so much."

Grinning, Fubuki only chuckled herself, "Hai, hai..." With a shake of her head, she looked towards the others. Natsuki, for instance, was eating grilled salmon with a truly happy look on her face as she did so as was Akane and her sister. The others were eating various things as well, which made her smile, 'This was a good idea.'

That said, she was unable to hold back her laughter when the new cook, Kansha, brought out a cake for them to share with a smirk on his face.

Later that night, Sayaka was laying in the same bed as Momo in the temporary quarters as it was too late to head home. And her parents wanted to meet Kyushu first before letting her stay, though the teen was certain of it. Currently though, she was curled up around her little sister and almost asleep when she felt the bed sag. Blinking, Sayaka was about to ask when another body slipped in and pulled her and Momo close, two soft objects against the teen's head. If that was not enough to identify the culprit, the next words out of her mouth was, "There we go, Onee-Chan."

With a sigh, nodded some, "Good night, Kyushu-Chan."

Getting the same back, she slowly drifted off to sleep.

 

[darthcourt10]

It_agn02

Brushing a strand of red hair behind her head, a Master-at-Arms looked over the clipboard in her hands as she looked over the summoning chamber. She barked out a few directions to the men and women next to her to get them ready for the next Summoning. This time, they were aiming for the older ships. Cruisers that not only served in the Second World War, but for their country in the conflicts long before it. With the summoning chamber in Pearl Harbor, said wish was almost guaranteed.

It's the most successful summoning chamber in the Pacific, she might add.

"Petty Officer Clark, are you ready?" a submarine about a head shorter than her asked.

The Master-at-Arms nodded. "Ready, Bowfin." Looking around, she noticed the absence of one small tag-along. "Tsushi not here today?"

Bowfin shook her head. "She…she wanted to go downtown today, so Utah is babysitting her."

The Master-at-Arms shrugged her shoulders and internally thanked the patrols around the island chain.

"We're about to start," the submarine added, "so please assume your position."

The woman nodded. "Right away." Quickly, she moved to the side of the chamber near the main exit to prepare to apprehend any…undesirables. Especially the Men in Black like after the Manananggal attack last year. Things have been quiet lately, but she knew not to relax just yet.

From her position, she heard the ominous Native Hawaiian chanting alongside a Christian prayer in that language. Then the drums started. Then the horns belched out a patriotic tune.

Under her breath, Master-at-Arms Leilani Clark, real name Ka'ahupahau, recited a short prayer of her own. It was a simple one in the old language, one she could manage without drawing attention to herself.

Kū, please let the spirits answer their call. Paka'a and Nāmaka, please guide them home.

The summoning pool glowed.

Clark smiled a shark-toothed grin.

She loved this part. There was a reason why the summoning chamber at Pearl Harbor was the most successful in the Pacific outside of Japan.

No matter what the era, no matter what humans owned it, Pearl Harbor is her domain and she is its guardian. As its guardian, she knows every American ship that ever made a port call in her domain. By invoking the gods of war, wind, and the sea, she can guide them back to Pearl Harbor.

She hastily covered her mouth to hide the toothy grin, hoping nobody saw. If anyone, literally anyone, found out she was here, it could spell disaster, especially considering how her fellow deities on the islands are also unofficially locked in a non-intervention agreement with deities on other sides of the world. The key word was "unofficially." Of course, Hawaii being Hawaii, she knew that other pantheons didn't give a single fuck about what they did. Even Pele got her fun in torching a few hostile Abyssals with the occasional lava flow. Her fellow shark god Ukupanipo drives fish away from starving Abyssals and towards human fishermen. And the gods she invoked earlier assist in Summonings. All as low-key as possible, though. The less said about what Maui does, the better.

As a deity, not being worshiped sucked. But being unable to help her people sucked even worse. Getting it done covertly may not be the best way to go around it, but it's much better than acting high-and-mighty while blowing a massive hole in any non-intervention agreement.

At the summoning pool, Bowfin watched as a pair of human-shaped figures began to manifest. Considering the amount of resouces put into the Summoning, she internally shrugged. It was to be expected. They were literally scraping around for any ship, literally any combat-capable ship, that could shoulder some of the weight the current defenders have, but the current siege prevents some supplies from getting through.

The light dissipated, leaving two ship girls standing atop the summoning pool. Both wore a double-breasted coat and a long skirt with various guns at their sides.

"USS Boston, reporting for duty!"

"USS Chicago, reporting for duty!"

Unknowingly to everyone else in the room, the moment Boston introduced herself, a certain Master-at-Arms felt something inside her snap.

The submarine stepped forward, returning their salutes. "On behalf of Admiral Smith, welcome back." Looking behind her, she spotted the heavy cruisers Boston and Chicago leaning on one of the support pillars having their own conversation. "…But for the sake of not confusing anyone, do you have any other names?"

The older Boston put her hand to her chin. "I was renamed to Despatch, so I guess I could go with that."

The older Chicago nodded. "No problem. I'm also known as Alton."

"Anyway," Despatch started to say, "where are we?"

This time, Clark spoke up as she approached the pair of protected cruisers. "We're at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii," she said, trying to be as level-headed as possible. "Come with me and I will show you to the admiral. He will give you your assignments from there."

"Oh, Hawaii, huh?" Despatch turned to look at the woman and immediately grinned. "I see you people finally learned some damn civility."

Clark's eye twitched as the protected cruiser looked her over.

"…Could use some work." With a smile on her face, Despatch turned toward the submarine. "All right, show me around! I want to see how America made Hawaii better."

Bowfin tried to ignore the quiet nagging in the back of her mind, so she tried to put on the best "customer service" smile she could. "Despatch, apologize to the Navy Security Forces personnel. We don't want to start off on the wrong foot here."

"Huh? All right, I don't get it, but sorry for what I said," the cruiser answered with the most insincere tone that Clark had ever heard. "But you have to admit that I did the right thing by bringing Hawaii into American hands."

The Master-at-Arms clenched her fists. Alton saw this and nudged her cohort.

"What? What did I do? I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Bos-I mean, Despatch, look at her. She looks Native. She's probably still pissed off about what you did."

"She shouldn't be! I came in here and overthrew the queen! If anything, she owes me!"

Clark breathed in and out. As much as her heart wanted to deck this girl, her head kept telling her it just wasn't worth it. While she didn't feel exactly that way about other U.S. Navy ship girls, who honestly knew better than to antagonize the military police for any reason, this girl…this one girl…

As if sensing the apprehension in the air, a younger Petty Officer stepped in between the Master-At-Arms and the two ship girls, putting his arm out and shoving the already pissed-off incognito shark goddess behind him.

"Despatch," he stated with a level tone, "I will be the one to guide you to the admiral's office instead."

After a moment of looking the man over, Despatch smiled a bit. "Lead the way. Better you than the savage."

Clark sighed again. Kamehameha, the conqueror that he was, wasn't this difficult. The U.S. Navy, on the other hand, was just plain annoying.

As the two left the summoning chamber, Bowfin turned to the red-haired woman. "You gonna be all right?" she asked. "I'm not that familiar about Despatch, but I can tell there's some sort of history."

The Master-At-Arms pressed her fingers against her temples. "Sister, you don't know the half of it."

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Ron, Duke and Warspite 16

Warspite stood next to Summer as the pair of them waited for the portkey to transport them to Hogwarts. A glance at the large Abyssal installation showed only two things on her face. One was worry, which had not left her countenance since Ron's letter of the attack on the train had come through. The other was wonder, as if the old boot held the secrets to the universe. It didn't, at least as far as Warspite could tell but it would transport them to Hogwarts shortly. In her mind she thought back on what had caused this in the first place.

Warspite looked up from where she was reviewing various applications for the additional positions that the manor needed staffed as Molly Weasley suddenly Apparated into the room with a "pop." Shaking herself, the redheaded matron looked around and seemed pleased when she saw Warspite there.

"Ah, good. I was hoping somebody would be here." She spoke in somewhat of a rush, looking around and then gesturing for Warspite to follow her.

"Molly what's going on?" Warspite stood and followed her as requested, with Mrs. Weasley hurrying up the stairs.

"The idiot of a Minister we have decided that Dementors were a good thing to let loose on a train full of children." Warspite had no idea what a Dementor was but it sounded bad enough simply from the name. "Ron is fine and so are all of his friends but knowing him he sent..."

There was a cry from the room Summer had been gently cajoled into taking and a thump. Warspite and Mrs. Weasley both hurried their steps and Mrs. Weasley opened the door immediately once she reached it, then froze.

Warspite came around the corner, hoping that something wasn't terribly wrong. Instead she saw Summer sprawled on the floor, a pile of paper on the ground near her and Summers head partially covered by the owl box Ron had recently gifted her with.

"He sent a letter to explain what happened and accidentally scared the poor dear." Mrs. Weasley finished."

It had taken an hour for Mrs. Weasley to calm Summer down enough that the abyssal hadn't been ready to immediately dash off to find Ron on her own and another hour to explain why they couldn't go visit him right away but in the end she'd been mollified. At least enough to wait till the end of the week to go see him.

Warspite's thoughts were interrupted as the world twisted violently and the pair were swung around until they landed near Hogwarts. Warspite stumbled but managed to remain on her feet. The one thing she missed her wheelchair for was the fact she couldn't fall over during such a trip. Steadying herself she looked up at Summer, who seemed to be perfectly fine. At least for the nausea, she was looking around half in panic.

"Summer, Warspite." A familiar voice called out, causing Warspite to look behind Summer. The familiar red head of hair and smile were standing there, clearly happy to see them.

At the sound of Ron's voice Summer whirled around and Warspite was treated to her first sight of just how fast Summer could move if she really wanted to. With legs that were twice as long as most others, Summer's ground eating sprint made her cover even more ground than Warspite thought possible.

At first it seemed like there was going to be a collision and Ron braced himself but Summer had no intentions of hurting him. Instead she swept him up into her arms and swung him about, his face safely encased in her fuel depots. Warspite shook her head and paced over, even as Summer held Ron closely.

"Summer. I think Ron's ok just like he said. So you should let him breathe." Warspite spoke firmly but not angrily at the abyssal, who looked up from her joy to find Ron attempting to tap her. Letting him go with a bit of a chagrined look, Summer set him down on the ground once more.

"S-sorry..." she said, looking at Warspite before back to Ron. "A-are you ok Yardmaster?"

Ron looked no more worse for wear than he any other time Summer had hugged him and after a quick shake of his head to clear his wits he smiled at her.

"I'm fine Summer, thank you." There was a pause as the young lad pondered something. "What did you call me? Yardmaster?"

When Ron spoke those words, Warspite got to watch Summer's quickest emotional transformation ever. In an instant she'd gone from worried to flushed and embarrassed, the large sun hat she wore placed firmly over her face immediately after the blush.

Warspite looked to Ron, who seemed just as confused as she was.

"Did I say something wrong?" He asked.

"I don't think so Ron." Warspite looked to Summer, who was muttering into her hat and had sunk down into a crouch. "At least I don't know what." A pause, as Summer still seemed to be in her own little world for the moment. "It's good to see you again, even if it's only been a week."

"It's good to see you too Warspite." Glancing at Summer Ron came over and gave Warspite first a hug and then when she bent down a kiss on the cheek, which she returned.

They'd had a few discussion's about discretion before he left and Warspite was glad to see they had stuck. Warspite smiled at Ron and then gestured back to Summer, who had stopped muttering.

"I think you need to deal with that." She said gently.

"Right."

Warspite watched as Ron went over to Summer and placed a hand on her shoulder. Though she didn't jerk, Summer didn't move either. At least not outside of the slightest turn of her head in his direction.

"Summer? Is everything alright?" Ron spoke softly, in a voice Warspite knew kept Summer at ease.

Instead of a proper verbal answer Summer swung her head back and forth in the negative.

"Why not?" Ron's confusion was clearly audible in his tone.

Summer pointed one large, quivering yet metal covered finger at Warspite.

Ron looked at Warspite again and Warspite shrugged her shoulders. She didn't know what was going on any more than Ron did.

"Warspite doesn't know why you're upset either. Is something wrong?" Ron kept up the patient tone with her. Warspite felt flutters in her boiler spaces at thoughts she wouldn't allow herself to voice quite yet passed through her mind. A good admiral was many things, including a father to his men and women. That would translate nicely in time.

Finally Summer spoke again.

"S-s-she's… n-not angry?" Summer's voice was barely audible but the hat had started inching downwards.

"No Summer, I'm not angry." Warspite kept her voice calm, taking a few steps closer to Summer and crouching down herself. "Why would you think I'd be angry at you?"

Summer's hat managed to inch down past her eyes, the flaming blue orbs seeking out Warspite to confirm that she wasn't angry. When she was satisfied, Summer glanced at Ron once more and her whole face flushed again. Thankfully she finally put her hat back on her head and stood, though she was still slightly hunched over at the shoulder.

Warspite followed suite, standing as Ron's head tilted upwards.

"I-I-I t-thought y-you'd b-be mad s-since I-I w-want Ron to b-be m-my Yardmaster." Summer's eyes held a cast that made it seem like she thought that to be inevitable.

"Why would I be mad at that Summer? It sounds important to you." Warspite wasn't quite sure what a Yardmaster meant to Summer but it sounded important, important enough that her mind was racing to figure out what it did mean.

"I-i-it is i-important! T-the Yardmaster d-decides everything! W-who g-gets fixed! W-when the get fixed! The order they get fixed in! P-priority on supplies! If they get s-scrapped or not! E-even e-even..." Summer seemed to shrink in on herself even more, her metal clad hands tapping in front of her mouth as her face flushed. E-even i-i-if s-someone g-gets b-built a-a-and h-how m-many..." Summer's voice trailed off at the end, her head tilting down lower and lower until her hat was essentially hiding her again.

It was at that point when Warspite figured out just what that meant to Summer. It was a Captain writ large, on the scale of a whole dockyard. It didn't bring into consideration the other parts of the base that she knew Summer had with her but considering her aversion to violence in the first place…

She glanced at Ron, who seemed to have realized the extent of if not exactly what Summer was talking about.

"You thought I wouldn't like it if you wanted to be with Ron Summer?" Warspite kept her voice gentle, thoughts running quickly to make sure that Summer didn't take them the wrong way.

Summer nodded morosely, even as her head came up slightly.

"You know Duke and I both already share him Summer." Warspite changed her tone as if she was explaining something. "Why couldn't you?"

Summer's head popped up, wide eyed.

"B-but y-you're a b-b-battleship a-and t-they d-don't s-share w-with i-installations..." Summer seemed to trail off once more at the end, finally recognizing where Warspite was going.

"Abyssals might not share Summer. I have no qualms sharing with you and neither does Duke." Warspite smiled gently. "It's not me you need to ask though." Warspite turned her head towards Ron.

Summer's eyes followed and widened in a sudden burst of hope. Of course then it took her a minute to actually get up the courage to speak.

"Ron w-w-would y-you p-p-please b-be m-my Yardmaster? Summer's voice was a light, airy thing that barely seemed to hold together, ready to blow away at the least sign of resistance.

Ron smiled at Summer and nodded to her.

"Of course Summer. It'd be my honor."

Summer's eyes widened in surprise, somehow still not able to believe it. She then crashed to her knees and began sobbing, though there was no mistaking them for sadness. Ron moved in closer to Summer and wrapped his arms around her the best he could, the abyssal installation letting her arms drape over his shoulders.

Warspite couldn't help but smile herself, touched by the moment. Summer looked up then and Warspite smiled at her. Summer managed smile back and one of her hands reached out to Warspite. Warspite took it, giving it a soft squeeze as she realized that Summer had initiated contact with her for the first time.

She glanced down at Ron, who gave her a smile. "Good job." She said quietly, raising a hand to ruffle his hair. "Good job."

Ron nodded, letting Summer sob out her happiness against his shoulder.

Unseen by either of them, a small light in a dark soul grew. Swelling larger and larger, blazing light where there was nothing before. Hope, where none had ever rested.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
AN: Bit slower than last week but hey... Hopefully you all enjoy.

Questions and comments welcome as always.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part VII)...

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

"What?"

Masamune-no-Tokunotakai, the Masamune of the Warrior's Virtues, Consecrated (and now blooded) Blade of Hachiman, and a shrine maiden for four centuries stared into the eyes of the Tsukumogami standing next to her. Very slowly an ahoge on her head stood upright and began to slowly rotate in a circle as a large drop of sweat rolled down her forehead.

Facing Toku, Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler, eldest daughter of Muramasa-no-Norimune, secret identity of the erotic literature heroine 'Lady Chastity Dovesworth', the ICW's #7 Most Wanted Criminal for serial violations of the Statute of Secrecy (NOT HER FAULT!), and all around Gentlewoman Adventuress across four continents tipped her head to the side, puffed out her lips, raised her eyebrows and gave a Gallic Shrug.

"Play somefing else, Claire-wairie! More Disney!" The younger of the two jorogumo said with an adorable lisp and the waving of all eight legs as her older sibling gave a drunken cheer.

They turned as one back to the open door to the study to see Kasuyu take another tray of espresso shots from the dumbwaiter (along with a Kaisermelange in a large mug with whipped creme and chocolate for Claire at the piano plus a bottle of cognac for the piano to flavor it to suit).

Ehren hugged the tanuki cub in her arms and began to scratch the Yokai behind her ears as she nodded to her mother after catching Colombe's eyes. Clearly the dagger either lacked self-preservation, or was insanely brave.

Claire rubbed her hands together with an ear-to-ear grin normally associated with Mad Science (or Muramasas) and launched into a chipper piano piece as the sky through the window lightened with the coming of dawn.
Spoiler: A Shot of Espresso...

"In ev'ry job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap!
The job's a game!"

Muramasa and Masamune turned to each other and nodded as one. Colombe reached out and gently closed the door partway as the singing began inside her study again. "So, do you wish to see the rest of the castle, To-chan?" Colombe asked faintly with a pleading look in her eyes.

"And ev'ry task you undertake
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see that..."

"Hai, Co-chan. I would like a tour. A very long tour." Toku was biting her lip to avoid laughing like a hyena.

"A Shot of Espresso helps the medicine go down!
The medicine go down-wown!
The medicine go down!
Just a Shot of Espresso helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way!"

Colombe made her way down the hall at a very brisk walk that Tokunotakai matched. An uncharitable observer might call it a retreat from deadly danger, but of course neither Muramasas nor Masamunes ran from anything. Certainly not a sing-along of Disney tunes with a drunken Jorogumo maiden at 5 AM.

"I would be relieved and honored to give you that tour as your hostess. The family castle dates to the 16th century when my family was granted our landholding here from the Duke of Lorraine, and then that was confirmed by Empress Maria Therese to my father in 1716 when he was awarded the title of Marquess of Chasteler." Colombe explained to the fascinated Masamune as they walked down the upstairs hallway, pointing out some of the artifacts that she and her family had collected over the last three centuries.

"This painting dates from the summer of 1719," Colombe hesitated as she paused in front of a group portrait of five children and two dogs. "I... am the girl on the far left."
Spoiler: Colombe And Her Family

Toku blushed slightly at the image of the young woman in a white dress looking at the artist with an unamused smug stare. "Who are the others, your siblings?"

"Oui, Papa's legitimate children. I am standing beside Marie-Claire du Chasteler, my younger half-sister by three years. She married Gustave Visart de Bury et de Bocarmé and they perished in the Terror in Metz in 1791. I... was closest to her and was unable to save her, but I rescued her young grandson Julien Visart de Bocarmé of whom I shall speak more anon," The rapier's voice was very controlled and a tear trickled down her face. "In the center is my elder brother François Gabriel Joseph du Chasteler de Courcelles, a half-year older than I am. He inherited from Papa in 1762 and then I fought against Napoleon alongside his eldest son Johann Gabriel Josef Albert du Chasteler de Courcelles, whose only daughter Marie-Josephe Julie Feliciane du Chasteler married into the German Potters to end that branch of the family, whereupon the title passed to Marie-Claire's branch. To the right are my two youngest siblings. Marie-Joseph Julie du Chasteler is five here and later became Countess de Baillencourt, but died in childbirth and her infant firstborn son did not survive her. Last but not least, the baby is my youngest brother François Antoine Marie Chrétien du Chasteler. He only had one child, Gérard-Arnoult-Frédéric-Gabriël du Chasteler, whose only daughter Ida-Hélène-Caroline du Chasteler married Julien Visart de Bocarmé, her cousin through Marie-Claire's family branch, to continue the family."

Colombe took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and bowed her head as she whispered. "Papa was what is called a Squib, a member of a magical family that has little magic and is outcast from magical society. In his case, his family of the French Malfoys helped place him among the nonmagical nobility so he became a du Chasteler. Some of his descendants had the Talent, I was one of course, and went to the wizarding academy of Beauxbatons in Southern France in 1718. Later Marie-Josephe became a full witch, but because of political difficulties between France and Austria at the time, instead trained at Hogwarts, where she met Hans Potter, whom she later wed. At most we thought that we had inherited the extended vigor of mages amongst the other lines, and we knew of magic of course, but..."
Spoiler: The du Chasteler's Dark Secret

Toku watched as the rapier trembled in the grip of some strong emotions as her tears fell and fists balled up then nodded decisively. "You deserve to know. Come with me, please, To-chan."

With that Colombe gestured sharply and marched down the corridor, pausing at a magically warded door. She disarmed the curses and hexes on the door, summoned a key to unlock it, then pushed it open with a groan of rust from the hinges. Inside the revealed room, office furnishings were covered with dustcloths and dusty cobwebs covered the surfaces, a far cry from the clean and well maintained other areas of the castle.

Colombe walked to the corner where a framed picture was placed facing the wall and covered by a dustcloth.

She grasped the dirty cloth with both hands after turning it around and her knuckles turned white as she trembled.

She bowed her head and whispered in a pained voice as Toku watched silently.

"We were all terribly wrong. On October 13th, 1830, my niece Ida-Hélène-Caroline du Chasteler gave birth to a son with the Talent. A son who nearly dishonored us, destroyed us with his plotting, kinslaying, treachery, lies, and Dark Magic...." With that she pulled the dustcloth off the framed photograph of a corpulent man, who smiled jovially.

"Hello Aunt Colombe. It has been far too long," said the magical image of Hippolyte Visart de Bocarmé du Chasteler.

Tokunotakai's eyes widened in shock at the sight.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part VIII)...

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

Hippolyte Visart de Bocarmé du Chasteler's Office
Spoiler: A Family Chat

"Hello Aunt Colombe. It has been far too long," said the magical image of Hippolyte Visart de Bocarmé du Chasteler from inside the dusty photograph frame glimmering with charmwork.
Spoiler: Hippolyte Visart de Bocarmé du Chasteler

As Tokunotakai stared in shock, the photograph leaned back and stroked his beard thoughtfully as he smiled the happy smile of a child at Christmas who had just found a long-awaited present under a tree.

"How long has it been this time? No, no Aunt Colombe, let me guess! Hmmm... I'll say fifteen years this time." He stared into his grand-aunt's eyes as he spoke in that warm friendly voice.

Colombe shook her head and responded automatically as if she was in a trance. "Twenty-three years, Nephew."

"You are getting better, Aunt Colombe. That is actually a new record." Hippolyte laughed happily as the Muramasa in front of him snarled and then slammed her fist into the picture frame. Charmwork flashed and vanished as Hippolyte looked at a gold watch. "Fifty-three seconds this time. Tsk tsk tsk. I expected better of you. Pity."

Colombe teared up and Tokunotakai gasped as the expression of agony on her face.

"Why hello, we have an audience! This is a first!" Hippolyte cocked his head curiously. "Please come where I can see you. I don't bite, not anymore."

Tokunotakai moved alongside the frozen Colombe.

The photo rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he studied her. "Hm, you don't look Austrian, much less like a piano. So you cannot be Cousin Claire, non?"

"No, I am Masamune-no-Tokunotakai."

Toku shook her head, feeling the cold eyes bore into her condescendingly as he shrugged. "Pity, Colombe told me so much about her little girl. That was the subject of our last conversation, you know."

Colombe twitched.

"I think she thought to throw the fact that she had a child that she was so proud of in my face. Tell me that she had finally won, finally wiped out what I represent to her. What I represent to her family."

Blood dripped from Colombe's fists where her nails cut through her skin as she breathed harshly.

"Fortunately for her, I set her straight. It is what I do now. You see, she's such a poor liar, she lies to herself constantly. She even believes her own lies if you can imagine that. But I'm enchanted to always tell her the truth that she doesn't want to hear but knows that she needs. That little drip, drip, drip of acid on the steel of her soul to scour it clean of all the shit she rubs on it."

Tokunotakai narrowed her eyes slightly. "I find that hard to believe. She has described you to me. Traitor. Kinslayer. Murderer. Slaver." The Masamune's voice was calm.

Hippolyte laughed conspiratorially. "Well, she's not that different than me, deep down. I was her liege lord, head of the Du Chasteler family and a Councilor of King Leopold II of the Belgians when she ran me through, right over there. She's never cleaned up the bloodstain on the hardwood either, I wonder what our Papa would say to that? That's why she has been scared to have that painting of him that she worships enchanted like I am. Because then she would have to listen to him correct his disobedient bastard daughter."

Colombe gasped and tears trickled down her face as she shook her head in half-hearted denial.

"So that's treason against her family and her King right there as an act of kinslaying with the bonus of making a mess in here like the unruly bastard child that she is. Murder too, and I'd recommend asking her how many other people she has killed for her own 'reasons' over the past... three centuries now! New milestone for you, Aunt Colombe!"

Colombe winced and then gave Hippolyte a hate-filled furious stare.

"Let's see that leaves slavery. Oh, yes, after she killed me, she headed straight to the Congo and claimed Kasuyu. He's bound by an Unbreakable Oath to serve the chieftain who holds that axe of his after claiming it in ritual combat. Sounds like slavery to me and he's even a nice strapping black buck."

Hippolyte grinned at Toku and raised a finger triumphantly. "Aha, I have it! Asian girl, swordswoman's posture... You wouldn't be the legendary Miko Punchable Face, would you? She told me all about defeating you in the 1880s, you would think that Aunt Colombe was a lovestruck maiden at times! Although she's not been a 'maiden' since her Fourth Year at Beauxbatons when she gave up mooning over her Charms instructor and decided to seduce her roommate as second best."

Colombe snarled despairingly, "Leave To-chan out of this! SHUT! UP!"

"To-chan? To-chan is it? That's a sign of affection, you know. Oh well, I suppose since love and hatred are almost the same thing, just a little nudge to turn one to the other, I'd watch my step around her. Aunt Colombe can be so very dangerous, like a rabid mongrel dog when she loses control. Unlike me, who always was in control." Hippolyte smirked smugly.

Tokunotakai narrowed her eyes at the photograph. "You know far far more than you should about her. I wonder why she keeps an onryō bound in here, especially you." Her voice was calmly conversational and coolly polite.

"Well to the first, I was a prodigy at Legilimency. The greatest practitioner that Beauxbatons ever turned out they said. Then, I studied Aunt Colombe for decades, even before she returned home from her failure to find her father. After all, she was such a good pawn in my plans and still is."

Colombe punched the frame again. "You lie! I am not your pawn!!" She sobbed and hugged herself as her head lowered. "I'm NOT!"

Hippolyte laughed cruelly, "She is so easy to move around at my whim. Then as to the second, well I had planned to entrap her spirit in here, and had spent decades making this container immune to her steel and her powers. So as I bled out over there I... transferred my soul to here. Just as planned."

Tokunotakai nodded slowly. "Quite clever, and of course, someone like her could not destroy you when you taunted her then, and she gave up the attempt after one failure too many." The corner of her mouth quirked.

"Why thank you, Miss Tokunotakai. And yes, amazing that a brutish fool weapon like her attracted someone of superior class and breeding and brains like you. I suppose that opposites attract."

Toku nodded and went down on one knee in front of the photograph. "I must kneel to the superior intellect and understanding. I shall ask, though. Why does she come back here when it hurts her so?"

Hippolyte grinned in smug triumph. "Why because I'm family. All the family that she has left in the world. And if she abandoned me, abandoned her fool attempts to redeem me, to defeat me, she would have to admit to herself that she broke and dishonored the Du Chasteler family utterly with her actions by killing my body over there."

Toku's hand gripped her sheath and her thumb rested on her tsuba, as the dove on it began to glow a gentle white. "Go on~"

"So you see, if I stay here and keep beating my brainless brute of an aunt in our conversations, I win. If she breaks her honor code by abandoning family, I win. I can't be defeated!" Hippolyte gloated as he spoke triumphantly. "Sooner or later, she will break, and I have all the time in the world to keep driving wedges into her soul."

Tokunotakai's thumb twitched, exposing a quarter-inch of her steel. "Flawless logic. Except for one minor factor you overlooked~." Her voice was calm and conversational.

"What?" The ghost's face was puzzled.
Spoiler: Masamune and Yūrei

The Masamune's eyes filled with resolute fire as she blurred into an iaido strike, her blade glowing incandescent blood-red as the kanji for Honor shone on it brilliantly. "Me. Jyourei Youshouha!"

Hippolyte screamed in agony as the Masamune cut through his spellwork and the transfigured clear topaz of the 'glass' as if it was cheap cloth to slam into his spirit.

"Impossible!" Hippolyte's eyes locked on Tokunotakai's as he exerted his will to try to break the Masamune to his whims like he had broken a young Muramasa once.

But Masamune steel does not break to one such as him.

Colombe's head snapped up and she stared in disbelief at the sight of her Nemesis in his death struggle.

Toku showed teeth in her serene smile as she twisted the sword impaling the ghost, channeling her fighting spirit into her blazing blade as it tore into his ghost as his will faltered and the beginnings of the fear of defeat appeared in his eyes.

"Incorrect, Hippolyte-san. I was forged and consecrated to do just this. Co-chan is inexperienced in the matters of the spirit where you tormented her until now. But I am not. Opposites attract, yes, and we are two sides of the same coin, two parts of a greater whole." Her voice was solemn, polite... and utterly merciless.

Hippolyte looked desperately at Colombe as ghastly wounds formed on his image. "M-mercy! You must stop her, A-aun-n-nt C-c-c-olo-o-omb-b-b-e! W-w-w--e-e-e-e are f-f-f-fam---i---l-l-l----y"

Colombe looked back and forth between Toku and Hippolyte and shook her head. "Non. Not any more. Not since you betrayed what it is to be du Chasteler." Her voice was pain-filled but as unyielding as her steel.

Toku's steel flashed too bright to see, illuminating the room with a blood-red light that cast no shadows.

The photograph frame shattered with the sound of a despairing scream suddenly cut off and the light then faded.

Masamune-no-Tokunotakai automatically cleaned her blade off before resheathing it, then chanted in Japanese. She moved her fingers in a mandala as a wheel of four floating ghost lights rotated around her, flashing forest green, red-orange, aquamarine blue, and and eerie white. She slowly turned in a circle, and then nodded in serene satisfaction, dismissing the onibi lights with a wave of her hand.

Colombe swallowed twice and whispered, "is it over?"

Toku nodded. "It is. He was a powerful onryō indeed. But he no longer has power over you or in here."

Colombe began to cry as Toku gathered her in a hug.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part IX)...

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

Hippolyte Visart de Bocarmé du Chasteler's Office

Colombe stared at the place where the magical photograph of Hippolyte had rested for over a century in numb shock.

Tears trickled down her face slowly as Tokunotakai gently hugged her.

Toku guided her to a cloth-covered couch and cradled her as they took a seat.

Dust puffed up from the couch as Colombe buried her face in the Masamune's chest and whispered.

"I... I---"

Colombe swallowed as the dam inside her started to crack.
Spoiler: Catharsis

Walls of stoic duty, of honor, of nobility, built over centuries of life to protect a wounded spirit from the judgement of her peers trembled and began to spring leaks.

"I c-can't believe---"

Tears stained Toku's shirt as Colombe suddenly grabbed her as hard as she could.

The Masamune quietly endured the hug, gently embracing the Muramasa around the waist.

"H-h-he was so friendly... so charming."

Colombe's voice cracked and broke as the jagged-edged fragments of sentences tumbled forth from the breaches in her defenses.

"I was such a f-f-f-failure--- lost the duel.... lost my father then...."

Decades of regrets.

"...relied on him, he was so confident...strong where I was w-w-w-weak."

Decades of nights where a tormented soul could could not sleep.

"Never suspected that he had murdered poor Ida-Hélène and Julien to gain power. Blinded myself to the little hints. Was not there for them, didn't stop him, didn't see what he was like...."

Decades of failures eating away at her spirit.

"...sent me to fight and die in the Franco-Prussian War...then in Paris he hit me with a Dark Curse that nearly killed me... Barely dragged myself into a gutter as the Kaiser marched in triumphantly...."

Decades of defeat after defeat.

"...he was so c-c-c--caring, said he would nurse me back to health. He would handle the family while I recovered...."

Decades of evil disguised as caring.

"...trusted him! Never suspected where the money I signed over to him was going...."

Decades of trust betrayed by close family.

"...what the ingredients he shipped from the Congo were for...never suspected why his new maid 'left unexpectedly' that day and I never saw her again...."

Decades of blindness, looking the other way rather than face the uneasy suspicions that something was wrong.

"...sent me to the Congo at last in 1895. Told me that he needed someone that he could trust to handle an audit of the business that we---that I relied on to support the family..."

Decades of being moved around as a pawn with a sentence here, a soft word there, a falsely compassionate smile, a gentle hand on the shoulder.

"....didn't have a choice, his hit wizards had me pinned down so I had to ignite the granary. Explosion killed dozens as fires spread and I ran for the river..."

Words only gasped into a tear-soaked pillow in a pitch-black unlit room in an empty castle haunted by the ghosts of her past before now.

"...cut off the hands to show that they had used the ammunition to kill natives. One bullet for one right hand....

Words now gasped into the tear soaked shirt of a Masamune blade as matching tears trickled from blue-green eyes full of compassion and love.

"...he had taught his manager how to use the Imperius Curse to have his way with the young girls of the district...dead eyes, no life in them any more even as they waited on us hand and foot at the banquet when I arrived at the trading station...."

Words falling faster and faster in razor shards of agony piled upon agony.

"...I thought the worst was over, that Hippolyte would get me out of the horrors here...no one cared, not the King, not the nobility, not the Governor-General, it was just a place to make money with rubber and ivory....HE KNEW!"

Falling in a stream of pain and regret.

"HE BETRAYED US! HE BETRAYED PAPA AND I HELPED HIM DO IT!"

Screams of guilt and self-loathing as Toku's arms tightened around Colombe while she shook like a tree in a hurricane.

"---I helped him do it. I should have known better---and I helped him do it---"

Sobs of shame and guilt at innocence betrayed and lost, at honor stained by blind trust given to one unworthy of it.

"...Couldn't let him get away with it. Burned the station and started walking back here..."

Gasped out words revealing that death would have been too good for her failure.

"....hadn't drunk for four days, not even rainwater....didn't care that the hot spring was yellow with sulfur and boiling. Drank it like a dog because I was too weak to stand...crawled the next day across the rock of the lava flow until a storm rained on me. Somehow made it to a stream and drank until I was sick...."

Words revealing that living was hard. Living was penance for her sins.

"...I must have looked like a skeleton to those railway workers when I collapsed at their feet. One of them fed me pieces of hardtack as I got carried back on an empty car for a fresh load of timber for the bridge that they were building. Never knew his name...."

Words showing that pain was all she felt that she deserved for what she did. What she allowed to be done.

"....Wasn't going to let him get away with it. Rode straight here from Marseille as soon as my ship docked. Didn't sleep, didn't eat. All I could feel was hatred...."

Words now falling in a raging torrent faster and faster carrying two swords along a river of pain as dams shattered and walls collapsed forever.

"...Imperiused me...most wonderful feeling I have ever known. Nothing mattered, it was like watching myself in a dream as he ordered me to place my blade at my neck...."

Tokunotakai's arms tightening as she realized where a near-invisible scar on Colombe's neck came from.

"....so tired...wanted to just let it end when my blade parted my skin. He wanted to make it slow because I was such a nuisance to him. Wanted to gloat as he sat back down behind the desk..."

Words now falling slower as the raging torrent finally began to subside.

"...don't know how I broke free then as I cut deeper. Maybe it was him slipping, I couldn't have fought him any more. Just wanted to die...it was no more than I deserved..."

Words falling slower and slower as a Muramasa released all the tears that she had hidden over a century behind her walls.

"...lunged then, pinning him to his chair with my blade through his throat. Stared into his eyes as the light started to fade as he choked on his own blood helplessly, wanted him to feel the pain he gave me, wanted him to suffer like I had...."

Words falling one by one now as Colombe trembled helplessly as she recounted a victory turned to ashes in her mouth.

"...he smiled triumphantly at me...then I heard his voice from behind me, from the photograph....Congratulating me for furthering his plans. Telling me that he was now immortal and thanks to his blood mingled with mine on my true body, one day he would claim me, as was his right as head of the family..."

A death grip on the Masamune of the Warrior's Virtues relaxing step by step as a final trickle of words were whispered.

"...locked him away, but I couldn't stop going back to try to confront him....told me that I was no more than a foolish sword, only good to be a tool of her betters. Sometimes---sometimes I believed him. Damn me, I believed him."

Silence, then a gentle hand on a chin raised tear-stained and red-rimmed vulnerable crystal blue eyes to meet equally tear-stained and vulnerable blue-green. A serene, loving smile and a gentle kiss on the lips, then one final set of words echoed in a room haunted too long by the ghosts of the past.

"Anata o hontōni aishiteimasu, Co-chan."

Words declaring love and acceptance that become the balm on a bleeding soul now that the festering wound has been lanced and the poison accumulated has been drained. That no longer must Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler suffer alone.

A.N.-A big shout-out to Spectral Waltz here for the inspiration for this. Thank you very much!

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

"Isn't this exciting, Stab!"

Grumbling a little, the Re-Class' tail huffed, "No." At the frown, Stab made a motion as it to roll his non-existent eyes, "What? It's just some game."

For several moments, Reivana held her face in her hands before giving her tail a look, "Stab, it is not just a game! This is a major sport for this community! And our Princess wants for me to see such an event and report back to her about it personally!"

A sigh made her turn to where the pregnant Isley sat. The Princess in question giving the Re-Class a raised eyebrow, "And do you know why Aunt Porta wanted for you to come and see it?" Not getting an answer, she smiled slightly, "As she would put it, one can learn much about another culture by observing their favourite pastimes and games. Through your observances, she can get a better idea of the Wizarding World, or at least Wizarding Britain at least."

Slowly, Reivana gave a nod, "That makes sense, I guess?" She then perked up some, "But that still leaves the fact that she chose me to come!"

Only shaking her head, Isley smiled slightly at the other Abyssal. Of course, that was when Stab "Looked" at her, "So why are you coming to this then?"

Ignoring the motions from the Re-Class for him to shut up, the Princess shook her head, "Myself? It is for a more personal reason, I am afraid." Seeing the undisguised interest, she nodded, "One of those playing today will be my dear Sirius' godson, Harry Potter. And I hope to support him since my husband to be cannot."

Head tilting to the side, Stab nodded a bit, "Okay, I suppose that is a good enough reason."

Reivana just gave a small shrug and shook her head, "I am excited to be able to see Hermione again. She said that we might be able to go and look at the Hogwarts library." Clapping her hands, she sighed some, "It supposedly has the most magical knowledge in all of Britain going back a thousand years! Just thinking about all those books, just waiting to be read..."

A shudder went through the Abyssal which amused Isley before the other Abyssal shook her head. For his part, Stab looked at his partner and snorted, "Just remember, Hermione is supposed to be undercover or something here. Don't know why..."

Huffing, Reivana frowned a bit, "I know, Stab! And I am more than able to keep quiet." At the look she for, she scowled, I am! And I remember that I am supposed to state that I met her one day at a library near a base. Our Princess did pick me for a reason!"

That, however, only got a noncommittal grunt from her tail. Looking out the window of the carriage that they were in, Isley perked up some, "And that must be Hogwarts. It is just like Sirius said it was like."

Now looking out herself, Reivana felt her eyes widen a touch and her eyebrows raise, "That's Hogwarts? Huh..." Pulling out a camera, she began to take picture after picture. At the look she got, she shrugged, "Rigar might like to know how the castle is designed."

Frowning, the Abyssal Princess places a hand over her stomach, "From what Sirius told to me, the castle's insides often rearrange themselves. So I suppose that the outside is the one constant."

Utterly confused by that, Stab shared a look with Reivana before turning towards Isley, "Why the heck would they do that? Wouldn't they get all confused in regards to it?"

Isley simply shrugged, "From what I know? They do it simply because they can. Or that seems to be the usual for wizards. Even Sirius did not know how or why they would do such a thing."

Needless to say, that got her a very odd look from Reivana, "Because... they can?" She threw her hands up into the air due to the amused nod from Isley, "But that makes no sense! The waste of resources and the like is... is... boggling! Why would you have a castle where it rearranges itself?!"

Leaning back in her chair, the Abyssal Princess just chuckled, "I don't know, Reivana. But it could be just to amuse themselves as the armour also moves and the paintings do as well."

Just giving her a look, Reivana grumbled a bit before noticing that Stab had paused and was looking at the castle in confusion, interesting, and some wariness, "Stab? What's wrong?"

Glancing at his other half, literally, Stab looked back at the castle, "Check your IFFs, Reivana. There's... something there."

Confused, the Re-Class did so. Moments later, she paled even more than one could think was possible, "There's an Abyssal War Demon operating as a Flagship there?! And one that is serving multiple fleets?!"

Instead of panicking, Isley only looked intrigued and nodded to herself, "I believe that would be my Sirius' godson, Harry." At the confusion, she gave a small shrug, "From what he knows, Hoppou and Wanko have both accepted him into their fleets and given him the honorary position of 'War Demon Flagship' with an IFF somehow. Not sure how..." Frowning, the Abyssal hummed, "Something to look into for my dear Sirius, I suppose..."

Utterly lost, Reivana slumped back in her seat and furrowed her eyebrows, "Oh..."

It was not too long after when they reached the castle and stepped out of the carriages. Walking up to the front of them, Isley giggled a bit as she pat the Thestral that was there. In return, said horse-like being nuzzled her hand and gave a snort, "So adorable!"

Glancing at it, Reivana nodded some, "I suppose so..." Briefly, she had the image of a splendid carriage pulled by a number of thestrals, her Princess inside of it, 'I wonder if her Majesty would like such...'

Her thoughts were interrupted by a chuckle though, "Aye, they're adorable little beasties." Turning, Reivana's eyes widened at the sight of the biggest human that she had ever seen in her life. He stood taller than even Ocean Liner Demon. He was also wider as well, which made her boggle. The man turned to her with two black eyes that twinkled in amusement and held out one massive hand, "'Ello, Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper o' Keys and the Grounds here at Hogwarts as well as Care of Magical Creatures Professor. Pleased ta meet yeh."

Quickly, Reivana shook it off and grasped his hand, "Um, Reivana, Emissary of Her Majesty Porta..."

As she continued, Hagrid only nodded along until she was done before turning to Isley and looking down at her midsection. Chuckling, he gave her a smile before holding out his hand to her, "And here we got th' one woman ever to snare Sirius Black. He is making yeh an honest woman, is he not? Or else I mighta have ta talk wit him..."
Lips twitching, the Abyssal Princess shook her head in amusement, "No need for that, Mister Hagrid. Sirius is going to marry me once he is a free man and... I cannot wait."

That got a laugh from the giant and he nodded, "Aye, tha's good ta hear." Turning, he motioned for them to follow, "Anyways, Headmaster Dumbledore, great man he is, asked fer me ta bring the three of yeh inside."

Blinking, Stab muttered to himself, "Huh... at least he noticed me... That's something."

Upon entering the Great Hall, both Abyssals paused a bit as they noticed another Abyssal Princess walk up to Hagrid and give him a hug who they felt appear a few moments before somehow. From what they could overhear, this was 'Wanko', the Harbour Princess from the Timor Sea. But... there was something else.

It was obvious that she was a Princess of course, that went without saying. But there was also something... else. A faint echo in her, as if something had been torn from her. The echo reminded them uncomfortably of Porta for some reason, though why... and why the echo filled them with a sense of wrongness as if it should not have been an echo, but something else, they did not know...

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 73: Savato93

There was a knock at the door.

Dumbledore looked up from the paper in his hands. Setting it down, the Headmaster stood up from his desk and stepped around to the front. "You may enter," he announced.

The door to his office creaked open slowly, and a head of white hair and small horns peeked out from the side. "Hello…" the small Abyssal said quietly.

Dumbledore smiles softly. "Ah, Princess Hoppou. Mister Potter warned me you might come by." He made a beckoning gesture. "Please, come in. Have a seat." Hoppou nodded, closing the door behind her, before following the wizard back over to his desk. Dumbledore returned to his seat as the Princess clambered up into a chair in front of him, reaching into a drawer and producing a small candy to offer to her. "Care for a lemon drop?"

Hoppou mulled it over for a moment before shrugging and accepting the candy. "Thank you," she said, pocketing the lemon drop for later.

"Now then…" Dumbledore said, clasping his hands on the desk in front of him. "I was told you have some questions you wish to ask?"

Hoppou nodded. "Yes." She reached into her hold, pulling out a simple picture frame. Leaning the frame against the edge of the desk, she waited for the Headmaster's nod of approval before setting it flat on the surface. "Big Brother said wizards can take normal pictures, and make them move around. Is that right?"

Dumbledore hummed thoughtfully. "Yes, that is true. For paintings and portraits, of course, it requires the application of magic as the work is painted. But in the case of photographs, the process is relatively simple: one just needs to apply a particular potion to a photo in order to animate it. May I?" When Hoppou nodded, he reached out and gently pulled the frame closer to get a better look. In the picture, Hoppou stood on an asphalt surface with well over a dozen Ru-class battleships beside and behind her; based on what he knew of the small Princess, he presumed these were some of the offspring she lost when the rest of her kind turned on her. "Are you seeking to animate this image, and possibly others, to serve as memorials for the fallen?" He asked, returning the picture.

At this, Hoppou shook her head. "Not exactly." She then produced a small stone sculpture, which seemed to depict an Abyssal destroyer, turning it over in her mittened hands. "If you can make drawings and pictures move… can the same be done with statues? Or carvings in a wall?"

The wizard brought a hand to his chin. "Hm… easier said than done. The most common way a physical work would be animated is through a certain charm…" pulling out his wand, he pointed it at the tiny sculpture. "Piertotum Locomotor."

There was a small green glow from the little destroyer carving. A couple of seconds later it began to move, trotting around a wide-eyed Hoppou's open palms and exploring its surroundings. "There are issues with this, however. For one, the animated object would not be moving in a static loop, like portraits or pictures. It would be obeying the caster's directions. Backflip!" At Dumbledore's command, the little destroyer hopped in Hoppou's hands, rotating backwards 360 degrees before landing on its stubby feet again, making the Princess giggle. "The second such issue would be that the charm is not permanent," Dumbledore continued.

Once he released the spell, the destroyer relaxed in Hoppou's palm, becoming inert once more. "Now, I do not immediately recall a procedure for animating physical works in the same manner as pictures…" Dumbledore said as he pocketed his wand. As the Princess started to frown in disappointment, he held up a finger. "However, if you allowed me time to conduct some research on the subject, I may be able to locate someone who possesses the knowledge you are seeking. I should warn you though, creating a magical memorial for all your departed children would be no small task. It's likely that the price to commission such a project would be quite high. Perhaps even higher, given just who—and what—you are.""

The Princess shrugged. "Okay. Hoppou can be patient. And expensive work is not too scary—if some meanie tries being stingy just because Hoppou is Hoppou, she has friends and family to help set them straight!"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Indeed." Bringing out some parchment and grabbing his quill, the wizard quickly put down some notes as a reminder to look into animating sculptures for the Princess. "Very well, then… If I locate something of note, I will notify Mister Potter, and he can pass the information onto you." He looked back up to Hoppou. "Do you have any other questions you would like answered?"

Hoppou thought about the question for a moment before answering. "Yes, actually. Hoppou wanted to ask about… Well, Big Brother told Hoppou that wizards…" She twirled her hand in circles next to her temple. "They can pull... stuff, out of their head. Memories. Make it so other people can look at them, too."

Dumbledore nodded. "That would be pensieves, that you're speaking of. They are a potent magic, capable of recreating one's thoughts with near-perfect clarity. It is not something to be taken likely…"

"Hoppou can understand that. Memories can be very special, or important." The Princess's gaze fell back to the little destroyer sculpture. "But warning aside, if Hoppou could pull memories out of her head… could it be possible to…" she tapped the side of her head, then tapped the sculpture. "...put them INTO something? Make it so person can see memories by touching that object?"

For a few seconds, Dumbledore was silent. Eventually, he arched an eyebrow slightly. "It sounds as if you have… quite a lofty goal in mind. Would you care to enlighten an old man on just what you seek to create?"

Hoppou nodded, smiling slightly. "Hoppou can do that…"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part X)...

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

After a moment, Colombe swallowed and hugged Tonunotakai close to her. She whispered hoarsely, "thank you To-chan."

Toku smiled back and returned the hug, "You are welcome, Co-chan."

Colombe gave a weak smile. "We should not be found here. This place...."

Tokunotakai nodded as she placed her hand on Colombe's shoulder and squeezed gently. "It needs to be cleansed and purified, yes. The worst is over in here, but I would not wish anyone unprepared to enter."

Colombe nodded as she released Toku reluctantly. "Agreed. I'll seal Hippolyte's study back up. It will take some time to process this all."

Tokunotakai made a sound of agreement as they stood. "Hauntings normally do, yes. Especially a bad one such as what you experienced."

Colombe looked curiously at Toku as she locked the door and reactivated some of the wards. "You have experience with this sort of thing before?"

Toku nodded, "Hai. As a miko, I have been called on to intercede with the spirits often. Both those benevolent to ask for assistance from the kami, and at times to deal with the darker sort. Grudges that fester, possession by kitsune fox-spirits, those evildoers who cling to existence on this plane. I must confess that I wished that I had brought along some of my tools for such matters. It would have made matters in there significantly easier."

Colombe turned and looked at Tokunotakai, seeing the minute slump of the Masamune's shoulders. "After the tour, let's get cleaned up and then take a nap. This has been one hell of a morning."

"Agreed. So, what is next?" Toku asked curiously.

"Well this hall leads around the matching image of the rooms in the East wing. All these are closed up, though, since the family has...shrunk." Colombe's voice was quiet and sad as she walked down the hall.
Spoiler: Memories of Moulbaix

(incidentally, in a few decades, that exact piece will be played almost exactly that way by the du Chasteler-Potter family with Tony, Therese, and Amélie on Violin, Henriette and Giuseppe on Viola, Franz on Cello, Ludwig on Double Bass, Yoko on Koto (instead of the lute here), and Birthday Girl Johanna on her harpsichord body conducting)

Colombe stopped and rested her fingertips on a chipped hardwood door. "This was the nursery once. I.... My first memories of home are here." She bowed her head and rested her forehead against the wood as she whispered quietly.

Toku embraced Colombe from behind around the waist as she spoke equally quietly. "And one day it can be our daughter's first memories of her home. Norimune's... ahh..." The Masamune blushed pink, "exploits proved that we shall have a child of our own some day. Once we are ready."

Colombe hesitantly placed her hands over Tokunotakai's where they cradled her belly and gently squeezed them. "Oui, once we are ready."

After long moments, Colombe stirred. "There is very little to see here, or perhaps more accurately, it could take me a week to go through everything, and I would still have much to say. When Hippolyte... died... in 1899 the castle was placed in receivership since he died heirless, and I purchased the estate outright in 1900, although that nearly beggared me. Many of the furnishings were placed into storage during that time and I did not get around to moving back into the castle until 1919. I would have to search for some of the items I know are stored either here or in the attics that dominate the third and top floor."

Toku blinked as she parsed the sentence. "So, what did you do in the interim? I knew about a mess in Sarajevo in 1914...?"

Colombe shrugged as she led the way to a spiral staircase in the northwest tower. "I, incorrectly as it turned out, thought that Kasuyu had corrupted Hippolyte when I found Hippolyte's diaries in a search of his room. He had dealings with a fellow Dark Magician in the Congo, and Kasuyu was the enslaved go-between in a sense. So I elected to track down Kasuyu and finally ran Kasuyu's old master to ground in the Congo in 1902."

Colombe barked a laugh as they descended. "I was persona non grata in Belgium between my actions in the Congo in 1895 and then skewering my bâtard of a grandnephew. Who, true, was one of that whoreson King Leopold II's Councilors, not that I would ever swear allegiance to a man responsible for the Congo! Loyalty runs both ways." She shook her head and opened the door at the foot of the stairs. "So I decided to get too clever for my own good, sailed to South Africa from London and was going to enter the Congo from the south which turned into a mess and a half. I have my souvenirs from my trek from the Cape to the Equator in the billiard room we shall visit anon."

Colombe pointed at ornately carved wooden doors as they walked past them. "This is our private Catholic family chapel that Hippolyte closed down when the priest 'died of a fever' in 1870. I suspect that Father Pierre may have seen something and been silenced while I was fighting the Prussians."

Toku nodded, "So you are Catholic then?"

"I was baptized Catholic in the village chapel of Ath, four kilometers away along the road from Brussels to Lille. I...fear that I am not a good one. I tried, but I have the feeling that my path perhaps lies in a different direction?" Colombe spoke contemplatively.

Toku smiled and responded in a supportive voice, "I can relate. I am Shinto as you know, but my dear sister Fudo is Nichiren Buddhist. We have had many discussions about paths to enlightenment and truth. One thing that I have learned from them is there are many right paths, and some seekers are suited for different paths than other seekers."

Colombe opened the door at the end of the passage to reveal a dimly lit huge room. "A moment of your time please? Wait here until I call you?" She smirked, grinning smugly.
Spoiler: Colombe's Castle

Toku nodded and watched Colombe walk across the shadowed floor with the ease of someone who knew her home by heart and stop at the grand staircase with one foot on the bottom step. Muramasa steel gleamed with its own light as Colombe drew herself and raised her sword high. "Splendeur de ma jeunesse!"

A wave of magical energy flashed from her steel and hundreds of illusionary candles sprang to life around Colombe as she beckoned Toku to join her. Her clothing wavered and seemed to shift to knee-high black leather boots, buff breeches, and a ruffled white silk shirt under a crimson doublet. A pair of black dueling gloves were jammed in her swordbelt and her free hand held a floppy gray hat with an ostrich plume.

Enthralled, the Masamune walked across the black and white checkerboard of the floor, seeing images of lords and ladies out of the corner of her eyes. Ermine, cloth of gold, ballroom gowns in every color of the rainbow, silk, lace, and satin surrounded her in a ever-changing scene with each step she took.
Spoiler: The Entrance Hall

Suddenly Toku teared up as she saw a group of giggling young children chasing a shaggy dog weave through the ghosts of the past. The golden hair of the skinny girl dressed in boy's clothes and with a smudge of dirt on her cheek leading her brother and sister in mischief was instantly recognizable...

Toku took a step forward and the scene shifted. A teenage Colombe dressed in a sky-blue silk uniform was stifling tears as she entered. A young lady recognizable as Marie-Claire du Chasteler rushed to her side across the floor and hugged her; speaking comforting words as she patted her big sister's shoulder reassuringly...

A step and a Colombe visibly about 20 years old dressed in a jet black 18th Century dress wept uncontrollably as a group of pallbearers led by two priests carried a coffin from the chapel past her and her visibly older brothers and sister. Toku was close enough to the devastated young woman's face to read her lips. "I'm sorry Papa. I'll find my Father..."

Another step and a Colombe that looked slightly older entered. She was clad in mud-spattered rough peasant clothes, visibly injured, and exhausted as she carried a young boy with hair of du Chasteler gold protectively in her arms. An elderly man dressed in a scarlet dressing gown moved to support her as a nursemaid took the terrified child. Colombe shook her head and then wept on his shoulder as his own eyes teared up...

Another step and a group of Napoleonic-era officers in the cream white and scarlet sashes of the Austrian army surrounded her. One of them, with hair of du Chasteler gold turning to silver on his temples, sketched a salute to a smugly grinning Colombe who took his hand with the arm that was not in a bloodstained sling as they watched a bloodstained and shot-torn French battle flag get carried past them in triumph...

Another step and a Colombe, dressed in a man's traveling clothes and suntanned from her travels, hugged a short young woman with hair of du Chasteler gold and a visibly swollen belly visible through her loose dress alongside a man in wizard's robes with messy black hair. Suddenly the three ghosts broke down in laughter at the appearance of a young child with messy du Chasteler hair of gold and jam all over his face...

Another step and another Colombe. This one Toku knew, for this was the Colombe that she had first seen in 1864. Still visibly battered from her fight with Hachiman, she slumped in agonized defeat in front of the portrait at the head of the grand staircase. A short plump man in a frock coat and bowtie entered and gave her a piercing stare before walking to pat her back and speak to her encouragingly. Toku gasped as she recognized a younger Hippolyte...

Another step and a weakened Colombe leaning heavily on a cane spoke to Hippolyte as a group of workmen carried a disassembled piano into the castle past Toku...

Another step and the entrance doors boomed open. The Colombe that staggered inside was exhausted, rail-thin, and looked more dead then alive. But the blazing mad fury in her eyes gave her energy that crackled from her and put the lie to any concept of weakness as she drew her rapier and headed for the study where her treacherous nephew awaited...

Another step and a Colombe with haunted eyes dressed in the uniform of a First World War British soldier fell to her hands and knees in the middle of the empty hall after entering and cried in heaving sobs that shook her whole body...

Another step and a Colombe, dressed in the uniform of an American soldier from the Second World War entered with her sword drawn alongside a Delilah de Breuil with her revolver and wand out. Suddenly Colombe gave a happy relieved smile as Kasuyu appeared with his axe in his hand and ran to hug him...

Another step and this Colombe smirked as she stood next to the staircase below a floating "Happy Birthday!" banner speaking to Jacklyn and Delilah while a red-haired girl with green eyes chatted with an elderly witch. Claire played piano as Colombe's guests serenaded her, and everyone turned as Kasuyu entered with a tray of filled brandy snifters and a large cake shaped like a dumpster fire with 300 in icing on it...

A final step and the last Colombe entered the candlelit hall as a storm raged outside. Ehren descended the staircase with a candelabra raised high, then set it down to walk to her mother to welcome her home with a crushing hug....

The visions faded, leaving just the candles illuminating them as Colombe sheathed her sword and gave a courtly bow that Toku returned.

"Welcome to Castle Moulbaix, To-chan. Welcome to my home."

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

"And here are the kitchens, To-chan." Colombe turned to Toku and pushed the door open. The room beyond was a mix of old and new, with massive stone ovens and a dumbwaiter in one corner with a tray full of empty espresso glasses next to it. Right next to them was a modern refrigerator and microwave.

Tokunotakai nodded and looked curiously at the stainless steel computer controlled espresso machine with a taped sign 'Ehren's Kaffeeausgeburt' on the side.

Colombe smiled helplessly "Claire's doing there. I'll make us something to eat and we can eat here then take the stairs up to my room, To-chan. I trust you don't mind sharing a bed with me?" The rapier's breath caught on the last question.

Toku shook her head and responded gently, "Not at all Co-chan. As long as you wish for me to stay. A room near yours to meditate in and keep some clothes and other possessions would not be amiss though."

Colombe pulled out a loaf of French Bread and began to slice it. "Agreed, I'll get on that along with Kasuyu later. I don't lack for space. I was thinking...I can keep those poor Yokai we rescued here until they get their bearings and we can decide what to do with them. Aunt Chisuheri knows people in the JNHRO and I also need to talk to Delilah about them."
Spoiler: A Conversation Over Lunch

"Hai, hai. I would still wish to speak to the Jorogumo first." Toku gave a beaten-copper bracelet on the counter next to the dumbwaiter a look as Colombe fixed two sandwiches. "Where did the bracelet come from?" She idly rubbed it with a finger as she did so.

Colombe glanced over. "Oh, that's from the 1890s. Hippolyte got it from the Congo... well according to Kasuyu when I asked, it's from a nation south of his in the Congo basin. Maybe up near Kukuanaland. He wasn't sure and I never looked deeply into it with all the other crises demanding my attention back then."

The rapier shrugged and spoke thoughtfully. "Put the glasses in the dishwasher please? I normally have it on display in the Billiard Room down the hall from here along with my African hunting trophies like those elephant tusks you were impressed by. Hippolyte mentioned in his diaries that it was enchanted and at one point manifested a spirit like us, but he figured out how to drain it of energies and put whatever animated it into a coma."

Toku turned white as a sheet and spoke in a shocked voice, "That's horrible!"

"That was Hippolyte." Colombe spoke with considerable venom as she placed a sandwich on the counter for Toku, "Anyway, I used it as a directional scrying focus to track down Kasuyu back in 1902, then had it, Kasuyu, and myself shipped out of the Congo thanks to Reverend Shephard. I wouldn't leave a dead rat in the hands of those cannibals that Kasuyu was stuck with. Found it again after World War II as part of the general housecleaning Kasuyu and I did... maybe in '53? Whatever. Cleaned it up, put the usual maintenance charms on it and put it over by my Zulu knobkerries down in the Billiard Room. Under the lion head from that brute that went for me and Karl Potter in 1905 in North Africa now that I think about it."

Colombe smugged a bit as she took a bite of her roast beef sandwich. "Biggest mistake that lion ever made. Blew him off Karl with a spell then used a combat spell Circe taught me. Arrow of Artemis in fact, which is fitting since she was the Greek god of hunters. Dropped him in his tracks, and splinted up Karl's leg that he broke from where the horse threw him."

Toku listened with interest. "So how did you get the trophy out?"

Colombe shrugged, "Karl was no fool and was damn good at making Portkeys. He enchanted one for our campsite while I put my lion under a stasis spell -- never leave home on a hunting trip without one! -- then I used his Portkey to bring it and me to the German Potters' home, and dropped it off with Johann... their servant and Hunt Master Johann Potter. Good fellow, I wonder what came of him? He shipped it to Moulbaix after he mounted it while I Portkeyed back to Karl."

"Clever." Toku glanced at the bracelet as she said those words, then returned to her sandwich.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part XI)...

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

Colombe finished loading the dishwasher with their plates and the accumulated glassware that the dumbwaiter had stuffed in it.

"I'll put that bracelet back where it belongs. You get used to this kind of thing with children in the house." Colombe shrugged.

Toku shook her head, "We can do that later. For now, we better check on that Jorogumo."

"Point." With that Colombe walked over to a series of brass pipes extending from the roof and bent over the open bell nozzle of one.

"Bonjour, are matters under control up there?" She spoke loudly and distinctly into the tube and waved Toku over.

Ehren's voice sounded from the tube. "Mother! Yes they are. How is your houseguest doing?"

Colombe smirked, "She is doing fine. I'm in the kitchen now, if you need a tray sent up." A fractional pause as Colombe tensed, "I know that you like Bison meat like you shot on your first hunt on Del's game ranch, so should I cook some for the guests?"

Ehren laughed, "Nein, Mutti. There is no need to prepare Antilopenfleisch. Our guests have calmed down somewhat and are quite full of good Schweinswürste. Just bring yourself and our other guest."

"Oui, I shall see you soon then, Ehren. Audieu." Colombe visibly relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Auf Wiedersehn."

She turned to Toku as they headed to a small servant's stairway. "If and when you get invited to Del's ranch, don't mess with the bison there. I don't know what's up with them, or with Ehren out there for that matter, but it is worth your life to hurt those overgrown oxen. If Del doesn't get you for hurting them, Ehren will."

Toku nodded. "So when you mentioned hunting Bison?"

"If someone was faking Ehren's voice, or had her under a spell there's no way in Hell that they could know that during Ehren's first hunt last October she stalked and shot a Pronghorn Antelope." Colombe's voice was full of pride as she climbed the stairs. "Big one too, like top thirty for that state."

"Our eight-legged friends won't have broken into Del's ranch to know about that detail. I have been on military bases that were less secure than her game ranch. I don't even know where the ranch is on a map and I'm certain that is deliberate because Del." Colombe continued as she opened the door at the top of the stairs. "My baby sister plays her cards so close to her chest that she can use them as a bra."

Toku listened with a fascinated look, "So how do you get there?"

Colombe shrugged as she reached her study door, "One time use Portkeys hand delivered to Ehren by Zamarad. As I said, that's Del for you. I'm frankly still shocked that she invited Claire and I along for Ehren's first hunt." Colombe paused, clearly thinking things over, then quietly spoke half to herself, "I'm glad that she did. For Ehren's sake."

Toku raised a mental eyebrow at the implications of that statement as the door opened.

"Mother!" Claire dashed over to hug Colombe and got a hair ruffle in turn.

"It's good to see you too, Claire. Give Mommy a kiss before you get out of your PJs and get dressed?" Colombe had a happy smile on her face.

The piano spirit enthusiastically complied and then hugged Toku briefly. "I'm Claire. It's nice to meet you!" With that she dashed down the hall.

Toku looked at the scene inside. Miho, the injured Jorogumo, was resting her spider body on the bench and was considerably more alert now. The younger and more human jorogumo child and the tanuki child were sitting together in the desk chair playing some kind of colorful educational game on the computer. Ehren meanwhile was leaning against a bookcase with some glimmering enchantments over the shelves next to the matching voice tube while Kasuyu packed up his medical supplies into a clearly space-expanded satchel.

Colombe grinned smugly. "Good work, Ehren, Kasuyu. You have Veritaserum and the antidote in there, right?"

The axe nodded. "Yes Mistress."

"Good, leave them with me, please. Toku and I ate and both of us are running on Japan time here, so go ahead and get freshened up, Kasuyu. I need to have a talk with our unexpected houseguests, so come back here once you are set and we can discuss what to do. Two glasses. I took care of the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen."

The axe pulled out a pair of potion bottles and placed them on the desk, followed by a summoned bottle of water and a pair of glasses.
Spoiler: Miho's Story

"Ehren..." Colombe looked at her younger daughter. "Unless you have something else to do, go ahead and stay. I want your input here."

"Jawohl, Mother." Ehren snapped to parade rest, an effect ruined with her South Dakota T-shirt, sweatpants, and tennis shoes.

Colombe walked over to the glasses and filled them both with water. "Miho. Let me explain what I am doing and why I am doing it. Masamune-no-Tokunotakai," the Jorogumo's eyes widened in shock and she shot a look at Toku who bowed from her position near the door, "has informed me of some of the folk stories about your kind of Yokai."

The Jorogumo spoke softly with desperate pleading, "Not my sister Misaki, she is just a child..."

Colombe raised a hand to cut the spider off. "However, what we have seen of you has put those tales at... some variance with our observations. To that end, I must find out the truth. I will not and cannot allow a dangerous magical predator of humans to threaten my family and those muggles nearby."

The rapier uncorked the Veritaserum and carefully tapped three drops into each cup of water. "This is a truth serum. Until I take the antidote for it in the other bottle I will be unable to tell a lie. Now, you tell me which one of the two glasses of the serum I should drink?"

The Jorogumo was puzzled as she pointed with a bandaged foreleg. "Left."

Colombe took the glass and drank it dry. "I shall now demonstrate. My name is Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler. My name is Tok-k-k-kun---ohh---" She trembled and sweat covered her brow. "Merde, can't do it. That said, my previous statement about my motivation for this test being to protect my family and those under my family's historical rule is true. If you are not a threat to those under my protection, I am not a threat to you and yours, Miho. In this matter I speak for Ehren, Claire, Kasuyu... and Tokunotakai."

Toku nodded, "She speaks for me." Ehren nodded her assent in turn, her face cool and her steel-blue eyes intent on Colombe.

The Jorogumo looked shocked. "You wish me to drink the other glass and tell you of myself?"

Colombe shrugged and handed it over, "Functionally, yes. Before I start the questions, I need you to attempt to tell me a lie that I know is a lie, such as your sister's name after you repeat your real name. That way I know that the serum works on Jorogumo"

The Jorogumo drank the glass dry and handed it back. "Watakushi no namae wa Fujii Miho desu."

Colombe nodded and filled both glasses up with water again. "Now for a lie. What is your name?"

"Watakushi no namae wa Fujii Mis--ssa---aaH" Miho trembled as Colombe's eyes bored into hers. "Enough, I am satisfied. Now for my questions."

"Have you ever killed or eaten a human or another sentient Yokai?"

"Never!!" Miho said hotly. "You must believe me!" Behind her Toku's eyes widened.

"I do believe you. To elaborate, you said earlier that you can eat normal human food, and while you prefer meat, this meat can come from nonsentient sources such as sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, and other animals that a human would eat. That is correct?"

Miho nodded, "Yes it is. Such was what my mother and my mother's mother ate once we were locked away in the Reserve."

Colombe nodded thoughtfully. "You do not have an inborn need or desire to kill humans or other sentients? I'm unfamiliar with spider mating rituals, but for some of them the male does not survive...."

Miho blushed scarlet, "I... I have never mated, but from what my mother told me as a spiderling, we do not have to harm our mates... too much. We must ingest a small amount of blood during the mating cycle to prepare our eggs for fertilization, and before the Reserves we would inject our mate with a venom which is lethal over time thanks to its aphrodisiac effects. But we have learned not to do that. Those that could not learn," her eyes teared up, "the human onmyōji hunted and destroyed them alongside their allies, and those in the Reserve who preyed on other Yokai..."

Miho trailed off and hugged her human torso with her human arms as Toku's hand covered her mouth in horror. Ehren clutched her dagger hilt hard enough for her knuckles to turn white as her lips thinned. Colombe sighed and pinched her nose. "I see. And for what little it is worth now, you have my sincere sympathies. Two more questions. Are the statements that you have given me true to the best of your knowledge for your sister Misaki and... I don't know the name of the tanuki?"

"She is Misaki's best friend Arakaki Chihiro. And they are both innocent of the crimes that you have questioned me about."

Colombe nodded. "Good. One final question. You mentioned the Reserve and those Aurors were questioning you about smuggling. Are you willing to give me truthful information about it so that I can... take necessary action."

Ehren interrupted harshly as her slender frame trembled and her steel blue eyes flashed with a bottled rage, "We can take necessary action, Mother."

Miho nodded, "I am willing and Kannon bless you for your compassion, Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler."

Colombe nodded, "I heard some rumors that the conditions in the Reserves were bad and getting worse from... an aunt of mine. Is that true?"

Miho's shoulders slumped, "Hai. Life was harsh before, but now we must bear the unbearable. Food shipments are little and sometimes late, medicine is lacking and disease stalks us. Chihiro's parents succumbed to what that drunk of a Healer said was cholera three months ago and we took her in. Then...." She trailed off and looked at the children. "Please do not make me speak of this in front of them."

Colombe nodded as Kasuyu opened the door. "Agreed. Kasuyu, our friends will be staying here. Please take the young ones and collect Claire and show them the castle. And once they are all worn out, fix them a big bowl of chocolate ice cream using the kind that I enjoy."

Colombe watched the axe tsukumogami collect the children and waited until the door closed, then she waved Toku and Ehren over.

"Here is what I am minded to do. I shall give you quarters here in the castle if you swear an oath under Veritaserum to not threaten myself, my family, and the humans around us. I can make arrangements for employment here as... well a maid or cook, or something, we can discuss your skills and talents and how they fit in later. Your wages would be room and board, clothing both for the job and for the outside world, education for you and your children, and a stipend over and above that to enable you to accumulate money for whatever you and your children wish in the way of luxuries. Toku mentioned that Jorogumo can conceal their true nature to walk among humans without appearing like you are now. That is correct?"

Miho nodded, "It is, although I would need to practice to perform it, it is... discouraged... by some of the guards."

Colombe looked like she had bitten into a rotten apple and found half a worm. "Charming. If you and your wards can disguise yourselves, you can travel off the castle property. I am minded to pull some strings and get the three of you false papers so your children can be enrolled in school. My main concern is less restrictions on you than avoiding a break of the Statute of Secrecy that would bring the ICW down on our heads. No doubt by now, my case file has been reopened by the Magical Diet."

Toku spoke gently, still white-faced, "I shall write my sisters and see what can be done."

Colombe nodded as she walked to her desk chair, sat down heavily, and ran her hair through her fingers. "Right, I'm braced for the worst now. What was the information that you didn't want the young ones to hear?"

Miho teared up and whispered, "I... mentioned that our venom has an aphrodisiac effect. We also have the power to... nudge others to relax around us. Not control of a mind, but..."

Ehren spoke thoughtfully, "That explains the singing once you got inebriated on the espresso that I had fixed for myself. Caffeine, especially coffees, apparently makes arachnids drunk and it carries over to jorogumo."

"Hai. But it can also increase lust. Before the reserves, that is how we would get mates..." Miho closed her eyes, "and hunt men. An alchemist before the Pacific War, may he be damned to the Yama King's Lowest Hell, developed a potion to duplicate that. Which requires our venom and also... our newly fertilized eggs."

Colombe winced, "Let me guess, this is popular in some circles?" Toku's hilt creaked as the Masamune grasped it with a horrified look in her eyes.

"Hai. Even without that, we are known as Whore Spiders and during the War we were used to... service troops. That is how my mother was conceived, by one of the hundreds of soldiers who used my grandmother as a comfort woman. Some of the Reserve guards... still view us as such."

"Schweinehund!!" Ehren's hiss was venomous and her eyes blazed.

Colombe shook her head, "I can't disagree, Ehren. With having more experience with bastards in position of power than I ever wanted to accumulate, it wouldn't surprise me if your mother had to do what was needed to protect you and your family. Even if it meant buying protection and food for her family in the only coin that she had. I saw that happen," Colombe looked at the visibly incandescently furious Ehren, "during the War. I salute your mother for her sacrifice."

Toku turned green and trembled as she wept.

Miho wept. "It did not save her. Auror Okada, the one the Masamune killed, frequented the company of our kind. And he was... abusive to us. Mother died shortly after he summoned her to his quarters a week ago. She... went in my place. Her last words were to promise me to take care of Misaki-chan. When I heard that he might be interested in her... I decided that death in the woods was preferable for us to...."

"Say no more, and I am sorry that I had to ask you about this. Know that if you need to speak to us about that in the future or... other matters... you will have a sympathetic ear. I only wish that I could have done more for you and yours. Know that if you wish a place with us under the conditions I outlined, you will have my patronage, and my protection on my honor and my family's honor, Miho Fujii."

"Our protection, Fujii-san" Toku whispered with tears of shame in her eyes.

The Jorogumo girl nodded, "I shall take your kind offer and promise to not harm any humans or other sentients save in defense of my family."

Colombe poured the antidote into the glasses and handed one to the Jorogumo. "And I swear to protect you and yours and be the best employer that I can be for you. Kampai."

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

A.N. Thank Spectral Waltz for this next bit.
Spoiler: Two Kinds of Fools

Colombe stepped out of the bathroom, hair still damp from the shower. She'd sat under the spray, thoughts swirling as she tried to make sense of the utter chaos of the last... A glance at the clock on the wall told her that it had been all of four hours since they'd fought the Aurors in Aokihagara and for a moment she was stunned by how exhausted she felt. Only four hours? Was that really all the time that had passed? Had they remained in Japan it would still be sometime in the late afternoon and she was obscurely grateful for the fact that on this side of the globe it was the middle of the morning.

It somehow made it easier to justify the urge to just go straight to bed and sleep off this utter exhaustion.

Four hours it may have been, but it was four hours of pure emotion, The Aurors, the Jorogumo, the absolute madness Claire had inspired, the spiral that had been her final talk with Hippolyte, the talk with To-chan after what had happened with Hippolyte, the revelations of Miho...

"Co-chan?" Colombe blinked, they were still raw, the wounds he'd opened in her psyche, over and over again down the years. No amount of catharsis or relief would ever heal those, but time and peace would give her time for them to eventually become scars and- "Colombe."

Tokunotakai's hand was on her shoulder, steadying her, and Colombe couldn't help but marvel at how cleanly the simple contact pushed her away from another emotional spiral she hadn't even noticed. Four hours... She repeated it to herself again, she'd had a lot of bad days in her life, bad weeks, bad months, even bad years, but this felt like some of the worst of those had been condensed. Concentrated.

She chuckled weakly, her smile a little watery. "Thank you Toku-san... I just..." She shook her head helplessly, feeling a hysterical urge to laugh. "From such a wonderful beginning... This has been an absolutely terrible day." She did laugh, tears on her cheeks all over again, the entire roller coaster of emotions catching up with her all at once as she gave up on 'not laughing' and simply fought the urge to curl up into a ball on the floor. Her shoulders shook, sobbing, laughing, all the same at this point really, and time lost meaning again as she held onto that connection, that physical presence. Distantly she was aware that her partner was holding her just as tightly, and both of them were rambling, laughing, crying, venting out the raw highs and lows of what had happened.

There were no kisses exchanged, even as they tottered their way over to the bed, awkwardly moving so that they never left contact with each other as they wiggled their way between the sheets. Emotionally wrung out, this touch as they lay against each other, hearts settling into a uniform rhythm, breaths slowing as they wrapped themselves in each other, took solace in the sharing of pain, in the mutual need for support.

Before they knew it, they were asleep.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Epilogues)...

Aokigahara Forest

"...and then she came out of the bushes there and knocked me into the stream with a Blasting Curse. When I came to and alerted the other guards, she was gone along with the breeding jorogumo that had escaped and we were trying to subdue."

The lead Auror pinched his nose as he looked at the mess on hand.

A fucking jorogumo mother on the loose....

His subordinate came over. 'The stains there test positive for jorogumo blood. It all checks out."

"And you are certain that you confirmed the identity of the tsukumogami?"

"Blond hair, straight European sword according to the statements from the survivor and the one she didn't cut in half according to our nekomata. The magical residue on the rope match the spell fingerprint patterns that ICW has in her file. We have eyewitness reports that she was involved in that mess with the Muramasa's car in Tokyo last October. It's her and she's on the loose in Japan."

"Fuck. We need to stop Colombe or whatever she is calling herself right now before she does whatever she intends to with that jorogumo. Put out the alert."

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

Tokugawa Memorial Foundation Offices, Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Masamune-no-Honjo walked into her office with a small serene smile on her face. Her monthly spar with Kotegiri was one of the high points of her schedule after all. Kotegiri and she had arrangements dating back centuries for certain remotely located and heavily but discreetly warded pieces of property to be available for when they wished to truly exert themselves. Of course, she would need to use a different one next month while the trees in that mountain valley grew back thanks to Kote's spellwork.

With that she took a seat and began to sort through the pile of paperwork and mail on her desk that had bred like hare yokai in her absence from Tokyo.

Bill, bill, coupon for Fuji Apple pies, speaking invitation at Tokyo U's History Department, dinner invitation from Fudo, junk mail to slip into Juuchi's mailbox, bill...

Her thoughts froze at the sight of an ICW notification about a dangerous French criminal on the loose in Japan. A smugly smirking dangerous criminal that she had met at Tsurugaoka Hachimangū last year. A dangerous and now wanted criminal who her little sister Toku-chan was going on musha shugyō with.

A rhythmic thump echoed through the office as the greatest blade of the greatest swordsmith of Japan beat her avatar's head against her desk

"BUTTERKNIVES!!"

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

Taura Plum Blossom Park, Yokusuka

Chisuheri watched the plum blossoms sway in the breeze off Tokyo Bay. A footstep sounded behind her, and she turned, seeing a very familiar avatar.

The Bloodlust Blade bowed to the Honjo Masamune, and got a matching bow in return.

Honjo spoke contemplatively, "It has been long since we have met under the mountain plum blossoms."

"Fourth Kawanakajima." Chisuheri spoke quietly. "I remember hot carmine staining the fallen blossoms when Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin dueled and their men fell faster around them than the blossoms did as the wind blew from the rivers." Her eyes were distant as she did not see the modern city around her, but one of the bloodiest and most famous battles of the Sengoku Jidai.

Honjo nodded, "A great and a terrible day. I am now pleased that you and your wielder survived my attacks during it, and I am even more pleased that you have continued to prosper to this day."

Chisuheri looked over at Honjo and mused. "We are not now what we were then. Life is change and each change brings us closer to release from the wheel of rebirth."

Honjo nodded in agreement on the point and then her eyes sharpened as a third tsukumogami's avatar appeared along the path. Delilah de Breuil walked past a muscular girl and slender boy with glasses sharing a picnic lunch to join them.

"Thank you for coming." Delilah said, absently adjusting the schoolgirl uniform that she was wearing.

Chisuheri raised an eyebrow. "Why the seifuku, Niece? You are a little old for high school."

Delilah flashed a brief smug smirk. "Camouflage in a word. TPD still wants to know who was discharging a firearm in city limits at that hit squad and Aunt Akutoku is still sore about what I did to her."

"Ah." Chisuheri nodded with an expression of enlightenment.

"What did you do to her?" Honjo asked curiously.

Delilah grinned, "I shot her cell phone out of her hand, ordered Colombe to throw a spell that gave her a reverse mohawk haircut, ordered Jackie to steal her car, blew the back window out of her car, drove it over some spike strips that blew all four tires, had it get shot up, and finally dumped it in the bottom of a canal."

Honjo shot Chisuheri a disbelieving look, only to see the Buddhist biting her lip to stifle an attack of the giggles as she nodded along. "You did not mention the Hello Kitty bicycle, Niece."

Delilah shrugged, "Or Dad punching her lights out because she thought Akutoku was behind the wheel instead of Jackie when we nearly hit her. Regardless, I'm not Aunt Akutoku's favorite person and that probably won't change anytime soon."

Honjo gave a small smile. "Tell me you have photographs of this."

Chisuheri shook her head. "Kago does and I'm pretty sure Norimune got a copy of them. I don't, despite nigh-overwhelming temptation at the time."

"I'll have to talk to Aunt Kago or Dad then. Probably arrange a swap of some of my material on Sis and Jackie. Which brings me to the reason I asked you two to come here." Delilah reached into her Hello Kitty purse and pulled out two folders with USB sticks taped to them. "Sis got herself into hot water... again. I swear I need to put a leash on her, maybe with a muzzle and shock collar."

She handed the documents over to Chisuheri and Honjo, who made them vanish into their purses.

"Long story short, Sis and her new girlfriend wound up in Aokigahara Forest and got into trouble with some goons from the Reserve there who were tormenting an escapee." Delilah's voice became ice cold and her eyes hardened, "Apparently conditions there are desperate and some of the guards are worse. Fortunately, Sis had an attack of brains and called me to debrief the escapees after she bailed out to Belgium with them and Tokunotakai."

"That's the good news, the bad news is that Sis is going to Do Something about what she dug up. Believe me, I know the signs, and it is a matter of time before she acts. I cannot blame her either, since I'm really pissed about what she found for my own personal reasons. I'm going to sit on her to ensure that she doesn't go off half-cocked, but you can take it to the bank that if this doesn't get handled discreetly, it will be handled in a really messy manner sooner rather than later."

Chisuheri nodded, "And the files?"

"Are my notes of the debrief on Miho Fujii along with the video footage of our chats. In exchange, I'd like any info either of you dig up about this. That way, if the worst happens we can hopefully sic Sis on the folks who deserve her wrath rather than more innocent bystanders." Delilah spoke in a firm voice.

"I'll do what I can, Niece. And thank you." Chisuheri promised.

Honjo nodded, "As shall I. Ah, I must ask a personal question. Tokunotakai?"

Delilah smiled, "Is fine. Physically at least. Mentally she is a bit shaken, just like you would expect a rookie soldier to be after her first battle. But as much as I want to throttle Sis sometimes, she's going to do her best to help Tokunotakai through this. Just to warn you, though. If this does get noisy, Tokunotakai will be right there alongside Sis making the noise. She's got a very good poker face, but she's almost as upset about what is going in in the Reserves as Ehren. Which is saying something."

Delilah fished in her purse and pulled out several sealed scrolls. "Here's her letters to you and the rest of her sisters."

Honjo put the scrolls in her purse and bowed her head precisely. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Unless you have anything for me while I am here, I'll need to get back to Moulbaix to run herd on my fool of a big sister after I pick up those items from her shrine that Toku wanted me to." Delilah looked at her wristwatch.

"Save to relay that I would like to meet your eldest sister one day for a long private chat, no, not at this time. I need to return to Tokyo and make some calls of my own." Honjo spoke.

Chisuheri nodded, "Same here. I'll send you what we dig up. Thank you again, Niece and I'll lean on Kago or Nori to send you those photos of Akutoku."

"Sayonara."

 

[darthcourt10]

Year Three - Prisoner of Shipping Part 3c

START

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

For several moments, Wanko looked down at the Re-Class in front of her whom was just staring at her. Said Abyssal was rather odd what with the modifications to her tail, but it took her only moments to realize who was in front of her and she tilted her head some, "You must be... Princess Porta's Emissary..."

Reivana looked a bit off put by that, though Wanko was not sure why before she bowed, "Yes, I am her Majesty's, Porta Quee-"

Suddenly, she stumbled back a bit as another Re-Class dropped from the ceiling and began to bounce around her, "Woozies! So you're an Atlantic Re-Class, huh? Huh?! Wait, you're an Emissary? Does that mean that your name is Emi? Because I totally know an Emi! And I don't think that you look like an Emi, but I am not too sure what foreign Emis look like? Oh! Look at your tail that is so cool! Sparkly and sparky! Hey! Hey! What about-"

Out of nowhere, a hand came down on Revina's head in a chop as Wanko gave her a look, "That is... quite enough... Revina."

Bouncing back, Revina giggled, "Okie Doki, Loki! Though not really Doki doki, because that is more Regina's thing when she is around Harry and oh looktheresheisrightnowwithHarrysoI'llgoovernow!"

With that, she began to hop over to where a third Re-Class was talking with a messy haired boy. For several seconds, all was quiet before Wanko turned to still stunned Reivana. Stab gave a look to his other half and back to Wanko, "Uh, what just happened?"

Just sighing, Wanko shook her head and said a single thing as if it explained everything that just happened, "Revina."

Oddly, for some reason, those there could not help but feel that it somehow explained everything even if they did not know how.

Instead, Reivana shook her head to get what just had happened out of her mind and watched as the black haired boy walked up with a smile. From where she stood, the Abyssal could feel the War Demon Flagship IFF coming from him, and when he went to hug Wanko, she caught sight of a black, twisting band of metal around one arm that she recognized as a form of transmitter, 'Huh... now that is rather interesting. Perhaps her Majesty would like to know of this...?'

Meanwhile, Harry gave a hug to Wanko who returned it gently, "Hello, Big Sister! And thanks for coming."

Wanko only shook her head and gave him a small, soft smile, "I do not mind... Little Brother." Glancing around, she frowned a bit, "Is Little Sister here yet?"

A frown on his face, Harry shook his head, "No, Hoppou is not here yet." Unknown to him, Reivana perked up a bit at this information as anything that she could tell Porta about another Princess would be important. Harry checked his watch and hummed a bit, "She should be here any minute though."

Simply nodding, the tall Abyssal smiled, "That is good... to know... Little Brother."

Eyebrows furrowing, Reivana glanced between the two of them as she tried to puzzle out exactly what was going on here. An Abyssal Princess referring to a human as her Little Brother with the human actually returning it? Meanwhile, the human is also referring to another Abyssal Princess as his Little Sister? This... this was far outside anything that she could have possibly expected.

However, before she could comment, there was a pop as another Portkey arrived.

That was something that Reivana ignored though as she felt something else sweep over her. A feeling of power that was extremely familiar to one such as her. It was... muffled though to the extent that it was only due to her having spent so much time around her own Princess that she recognized it. Slowly, she turned her eyes and looked at the two glowing red ones looking up at her own from the face of the Northern Ocean Princess, also known as Hoppou. That feeling...

Which was that of an Elder Princess.

It took everything that Reivana had not to panic and generally freak out. A glance at her companions told her that they noticed the same thing. Stab had frozen in place with barely a crackle of electricity. Meanwhile, Isley had also frozen and was looking down at Hoppou with a face that was paler than normal. Turning back, Reivana swallowed as those eyes met hers once more, with Hoppou's eyes narrowing. She knew, somehow, the little Princess knew what they had realized. That knowing look in her eyes said everything that was needed to that end.

Part of the Re-Class wanted to curl up at that moment because she, of all people, knew how powerful an Elder Princess was. Despite the size of the one before her, she could be torn apart both body, soul, and mind. If Hoppou wanted, she could smother her in her power, ripping away her mental freedom with full concentration, to make her betray her Princess, her Creator. Even now, she felt a swell of power from Hoppou, vast and deep.

Truly, an Abyss of pure might.

And then, as quickly as it seemed like it was about to crush her... it vanished. No... not vanished, just tightly wound back up and once more under control. Instead of crushing her like she had expected considering her Princess' sisters, Hoppou smiled up at her and nodded, "Hoppou is very happy to meet you!"

Swallowing, Reivana nodded with an unsure smile on her face as she realized, with some fear, that unless one was familiar with how an Elder Princess' power felt and was practically right next to the Northern Ocean Princess, they would not realize what was there. A fact that scared her to no end at the level of control that stated... But seeing the thoughtful look, she quickly answered Hoppou, "A-and I am pleased to meet you... too."

With some quick introductions, with Isley, Stab, and Reivana stuttering a bit, Hoppou only nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, the Re-Class could see the other Princess, Wanko, narrow her eyes some. But after a look from Northern Ocean, Wanko calmed down and simply gave the barest of nods. Giggling, Hoppou rushed over and jumped on Harry before quickly climbing up onto his back, "Gah! Hoppou!"

Just giggling, Hoppou brightly smiled up at him, "What is it, Big Brother? Hoppou just happy to see Big Brother after all!"

Only sighing with a bemused look on his face, Harry shook his head and patted her between her horns, "Okay, Hoppou. Now come on, let's go get some breakfast before the game!"

Throwing her mittened fist into the air, Hoppou let out a shout, "PO!"

Lightly laughing, the teenaged wizard gave her a piggy back out of sight with Regina and a Battleship, who Reivana recognized as Nagato, following as well as the Akizuki Class Destroyers. Alongside was the Re-Class, Revina with Wanko and Hagrid taking up the back. Letting out a breath that she did not realize she was holding, Reivana shuddered a bit before turning to Isley who looked a little shaken herself. The Forsaken Island Princess turned to her fellow Abyssal and swallowed a bit, "Was... was that..."

Slowly, Reivana nodded, "It... it was." Turning back in the direction that Hoppou had gone, she shook her head, "I... I thought that our Princess was the last..."

Clearing his throat, Stab then spoke up, "Uh, I hate to be a downer... but how are we supposed to tell the Princess this? I mean... she has another, er... sister? Little Sister?"

Upon Isley's face though, she had a frown, "Is she her little sister...?" Seeing the looks, she continued, "I... remember something. From years before the war, Mother... she was talking with Aunt Nordic about how they were still convincing other Princesses to fight. It was back in what the humans called the 1980s, and she mentioned a Princess up in the North Pacific who called herself Northern Ocean. Aunt Nordic, she had scoffed and stated that said Princess had not done much in decades. The way she spoke of her... Northern Ocean was old. But to see her look like a child..."

Eyes wide, the Re-Class turned in the direction that Hoppou had gone. For the Princess to have survived for decades in the cutthroat environment of the Abyssals. And to have been an Elder all that time and for no one to have realized it...?

Reivana felt a shiver of fear go down her keel.

It was then that Hermione walked up and frowned at seeing the somewhat shocked and frightened looks on Reivana's and Isley's faces. Eyebrow raised, she glanced at one and then the other, "Something wrong?"

Quickly, Reivana shook her head and waved her hands with an nervous chuckle, "Wrong? Hahahaha! Nothing is wrong at all! Why would you think that?"

Briefly, the witch narrowed her eyes some before shaking it off. Instead, Hermione shrugged and gave her a smile, "Well, that is good to hear. How about we go and get something to eat?" Seeing the two Abyssals as well as Stab glance at each other, she internally frowned, 'I wonder...?'

However, Reivana gave a small, unsure smile, "Um, sure? Let's go and get something to eat..."

It was to some amusement that the shipgirl witch noticed the Re-Class twitch a bit at the sight of Hoppou in Harry's lap and stealing his food. The thirteen year old attempting to fend him off, "Hoppou! Stop, that's my food!"

For her part, Hoppou quickly chomped down on one of the sausages there, "Nope! Is Hoppou's food now that it is in Hoppou's tummy! And Big Brother picks best food!"

Sitting down, Reivana and Stab shared a "Look" between the two of them, 'Was this really an Elder Princess...?' But they could still feel the dark power held within that small body from where they were which told them that they were correct despite her behavior going against everything that they knew about Elder Princesses. They did decide to keep a close eye on them though as long as they were there. Even though they were unsure how they would report this to Porta...

A short time later, they were heading to the stadium as Harry walked beside Regina with a smile, "So... excited, Regina? I mean, come Spring Break, I'll be taking you and Shinano-Chan out on a date to Hogsmeade."

Lightly blushing, Regina nonetheless had an excited smile on her face, "Um, well, I am looking forward to it, Harry. Spending the day with you..." Chewing her lip, she poked her fingers together, "That's something that I am happy about."

Brightly smiling, Harry gave her a nod, "Same here really, Regina." Quickly, she gave her a peck on the cheek which made her face go red and for her to pull up her scarf some, "And I am pretty excited about it as well."

Steam drifting from her ears, the Re-Class hummed before perking up, "Oh, um... Lady Wanko stated that you would be visiting us in the Timor Sea during Spring Break?"

Harry nodded at that, "I am, already made the sunblock potion so that I don't get burned during the time I spend down there." Scratching his cheek, he chuckled, "Hopefully you don't mind showing me around."

Only shaking her head, Regina pulled down her scarf some, "I don't mind showing you around, Harry. And the others will love meeting you, especially Ruby. She seems to be looking forward to it."

It was then that she noticed that they reached the stadium and internally sighed as she would need to wait until after the game to talk with him some more. However, the Abyssal remembered something that Shinano had mentioned to her during one of their quiet talks that humans sometimes did. Unknowing of what was going through her thoughts, Harry turned his head to her to find her golden speckled eyes looking at him, "Well, I'll be seeing you after the game, Regina-Mmph!?"

Even his teammates paused to stare a bit as the shy Re-Class kissed him for a few seconds and pulled away, "T-that was f-for go-good luck, Harry..."

When he nodded, she glanced around, blushed even deeper than she was, and took off for the stands. For several seconds, Harry just stood there with his mind completely blank and the lingering feel of cool lips on his own for a few seconds. Then blinking, he turned and walked into the area for the Gryffindor Locker Room with a somewhat drunk stagger to him and a grin on his face, 'Wow... now I am sure to win...'

Behind him, Fred and George grinned some as they spoke as one, "Well, well, Harrykins! A good luck kiss, hmm?"

Suddenly, a voice spoke up, "No worries, here's yours!"

Katie just snickered as the two surprised Wizards were suddenly knocked to the ground with a familiar Re-Class kissing them both and then leaping off before she scrambled up the stadium wall. Hands on her hips, the Chaser gave the two staring boys a grin, "Well, it seems that Harry is not the only lucky one~"

Her fellow Chasers snickered at that and also entered the Locker Room behind her before Fred and George scrambled to their feet and headed inside as well.
_______________________________________________________________

Up in the air, Harry was in his element as he pushed his Firebolt to it's limits. The wind whipped past him as he blew past various other players at well over a hundred and fifty miles per hour, often yanking back to climb out of dives with a grin. To state that he loved his new broom was akin to stating that a Typhoon was a bit rainy and windy. He absolutely loved it to say the least.

Out of the corner of his eye though, he sometimes glanced towards the Gryffindor Stands where he could see his mother, the three Akizukis, as well as Hoppou and Revina cheering for him. Regina just smiled at him and waved a flag with a roaring lion on it while Wanko held a much bigger version. Though he did note one thing that made him confused, and that was how that one Re-Class, Reivana, kept glancing at Hoppou as much as she watched him.

Weird...

However, shaking that off, Harry spun around on his broom to keep from being hit by a Bludger. One thing that he had not noticed though was the glares that Regina kept sending the Ravenclaw Seeker, Cho Chang, every time she attempted to use her looks to try and distract Harry. Though the Re-Class was happy that Harry either didn't notice or simply was unaffected by it. What got her boilers hot though was how often times, the black haired wizard just barreled into the Ravenclaw formations, making them scatter to not hit him, or to scare the crap out of one by coming out of nowhere and seeming about to slam into them, only to twist at the last moment out of the way.

The sheer cunning and brutality that Harry showed caused her more than once to clench her hands. Out of the corner of her eye though, she spotted a glint of gold and perked up as her rangefinders locked onto it. And from the small actions of Harry, he had also noticed it and began to dive towards it.

Which, of course, was when she noticed the lone Dementor heading out onto the field and froze.

Already, her tail was coming up with anti-air armaments to shoot and noted that Hoppou as well as Wanko were doing the same while Nagato's own fairies began to pop out with rifles. But something made her frown and she paused in her actions and could see the others doing the same as their instincts tickled them in the back of their minds. Instead, they watched as something silvery shot from Harry's wand at the "Dementor" which fell backwards.

Immediately, Regina was already on the move as the creature broke into three scrambling pieces even as Harry grabbed the Snitch.

Grinning, Harry was laughing as he held up the golden object in his hand only to blink at the sight that met him as he turned to where the Dementor had been. Mainly, that of a growling Regina holding up a slowly choking Crabbe and Goyle in her hands while Marcus Flint was held up by her tail. Hopping off his broom, Harry spared a glance for the three Slytherins, before placing his hand on Regina's arm. He could feel the anger in her when she glanced at him, "Regina, put them down." When she glanced at him again, Harry narrowed his eyes, "Put them down, now, Regina."

Rather than gently place them down, Regina just dropped them onto their asses. Already, Marcus was about to say something when he was grabbed by an enraged Snape, "YOU UTTER BLOODY IDIOT! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" Before the teen could say anything, the teacher snarled, "NO, DO NOT ANSWER! BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WAS GOING THROUGH THAT EMPTY SPACE BETWEEN YOUR EARS YOU FOOLISH BOY!"

Everyone was treated to the utterly strange sight of Snape tearing strips of metaphorical hide off his three students before dragging them off. For several moments, Harry just stood there before realizing that he still had his arm on Regina's arm. Slowly, he moved his hand down until it reached her own and entwined her fingers and his. When she looked at him, the thirteen year old simply smiled, "Thank you, Regina.' The Re-Class just nodded at that and said nothing. Even while another Re-Class, one with modifications to her tail, was looking between them with a stunned look on her face which melted to one of confusion. However, Harry didn't notice and gave Regina's hand a small squeeze before smiling, "Come on, Regina, let's get ready for the party tonight.

All Regina did was nod and smile back.

 

[darthcourt10]

FluffSteve Omake: There are things Stab is more afraid of than Reivana...

Hazard said:
There's a good chance all three of the idiots that dressed as dementors are on their 'this is your absolute last chance, do not do something stupid again', on threat of expulsion at minimum.

Seriously they nearly caused an international incident at best, followed by the reason there's an international incident having to deal with every abyssal and shipgirl present except the Ambassador and her attendants having utterly eliminated the 'dementors' present.​

And about the time they start to recover from Snape's reaming is when their parents show up in person during a meal. Oh, they don't lecture them in public, but they make sure everyone knows that is exactly what they are being pulled away from the dining hall for. That said they might well get the, "Do you have any idea what it would have done to your mother/father if you'd died!" (Yes, exclamation mark not question) before being pulled away from their meal. They'll be getting the full spectrum of parental lecture: wondering what went wrong that they acted like such idiots in public, given that IIRC their parents are Slytherines too they probably also get reamed for being caught being idiots in public just as much as the being idiots, showing utter failure to think through consequences, scaring their parents with just how close they came to dying, scaring their parents with just how close they came to losing heirs, suggestion that maybe they shouldn't be the heirs after all ("We're not too old to try again."), threats of what consequences they'll face if their actions bring any consequences to bear on their parents... The meal in question is probably over by the time they're cut free and even if they are fanon dense they probably return to their classmates seeming like pale, bloodless zombies.

Being expelled is likely the least of their fears right now.

jmcdavid said:
OLD: It is time to leave, Reivana.

Reivana: But books! Knowledge! Please just give me five more minutes?​

"That is what you asked me yesterday evening. No more extensions. Stab, smack the back of her head if you please."

"Do you know how hard that is?"

"I won't drag her away by her tail."

*CLANG!*

"Stab, you traitor! Ow, not the ear, not the ear!"

"My apologies Madam Pince, this won't be repeated. Will it, Reivana?"

"Ow! But, but the books!"

"Will still be here the next time you visit."

"May I at least check out these?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

More than a little bemused, Hermione looked down at the Re-Class who was on her knees with a look of rapturous awe upon her face, "I take it that you're enjoying this as much as I am?"

Slowly, Reivana grabbed her uniform and pulled her up, "Y-you're evil! S-so..." Swallowing, she gestured around them, "So many books!"

Lightly laughing, the witch smiled a bit, "I know." Clapping her hands together, she looked out upon the Hogwarts Library, "It is just so..."

Beside her, Reivana had much the same expression on her face and was doing the same thing, "Yessss..."

Meanwhile, if he could have, Stab would have rolled his eyes, 'For the love of the Princess... You have to be kidding me...'

Getting back to her feet, Reivana walked alongside Hermione as they made their way more into the library. Already, she could feel her fingertips tingle with the feel of turning page after page. Turning towards her friend, she smiled a bit, "From what you said, there's books here going back hundreds of years?"

With a hum, the disguised shipgirl nodded, "To say the least. The earliest books in the Hogwarts Library actually date back to the 900s. A number are historical ones alongside ones of magical knowledge."

At that, Stab rose up some with a tilt of his head, "Huh, you know what, Reivana? Maybe the Princess would like some of those books."

However, when she looked at Hermione, the Light Cruiser shook her head, "Sorry, the books need to be kept here in Hogwarts." Seeing the Re-Class hang her head, she did continue, "Buuuut, I do believe that the Headmaster mentioned a trip into Hogsmeade tomorrow? There's a book shop that is there that I know you would find interesting. There's a number of history books in it that you could buy."

Now perking up, Reivana nodded and smiled, "Thank you! And that will be one of the first places that I visit when I go tomorrow." With a hum, she tilted her head, "Any titles that you could suggest that might be useful?"

Giving the matter some thought, the shipgirl frowned, "I can think of a few..."

Once four hours passed though, Hermione checked her internal clocks and got up. Seeing that, Stab gave her the best look he could without any visible eyes, "Uh, what are you doing?"

Somewhat amused, Hermione got Reivana to her feet, "We should probably head up to the party in Gryffindor." Already seeing the Re-Class open her mouth, the witch cut her off, "We have a lot of time to go over the library. Besides which... how would your Princess respond to the fact that she sent you here to observe and the like, only to spend the entirety of the time in the library with me?"

That caused the Abyssal to wince as she imagined how Porta would react to such, "Not well..." With a longing look at the books, and a whimper, she followed Hermione to Gryffindor Tower. Upon entering though, she boggled a bit as they were hit with sound enough to stagger them as well as the sight of the massive party that was going on before them, "I... what?"

Unable to help herself, Hermione laughed a bit, "We like to hold parties here in Gryffindor when possible and are known for it..."

All Reivana did was nod in complete dumbfounded shock.

Elsewhere in the Gryffindor Common Room, Isley was looking around in some curiosity while every once in a while talking with various Gryffindors that came up to talk with her. She was thankful to them for being nice to her, especially when they heard that she was the wife to be of Sirius Black, something that she was proud of. Most of them only nodded and smiled at her despite it. After all, the newspapers had been following the trial for most of the month as it was already. Most were expecting that by the end of March at the earliest and the first week of April for the verdict to be read. And almost everyone expected that to be an innocent verdict at that.

Suddenly, Isley was brought out of her thoughts by a tap on her shoulder and turned to find her lover's godson there with a goblet in his hand, "Here, I thought that you could use some pumpkin juice."

Lightly smiling, the Abyssal took the drink gratefully and nodded, "Thank you, Harry. I appreciate it." Taking a sip, she hummed at the sweetness that washed over her tongue, 'Ah, this is wonderful.'

However, she blinked at the next words from Harry, "You're very welcome, Aunt Isley."

Eyes somewhat wide, Isley stared at him, "Aunt?"

Scratching the back of his neck, Harry nodded, "Um, yes?" At seeing the confusion though, he continued, "Well, you're going to marry Sirius, right?" At the nod, the thirteen year old hummed, "He's my godfather and was practically a brother to my Dad. And my godmother is... indisposed at the moment."

That got a wince from Isley as she remembered how Sirius had reacted to that bit of information, 'I... don't think that's the word for them...'

Meanwhile, the wizard sighed a bit, "But, because of that, you're something of an Aunt? I think..." Giving it a moment of thought, Harry shrugged it off, "Or at least that is how I think it works."

Isley gave it some consideration before taking his hand and nodding, "Thank you, Harry. Being your Aunt is... a responsibility that I hope that I can uphold."

Returning the smile, Harry nodded back at her before glancing at her stomach. Getting a nod, he placed a hand on it and could feel something kick which made him smile all the more, "When are they due?"

For a moment, the Abyssal Princess checked her logbooks and hummed a bit before nodding, "Not very long, Harry. Maybe one more month... According to the progress reports of their construction, they should be born by late April."

All Harry did was nod at that in return.

Just two hours later around dinner time, the black haired boy was piling food onto plates from the table that was on one side of the room. With a nod, he nodded and turned before walking over to one couch with the plates balanced perfectly, and a pitcher of Butterbeer on his head before smiling, "Here you go, Akizuki-Chan, Teruzuki-Chan, Hatsuzuki-Chan, Suzutsuki-San."

The white haired Destroyer smiled up at him as she took her plate, "Thank you, Harry-San."

Seeing Teruzuki about to say something, Harry raised an eyebrow at her and handed her plate, "Do I need to go and get a second bunch of plates?" At that, her mouth snapped shut and she shook her head, 'Which is not to say that I won't... as well as dessert plates.'

Lips twitching, Suzutsuki internally giggled as her sisters thanked the kind, black haired wizard, 'Yes, he does take care of them well. I'm happy.' Taking a forkful of food, she took a bite and hummed as she ate, 'I will admit, I've had more kinds of food in the past few months than I had my entire time as a steel hulled ship.' Chewing, the Destroyer swallowed, 'Which I am not complaining about as many of these foods I would not have gotten the chance to eat with how Japan was...'

Meanwhile, Harry just grinned as he watched the Duckies enjoy their food. It was always something that brought him enjoyment no matter what. Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he turned partially and blinked at seeing who was there, "Regina? What are you doing here?"

With a smile of her own, the Abyssal held up a plate piled high with food, "Um, I am going to eat and..." Her tail rose up with a plate of food on top of it as well, "I brought some food for you as well."

Pounding her chest a bit as she swallowed, Akizuki nodded and pointed her fork at Harry, "She's right, Harry-Chan! You need to eat as well!"

Beside her, Hatsuzuki was nodding before Teruzuki frowned, "Nee-San's right, Harry-Chan! You're growing so you need to eat a lot! So sit down and have some food!"

There was a part of Harry who swore that if this was an anime, he would have a sweatdrop on his head, 'So this is what it is like to be on the other side...'

Suzutsuki was just giggling madly at that with one hand in front of her mouth as she watched. Granted, moments later she blinked as Regina sat down before picking up Harry and setting him in her lap. Something that made Harry look over his shoulder at her, "Regina?"

All the Re-Class did though was smile and bring her tail with his food around, "There we go, that way we can all sit down and have something to eat together." Despite the blush on her face, her eyes shone with happiness, "Now, time to eat up, Harry."

Chuckling, Harry nodded with a smile of his own, "Okay, Regina." Taking his plate, he began to eat as did the Duckies and Regina. All of them happy to be there sharing a meal with friends.

 

[darthcourt10]

Digital Historian

Right, first time trying something like this, I hope it came out somewhat acceptable.
===
The Little Destoyer That Stood
Rotterdam, the Netherlands
During Blood Week


For the second time in a century, Rotterdam was burning. Thick, acrid black smoke hung between the shattered remnants of its city centre. Even though the initial, sudden attack had been five days ago, when dark, distorted twin-engined bombers had let their deadly payload loose again and again, and demonic mockeries of cruisers and battleships had smashed aside the mighty Maeslandkering as if it were a speedbump on their way to shell the port facilities, the haze was still being fed by numerous smaller fires still smouldering. Every new Abyssal raid, thus far a daily occurrence, found new targets to set ablaze, even though any observer would think all flammable materials in a three-mile radius had been consumed already, leaving nothing but ash, concrete and steel.

Miraculously, some of the city's landmarks were still standing, having weathered the fires and explosions. The Euromast Radio tower was one of them, and the commander of the Dutch Royal Marines charged with the defence of the city had wasted no time ordering his observers up to the 'crows nest' at the top to give him some warning of incoming attacks. It seemed these enemies played havoc with radar, so good old mark 1 eyeball it was. And so it was that an hour before dawn on what would become known as day six of blood week, Marine Jan Meyer was trudging up the 589 steps that would take him to the once-restaurant, now observation post. Granted, it was an extremely comfortable position, even with some of the windows gone and the wind coming in, but that was part of the problem. If you're running on little sleep and large amounts of coffee, comfort and complacency are dangerous.

As dawn began breaking over the ruined city, Meyer fought himself awake. The enemy, monstrous abominations of flesh and steel that looked like a Hieronymus Bosch fever dream, were not stupid. They liked to attack just after sunrise, when the low sun on the haze masked their approach, and every minute of prior warning could make a difference. Also, he knew his CO liked to take a walk around the observation deck at this time, to make sure everything was in order and to deliver extra coffee to his men. The Major was a man who knew that if you took care of your men, they would take care of you.

"Good morning, Meyer. Did you have a good night's rest?" Speak of the devil. Major van Zandt, a short man in his early thirties with dark hair and eyes spoke up from behind the scout. His features betrayed his Indo heritage; his grandfather had been in the KNIL. Holding out a flask, he said: "Here's the morning coffee. No milk or sugar, I'm afraid, they're prioritising ammo on the trucks right now."

"Thank you sir. But I'm afraid I didn't get too much rest, haven't since this whole mess started." Meyer put down his binoculars and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "Pardon my language sir, but these things creep me the fuck out. Put me on patrol in Afghanistan where there's IED's, fine, I can deal with that. Send the whole Russian army at me, and I'll stand and fight. But these things…" He shuddered. "These are just unnatural. Pretty much nothing that can hit them can harm them, and nothing that can harm them can see them!" He continued in a quiet voice. "Sir, it just makes me wonder, if the Flying Dutchman – or woman, in this case – is real … what else is?"

The major pulled up one of the chairs from an overturned dinging table and sat himself down. "Let's not go looking for more things to fight, marine. We'll worry about that whenever it shows, and instead look at the problem we have now." He sighed. "Like the fact that we're defending a country that's mostly coastline from a sea-based attacker, with the cavalry days away." He pointed to the right, out over the ruined city, to where the Delftse Poort, once a landmark of the city's skyline was still smouldering and bathed in the eerie red light of the rising sun. "We've got just half the men we arrived with, no air support, the tanks are down to what they have in their ready stowage, and the navy …" He trailed off, and both men winced.

Due to the geographic location of the country, enemy heavy fleet units had hit the Chanel, Norway, and the Danish coast first, giving the Dutch fleet in Den Helder an hour to get underway. Not that it made any difference in the outcome. Over the past two decades, the Dutch navy had concentrated on operating as a support element in NATO fleets, investing heavily in air-defence and logistic support craft. Against Abyssal these were of limited use to begin with, especially when the heavier British and German fleet elements were busy defending their own shores. The only ones that arrived to support were the Belgians, but their two frigates were as old as the two oldest Dutch ships. They fought like lions, but it wasn't nearly enough. At the end of the first day, the Royal Netherlands Navy was down to just two frigates and three Holland-class OPV's, whose heavier-then-usual steel construction had helped them make it out of there alive, though badly mauled. No warship was left in any condition to relieve the hard-pressed defenders of Rotterdam.

"What about them ship-spirit-ladies, sir?" Forestalling the obvious question, Jan continued. "I've got a mate in D-company who's got a cousin whose half-brother is in the UK, and he told me he'd heard of this blonde lady who blew an entire raiding fleet trying to force the Thames out of the water! Spirit of the Warsprite, I think?"

"That's Warspite, marine." Van Zandt replied. He didn't comment on the obvious 'leak' of supposedly classified information; no security clearance is a match for a bunch of soldiers gossiping. "And while they seem to be able to fight these deamons effectively, we've got no idea of how they got here. Just turned up and saved the day. So until whoever is in charge works that out, or the fates throw one our way, it's us who'll have to hold the line." A call from the other side of the deck that contacts were spotted ended their conversation. "Right, I'll be downstairs. Get yourself ready, Meyer, It's going to be busy."


Three hours later, major van Zandt and his marines were finding that holding the line was easier said than done. In his forward command post one of his Lieutenants was pleading for permission to withdraw from the Vondelingenplaat area. "Sir, we have to fall back. Half my men are out of action, and we're running very low on ammunition. All our ATGM's are gone, and those were the only things even hurting those monsters. We can't hold them back much longer sir!" From the side of the room, a signalman interjected. "Major, Captain Zwaan of the armoured division reports they're down to ten rounds a vehicle!"

The major leaned over the map spread in front of him, face set in stone. "We can't do that. We go, they take the the Eemshaven, and we'd not only give them a perfect spot from which to shell the Schiedam, we'd also be allowing them a corridor down the Nieuwe Maas, straight upriver to Dordrecht and beyond." He looked his lieutenant straight in the eye. "I can not allow that to happen. We have to hold." As if to underline his words, a shell went off nearby, shaking the ground. "Lieutenant Beek, you may pull back to the Waalhaven basin, but no further. That is here we make our stand. Liaise with the armour to coordinate your retreat. Godspeed." The lieutenant took off at a clip, while the major turned to the radioman. "You, get me general Baarswijk of the Air Force on the line. I've got to speak to him about air support again." Mentally, he added 'and I'm going to have to pray for a miracle while I'm at it,' as the sound of fighting came even closer.

Once, the Meuse at Rotterdam had been one of the most polluted stretches of waterway in Europe. A common joke was that you could drop your roll of film in the river from the van Brienoordbridge where the river entered the city proper, and by the time you fished it back out from say, the Noordereiland, it would be fully developed. Environmental protection laws, mainly on a European level as much of the pollution came from upstream in France, had put an end to that in the nineties, and the river had cleared up exceptionally. However five days of fighting had seen almost a return to the bad old days. The water was slick with oil from ruptured tanks in the Petroleum harbour, steel latticeworks from collapsed buildings and bridges created natural points for debris to clog and turn stale, blood of dying marines and the brass shellcases from small arms and tank guns completed the mix. Meanwhile, through the destroyed locks at the river mouth, the rising tide pushed thousands of litres of seawater upstream, to where the battle raged on a wind-swept riverside and hundreds of men prayed for a someone –anyone- to help and protect them.



Out on the murky bottom of the river, something slumbered in the silt. She had been the first of her sisters to be all-Dutch, the other still carrying some Swedish features, though all six of their sisterhood still showed their British roots. She was born here, in Rotterdam, but had spent much of her time in the Pacific, in the heat and the sun. Yet it was here she had died, and thus, here she rested, though never easy.

Gevechtsposities, Gevechtsposities!
(Combat Positions, Combat Positions!)


No, she became aware, she couldn't rest anymore. Not when history was repeating itself, not when she was needed again! Bulkheads that had not existed for over seventy years started to form back into the physical ream as her boilers and turbines rematerialized, lit, and started to spin up to speed.

Alle hens klaarmaken voor actie!
(Get all hands ready for action!)


She had died a failure, incapable of fulfilling her duty. Not once had she loosed her torpedoes at a capital ship, not once had she fired her main armament in anger at an enemy vessel. Those Godverdomme Stuka's had caught her on the river, unable to manoeuvre, unable to dodge as they ripped her sides open, while her marines fought and died without the fire support she had failed to provide, while half her AA guns had been out of action.

Gevechtsposities, Gevechtsposities!
(Combat Positions, Combat Positions!)

NO! She would not let them down again! She would not let any more men die on that accursed patch of riverside. Not on her watch! Not even if it sank her ten times over! Light filled her – eyes?- and she became aware of the pressure of water all around her, dark, brackish, familiar. Purely on instinct, she pushed upwards, and as the glow around her faded, she broke the surface in a burst of foam and spray.



As she stood on the water, she became aware that she had a body now, but that was filled by her bridge crew under 'deal with later'. What was more pressing was the dark, twisted outline of a destroyer in between her and the mouth of the dock. 'German, G101 class' her watch officer supplied, and that sealed it for her. Before the destroyer had time to respond – in fact, there was barely enough time for surprise to register on its toothy, demonic visage, her four 120mm guns opening up and gutting the enemy craft. There were more ships beyond that, cruisers of various types, but before she could do anything about that, here was a loud cheering from just behind her. As she turned around, she saw a group of soldiers cheering her on, before going quiet as another man, a major by the stripes she could see, made his way forward. But that wasn't what gave her pause; it was the insignia on the shoulder. There men were marines! She could make up for failing them! "… miss? Miss?" Oh wait, he was talking. "Miss, I'm very happy to see you, but could you tell me who you are?"

She saluted. "Her Majesty's Van Galen, pennant VG. Glad to be back."

A large smile broke on the major's face. "You are a sight for sore eyes, van Galen. We're hard pressed by enemy units holed up in that yellow warehouse there-" he pointed to a metal-sheeted storage building on the dockside road, "- but we can't move our armour up without being fired upon by those units on the river." He paused for a moment as he seemed to remember something. "Eum, can you help us like this, or do you need me to go find someone from the Navy to liaise with you?"

She shook her head empathically. "Leave them to me, major. My anti-aircraft defences may not be at full strength, but I can deal with things on the surface. My standing orders when I was sunk were to support the marines around the Waalhaven airfield. That the airfield isn't here anymore, well, that is just a detail. Best of luck, major." With that, she turned on the spot and began to make her way to the river.

The twisted grudge that had taken the shape of an Elbing-class cruiser cackled in delight as it sent another volley of 15cm shells into the harbour, sending a gas station off in a pillar of fire and smoke. "These humans die so messily! Breaking them like this is so much fun!" Beside her, her sister just shrugged. "Meh, there's not much of a challenge to it. It's like crushing shrimp underhoof." The shriek of one of their three escorting destroyers made her turn, just in time to see it eviscerated by a shot from the other side of the river, fired by … Her bridge crew sent her imps to check the rangefinders again, trying to process the two mutually exclusive images she received. Striding across the water, she saw a girl with brown hair wearing a dark blue sailor's uniform and cap, fire burning in her slate-grey eyes. Yet at the same time she also saw the outline of a destroyer, slim, but only a little bit shorter than herself, guns and torpedo tubes aimed straight at them. The thundering of those guns broke her out of her confusion, as another one of her destroyers was sunk. "Sister, behind us!" she yelled as her imps rushed to bring the guns on her now engaged side to bear.

"Godverdoemme klooutzekken!" Van Galen shouted with her thick Rotterdam accent. "You come here to my hometown to burn it and blow it up, hurt my people and kill my marines!" The last escorting destroyer had closed with her and tried to tear her in half with its teeth, but the little destroyer barely broke her stride as she sidestepped the strike and despatched it with two shots to the bridge as it came past. "Go back to where you came from!" Shots from the two cruisers showered her with splinters, which caused deep cuts in her arms and her sides, but she refused to yield. Instead, at point-blank range, she fired her two launchers of 21' torpedoes, three at each Abyssal. "And tell them Rotterdam is protected now!" The last thing the cruisers saw before the fish blew their sides out and sent them to the bottom was an enraged little destroyer, still pinging away at them with her guns.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Well, time to pick up our favorite cute canine couple.

Pack Dynamics I

Yokosuka Naval Base, Kanmasu Housing

Moriko Ibuki blinked her eyes open as the early-morning sunlight reached her futon. Yawning, she stretched, feeling her keel -- wait, not her keel, her back -- pop. She shook her head briefly at the thought and cuddled her plushy dog that she was now sleeping with to her chest.

For the last two months since she met him, her dreams had been strange. As an Okami Yokai, she was used to the dreams from time to time where she ran through the woods as an alpha wolf scarred from her many fights leading and protecting her sisters as her pack hunted.

After all, that was part of her heritage. Part of her blood.

She gave a lupine grin and cuddled the plushy a bit tighter to her bosom.

Some of those dreams now included other shadowy figures running free with her. A great white Okami that she instinctively knew was Kogamaru was beside the smaller but lithe form of her youngest sister Sachiko. That, of course, was her mind processing what was obvious to everyone as a matter of time. What was unexpected and caused her boi-- her heart to skip a beat as her cheeks became red hot were the new figures who had joined her dreams of the hunt. Of the kill.

Two Akita Inus, the older male equaling her speed and power with his unflagging loyal determination and will to run alongside her shoulder as he led his younger brother in their hunt.
Spoiler: The Miyatas

She looked down at the somewhat squashed Akita plushy in her cleavage that she had named 'Hachiko-chan' after a magical, wonderful, unforgettable first date with him and bopped him on the nose.

"You're a bad influence on me."

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

Hachiko's Apartment

"I'll see you later Tou-san!"

Hachiko Miyata smiled and waved to his younger brother Aki as he headed to school with the carefree dash of the young at heart.

He then glanced at the clock and poured himself some tea while taking a deep breath. Aki had run early today, so he actually had ten minutes before he would have to leave to move that load of furniture into Odawara-san's store before heading to the library to open as normal.

Ten precious minutes....

With that, he walked back to his spartan room and looked at the plush wolf sitting on his battered dresser next to the photograph of his parents.

He bowed his head and gently touched the frame with his fingertips. "Was this what it was like for you, Tou-san, Kaa-san?" he whispered, as his slender shoulders shook.

Moving to the plushy and giving the ears of his 'Moriko-chan' a scruffle, his cheeks blushed a little at the memory of his dream last night.
Spoiler: Ibuki on the Hunt

He had found himself in a massive steel room filled with the thunder of machinery as it rocked to and fro. Ghostly figures in the uniforms of the Japanese Navy from the Pacific War bustled to and fro tending to the massive steam boilers on either side of him. One with his face obscured by the heat haze save for a pair of canine ears tapped his shoulder.

"You're wanted on the bridge, sir."

Silently, he nodded, and in a trance moved through the passages, passing crewman after crewman. Those not clearly busy with their duties saluted him as he passed.

The noise of the ship at sea matched the thunder of his heartbeat in his ears as he reached a ladder and began to climb it. As he reached the top, the smell of the salt air was the most wonderfully intoxicating thing he could imagine.

"Tokumu-kan no omie!"

With that announcement he stepped through the bridge hatch and gasped at the sight in front of him. The warship he was on had a lean, wolfish elegance that took his breath away. Her sleek lines showed her grace and speed, while the triple twin-gun turrets visible along her bow promised matching lethality and power.

The trackless waves of the Pacific were visible through the bridge windows as the sun set, blown by a storm that she was approaching and as he watched, the knife edge of her bow sliced through a massive green wave, sending white spray crashing over her bow as she continued on her hunt.

As he watched, a flash of sunlight on aluminum from the setting sun heralded a flight of aircraft. As he followed their path past the ship, he suddenly realized that behind her steamed a carrier modeled on her hull lines. Further past the carrier was a third, more indistinct ship. A circle of destroyers surrounded them protectively.

The bridge radio crackled and he heard a somewhat familiar female voice. "I lamed those Abyssal convoy raiders, but won't be able to launch another strike before the weather closes in."

The husky, fierce, hungry contralto growl behind him caused his knees to weaken. "Good work, Suzume-chan. I'll take DesDiv Twelve and finish them."

He turned, knowing who he would see before he laid eyes on her. His hammering heartbeat picked up a notch in perfect time with the howl of her engines as they reached flank for the final sprint of their chase now that the end was in sight.
Spoiler: CA Moriko

Moriko stood there in a fur lined black school coat that accentuated her generous fuel bunkerage and muscles as it clung to her, ending in a black and gray tartan pleated miniskirt that highlighted her long, lean legs before they ducked into glossy black leather thigh-high jackboots.

She had a bushy dark gray and white wolf tail wagging behind her eagerly and her lupine ears were perked up and alert. Her glowing gray eyes, now with flecks of gold -- just like a she-wolf! -- surveyed him hungrily and she gave him one of those predatory smiles full of sharp teeth that caused his heart to race with anticipation.

She was so beautiful like this.

She prowled forward, and placed her scarred hand, now clad in a spotless white officer's glove, on his shoulder.

"Hachiko-chan, There's something I need for you to do for me..." Her voice electrified him with something primal that called to both his inugami heritage and his human blood.

The thrill of the hunt. Working in perfect coordination with his pack to harry the predators threatening their young. The moment of the kill when the time came for the alpha pair to rip out the wounded quarry's throat.

"A-anything, what is it?" He gulped, whispering through bone dry lips at her raw feral animal magnetism.

She turned him to the hatch from whence she had entered and pointed to it. With a start he read the kanji of the plaque on it.

'Captain's Quarters'

"I need you to go in there and sign the crew register on your desk. My crew register."

As he nodded with every ounce of determination in his frame, she leaned down, pressing her fuel tanks against him to whisper throatily in his ear. "After all, every wolfpack's alpha female needs her alpha male..."

Silently Hachiko cursed his alarm clock that had chosen the absolute worst time to wake him then.

With that he glanced at the clock and sighed as he braced himself for another day of working multiple jobs to provide for Aki. At least hanami was soon and he could take Aki to see the cherry blossoms, and maybe invite Moriko to meet Aki. Perhaps even a family outing with her sisters.

 

[darthcourt10]

Shinr Omake: One thing that Kane did not plan for...

At least the unintentional mention of Global Defense Initiative resulted in this:

----

In the dead of the night, within a forest in the middle of Italy, a platoon of heavily armed soldiers wearing heavily militarized HazMat suits were advancing along the river Tiber.

And leading them was a bald man in normal military wear, utterly unconcerned with potential bio-hazards that his men were wary of. And so were the men unconcerned with their leader's safety for that matter.

For The Great Prophet Kane was immortal, after-all.

And tonight, He was leading them towards their, or rather HIS, destiny: The meteorite that has fallen from heaven barely half an hour ago, just as He predicted, which contained an extraterrestrial material that will change humanity's fate and will be either named for the nearby river Tiber or Emperor Tiberius, depending on who's asking and telling.

What he did not foresee as they arrived at the impact site, was a tall, deathly pale, skimpily dressed and heavily armed woman eating the meteorite.

If they hadn't maintained strict radio silence, Nod Intelligence would have informed Him that barely two hours ago the whole World came under attack from the sea-borne invaders, a fusion of dead women and sunken ships, the Abyssals.

And said Abyssal, a Ta-Class, was one of the less suicidal ones of her kind who though that attacking humanity was a little unwise, but bringing that up would have been more suicidal than usual in her usual company, so she kept her mouth shut and counted her blessings by using her orders to go up the Tiber to swim somewhere more quiet and hidden from both Abyssal and Human eyes.

Which is when the falling meteorite hit her head.

Nursing the bump on her cranium, she picked up the offending rock and inspected it, noting the green, crystalline things sticking out of it, and she was about to throw it away when her stomach growled like a dying whale. She once again cursed the very stingy Princess she served under, for she never gave enough rations to everyone, and as she thought that she looked at the meteorite she was holding.

Well, beggars can't be choosers.

And thus, the current scene of bewildered Kane watching someone eating away his fortune. Followed by him angrily ordering his men to shoot.

Poor Bastards.

When Kane woke up some time later in a Hidden Temple of Nod in Sarajevo, he would find out how Blood Week and beyond changed the world, how the Brotherhood of Nod suffered from this unexpected war, and how all his plans were basically ruined.

All this Chaos, and he was completely unable to take advantage of it.

As for the Ta-Class, she escaped back to the sea, and survived the six months of Middle World Ocean Princess' "Rule" by being as far away from action as possible, and when the Elder Princess ran away with her fancy sword, plunging what was left of barely organized command in the Med into chaos, the Ta-Class decided it was perfect time to bow out of the war without anyone shooting her in the back for desertion.

But where to run?

Through the Suez Canal? The shipgirls watch over it more sternly than the Girl Dormitory Matrons looking for smuggled boys. Through Gibraltar? She would be one more Abyssal corpse at the base of the Rock before she knew it. Through the Bosporus? Unexpected and surprising as that might be, that way lies the Turkish Fleet and, dear God, the Red Navy.

And just as she was contemplating going deep into the Sahara desert, she stumbled upon a Magical Hidden Island and she thanked the Gods for the perfect hideout, for it was uninhibited and contained only a small magical mansion that was abandoned for years.

Many years later, during the inspection of all hidden islands as part of post-War and post-Statute clean-up, the shipgirls will find a island full of on-going construction projects conducted by a Ti-Class Installation, a former Ta-Class Battleship who some time after coming here had a hell of a stomach-ache, stayed bed-ridden for months, and woke up as an installation with green crystaly bits sticking out.

And a desire to build stuff, with new-found abilities to do so very easily.

Which will be a boon in the reconstruction efforts across the world, but that is a story for another day.