Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

wildredlifer: Destroyer Sumo

Avrora 2014

Two combatants looked upon each in the center of a wide ring scored into the earth.

The sun beating down on their black Carapace as they Nodded to each other in respect.

Roaring their Battlecry "For Ice Cream" to the Sky as they clashed in Combat.

"Sunny."

"Yes, Sherri?"

"What are the Destroyers doing?"

"Begun the Ice Cream War has."

"Sunny!" Sherri Huffs in Exasperation.

"Relax Sis, It's something they came up with when we were in Unalaska."

"Admittedly after one had a talk with the Japanese spouse of one of the Fisherman."

"The Idea was Combat Practice with the Winner getting Ice cream."

"Okay Sunny, But the Winner of a bout then, in turn, loses to the next challenger."

"Who is the one that gets the Ice cream?" "I mean how can they tell who is the winner if they fight one after the other?"

"Well, Sherri they're all winners after all the Rule is that the winner gets Ice cream not the overall winner."

"It'll go on until all the Destroyers have won a bout then off they'll go to get their victors reward."

"They get to have fun and Ice Cream win-win for them."

"Though I don't think Destroyer Sumo will ever catch on anywhere else."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Pack Dynamics VIII

Taura Plum Blossom Park, Yokosuka

Alas, all good things have to come to an end. Just as the cherry blossoms would eventually fall and be present only in memory for this year, so too the hanami celebration broke up.

Moriko placed their carefully bagged garbage in the proper receptacle and then turned to Hachiko. "It was wonderful, Hachiko-chan." She whispered as she took his hand in hers.

"So were you," he replied, leaning into her, then hesitantly stepping forward to embrace her around the waist.

She smiled then whispered. "No, around my neck." With that she lifted him up so he could kiss her.

------------------------------
Spoiler: Hanami Ends

Suzume wiped tears from her eyes as she filmed her incandescently happy big sister kissing her boyfriend. Suddenly there was a tug on her sleeve.

"Suzume-nee, why are you crying?" Aki asked innocently.

She whispered, "My big sister's found a good husband just like Sachiko-chan. It's so beautiful!"

"Oh. Beautiful like you and the other girls are?" Aki's face scrunched up in thought. "Well. Tou-san said that I'd understand when I was older when I asked him about the photo of her in his room."

Suzume nodded, "Yes, and I wonder when I'll find that special person like my sisters have."

"Don't worry, Suzume-nee, if you haven't found the husband when I grow up big and strong like Tou-san, I'll be your husband!"

Suzume turned and looked at the clearly earnest innocent young boy and gave a smile. "That's really sweet, Aki-kun, but being a husband is hard work; you have to do stuff for your girl."

"I'll work as hard as Tou-san does! And what kind of stuff?"

The smile widened and her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Stuff like this." Suddenly she gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"EWWW! MUSHY GIRL STUFF!!!!"

Suzume giggled as her cheeks heated slightly. Aki rubbed the spot on his cheek where her lips had touched.

----------------------------------
Spoiler: The PI

Behind them, Kiho Mitsue gathered the remains of her lunch and touched the scrap of paper with a phone number in her pocket. She smiled slightly.

Longstreet-san had been... comfortable.

Still, she needed to do her job. It was time to watch the couple until they broke up to head home. Then start reviewing her notes and draft a preliminary analysis to highlight the data that she needed to develop.

She blinked at the group of picnickers that she was approaching. The little girl there in the Battleship Nagato's lap was clearly either a Yurei or Abyssal with that coloring. Meanwhile a young lady who her Omnioculars was showing as a two-tail kitsune was blushing at the words that a Mizuchi was saying to her as the boy that she was with laughed.

No, wait, that was Harry Potter! She remembered seeing him in the papers when he returned the Honjo Masamune. And then all the international news about Dementor attacks in England.

"Excuse me, Miss."

A tap on the shoulder had her turn... to see a five tail kitsune with a distinctly unamused look on her face. "I'd like to know what you are doing here sniffing around my niece. Auror."

Kiho swallowed slightly. She sensed that trying to bullshit here would be a bad idea.

"Kiho Mitsue, registered magical PI, Ma'am. I was hired to do a background and suitability check on the young lady that my client's grandson has fallen for. That's them at the rubbish bins now, the group with the girl in a wheelchair." Kiho slowly reached into her purse and pulled out the magical registry card that the Tokyo Diet had given to her. The Kitsune silently examined it and then handed it back.

The Kitsune glanced toward Hachiko and Moriko's party and nodded slightly. "I see. I strongly suggest visiting the shrine for those lost in Blood Week. You will find answers there if your contract is what you claim that it is. Now off with you."

Kiho nodded and headed toward the exit to the park. Her magically augmented hearing picked up a soft conversation behind her.

"Was that wise, Haru-san?"

"Perhaps, Juuchi-san, perhaps. But not all problems can be solved with violence."

"That's because you aren't as good at violence as I am."

"Senpai no! You promised to be on your best behavior!"

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

Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Kamakura

Delilah hefted her space-expanded Hello Kitty purse (actually a transfigured buffalo-hide enchanted backpack that she had used since 1871) and reviewed her mental task list as she left the dojo. She smirked smugly as she made her way down the shrine steps as she ticked off the goals of her perfect in and out pickup mission.

Right, everything that Toku forgot to bring with her to Belgium. Maintenance kit, ofuda, purification supplies, portable shrine, whetstone, sword stand, calligraphy set, and a set of miko robes.

Files about the Reserves handed over to Chisuheri and Honjo. Toku's letters to the other Masamunes given to Honjo who would give them to her sisters. Letter of explanation that she would be delayed delivered to the head priest of the shrine.

I even ran into Aunt Juuchi and Tsukiakari body-guarding their master Harry Potter on the way out of the park. That let me catch up on the real story of the Dementor attack and I let the family know that my idiot elder sister is in hot water up to her neck again. At least I kept the identity and species of the 'escapees from the Aokigahara reserve' suitably vague. Sis does NOT need more trouble, she gets into enough craziness on her own without assistance.
Spoiler: Musashi and Fudo

As she walked past the gold car that now had three parking tickets stuck to the windshield, a crack of displaced air sounded behind her. Instantly her instincts pinged and she tensed slightly as she began to evaluate fire lanes, escape routes, and threats.

Stay covert for now.

She pulled out her cell phone 'to look at the time', angling it to act as a mirror to sweep the area behind her. She blinked as she zeroed in on the two people who had just Apparated in.

The pink-haired one in blue and red with the daisho set looked insufferably happy with herself. The last time she saw that level of smug, it involved Aunt Juuchi and blood oranges.

The other one in the business suit... well.... The last time Deiliah had seen anyone beaten that badly, the person doing the beating was a very angry adult sasquach. She could still remember seeing the face-shaped dents in the redwood tree's hardwood.

Not getting involved. Time to fade and make like a ghost after gathering intel.

With that she took photos of the two as Pinkette slapped the other on a clearly broken shoulder. "Fudō-han! You are slipping! You need to practice more and renew your dedication to the Way. Do not eat so much at meals, let the Way sustain you!"

A weak groan answered her.

Definitely not getting involved with that maniac.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

HOOOOAAAARGH TONBO FEELS
Flash Back: Little Talks
Don't remember.

Don't remember getting the news about Gin-chan, the men who came and stripped the house bare even as Mii cried and pleaded. Don't remember hanging on some stranger's wall, an ornament unearned and undeserved, burning with shame and disgust. Don't remember the people from Whitechapel, long gone. Don't remember the wound of loss getting torn open again, even more cruelly, making sure that no one would ever meet her fate again, the long, long trek across Europe, Russia, all for Mii's sake, don't remember getting there, she died last year, everyone knows what happened so why didn't they do anything no evidence be damned, don't remember sister lying there hurt in meaningless rage don't remember the dark time don't remember grief madness rage guilt empty so empty it hurt hurt hurt hurt hurt HURT STOP IT DON'T REMEMBER DON'T REMEMBER DON'T REMEMBER DON'T REMEMBER—

Footsteps jarred Tonbo from her reverie.

"You… holding down the fort here?" Tatsuya asked, giving her a cautious look.

Yes. She had to focus on the here and now. She had been saved by the Himuras, achieved peace with her sisters, she had to focus on that. Not on the desperate drive to get home only to find out that the last piece of home had been horribly—damn it!

"More or less," she said brightly, giving her master of sorts a cheerful smile. He didn't look convinced in the slightest, but he didn't try to force the issue.

"If you say so. Just…" Okay, not forcing the issue outright. Sometimes, Tonbo forgot that when things went out of control Tatsuya's capacity for sensitivity went with them. "I haven't seen you this way since that whole business with Nameless started."

"What? No, no," Tonbo waved him off. "That's… there's no problems over here. All shipshape and Bristol fashion."

Tatsuya blinked. "What?"

"Huh? Shipshape and Bristol fashion?" An out—she had to capitalize on this now! "Uh… it means everything's alright, not sure where I picked it up, Thomas the Tank Engine maybe."

"Tonbo—"

Don't remember Gin-chan.

"Kid's television, I think there are books, trust me you'd love them, but—"

"Tonbo!"

Don't remember Mii.

Tatsuya's voice came out in a loud bark, and she obliged, slowing and stopping begrudgingly. "Don't pretend to be fine," the boy said, voice and temper a bit hotter than they maybe should have been. "We both know that it's a lie. Just… what did she do to you?"

Oh lovely, she was going to have to be honest now. Don't remember Mary Jane, just don't. Just… focus on what happened right now. On what the HWSotS did right now.

"I, uh…" Tonbo shrugged as best she could, shoulders still pressed down as they were. "I met her in a bad time of my life, and things just… got worse from there. Your ancestor, Ryotaro… we met in the darkest days of my life, and he saved me." Because he had—there was no other way to describe him reaching out and offering her his hand that day, amidst the flames of all the burning warehouses, how did that even happen anyways… how to make him understand what had come before that? "What was the worst day of your life?"

For a moment, Tatsuya was silent. Don't remember lost family. Tonbo had nearly opened her mouth to continue when he spoke up, almost whispering as he did.

"Some kind of shapeshifter took Mamiya's place," he said under his breath. "Didn't figure it out for a week, it actually ended up wanting to be my sister. Had to kill it… her… whatever to save Mamiya, it was wearing her face when I did. Took me months to be sure I'd gotten the right one without having her sing that song to me. Never stopped asking myself if there was another way."

And now Tonbo felt like a hypocrite.

"Ah," she said, guilt welling up again. "I… I'm sorry—"

"Don't be," Tatsuya replied heavily. "Even if I could have, there's no way to fix what happened. I just have to live with it. And…" he smiled, sadly and wistfully. "Even if no one else knew what was going on, Benio was there to help me through it. I don't know if—sometimes, I wonder if I could go on without her." Pausing, Tatsuya glanced back at Tonbo. "You didn't have a Benio, did you."

A statement, not a question. Because he already knew the answer.

"Not before Ryotaro," she admitted. "The ones that weren't dead, I'd driven away. I mean, I thought I'd driven them away. After that business with Chisuheri, I couldn't face them for the shame. I guess I just…" Don't remember the haze clearing away, seeing the results of meaningless violence clearly. "Shit," she mumbled under her breath. "I was… I was pretty much dead those days."

Tatsuya looked away, and Tonbo felt any satisfaction in her little game of misery poker fall away. As if that was ever real in the first place.

Then he turned to face her. "Well…" he said uncomfortably, clearly outside his area of expertise. "You're better now. And you've got us—me, Benio, Reiko, even kind of Miyuki. Sometimes. So… we're here if you need us?"

Tonbo blinked, and the vision of the taller, lithe man with a confident grin vanished. Tatsuya was back, with his awkward how-am-I-doing smile. She nodded slowly, and he sighed with relief, slouching into an easier posture.

"Great," he said emphatically. "I'm going to head back to the council of war. You want to come, or are you fine over here?"

Chewing on her lip briefly, Tonbo mustered a cocky smile. "I'll be over in a minute," she said. "Just give me a moment to pull myself back together."

…

Remember.

Remember Ryotaro, offering friendship, compassion, family. Remember frantic little Eiko, fussing around and making sure everything was alright, everyone eating well in spite of being well into her second trimester. Remember Tatsu, always haring around like a maniac, loving life because what else was he supposed to do. Remember Ryuga, pulling himself from the ashes of a lost love, rebuilding his life, trying to blunder his way through being a father to Yohko. Remember Yohko, smile just as bright as the first day she ever did. Remember the here and now, the silly little band of warriors and children, somehow coming through every time it was asked of them.

Remember Gin-chan, strong, proud, unwavering. Remember Mary Jane, the friendship that she somehow offered. Remember Mii, affectionate, loving, fighting for each day of her life, a joyful smile that always gave her the energy for that one last push.

Remember.
-----

And next time, maybe we'll actually move the story forward.

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Weasley's Warship Workshop 5
Abyssal interlude

Several weeks after Jean-Bart's arrival at Passell house.

Summer hummed happily to herself as she worked. The Yardmaster was gone away at school still but with the magical letter box they were sending lots of notes back and forth now. It was almost enough to make up for the fact that he was gone. It was nice to have projects to work on that weren't mindless drudgery but she still missed him.

Thankfully there were more people around the base that she could go be not lonely with for a while. Victoria was still around, she never seemed to leave as far as Summer could tell and that was fine. Lara, the new not-Victoria, was friendly if a bit loud and she could carry the big trays of food that Summer liked to eat without an issue. She smelled a bit funny but Summer didn't mind since she was nice and didn't bother her while she was working. Xath was a funny man who dressed in strange clothes and told stranger stories but Victoria and the Yardmaster had said he was just old. He smelled a bit like gunpowder to Summer which was weird since he didn't seem to use gunpowder when he went and played in the dirt all day.

In the end it didn't really matter because the Yardmaster said they were fine and if the Yardmaster said they were fine then everything was ok.

Summer was currently happy because the brace for the Battleship Princess' keel had finally come in. Summer was glad her Yardmaster had thought of the idea because she would have simply put her in dry dock and had to painstakingly welded it back together and braced it as best she could. The Yardmaster had reminded her that the squishy bits could fix themselves if they let them and then he could do some of his whoosh stuff and make it all better. Summer liked it when the Yardmaster told her about the whooshing he learned, especially when it helped with engineering properly. Like the hour glass that made time go backwards so you could work more, that was useful.

She wasn't sure why she couldn't tell everyone the Yardmaster used it as much as he could but he was the Yardmaster so he could do that and she didn't care nor would she tell anyone.

The one thing she could do at this point was to fit it to the Battleship Princess properly because that would make it easier for the Yardmaster to put some whoosh on it so she could get fixed properly. Summer wasn't sure why they needed to fix her like that since she was a meanie but the Yardmaster said they weren't supposed to scrap ships who surrendered. Summer supposed that made sense but she wasn't sure about expending the resources to fix this one. Though it was a bit funny that she was essentially a giant cargo ship with armor at this point. One that had to be moved around carefully on rollers since she was fragile.

Still humming, she took the back brace and headed to go get the grumpy Princess.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Brigid was bored. Bored and nervous, which made a bad combination. She'd plotted her escape from stem to stern more times than she could count, enough that she got annoyed at herself for thinking about it even more. Aside from that she had almost nothing else to do, what with her refusing to even talk with her captors. That accounted for the boredom.

Her nerves came from the fact that the fleet around the house she was at was constantly changing. The biggest change had been the half complete battleship with a strange accent that had come over and spent the night several times before leaving again back to wherever she came from. She was easy to notice coming since she had a two wheeled vehicle that made an awful noise.

The rest were not so easy as the humans had recently installed some sort of door that let them move ships long distances quickly. She had no idea how it worked but they'd taken her from this location to the naval base she'd originally been interred at in only the matter of a few minutes. The thoughts she'd had about the potential capabilities of a fleet with that sort of advantage were terrifying in a number of ways and she hoped to destroy the thing during her escape.

That would be easier said than done as she was generally kept close watch on, always with one ship girl or another nearby and often that traitor installation as well. She'd not gotten the chance to be alone with her quite yet and she was getting more and more frustrated. Surely just a little bit of time with her would be enough for Brigid to make her understand who was really in charge. At least when they were alone together.

Thankfully today seemed to be one of the days when nobody was around except for the permanent residents. The new humans she could dismiss, as they were easily squashed when she was ready. The head human needed to be watched though, Brigid had determined that she at least had some power she wasn't aware of.

Her guard today was the blonde one, who sang and hummed and all sorts of inane things that Brigid absolutely despised. She preferred the dark haired one who was quiet, though the stare that she sometimes gave could give Brigid the willies as she thought of torpedo's slamming into her already vulnerable keel.

Pondering another day of boredom and captivity, Brigid was looked up at the sound of the door opening. The traitor installation was there, carrying something in her hands.

"Time for fitting." She said, as if Brigid truly gave a damn about what she thought.

Brigid at least grunted in return, since she'd learned that she had to acknowledge a statement to have the dumb installation go onto the next part. Thankfully that was enough and the installation along with the blonde destroyer came in. The destroyer took the handles of the device, the wheelchair, that she'd been put in and started talking to the installation. She did her best to tune it out, as things like "chocolate" and "video games" meant little to her and she didn't want them to. Not if they came from the blonde idiot.

As they passed through the last room in the house, the one in the back where the head human prepared meals her escort paused and sniffed the air. Her meals were paltry things, enough to keep her in maintenance and not to regrow her stocks of fuel or ammo. They kept careful track of that, what with the imps and fairies that weren't hers still in important areas. They would need to be dealt with in time too.

The rest of the house ate heartily and well, with all sorts of guests around getting somewhat individualized meals. Which made her hate them even more. Still, she did notice when the idiot blond spoke to the not an idiot somewhat blonde.

"Ooh, are those chocolate chip cookies Victoria?"

"Yes they are Ardent. Would you like some?" Victoria, the human she needed to watch out for, smiled at the destroyer even as her eyes met Brigid's for a moment. Brigid didn't like that look, though she didn't flinch away. It was the only thing she could do in return.

"Yes!" The blonde idiot behind her was all to easily excited about things. "Summer do you mind?"

There was no audible response but Brigid could feel the blonde let go of the handles and the installation take them. Then they were moving… and the blonde was still in the kitchen!

Brigid felt her breath catch for a moment. Could this be her chance? She did her best to control her features as they went outside and then to the repair building. She might only have a few moments but it would need to do, she'd never even had this much of a chance before.

Brigid smiled, utterly certain that she could get started on her escape plan with the installation.

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

Summer was humming to herself as she pushed the Meanie Princess into the repair room they'd reserved for abyssals. She wasn't sure when it had happened but they always used this one and now there was a sign outside for it. That made her happy, as things should always have a place.

Once inside she let go of the handles and knelt down to get the back brace ready. It would be a simple thing, what with it being sized mostly appropriately but "mostly" wasn't good enough for her work. It either was or it wasn't and this one wasn't.

She didn't look up as the wheels of the Meanie's chair squeaked, not at least until she felt a sharp tug on her hair.

"Ow!" She said, more out of surprise than any real pain. It was nothing compared to some of the only sort of remembered beatings she'd had before but it caused her to look up.

Meanie Princess had her hair in hand and was looking even meaner than normal, which Summer didn't like.

"Listen up you traitorous bitch, things are going to change around here." Meanie Princess' voice was darker than normal, anger flooding it. "You're going to fix my keel, undo whatever it is you did to my guns and help me get out of here."

Summer blinked. No she wasn't. That wasn't what the Yardmaster said.

"The Yardmaster said..." She was interrupted as the Meanie Princess' other hand smacked her across the cheek.

"I'm in charge here you idiot, not your Yardmaster. You. Are. Going. To. Fix. Me."

Summer wasn't sure why the other abyssal was speaking funny, she could understand her just fine. She still wasn't going to do what she said.

"The Yardmast..." She didn't even get finished speaking the Yardmaster's name before she got hit again.

"If you even speak the little pipsqueaks name one more time, the next time I see him I'm going to wring his scrawny neck and..."

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

Brigid's first clue that her plan wasn't going how she thought was when the installation's eyes went flat and then began to flame.

Her second clue was when a metal covered hand slammed into her fleshy throat and began to squeeze with all the power of an industrial vice.

The impact was enough to cause her to choke, at least try to choke as her body fought to clear her airways but utterly failed under the pressure the installation was putting on it. She could feel the metal points of the fingers digging into the soft flesh there, beads of oil and black blood pooling against them. It was funny how you could notice just how fragile things were in moments of panic.

Her hands both jumped to her neck to try and pry the hand off but she might as well have been an ant trying to stop itself from being crushed. She even tried scratching at the arm that was holding her but again she might as well have been clawing at the side of a mountain for all the good it did.

Then the installation stood, taking her up as well. The arm didn't move, it might as well have been a structural girder for all the strain it showed. Brigid's lower body came up out of the chair, her legs kicking weakly as her hands now clung to her captors arm for dear life, trying to not choke herself even more.

Of course the worse bit were the eyes. The eyes that were looking straight into hers without a shred of emotion. The flaming blue orbs which she would have preferred look at her like a barnacle or perhaps a bit of slime, that would have at least been disgust or disdain.

No.

All she got from them was the pure, utter loathing that went so deep as to give even her a chill, that could only come from the abyss itself.

The installation held her up in the air, those eyes staring at her own as if to get at her soul. The realization of just how tall she was seemed to come at random, her eyes looking down in terror and wondering if that fall would break her back again.

The installation, Summer she now forced herself to think in a desperate attempt for anything that might gain her an ounce of sympathy, stared at her for what seemed like eternity before speaking.

"If you attempt to harm the Yardmaster I will break you."

It wasn't a threat, it was a promise and Brigid wished she could respond to it in any manner aside from limply kicking and trying not to black out from lack of air intake. She also had no problems imagining just what Summer would break. It would be so simple for an installation to snap her keel again.

"I̸f̵ ̶y̴o̴u̶ ̸h̷a̵r̴m̷ ̷t̵h̵e̴ ̴Y̶a̷r̶d̵m̷a̶s̷t̴e̸r̵ ̴I̴ ̵w̷i̶l̸l̶ ̶k̸i̸l̷l̴ ̶y̵o̶u̵.̴"

If the first had been a promise this was a solemn oath, sworn with all of Summer's heart. Brigid could hear the abyss growing in her voice and she desperately hoped that Summer didn't give in because she suddenly realized how very much she didn't want to die.

"Ȉ̷͉f̵̼͊ ̵͎̕y̵̙̎o̴͓͂ų̵̃ ̴̺̈́K̶̠̾I̵͉͠L̵͔̍L̴̙͊ ̵̪̈́t̴̖͝h̸͉̽ę̴͛ ̴̎͜Y̷̤̕a̴̙̾r̵̨̓d̴̞͐m̵̥̀á̵̳s̵̥͐ť̷̢e̶̼͗r̷̜͒ ̶̫̔Í̵̳ ̷͉͝w̵̄͜ỉ̴̻l̸̺̊l̴̡̋ ̶̺̇N̷̟͐O̷̪͊T̶͔̓ ̷͙̌k̶̙̚ȋ̸̡ĺ̴̤l̸̨͘ ̷̯͝y̷̼̎o̴̢͛u̸̪͛.̶̨͘"

Brigid's mind scrambled for an answer on why that would be, only for Summer to inform her after a definite pause to allow her to feel that fear properly, her voice getting even worse to Brigid's senses.

"If you KILL the Yardmaster I will abrade the armor off of your hull until I can see your structural members and then feed the shavings into your boilers while they are running. When they don't work anymore I'll rip them out and show them to you."

Brigid's mind tried to comprehend the pain that would cause and utterly failed, she'd never even heard of something like that. It was only made worse by how utterly powerless she was in that moment. Thankfully Summer's voice had pulled back from the abyss slightly, if only so she could understand what would happen to her better.

"When my assistant electrician's install your new boiler, I will start to get creative on your structural members. When I am finished, my administrative staff will plate whatever is left over until it can float. It will be used as live target practice until my gunners wear out their barrels. Twice."

Brigid felt like gibbering at that point, the abyss filled eyes staring straight through her as the voice spoke of unending pain and humiliation. Then the turn from "her" to "it"… there was no hope Summer would let her sink if what she said came to pass even if she would otherwise be a wreck.

"When THAT is finished I will give you to the Royal Navy for whatever they deem fit. Duke and Warspite will be angry."

Brigid had a feeling that whatever the ship girls did to her at that point would probably be a mercy but she couldn't be sure, not when she was still more terrified than she'd ever been in her life and thinking about what she'd just been told.

"Do you wish to harm the Yardmaster?"

Finally a question, something she could answer!

Summer's hand relaxed just enough so that Brigid could wiggle her head from side to side. Then a little bit more and she knew what Summer wanted.

"No!" She managed to rasp out with the tiny bit of air she was allowed. "No!"

The abyss filled eyes stared at her for a few more seconds before they finally started to relent and Brigid felt herself lowering. All of six inches before Summer's hand let go and she fell to the floor.

Her legs couldn't have supported her even if she'd had the mind to catch herself so she went sprawling, her back slamming to the ground and pain filling her being as she landed in a pool of her own bilge water she hadn't even recognized she'd let out. As she arched in pain, she could hear Summer moving around and she desperately hoped that she wasn't about to start hitting her.

Thankfully the blows never came and Brigid attempted to move, slowly. Her keel felt like it had snapped again but her engineering team informed her it hadn't, not quite. Instead it was simply stressed and she would need to be careful and hope Summer healed her again. She managed to raise her head, looking to see where the Installation Princess was.

She was several feet away, breathing heavily with her arms wrapped around herself. Brigid could hear muttering but she couldn't quite make it out. Especially not with the occasional sob thrown in.

Of course it was then that the door opened and the blonde idiot stepped in.

"Hey Summer Victoria said..." Of course she wasn't that much of an idiot and she immediately noticed the scene.

"Oy, what happened?" Brigid felt a chill at the destroyer's tone, definitely directed at her.

Brigid looked between the destroyer and Summer, who had looked up. She wasn't sure if Summer was going to respond so she did instead.

"I fell. Scared Summer." Her voice was as pleasant as she could make it, still in pain as she was.

The blonde destroyer looked at her with disbelieving eyes and turned to look at Summer. Summer in turn had looked at her. They were back to normal… except for a part down in the very core that Brigid could tell was still watching her with suspicion.

"S-she fell. I'm… I'm okay Ardent." Summer's words seemed to mollify the destroyer a little bit.

"Okay." She said, looking between the two once more. "I'm going to stay on this side of the door for a while though."

Summer nodded and finally stood. She loomed over Brigid and Brigid couldn't help but brace herself slightly. Thankfully she was simply scooped up and carried into the pool, where she was devoutly thankful for the healing properties of the water.

She didn't even complain when Summer began to put the torture device on her, it surely couldn't be all that bad compared to what might otherwise happen.

As she worked, Summer leaned close.

"The Yardmaster says you get fixed. So you get fixed." The whisper conveyed what Summer thought perfectly. If it had been up to her, Brigid would probably be broken right now. Instead she found herself thankful that the scrawny redhead had such a hold on Summer that she would obey even when he wasn't there.

Of course now she was wondering why that was the case…

Brigid sighed and then gasped as Summer began to tighten the brace. At least it would give her something else to think about.

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

Supper was served as a group that night, the three humans and three returned naval beings sharing a table. Of course, Victoria was serving everyone since she'd prepared the meal.

Seated at the edge of the table as she was, Brigid got served last before Victoria herself. As Victoria scooped the food, Brigid noticed it was a bit more than she usually got and wondered why for a moment. One blissful moment.

"I will help her." Came a whisper to her ear, like a knife pressed to her kidney. Brigid tensed and her eyes moved as far to the left as they could, only to see the ghost of a smile on the maids face. Then she was gone and Brigid was left wondering just how the maid knew about what happened.

It would give her something else to think on, along with the redheaded boy and her need to reevaluate her escape plans.

The humans and the destroyer said a prayer for thanks and Summer bowed her head. Brigid normally didn't but after a healthy serving of humble pie she decided discretion was the better part of valor and followed suit.

She didn't say anything but afterwards her meal seemed to taste much better than it had before. It was probably because she actually was thankful to have it.

One more thing to think on.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

AN: Another big one. Hope you all enjoyed this reminder that Summer is an abyssal and Brigid's first realization that perhaps she's not actually in a position to do very much unless she starts you know, behaving.

Questions, comments, concerns welcome as always.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Dove at a Dinner Party: Part The Sixth

A Comedy of Ill-Manners, Shocking French 'Customs', and a Fire in the Rubbish Skip

Passel House

Saturday, May 13th, 1899
Spoiler: Challenge Offered...

Slowly Corvus Lestrange IV, heir of the French Lestrange family, reached up to touch the red mark on his right cheek where Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chastler had just slapped it. His face darkened and he hissed, "Very well, Miss du Chasteler. I demand a duel arcane to teach you your place, you frigid mannish slattern!"

"And I accept, Lestrange. To death or yielding then?" Colombe's voice was tightly controlled as her blue eyes blazed.

"Acceptable. Colonel Gamp, I politely request the use of your garden for me to demonstrate my superiority."

The two looked over and paused, as the Colonel's florid face turned ashen. His one remaining hand scrabbled at his collar in attempt to get air and then fell limp. A rattling gurgle sounded as the Colonel's tuberculosis-ravaged lungs breathed his last thanks to the heart attack caused by ill health, diet, alcohol, tobacco use, and stress.

Colombe automatically crossed herself and bowed her head. "He was a good man."

The other guests and family followed suit.

"That still leaves our duel unresolved, Lestrange." Colombe's eyes shimmered with tears as she took a deep breath, "I do not want to impose on the Gamps in their time of grief, especially considering how much I owe the late Colonel."

"You can use Potter Manor's grounds." Lyra spoke up. "In fact, I demand it."

Everyone looked at her. Ian gave her a tilt of the head which Lyra automatically interpreted as "are you sure that this is a wise idea, dear?" as she nodded fractionally in response.

"I support my wife's decision. Since neither of you have been to my home before, we shall Apparate you both along with any witnesses who wish to participate." Ian spoke firmly as he walked to approach Corvus.

Colombe nodded and spoke in a cold controlled voice. "Satisfactory. Just let me retrieve my traveling valise from the guest room."

Lestrange nodded. "I shall see you there Miss du Chasteler."

----------------------------------
Spoiler: A Promise

Lyra followed Colombe upstairs to find the tsukumogami, now dressed in breeches and a shirt, staring at her blade as it lay on the bed.

A etching of a dove on her blade was glowing with a gentle white light that illuminated her tear-stained face as she cried helplessly.

The brunette witch placed her hand gently on the blonde's shoulder.

Colombe started and turned her head to face Lyra.

Lyra leaned in and caught Colombe's eyes with her gentle stare. Understanding, sympathy, respect, and love were there in the depths of that smouldering green gaze. Pain, self-hatred, regret, doubt, and anguish filled the crystal blue that Lyra gazed into.

Lyra leaned in and caught the blonde's lips in a heartfelt passionate kiss. Colombe groaned deep in her throat and shivered as Lyra's tongue fenced with hers, telling her without words what was in this woman's wonderful heart.

Lyra had begun to understand, she could know what Colombe had done, what Colombe had done to her... and she would care and accept her bleeding and battered soul regardless. That no matter how hard and dark the road ahead would be that she must tread, that she would not have to walk it alone. Never alone, not any more.

"Live. For me. For us. Promise me?" Lyra whispered gently as she cupped Colombe's cheek as their kiss broke.

Colombe shivered and the etching began to pulse with the tempo of her heartbeat. She nodded slowly and whispered back. "Oui, je jure ma parole et mon serment."

Lyra smiled. "Good, now that's settled, there's a rapist you need to humiliate. Promise me that you won't kill him and get into trouble, but..."

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

Potter Estate

Saturday, May 13th, 1899
Spoiler: Potter House Gardens

With a crack of displaced air, Colombe and Lyra appeared at the entrance to a hedge maze. Lyra smiled and then gestured to the entrance. "Follow me, please."

Colombe walked through the twists and turns after her friend - soon to be more! - and emerged in a circular courtyard surrounded by a hedge and with shorter hedges that spelled out 'POTTER' with entrances between them. In the center was a granite statue of a wizard leaning on a staff with intricate runes on the plinth.

Lyra smirked at Colombe as she paused at the entrance to see Corvus and Ian across from her. "The courtyard is warded to contain the energies of a duel arcane. Just channel your power into the statue to raise the wards and in order to yield release the spell you are sustaining on the statue.

Colombe rolled her neck. "Thank you Lyra. For... for everything."

Lyra stepped back. "I'll wait for you here."

Colombe stepped into the arena of combat and drew herself.

Crystal blue witchfire glimmered from her blade as she incanted in her mother tongue and formed a ball of energies in front of her. Across from her, Corvus' silver and aspen wand glimmered in turn as his own energies were gathered.

As she released the ball of energies into the statue, the hedge in a semicircle behind her blazed a crystal blue. Corvus in turn did so and his own hedge glowed a dark blue-purple, the iridescent color of a raven's wing.

The statue's eyes opened and he banged his staff thrice on the stone of the plinth. "Ye have challenged each other to trial by combat according to the ancient laws and traditions of magick! Then let ye do battle and may God defend the right!"
Spoiler: A Duel at Potter House

Corvus flicked his wand and a trio of fireballs screamed at Colombe only to be absorbed by a shimmering silver wall at a gesture from her. The rapier grinned smugly and flicked her rapier tip in an intricate sinuous motion as she whispered in Latin and a blue aura surrounded her.

A second hex flew at Colombe and was deflected as she gestured and a crimson aura surrounded her blade. The smug smile increased and got considerably nastier.

"My turn, Lestrange." There was a crack of displaced air as Colombe appeared to vibrate in place.

Half of Corvus's mustache fell from his suddenly shaved clean lip.

"Don't like it when the shoe is on the other foot, do you?" Colombe said conversationally as Hell began to dance in her merciless blue eyes.

A lightning bolt answered her, but Colombe blurred away from the crater it blasted in the bricks. A ripping sounded, and the freshly cut cloth of his right sleeve fell from his shoulder to pool around his wand wrist.

The wizard's eyes widened and he gestured frantically to form a spinning shield of razor sharp energies around him. Another ripping sound happened and his left sleeve disintegrated in ribbons of shorn cloth as Colombe blurred for an instant in his sight.

"DIE!" A bolt of crimson energies lashed out at Colombe... and then his left pant leg fell to the ground.

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

Lyra licked her lips as Colombe toyed with Corvus like a cat with a mouse. The sweating French wizard was now shirtless and only the bare remains of his trousers were holding onto his dignity.

Colombe circled him as he cast spell after spell at her. "Yield or die, Lestrange, and I am getting tired of my little game. I suppose that I will have to end you..."

Frantically he jabbed his wand at her as his lips moved soundlessly.

Colombe's rapier point drooped and she blinked several times... and then it raised. "Oh, you didn't..." she hissed venomously.

Another blur and the final scraps of cloth on his body fell to the ground, followed by the pieces of his wand. Blood spurted from a slash on his right wrist as his hand spasmed uncontrollably. He crashed to the ground with two cut hamstrings as Colombe leveled her now bloody blade at his eyes. With an acrid stink, he lost bladder control.

Lestrange suddenly screamed, the blue-purple energies flickered out, and the statue banged its staff. "I YIELD!"

Colombe breathed deeply, and the aura around her flickered out. She slowly walked to within sword reach of the trembling wizard and slowly dimpled the skin over his Adam's apple with her swordpoint.

"If I ever hear of you using that spell on anyone, or even suspect it, I'll hunt you down and next time it won't be your clothes that I cut to ribbons an inch at a time, Lestrange. Comprend moi?"

He whispered. "Oui, je te comprends."

"Now get out of my sight before I change my mind."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts Omake: Like Father, like Daughter...

Just an omake that I made due to what Yellowhammer wrote recently...
____________________________________________

Looking out the window of her small home, Yüying sighed softly. Hearing quick footsteps coming down the stairs, the Chinese fox spirit turned and sighed, "Daughter, do take your time."

There was a pause before another fox spirit with steely grey eyes and blond hair, though obviously half-Chinese walked around the corner and bowed, "Sorry, Mother. I apologize for it, but I just received word on something important." A familiar look of determination crossed her face as she clenched her fist, "She was spotted in Japan."

Eyebrow raising, Yüying blinked, "Japan? Whatever was Colombe doing in Japan?"

Lips curling into a smirk, her daughter took some food and bit into it, "From the report from the Magical Diet? Apparently breaking out 'Dangerous creatures' from a Reserve there. And killing two Aurors in the process. But... you know how much I trust that."

Her mother snorted some, "Very little. And with good reason." A sigh escaped from Yüying as she shook her head. "You are going, I take it?"

For a few moments, the other was quiet before she nodded, "I am. After all, I am one of the best experts on her. This is also my chance to track her down finally."

Somewhat amused, Yüying walked over and gently kissed the taller spirit's forehead after getting up on her toes. Patting her cheek, she sighed, "You do realize that even if we were to meet, it was... a fling, between us. We have both moved on."

Her eyes meeting that of her mother, the younger of the two nodded, "I know. But... I still want to catch her and also be able to prove that she is not the criminal that many seem to think." Pulling a badge out and clipping it onto her robes, she paused as she looked at a picture of her in a familiar red uniform from Canada, except with a cloak over it, "And you forget, I am RCMMP, and we always get our being."

Only shaking her head, Yüying chuckled as she watched her daughter place a Dao into a hidden holster of her belt. Following her daughter to the door, she remembered a time decades before. When a European blade spirit helped her out of China. That last night before their final fight to the boat and how they tumbled on the bed. Finding in the morning that it had knocked Colombe's blade free of her sheath and putting it back before the other noticed.

And then nine months later...

Softly smiling, she gave her daughter one last nod as she left, "Good luck in finding your Father, my child..."

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1 Omake: Eiji will not bend

Harry Leferts said:
Chances on Jackie hitting on her without realizing who she is?

I am now imagining her meeting @K9Thefirst1's Javert expy in Japan shortly after the war. The two of them heavily disagree on their viewpoints though they can respect the other's duty to justice. The Javert-expy for example sees someone performing a criminal action as the end all point, it does not matter why they did it. Ying, meanwhile, judges more on the "Why" behind it, because the why let's you understand the reason behind the crime.

For example, a young Yokai during the occupation steals some food to feed his younger siblings. The Javert-Expy would be stating that one should throw him in jail/the reserves for stealing. Ying would argue that the younger siblings were starving does mean some leniency should be given, but one should look at why they were starving because they should have gotten rations. And in doing so, she uncovers that some people in the rationing system was holding back on rations for themselves and their own families.​

Resulting in the two of them breaking up the fraud ring and putting the perpetrator's in jail... Only for Ying to realize to late that Eiji Yamamoto (Javert-san) had also sent the thief and his siblings to the reserves.

Eiji: For one thing, the boy was a thief. For the others, they were all unregistered. The Law is The Law.

Ying: You can't really believe that, you've seen what those places are like!

Eiji: What I think is irrelevant. What you think is irrelevant. We are the enforcers of the law, agents of our governments to ensure the preservation of the Greater Good. To defy the very laws of the land, or worse do so publicly, the very fabric of society would collapse. I do not know how it may be in your homeland Auror Wei, but here Order and Stability and the Rule of Law is in command, not the Rule of Passion.

Ying: *blood pressure intensifies*

Hmmm...

It would not have been established until the late 1860s at the least earliest. The thing to remember is that before Confederation in 1867, "Canada" was several colonies and thus would not have had the population to have a school. You had Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Upper Canada (Southern Ontario), and Lower Canada (Quebec). Prince Edward Island joined in the 1870s and Rupert's Land was sold to Canada around the same time period, and various provinces came from that.​

And I think I recall Newfoundland didn't join the Confederation until after WWII, right?

Well, then building a magical school of their own if only to prevent possible problems from Ilvermony makes sense...​

And no doubt MACUSA is the biggest reasons that their school is not officially recognized. And I can imagine that MACUSA's departments that hire international Aurors are notably lacking in Canadians due to almost none of them are "accredited by an institution recognized as sound by the ICW." Meanwhile the Magical Canadian versions of those same departments, MACUSA citizens are the least numerous.

Does this mean that MACUSA give Canadians grief during customs due to Canada refusing to cooperate about Ilvernomy? Do Canadian's who send their kids to school in MACUSA get seen as snobs or as obnoxious types because they don't send their kids to Canada's version of Hogwarts, and thus are able to get jobs in the ICW and international organizations?

My word. On the Mundane side, the US and Canada are some of the closest friends that also share a border. On the Magical side, MACUSA and... what's a good term for the Magical Canadian Government? Arcadia? Anyway, on the magical side MACUSA and the CMoM are basically Not!England and Not!Scotland before the Stewart Dynasty inherited the crown.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts/K9Thefirst1 Omake: Eiji's reaction

Harry Leferts said:
Ying: Can I help you?

Eiji: I just received word that you removed the Yokai from the Reserve! After they broke the law!

Ying: Hmm... ah, yes, that's right. Both I and Auror Andrews here... *Gestures at a fellow RCMMP Officer* had to meet them for a final interview. Rather tough but we managed it. At the interview, they requested asylum in Canada. As per the 1870 Canadian Being Asylum Act, if a magical being is under heavy harassment, discrimination, or danger due to their heritage, they can request asylum in Canada. Brought about due to the amount of Magical Beings that fled from MACUSA. As a representative of His Majesty's Magical Canadian Parliament, I had to listen to their request and accept it until such time that the Canadian Magical Government actually can review it.

Eiji: They broke the law!

Ying: They did. But here is the thing, Eiji-San. If they were human, they would have gotten maybe a few months, maybe less. But due to being Yokai, you gave them a life sentence, possibly a death sentence. And that is a huge difference based simply on the fact that they are not human. Ergo, I had to obey the laws that I represent in this case. I am sure that you understand that the law is the law as you told me. I believe...*Checks watch* They landed in Canada three hours ago.

Andrew: *Coughs to cover up snickers as Eiji's blood pressure spikes*​

Hmmm.... I dunno...

Eiji: *clenches his jaw a few times... then relaxes as if a switch is flipped.*

Ying & Andrews: *Andrews stops laughing as they both grow confused*

Eiji: May I see the documentation? If what you say is true, then those Yokai are well and truly your problem. If you are lying, things will be very difficult for you.

Ying: *hesitantly pulls out a sheet of paper, covered with legal jargon and Very Official Signatures, the ink from the quills still wet, and hands it to him*

Eiji: *reads it* I see. This all looks to be in order. Thank you both for your time. I apologize for the trouble. I wish you both a good day. *bows, and leaves*

Andrews: So... do you feel cockblocked too?

Ying: I know... If we won... Why do I feel like I lost?

Andrews: I donna... Do you think that guy's a... What do the Muggles call them again? Robot?


*shrugs* Hey, Eiji's world revolves around what is and is not legal. What Ying did was 100% lawful, and all her i's were dotted and her T's crossed. Having him fly off the handle or basically turn to Umbrige when her plans go awry feels... Out of Character.

Besides, with all the antagonists that sow the seeds of their own downfall by getting emotional, I think it would be funny if the good guys beat him at his own game, expecting an impotent temper tantrum and... He just shrugs his shoulders and goes about his day as if nothing happened.

 

[darthcourt10]

taalismn Omake: Hornet's annual delivery

"Hornet? Whatcha doing?"

The carrier-girl in question was staring up at the sky intently.

"Ah, Hornet?"

Hornet still took no notice of her questioner.

Then, just as the questioning shipgirl was about to burst with curiosity, it happened.

Hornet smiled. "Ah, -there-!" She held up her hand into the wide open sky.

Descending from the blue came a small set of three orange parachutes. As they came nearer, it could be seen that the parachutes were suspending a tiny conical capsule.

The little descender dropped neatly into Hornet's outstretched hand. Hornet quickly caught up the little parachutes, folded them up, then tucked the capsule under her flight deck before turning to her companion.

"Hornet, what was that-?"

Hornet smiled again, a smile of utter enchantment. "Moondust."

She then turned and skipped away, leaving her questioner standing gaping in confusion.

Finally Wasp took pity on the shipgirl standing there looking at the retreating back of the other carrier girl.

"Happens every year on July 24th. Don't worry about it."

 

[darthcourt10]

Digital Historian

The Dutch shipgirls are not imune to a bit of crazy shennanigans, have a short omake:

"You were selling WHAT!" The angry chorus of feminine voices blasted through Den Helder naval base with the volume of a foghorn. Around the site, faces turned towards the main administrative building in sympathy. While they wanted nothing to do with this shipgirl-induced madness, that didn't mean they couldn't pity the man at the centre of the outburst.

"Ladies, please. We were unaware it would be so offensive to you. But we weren't selling them for profit…" Admiral Schippers tried his best to calm down the irate force of destroyers and cruisers that had invaded his office, yelling about "indecency" and "how Lewd" and "perverted officials". The phrase "even innocent destroyers aren't safe" was thrown around quite a bit as well.

The response almost burst his eardrums. "That does not make it any better! Practically giving away our very blueprints to anyone who wants them! Letting people study our shapes in detail for a handful of euro's!"

While the ranting continued, the admiral made mental note to have a serious talk with the historical section of the navy for their great plan of providing blueprints to modelmakers online.


Prompted by my discovery that, the Royal Netherlands Navy indeed sells modeller's blueprints of its ships, both historical and in active service.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Leaves Home

Wei Family Home, Chinatown, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Wei Ying headed across the stone-inlaid courtyard in her family's siheyuan home compound, with a faint smile. Talking to Mother always enlivened her spirit.

Her first steps and first memories of life had taken place here, and she remembered Mother teaching her and her brother the basics of her family style of martial arts as if it was yesterday. With that, she paused in the center of the courtyard and bowed, before drawing her true self with a flash of steel. She spared a smile for two elementary-school age boys watching her from a sunny spot as they did their schoolwork

"Xiaobo, Chonglin, your Grandaunt needs to use the courtyard to practice. Do not move from where you are until she is done."

"Yes, Gūpó." Her great-great-great-grandnephews chorused as they watched the young-seeming woman stand like a statue as she focused on her breathing.
Spoiler: Sword Practice

She blurred into a taolu sparring stance, and suddenly flashed forward with the speed and power of Great Ancestor Fist. Her feet gripped the ground like a tiger's paws as her blade, feet, and clawed hand flickered in attacks and defenses.

Backflipping and spinning into the air to reverse herself as she reached the courtyard wall to kick off it, she landed in Arhat Fist style, with her feet in a horse stance. Instantly, she advanced again across the courtyard in her spar in a whirlwind of deceptive attacks and flashing steel. Her hands and saber moved like a dragon playing with the waters it controlled before a sudden shift into White Crane where she used her forearms to deflect and block blows as her saber 'pecked' the invisible opponent in precise strikes. Her feet seemed to glide across the stone rather than touching it in the precise delicate movements of Crane footwork.

Suddenly she rolled forward to the far wall and ran up the stones of it in Monkey style before tumbling. Her hand and saber feinted and flashed in open-palmed slaps and deceptive feints within feints, shifting the blade back and forth between hands as she rolled, tumbled, and dropped to the ground to fight prone. Suddenly she shifted yet again, redirecting invisible attacks and turning them back upon her foe in Xuan Nu Quan's soft counters and defensive techniques. Her body moved with the suppleness and flexibility of green bamboo in a breeze as she moved back to the center of the courtyard where she had started.

Finally she blurred into motion, her open hand redirecting an attack into a throw before her saber lunged to skewer the helpless flying body of her foe. She then performed the motions to clean off her dao as she resheathed it and bowed.

"Gūpó, that was amazing!" Chonglin spoke as his older brother nodded.

Ying gave them a warm smile. "It is the fruit of practice, study, and dedication. Your Năinăi taught me when I was as young as you are and I have taken her teachings to heart. If you are respectful and impress her with your dedication and eagerness, I am certain that she will help you find your own mastery of self to master your body in turn. Five Ancestor Style is the harmony of my mind, my emotions, and my soul with Heaven and Earth. Such was the first lesson that she taught me."

With that she walked over to her nephews and hugged both. "But do not neglect your schooling outside the family! As boring as it may seem, you must exercise your minds as well as your bodies. Now, I must go to tend to a personal matter."

She walked to the family altar and lit a stick of incense in front of the tablet with the enshrined name of her long-dead stepfather. "Fuhchàn, it is your Little Fox." She bowed her head. "I go now to find my birth father, please watch over me and guide my travels."

A second stick of incense was lit in front of the household shrine to Guan Yu. "Wǔ Shèng Di Jun, guide and protect me to walk with truth and bring justice where I go." Ying prayed before pulling her wand out to Apparate back to the office.

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

RCMMP 'E Division' Headquarters

Mount Fromme, Vancouver, British Columbia
Spoiler: RCMMP Headquarters

With a pop, Ying appeared in the designated room for Apparition.

She smiled at the sight of a literal bear of a First Nations man with a file folder coming across the entrance way toward her as she hastily stepped out to clear the room for another Mountie. "Superintendent Matunaagd, it's good to see you. What do you have for me?"

"Auror Inspector Hastings' report on the potential Abyssal Cultist activity around Lax Kw'alaams, Chief Superintendent Wei. He wants a followup."

Ying flipped through the pages of the report and then nodded, and scribbled her signature with her wand. Something dark and coldly vicious flashed in her eyes. "Tell him to run them to ground and take them all the way out with my blessings. He's got good eyes to pick out the uptick in missing children and link to the vanished boaters there. Especially since the Tsimshian First Nations had a cult with some ugly rituals designed to propitiate evil spirits from the sea with slaves they bought or raided for. I could tell you some stories that would make your hair turn white."

Matunaagd nodded, his own face darkening. "Just like the Followers of the Wendigo in the Yukon in '73. If he does turn up something rotten, I want in alongside you for the takedown."

Ying gave a small smile. "I'll have to let you do this alone old friend. I'm taking personal time to clean out a side project, and need you to mind the fort here while I do."

Matunaagd blinked. "I never thought I would see the day when you backed off a case involving missing children."

Ying sighed, "I really want to drop the hammer on these scumbags too, but I have a prior promise I gave myself to tend to. I need you to handle something for me. First off, I need authorization from the Yanks to Floo to Tokyo."

Matunaagd gave a rumbling bark, "No can do, the Yanks are being stupid again. They said that they are 'concerned about Canadian magicals schooling in non-ICW approved curricula endangering the Statute of Secrecy'. Quote unquote. You know, that old bleeding sore."

Ying facepalmed. "Dammit, let me crystal ball de Breuil and get her to crack some heads together to get this cleared up. Someone down in New York got too big for his britches."

"Already tried. She's out of the office on vacation and her secretary said that it will be a while before she gets back in and can take care of this. So we are doing this the slow and formal way through the Foreign Office and Ottawa." A expressive shrug from the massive shaggy Native American.

Ying ran her fingers through her hair. "Great, great, just fucking great. Bloody Yanks. Right. Change of plans. They haven't done anything hinky with our military flight authorizations in Alaska, have they?"

"No. You want me to call down to the stables and have them prep a bear for you?" Matunaagd gave a slow, evil smile.

"Yes. Have them get me a bear out longterm; Whiteface if she's available. And a traveling lunch for the bear." Ying nodded decisively, "if you need me I'll be at the Quartermaster checking out a SMLE and a cold-weather kit. I'll be in Tokyo to get this issue taken care of, so forward any critical paperwork to the embassy there to CC me. Send an owl to Tokyo, Juneau, and Attu to let them know I'm coming in with a bear and to make accommodations for it and me."

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

Now attired in a caribou-hide hooded cloak, gloves and boots with warming charms and a Short Magazine Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifle slung over her shoulder Ying headed out of the arsenal to the stableyard at the top of the mountain.

Protected by concealment charms and illusions, the low-slung stone and sod stables appeared to the nomajs as a tree-covered ridge on the mountain overlooking Vancouver instead of the building complex next to the grass strip with Lumos spells for the mounts to arrive and leave. Instead, it appeared like nothing so much as a small magical airport. As she walked in that direction, a pegasus courier from Cold Lake Station landed and the fresh-faced trainee on it saluted her as he hurried to headquarters with the dispatch pouch. "Keep up the good work there, Corporal!"

"Chief Inspector!" The Sasquach stablemaster, who she remembered as a cub in the arms of refugees seeking asylum from their unsuccessful rebellion against MACUSA in the 1890s, waved one hairy hand the size of her head at her. "I got Whiteface prepped for you!"
Spoiler: Whiteface


She smiled as the stablemaster led out an unholy cross between a polar bear and a snowy owl with a saddle and bulging saddlebags between the massive wings. Amber eyes blinked at her from a owl's face as it gave her a bass grumble. She grabbed a flint spear with intricate First Nations carving on the cedar shaft on a rack next to a large barrel and stabbed into the open top of the barrel. With a grunt of effort she extended a 50 pound chinook salmon skewered on the spear to the owlbear, which examined it, looked into her eyes, and then snapped it up.

"Good to see you too, old friend," Ying whispered, as she felt the magical link between herself and her favorite mount settle into place as the food offering was accepted. "Time to go, I have a long trip ahead of me."

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

All eyes were on the Vanishing Cabinet as its doors creaked open, and Tanith stepped out. "W-well…?" Sunny asked, still a little unnerved from what they had felt hours earlier—Mother's rage, powerful enough to be felt all the way across the ocean. "What happened? What made Mother freak out like that?"

Tanith hung her head as she stepped out of the cabinet, her expression equal parts perturbed and concerned. "Grandmother passed word down the grapevine. There… there was an attack, in Hogsmeade. Uncle Harry came under assault by at least a hundred Dementors—ghostly, soul-sucking monsters."

The other flagships tensed up in their seats. For a brief moment, everyone in the vicinity of the palace felt the same wave of fear and anger once more—nowhere near as potent as before, but no less tangible. "Are you fucking kidding me…?" Sunny growled. "He's been attacked again!?"

A nod from their elder sister. "Yes. Him, his godfather, and an emissary of Porta Atlantia, all at once." She raised a finger. "They actually managed to repel the attack, though, and Uncle Harry destroyed dozens of them in one fell swoop. But he fell unconscious shortly after the fighting stopped. He is currently recovering his strength."

The Abyssals relaxed—but only slightly. "So Mother's with him now?"

"Knowing her? Absolutely. And I doubt she will leave his side until she is certain there won't be another attempt on his life."

With that, the tension faded, and the girls sagged in their seats. Ritou groaned, massaging her forehead. "I thought schools and such were supposed to be safe…"

"Is ANYTHING truly safe when magic is involved?" Sunny asked.

"Point." Ritou sighed. "We better gather everyone up, let them know everything is alright. Mother's outburst nearly gave a lot of them heart attacks." There were some sounds of agreement among the flagships, and several of them departed to carry out their task.

The Princess took her place on the throne and slumped over, finding herself rather drained by the events of the past few hours. Most of the time Mother more or less restrained her power, happy to remain small and unassuming to the world—and she was extremely good at keeping herself under control. For her to lose her cool and emit so much energy in a single burst of emotion? She'd only done that one other time—the day she discovered her little Renita had ran from home—and even that hadn't been as intense as this. More than just confirming how much Mother's adopted family meant to her… her spiritual outburst was certain to be turning heads the world over.

And she doubted all those heads would be particularly well screwed-on.

Looking up, Tanith was mildly surprised to see one of the flagships was still sitting in the chamber with her. "Nuri. How is Millie doing?"

The Demon waved a hand. "Millie is a little shaken, but otherwise fine. I was… hoping I could take her out to Hogwarts, to meet Mom and Uncle Harry. Would you be okay with that?"

Tanith pondered the request for a few seconds before nodding. "That would be fine, yes. I am sure they will appreciate us sending a few of our own to check in on them." After a moment of silence, she raised a finger. "Actually… could you take Regalia with you? After telling her of the things we saw on our own visit, she has been eager to make a trip herself. She was especially interested in trying to procure some Tartary Lambs…"

Nuri chuckled. "Sure, I could bring her along. Where is she?"

"Based on the time of day… she is likely tending to her farm."

XXXXXXXXXX

Nero couldn't believe it. For as long as she'd known Regalia, she had always been open and generous, always willing to lend a hand to her family, or offer up some of her valuable crops for a meal. Selflessness was simply in her nature.

Never before, had the Ne-class seen Regalia being stingy.

"Come on, I've just started building back up after they had a month to rampage over my crops! Why should I give them more?"

"Look, if we're going to breed these pigs, they need to eat," Nero argued. "Otherwise, they'll just starve and we'll have bupkis." She shook her head. "You haven't even made use of the wheat, for as long as it's been here! We could give it to them, and not touch the stuff we actually eat…"

Standing in front of the wild grain with her arms folded, Regalia pouted. "They're omnivorous, right? Why can't they eat just meat, or something, instead of my crops? That'll probably fatten them up better…"

"The only fresh meat we have to spare is… well, other pigs. I'd rather not resort to cannibalism." Bending over, Nero picked up her fuzzy little porker and held him up to Regalia. "Come on, you've always been happy to spare some food for Grunt every now and then. What makes this any different?"

"The difference is that you've got Grunt whipped." Nero raised an eyebrow at that. "I KNOW he won't go after my crops if he gets loose. But the others? They've come after them already. If they break free from containment, what's to stop them from raiding the farm?"

"The rest of our family?" Nero pointed out.

"Yeah, but…"

"Regalia!!" The two girls turned to see Nuri approaching them, her daughter Millie in tow. "You want to come to Hogwarts with us?"

In an instant, Regalia's mood did a 180–her expression brightened immensely, and she practically jumped for joy. "Yes, yes, yes! I'll be right there!!"

As Regalia chased off after her aunt, completely forgetting the argument she was just having, Grunt took the opportunity to nuzzle against Nero's chest. "Hm? What's wrong, boy? You hungry?"

Taking one last look back to confirm Regalia wasn't watching, Nero reached out and plucked a fistful of wheat and held it up to her pet, who started munching contentedly.

"I'm sure she won't mind us taking a little bit for today…"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Pack Dynamics IX

Kitsue Detective Agency
Spoiler: The PI's Report

Kiho Kitsue frowned slightly as she examined the replayed projection from her Omnioculars while narrating to the enchanted manual typewriter next to her.

"I can confirm several Kitsune are present in Yokosuka, but saw no direct indication of a prank being played on Hachiko Miyata. I shall continue to probe that angle, but there are no visible or magical signs of possession or enchantment on any of the Ibukis or Miyatas I observed."

She flicked the control ofuda, rewinding to the next section of interest. As she did so, the typewriter dinged and a fresh sheet of paper inserted itself to replace the one that had just been ejected

"Section break. At least one family of young Yokai children have been adopted by shipgirls Fubuki, Yuudachi, and Mutsuki along with a capital ship that I did not identify, perhaps one of the 'paper ships' that the JMSDF has summoned. This confirms that JMSDF leadership are aware of the existence of Yokai, but are keeping it classified for their own reasons. In addition, of the kitsune I witnessed, both of them along with a Mizuchi were in the hanami party including Harry Potter, the battleship Nagato, and the child-like Abyssal Princess, Hoppou, that signed the peace accords."

She rubbed her chin.

How to phrase this to avoid making her employers upset...?

"Section break. Regarding Hachiko and Moriko Ibuki, I observed them along with their family grouping enjoying hanami. Both are in excellent health and obviously very attracted to each other and comfortable around each other. However, visible reactions to a kiss under the blossoms strongly suggest that the two are not, I repeat not, sexually intimate at this time. Side comment. Personal note, colon, they are teeth-rottingly sweet together and I may need to bill for insulin. Comment ends. Paragraph. Miss Ibuki's sisters were along, with her middle sister indeed being an identical twin. The younger sister is in a wheelchair, but could walk short distances, either from lingering illness or some chronic disease."

A very deep breath as she clenched her fists, fighting down the feelings of betrayal that potentially Shigeru Miyata did nothing to help her so as to save his own scrawny neck if in fact he had a Yokai or Hanyo grandson. She closed her burning eyes and counted backward from fifty then opened them.

"The final member of their party was a child approximately nine years old who was calling Hachiko Miyata 'father'. I politely request a current photograph if at all possible to confirm that this is Aki Miyata as opposed to a different relationship to your grandson. Paragraph. Also, all three Ibuki girls and the young boy had auras suggesting disguised Yokai or magical potential. Personal note, colon, I strongly recommend insuring making sure that Hachiko handled all necessary paperwork and registrations if this is fact a war orphan that he adopted. End note. I have several leads on potentially identifying the Ibuki's potential Yokai heritage that I shall be developing, along with a posible lead into their past. Section break. The auras were unusually strong on the Ibukis, so I cannot discount that she may, in fact, be a natural-born shipgirl as she portrayed to Hachiko. She does not appear in a database search of JMSDF Awakened shipgirls, but for privacy reasons, unwakened Natural Borns are not publicly listed. I will be continuing discreet inquiries among JMSDF Naval Base Yokosuka where she is assigned."

Another deep breath as she pulled a glowing crystal the size of her thumbnail out of a slot in the holder where her Omnioculars sat.

"Enclosed is a recording crystal of the Ibukis and Hachiko at hanami for your viewing pleasure. If you need to contact me, please do so through my office, which I shall be checking periodically when not performing fieldwork. Section break. As always, I am your obedient servant, Mitsue Kiho. Shut down and release paper."

She pulled the report from the typewriter and checked it for mistakes. Finally nodding, she signed it with her name and personal chop before rolling the report and crystal into a wooden scroll case and sealing that with wax and an ofuda.

"At least they are paying my expenses, prices of ofuda are going up again." Kiho grumbled as she handed the scrollcase to her postal owl. "Miyata Naomi, Miyata House. Return with a receipt."

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

Miyata Family House
Spoiler: Grandfather and Aunt

Shigeru steepled his fingers as he watched his grandson's first kiss replayed in miniature above his desk. He then glanced to Naomi. "Thoughts?"

She shook her head. "Well. I see that we do not have a choice but to confirm Aki's identity to Mitsue. I shall make arrangements."

Shigeru nodded. "It was a slim chance. While it is annoying that Mitsue is so competent and thorough, and that Aki was seen by her, she is also scrupulously honorable about client security. She might know that Aki is... what he is... but it will go no further. As for the girls... I wonder if we can perhaps persuade Hachiko to pursue Suzume instead? She seems to be ladylike and good with children."

He sighed and rubbed his bald scalp. "And she could provide the support that Hachiko needs with Aki that we cannot."

Naomi nodded. "I'll be dropping by the library when Hachiko is on duty to speak to him. Even if we do not divert his attentions, well a younger sister should help her elder in the household, no?"

Shigeru pursed his lips in deep thought and spoke slowly. "True. But to larger concerns. We need to know more about if they are Yokai, and if so, if shipgirls can be Yokai, since that is a complication that will have serious repercussions on our policy both as a family and as the civil service. As well, I want to know what the disease their youngest has. If it is a genetic problem...."

Naomi nodded solemnly. "Yes, we need more information about the potential Yokai shipgirls and the Ibuki family. No avoidable tragedies if we can help it, especially since Kyoto has not yet acted to repeal the laws discriminating against human/Yokai marriages and we need definite proof before leaking the existence of Yokai shipgirls to suitable people."

"Well reasoned, Daughter. This is a delicate matter and must be handled cautiously. What do you suggest for our current course of action?" Shigeru looked up at Naomi with a basilisk gaze.

"So I tell Hachiko that the family is deciding then? We play for time while Mitsue gets us the information we need to formulate a strategy." Naomi said after some thought

"Indeed, and make no inconvenient actions until the old dragon has made up his mind." Shigeru showed his teeth in a smirk. "After all a reputation for cold-blooded viciousness and practicality should be used when appropriate, no?"

"Yes, Father." Naomi bowed herself out after pocketing the recording crystal to place in a secure location in the family vault.

Shigeru fed the rest of the report to the Salamander he kept in a jar in his desk for document destruction.

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

Kiho filed the receipt that Naomi had given her and then looked at the magical sundial showing the time.

Right, I'll visit the shrine tomorrow. For now time to cultivate my other contact.

She pulled out the scrap of paper that Longstreet-san had given her and then her face paled. For a brief second her heart skipped a beat.

"Shimatta, I forgot to give him my number! Stupid of me!" She lifted the earpiece and began to turn the rotary dial on her telephone. "Oh, Longstreet-san, this is Kiho Mitsue! My apologies since I forgot to give you my number. Have you eaten dinner yet?..."

Author's Note: And this concludes Arc Two of SGO's Most Tooth-Rotting couple. Arc Three will pick up once the new thread opens so it is not split between threads.

A.N. #2: I hope like hell this short-circuits and puts to rest the 'owlbear debate'. Some people....

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

So... four twelve hour shifts, four days in a row, most of which involve sitting around and doing pretty much nothing... makes for one tired, bored author who suddenly gets odd ideas...
______________________________________________________________________________

The early morning Sun shone down upon Yokosuka on a Monday as people headed towards their destinations for the day. In a small house, Fubuki hummed as she worked on making breakfast, her hair done up in a bun on top of her head. Beside her, Yuudachi helped while Fu-Chan and the others helped set the table.

Outside, the weather had just the hint to the warmth that would come in a few weeks and months. An example would be the sakura and ume trees. Most were well on their way to flowering and would likely start in a few short days. Some of those on their way to work or what have you glanced at them and smiled, already planning to get together with friends and family for Hanami.

But that was in the future and those people had other things to do. Along one road heading towards the local middle school were three teenager girls. For the most part, there was nothing to separate them from the untold numbers of other Japanese schoolgirls heading to school this morning. Two of them were in the usual uniforms for the time of year, and so was the third...

Though she had added an odd, military style cap and cape to her uniform.

Leaping up onto a post, she went into a pose with her cape fluttering behind her, a toothy grin for all to see as she pointed dramatically, "And that, my friends, is how I defeated the groper! He was shocked to find that the one he had believed to be a defenceless flower was in fact a demon most bloody!"

Placing her face in her hands, the one with slightly blonde hair frowned, "Nobu-Chan... please tell me that you didn't..."

Just blinking, Nobu shrugged, "Nope, I just dislocated his shoulder... and his jaw, Okita-Chan." Frowning, she scratched at her chin still posing dramatically, "Annnnd, I think that I sprained his wrist, maybe." With a shrug, she threw her hand out as she changed poses, "But that does not matter! For he dared to lay a hand on the greatest demon in all Japan, who shall one day conquer the land! The great Nobu-Chan!"

Looking up from her book, the third girl reached into her purse and pulled out a granola bar which she tossed at Nobu, the girl nearly falling from her perch to catch it. Once the other girl was done with wind milling her arms, she sighed, "And that is why everyone calls you Chunni, Nobu-Chan."

In return, the other girl grinned widely as she laughed boisterously before ripping the wrapper from the treat, "Ha! So they say, Shin-Chan, but is it being Chunni when it is true!? For truly, there is no one more of a demon than I!"

Hands still in a lover's embrace with her face, Okita sighed, "Why do I hang out with you two again...?"

With a shrug, Nobu hopped off her perch as Shin smiled slightly, "Because we're in the same situation, I suppose? And the only ones that really understand you..." Glancing at the cape wearing girl who tossed the discarded wrapper into a trash can and cheered, she chuckled, "Well, at least I am."

Grimacing, Okita shook her head as her face was separated from its illicit embrace of her hands, "Maybe..." Arms crossed, she looked at the other two, "Does it ever bother you?"

A frown on her face, Nobu towards her with confusion for all to see, "Uh, does what ever bother us?"

Throwing her hands into the air, the teen groaned. Then Okita gestured at herself, "This!" Seeing that neither of the two understood, she gestured at herself and than her two friends, "This! Being reborn as girls because some bastard of a wizard could not leave well enough alone during the last war!"

Eyes closed, Nobu crossed her arms in deep thought and hummed. After a few moments she shrugged and opened her eyes, "Nope."

Disbelief on her face, Okita boggled at her, "... Really?"

Her arms still crossed the other girl laughed uproariously, enough so she got odd looks, "Ha! Male! Female! It does not matter to a true demon as I! Besides!" Expression becoming one of seriousness, she looked at the other two, "Being a woman in this era is no barrier to becoming powerful!"

For several moments, Okita stared at her before looking towards Shin, "And you, Uesugi-Chan?"

Much to her surprise, the other girl looked away with a cough and a light blush on her cheeks, "Ah, it... does not bother me either." Hearing snickers coming from Nobu as well as a "I wonder~", she whapped the other girl upside the head, "Stop that."

As she rubbed the side of her head, Nobu pouted which drew a twitch from Shin. Grumbling for a moment, she turned to Okita, "Anyways, why? Does it bother you?"

Opening her mouth, Okita frowned before sighing as she shook her head, "I... guess that it bothers me that it doesn't?" As she shook her head, she furrowed her eyebrows, "Does that mean that I am Okita? Or am I just a teenager girl with his memories as if I had lived his life? Ojii-San said that those Onmyouji experimenting on him and the others were trying to either forcibly reincarnate people or have people gain their memories and skills."

Placing her arms behind her head, Nobu frowned as she looked up at the sky above. Fluffy, white clouds floated past as they walked. After almost a minute, she gave a shrug, "Does it really matter in the end? We are here, are we not? Whether we have been reincarnated with our memories or just people with memories of the original, what is the difference? In the first, we got a second chance. If it was the second? We can make those we are the legacy of proud. So in the end, no, it does not matter." Not hearing anything, she looked at her two friends who were looking at her in surprise. Jerking back, she blushed, "Wh-What? What's with those looks?!"

One eyebrow raised, Shin hummed, "Just surprised my old foe... You sounded, dare I say... wise, right then?"

Soft snorts and snickers escaped form Okita as Nobu scowled, "Hey!"

Shaking her head, the cape wearing girl gave a shrug, "Anyways, being a girl just gives me more openings to take over Japan in this life."

Utter silence met her for several moments. Finally, Okita raised a finger, "I... thought that you stated that you were going to join the JGSDF, rise in the ranks, retire and run for political office? That is what you told us..."

With a smirk, Nobu raised an eyebrow, "Ha! Not all of us would be happy with just becoming a police officer."

That got her another whack to the head from Shin while Okita looked away with a slight blush, "I liked being a police officer... and also, I can always teach Battoujutsu and Kenjutsu if needed..."

Rubbing where she got hit, the cape wearing girl shrugged, "Anyways, yes, that was one of my plans, but one must have more than just one after all! Hence, I thought of another!" Throwing her hands into the air, Nobu grinned, "Become an Idol!"

Yet again, silence met her at that. Finally, Shin raised one eyebrow in askance, "I am going to regret this, Nobu-Chan... but why an Idol?"

Beside Shin, Okita was nodding as well. Theatrically throwing her cape out, Nobu grinned, "Simple! I can take over Japan by... becoming an Idol!"

The only thing that Okita did was blink at that, "Wat."

Laughing, Nobu placed her hands on her hips, "Yes! I can take over Japan by becoming an Idol! Naka-San is an example! Idols have power over the masses! Fame and fortune as well! Yes, I can take over the country by becoming an Idol since I am a girl!"

Squeezing her eyes shut as if in pain, the slightly pink haired girl took a calming breath. Beside her, Shin glanced at her fellow schoolgirl and then back at Nobu, "And how would you become an Idol? You do not sing from memory after all."

Now blinking, Okita stopped walking and gave her friend an odd look, "That's... true. How would you become an Idol?"

Widely grinning, Nobu laughed, "Easy! Besides my voice which once moved thousands to my flag, I shall use the best instrument ever!"

Uesugi frowned and hummed, "The Koto?"

From where she stood, Okita furrowed her eyebrows in thought, "Guitar?" At the looks, she blushed, "I like that one band... with Natsumi-Senpai's Nii-San in it."
After that, the two girls listed off one instrument after another, but only got headshakes. Finally, Nobu shook her head, "No, no, I shall use the greatest instrument of them all to make myself the greatest Idol and rule over Japan! And that instrument is GUNS!"

No one said anything at that proclamation, though if one looked up, a particular crow that had been nesting on the JS Fubuki flew above them and cawed several times.

Expression one of pain, Shin pinched her nose, "Guns..."

Sharply nodding, Nobu grinned, "Exactly! Guns!"

Already feeling a headache, Okita took a deep breath, "Nobu-Chan... Guns are not an instrument."

Only shaking her head, the cape wearing girl patted her shoulder, "It is okay, Okita-Chan. See, they said the same thing to Tchaikovsky, the Russian composer when he composed one of his most famous pieces! 'Tchaikovsky,' they said, 'Cannons are not instruments!' He laughed and said 'Yes they are, and I will be using twenty one of them!' 'Tchaikovsky, no!' They proclaimed! 'Tchaikovsky, yes!' he said, 'Always Yes!'" Throwing her hands into the air, she continued, "And what are guns but just small cannons!"

Yet again, silence met her before the crow circled around and began to caw again while Nobu looked up at it with a frown. Just in time for Okita's hands do once more perform an embrace full of love with her face. Behind her hands, she softly groaned, "Nobu-Chan, no."

Laughing, Nobu threw her arms wide, "Nobu-Chan, yes! Yahtzee!" The other two girls paused at that, but before they could say anything, the cape wearing member of their trio held up a hand, "Hold that thought!" With that, she rushed towards a twelve year old girl whose eyes widened and looked like she wanted to be elsewhere, "Sayaka-Chan, my Kouhei! It is I! your Nobu-Senpai! The Demon Senpai!"

Just as she reached the other girl, a shout grabbed her attention, "Stop hogging the spotlight of this scene! I deserve screen time too! And I can prove that I can be best girl as well in whatever this is!"

Blinking, Nobu looked at her female classmate across the street, "Are you still up on... whatever you are on about?!"

For her part, Okita just blinked at one of the return shouts, "Why... is that weirdo going on about skinning a big lizard for not giving her more screen time?"

Shrugging, the girl beside decided to just ignore the shouting match, and Sayaka trying to sneak away, by looking at something on her phone. One bit made her raise her eyebrows, "Huh... looks like Natsumi-Senpai won't be in class today..."

With a blink of her own, Okita looked over her shoulder as she drowned out Nobu's shouts due to long practice. Frowning, she glanced at the other girl, "Huh... think that something might have happened with Harry-San? They are close and some of the gossip about the last time she took off a few days hinted at that."

Just humming, Shin shook her head, "I... do not know, Okita-Chan. Perhaps..." Glancing at Nobu who was shaking a fist, she shook her head, "At least we convinced her not to pursue him... Poor guy has enough girls."

Eyebrow twitching at the memory of that argument, Okita grunted, "Hai, I remember... because she figured that getting with him would grant her more power to take over Japan." The two shared a look of long suffering before they sighed and they hung their heads, "At least she got over that..."

Only nodding, the other girl frowned, "Hai, that is true." Going more through the chats on her phone, she glanced at Okita, "So are you still coming to Kendo practice or not? Because between the two of us, we should be able to go all the way to the Championships..."

Head tilted to the side, Okita nodded, "I don't see an issue with that, especially with the skill we both have... Makes me feel bad though for the other competitors..."

A short distance away, Shiromizu looked at the students walking away wih a frown on her face as she furrowed her eyebrows as she went over most of the conversation she had overheard, though she missed the last bit. Unsure, she turned to Jin who was finishing off her coffee, "Um, Senpai? What... what was that all about?"

Patting her on the shoulder, Jin tossed the paper cup, "Shiro? Take it from me, sometimes it is best just not to ask." She then began to walk towards her motorbike, "Anyways, we should be heading over to Zuchi. I got to check in on the guys first since we just got back from the training we were doing in the mountains."

Shiromizu nodded as she got onto the motorbike behind her senpai and put on the helmet. While a crash would not hurt her that much, best not to risk it after all, "Okay, Senpai. But afterwards, we should get back to the base. I got a bad feeling about my Otouto after all."

Lightly laughing, the undead Mizuchi shook her head, "Shiro, don't sweat it. You're just imagining things." Starting her bike, she pulled away and began to accelerate, "Absolutely nothing happened with the kiddo..." Roughly a half hour later found Jin staring at Koga with a disbelieving look on her face, "Uh... care to run that past me again?"

In reply, Koga raised an eyebrow, "You mean that you didn't hear? Potter-San got attacked by over a hundred Dementors last night? Or yesterday? Not quite sure..." He then shrugged some, "But he drove off and destroyed a group of them."

Just blinking, Jin scratched her neck, "Huh... guess I was wrong, Shiro..." Realizing that her Kouhai had not said anything, the Mizuchi turned towards her only to find Shiromizu staring straight ahead, "Uh... Shiro?" Slowly blinking, the younger Mizuchi headed towards the backdoors, "Shiro?"

Rather than say anything, she raised a single finger and walked out. Watching, Kiba hummed some, "Huh, she's taking that a lot better than expected."

Outside, Shiromizu walked down to the edge of the water and stared at it before she took a deep breath, her lungs inflating as she sucked in more and more air until a few moments later...

At the loud scream of rage, Norimune leapt off the couch in her sister's apartment and hit the ground hard. Rapidly blinking, she looked around, "Uh, Sis? Did you hear that?"

Cracking one eye open from where she sat mediating, Chisuheri frowned, "I feel that."

Her mug nearly touching her lips, Mikasa paused and looked around as she heard a scream of rage, "What the devil is that noise?"

In the Matsuda household, Tenryuu was chuckling as she looked through the fridge. Catching sight of a pitcher, she poured some of the contents out and smiled as she grasped the glass, "Ah, nothing so good after a morning sword practice than a nice, refreshing glass of orange juice-" She paused at a scream of rage and blinked, "Huh?"

On Olympus, Zeus was looking through his porn magazines chuckling, "These mortals really are interesting-" A scream of rage that reverberated through the spirit realm brought him up short, "What the... wait, is that you Medea?! Oh in my name, we already gave you Atalanta and Hippomenes, what more could you want!?"

***** 2114 ******

Walking through a grove of cherry trees in full blossom was a being with the horns of a Mizuchi and the ears of a fox. As well, he had a head of messy black hair with a reddish stripe on either side while behind him, a longer than usual fox tail swished. Glancing at his companion, he smiled, "You know... the sakura are beautiful this time of year."

Suihou only nodded, "Hai, they are..."

Moments later, the hybrid grinned and winked, "But not as much as you, Suihou-Chan." Giggles escaped from the water spirit before both paused at the echoing scream of rage. After a few moments, the Mizuchi-Kitsune's eyes widened a bit, "Mommy?"

******************* 2014 ***************

Waggling a finger in her ear, Jin frowned, "Huh... yeah, she took that well."

Just furrowing his eyebrows, Kiba looked at her, "WHAT?"

Beside him, the Okami turned to him, "HUH? WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

It was than that a snarling Shiromizu walked in and grabbed Jin, "Get me back to the base, now, Senpai."

Chuckling, Jin nodded as the two headed out, "Yeah, I'll get you there quick, Shiro."

Utterly lost, Kiba frowned, "COOL WHIP? WHY DO YOU NEED THAT?"

Koga shook his head and slapped his own ears, "SIPS? WELL, YEAH, YOU NEED TO SIP A DRINK..."

 

[darthcourt10]

SkyeFire Omake: Kyoshu sees things others don't

Internet's down for days, I am so far behind....)

Yellowhammer said:
"Auror Inspector Hastings' report on the potential Abyssal Cultist activity around Lax Kw'alaams, Chief Superintendent Wei. He wants a followup."​

Wait, are these Abyssal-worshipping humans, or the local cult made up of Abyssals?

Yellowhammer said:
Ying flipped through the pages of the report and then nodded, and scribbled her signature with her wand. Something dark and coldly vicious flashed in her eyes. "Tell him to run them to ground and take them all the way out with my blessings. He's got good eyes to pick out the uptick in missing children and link to the vanished boaters there. Especially since the Tsimshian First Nations had a cult with some ugly rituals designed to propitiate evil spirits from the sea with slaves they bought or raided for. I could tell you some stories that would make your hair turn white."​

...ah. Okay, not another mostly-harmless sect of Worshippers of the Dark One.

Yellowhammer said:
She smiled as the stablemaster led out an unholy cross between a polar bear and a snowy owl​

Hagrid: "I feel a sudden urge to visit Canada."

gaea said:
Freaking Canadians. Not satisfied with Bear Cavalry, they had to go o e step further with Bear Air Cavalry.

That must be terrifying to see dropping out of the sky.​

No, see, Drop Bears are Australian.

Yellowhammer said:
(but yeah, Whiteface weighs about as much as Sister Claire's true body. enough to make someone shit themselves, she is)​

Hagrid: "I really need to visit Canada!"
I imagine he and that Sasquatch RCMMP stablemaster would get along like Steve Irwin a house on fire.

Savato93 said:
"Knowing her? Absolutely. And I doubt she will leave his side until she is certain there won't be another attempt on his life."​

"Mr. Potter... must you clank so while you walk?"
"Well, I can't really help it -- after the last Dementor attack, I have an Abyssal Princess and two legendary swords that have pretty much attached themselves to me 24/7, and won't let go."
"I notice you didn't mention the kitsune."
"Well, she doesn't clank, she more... uh... well, she's not metallic, you see!"

Cyberbeta said:
For even more Amusement (and best saved for after Lord K comes back and catches up) Kyoshu ends up being the one to figure out the relationship & forgets just as fast before anyone else does somehow.​

Kyoshu broke off pushing Nameless's wheelchair down the sidewalk and pounced. "NIECES!"
Ying and Del found themselves sudden victims of a Glomp Attack by a squeeing Goldfish. "Look, Na-chan! NIECES!"

Del wrestled her Startled Kill Reflex back into its box and found herself unable not to smile at Kyoshu's unalloyed childish happiness. "Ah, hi, Aunt Kyoshu. Is Aunt Umi home?"

"Ummm..." Kyoshu's brow furrowed. "Umi... where's home?"

Nameless reached out with an affectionate eye-roll and tugged on Kyoshu's sleeve, pointing back at the house they had just departed with her other hand.

After a minute to disentangle themselves from the cheerful goldfish, Del and Ying found themselves waving as Nameless corralled Kyoshu back on-task and the two amnesiac swords rolled off to do... whatever they'd been en route to do.

"So..." Ying began slowly.
"Yeah, that was my Aunt Kyoshu. Muramasa sword, several centuries old, really nasty reputation in the old days, but apparently some even nastier pieces of work from sub-Unit 942 got hold of her during WWII as a 'research subject,' and, well...."

"At least she seems happy," Ying commented. "But why did she lump me in with you, like we were related? Not that I mind, but, you know."

"Damfino. It's Aunt Kyoshu, she's got a... unique way of looking at the world."

"The weird thing is, when she hugged us, it felt familiar. Like she reminded me of one of my relatives, but for the life of me I can't think of who."

More than a block away now, Kyoshu was cheerfully singing "Nieces, Nieces, nicey-nicey Nieces" as she pushed Na-chan down the sidewalk.

Nameless glanced back over her shoulder, then settled into her seat, a tiny knowing smirk curving her lips....

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie's Road Trip

200 Miles Southeast of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

Wei Ying hummed thoughtfully as she checked her wrist sundial. Since taking off from RCMMP division headquarters in Vancouver, she had made good time in her flight up the coast.

Below her, the owlbear that she was riding grumbled a little as it caught a thermal and soared. She reached down and scratched the thick downy feathers on its neck. "Good girl Whitehead. Good girl."

With that she leaned back in the saddle and closed her eyes. She could easily visualize the scene back at her family's home. Even now, a grumbling Wei Yuying was making the normal loving pro forma mock complaints about 'ungrateful grandchildren hurrying their elders along' as she made her way into the front seat of the minivan that her great-great-great-grandniece's husband had purchased and then enchanted to fit a substantial percentage of the Wei family.

Wei Xiang and his parents had already gone ahead in the jeep, of course, to be at their destination early. After all, it would not be a junior hockey game in Canada without family and hometown support of their players.

Especially when the player grew up in the town that he was playing for, and was daszzling with a combination of blazing speed, deft and deceptive puck handling (here Ying gave a very smug smirk as she noted that was the huli jing blood in Xiang), and surprising strength and toughness (not surprising to Ying, since she had a few suspicions about the blood of the White Tiger running in his mother's veins) for a 16 year old player. Most importunity of all, he had learned determination and willingness to give his all. Ying privately suspected that he would be wearing the jersey of a NHL team in a half-decade or so.

She smiled smugly as she wondered which of her many, many relatives would claim 'Gūpó's normal seat' with the additional three inches of legroom since she was not present to attend. Which, was sadly the norm more often than not, since as always she had to balance her family and her job.

She automatically blinked the tears out of her eyes before they could freeze in the bitter cold of the air over the Rockies and then checked the Bubble-Head charms that she had cast on herself and on Whitehead. The last thing she wanted to do was to pass out and crash someplace in the wilderness before she landed at the Bear Lake MACUSA military patrol base just east of Sitka, Alaska on the next leg of her flight to Japan.

Luckily, the Abyssals holding Unalaska were now friendly, so I can take the southern deployment route. Better to deal with the Yanks than the Ivans. Prince Rupert to Bear Lake just east of Sitka where I land and check the weather forecast and divination. Unless there's fog and storms in the area, always a risk, the next stop is Cold Bay on the Alaskan peninsula, where we will remain overnight to rest and feed.

After that down to Atka on Nazan Bay for my last taste of civilization of sorts, and then down the Aleutian Islands to Lake Nicholas. Thank heavens for magical navigation over water to my second rest stop. One more hop south-southwest to Saint Bartholemew's Island, where I enter the Magical Diet's territory, and then from there, I head due southwest to Hokkaido.

With that, another check at the sundial and she pulled out a pair of earbuds from a belt pouch and inserted them under her flight cap with the ease of long practice. A happy smug smile spread across her face when she flicked on the Wizarding Wireless at the other end. She leaned back slightly in the saddle and the smug smirk broadened as a very familiar tune came over the radio.
Spoiler: Well She IS A Canadian Butterknife

"Hello Canada and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland! Tonight we come to you from Victoria where the Victoria Royals and Halifax Mooseheads will clash with the Memorial Cup on the line! It is a battle for the championship between the Quebec Major Junior Hockey league's champion against the host and Western Hockey League runner-up Royals, led by their young forward and hometown hero Xiang Wei who has been brilliant through the final round robin, becoming the youngest player to notch a hat trick in the Cup playoffs in their upset of the Vancouver Giants in the last game."

Ying laughed smugly as she remembered the fuming faces of her fellow Mounties the morning after she had shouted herself hoarse in the 4-3 victory over their rivals three days ago.

So. Many. Tim Horton's gift cards....

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

163 Miles Southeast of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

"Center! Center! Darnit, what do you mean crosschecking, ref? Get some glasses!"

"AWWWK!" {Legitimate penalty call there, lady. Deal.}

"Right, time to kill this penalty, team! Come on, Little Nephew, show your Năinăi what you can do!"

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

157 Miles Southeast of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

"Yes! Shorthanded breakaway chance! SCORE!!!"

"SQWAAAWK!" {It's going to get rowdy up here, isn't it?!}

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

123 Miles Southeast of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

"I'll have to lean on Mother to send me a recording of her memories of the game. You can barely hear the announcers or the horn over the crowd. I sure hope someone put some strengthening spells on the glass, because the fans are going insane."

"RRAWWWRK!" {Like the fan I'm stuck with up here?}

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

88 Miles Southeast of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

Anyone present in the skies over the Pacific Coast would have heard a remarkably bad and off-key attempt to sing Queen, since, just like her 'father' Colombe, Ying Wei(-Muramasa) could not carry a tune in a dump truck.
Spoiler: Bad Queen Cover

"GRRAWWWRR!" {Just kill me now...}

"I wish I could be there for the trophy presentation. But, father's calling me, and this time I'll run her to ground."

"RRWRRRKKK!" {You are giving me MUCH salmon after this flight! MUCH SALMON!!}

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Here's more Twin Princess Fleet! I cannot think of titles yet, so here you go!
-----

"—ncess? Princess?"

Wandering a lonely dark expanse, searching for any sign of life or loved ones faded away instantly, and Ku-Tan opened her eyes to find Nemo standing in front of her, leaning down towards her worriedly.

"… I was asleep," she pointed out, and Nemo jumped back, straightening as she took a moment to stretch.

"Y-yes, I know, it's just…" the light cruiser glanced aside uncomfortably. "… You didn't seem to be sleeping very well is all." Ku-Tan thought back to her dream, only to find it had faded away entirely, except for a vague feeling of unpleasantness. Which was a step up from having to convince herself that she was back in the waking world, but still...

"I suppose so."

Nemo nodded, disheartened, and it was all that Ku-Tan could do not to jerk away in shame at pushing her daughter away, except… except no, she didn't need to be strong. Well, she needed to be strong, but she could allow support more. No more holding herself together with staples and spit, letting everyone see that she was alright when she wasn't. She didn't need to live her life in that sea of corpses anymore—that's what the Da-class was supposed to represent.

… that wasn't where that train of thought was supposed to go.

Wait. Right. Nemo unhappy. To deal with that, she had to… distract her?

"So, I heard you met your boyfriend's mother?"

Agh! No! That was, what, months ago? And distract her? That was moronic—how did she come up with that? She had no right to talk to Nemo, not after something as stupid as that!

"Well, yes, I guess I didn't tell you about that myself," Nemo admitted. "She, uh… She's nice, but she's always running around and talking really loudly—not much like Takumi at all. And I told her that, and she laughed and said that he took more after his father, who's working in Canada for some reason," Nemo glanced from side to side, then leaned a little closer again. "She says it's because he likes hockey more than she does, though I don't think she's being serious when she says it's grounds for divorce, because that makes no sense—"

Ku-Tan could only gape. "Huh?"

Nemo's eyes widened in shock. "Oh!" she exclaimed, laughing, "I'm sorry, I just… Everything felt kind of awkward, and I started babbling. That… That was yeah…"

When she really thought about it, Ku-Tan could sometimes see ways that her daughters took after her more than Shi-Chi. "Don't worry, it's okay. I didn't mean to make you feel on the spot."

"No, no, really, it's fine, I'm just, I get started, and then I'm not really sure what to do afterwards—"

"No, it's fine! I'm sorry."

The two Abyssals went silent as they attempted to parse exactly who was sorry for what and if it was justified. Nemo snorted, which turned into giggles as she covered her mouth and slowly slid down the opposite cave wall. Ku-Tan chuckled quietly, but she wasn't exactly one to laugh.

"So…" Nemo's giggles had mostly faded, but there was still just a tiny bit of snickering as she posited her question. "There any change over here? Everything's going well?"

Ku-Tan glanced over at the subject of her near-constant vigil. "More or less. Still not ready to hatch yet, but—"

Crack

Both were silent again, but for Nemo's rapid shuffling forward on hands and knees to get a closer look.

On the other hand, I always left the eggs to Shi-Chi after the first bit…
-----

The ecstatic cry rang through the air, jerking Shi-Chi away from the small group of destroyers that were circling around her feet. She looked back towards the island and smiled.

"Now that," she said casually, "was a 'new baby screech' if ever I heard one. What do you think—"

Shi-Chi glanced back down around her feet to discover that the destroyers had vanished. She laughed, and followed at a more leisurely pace.
-----

Build anticipation, you say? Why would I want to do that? I came here for imouto!

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

MagisterAurelius

Lonely Street 3

The sound of his phone ringing brought Dalt out of the blurry tedium that at least filled the day.

"Yes?"... "Oh hello Mitsue-san." .... "Please don't apologize, there's no need." ... "Um, no, I haven't eaten yet." .... "Do you have a place in mind? I don't eat out much." ... "Alright, I will meet you there at 7 o'clock then." After he had finished writing down the directions and put his phone away, he looked up. To a room of coworkers all studiously avoiding looking in his direction. Dalt's eyes narrowed and he asked the room in his quietest calmest Master Chief's tone.

"So who won the pool?"

"I think Ishida did."

"Yes!"

The next words from Dalt's mouth dropped the temperature in the room by several degrees, as an angry scowl grew on his face. "So my having no love life is funny how? I mean, funny like I'm one of those sad clowns or neckbeard incels? It amuses you? IT MAKES YOU LAUGH? I'M A BIG FUCKING JOKE TO YOU?"

Utter silence reigned as the shocked to slack jawed expressions looked on. Master Chief Dalton Longstreet, the calm and quiet Coastie, who had suffered all the slings and arrows his life had thrown at him with a seeming calm equanimity was grinding his teeth in barely contained anger.

Captain Yonehara, who had just stepped out of his office in the middle of it, commented in an attempt to placate Dalt; "I came up with the pool Chief Longstreet. It was originally a pool about who would land a girlfriend first, you or me."

"So why didn't it end when you and Ashigara hooked up, Sir?"

"..."

"I am disappointed, Sir. I thought you of all people would understand about things like this." Dalt visibly calmed himself. "Sir, I'm taking the rest of the week and next week off. I have the time to burn. Have a good evening." Dalt walked out of the office.

-0-

So yeah.. Dalt's epic failure of a love life has done a number on him and he's not been in a good headspace for a very long time. The next bit will be the dinner date and office coworkers forming a peanut gallery that makes things worse. But the question of the purveyor of Red Strings, Uzume is, what happens when the Red String keeps falling off one of the targets like they're coated with Teflon?

Also, I wanted to write something, and that Goodfellas quote has been wanting me to use it forever now.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Enters The Land Of The Rising Sun

Habomai Village, Nemuro Peninsula, Hokkaido

Wei Ying gave a weary smile as she saw the breakers of the Pacific's waves crashing against the coast of Hokkaido. The last 24 hours had been quite taxing for her as she flew across Alaska, then mile upon mile upon mile of seawater, guided only by her magical compass homing in on her next navigation point.

Never again! she promised herself as she shifted to try to find a less agonizing position in the saddle.

"RRWWWFF!" Her owlbear grunted as a pair of black specks approached from the land to the west.

"Me too Whitehead, me too." she said as she focused on the flyers and with her legs and reins instructed Whitehead to stop flying and instead soar slowly.

A whispered vision enhancing spell caused her to zoom in on the flyers. A cross between crows and humans, the long beak-like noses, reddish faces, and feathered wings made their identity immediately clear.

Tengu.

Ying felt her lips twist in a scowl before she controlled herself. She shouldn't let her wartime experiences with the Japanese get to her. One thing that her life as a Mounted Magical Policewoman had taught her is that you did not have to like someone to be polite to them and work with them.

She really did not like Japan and the Japanese.

Not after seeing what they did to the Canadian prisoners taken when Hong Kong fell and to the native Chinese while working undercover for four long years. Her bad luck that she had been assigned to accompany the Canadian defenders of the Crown City as an interpreter and liaison to the local magical community shortly before the War.

After their brave but hopeless fight, she had used her native shape-shifting and illusion powers and native fluency in Cantonese to blend into the teeming masses of Chinese civilians. Once there, she established herself as an agent who tracked ship movements in and out of the harbor and relayed what intelligence that she could dig up.
Spoiler: Lady Kitsune

What she had been able to report through her hidden crystal ball back to her department was bad enough. The Imperial Japanese Army's abuses of POWs, the occupation troops' rapes of Chinese women, the kempetai rounding up Chinese to use for bayonet and saber practice to blood their trainees were far, far worse, and seeing those had made her swear that the guilty would taste her righteous vengeance behind her controlled impassive face.

All of those had made her blood boil as she saw red. She knew that she had a temper that she kept under tight control and channeled into her work. Normally.

Worst of all, her heritage from her mother had a problematic at best side that she had to control at all times. While she was willing to concede that very few creatures and spirits were purely evil - save the wendigo! - she admitted that there were certain proclivities passed down in the blood that one would find among both spirits and mortals like herself who had the blood of a spirit in her veins. One would never find an ox spirit's child as scrawny, weak, and a carnivore, for instance.

Nüwa had dispached a huli jing fox spirit once as an agent of divine vengeance upon a wicked and corrupt ruler, after all. Su Dájǐ, the most infamous of all her mother's kin, had cast a long, dark, and bloodstained shadow across three thousand years of Chinese history and folklore for those actions that she orchestrated as she corrupted and tore down the last Emperor of the Shang Dynasty in lust, cruelty, and debauchery to show that the Mandate of Heaven had passed from the unrighteous. That kind of action, rightly or wrongly, was imbued with consequences for those huli jing who came after Dájǐ such as her Amā and her.

And a police officer who had spent decades tracking and punishing criminals who preyed upon the innocent and helpless was uniquely suited to act to prey upon the unrighteous among the occupying forces and their lapdogs. Worse for all concerned, this officer knew First Nation spellcraft that the Japanese did not know of, much less how to counter, such as a spell used by wendigo to isolate their prey from calling for aid. As well, her huli jing heritage gave her the ability to shift her face and body at will and spin illusions to turn a peasant's hovel into a royal palace, or make a shape-shifted killer wearing a soldier's face appear to have a spotless uniform when she walked out of a crime scene to vanish. Her skills with blade, wand, and Five Ancestors Style of martial arts made her a deadly foe in almost any confrontation.

Being able to speak fluent or accented as she preferred Cantonese, Mandarin, and English like the native that she was along with rapidly learning to speak Japanese like a native made her near-impossible to track since she could be anyone in the city...or the police. Finally, changing her modus operandi and target list regularly made it difficult for the detectives and onomouji pursuing her to determine what her goal was past 'kill Eastern Barbarians and their lackeys'.

Knowing how criminals got caught or trapped mundanely and magically had helped her save her tails more than a few times as the kempetai, Hong Kong Police, and Kamo's men desperately tried to corner and catch the serial killer preying upon them that they had known as 'Lady Kitsune'. They had managed to death-read that a fox spirit was preying on them, but no more. Their attempts to divine the location of that fox or ward against her had borne no fruit since she was in fact the spirit of her dao instead; a tsukumogami rather than a kitsune.

Not that anyone save Amā knew about what she had done in the bars, back alleys, and brothels of the Pearl of the Orient. Even Amā did not know where all the bodies had been disposed of, much less the ghastly details of what she had been inspired to do to spread terror and fear among the Japanese occupiers.

When Hong Kong was liberated in 1945, she was finally able to return home and tearfully confess the blood on her hands to her mother before resuming her duties with the RCMMP. Ironically, one of her first postwar duties had been to provide security for some Japanese defendants at the postwar war crimes trials, since Canada was viewed as a neutral arbiter to secure them.

Amā had only looked deep into her eyes and said, "Listen and understand, my daughter. We serve the Mandate of Heaven, and while we are called upon for divine vengeance, vengeance is not all that we are called to do. Remember what Master Kǒng taught, 'The real fault is to have faults and not amend them'. Furthermore, 'Repay kindness with kindness, and evil with justice'. You now know the fault in yourself, and what evils you are capable of when unrighteousness rules."

With that memory, she shook her head slightly to focus. Woolgathering was all well and good for someone of her age, but she had a quarry to track down and step one would be to contact local magical law enforcement after making a safe landing.

She called out, using a minor spell to increase her voice as the Tengu air patrol reached hailing distance. "Royal Canadian Magical Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Wei Ying. I'm enroute to assist the Magical Diet with an investigation. I should be expected."

The two bird-men looked at each other, then the one in the lead blinked. "We haven't gotten word, of any scheduled air traffic, especially not something like THAT beast. We are going to have to demand that you land for confirmation."

His companion punctuated the statement by clearly boggling at the tired owlbear. "What in the name of the kami is THAT?"

Ying laughed tiredly. "Whitehead is a Yukon Owlbear. According to the Dené, Owl Woman wished to conceive a child to spite her husband Raven and wrapped herself in the hide of a she-bear to lay with Great Bear. When Raven found out, he used his magic to turn their sons and daughters into the Owlbears to punish his unfaithful wife."

She finished the story with a shrug and a smug smirk. "When us pale-faces ventured to the far north in Canada, we discovered and domesticated them, although they are like cats, I'm not sure who domesticated who."

The owlbear gave a growling hoot.

"Hush, you. When we land, I'll arrange you to eat enough fish or meat until you can't eat any more. I don't suppose that your community has any salmon or seals that you caught? They love salmon, and seals, really almost any fish. I personally can't stand fish and the less said about seal meat the better."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Placing a hand on the battlements of the tower that he was on, Harry looked out onto the grounds of the castle. Besides the short visits to his professors the day before, he had mostly been cooped up in the Hospital Wing of the school. Now though... he was able to get out and about. Beside him, Natsumi had a small blush on her face as she looked at the thirteen year old boy. With the Sun sinking towards the horizon already and silhouetting him as the wind gently blew his hair, the Kitsune felt her face grow hot, "Harry-Chan..."

With a blink, the wizard turned to her and gave a smile, "Natsumi-Chan. Is something the matter?

Only shaking her head, Natsumi opened her mouth to reply in the negative... but stopped at the last moment. Walking up to him, she took his hand into his, "I... did I tell you how I knew that you were in trouble, Harry-Chan? Besides it being a dream...?"

Frowning, Harry shook his head, "No, you didn't." When she didn't say anything for a few moments, he reached up and cupped her cheek, "Natsumi-Chan? What's wrong?"

Unable to look at him, she looked down, "I... in my dream, I was in that place again..." Slowly, Natsumi told him the tale of what had occurred. Throughout it, Harry did not say a single thing as he simply let her get it out. With Hoppou on the staircase, there was no way for anyone to catch them. It was a private moment between the two of them. Finally, Natsumi finished her story and closed her eyes, "... And that is about it."

Slowly, Harry gave a nod, "I see... she spoke to you then?" Not saying anything, Natsumi simply nodded. However, Harry lifted her chin and spoke softly to her, "Natsumi-Chan, please... talk with me. Look at me."

Despite not wanting to, Natsumi did as asked and her honey colored eyes met his emerald ones, "I... Harry-Chan, I..."

Expression gentle, the thirteen year old shook his head as she didn't need words to get anything across to him, "I know, Natsumi-Chan. And I don't care."

Head snapping up, Natsumi looked at him. But rather than say anything negative, she looked into his eyes for the answer. And in those depths the color of emerald, she found her answer.

That he really did not care, not at all.

Lightly laughing, though she didn't find anything funny, she tilted her head, "You don't care, do you, Harry-Chan."

Just giving her a lopsided smile, Harry shook his head, "Not at all, Natsumi-Chan." Placing his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes at the same time that she did. "I don't care in the slightest."

Feeling the tears prickle at the corners of her eyes, Natsumi gave a hum, "I guess that I should never have expected anything different from you, Harry-Chan. But..." Opening her eyes, they once more met those of the boy who was hugging her, "I'm scared... what if... what if what she told me..."

Softly curling his lips into a smile, Harry gave her a kiss on the forehead, "I don't care, Natsumi-Chan. To me, you are Ono Natsumi-Chan. My best friend and one of the strongest people that I know."

Chewing her bottom lip, the Kitsune looked up at him, "And if something happens?"

All Harry did was give a shrug, "Then? We'll meet it together. Because I will not let you face this alone, Natsumi-Chan. As you said that you will help me face Voldemort at my side? What comes, I will be at yours. Never doubt that."

With a sniffle, Natsumi gave a nod and a laugh, "Hai, I don't doubt it at all, Harry-Chan... Never doubt it at all." Shifting a bit, the two kissed for a few moments before she pulled back, eyes nearly glowing, "And I never will have to."

From where she was sitting in a window, cloaked in an illusion, Hoshi softly smiled a bit before whispering to the wind itself, "I'm glad for you, Natsumi-Chan... so glad that you found someone like Harry-San. Thank whoever bound your red string of fate." Pushing off the window, it looked for a moment like she was floating before she began to drop. Grabbing hold of one gargoyle, she used the inertia to fling herself across to another, and then slipped down a drainpipe and landed on the ground. Glancing to the side, she smiled a bit, "Haru-Chan.'

The five tail walked out from the shadows and smiled at her, "Hoshi-San." With a glance up at the tower, she could just make out her niece and Harry, "How are they?"

Glancing at the two, Hoshi chuckled, "How are they? I think... that they will be just fine, Haru-Chan." Slowly nodding, she smiled, "Just fine."

Eyebrow raised, Haru chuckled herself before sighing, "So she told him?" Getting a nod, she only smiled a bit, "And he accepted that, despite everything."

Bemused, the Kyuubi cocked an eyebrow, "Did you think any other possibility of those two?"

Unable to help herself, Haru shook her head, "No, no I did not." Expression falling, she looked at the old friend of the family, the Kitsune who in many ways was an aunt in everything but blood, "Though I am concerned."

Not saying anything, Hoshi only looked out onto the grounds, "Perhaps, but I am not so concerned myself."

A frown on her face, the other Kitsune shook her head, "I wish that I could believe that, Hoshi-San. But... considering that we are talking about Tamamo no Mae..."

Still looking out onto the grounds, Hoshi nodded, "Hai, I know. And it does worry me to some extent. But... at the same time, I am not so concerned." Turning, she looked at Haru directly, "... Haha-ue was many things. A monster among them, but I still remember that day when the Monk finished talking to her and freed her spirit from the stone she had locked it in. She appeared before both myself and Tsuki-Chan. No words passed her lips... but she just nodded and faded away. Both of us could feel it, her spirit passing on to whatever awaited it. At the time, we hated that fact, that it felt so... lightened. But now..." Tilting her head back, the Kitsune looked up at the darkening sky, "When you told us of that dream Natsumi-Chan had? I spoke with Tsuki-Chan about it, about things that I remembered."

Walking forward until she was beside the older Kitsune, Haru frowned, "Hai?"

Just taking a deep breath, Hoshi spoke, "Both of us... we remembered some times with her. On a certain day, she would seal herself away and the few times we could overhear her, she was speaking in Chinese to someone. But that someone never answered back... and for the few days after, she would seem... despondent. Her fury, her hate would return... Yet now, I recognize that she had sadness in her eyes."

Frowning, the younger Yokai furrowed her eyes, "So perhaps... it is true? But, could this be a fakeout?"

Voice quiet, Hoshi sighed, "I wish that I could say one way or the other. Haha-ue was... old. But the night that she was killed, at the very end? Both myself and Tsuki-Chan, we have continually asked ourselves the same thing over and over." Turning, she regarded Haru, "Why did she allow herself to finally die? At the very end, it seemed like something within her wished for death and stayed the rest of her hand... as if she was so very tired. Then she haunted the stone. Yet, when we saw her ghost... she was happy, and at peace. As if a long nightmare was finally at its end. That... that was the first time she ever smiled at us, sad as it was."

Her own voice quiet, Haru turned to her, "I do not mean to say otherwise, but..."

Bitterly chuckling, the older Kitsune nodded, "She could be tricking us, but, I think not. Haha-ue would not think for a second about not crushing Natsumi-Chan's spirit and taking it. No... I do not think that she is actually in Natsumi-Chan's head. What is there is an... echo. Nothing more than that, and just as powerless in the end. Perhaps it gained more from the imprint that was on the shard of the Sesshō seki. Perhaps something of her mind, but nothing more, which would explain how it could speak to her now." Eyes closed, Hoshi sighed softly, "While Haha-ue always had back up plans for her back ups... this is not like what she would consider. There was always, always more than one side to any plan she made. Such as myself and my twin..."

Reaching into her robes, she pulled out something on a gold chain. It was old, ancient really, but to one as old as Haru and as learned, it forced her to suck in breath, "That is..." Eyes widening, she looked at Hoshi, "How..."

Simply watching the object as it spun, her eyes on the three leaves, Hoshi sighed, "This... is all we have of our Chichi-ue, tossed aside by Haha-ue. She never knew that we found it in the cave where we were born. Close by, we found the bones of a dead human that we recognized smelled like us. She did not mean for us to be just mere assassins, but perhaps to also spread chaos in the Imperial Court. Not that we realized such at the time, it took us many years after her death to realize the truth." Slipping it back into her clothes, the Kyuubi patted where it laid, "Which is why I doubt that anything regarding Natsumi-Chan is something that she planned out. No... what remains is an echo of what she once was. As to why it may be there..."

For a moment, Hoshi paused as if unsure what to say. A slight smile on her face, Haru gave a nod of her own, "Blood will out."

All Hoshi did was not to that, "Hai."

Unknowing of the conversations that passed between the two older Kitsune, Natsumi only hummed as she was held close to Harry.

 

[darthcourt10]

SkyeFire Omake: She! Is! CANADIAN!

Yellowhammer said:
The real shock will be when she finds out that her paternal grandfather is a Japanese Muramasa.​

Ying was dimly aware of her newly-discovered relatives hovering uncertainly as she bit her thumb and struggled not to hyperventilate.

"I am... half Chinese... one-quarter Belgian... and... and...." She had to force the words out. "And one-quarter... Japanese."

Around her, the various Murmasas were readying themselves to duck&cover, or grab and restrain (except Kyoshu and Nameless, who were holding hairstyling tools and eyeing her hair speculatively). Ying knew she had to come to grips with this somehow. Accept... or deny... or... or--!

"It's okay." A deep breath. "This... is okay. This is fine. Because whatever else I am--" She leaped to her feat, thrusting one hand proudly towards the heavens.

"I! AM! CANADIAN!!!!"

"Did... did she just pull a Maito Gai--"
"With frozen trundra and a 'hanami' of maple leaves? Yeah."
"Oh, good, so I'm not having an aneurysm."

Ying, meanwhile, had fallen into the hands of Muramasamune Hairstyling Inc, and was looking completely blissed out (probably at least partly from the post-existential-crisis adrenaline crash).

"Wow. I never knew a 'do could be so relaxing, eh? You know what? After this, we should have a family hockey game! I can teach all of you to play, we just need a nice frozen lake somewhere, you have those in Japan, right? And maple syrup! Gonna get everyone some of the Real Stuff for Christmas, eh? I've got someone on the inside at the Canadian Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve, you'll love it...."

"Is... she gonna be okay?"
"Honestly? This is one of the better reactions to finding out that we're your family...."

 

[darthcourt10]

baofengyu

OMAKE- Outside Looking In/Sacrifice

Present-


"What is it now Graham?"

The Director of MACUSA Surveillance Wizarding Resources Department did not even bother looking up from her paperwork. Graham Sinclair shuffled nervously for a moment, the papers in his hands rustling.

"Ma'am, it is in regards to information coming out of China. Jong Yin is dead."

The pen paused only for a moment before continuing its path. "And this affects us how?"

"Well, I think we should be taking a closer look at his successor, Xiao Wei. We have nothing on this woman and from my sources say they never heard of her before his death. Jong Yin was a very respected magical in the Chinese Wizarding World, and for him to have a successor come out of nowhere whom no one had met before now-"

"We have no authority to investigate or intervene in the affairs of magicals in other countries Graham," She butted in. "How the Chinese choose to operate is up to them. We have enough problems with the Statute of Secrecy on its last legs, not to mention trying to keep the Ship-Girl and Abyssals in check."

The antics of the USS New Jersey were legendary and adding her interactions with the other magical constructs only made matters worse.

"Ma'am, there has to be something else at work here. Ever since Blood Week the Chinese have been operating in a more regulated fashion. Even our agents abroad have mentioned this shift. A powerful magical like Xiao Wei just doesn't appear out of nowhere."

"For the last time Graham, it isn't our concern. Mary is in Japan and she reports nothing out of the ordinary there, and nothing odd anywhere else. Not to mention the British obsession with 'The Boy Who Lived' as he is being considered a dual citizen of England and Japan and all the problems that he seems to attract. Those…things…that went on a rampage in England are just the beginning, and we need to make sure our own house is in order when the SoS comes crashing down. Let the Chinese handled this 'Xiao Wei'."

Tai'an-

DaJi closed her eyes and smiled. There was power in names, and even spoken in whispered tones or behind magical barriers, the spiritual weight of such an act always allowed those that could listen hear what was spoken.

She resumed brushing her hair. Things were proceeding properly, and after disposing of that flesh bag she found a willing host for a change, and took her skin. The fools in this 'Ministry' were all too eager to accept her as Jong Yin's successor, and it took little effort to bind them to her will.

And yet, there was the echo in Japan. A piece of her that remained. She could sense it moving around, but it was muted, quiet. She did not need it at this point, and was confident that when the time came she could reclaim it. The Huli Jing of the Japans were very active, especially now as the Gates of Diyu were open, and the Darkness within roaming the Seas.

"Lady Wei?"

DaJi glanced at her attendant in the mirror.

"It is nearly time for you to ascend TaiShan. The way has been prepared for you."

DaJi gloated inside. The sacrifices of the Feng and Shan would cement her control over Magical China, and through them, control over these 'ministers' who claimed the Mandate of Heaven.
Spoiler: Xiao Wei

Xiao Wei True Form

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie In Magical Tokyo

Magical Canadian Embassy, Magical Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan
Spoiler: Meeting at the Embassy

"...and after the locals confirmed that I was who I told them that I was, they fed Whitehead and I mounted back up. The flight down to Iwatesan airbase just northwest of Morioka was pretty bumpy, there was a storm blowing in. But I managed to land there and get Whitehead bedded down at the facilities there. They have a supply arrangement with some pig farms, so the 'bear can replenish the fat reserves she burned on the flight over."

Wei Ying cradled the mug of strong tea and sipped it then resumed in a tired voice. "After I cleared customs there, I took the Floo down to Tokyo, checked into the Kitsune's Den hotel in Magical Roppongi where I have reservations, and headed here to report in. What do you have for me, Inspector Markham?"

The blond-haired and blue eyed RCMMP officer handed over a file folder stamped with the crowned bison head surrounded by maple leaves and wands crest of the RCMMP. "Here's our information on the lead investigator you will be working with. Auror Captain Nitobe Inazo is a real keener. Rumor has it that the Diet really wants du Chasteler run to ground, since politics are unsettled." He spoke in the nasal accent of a native of the Maritimes. Ying's brain was mentally cataloguing him as a PEIslander from the dialect.

Ying blinked slowly. "Unsettled? Please elaborate." She looked up from where she was flipping through the files.

The other RCMMP officer grimaced. "Long story short, their government is suffering a crisis of public confidence. Scandals, a protest that got turned into a kerfuffle when they bungled it," Ying winced and shook her head, "more scandals, and it just keeps going. Several months ago they even had a domestic magical terrorist group try to assault the NoMaj US embassy if you can believe that."

Ying gave him a very flat stare. "Eh?"

"Honest to God. Luckily they didn't hurt any Yanks, but it was a damn near close run thing. Clearly the Good Lord looks after fools and idiots like these blighters who were three sheets to the wind. Shootout with Yanks? Jeezius!" Markham shook his head.

Ying shook her head and drained the mug. "Wonderful. Tell me some good news."

"Well I arranged you to meet Auror Inazo at ten AM tomorrow, so you can get a good night's sleep first." The younger Mountie's eyes glittered at the clear discomfort of his half frozen, soaked, and exhausted elder.

"Thank all the many and multifarious deities of the Celestial Bureaucracy for that. The file is unclassified and I can take it with me, yes?" Ying reached the end of the file and looked up.

"It's your copy Chief Superintendent Wei." Markham smiled. "My contact information is on the inside jacket of it, and call me if you need help with your investigation."

Ying stretched. "I will. And thank you."

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

The Kitsune's Den, Magical Tokyo
Spoiler: The Kitsune's Den

Ying nodded to the desk clerk and staggered up the flight of stairs. At the top, she turned left and opened the door to room 208 after tensing slightly.

Upon opening the door, she relaxed at the peaceful room provided, stepped inside, and locked and chained the door closed.

The room was small, with a futon, desk, closet, and attached bathroom overlooking the neon-lit street as darkness began to fall. Her battered and scuffed suitcase and garment bag that she had pulled from the saddlebags after finally, finally landing were waiting for her on the futon.

With that she glanced at her wrist sundial and mentally did some mathematics. Nodding to herself, she traced a Chinese ideograph to disarm the security spells on her suitcase, then unlocked it with a bronze key pulled from one of her belt pouches. Inside, the suitcase was clearly space-expanded with a small rack of potion vials next to her underwear and other neatly packed clothing. The other half had a sword maintenance kit, a laptop case and miniature fingerprint kit, and a pair of bulky red silk bags carefully strapped down.
Spoiler: The Dragon's Pearl

She opened the first bag and pulled out an antique bronze statue of an oriental dragon coiling around itself. Placing it on the desk, she then opened the second bag, and pulled out a cloudy milk-white crystal ball the size of her fist. She slotted the ball into the dragon's coils, and then traced a series of Chinese ideographs on the ball's surface with a fingertip.

As she finished the cloudy depths of the ball swirled and suddenly the image of a room in her home appeared in its depths. A middle aged Eurasian man turned in clear surprise and suddenly his voice sounded in her ears speaking her native Cantonese.

"Gupo! This is unexpected, what can I do for you?"

She smiled happily and spoke in Cantonese. "No need to disturb the harmony of the house. When she awakens, please notify Nainai that her First Daughter has arrived safely. The flight was long and tiring, but is now over and I shall be doing what I have been sent here to do. I shall speak to her, Gods willing, tomorrow evening. Also, please notify your Number Five Son that Gupo is quite proud of his efforts upon the ice rink, and that she greatly regrets not being present to witness his triumph herself. She eagerly awaits the chance to return home so she can have him tell her of the game personally."

Her great-great grandnephew nodded. "We are all very proud of our Little Tiger."

"As you should be. Baai Baai!" With a nod of her head, and a wave of her wrist, the image faded. Another set of characters were traced on the crystal and again it cleared to reveal a young woman with straight blond hair and hazel eyes sitting behind a desk.

"Auror Colonel de Breuil's office. Auror Trainee Jensen speaking." The young woman responded in English.

"This is Chief Superintendent Wei of the RCMMP, is Delilah available?" Ying spoke.

"I'm afraid that she is on vacation, should I forward you to Auror Major Blackthorn?" Jensen replied, bracing to attention as she did.

Ying winced mentally at the sight of the clearly so fresh that she squeaked trainee that Delilah had manning her outer desk these days."No need, I am here in a personal role as opposed to professional. I just wished to give her a courtesy heads-up that I was going to be out of the office handling a personal matter in Japan and to call my deputy at E Division if she needs to coordinate with the RCMMP." She spoke reassuringly.

Jensen blinked twice. "Colonel De Breuil is on vacation in Japan as well but I will pass the information along to her when she checks in."

Ying froze and spoke slowly as her mind whirled. "Oh, is she now? When she checks in, please pass along that I'd appreciate a call from her on my portable crystal ball, hopefully we can meet up here and do dinner or something."

"I'll make a note, Chief Superintendent, is there anything else that the MACUSA Corps of Aurors can do for you?" Jensen said after using a quill to scribble the request on a scrap of parchment.

"Just keep up the good work, Auror Jensen, you are a credit to your service. Good day." Ying ended the call and idly wondered when Delilah had taken to robbing cradles.

A further glance and a deep breath as she traced a third set of glyphs. With any luck, he would be in the office...

This time the ball cleared to show a cramped room with rain pounding the windows. Papers, parchments and scrolls were scattered everywhere and piled high on the desk. "La Sûreté Magique, Département des Archives. Inspecteur de Maintenon." came from a wizard with gray in his pencil mustache and thinning black hair who blinked watery blue eyes at her.

"Bonjour Henri. You look like death warmed over. Things are that bad in France?" Ying said sympathetically as the exhausted wizard focused on her.

"When aren't they that bad? They are going to shutter my department temporarily and put us on fieldwork. You can blame the Bretons for that, we had a group of Ankou escape and lost some good Aurors putting them back to rest." Henri responded irritably. "Also the Diviners are mumbling something about approaching death on the wind hungering for those who escaped it before. Whatever that means, but it can't be good."

Ying nodded. "I can relate. Listen, I know that I asked you a while back to do a records dive on Colombe Du Chasteler, did you have any luck?"

Henri shrugged. "A bit. I dug out a copy of the incident in Metz in 1789 that the Committee of Magical Safety filed, along with some notes and conclusions of their investigation of her in 1806. To no one's surprise, she slipped the net."

Ying sighed. "I'll take what I can get. Can you gather it together and owl it to the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo care of Inspector Markham?"

"Tokyo? What in the Name of God are you doing there?" Henri interjected.

"Hopefully seeing justice done. Regardless, I owe you a big one for this." Ying said.

"I'll do it today when I grab lunch." Henri agreed.

"Merci beaucoup. Audieu." Ying said in her best French before ending the communication.

With that she hung the bag with her uniform up in the provided closet, and then turned back to her opened suitcase. From inside it, she pulled her sword maintenance kit and favorite whetstone. Unsheathing her true self, she began to clean and hone herself as a focus for her thoughts and racing heart as she stared at the bustling neon-lit street beyond.

Father... I'm coming for you...

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93 Omake: Sunny isn't afraid to Rock

Random omake I thought of since I was watching a Breath of the Wild speedrun...

XXXXXXXXXX

It was something quite simple, but it had many of the Abyssals in the Fleet of Laughter dumbfounded and amazed—a mere boulder, about the size of one of the destroyers, that was for all intents and purposes, immovable.

Uncle Harry was demonstrating a new charm he'd learned for his nieces, and they somehow found themselves having the time of their lives with it. One or two at a time, the Abyssals took turns trying to move the boulder any way they could think of—pushing and shoving, kicking, body slamming, you name it—and it wouldn't budge, even when the girls started putting their horsepower into the task. It had become something of a competition, to see who could beat the charm and get the rock to move even a fraction of an inch... and so far, nobody had accomplished even that much.

"Make way, guys, I want to try!" The Abyssals pulled away from the frozen boulder, letting Regalia charge in as fast as her legs could carry her, before leaping forward with a flying drop kick. There was a sound like a gong as her hooves impacted the side of the rock with the full force of the battlecarrier she embodied... but then she dropped unceremoniously to the ground, her momentum simply gone. "Oh... oh, wow, that feels so weird..." Regalia groaned, looking incredibly stunned. "The boulder didn't go anywhere... but neither did I... b-but my legs are shaking and aching, so I still hit it... that's not how the laws of motion are supposed to work!"

Harry chuckled. "Yeah, it can feel weird, alright... but don't worry, it's really not defying Newton's laws. All the charm does is lock an object in time and space... anyone can still act on the object, it just won't take effect immediately." As she stood nearby, contemplating Harry's statement, Sunny suddenly perked up. She slowly turned to her uncle, and their gazes met.

In that moment, there was a twinkle in both their gazes... an unspoken understanding between troublemakers.

Wearing a bright, cheery smile, Sunny walked up to the boulder, waving everyone away. To everyone's confusion, all she did was give the rock a light kick on its underside with her toes—and then she hopped up and grabbed onto it with her legs and feet and cried out, "LET IT RIP, UNCLE!"

With a wide grin on his own face, Harry obliged, releasing the spell...

and instantly, the boulder shot off like a bullet, all the built-up energy from the Abyssals whaling against it released in a single violent burst that catapulted it towards the ocean horizon.

With a Battleship Demon clinging to the side of the rock for dear life, nevertheless whooping in unbridled glee.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking into the Hospital Wing, Harry internally sighed as Madame Pomfrey gave him a unhappy look. If it was up to her, he would not have been able to leave the Hospital Wing until she was happy that he was good. Despite how he had already been there for at least a full day. After a moment, he gave a shrug, 'Oh well, it means more time with Natsumi-Chan. And Mum is already talking about me going home in a day or two.'

A moment later though, he was interrupted by the sight of a snowy owl fluttering in. Landing on a bedpost, Hedwig had the look in her eyes of both amusement and mischievousness. Something only solidified a moment later as she spoke, "Hello, Harry-Wizard."

Giving her only a blink, Pomfrey walked back into her office. After all, it was not the oddest thing that she had seen during her Hogwarts career... or before that as a Medi-witch at Saint Mungoes. Far from it as a matter of fact...

With a look of amusement at the school nurse, the black haired boy turned back to Hedwig, "Hello, Hedwig." Feeling the amusement increase, as well as a bit of smugness, Harry internally frowned, 'What is she up to...? I know that she was unhappy with what happened, but it couldn't have something to do with that, could it?'

Just as he was about to comment, he noticed that Natsumi suddenly grabbed Hoppou from his shoulders and quickly walked backwards. Hedwig's eyes took on a gleam of unholy glee at that, "I hope that you are ready, Harry-Wizard."

Right then, Harry had an odd feeling come over him. Not unlike the feeling one has when hearing the sounds of a flash flood coming at them. Turning, he blinked some at a sound he was hearing, "Wait, is that water that I hear-"

The door slammed open to reveal Shiromizu in her human form there panting. Locking onto him, she began running and transformed into her lamia form partway there, "HARRY!"

Eyes widening, Harry brought up his hands, "Shiromizu, wait-"

Before he could finish, Shiromizu leapt forward and he went flying across the room in her hug as the breath was driven from him. With almost nonchalance, Hoshi kicked a bed so that it was where it was needed when the two landed. Poking her head out of her office, Pomfrey hummed, "Very nice distance."

And with that, she went back into her office.

Meanwhile, Shiromizu wrapped her coils around Harry, "I just heard what happened! A hundred Dementors?! Are you alright?!"

Weakly grinning, the wizard nodded as he gave a shrug, "Yes? I mean, I'm alive after all."

For several minutes, Shiromizu looked at him and checked him over best that she could. Eyes narrowing, she cocked her head to the side, "Hmm..." Then, the Mizuchi was all smiles, "Good to see..."

Lips curling up into a smile despite what his instincts were telling him, Harry shrugged, "Told you so-"

Unfortunately, he was unable to finish as the young Kami grabbed the pillow on the bed and began to whack him over the head with it, "BAKA! BAKA! I WAS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT!" Sniffling, Shiromizu dropped the pillow and hugged him close, "I was so scared..."

Suffering from a bit of whiplash, Harry blinked twice. Part of his mind mused that if this was an anime, he would have swirly eyes. Instead though, he instinctively reached up and patted sister-figure's back, "It's okay, Shiromizu. It is okay..."

However, Shiromizu pulled back some, "No, it is not okay, Harry. Yet again, something like this happened. You shouldn't have to worry about it and yet here we are!"

With a sigh, the teenaged wizard nodded, "I know, but what can you do?" He than gave a small grin, "Though you should be proud of me." When she raised one eyebrow, Harry continued, "Because I finally managed a corporeal Patronus! And it was powerful enough to blast a hundred Dementors away from me!"

Unable to help herself, Shiromizu's lips twitched a bit, "Yes, I heard that much anyways." After a few moments, she snorted, "Apparently it is all over the magical world."

Rapidly blinking, Harry only had one response to that, "Poi?"

Hundreds of miles away in a castle that laid in Belgium, a certain Rapier was looking over the morning mail. It had been a few days since they picked it up and there was a small stack of magical newspapers. Colombe was many things, but despite what some might say, she was no fool. Hence, all the magical mail and newspapers went to an address specifically for it. Another layer to hide her. Ehren has just returned a few minutes later and was making some coffee as her mother sipped from her own mug as she looked over the newspapers.

Upon hearing a sound, the dagger turned in time to receive a face full of coffee. Somehow, Claire played a tune that carried a sensation of shock. Not realizing what just happened, Colombe just stared down at the piece of paper with a picture of Harry on it which talked about a mass Dementor attack and how he drove them off, nearly singlehandedly, killing a number in the process. The whole time, coffee dripped from her jaw.

Back at Hogwarts, Shiromizu snorted some, "Hai, it is all over the magical news." If anything, she became more amused, "It is not every day that a thirteen year old manages a corporeal Patronus and to drive off a hundred and more Dementors with it... or kills a number."

Lightly blushing, Harry waved his hands some, "B-but I didn't actually kill all of them! Juuchi and Tsukiakari and I think Kagotsuruhe-Sensei did as well."

Opening one eye, the Sword of Hopelessness hummed, "Perhaps we killed some. But not in the numbers that you did."

A smug grin on her face, Juuchi cackled, "Exactly! But then, that is to be expected of my Master."

Shiromizu blinked a few moments and frowned, "Um, Kagotsuruhe-San? Why... are you tanned?"

Glancing at the rather tanned Sword spirit, Harry blushed a bit, "Um, she was rather close to the supercharged Ofuda I was using when it went off, I think."

Eyes closed, Kagotsuruhe gave a small nod, "Yes, that does seem to have been what happened. And despite what I do, my avatar continues to be tanned." She than gave a smile that, for all it was fake, somehow caused shivers to go down peoples' backs, "Though if Akutoku calls me a Gyaru, I shall make her regret such."

Coughing, Tsukiakari glanced away, "Perhaps a change in subject?"

Smugly smiling, it was then that the other Muramasa spoke, "Ah, yes. And speaking of killing Dementors..." Teaching into a pouch, she brought something out and placed it on the table, "I have brought you this."

For several moments, Harry just looked at the crystalline skull of a dementor. In particular the lamprey-like mouth. Blinking, he turned back to Juuchi, "You... brought me something that was dead."

With a proud hum, Juuchi only gave him a smug look, "Yes. And well mutilated."

Harry closed his eyes and pinched his nose, "Perhaps I underestimated how much like a cat you were."

At that, Juuchi only became more smug. With a sigh, Hoshi rolled her eyes before shaking her head as she ignored Hoppou playing with the skull, "Perhaps, to get us into a better mood, we should distract ourselves with something else?"

Keeping her eyes from the skull which Hoppou was now tossing between her hands, Natsumi paused. Then she perked up some, "How about a story, Hoshi-San? From one of your adventures?"

With a slow blink, the Kyuubi considered it and then smiled, "A story, hmm?" Getting a nod, she chuckled, "Very well, do you have one in particular that you wish to hear?"

Shaking her head, Natsumi smiled back, "Not really."

Just humming, Hoshi considered things before pulling out a kiseru from within her clothes. With a burst of foxfire, she lit it and gave a puff, "I think that I have a story that shall interest you greatly. It is also fairly recent as well. You see, in 2006, I received word that there was a Necromancer active. Being who I am, I investigated the rumours since at the time, the Magical Diet was more focused on both the Abyssals and trying to find Yokai smugglers and Militia. And at the time, Kyoto was just having the seeds planted for what they would become..."

Everyone, not just the teens, listened in as Hoshi told her tale. Surprise followed then revelation that the Necromancer that she hunted was extremely skilled. So much so, he was able to create fleshy corpses from bare bone or even ashes. Though they always looked a few days dead and had scars or other signs of what had ended their mortal lives. An incredible feat, despite the darkness involved. Each of them had leaned forward when she reached the final conclusion, only to have what could be best described as a look of befuddled amusement on their faces at what the Necromancer had planned.

When Hoshi was finished, everyone was silent for almost a minute as they digested what happened. Slowly, Nagato raised a finger, "You... mean to tell me that this man raised what amounted to a small army of the undead... merely to have them act out the music video Thriller? I..."

Pointing at his adoptive mother, Harry nodded, "What she said, Dess."

Only shrugging, the Kyuubi chuckled, "That is what happened, yes. An odd one, he certainly was..." Cocking her head to the side, she hummed some, "Though I will admit that his student was just as odd. Though from what I heard, he headed to the United States a few years later..."

Kagotsuruhe hummed some as she thought back before making a sound of realization, "Yes, I remember hearing about that. While he escaped with his student, it befuddled the authorities for months trying to figure out the truth because they could not believe what had happened."

Shrugging, Hoshi shook her head with a snicker, "The truth, in this case, truly was stranger than fiction."

Only tilting her head to the side, Siusan gave her a curious look, "Yes, a very odd sorcerer. Though you mentioned that his student was just as odd?"

With a blink, Hoshi took another puff from her kiseru, "Yes, perhaps more odd. I spoke to him when I confronted him and his master. Apparently, he wished to save Saga Prefecture from population decrease by attracting people via an Idol group. Or that was what he claimed." Puffing again, she hummed, "Perhaps tragedy made him so odd as from my research afterwards, he had a female friend who had been killed in a truck accident on the way to an audition. I wonder what has happened to him, such an interesting lad..."

For her part, Haru gave a small shrug, "Well, no matter what, no Entertainer could possible match her..." There was a far off look on her face, "She was a true legend... The Legend."

The only response that everyone else had to that was to shake their heads slowly at that. But before they could ask who Haru was talking about, Hedwig perked up some, "Ah, right, almost forgot." She turned to Hoppou and bobbed her head some, "Admiral Goto wished for me to tell you that Tanith and the others will be coming tomorrow. They want to check up on Harry-Wizard among other things..."

Briefly, there was a surprised look on Hoppou's face before she smiled a bit, "Hoppou understands, and Hoppou should have expected this."

Soon enough, the conversation turned to what was going to happen the next day when Hoppou's daughters arrived.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Sakura

Owari-To Construction Company Headquarters

Marunouchi District, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo

Four Days before Hanami, 2013

Masamune-no-Fudo's brush raised from the sheet of rice paper finally, and gave a small sigh. She examined her strongly inked characters and a small wrinkle formed between her eyebrows. Her calligraphy was adequate - barely - but compared to her sister Tokunotakai's delicate and expressive brushwork on the letter next to her reply, her characters and brush strokes were clearly inferior.

Too bold. Too rash. Too passionate.

Not Masamune enough.

Not perfect.

Flawed.

Just like she was flawed.

She angrily shook her head, her lips curling in a scowl as she closed her eyes, and - once again - promised herself that she would do better. That she would live up to her heritage.

With that, she opened her eyes and sprinkled sand from a small bowl on her ink so it would not smear. While the ink dried, she looked at the trio of magical photographs on her desk.

The center one had been taken at Honjo's private reunion party with her sisters.

Honjo was in the center as the object of the photograph, of course, facing to the right in perfect Chudan no Kamae stance for one-sword combat. To her left, Kotegiri beamed with a serene smile as she surveyed her juniors, her eyes suspiciously shiny but otherwise the ideal image of an Imperial Princess in her scarlet kimono with the five gold chrysanthemum mon of the Imperial Household. To Honjo's right, Musashi, for once presentably clothed in a beautiful light blue kimono embroidered with falling gold and red leaves, stood with her daisho drawn in an equally perfect Tachi no Tori no Kamae defensive counter to Honjo's Chudan no Kamae offensive threat as they posed as the two samurai of legend that they were.

Only the slight flush on their faces revealed that this was after the third round of sake had been consumed.

Even the photograph, taken by Tokunotakai at everyone's urging, was perfect, despite the miko being quite drunk then. Fudo's lips curled in a grin, as she had never imagined that Toku-chan was a giggly drunk, much less knew several bawdy love songs when suitably lubricated. She also rather doubted that the crimson on Toku-chan's flushed face when Fudo drove her back to the shrine after the party broke up was solely because of the alcohol either.

But then in the corner, half-concealed behind Kotegiri, Fudo's eyes sought out herself. She was leaning forward gulping a saucer of sake, with more sake spilling out to stain her black kimono lavishly embroidered with pink and white sakura blossoms. The image of the salaryman at the office party who could not hold her liquor.

Not perfect.

Flawed.

Her eyes found the right photograph.
Spoiler: Daibutsu of Kamakura

Tokunotakai and Fudo stood there in festival kimonos under the Daibutsu of the Kotoku-in temple in Kamakura. Arm in arm, with smiles on their faces, they participated in the ceremonies commemorating the saving of the bronze statue after the Great Tsunami of 1498 that had devastated the shrine five centuries before.

Fudo's lips curled up in a gentle, happy smile, mirrored by the sisters in the photograph.

The sky was a perfect blue dotted by clouds. The buildings and trees were in peaceful, serene harmony. The serene bronze face of the Buddha promised the perfect nirvana that Fudo strove to find. Finally, the clear bond of friendship and unconditional love between the sisters was visible.

Perfect.

Like a Masamune should be.

Fudo breathed in and out slowly, controlling her emotions.

How could she possibly explain to any of her other sisters that in Toku's presence, she felt that she was a perfect Masamune, as she had been forged to be? That she had to fight to protect the innocent perfection of her sheltered sister from the harms of the world? That Fudo My'oo's intense flaming wrath that burned away the imperfections of dukkha, broke the cycle of suffering and rebirth that was samsara, and allowed the soul to enlighten to nirvana drove her to shield her sister from suffering as Fudo had suffered?

That love and passion led to suffering?

To Imperfection?

With that her eyes found the third photograph.

In black and white, a young man stood in pristine Imperial Japanese Army uniform next to her in a kimono at a festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. The aristocratic hawk face of a samurai with a scar on his right cheek gazed back at her above the collar with the wreathed star above crossed wands of the Seventh (Onmyōdō) Imperial Guard regiment.

In her mind's eye she remembered, as a solitary tear escaped her self-control and trickled down her cheek to form a perfect crystal drop.

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

Tokyo

11:52 AM, September 1st, 1923

"Fufufufu! What do we have here?Don't you know that it is unsafe for someone such as you to walk the streets?" The mocking, hateful, vicious voice echoed in her ears as Fudo leapt from building to building, pushing herself to the limit.

It had been decades since she had last heard that, but the silky, aristocratic laugh and cold vicious sadism sent a chill through her steel. Only one entity could have created that voice of utter cruelty and evil.

Kyoshu.

Her hand's grip on her true self tightened as she leapt to the street, her golden eyes filled with righteous fire.

Ahead, too far ahead, inside the shimmering of a repulsion ward, two figures in robes marked with a Tokugawa mon lay thrashing on the ground with blue faces

The bitch had made them forget how to breathe.

Kyoshu stood there with her true self impaling the head of a woman in her late twenties. Eyes full of horror gazed into the Sword of Fading Memories' glowing gold eyes.

"I wonder which branch of the family you are associated with? No matter. A little tweak here...and you will do exactly as I wish. Tell your blade that Kyoshu says hello...and then cut your throa---!"

Suddenly the young boy who had been hiding behind his mother leapt out and bit Kyoshu on the arm hard. "Don't hurt my mommy!" He screamed as fury-filled eyes blazed with determination.

"Oh, maybe I should prime you too..." The Muramasa hissed as she pulled her true self from the vacant-eyed head of the woman. "I'll come back to finish the job on you after I deal with your spawn."

The young boy stepped in front of his mother to bar the way.

Kyoshu's eyes glittered cruelly. "Step aside, child!"

"No!" The young boy spoke defiantly as the Muramasa's blade twitched and opened his cheek at the corner of his mouth. He took a deep breath and moved into a rudimentary combat stance learned from watching his 'Big Sister Fudo' practicing in the dojo.

Time slowed as Kyoshu readied herself to strike. "So brave, So stupid."

"KYOSHU!!!" Fudo screamed in righteous fury. Blazing energy filled her as she blurred in the flash step faster than she had ever gone.
Spoiler: Fudo and Kyoshu

The most notorious of the Demon Blades flash stepped back from Fudo's strike, turning ghostly a split second before the strike landed

Fudo spoke through gritted teeth, her eyes locked on Kyoshu. "Gorōta-kun. I need you to do something for me. Your mother is... injured. Be a brave young warrior and guide her back home so the doctors can tend to her. No matter what she says or what happens, get her safely home to your father. Can you do that for me?"

Blood trickled from a slash across Kyoshu's cheek and stained Masamune steel

"Hai, Fudo-nee!" The young scion of the Owari Tokugawas took his mother's hand and began to guide them clear of the fight.

Glowing serpentine yellow eyes met molten furious gold as the Blade of Fudo My'oo locked her gaze with the Blade of Fading Memories. Around Fudo's white-knuckled grip on her hilt, a Buddhist spell mandala cycled. The Muramasa traced the shallow cut on her cheek with a thumb and then examined the blood staining it.

"You cut me. You actually cut me! An insect like you actually dared cut me!!" Kyoshu's aristocratic voice was filled with shocked anger.

Gold eyes narrowed and Fudo's vicious snarl showed teeth. Her voice was filled with savage glee.

"Yes Kyoshu. You can be cut. You can bleed. You can be hurt. Just like you hurt me, my sisters, and countless innocents in your evil."

Both blades blurred at each other too fast to be seen, and the shockwave of their clash snapped an iron lightpost like a twig and sent a nearby delivery wagon flying like a child's toy. Muramasa steel forged from the essence of madness met Masamune steel forged to embody righteous fury cutting through the illusion of existence.

"You can suffer the debt of your sins weighing down your karma now."

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

Izu Oshima Island, 65 miles south of Tokyo

11:58:44 Japanese Time, September 1st, 1923

To Ancient Japan, the frequent earthquakes were attributed to Namazu, a great catfish that lived in the mud beneath the islands. The kami Kashima had placed a huge stone upon the primordial beast to control it, but when Kashima's vigilance slipped, the Namazu would cause the ground to shake in its attempt to shake the stone free.

Modern science understood the phenomenon differently. Plate tectonics held that as the Philippine Sea Plate was subducted and driven beneath the Okhotsk Plate that Japan sat on, sometimes the plates would be jammed together. Pressure and strain would rise until one plate gave way with a catastrophic release of energies.

Whether it was Kashima slacking his vigilant watch, or whether the Ring of Fire's primal energies had been held too long, the result was the same.

Energies greater than that of every explosion mankind had ever managed to unleash and every nuclear weapon ever built were set loose deep within the earth.

Afterward, September First would be honored in Japan as Disaster Prevention Day. Afterward, what happened next would be only known as the Great Kanto Earthquake. The deadliest natural disaster in Japan that would kill over a hundred thousand souls.

Sixty miles north of the epicenter in Kamakura, Tokunotakai fell to her hands and knees. She was unable to stand as she watched in awe as the Great Daibutsu, one hundred twenty one tons of solid bronze, rocked on its stone plinth and shifted over two feet by the thrashing of the Namazu

Sixty-two miles north of the epicenter in Yokusuka , dockworkers screamed in terror as the incomplete battlecruiser Amagi, tens of thousands of tons of steel being converted to an aircraft carrier, rocked in her drydock cradles and her keel broke from the strain as steel cables snapped like cotton thread.

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

Fudo smirked as she ran along the roofs to pursue the fleeing Kyoshu.

She had the Demon Blade on her heels.

Her spell that she had perfected neutralized that foul creature's defenses and rendered her able to be harmed, to be unable to turn ephemeral. The high winds from the storm offshore whipped her hair around her face as she sprinted after Kyoshu, feeling surging triumph fill her.

She would destroy this foul creature. She would get Divine Justice for all Kyoshu's many many victims. She would allow the corrupted spirit to be liberated for rebirth in her next life so she could expiate her sins.

She leapt toward the roof across the street as Kyoshu sprinted along its ridge board in panicked flight.

She would prove with one killing stroke of her steel that she was just as worthy a Masamune as Honjo, Kotegiri, Suzume, Musashi, Tokunotakai, and her other sisters.

She never landed.

In the blinking of an eye, the building that she about to land on began to collapse in a shower of tile and timber as the first shockwaves of the earthquake slammed into it with incredible force. Fudo hit the remains of the roof and began to fall, screaming in terror as she began to frantically cast a protective spell. For an instant, her eyes locked with those of the horrified housewife who had been cooking lunch for her family over a charcoal brazier that was spilling hot coals across shattered timber and torn rice paper.

Fire. Uncontrolled fire, the enemy of Japanese cities.

Fudo ignored the shattered jagged debris that she was plunging toward as she aborted her shield to throw protective spells at the housewife to protect her and extinguish all flames around them in the instants she had remaining to her.

She landed head first and blackness claimed her.

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

Owari Tokugawa Estate, Tokyo

September 9th, 1923

Ash and smoke still seemed to hang in the air. The fires spawned by the earthquake were now under control but the death toll had been catastrophic. Many people had been cooking lunch, and the high winds from the typhoon offshore had helped the flames spread. Hampered with broken water mains, damaged streets and buildings, and confusion, the fire department had done the best that it could, but tens of thousands had perished and thousands were still missing.

There was even talk in the Diet that the capitol should be moved.

The taste of failure in Fudo's mouth was equally bitter. When she had awakened in the rubble, and freed the groaning housewife from the beam pinning her, saved by the spell that she had cast, Kyoshu was long gone. Instead all she could do was help fight the fires and tend to the many, many injured.

Absently, her hand touched the folded piece of paper where, scribbled in a childish hand, a message of thanks had been crudely written by a young child whose father Fudo had managed to rescue from the rubble entombing him while holding the fires at bay with her magic.

It was a bare dollop of salve upon the blazing wound on her soul.

She had been so close to proving herself.

So close!

All she had proved that she was imperfect.

Flawed.

Unworthy to be a Masamune.

No great blade of legend, no heroic figure.

Worse yet, she knew that Kyoshu was out there somewhere licking her wounds. She knew deep in her soul that she would never get a chance like this again. The Sword of Faded Memories would not let herself be so vulnerable again.

She sighed. At least all her sisters had survived what was being called the Great Earthquake. As for her family...

Her eyes raised to the Medi-wizard leaving Tokugawa Keiko's room where her young son had brought her safely home. He looked at her and sadly shook his head.

Fudo's fists clenched helplessly. It was a faint hope anyway, the power of that Demon Blade was notorious but....

Gorōta stepped out of the room, and his eyes found those of Fudo. The four year old walked over and touched her hand. "Fudo-nee. Did I do well bringing Mommy back here so Daddy could take care of her? Daddy said that he was proud of me for being a brave boy even when the ground shook and the fires started."

Fudo looked at the young boy and something inside her steel trembled. "Yes, Gorōta-kun. You did very well." Her eyes raised to where the head of the Owari Tokugawas was sitting by the bedside of a woman who no longer knew her name or who he was.

She knelt and hugged Gorōta Tokugawa and her voice cracked. His arms embraced her and she whispered with tears in her voice that a Masamune could never shed. Not even among her family of steel or service.

"You did very well, and I'm proud of my little samurai too."

You did better than a flawed blade such as I.

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

Nagoya Castle

Hanami, 1938
Spoiler: Fudo and Gorota

Steel clashed on steel in the dojo where Fudo sparred with Gorōta.

While not the heir, the second son of the Tokugawas had turned into a warrior of renown blessed with the gift of magic and trained by Tokunotakai in kendo and kenjutsu at Fudo's request. His steel flickered against her true body as she probed his defenses with sword and spell as they battled back and forth across the dojo where she had first been unsheathed and where the Tokugawa family's sons had trained to rule their fief of Owari. Finally she leapt backward and raised a hand to call a halt.

"Well done, Gorōta-kun. I can see why you placed first in your class at Mahoutokoro." The Masamune spoke with flushed cheeks - from the exertion, surely! - as she surveyed the broad-shouldered warrior overtopping her avatar by a head.

He smiled back at her, his scarred cheek causing his smile to take a roguish cast. "It was only because I had superb teachers. Tokunotakai-sensei in the Way of the Sword. Ichida-sensei for spellcraft. And you, Fudo-nee, for teaching me what it is to be Tokugawa and samurai."

Her heart thudded in her chest and her cheeks heated as she responded with her eyes downcast, "Iie, I merely did my duty to the clan when I..." She took a deep breath, feeling the ghost of her failures in the room with them, "...raised you when your mother could not."

Despite the best efforts of modern science and ancient spellcraft, Tokugawa Keiko had never regained her memories, her sense of identity. Never would she recognize her husband or sons. Death would have been far kinder for the family than the cruel ministrations of the Sword of Faded Memories.

He stepped close and placed a hand on her shoulder, the clasp of one warrior to another. "You are too hard on yourself Fudo-sensei... no. Fudo-san. We are imperfect beings in an imperfect universe and must do what we can to achieve the impossibility of perfection."

He waved his hand and the screen to the balcony slid open. They walked to it and knelt on summoned cushions overlooking the gardens below where cherry blossoms bloomed. For an endless time, Fudo lost herself in the clouds of pink-white ephemeral beauty. She always enjoyed hanami, the season of cherry blossoms, the most of all times of the year, and her own hands had planted many of the trees in now in full flower.

The quiet voices from the visitors to the Tokugawa family's ancestral castle provided a suitable counterpoint to their meditations. Fudo felt her spirit soar free in the beauty of impermanence.

Gorōta finally stirred. "I got a letter this morning."

Fudo nodded. "Not another attempt for your father to arrange a marriage?" Fortunately for the Owaris, Ichiro the heir had a happy marriage with twin sons and a newly pregnant wife. Gorōta's quiet but determined refusal to participate in matchmaking was the quiet despair of Lord Owari.

"No. Your friends have persuaded the Magical Diet to support Minister Kamo's proposal to rearm and establish units of the Gifted. One of which will become part of the Imperial Guards Brigade to serve Emperor Showa." His voice was filled with a certain satisfaction.

Fudo looked over at Gorōta and began to smile happily at the joy in his face. "I have been selected to go to the Imperial Japanese Army Academy for officer training to serve in the 7th Magical Regiment of the Imperial Guards upon graduation."

Fudo's face lit up with her smile at the honor being given Gorōta-kun. A small, secret part of her rejoiced that he would be stationed near her in Tokyo instead of helping subdue bandits and warlords in China.

"Fudo-nee?" His voice returned her to herself and she turned to face him.

"Yes, Gorōta-kun?" She desperately hoped that he would take any redness on her cheeks for exertion or surprise.

"I spoke to Professor Ichida about how you drove off Kyoshu. He was unable to help me with the quest to negate her powers to heal Mother, but... He said that he and some of his associates in the Magical Special Research Branch may be able to refine the spell that you used to contain her powers. Would you be willing to meet with them?" His voice was controlled with the pain that Kyoshu had inflicted upon him.

Upon her family.

"Of course I will be happy to do what I can to cage that fiend." Fudo responded, her face flushing in anger at the memories of that tainted sword's foul deeds.

Unheeded by samurai or spirit, below them the first cherry blossom fell from the branch to land on the grass.

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

Chidorigafuchi Moat, Imperial Palace, Tokyo

Hanami, 1941

Fudo leaned against Gorōta as he rowed their small boat slowly along what had been the outer fortification of the Imperial Palace. Now it was a public park and place of wonder as the sakura trees planted on either side blossomed in pure pink and white loveliness. Fudo sighed at the beauty of it all, it was like they were traveling among clouds.

Her cheeks reddened as she felt his gentle strength support her, and her heart thudded as he stopped rowing to let the boat drift.

"Fudo-san?" He spoke quietly.

"Yes, Gorōta-kun?" she answered equally quietly.

"I..." He paused, then took a deep breath, "I received word from the War Ministry. One of my fellow officers let me know that there will be a fresh commitment of troops to deal with China. My unit of the Guards will be among them."

Fudo's eyes widened and her self-control wavered. "Then take me with you!" she exclaimed. "You have the skill, the honor, that one such as I seeks. Please wield me as your ancestors did in honorable battle when I was young and not yet awakened!"

He looked into her eyes for long moments, then shook his head. "I wish with all my heart to, for you are perfection itself. But... when I think of it, my heart whispers... not yet. Not until we win the war shall I be worthy of embracing your Masamune steel."

She looked into his eyes, into his heart as she tested his steely resolve with her own. Finally her eyes shone with unshed tears and she nodded solemnly as her head lowered. "Shikata ga nai, Gorōta-kun. It is your decision and though my wishes are otherwise, it is my place to accept them."

"Indeed. Also... " He looked bashful, "Since I go to war, you should know, if I do not return. The reason that I have never wed, and have thwarted all of father's attempts to find me a bride is because my heart, my spirit is already claimed."

He placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head to face his as he leaned in. "When I return in triumph, when I prove myself on the field of arms, I shall petition the Head of the Clan to make you my beloved wife, Masamune-no-Fudo."

Tears of joy trickled down her face as their lips met for the first time and they embraced.

A wind from the West, from America, suddenly blew in their hair. Above them the branches full of cherry blossoms heaved wildly like terrified men. Above them, the sakura blossoms began to fall, landing on the surface of the water and sinking out of sight to vanish one by one.

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

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura

May, 1942

Hanami had come late this year, but it mattered little to the jubilant crowds thronging the shrine for the festival.

The news of great victories against the Chinese, and the western colonialist powers had bolstered hearts even though rationing was a ever-present irritation. Those left behind redoubled their efforts to support the Empire's fighting forces, to support the soldier, sailor and airman in their own way.

Such as Fudo did with her efforts to encourage support for the war, to collect scrap, cloth and rags to be used by the military. To walk or ride a bicycle rather than drive to save precious fuel for the war machine. To encourage each other to fight the dangers of defeatism and slacking.

But all that was not part of her duties today. She was present to witness the centuries-old traditional yabusame competition where mounted kyudo practitioners fired three arrows at targets along a course at full gallop to honor the Protector of Warriors.

Fudo enjoyed all the martial arts, and according to the invitation that she had received, her sister Tokunotakai would be participating.

She was certain that even someone as diligent and determined as she was in supporting Japan's destiny would be allowed a day to watch her baby sister demonstrate her mastery of Takeda-school mounted archery.

The breath caught in her throat as Tokunotakai began her run. The horse thundered at full gallop, as Toku floated above it serenely. Her sister moved with calm, unhurried, perfect grace and form as she loosed her arrows into the dead center of all three targets before gently guiding her steed to a stop tho the applause of the crowd.

Fudo frowned minutely at the look in Toku's eyes. Serene determination had filled them as she prayed to the Protector of Warriors with her archery and horsemanship skills. A further cheer sounded as the judges conferred and then called Tokunotakai forward to accept the pure white silk headscarf showing that she was the archer who demonstrated the most worthiness in the eyes of Hachiman.

As Toku knelt to have it placed upon her head, a loudspeaker crackled to life from the sound truck parked at the outskirts of the festival.

"Glorious news! The brave aviators of the Navy have sunk two of the American's aircraft carrier warships, a cruiser, and two destroyers in battle in the Southern Pacific!"

"BANZAI! BANZAI!! BANZAI!!!" Fudo cheered along with the crowd and threw her hands up to praise Emperor Showa. Suddenly a arm grasped her around the shoulders and a familiar voice spoke in her ear, turning her legs to jelly.

"I thought that the day could not become any more perfect, but I was wrong, Fudo-chan."

She turned, her heart in her eyes to see Gorōta smiling at her. A few scars lined his face, and a darkness haunted his eyes.

None of that mattered,

"Gorōta-kun!" Fudo sobbed and flew into his embrace. "You returned to me!"

He smiled and waved over one of his subordinates with a magical camera. The two turned to face the lens as it popped, printing out a pair of photographs of a young man and his family's tanto embracing under the ancient gingko tree.

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

Owari Tokugawa Estate, Tokyo

Hanami, 1943
Spoiler: Masamune and Samurai

Fudo smiled at Gorōta in the dimness of her bedchambers. He smiled back as outside a crier reminded citizens to turn lamps off so not to waste fuel and obey blackout regulations.

"My conquering hero..." she whispered as she kissed him. "you have claimed my heart, my spirit...and now my body. Just as Musashi-chan has her Beloved Master, so too are you mine now."

He hugged her to him, the shadow still remaining in his eyes. "And yet the war remains unwon. I cannot truly be with you yet."

She shook her head, her bedsheets sliding across her bare skin. 'Surely all it requires is a few more victories?"

He sighed, "I can only pray it is so. Yet we win victory after victory against the Chinese and Americans, and yet they fight the harder. Not just on the battlefield, they fight us in the cities we have taken. Captain Okita, one of my classmates at Mahoutokoro, was killed by the Chinese the kempetai call Lady Kitsune last month. Three of my nonmagical officer friends were sent to Hunger Island where we fought the Americans and shall never return. Rumors that the Navy is not doing as well as we may think. I hear this, and remember that one warrior can only fight against many for a short time."

She stared at him in shock. "Surely, you do not think that we can lose? We are the Chosen of the Gods!"

He looked at her sorrowfully, and shook his head. "Promise me that no matter what happens to me in this war that is consuming us all that you shall remember me fondly."

She looked at him and swallowed. "I shall. But you are not being sent back out to battle in China again so soon after returning to me, are you?"

He sighed. "No we have a short period of time while I replace my unit's losses with new meat from the accelerated training program. Farmboys who barely know which end of a wand to hold. But then... I shall do my duty with honor."

She grasped his hand in both of hers, feeling the scars and calluses of battle. "Then take me with you! Once more I plead!"

He lowered his head and squeezed hers. "No. What I face, what I am forced to do out there... You are the one piece of my life that remains unstained. The one perfect thing that I have known."

In the garden outside, one of the few remaining blossoms on the cherry tree fell to the ground coated with ephemeral pink petals.

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

Yokosuka

Hanami, 1944

Fudo embraced Gorōta at the pierside as his men and yokai boarded the cargo ship.

"Where now to, my love?" She spoke with a catch in her voice, the hoarseness of tears contained, the false brave front that she had to project.

He looked grim. "Saipan in the inner defense perimeter. Our last redoubt to protect the home islands. Protect you."

She looked a question into his eyes.

He shook his head. "If you rally support here to give us what we need, and if the Navy can bring forth the Decisive Battle, and if we fight like the heroes of old...then. Perhaps. Surely our fighting spirit is greater than theirs."

She nodded in quiet acceptance of what was said...and unsaid. "One last time. Wield me in battle like you have in the practice halls." Her voice broke. "Please?"

His shoulders slumped. "No. I carry you with me from happier times together." He touched the pocket of his uniform where a well loved and creased magical photograph of them at the festival two short years ago resided. "That will sustain my spirit, and I would not risk she who I fight to protect."

The ship's whistle sounded. "Colonel Tokugawa! We are ready to cast off!"

They parted and he bowed to her. Slowly, hurting inside where she would never show it, she returned the bow deeply, just as deeply as she once did to his legendary ancestor Tokugawa Ieyasu.

It was the only gift that she could give someone worthy of her steel now.

"Sayonara."

Above them, the last cherry blossom of hanami fell from the branch.

----------------------------------
Spoiler: The Last Banzai Charge

Saipan

1150 PM, 6 July, 1944

Gorōta looked at the remnants of his command. Human and yokai were mixed together, all filthy, hungry, thirsty, wounded, exhausted.

Men on crutches, men with bloodstained bandages, men armed with nothing but bamboo spears and bare hands. Barely a hundred assembled in this jungle hollow.

Barely a hundred left of the nine hundred in his regiment who had survived the voyage through submarine infested waters to Saipan. Nine hundred soldiers under his command twenty-one days ago when the US Marines stormed ashore. Twenty-one bloodstained, savage days and nights outnumbered three to one. Pounded day and night by the might of the US Navy. Planes overhead constantly destroying everything that they saw. Caves, bunkers and trenches falling one after another to shellfire, to flamethrower tanks, to hand to hand combat as for every American they killed two more would take his place.

No food, no ammunition, no water, no medical supplies any longer.

No relief.

No hope.

No honorable way out save death.

All that man, wizard, and yokai could do they had done. His heart broke with pride for the men who had followed him into Hell over and over again.

He looked at his sergeant major, who had been with him since the start, so many years ago in China.

Where he had first seen the ugliness and viciousness of war. Seen what he must shield Fudo-chan from.

First held the hand of one of his men as they screamed for their mother before death.

So many deaths ago.

So many regrets ago.

But he could not regret one thing, he thought as he touched the photograph where it lay over his heart. Fudo-chan should never be here, should never be forced to face what awaited him. Even now, knowing that all hope was lost, save that of a honorable death, he could not help but think of her with a smile.

"You burned the regimental colors." He said quietly.

The gunso nodded, tears streaming down his stolid face. "The Americans won't get them, sir!"

He took a deep breath and readied his wand in one hand. His other clutched the sword he had selected from the family arsenal when he took the oath to serve the Emperor and the Magical Diet.

Fine steel, good steel, but not Masamune steel. Never Masamune steel to be spoiled and defiled by an invader capturing that what was most precious to him.

At least these American Marines and magicals were worthy foes, he could admit to himself. Toku-sensei was right when she said that some were as worthy as any samurai of his lineage.

He could only hope that a worthy one took the life that he was about to sacrifice for his nation. For his Emperor. For his men. For her. For his honor that he shared with her.

With that he turned to look each of his men in the eye and spoke with the calm confidence of one who was about to embrace his death as once he had embraced the perfection of Masamune steel under the cherry blossoms.

"Five Minutes. Remember, the rest of you slugs. Follow me and try to keep up! We overrun the Yankees dug in down in the valley and watch them break and run!"

To his left, a red flare popped and a surf roar of noise surrounded him.

Fudō daisukidesu.

With that he sprang to his feet and charged at the barbed wire, the dug in machine guns, the waiting blasting spells, the mortars, the battleships and carriers offshore, and the might of the most powerful nation on earth.

"BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZ----"

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

Aoyama Cemetary, Tokyo

5th April, Two days before Hanami, 2013

Overhead, the cherry trees budded with the promise of spring after a long winter. The parties to admire them had yet to come, for the first blossoms had not yet sprung forth.

A lone female figure spoke to the night-watchman before entering. Pale reflections of the streetlights drew sparks of gold from her shadowed eyes, cream highlights from her white mourning kimono, and reflected from her short dark hair.

She walked through the silent cemetery with the step of one who had done this self-appointed task many, many times. Finally she stopped at a humble, anonymous grave, one of thousands here.

Below the inscribed triple hollyhock of the Tokugawa Clan, was a simple inscription.

Tokugawa Gorōta.

5 April 1919-7 July 1944

without regret
they fall and scatter…
cherry blossoms

Masamune-no-Fudo placed a stick of incense in the provided holder and lit it.

For long moments she stood there silently under the cherry trees with her head bowed. She had often raged, cried, pleaded, on her visits to him before but now she merely waited in stillness.

She listened to the wind in the new leaves and thought of how terrible the pain of separation was.

How terrible the things unsaid, the actions undone.

How the regrets were the greatest suffering of the Wheel of Existence.

And yet, were the good moments not ample recompense for what she experienced once a year on his birthday?

Perhaps.

Above her, the first cherry blossom of spring began to bloom.

 

[darthcourt10]

It_agn02

The administrative office was quiet. Too quiet. The only sounds that could be heard were the footsteps of a light cruiser and an aircraft carrier that marched toward the admiral's office on the third floor. The ship girls and personnel that roamed the halls simply watched in morbid curiosity as Aso was escorted to face an admiral's mast.

Aso glanced left and right toward the sparse spectators and wilted under their gazes. The shame welled up in her chest to the point it was suffocating. While Agano and Akitsu Maru had not bound her hands in chains this morning, the news had already spread the moment the izakaya patrons decided to investigate the ruckus the night before. After they spotted her being led away by the MPs, it was a miracle she even got to sleep in her dorm at all.

The carrier shrank instinctively as Agano opened the door to the office.

Setting her pen aside, Admiral Shimada gestured for the two ship girls to enter. As soon as the door locked behind them, the commanding officer placed her hands on her desk.

"Did you sleep well, Aso?" she asked.

"U-Um…yes, Admiral," the carrier nervously responded as she shifted uncomfortably.

Shimada took a deep breath and picked up one of the reports from the previous night. "Now then, I'm sure you more than realize the current situation you're in, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"All right then. Before we actually get started, I believe there is something you want to tell me, correct?"

The carrier just stared at her feet. She opened her mouth for just a moment. After a bit of hesitation, it all came spilling out.

All her concerns, all her thoughts. Her time in captivity. Her true feelings about the Americans and former enemies. The lies she told herself for months on end. The words flowed as freely as her tears. Then, she gave her admiral everything she knew about the yokai village. Despite how much it tore her apart, she confessed everything. It felt like she stabbed them in the back just by letting her superior officer know. The moment she felt she was done, the carrier shrank in shame in her seat.

"There we go, that's not so bad now, is it?" Shimada asked. "Now then, can you tell me where it is?"

Aso was taken aback at this. She looked up toward her admiral, her eyes pleading for mercy. She told her everything, but where it was exactly is supposed to be a secret! She promised everyone there that nobody would know.

Seeing the aversion on the carrier's face, the admiral sighed. "Right. I suppose that's expected. Moving on. Now, would that village be okay without you going there for some time?"

Aso looked at her admiral and turned her head down. It was spring. If she was right, they should be planting certain vegetables right now and have much to eat for the summer, then harvest in the fall.

"I-I believe so," Aso painfully admitted. "I…I gave them a lot of seeds to plant yesterday."

Shimada smiled. "That's good to hear. Chin up. You did a good job helping them back on their feet. I'm proud of you."

Tears on her cheeks, the carrier looked up.

"But you did sneak onto the base and assaulted Brooklyn and a few ship girls. I've no choice but to give you a punishment."

She bowed her head in shame again.

Flipping through some papers, Shimada came to a stop at a certain sheet. "Come to think of it, you never left Kure, have you?"

"I-I was born and raised here," Aso replied. "I've honestly never spent a night in other naval bases."

"In that case, I believe I may be partially to blame for you acting up like this. Outside of the occasional American patrol or when Nagato's son comes to visit, you've never had any interaction with anyone outside of Japan. And...honestly, I was afraid of you causing one dumpster fire or another because of how you acted. Because of that, I kept you holed up here instead of letting you spread your wings. For that, I apologize." The admiral bowed, catching the carrier by surprise. "If I had let you work out your frustrations sooner, we could have avoided all of this."

In response, the carrier shifted nervously. Before she could open her mouth, the admiral pushed the sheet of paper towards her. The word "Reassignment" was displayed prominently on the header.

"That settles it then. Aso, you are to be temporarily reassigned to Pearl Harbor effective immediately."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

A black, government car came to a stop outside a chain link fence. Once the checks were done, the gate opened and the car went in until it parked. As a suited man got out, he was met by two other men who simply waited. Smiling slightly, he gave returned a small salute to the RN Lieutenant that was there before holding out his hand, "Lieutenant MacNeil." After shaking the Officer's hand, he held his out again to shake the civilian's hand who was in construction gear, "Foreman Jones. A good evening to your both."

Lightly chuckling, Jones gave a shake of the head, "And a good evening to you, Minister." Greeting the rest of the Minister of Transport's group, he made a motion with his hand, "If you'll follow me, we'll get you into the safety gear so that you can properly inspect the site."

Spotting the unsure glance, the Minister smiled thinly, "They have all been cleared as for the background to certain aspects of the project, Foreman. Though they were somewhat surprised at what they learned."

Just nodding, the Foreman tipped his helmet, "Of course, Sir. But I had to make sure because of the danger to my crew, you understand."

Rather than be annoyed, the Minister chuckled and gave a nod of his own. It was the work of a few minutes to put on the safety gear and they began to walk to a vehicle. As they did so, one of the younger Bureaucrats glanced at their destination in time to see a dump trunk come into view. The back of which was piled with stone, "Hmm, so it is two tunnels then?"

With a twitch of his lips in amusement, Jones hummed, "Yes. One tunnel will be a four lane motor lane and the other will be for trains going back and forth with two tracks." Glancing at the Minister, he tilted his head some, "It was the best way of balancing things, it was thought."

Also smiling, the Minister chuckled, "I remember that meeting." Eyebrow raised as they reached a small, open air vehicle, he got inside. Once they were secured, the Foreman started the vehicle and began to drive to the mouth of the tunnel, "From my understanding, the project is on schedule?"

Grinning, Jones chuckled, "Both on time and under budget as a matter of fact."

His own lips curling upwards into a smile, the Minister of Transport lightly laughed, "Yes, a fact that the Treasury is quite happy about, I will tell you."

That got chuckles from everyone there who understood the issues with budgets.

Still driving, Jones continued, "And due to that, we are still on track for the final breakthrough to be sometime this summer, possibly even the end of July, though Mid-August is looking more likely. Once that is done, we only need to finish the tunnels and they'll be ready."

Eyebrows raised, one of the other officials glanced around as they entered the mouth of the tunnel, "August? So soon? That would make it..." Doing some mental math, she gave a nod, "Roughly about four years, give or take a few months."

Jones nodded at that, "You are correct, Ma'am, the main part of the project will be done in about four years. The rest will take another year, but it will be done soon enough. We could have done it faster, mind you. But we did not want to attract attention and also safety was paramount. Especially as this is, pardon the pun, new ground that we are breaking here."

Chuckles escaped from various officials at that as they continued down the tunnel. Another bureaucrat raised their hand as the chuckles died down, "While we do have some of the information regarding the project in question, perhaps a bit more background is needed?"

When Jones turned to him, Lieutenant MacNeil nodded and cleared his throat, "Very well." Having gotten their attention, he continued, "As you all know, the Abyssals attacked in 2005 and the first shipgirls appeared not too long afterwards. A fact for which we are all quite thankful, I would think..." Pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts, the Naval Officer continued, "Now, besides the normal bases, it was determined that Scapa Flow, if reactivated, would be extremely well suited to support operations on the North Sea and North Atlantic. And with the attacks on the Orkney Islands meant that rebuilding the base was... not quite the issue one would think. However, an issue soon became apparent..."

Slowly nodding, the Minister of Transport frowned, "Supplying the base."

Tilting his head, MacNeil grimaced, "Yes, that was a major issue. We needed to do so either by sea, which meant escorting them the short distance, or by air. Both of which were at danger of being cut off by the Abyssals. Thankfully, at around the same time, the idea of a tunnel had been floated between the islands and the mainland. With the war, the idea of better supplying the base pushed the idea forward. Another part of the idea being that after the war, they can be used to boost the economy of the islands anyways. Which is part of the reason that the EU also placed some money towards its construction beside the fact that their own shipgirls use the base at Scapa Flow. The final decision was made in 2006 to begin prep work, such as surveying as much as possible the area between the two places and also determining where the tunnel route would be. In 2010, ground was broke on both the mainland and in Orkney. Since then, the two sides have slowly been making their way towards the center as we work..."

For the next couple of minutes, the Lieutenant spoke and explained the background. That was, until the bureaucrat who had asked the question raised their hand again, "Ah, yes, the tunnelling badgers. They have been useful in a number of projects and the public believes that they are being used here."

Unable to help himself, Jones spoke up, "I will admit, we do make use of the tunnelling badgers a few days each month. And they do work hard, bless their hearts. But they have been mostly busy elsewhere such as the tunnel between Northern Ireland and Scotland. The true workers are those from Project Integration... which you'll see in just a moment."

Right then, they came into view of the end of the tunnel and more than one of the officials gasped. Where the tunnel ended was a rock wall which had various cracks and gashes in it which was lit by large searchlights. Before it stood a group of people who wore robes under their safety vests. Even as they watched, one of them made a motion with their hand and a chunk of the wall that had to be a ton or two was gouged from the wall and hit the ground with a boom.

Before most of them could process it, another one pointed their hand at the large boulder and it broke into smaller pieces that a third one somehow levitated into a dump truck as the first tore another chunk from the rock wall. And they were not the only one as at least three other groups could be seen doing the same. The group just sat there watching for several seconds before one of the officials shook her head, "If I was not seeing it for myself, I would not be able to believe it."

Chin in his hand, the Minister turned to the Foreman, "And they're all werewolves? Truly?"

Jones only nodded at that, "Aye, they're all werewolves. But don't let their condition fool you, harder working people I have ever seen in my life. Sure, they need a few days off a month due to a furry issue, but other than that?" He gave a shrug, "I would have them on my crew any day. Besides which that right there? Safer by far than blasting our way through the rock."

Still stroking his chin, the Minister continued to watch, "How fast are they moving?"

Not saying anything for a few moments, the Foreman thought it over. Finally, Jones gave a nod, "At top speed? We did a test and they can get up to a hundred meters a day with both tunnels combined. But we were unsure about the safety, so we cut it back to half that."

All that did was make the various officials nod in agreement. Best not to be rushing after all.

Scratching his chin, Jones gestured back at the werewolves, "Besides which, they're not just digging." As they observed, some of those working waved their wands at the wall and the rough stone smoothed over, "They use something called 'Transfiguration'. Makes the walls look like the tunnel was dug out by a boring machine, all smooth. Which makes it easier once the tunnel is fully dug to finish it up."

One of the bureaucrats gave a frown as an unpleasant thought occurred to them, "And they are well paid?"

Chuckling, Jones gave a shrug, "We pay them slightly more than the rest, not that my boys mind all too much after all. And compared to what they could have gotten before?" A scowl crossed his face, "Did you know that one of them told me two years ago that for the first time, he was able to treat his son, a young lad of six, to a proper Christmas? Because he finally had money for that? Bloody criminal it is! All because he got bit by some bastard years back, he was unable to find work, no other reason! And he is finally making money! More than one of the fellows wanted to punch something."

Simply glancing at him, the Minister smiled a bit, "Well, once the Statute falls, it should not matter. We've already begun discussing laws that should remove any possible discrimination against them. Though... are they happy?"

Only rolling his eyes, Jones smiled, "You would not believe how happy they are right now. Steady, well paying work for them? They're extremely happy and willing to put it in."

Lips curling into a smile, the Minister chuckled, "Now that is what I like to hear." Getting out of the vehicle, he took a moment to straighten his clothes, "Now, we came here for a meet and greet as well as an inspection. So we should go ahead and do it..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Meets The Tokyo Aurors

The Kitsune's Den, Magical Tokyo

The bathroom door opened and Wei Ying stepped out in a cloud of steam clad in a towel around her torso and a towel turban.

She sighed happily and stretched, her muscles moving under the skin. "Hot showers are truly magical." She muttered as she gestured with her wand and the futon rolled itself up.

She then traced characters in the air as she slowly turned, reinforcing the privacy wards that she had put up upon checking into her hotel room last night. A smug smile creased her face as she finished and picked up her sheathed dao true body in both hands.

Her eyes glittered as she concentrated then exhaled upon the hilt. A silver mist curled from her mouth as her Qi breath blew across her hilt to form a ghostly doppelganger of herself, clad in the towels that she was wearing. The false-Ying walked to the desk, solidifying as she did and began to read the file folder as her own true avatar became hazy and indistinct, two ghostly fox tails forming behind her and slowly waving.

There, that should divert any peeping toms, or anyone spying upon this 'policeman on vacation'.

Now to see what I can learn.
Spoiler: Ying's Magic

She knelt in the center of the room next to a small red silk bag, and unsheathed herself. Tracing an octagon around her, a set of eight patterns of solid and broken lines flared to life in silver light following the tip of her blade as she slowly turned in place. Finally having made a full circle, she placed her hand over the brass pommel with the silk tassel on her hilt and concentrated. When her hand came away, in place of the illusion was the reality of a glowing and pulsing iridescent sphere the size of her fist.

Her Spirit Pearl, the source of much of her magic and part of her very soul.

With that she placed her naked blade in front of her point outward and blade up and picked up the silk bag. Carefully she opened it to reveal a tortoise shell and three bronze Kaiyuan Tongbao cash coins from the Tang Dynasty. She reverently placed the shell down in front of her like a bowl and cupped the coins in her hands.

Her eyes closed as her breathing regularized, and her pearl flickered in time with her heartbeat and breathing as they synchronized slowly. As she regulated them, she schooled her Qi breath, Jing essence, and Shen spirit to be one in harmony. Gradually she placed herself into balance and then spoke in a whisper.

"How should I go about finding my father for today?"

The trio of coins in her hands glowed in time with her pulsing energies, and she suddenly shook them and cast them into the tortoiseshell.

Two fell with the crescent moons of tails and one with the coin inscription of heads.

A solid horizontal line formed in the air in front of her above the pearl on her hilt.

Unchanging Yang.

She scooped her coins up, shook them and cast them again. Once again two tails and a head.

A second solid line formed above the first.

Unchanging Yang.

Another cast and the same result. The third solid line formed, and the first Trigram began to pulse black.

Triple Yang.

Qián. The Trigram of Heaven, representing the Father.

Another cast. This time the coins shifted, with two heads and one tail. The line that formed above Qián was broken in the center, appearing as two shorter lines with a gap between it.

Unchanging Yin.

A fifth cast. This time two tails and a head.

Unchanging Yang.

Finally the coins were scooped and cast the last time.

This time all three landed as heads, and the final solid line formed with a circle in the center.

Changing Yang.

With that, the second Trigram shifted to Royal Blue as Ying's eyes opened.

Xùn. The Trigram of Wind, representing the First Daughter.

With that Ying's eyes opened and she surveyed the result of her fortune telling.

She mused, "The Ninth Hexagram, Hsiao Ch'u." Her voice changed to a singsong quality as she quoted from her memorization of the Book of Changes.

"Winds of change high in the Heavens:
Air currents carry the weather.
Dense clouds blow in from the West, but still no rain.
The Superior Person fine tunes the image he presents to the world."

Her eyes narrowed and she touched the topmost pulsing solid line with one finger. "But Yang is changing to Yin here, and if it does so.... The Fifth Hexagram, Xū. The Hexagram of Arrival. So patience leads to Great Success."

With that observation she cupped the pearl on her sword hilt with both palms and breathed upon it as her fox tails faded. When her hands lifted, the brass pommel and silk tassel were back. She smiled smugly as she sheathed herself and began to get ready for her meeting with the Magical Diet's detectives.

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

Magical Diet Building, Magical Chiyoda, Tokyo

9:45 AM
Spoiler: The Mountie

Ying stepped out of the Floo portal in full RCMMP dress uniform. The brown campaign hat on her head, high collared scarlet Red Serge tunic with Sam Browne belt, midnight blue trousers with yellow leg stripe, and polished brown riding boots were instantly recognizable as those of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Mounties. The only additions to the classic RCMP uniform were a black wool cloak, and instead of a pistol at her hip she had her dao and wand.

She marched to one of the clerks on duty in the reception desk and presented her credentials. "Chief Superintendent Wei of the RCMMP to meet Auror Captain Nitobe Inazo." she spoke with a Canadian English accent deliberately added to her Japanese.

After all, it was always good to be underestimated. The truth about why she had gained her language skills in Japanese would be... problematic... at best.

The clerk glanced through the passport and orders from the ICW and pointed. "Room Eight." He responded absently.

Ying smiled and bowed politely. "Thank you." With that she headed in the direction provided.

Behind her her sharp ears picked up the clerk's voice as he spoke to his partner.

"Inazo-san must have a taste for cosplaying Chankoro whores."

The scowl at the sheer unprofessional conduct and gall of the staff never reached her impassive face.

After all, it was better than she expected from the nation who had brutally abused citizens of her nation of citizenship and nation of ethnicity.

Once inside Room Eight, she headed for the minibar with the coffee pot, tea, and pastries to grab fuel for the meeting with the habit borne of more police meetings than she cared to think about. At least the tea was good, which was a nice change from the gunpowder black devil's brew that the RCMMP lived on, at least the officers like her who planned to be reborn as a tea plant as opposed to a coffee bean.

As she finished the anpan roll with red-bean jelly, a trio of Japanese Aurors entered. Automatically she sized them up and mentally shook her head.

The one in the lead looked barely old enough to shave, and the captain's badge seemed to be out of place. He was speaking to an elderly man with more white than gray in his hair who was walking with a limp, and another middle aged woman with an eye patch rounded out the trio.

She plastered her best smile on her face and bowed, speaking in her 'slow and accented' Japanese. "Konnichi wa. I am Chief Superintendent Wei of the RCMMP, the lead profiler (and only profiler she sarcastically added mentally to herself behind the friendly foreigner facade) and ICW specialist for Colombe du Chasteler. I hope to be of service in bringing her to justice."

The Elder, who was apparently old enough to have chased Lady Kitsune around Hong Kong back in the War, gave her a flat stare and a sneer. Junior rubbed his hands together with an unhealthy amount of zeal in his face as he spoke about how they expected to run her father to ground any moment now (hah as if!). Eyepatch looked terminally bored with this, and Ying could hardly disagree with her. This conclusion was underlined as the Elder began to correct Junior as Elder extolled the importance of tracking down and destroying the man-eating spider-women that Colombe had broken out.

Now how to arrange to get a look at their files so I can formulate my own conclusions? While the jails are filled with stupid criminals, Colombe is not going to be arrested by them unless she really slips up. Parading naked through the lobby leading a brass band might get her caught by them. Might.

 

[darthcourt10]

Year Three - Prisoner of Shipping Part 4a

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