Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Hazard



Translated excerpt from 'Nederlandse Slagen tijdens Bloedweek' (Dutch Battles during Blood Week)
Raid on Den Helder

In the early, confusing hours of the first day of Blood Week, coordinated strikes against key government and military facilities by Abyssal forces were common place and highly effective. The Raid on Den Helder was quite typical of Abyssal attacks on key naval facilities the Abyssals did not want to take, although the relatively late time at which the attack was launched against Den Helder specifically allowed the Royal Navy enough time to avoid getting caught in port.

Unfortunately, while the Dutch ships were well built and capable, they were facing an enemy that equaled their own numbers but carried much more effective weaponry for the battle they were about to fight.

Hearing through the military networks that their allies were under attack from the sea and in need of assistance, naval high command immediately put its forces on alert and prepared its ships to set sail to whatever ally seemed most in need and could be reached fast enough. Halfway through the morning the order to set sail was received and all military ships in the Den Helder harbour immediately set course for the North Sea. As they passed Fort Erfprins they were caught by surprise by an Abyssal task force led by 2 Ri-class cruisers that was moving through the channel between the Noorderhaaks sandbank and the island of Texel. A stunned Dutch navy force swiftly rallied as cruiser shells rained down upon them, but they were caught out of position and many of their weapons could not effectively target and damage the enemy cruisers or their escorts.

Severely outclassed, the Dutch forces offered a furious but unfortunately brief resistance. Nearly all ships were sunk and many sailors went down with their ships. Luckily, the relatively shallow waters and closeness of the shore to the battle allowed many of the survivors to swim to safety, somewhat limiting the losses suffered.

The way now open to the Abyssal cruisers and their escorts, the naval base at Den Helder took severe damage as it was bombarded for half an hour before air strikes performed by Royal Air Force F-16s convinced the Abyssal force that staying further was not worth the risk of further air strikes doing damage, instead of many misses. The bombardment greatly focused itself on military installations, leaving most of the city of Den Helder unmolested. As a parting gift however several shots were fired at the Royal Navy College and the museum submarine ship Hr. Ms. Tonijn, causing a devastating fire in the former and severely damaging the latter.

 

[darthcourt10]

Hazard



The Waddensea Campaign
A condensed overview of a crucial campaign early in the Abyssal War in Europe.

Blood Week was a time of major confusion, with human militaries forced to adapt to an enemy they had not considered possible in the face of terrible odds. On day 0, a coordinated strike on humanity's naval infrastructure, war making capabilities and government facilities neatly paralized the response, with many nations needing hours to days to rally and respond to attacks and invasions. It was not until day 4 of the Abyssal conflict that the Abyssal forces were being forced back instead of Abyssals yielding the field for juicier targets.

The seed of the Waddensea Campaign was sown on day +2 of the Abyssal War, when a fleet of Abyssals managed to sneak onto the Dutch island of Texel during the evening with the sun low on the horizon and established the first, documented Abyssal Installation. Abyssal ground forces securing the site of the Installation quickly ran into Royal Marine patrols on the island ranging out from the Royal Marines Amphibious Operations School housed there in the Joost Dourlein Barracks, and a battle that would've been extremely lopsided on the seas was still lopsided, but decidedly less so as the marines successfully broke contact with minimal casualties and raised the alarm. Caught in an early stage of deployment, sooner than the early morning than it must have anticipated, Dutch forces immediately began the reconnaissance of the enemy forces present and showcased over the course of the campaign the deployment, construction and evolution of an Abyssal Installation from early construction as a resupply point to a full blown military base with on site construction capabilities.

The forces on base at this early time were noted to be 'substantial', although exact figures remain classified, and Dutch authorities declared the evacuation of all civilians from the island with no exceptions and with all possible haste. The active malice with which the Abyssals pursue humanity and the many massacres that stem from that sentiment were already well known. Evacuating some 13 000 people from an island in combat conditions is quite a challenge however, and only some 10 000 citizens were removed during this early evacuation that still took two days.

Aware of the risk to the evacuations that come with stuffing as many people as possible onto a transport, coordinated strikes by Dutch and German air forces acting in tandem with marines on the ground were conducted to force the Abyssals into a defensive stance and to prevent them from striking out at the evacuations being conducted from 't Horntje to Den Helder by ship, boat and helicopter. Although successful, by the time Blood Week had ended on day +7 of the Abyssal War it also meant that the Installation was well fortified against air attack, while repeated probing attacks on the base's perimeter ensured it was also well protected from attacks from the ground. Abyssal ground forces ranging from the base on patrol also tended to move in platoon size, often supported with an anti air imp of some sort, although designs and equipment of those imps varied over the course of the campaign.

The heavy defensive focus of the Installation would lead to many errors in planning to take on Installations later in the war. It was not a typical example; only the constant pressure exerted by Dutch and later also the allied forces caused the Installation to focus so much on protecting itself, rather than focus on building up its sea side facilities and other capabilities.

With Blood Week ended, so also ended much of the general offensive of the Abyssals. One should not make the mistake of presuming this meant that the Abyssals left humanity alone; rather, Abyssal forces reorganized into greater fleet units and shifted their focus from the areas they had not taken to establishing and maintaining their hold on the areas they had. This meant that by and large humanity had lost access to much of the oceans, and forcing entry into Abyssal territory would require sizable fleets of shipgirls, be it as escorts or as task forces. The North Sea was relatively free of Abyssal forces, although not fully. Nordic Raider Princess was still active and sowing terror in the Baltic and North Seas for one, and for another, while on many oceans the Abyssals had managed to establish positions, on the southern end of the North Sea they had only 1 Installation.

Right on Texel.

That it was an Installation under siege did not matter much; fleets of Abyssals from the Atlantic regularly ran the gauntlet between the UK and Norwegian coasts towards the Dutch island, as bait, as threat, as reinforcements and for supplies. While often engaged by shipgirl forces and intercept actions became more effective over time as tactics were refined and reinforcements summoned, it had become clear to allied command as the war passed its 20th day that something needed to be done about it.

The Dutch demanded of allied command that they be allowed to handle the matter with some support. Allied command was well aware of the state of the Dutch forces following Blood Week, with limited supplies and already low in numbers before accounting for casualties suffered during the battles for Rotterdam, Den Helder and The Hague. Nonetheless, allied command was also very busy dealing with the incessant raids from Abyssal forces probing the Atlantic coasts of Europe and the USA. Quite simply, they were stretched thin already.

The Installation had not sat idle while humanity plotted. It had started production of Abyssal small craft and would soon be fielding TP imps in numbers, while its ground forces would soon be under the umbrella of an artillery battery situated on base. While the positioning of the guns meant that they'd be nearly useless against a close in assault, they none the less offered substantial weight of fire to Abyssal patrols on the island that ran into human troops.

By day +24, Dutch plans to retake the island had been finalized and were being implemented. For the duration of the campaign the island of Texel had been a contested battleground, with Abyssal and Dutch forces skirmishing across it with limited support. Over twenty days of conflict the battles had ranged from 't Horntje in the south to the Texel lighthouse in the north, with only the Installation as a fixed point, situated in the Slufter nature preserve. Dutch forces made extensive use of their relatively strong air presence, fielding helicopters and aircraft for fire support, supplies and mobility purposes. They also commonly served as evacuation craft for citizens that were still left on the island, although by this point nearly all had already been evacuated.

Kicking off on day +26, the offensive was conducted by the 11th Air Mobile Brigade, veterans of the battle of Den Haag, supported by elements of the 13th Light Brigade. The 43rd Armour Brigade was kept as a reserve, partially out of uncertainty regarding the island soil's load bearing capacity, and partially because the 43rd's tanks and other vehicles were too heavy to be flown in easily. The Marines already on the island were left in place; they would link up and provide up to date intelligence before being rotated out for R&R after 3 weeks of war.

Despite initial gains, heavy fighting and casualties soon followed on the island's flat agricultural fields, which still largely laid fallow or had been burned down to a stubble. Unable to press the attack home against unexpectedly heavy Abyssal resistance equipped with new vehicles, a reversal would follow over the coming days, and by day +31, human forces had been removed from the island entirely.

More worrisome, new Abyssal naval forces were identified at the same time in the base, and they could not have come from a convoy. While these gaggles of imps did not seem overly threatening, their first deployments made clear their threat levels. A daring, night time raid on Den Helder by imps severely delayed repairs to the base, and flat out leveled the Navy College, while strikes carrying ground forces further down the island chain threatened the islands of Vlieland and Terschelling. Evacuations for these islands were called, although they had already been slowly emptying as the war went on and Texel was not liberated.

With the failure of the 11th Air Mobile Brigade to fulfill its objectives despite promising early gains, Dutch high command was forced to once again reconsider its deployments. Between the casualties suffered during the battle for The Hague and the campaign on Texel it had dropped below 50% of its strength even accounting for the battalion of reserves earmarked for it. It had basically become a combat ineffective formation and would need time to integrate replacement forces before it could be deployed again. Likewise had the Marines suffered severely in the campaign and Blood Week, with many casualties suffered during the Battle for Rotterdam and the conflict on Texel.

Shipgirl command offered the use of Hr Ms Van Galen, Hr Ms Java, Hr Ms Sumatra and Hr Ms Hertog Hendrik for shore bombardment and supporting operations, while Hr Ms Abraham Crijssen could serve in a mine laying role. The effectiveness of shipgirl command in the campaign cannot be overstated. Through a still poorly understood interaction between the existences of shipgirls and Abyssals, shipgirl munitions and shipgirl operated equipment tends to perform very well against the otherwise eldritch protections the Abyssals benefit from. While Abraham Crijssen performed very well in her mine laying and sweeping roles, her real value was swiftly realized to be her potential as a scout, given her excellent camouflage and observation skills.

While not trained for such operations, Abraham Crijssen saw and exploited many an opportunity to spy on enemy briefings and acquire enemy documentation, all without being noticed. The remaining shipgirls performed many raids and bombardments on Abyssal positions in support of troops, often at the guidance of Abraham Crijssen, with devastating accuracy.

Dutch and allied high command conferred extensively over the next week to examine intelligence and develop a plan of attack. It had been concluded that, based on then known information, the Dutch attack plan had been sound, and could be used as a basis for another attack. While the Marines and the 11th Air Mobile had effectively been rendered combat ineffective and reinforcements by conscript forces still months away at best, Dutch high command decided that both units would serve in the next offensive operation as well, if as supporting elements and as garrisons for the Wadden Islands.

Meanwhile, the 13th Light Brigade and the 43rd Armoured Brigade would serve as the main force. The biggest issue the previous attack had faced was that the new vehicles faced by the 11th Air Mobile were simply too tough to take down with their equipment, so properly equipped anti tank teams and the Dutch own tanks would close that gap. Support by allied forces would largely be limited to air forces, although allied special operations teams would serve along with the Korps Commando Troepen in sabotage, recon and assault roles.

Texel's Installation Princess was not idle while these plans were made and prepared. Another ring of defenses were identified, along with upgrades to existing defenses. A new structure on the Installation was also identified and determined to be a construction slip that could fit a ship of approximately 1500 tons of displacement. This meant that the Installlation would soon be able to start fielding destroyers. The plans could not be moved however.

On day +58, the allied forces were finally ready to retake Texel. Multiple attempts by Texel's Installation to expand to other islands had been thwarted, if not without casualties on humanity's side, or the occasional toe hold that was swiftly bombed into submission.

On day +59, allied forces launched a new amphibious assault on Texel. The beach defenses were ably suppressed by the Dutch shipgirl forces, with the forces landing with only limited opposition and striking out to capitalize on the breakthrough. Resistance was nonetheless stiff.

On day +60, a renewed attack by the 43rd Armoured finally caused a breakthrough to form in spite of mounting casualties. By the end of the day, roughly half the island was back in human hands.

On day +61, a counter attack by the Installation is blocked by long range bombardment by shipgirl command. While not much progress is made in terrain, it's believed the Installation lost a lot of troops in that attack, likely easing the rest of the battle.

On day +62, another attack by the Installation, this time supported by heavy tanks of some sort, fails as the tanks sink away in the loose sand, exactly as how the Dutch had worried about the 43rd Armoured's tanks. The tanks are destroyed in place except for a few examples to be studied.

On day +63, humanity manages to retake the momentum and retakes north Texel. While strictly speaking not that useful, it limits the installation's option. Units reorient to maintaining the siege of the Installation in preparation of a renewed assault in to the teeth of its defenses. Heavy navy, air and artillery bombardments take place in support of this goal.

On day +70 humanity finally hoists the flag over the Installation. Damage was heavy, and some 1500 people are still missing from the island, never to be found again. The entire Dutch military is basically spend as a result of this campaign; nearly 7000 soldiers from the army are either dead over the course of two months of fighting or so severely injured they can serve no further, most of the navy sunk and its air units losing at least a quarter of its air frames. It is agreed by allied high command that Dutch forces will not serve in front line roles for at least a year as the military is rebuild, while many veterans of the campaign go on to teach tactics to other assault forces fighting Abyssal fortifications.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Meets The In-Laws VII

Fudo's House, Adachi Ward, Tokyo
Spoiler: Family Matters

"Before the argument starts, I have one question for you, Del. Is it true that you are Colombe du Chasteler's younger half-sister? Because if so... I seem to have found a new Aunt today." Ying's words hovered in the air between her and her long-time rival and classmate.

Delilah idly noticed that Jackie's eyes were bulging and her sister was turning an interesting shade of pale white. Fudo gave the Chinese girl a frozen stare.

As for Delilah, she fought with herself.

She's a policeman, sworn to the RCMMP and upholding the ICW. Revealing this to her would put Mother at risk for having a child with a blade spirit and concealing it from MACUSA. Zamarad too would be exposed if word got back to the wrong ears. All my hard work would be for nothing if she reveals this to the wrong ears. She's probably still sore about the Whomping Willow incident in third year Herbology class where I humiliated her. Colombe is a wanted fugitive.

How can I trust her?

And yet, other voices warred in her head.

You trusted Louise, and Emily before and your trust was rewarded. If you had not offered trust to Colombe, you would not have a true relationship with your sister. If you had not offered trust to Zamarad, she would not have thawed out your heart so that you could love. Looking at her the signs are there, she looks much like Colombe does and you have been too blind to see before now. You have worked with her, challenged her time and again, laughed with her, fought alongside her for what you both believe in, and she has not yet betrayed you over a century and a half. You know that she has questioned you about Colombe and expressed an interest in seeing justice, true justice done, and she would not imprison an innocent person, as Sis is innocent of much she is wrongfully accused of.

You trusted Norimune and admitted that you had trust issues to her, shouldn't you try to act to fix them just like you took the plunge to have a tentative understanding with your Father?

You have seen that desperate look deep within Wei Ying's eyes once before in your life.

In the cabin of a riverboat shining from a face full of longing for any scrap of information about a parent Colombe never knew.

In Sis's eyes looking into yours as you told her about Norimune. About our father who you were blessed to know from Mother's stories and tales... and she never did for over two centuries.

With that Delilah nodded and cleared her throat.

"I am. I am Muramasa-no-Norimune's youngest daughter with Jezabel de Breuil in 1855. Colombe d'Aubigny du Chasteler is Norimune's oldest daughter with Julie d'Aubigny in 1707. That we know of, Father was..." Delilah trailed off briefly and then laughed, "Jacklyn takes after our father in her roving eye and appetite for romantic conquests. Frankly, I would not be surprised if more half-siblings are running around."

Ying slowly turned her head to look at Jackie. "Then Jackie here?"

"Is my older half-sister born of Sally Gray in 1723 when Father was a pirate in the Caribbean. Jackie seems to be trying to outdo Father for her exploits in that field." Delilah smirked slightly. "If you want, I can cast a spell on our true bodies to show the blood relationship."

Ying froze and her eyes tracked to Jackie's sword belt before turning to look at Delilah. "True bodies... then that revolver you carry everywhere...."

Delilah nodded and unholstered her revolver, placing it on the coffee table, "Is my true self. Jackie has her cutlass and Sis is a rapier."

Ying drew her dao in turn and waved a hand to dispel the illusions that normally concealed it. "And mine is my Niúwěidāo blade." She placed the Chinese sword next to Delilah's revolver. "How did we never notice the resemblance before... Aunt Delilah?"

The revolver shrugged as she cast a spell and the weapons began to glow a soft pink. "We were too good at hiding ourselves from each other. I had my reasons, you had yours, and to be fair you got on my nerves all the damned time."

Ying nodded as Jackie walked over and placed her cutlass next to the others. "Too much alike, you smug gwailou. In some ways, you were the most annoying fraternal twin that I never had at Ilvermorny, but I wasn't going to tell you that at the time."

Delilah laughed. "My thoughts exactly you unreadable bitch. I could never get a feel for you or predict your actions, and it drove me nuts from Selection in our Houses until graduation. Still does sometimes."

Ying wiped tears from her cheeks. "You'll help me find Colombe, right?"

Delilah nodded, "Once we get cleaned up, I'll take you to her. I wouldn't miss the introduction for the world. Especially if we can spring it on Sis by surprise."

Jackie got an evil smirk and nodded enthusiastically.

Fudo glared at Deliah. "What about what Colombe did to Toku-chan!"

Delilah looked at Fudo as the Masamune stormed up to face her. "Didn't Honjo give you the letter? Toku wrote it to explain the mess Sis' crazy luck dragged them into."

"WHAT LETTER?!?" Fudo leaned in to stare at Delilah.

Jackie coughed ostentatiously and waved the scroll, "Maybe this letter?"

Fudo grabbed it from Jackie frantically. Fudo's shoulders slumped as she saw the seal and she choked back tears. "Toku-chan..." she whispered as she broke it open and began to read.

Delilah relaxed as the tension in the room lowered, "If you want, I can get Toku on the phone, you DID pick up my phone, right?"

Ying pulled out the phone and handed it to Delilah.

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

Delilah punched in a number and then let it ring.

"Guten Tag, Castle Moulbaix." A young German voice came over the phone's speaker.

"Ehren, it's Del. Can you please get Toku to the phone? It is a matter of some importance." Delilah glanced at Fudo as the Masamune stood next to her.

"Aber natürlich, Tante Del. Sofort!" Ehren snapped out.

Delilah set the phone back to normal function and handed it to Fudo. She then walked to Ying and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Ying spoke quietly as they walked to the other side of the room and sat in a pair of chairs. "I agree, she needs privacy for this."

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

"Moshi moshi?" A quiet, gentle voice with steel hidden deep inside the warm velvet of the Masamune of the Warrior's Virtues' calm demeanor.

"T...Toku-chan?" Steel under strain, filled with tears of relief and happiness that the Blade of Fudo My'oo 's fears and worries are ill founded. That despite all that has happened in her life, she has not failed, that she is not flawed. That she is a worthy Masamune.

"Hai, Fudo-oneesama. It is good to hear from you too." A soothing balm on a tormented soul with each gentle syllable as two sisters speak once more.

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

Ying looked at Delilah as they sat on the balcony looking out over a small backyard garden with a pair of blossoming cherry trees. "So... Ehren?"

Delilah shrugged. "You have two half sisters, Claire and Ehren. Both the spirits of items that Sis adopted rather than any more physical relationships like mine. Sis got around almost as much as Norimune, so I wouldn't be surprised if... No. No, that's not fair to Colombe. She's so wrapped up in family that she would have done the right thing with any children she had. I wonder what happened with you?"

Ying blushed, "Mother had to flee China with Father's help because she was accused of dark magic. Huli Jing fox spirits are disliked in the Middle Kingdom thanks to what Daji did three thousand years ago. According to Mother, she conceived me the last night before we took ship to America. So when Mother was aware, Father was an ocean away, and then she hid herself with a marriage and moved to Canada."

Delilah nodded slowly, "And by the time Sis would have thought about looking for you, the trail was cold. She was in China until at least 1860; she has a collection of artwork she picked up then in her castle. And I know that in 1864 she traveled to Japan to find Father."

Ying leaned forward, "So what DID happen then? I have been tracking her for decades but 1855-1895 is a total gap, and then again until World War I."

Delilah laughed, "What didn't happen? You should be aware that Norimune has an enchantment on her that causes her luck to be very good or very bad, and Sis inherited it. I did not, thank God. Regardless, she was obsessed with tracking down Norimune to come to terms with her birth and heritage. I'm sure that you can relate to that drive."

Ying nodded, her eyes intent on her aunt.

"So she showed up in Japan in 1864 and made a nuisance of herself. Eventually she ran into Toku, Fudo's sister Masamune-no-Tokunotakai. They had a duel which Colombe won, and then apparently Toku's patron the kami Hachiman manifested and beat Colombe into the dirt 'because the time was not right'. Considering later events such as me and Jackie not meeting her until 1927 and then the nasty shit that happened to Aunt Kyoshu and Father in World War II, I can see why she got the oath extracted from her to not come here until the Abyssal War as things turned out." Delilah spoke, her eyes thoughtful.

Ying's eyes narrowed, "So the reason MACUSA dropped the case against her in 1927 was your doing then?"

"Yes. But back to Colombe. After Japan she sailed back to Belgium, that's where she has a home and her adopted family lives, a 'du Chasteler' is what she thinks of herself. Unfortunately the last member of her adopted family was a real monster unknown to her at the time. He had murdered his parents magically, Colombe swears, and nearly did her in while trying to get her killed, finally reaching its climax in the Congo in 1895. She somehow walked out of Africa back to Belgium and ran him through in 1899. Never did get the details, she's very reticent about that period of her life."

Ying muttered to herself, "That explains the pattern of her activity changing then. She was changing her motivations."

Delilah nodded, "Yes. In brief, this is when she got involved with Lyra Potter, fascinating woman, who managed to somehow pull Sis's head out of her ass. This is where I enter the picture. Sis served in World War I for the British as a 'adopted Potter' and I met her in '27. Then we corresponded until we got thrown together during World War II and fought Grindlewald in Europe. I was always wondering what you were doing since I figured you would show up with the Canadian contingent in Europe."

Ying sighed, "I was sent to Hong Kong as part of a reinforcement for that garrison in the summer of 1941 and got stuck there when Japan overran it on Christmas."

Delilah winced, "Ouch, that could not have been fun. Jackie was in the Pacific as a sub skipper for MACUSA. Anyway, after World War II and Lyra's death in 1949, Sis kind of drifted until Claire, the spirit of her piano manifested in 1990 and then Ehren early last year. Ehren is a dagger that she picked up in World War II. We finally tracked down Father last September and met a bunch of aunts that I never really knew existed then."

Ying smiled, "Something to look forward to." She ran back through the story. "Wait. Lyra Potter, the erotica writer Lyra Potter?"

Delilah smiled smugly, "The one and only. Ask Sis about her Lady Chastity books and take a photo of her face."

"Hey, I like Lady Chastity!" Ying glared at Delilah.

Delilah smugged harder.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Prepares Her Case

Fudo's House, Adachi Ward, Tokyo
Spoiler: A Chat Between Old Rivals

Wei Ying and Delilah de Breuil sat on the balcony overlooking the darkened garden. Finally the revolver spirit looked at her niece. "So, now what?"

Ying frowned thoughtfully. "Good question, Del. I suppose it is cards on the table time. I planned once I tracked down Colombe to bring her in, I have enough evidence and political favors to get her a honest hearing - I think - with the ICW which should prove that she is not the black-hearted villain and serial Statute-Breaker that they claim that she is."

Delilah sighed, "Sis has done a lot, mostly for the right reasons but yes. Given the choice between closing her eyes to an injustice or even being subtle about how to correct matters, Sis doesn't hesitate but to do what she knows is right, and damn the consequences. She has a very medieval mindset in that regard, because she is a noble and expected to do the right thing no matter what, accountable only to her King and her God. Don't tell her that I told you this, but I blame her adopted father for that."

Ying hummed thoughtfully, "Of course, I'll have to prepare the board in advance, and the more jurisdictions agree to dismiss or plea down the better. Make it less likely they will try to hang something on her because of all that she is accused of. I had penciled you in to approach when the time was right to get MACUSA to drop Louisville in 1927."

Delilah rubbed her chin, "That can be arranged, I'll have to make some phone calls, but yes, great minds think alike. According to Sis, the Klan started that anyway and they are not well liked any more, play up that one of the dead was a Scourer and... yes. That works."

Ying sighed. "China and Iran are both lost causes. Iran just hates us westerners regardless, but the ICW knows that. The Chinese because Mother was a nonhuman and the Chinese Ministry of Magic is too heavily influenced by Taoist and Confucianist thought from back when they wrote Journey to the West. All us yaojing are ravening beasts hungry for the essence of young men even if that has not been true for centuries. Plus Father was one of the Western Devils plundering the Middle Kingdom in the bad old days of the 1800s."

Delilah snorted dismissively, "Was that ever the case with the yaojing?"

Ying shrugged, "Maybe a millennia or two ago... perhaps. Su Daji existed back then definitely and was a real nasty piece of work that smeared the rest of us huli jing by association according to Mother. Rumor that Mother heard from her family as a young cub was that Daji had reasons for doing what she did, though, it wasn't just for evil's sake. Which reminds me, what in the name of the Blue Dragon of the East was Colombe doing breaking out those jorogumo? According to my briefing packet, and what I was told those things make a huli jing look benign."

Delilah grimaced, "Sis's luck at work. She planned to climb Mount Fuji with Toku, which is a traditional thing in Japan. On the way down, they took a magical path that goes through Aokigahara forest where they ran into three Aurors torturing some escapees who fled to escape the conditions in the reserve there. Conditions are apparently very bad in the Reserves."

Ying puckered her lips, "That matches both with the office rumor I picked up about one of them and Father's known modus operandi. So she killed two and drove off the third in her intervention."

"In self-defense, yes. Then she used a portkey I had given her to take everyone back to Moulbaix and is keeping them at her castle as house guests for now while things sort themselves out. I'm here in Japan in part because I'm trying to prevent Sis from coming back to launch a mass breakout to save people. " Delilah sighed, "And Sis only killed one, the one who got split in half was Tokunotakai's doing after hitting Colombe with a Cruciatus, but of course everyone assumes Colombe did it. Also whatever they told you about jorogumo is not the whole truth. The ones that are still around are in control of their instincts and have learned to survive without predating humans." Delilah looked grim. "I interrogated the ones that she saved, and if they are representative, which they seem to be, what is happening is a grave injustice."

Ying shook her head, "Great. What a mess. Do you have any idea of how to manage this kerfluffle?"

Delilah grinned smugly, "In fact, I do. While I'm officially here on vacation, which is the truth for once, everyone thinks that I'm here as an officially unofficial MACUSA rep since the de Breuils have so much pull in certain areas in New York. So I have had a few quiet dinners with certain people in the Civil Service and the Diet who have been sounding me out about MACUSA's view on certain domestic issues Japan is facing with the Statute of Secrecy failing and their domestic politics becoming a mess as the Kyoto splinter faction looks to be taking over from Tokyo. If you don't mind representing the RCMMP, who do have that seat on the ICW held by an Auror that you trained...."

Ying smiled and finished, "We can play up that Ottawa sent me here for more than just the official police coordination on the case and my remit involves poking around a bit instead of just being the subject expert on Colombe. Provide backup for Auror Colonel de Breuil of MACUSA to poke. I'll backstop your ploy, Del."

Delilah smugged and fist bumped Ying, "That's the girl I knew who successfully schemed to take Henry Adams to the Yule Ball in Fifth Year from under my nose."

Ying laughed after fist bumping her aunt, "You lucked out, he got fresh with his hands after drinking illicit Fire-whisky after the ball and I had to joint lock him to persuade him that I was not interested in losing my virginity to him. He was a hell of a Seeker for Wampus Cat and looked good in that lemon-yellow robe, though."

"True, true. You know that I cried in my pillow when you stole the march on me with him?" Delilah mused.

"Never would have guessed. That does explain why you threw your first shot on goal right at my face the day after he agreed publicly to go out with the "Great Wall of Horned Serpent" though. Lucky that it wasn't a Bludger because I was not expecting you to bean me with it." Ying reminisced.

"Couldn't find an inert Bludger on short notice. Believe me, I looked. I wasn't quite good enough with Transfiguration back then to fill the Quaffle with lead either." Delilah admitted sheepishly.

"Ow. Glad that you didn't." Ying winced.

"I admit the look on your face when I bounced the Quaffle off it helped my day a bit. That and managing to score enough against you so we edged out the win." Delilah grinned at Ying.

"I always enjoyed playing Keeper against you, Del. You were one hell of a finisher. Until now I always wondered why you didn't go pro as a Chaser. Now I know, same as me, you didn't want to draw too much attention considering your heritage." Ying steepled her fingers.

"Exactly. I have a knack for ballistics, comes of being a revolver I suppose. Predicting movement and placing force on target is what I do. But I had the worst time trying to predict you to get shots past your defense as Keeper." Delilah leaned forward. "Your heritage then?"

Ying grinned and concentrated, her hair shifting to dark black and shrinking and her face assuming an American Indian cast. "Actually, yes. Huli jing are shapeshifters and skilled at illusion. I was younger then, and not as skilled, of course, but I was good enough to make my hands and arms appear slightly off from where they actually were. Add in my training in my mother's martial arts style boosting my speed and reflexes, and there you have it. Although when I did not fool you, trying to stop your shots was near impossible."

Delilah nodded. "Neat trick, and I'd like to learn whatever you can teach me."

Ying's features flowed back to normal. "I can teach some, but some of it is inborn, and I don't like to advertise. People tend to get twitchy around shape shifters because if you abuse it," her face darkened, "it can be a nightmare scenario for police to stop."

Delilah made a sound of agreement, "I can see that, Polyjuice and illusions are bad enough from a security standpoint. And I have gotten into a few places that I should not by getting my true body inside and then manifesting."

"Right, but we are woolgathering here. So, dinner with who?" Ying stretched.

"Naomi Miyata is next on my social circuit, I'll be seeing her day after tomorrow. I have a Vanishing Cabinet chain between Japan and Belgium so once we travel to see Sis, we can come back here and lay the groundwork to poke into the Reserves. With luck, we can get the Diet to drop charges and make changes."

"True. That leaves France as the big headache, and I'm waiting for information a friend of mine is digging up there to see if they can drop Metz in 1789. That is a tough sell though." Ying sighed heavily, "The problem is that it was a massive riot and egg on their faces."

"I can ask around, maybe? Sis did serve in World War I on the Western Front, I believe, and was part of the Resistance in World War II. So she has come to their defense." Delilah shook her head. "Although they are more of mess than is normal, according to my sources."

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Weasley's Warship Workshop 6
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Jean-Bart sighed as she dried her hair from the bath, dressed in nothing more than a towel for the moment. She'd had another day of doing noting much at all aside from enjoying what she could of the Mediterranean weather that Toulon enjoyed most of the year. Many people would consider that a blessing, day after day of nothing but warm sun, cool breeze and a town that was largely free of the idea of war.

Oh there were still convoys going back and forth between ports and there were reminders on advertisements but the Mediterranean was the most secure of all the seas. With the entirety of the Italian, Greek and Turkish navies contained inside, and parts of the French, Spanish and even the Royal Navy patrolling the waters, things were as much "normal" as they could be next to any large body of water these days.

Jean-Bart hated it. She hated it even more now that she knew there was hope on the horizon, hope that she would get into the war before another decade was out. A taste of something sweet was on the edge of her tongue and she could not wait to get her hands on it properly. She only had to wait for Ron to finish with his planning. Which of course came after he dealt with the issues of the KGV class and Duke of York specifically.

She couldn't exactly blame the lad, much as she might want to on her dark days. He'd known Duke for much longer than he had her and there was clearly affection between them. Not to mention that what he was trying on Duke was simply to improve her rate of fire and gun readiness. It wasn't as if she needed a refit.

Grumbling slightly to herself once more Jean-Bart started slightly as her phone began to ring. Only a few people had the number and despite the fact that she'd had a spate of strange telemarketer numbers call her recently, she never really expected a call. Moving over to check it she saw the familiar name and number on the screen and picked it up.

"Hello sister, what can I do for you today?" Richelieu might be a pervert of the highest order but she was still her sister and a relatively good one at that. Jean-Bart could, mostly, forgive her foibles given all the love and support she'd been given.

"Mon-Petit!" Came Richelieu's sing song voice, something which often caused Jean-Bart to shiver. "You have been very naughty recently!~"

"I have no idea what you're talking about sister. Truly." Jean-Bart laid back on her bed, wondering what crazy idea that Richelieu had come up with this time.

"Non? Not a single one?" Richelieu's tone of voice did not change one bit and Jean-Bart started to dread whatever teasing that she might have in mind today.

"No sister, I do not. I have spent the past week trying not to go crazy while sunshine beats down on me."

"Mon-Petit how dreadful of you! Lazing around in the sun while your suitor tries vainly to get in contact! Oh the heartbreak he must be feeling!~"

"I don't have a suitor sister mine, whatever you may think. If there's one calling himself that he can take a walk off the plank." Jean-Bart snarked back at her sister slightly, the relationship issue always one that could get under her skin at least a little bit.

"Non?" Richelieu's tone took a turn for the even more teasing. "You do not? So I should tell Monsieur Weasley that you are not interested in his affections?"

Jean-Bart sat up suddenly, her face flushing as outrage burst through her.

"Richelieu!" She nearly shrieked through the phone as her hand moved to catch her suddenly loose towel. "He's thirteen! He is not my suitor!"

"Non?" Jean-Bart could practically hear her sister smirking at this point. "But he has been calling and calling you seeking to set up a meeting! For a week he said! I told him that you were probably playing hard to get and that he might have to come down personally and be forceful with you again. He has the most lovely blush, I could hear him smoking through the phone, like you are now!"

Jean-Bart sputtered as Richelieu twisted what she'd been told about Jean-Bart's visit to the manor into not merely a pretzel but something that would have made an abstract artist quite proud.

"That is not what happened sister! Not at all!" Jean-Bart finally managed to say, the memory of Ron skillfully managing to get her a full engineering survey by that Anglo-Germanic monster of a dry dock not helping her state of mind.

"Oh? I could have sworn you told me that he maneuvered you into position personally so he could get a full set of your measurements."

"He is my doctor not a lecher like you make it sound!" Jean-Bart croaked out. "He had nothing to do with it personally and he certainly didn't see anything like that!"

"Oh but the thought of him slaving away over them, working so hard that he passes out each night practically on top of you from exhaustion just so you can sail properly again is so romantique, non?"

Jean-Bart couldn't do anything but groan as she slapped her face to her hand. She always lost to Richelieu when her sister got a full head of steam going on this time wasn't any different. After a moment of silence she finally sighed and forced herself to speak again.

"Leaving aside the issue of you being completely and utterly off base with your representation of what happened, why are you bringing this up now sister?"

"Oh! Well Monsieur Weasley is on the other line right now. He called Admiral Chirac directly since you would not pick up your phone." Richelieu's tone said that butter wouldn't have melted in her mouth but Jean-Bart felt herself flush again.

"Why didn't you start with that?" She halfheartedly growled, adjusting her towel again as if anybody could see her.

"Oh Mon-petit, I couldn't just transfer him over. As your sister I must make sure you are in the right mood for the call first! Now hold on just one second while I transfer him over. After I will make sure to pick out just the right nurse outfit for your next visit.~"

"Richelieu!" Jean-Bart started, only to have the phone click over to the other line. "Don't you dare!"

There was silence on the other line for a few seconds before she heard a familiar if somewhat more timid male voice.

"Uhm, hello? Jean-Bart?" Ron asked.

Jean-Bart flushed again and swore to get back at her sister for this. Of course she'd gotten her riled up just to embarrass herself in front of Ron.

"Oui Ron it is me." She slipped slightly into her native tongue with the boy, letting out a sigh. "I apologize for the outburst my sister she..."

Jean-Bart trailed off slightly as Ron gave a nervous giggle.

"Ah, yeah. She's… quite something."

"You do not know the half of it." Jean-Bart muttered, wishing for a moment of calm that she could not get quite yet.

"Not like that but my brother's are pretty embarrassing when the mood strikes them." Ron's tone made it sound like he truly did understand and put Jean-Bart somewhat more at ease.

"Yes. Family can be like that." Jean-Bart let out another sigh, feeling more calm than she had been. "You wanted to speak with me about something?"

"Oh, yeah." She could hear Ron regaining his balance on the other end of the line. "It's about your repairs… I have some ideas that I wanted to show to you. I could tell you some over the phone but I think it would be easier to show you some diagrams I've drawn up."

Despite already being flustered by her sister, Jean-Bart could feel her boiler pressure spike slightly as the idea of someone drawing parts of her like she knew Ron could ran through her mind.

"You've drawn up diagrams?" She asked, making her voice remain calm.

"Yeah. I've got ideas for your main guns, your engines and your secondaries." Ron seemed to not see anything wrong with what he was saying, so Jean-Bart kept a lid on her own emotions. They were strangely off balance even for Richelieu teasing her.

"That's quite the number of ideas." She said. "Have you discussed them with anybody?"

"Yeah. Summer and Angie helped me come up with the. Summer thinks she can make the parts and Angie said she could install them if we all work together." There was a pause before Ron continued. "Of course that's if you want to even see them of course. We can just go with a normal rebuild if you want."

Jean-Bart considered Ron's statement for a moment. It was true that she wanted to get back into the fight as soon as possible. Yet, Ron's offer was tempting. If she could get back into the fight even better than she would normally be…

"I can at least meet you to see them." Jean-Bart said in return, running her hand through her hair. "When are you available?"

"My professors said I could leave next weekend if it was for business." Ron seemed slightly abashed at that for some reason. "So sometime next Saturday or Sunday."

Jean-Bart didn't have anything planned most of the time, much less on weekends unless there was a convoy for her to go with. Which were unfortunately rare, given the cost ratio she produced.

"Next Saturday is fine. Can you make it to the arsenal de Toulon by noon?"

"Yeah. I can make it there just fine if I leave on time. Should I meet you at the main gate?"

"Oui that is fine. I will take you to a place we can have lunch and look over your work. Is that fine?"

"That sounds good to me." Jean-Bart could practically hear Ron nodding.

"Good." Jean-Bart paused for another moment as her crew marked down something in her log that was something other than "maintenance" or "free time". "Is there anything else?"

"Uhm… nope, I can't think of anything. I'll look forward to seeing you on Saturday then." Ron's voice actually seemed happy to say that, causing Jean-Bart to crook the corner of her mouth slightly.

"Oui I will do the same. Until then Ron."

"Until then." With that the phone hung up with a click and Jean-Bart pulled her cellphone away from her ear to lay back onto her bed. The notation in her log loomed in her mind despite it simply being lunch with a thirteen year old boy. It was another step on her road to recovery and a chance to get out and do something at the same time.

Smiling a bit, she frowned as she suddenly realized that she'd forgotten to ask Ron for his phone number or even if he had one. The strange spate of calls she'd thought were telemarketer's suddenly made sense, or rather fit together with what Richelieu said. Why would he not have the same number each time though?

Checking her call log she realized there were several repeats, just that they were spaced out. All from Britain of course but there was no way to know which was the "correct" one. She'd also be damned if she was going to ask Richelieu for help on that after the teasing she'd just gotten.

She'd just have to wait till Saturday and ask Ron personally.

Unknowingly smiling slightly to herself, Jean-Bart moved to go get dressed, ready to perhaps face the rest of the day and some of her fellow Marine-Nationale members on better terms.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
AN: Woo first story post in the new thread. Mostly teasing and setup for next time but I thought this would be a good look at Jean-Bart and Richelieu together

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Always Gets Her Person

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

Wei Ying opened her eyes after casting the I Ching and blinked at the results.

Matters were...unsettled.

Of her six casts in her daily divination, five of them had either been Changing Yang with three heads, or Changing Yin with three tails.

And the result was perfectly symmetrical, Changing Yin, Changing Yang, Changing Yin, Unchanging Yang, Changing Yin, Changing Yang.

Li above K'an. The Yellow of Fire above the Scarlet of Water. The Sixty-Fourth Hexagram. Wei Chi, the end is in sight.

She quoted from the Book of Changes contemplatively.

"Fire ascends above the Water:
The Superior Person examines the nature of things and keeps each in its proper place.

Too anxious the young fox gets his tail wet, just as he completes his crossing.
To attain success, be like the man and not like the fox."

Slowly her finger touched each line bottom to top as she mused. "Humiliation changes to Good Fortune, followed by a reminder to cross the river before leaving the boat. Then in the next Trigram, Perseverance brings success, then Good Fortune once again and finally a reminder to be a good winner."

She continued as she packed away her divination tools. "Obviously the river to be crossed is when I travel with Aunt Jacklyn and Aunt Delilah to Belgium to meet Colombe. That is the ending of a long period in my life, and once I step from the boat, I can never return as I was."

She wiped tears from her eyes and then continued as she looked over her packed suitcase. "But I must examine the nature of things and act with prudent wise judgement. While the journey of a thousand li (Chinese mile/500 meters) begins with a single step, the last step is no less critical than the first." With that, she looked at her outfit in the mirror and barked a laugh.
Spoiler: Ying's Dress


"The Scarlet of Water, with a Phoenix, such as represents the Empress and which I have as the core of my wand embroidered in the Gold of Fire. Truly an auspicious beginning to my last step on the journey." Ying shook her head as she headed out of the room and downstairs to the designated area for guests to Apport out.

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

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium
Spoiler: A Dagger's Meditations

Ehren du Chasteler frowned minutely. Masamune-no-Tokunotakai was up to something and she suspected Aunt Delilah was behind it.

Del had called the castle yesterday asking to speak to Toku and when the Masamune blade appeared, she had promptly closed the study door behind Ehren after a moment of visible surprise. Ehren did not know Japanese very well, yet, but she was certain the person Toku spoke to was not Aunt Delilah's voice.

Judging by the tone of the conversation it was not bad, just... annoying. All that listening at the kitchen voice pipe downstairs and incomprehensible Japanese was what she got out of it.

With that in mind, she looked at the rest of the family and house-guests around the table.

Claire had her head in Wolkenkuckucksheim doing Claire things, humming a Strauss waltz between sips of her Kaffemelange (Coffee melange)
and bites of an eclair. Alles in ordnung.(Everything in order[Proper place])

Kasuyu was his normal unflappable self as he drank his own devil's brew black coffee from his Axe Men mug. Alles in ordnung.
Spoiler: Kasuyu's Coffee Mug

Past him the jorogumo 'family' were demolishing a rasher of bacon and eggs that Ehren as the traditional early riser and Kasuyu as the head chef cum butler had cooked up. Although cooking lessons under supervision were going well, Miho Fujii, the elder of the two came from a totally different culinary tradition and was still learning how to use modern appliances.

Ehren hid her reflexive scowl over the Ghettoisierung (ghettoisation)of the reserves behind her own mug of espresso until she could control her expression. She understood the value of the patience and planning that Aunt Delilah had requested. Erst denken, denn handeln, she reminded herself, first think then act. Even if the report of the Fujiis about the Reserves reminded her of the worst crimes of the SS in the East.

It was a very short step from locking creatures viewed 'subhuman' away from 'proper humans' to what had happened after....

The Transports. The Aktionen(Actions). The Einzatzgruppen(single action groups)..

Die Endlösung des Jüdischen Problems. (The final solution to the Jewish problem)

She could feel that bloodstain on her hands, on her soul.

She knew what unspeakable and unforgivable crimes had been done by those who she believed in utterly at one time. She knew how blind she had been then, how she would willingly have followed the orders of her superiors in the SS.

How much Father believed in their blood-soaked vision of a 'Greater Germany'.

How close to the Abyss that she herself had skirted shortly after her awakening last year.

That was why she stoically endured the nightmares in which she saw her own face among the guards of the charnel houses that had become names of horror throughout history.

And speaking of nightmares....

Ehren looked toward the head of the kitchen table. Last night she had trouble sleeping, for it seemed that a presence was watching her, measuring her. Not for the first time. She had pulled on her slippers and gone forth to allay her suspicions.

What she had found last night alarmed her. She had heard a muffled noise from Mother's room and peeked through the keyhole.

Inside, illuminated by the moon, Mother was asleep next to Tokunotakai. The Masamune blade's avatar was cuddled up to her, protectively, reassuringly, murmuring gently in her sleep like Ehren imagined that a mother would comfort her terrified children.

Mother was sweating and trembling like that small child, whimpering and crying incoherently. Her face was almost... afraid. Ehren thought that the small child description was quite apt the more she thought about her silent observation. Mother looked like nothing so much as a little girl terrified that the monster in her closet was going to devour her.

Ehren frowned minutely and glanced over at the clearly rumpled Colombe. Long experience with Mother suggested that unless something truly extraordinary happened, Mother would sooner die than reveal her night terrors to anyone. And while Tokunotakai had to have seen more, sleeping in the same bed with Mother assured that....

Ehren sighed and refilled her espresso cup.

She was just not sure what to think of Tokunotakai. Claire loved her, true, but Claire loved anyone who shared an interest in music, and while Claire's instincts toward people were good...

Toku certainly was a good person, so it seemed, and yet, Ehren could not help but remember how Hitler had deceived Germany. Deceived her.

With that Ehren poured some fresh milk into the espresso and stirred. Aunt Delilah's insights would be valuable, but Del was in Japan scouting and getting intelligence on the Reserves. So all she could do was wait and watch.

Perhaps ask Toku for a sparring session in the salle d'armes? Practice of her skills would never be wasted. But then if she breached the subject of Mother's nightmares after a nice spar, she would have to explain how she observed Mother... and Toku. And she did not know what about Toku's relationship to Mother was causing her to be so reticent. She did not think that it was primarily that they were both women, even though part of her did feel some hesitance toward an Asian girl sleeping with Mother. At least part of that was the lingering taint of Nazism and its teachings denouncing same-sex and mixed-race couples.

Ehren's lips twitched in a laugh that never passed them as she drained her second cup of Espresso Kaffee and a stray thought reached her mind.

Patience was a virtue, yes, but this virtue sucked royally.

As Ehren set her cup down and stood to begin washing the dishes, Toku coughed.

"Everyone, I got a call from Delilah. She and Jackie will be coming here soon with a few friends."

Ehren blinked. Colombe looked surprised, and shot a glance at the Masamune katana who was dressed down in a black T-shirt that Mother had picked out for her and a blue jean skirt.
Spoiler: Toku's T-Shirt

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

The bang of an arrival in the Great Hall punctuated the statement.

Ehren walked to the entrance hall and looked through the door. Jackie was pointing out the paintings and marble staircase to a clearly awed young Japanese woman with dog ears and a tail. Delilah meanwhile was talking to two other Asian women. One in a red Chinese dress (Ehren had noticed them during late-night bargain hunts on internet shopping sites) with gold embroidery and dark blonde hair nodded as she idly rubbed her hand across a glowing gem in her sword hilt. The other woman, wearing a black pinstriped business suit and a burgundy tie with flowers embroidered on it, ran her hands through her short hair and looked around nervously.
Spoiler: Fudo's Tie

Colombe stepped out with Toku beside her. "Hello Del, Jackie, and who are your friends?"

The business suited girl's scowl vanished in an instant and she flash-stepped across the floor to hug a radiantly smiling Tokunotakai. "Imouto!"

Toku hugged her back. "Fudo-oneechan!"

Delilah winked at the Chinese girl and then gave a smug smirk. "Jackie's friend is Aomi, and I would like to introduce my classmate from Ilvermorny. Wei Ying, the oldest daughter of Mei Yüying..."

The color drained from Mother's face as the Chinese girl gracefully walked across the floor to her and hugged her gently. "I was born nine months to the day after you helped Mother escape Kowloon ahead of the Taipings and Tong Enforcers in 1854. Father."

Ehren's jaw dropped and she stared in naked shock at her new sister. Unmöglich! Unglaublich!(Impossible! Unbelievable!)

Colombe teared up. "I...I never knew. I'm sorry that I was not there for you. I'll do whatever I can to make it up to you. Anything at all." She returned the embrace fiercely, crushing her oldest daughter to her.

Ying's lips curled in a smug smile as Jackie and Delilah both pulled out cell phones. "I'll hold you to that. Just give me your word that you will hear what I have to say and my explanation before you do anything precipitate."

Colombe nodded. "Oui. Of course."

"Good." Ying's smile grew triumphantly smug, "In the name of the Queen, The High Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Magical Mounted Police, and the International Confederation of Wizards, I, Chief Superintendent and Auror Wei Ying of the RCMMP do arrest you, Colombe du Chasteler, for breaches of the Statute of Secrecy!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Yokosuka was not the only place that the Sun shone on that day. Other places in Japan, too, had a nice day. And on an hidden island in the Ryukyu Island Chain, others were also enjoying the nice spring weather like so many others elsewhere in Japan.

Through his shirt, Haruto could feel the rough bark of the tree he was laying against as the sunlight through the canopy made dappled patterns on his body and his surroundings. But more than that, or the blanket beneath him, the sixteen year old could feel the warm, soft bodies of his girlfriends as their bodies touched and leaned against his. Hachimitsu, of course, had claimed pride of place in his lap. Not that Haruto had much issue with that, of course. Quite the opposite as the feel of one of his girlfriends sitting in his lap was enjoyable. Very enjoyable as a matter of fact.

Granted, Hachimitsu's sisters grumbled about her having grabbed the spot much to his amusement.

While he would never say it aloud though, it was times like this that Haruto was glad about how the three Kitsune sisters were not very big. That was something he knew better than to say unless he wanted to see them all flustered, though he found them rather cute when that happened anyways. What it did mean though was that them sitting in his lap was much more enjoyable than normal as it was much less likely to cut off his circulation, which meant that he was more than able to enjoy it as much as he wanted... which, as it turned out, was quite a bit. Feeling Hachimitsu shift in his lap, the teen opened his eyes as she sighed changing her position slightly, "Something wrong?"

However, the Kitsune shipgirl shook her head, "Not really." Looking over her shoulder, Hachimitsu gave him a smile and wiggled her hips a bit, which also got a blush from her boyfriend. Something that made Hachimitsu's smile become a knowing grin, "Just enjoying the day in the most comfy spot imaginable."

Crossing her arms, Haruhime gave a huff and a mock glare at her older sister, "Yes, which you keep hogging!"

A smirk on her face, her older sister flipped some of her golden hair and chuckled, "That was because you were too slow to claim it, Haruhime-Nee. But perhaps you shall have better luck next time."

Pouting, Haruhime turned to Haruto though her eyes twinkled which showed that she was in a playful mood. Something that he had to admit that he rather enjoyed seeing when it happened, which was often enough even if he was sometimes the target of her amusement, "Haruto-Kun, Hachimitsu-Nee is being mean again to us. Do something to make your girlfriend feel better."

Finger tapping on his chin, Haruto pretended to give it some thought while internally he was chuckling at what was going on. Not to mention the plan that was forming within his mind in regards to what he should do., "Hmm... making my girlfriend feel better? Wait!" Snapping his finger, he nodded, "I know what I can do to make you feel better."

Eyebrow raising, the red haired Kitsune gave him a look which had curiosity in it, "Oh? And what would that be-"

She was unable to finish though as Haruto chose that moment to claim her lips with his own. Followed, of course, by her deepening the kiss soon after they started. As they pulled back, he grinned, "Well? In a better mood?"

Licking her lips and slowly nodding, Haruhime grinned as her eyes became hooded, "Much better."

As he grinned, Haruto was about to say something when Mikage gently took his chin in her hand and turned him towards her. This was followed by her giving him a deep kiss for almost a minute and pulling back. Now grinning herself as she pulled back and her tail swished behind her, she nodded, "Yes, a much better mood."

Giggles were his only warning before first Ichika, and then, Mie stole a kiss. Bashfully smiling, the shy Inugami hummed some. Just the same, Mie did have a brightness to her eyes, "I think that puts me into a better mood as well."

It was then that a huff made Haruto turn to find that Hachimitsu had twisted around and was now scowling with her arms crossed as she straddled him, legs on either side of his before she shifted some. But the twinkle in her eye gave her away, even as she wagged a finger at him as if she was reprimanding him for his actions... or by her words, lack thereof, "What an awful boyfriend you are! Allowing them to steal kisses from you and not giving me any! That is being bad!"

Bemused, the teenager Healer placed his hands on his girlfriend's hips, "Oh? And what would you suggest?"

Only smirking, Hachimitsu leaned forward and gripped his upper arms, "That I get my turn. And, thankfully, I am in exactly the right place to get such a thing."

With a chuckle, she leaned until she was practically leaning against him before placing her arms around his neck and kissing him with her body pressed against his. Almost immediately, she deepened it before giving a squeak as she felt Haruto's hands move somewhere unexpected. Blushing, he pulled them away, "Um, sorry?"

Face red, Hachimitsu glared at him for a moment. Only a moment before grinning and grabbing his hands and putting them back with her tail swishing between them, "Just caught me by surprise." Her eyes softened a bit as she brushed some hair from his forehead as her golden eyes met his brown, "Trust me, I do not mind this at all, my love."

And with that, she went back to kissing him soon joined by the others taking their own turns, which Haruto did not mind in the slightest.

It was several minutes later that left a group of young adults somewhat breathless as they leaned against each other with flushed faces and happy smiles. Laying her head on top of Haruto's shoulder, one of her dog-like ears touching his, Mie smiled, "It's nice that we can do this."

Ichika laughed a bit from where she mirrored her twin sister on the opposite side of Haruto, "Tell me about it." Briefly stretching her arms, she chuckled as she leaned back into her boyfriend, "Still cannot get over the fact that we now got a boyfriend after so damn long of wanting." Slugging him in the arm lightly, the Inugami grinned, "Though worth the wait."

From where she was cuddled into his side forward of the dog Yokai, Haruhime snorted, "Worth the wait and more." Kissing Haruto on the cheek, she smiled a bit, "Definitely work the wait."

On the opposite side of her sister, Mikage poured some sake from a small bottle, one of their last ones, into a dish, "Hai, it was." Draining it, she sighed a bit, "Though I wish that we could do more than just go somewhere private in the reserve."

Reaching over, the Healer took her hand into his, "I promise, one day we'll be able to leave the reserve. And I'll take you all on the dates that you deserve. Trust me on that, anywhere you want."

Unable to help herself, Mie bit her lip some, "Um... maybe a theme park?" At their looks, she poked her fingers together, "They sound fun from what I have overheard."

Hand coming up, Haruto gently rubbed her head between her ears, which made the Inugami practically melt as one of his fingers and thumb stroked her ear, "A theme park? I don't see an issue with that. When we get all get the chance to leave, I'll take you to any one of them that you might want."

Shaking her head, Ichika snorted some, "Until then, I guess that we got places like this." As she looked around, she grimaced a touch, "Not that it is too impressive for flower viewing."

Just blinking at that, the lone human of the group looked around with a slight frown himself. The "Park" was not really that big when one got down to it. There were, at most, maybe six or seven sakura trees and a few more ume. Other than that, there was about a dozen or so normal trees. Here and there, piles of stone creating trays of sort where wildflowers would grow. And there was a few benches made from mostly driftwood. Basically large stones with wood on top. All in all, it was not too impressive when one got down to it.

Yet, Haruto knew, the islanders considered it a treasure and often one could find a few just sitting there and enjoying it.

it was also somewhere that he had taken the girls for 'Dates', or as close to such as they could get. Softly smiling, he reached back and took Ichika's hand in his and smiled, "It's okay, Ichika-Chan. This is good enough for now because I am spending it with all of you. And that makes it wonderful."

Almost immediately, all five shipgirls blushed heavily at that and Haruhime looked around as she held her hand in front of her face, "S-saying such things to us... So shameless."

In reply, all Haruto did though was shrug, "Around you? Sure." And he gave a small smirk, "Something that I am sure that none of you dislike at all. Or am I wrong?"

Needless to say, he did not get an answer in the negative. Deciding to get away from such, Hachimitsu picked up the bento that they packed and wiggled back. Internally, she smirked at the reaction that got from their boyfriend, 'Good, I'm happy that he enjoys that.' Ego boost aside, she opened the bento and looked inside. Within it, there were some Vienna sausage from some cans that Haruto had brought back on his trip. Said small sausages were cut in the shape of octopi. Besides them, there were some small onigiri and rolls of bread with peanut butter.

The sight of which made Hachimitsu lick her lips and want a taste. Her and her sisters as well as the Inugami twins had been unsure when Haruto brought the first jar with him. But he claimed that Kitsunes, Inugami, and other Yokai had come to love said food.

Upon their first taste, it needed to be said, the five shipgirls agreed with said Yokai.

Shaking her head, the blonde Kitsune pulled out some chopsticks and picked up one of the sausage octopi and twisted slightly as she held it out with a smile, "Here you go, Haruto-Kun. After all, you need to eat."

Haruto softly smiled at that and hummed as he bit into the offered food, "Thank you, Hachimitsu-Onee-Chan."

Blushing, the Kitsune only nodded before stealing a kiss from him as they enjoyed the day as by the end of the week, he would head back to the mainland for another supply run.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Quickly walking as the sky darkened, Haruto gave a nod towards various other members of the village. He had just been finishing up dinner when one of the Yokai had come and stated that there was an Auror at his clinic with a young, roughed up looking female Nekomata. With a goodbye, the teenaged Healer was off and rushing for his clinic as fast as he could. Mainly because of what he had been told which made him grimace, 'Looks like the Reserve likely has a new inhabitant... fucking dammit.'

Another part of his worry though was the fact that it was a young, female Yokai. While, yes, he had never come across issues thankfully, he also knew horror stories. Granted, such things were things even the Diet, in it's current state, could not turn a blind eye to. But after that one incident a couple of years back where the son of a prominent Magical Diet member was caught running a Yokai child sex ring... Haruto had nightmares about such things.

Upon arriving at the clinic though, he relaxed some at seeing the rough looking, middle aged man standing next to a quiet Nekomata who could not have been much more then maybe ten. Once he noticed Haruto, the Auror smiled some and patted the small Yokai, "Here you go, Chikako-Chan. Haruto-San is now here and will look after you."

Nodding at the Auror, Haruto had a thankful look on his face, "Sunada-San."

Sunada gave him a slight smile and a nod back, "Haruto-San. Sorry about calling you over here so late, but..."

Waving him off, the Healer shook his head, "It's fine. After all, this is what I am here for."

He did not show the relief on his face that it was Sunada that greeted him. The older man was practically one of the only good people. The man treated the Yokai as actual people, and was pretty much the only one outside of Haruto who was even liked, if only because he followed the rules and laws, though he was liked nowhere near as much as Haruto. But they did give him respect, and so Haruto knew that whatever else, the man was fair.

Once, he had asked him why he was at the Reserve and the guard had gone quiet and grimaced. About to apologized, Haruto had been waved off and he explained that him and a younger Auror had busted someone with connections. And that people elsewhere had reacted badly to the fact that they did not show leniency due to that and tried to get rid of them. Sunada had a few connections thankfully, which meant for him being sent to guard a Reserve, while the other Auror was accused of being a Hanyou and tossed out, though he was glad that said younger Auror had become a private investigator.

Granted, Sunada was certain that it was only until he hit the minimum retirement age before they would toss him out.

Still, Haruto was thankful that he was a guard there. If only because Sunada made sure to always be on duty when he came back with supplies which he looked through. And the Auror's reputation for honesty and integrity was such that no one would challenge him. Thus, none of the Healer's supplies were ever messed with.

In the current time though, the sixteen year old had already gone into what those that knew him called 'Healer Mode' and had walked over to the Nekomata who looked at him with tired, and somewhat suspicious eyes. Scanning her, he glanced towards Sunada, "What happened?"

Just shaking his head, the Auror pulled a stick of pocky and stuck it in his mouth. He may have had years on Haruto, but he knew better than to try and smoke in the younger man's clinic. Not after what he had done the last time... Shaking that off with a shiver, Sunada sighed, "One of the younger guys caught her. We've been getting reports that there have been homeless Yokai hanging around the various shipgirl bases. Damn baka decided to start looking around them despite being told that they were no go areas. Probably thinking that if he caught one, he would get a boost?"

Eyebrow raised, Haruto gave the Auror an unamused look, "And did he?"

A booming laugh came Sunada, "No, he got his ass chewed up and spat out. Only thing that saved him was that he caught Chikako-Chan here. Especially as the No-Maj Military Police were running at him when he apparated with her after being alerted by the noise." With a shrug, he shook his head, "Anyways, Chikako-Chan here got a bit roughed up besides everything from living on the street for a number of years."

Frowning, he looked the young Yokai in the eyes, "Chikako-San? How long have you been living on the streets for?"

Chikako only slowly blinked before shrugging, "Don't know, a long time. Had a nice cozy place at the base."

When he glanced at Sunada, Haruto got a shrug, "She lived in one of the old tunnels that ran under the base. One of the guys took a quick look via Shikigami and found that it ran nearly all the way to the Summoning Pool thing with a small room about fifty feet outside the building." Tilting his head towards Chikako, he frowned, "They caught her dumpster diving at a resturant right outside the base."

If anything, that made the Healer frown before he glanced at Chikako and lifted up her shirt enough to see her ribs. All of which he could easily see and made him grimace, 'Definitely going to need to treat her for malnutrition and perhaps starvation... as well as any parasites that she might have.' Pulling out some parchment, Haruto went to work and quickly wrote down his observations before he really began to scan her. On the parchment, notes began to appear from what the spells were picking up. And once they were done, he looked them over, "Hmm..."

Finishing off his pocky, Sunada handed one to the Nekomata after he took another one for himself. The little Yokai began to munch on the treat as the Auror turned to the Healer, "So, what's the verdict Doc?"

Haruto frowned a bit as he placed the parchment down, "She's in decent enough health, I suppose. Has a few issues though such as a cut that is infected on her leg, malnutrition, and it looks like she might have lice and maybe some tapeworms... or I hope that they're tapeworms." Tapping his chin, he walked over to the cabinet and pulled out some supplies and placed them to the side before he also brought out a stethoscope as well, "Got to check a few things else out."

Eyebrow raised at what the Healer had, the older man frowned, "By the way, why do you use No-Maj stuff like that? Don't the scanning spells work just as well?"

Glancing at him, Haruto used his magic to warm the metal of the stethoscope, "They do, but I prefer to get as many ways of looking at something as possible. You never know if you'll miss something... besides, I took a class on this sort of thing and also have it enchanted." Sliding it up the Nekomata's shirt and placing it against her chest, he blinked with his eyes widening a fraction. Something that Sunada caught and narrowed his own eyes at. A moment later though, Haruto's expression was back to normal, "Hmm... breathe in deep... now let it out. Breathe in deep... and let it out."

With his head tilted to the side, the Healer continued it before going to the back. Unknown to him, Sunada was watching him closely, 'I wonder what caught his interest...'

But, Haruto did not say a thing about what he had caught and instead walked over to the potions and gave her some vials, "Here, take these for right now and they'll help with the malnutrition and the worms. I'll get to work on the infected cut before giving you some antibiotics."

It did not take long for him to finish it up though which made Sunada look at him, "So?"

Just turning to him for a moment, Haruto went back to his work, "Well, once we get the immediate problems solved like the worms as well as the infection she has? And the lice as well, she'll be in good health. I'm going to keep her under observation though all the same until I am sure that no other problems from her life on the streets pops up."

Only nodding and stretching as his back popped, the Auror sighed a bit, "Well, if that's all, I need to get back to the HQ. Just wanted to make sure that she was going to be alright..." Looking at Haruto, Sunada hummed, "You sure that you got enough room?"

Lightly blushing at the small hint, the teen nodded, "I do, there's still plenty of room after all and she'll be safe until she settles in." Sending off a Shikigami, he gently grasped the Yokai's hand, "Now, let's go and get you all cleaned up and in some new clothes..."

As they walked off, Sunada stood there with a lit cigarette between his lips now that they were outside the clinic. Tip glowing in the darkening evening, he had his hands in the pockets of his robes as he watched the two disappear among the winding streets of the village. Within his mind, the Auror worked away at the puzzle that was the young Healer. Oh, he trusted him with the youngster he just handed over. Heck, out of the many Healers, Reserve and not, Haruto was right up there in the trust department. The kid would not do anything to harm the young Neko Yokai.

Quite the opposite most likely.

No, there was other aspects regarding to him that caused the old Auror to become interested. And not his current relationships with a number of female Yokai. Oh, Haruto and them were discreet, which was far more than Sunada could say for many others. There was also the fact that they all knew about each other and lived under the same roof. Heck, he had been wondering when they would get the nerve up to confess to one another when one day, it just happened he noticed. As far as the relationship was concerned, Sunada internally shrugged as it was none of his business. And it was not like any of the other guards noticed it with him only doing so because of his decades as an investigator.

But... there were other things that caught his interest about the group. Things that made him suspicious. He did not suspect Haruto of being involved with the Smugglers, the Kid knew better and understood that as long as he did not know, he could not tell. Yet there were a few items regarding him and the girls that he was with that niggled at him and slowly began to create a picture.

If what he suspected was true...

Chuckling, Sunada turned and began to walk towards the Apparation point that would allow for him to get to the guard facility for the island, "Well, even if I'm right, no laws are being broken. So no need to report on it..."

And with that, he vanished out of sight of the clinic.

Reaching the small, public bathhouse, Haruto waved at Mie who was waiting, "Mie-Chan."

The Inugami smiled and bowed slightly, "Haruto-Kun." Turning, she went to greet the small Yokai holding her boyfriend's hand, "And hello..." Her voice trailed off and she shot a wide eyed look at Haruto, "Haruto-Kun..."

Gently patting the Neko's head, the Healer gave a slight nod, "So I'm right? She's a shipgirl?'

Eyes widening, Chikako boggled at first Haruto and then Mie, "I-I'm what...?"

Looking at her, Mie crouched down and placed a hand on her shoulder, "A shipgirl, like... me. I can see your hull around you nearly solid." Furrowing her eyebrows, she gave her boyfriend a look, "How did you know?"

Hands in his pockets, Haruto glanced around, "I used an enchanted stethoscope and was listening to her heartbeat when I picked up another sound. Had to adjust the magical settings to isolate it." Looking at the Yokai, he smiled a bit, "Heard the sound of boilers, just barely there. Pretty sure that means that she is extremely close to awakening."

Slowly, the Inugami shipgirl nodded, "Very, especially as I can pick out a lot of detail on her hull."

Blinking rapidly, Chikako looked herself over before looking up at the other Natural Born, "I-I'm really a shipgirl?" At the nod, she tilted her head some, "Um, which one?"

Thoughtful, Mie got up and walked around her before slowly nodding, "I think that you are a Masamune Class Repair Ship, named after the Swordmaking School not the Smith. There was not really a naming convention on the No-Maj side yet for us to follow for Repair Ships." Rubbing her chin, she gave a small nod, "Hai, I think that's right."

Interested, Haruto glanced at her and at the awed Nekomata, "Hmm... So what can you tell me about them?"

Shaking her head, his girlfriend shrugged, "Um, not too much, Haruto-Kun. They were some of the first ships the Kamo Ministry had built with three of them built. And they were based off some Crane Ship that the No-Maj navy was using to take Battleship turrets from those being scrapped and transport them that were about the size of a Destroyer. But modified with workshops inside the hull and a lot of tools for repairs." Finger against her chin, she smiled some, "And, I think... that you are the nameship."

All Chikako did at that was smile brightly, happier than she had been in a long time...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

The smell and sizzle of cooking meat filled the kitchenette before a spatula came down and pressed against ground beef shaped in the form of a patty. Leaning over, Kawa blinked some before nodding with a small smile, "Looks good." She then took a sniff and her smile widened a bit, "Smells good too."

A grin on her face, Enterprise let out a laugh, "Of course it does! I am the one cooking after all." Taking one of the patties, she flipped it over in the pan before giving the Light Cruiser a raised eyebrow, "You know that I am a good cook, and you certainly have never complained about it."

Raising her hands, the Natural Born smiled some, "No, and I never will, Enterprise-San."

With a sigh, Enterprise rolled her eyes and motioned at her with the spatula, "What have I told you, Yahagi? Call me E, you've earned it."

Only shrugging, Kawa shook her head with a small frown, "Sorry, Enterprise-San, but I don't think that I have." She then smirked a bit, "And no, being, ah, cuddly does not count towards that."

Softly snorting, the Carrier gave her a look, "Like fuck it doesn't. Seriously, how the fuck are you so nice to cuddle against, I will never know."

Lightly blushing, Kawa shook her head, "I'm not that cuddly..."

All Enterprise did was snort, "Yes, you fucking are." Over her shoulder she called out, "Oy! Princess! Tell Cuddly-As-Fuck-Chan over here that she is cuddly as hell!"

Her answer came in a distracted voice, "Hai, Yahagi-Chan is extremely cuddly."

Bemused somewhat, Enterprise glanced over to where Yamato had an odd look on her face as she scanned a number of documents. The look was somewhat pensive and unsure, which was odd to see on the Battleship. Lowering her voice, the American turned to Kawa, "Any idea what is going on with Princess? She's been reading and re-reading those documents for the past couple of hours without stopping."

Frowning, the Light Cruiser shook her head as she spoke just as low, "Your guess would be as good as mine, Enterprise-San. Because I do not know either... though Ooyodo-San brought them for Yamato-Sama to look over."

Still frowning, Enterprise considered that, "Huh, Yodo brought them, huh? Odd, not exactly something that she would normally do in person... must be important."

Kawa had a thought occur to her which made her frown, "Or... perhaps political?"

That made Enterprise raise an eyebrow in thought before slowly nodding, "You know? You might be right. Though what could it be that is making Princess act like this? I've seen her tell off those Ultranationalist dicks often enough, and in ways that leaves them wondering if she insulted them or not for several minutes. So what could get this sort of reaction from her?"

A frown on her face, the Light Cruiser shook her head, "I... don't know."

Just shrugging, Enterprise turned her attention to a pot filled with gravy, "Well, whatever it is, I got the perfect way to get her mind off it. My famous Salisbury Steaks."

Head tilted to the side, Kawa raised an eyebrow, "What is the difference between that and normal Hamburg steak?"

Waving a hand, the Carrier shook her head, "A number of things really, but mostly different ingredients as well as using gravy instead of Worcestershire sauce." Pointing at a large pot, she gave a nod, "Mind working the mashed potatoes some? That way they cook more evenly?"

In reply, Kawa nodded and began to do exactly that, "Hai."

Roughly a half hour later found Enterprise setting out the food in large plates. Each one able to feed an entire family, or two when it came to the plates that were for the two larger shipgirls. Nodding as she sat down, the Carrier smiled, "Okay, time to dig in." When she got a mumble from Yamato though, she sighed before flicking a pea that hit the Battleship in the side of the head, "Oy, Princess, dinner time. Not reading time."

Blinking, Yamato turned to them and flushed some as she set aside the paperwork, "Ah, my apologies. I was... elsewhere."

One eyebrow cocked, the American made a jabbing motion towards the Japanese Battleship with her fork, "Yeah? Rather obvious, Princess."

While Yamato apologized again, Kawa cleared her throat, "Yamato-Sama? Is... something wrong?"

That made the Battleship blink and frown as she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "Wrong? Why would you assume such, Yahagi-Chan?"

Chewing a bite of her own food, Kawa frowned back, "Well, you have barely said a word all afternoon since Ooyodo-San delivered those papers to you. Which is... odd." She bit her lip a bit and shook her head, "It is somewhat worrying... Politics?"

Needless to say, the fact that Yamato did not verbally answer right away was enough of one. Cutting a piece of meat, Enterprise chomped down on it before chewing and swallowing, "Okay, so it is some sort of political bullshit that has you all bothered, Princess. What's up? One of those Nationalists attempting to get you to do something like go to that Shrine?"

A scowl was on Yamato's face at that, "I, Yamato, am never going to step foot in that place." Sighing, she rubbed her forehead as she took some food, "But I only wish that it was so simple, Enterprise-San. Because that would be far better than what was dropped into my lap, as you Americans say."

Eyebrow raised, Enterprise took a sip of beer, "Okay... this sounds somewhat serious."

Hands clasped in front of her face, Yamato looked towards the window that faced eastwards, "You know of the ship being built for the JMSDF in America, Enterprise-San? The modified Wasp class?"

Slowly, the Carrier nodded, "Yeah? Why wouldn't I?" Frowning, she scratched her chin in thought, "From memory, the ship has Japanese components and I remember you and I escorting that convoy across the Pacific, what? A year or two ago?" Enterprise waved a hand in the air, "Or something like that anyways."

Unable to help herself, Yamato's lips twitched, "Hai, something like that." Her frown then returned, "The ship is supposed to be a Kanmusu Command Ship with things like Repair Baths, a Rearmament room for shipgirls, and the like. It also will be equipped with Ospreys and helicopters for transport."

Considering that, Enterprise frowned, "Yeah? And? From what I remember the US is working on our own as are other nations. Makes sense and shit to go with an Amphib due to the well dock and such. Easy to launch and be retrieved."

While the Battleship sighed, Kawa glanced at the paperwork, "What does that have to do with politics and you, Yamato-Sama?"

For a few moments, Yamato was silent before pursing her lips, "It... is because of the fact that since it is far enough along in construction, they wish to give it a name. And the first that came up is to name it after me, Yamato."

Leaning back, the Carrier was also silent before nodding, "Huh, guess that I can see why you would be pensive about that than." Upon seeing the confusion, Enterprise waved a hand, "Remember the stink that was raised by China and others when the JMSDF launched their new Aircraft Carrier, the Kaga?" At the wince from the Light Cruiser, she nodded with a serious expression, "Yeah, calling it Yamato, as great as that might be, could cause some political problems to say the least."

One eyebrow raised, Yamato gave her a look, "You think that it would be great, Enterprise-San?"

Just snorting, Enterprise gave her a salute with her beer, "In a word? Hell yeah."

Raising her finger, Kawa gave her a look, "That is two words though."

Simply rolling her eyes, the American snorted, "Bite me."

Moments later though, Yamato gave her a small smirk, "My, my, Enterprise-San. I was not aware that you were into that sort of thing. Not that there is anything wrong with it... just remember not to leave marks where they are easily visible."

Now choking on her beer, Enterprise pounded her chest before giving the Battleship a glare, "Fucking lewd Japanese! Fuck..."

Looking away, Kawa had a blush on her face as she was collateral damage. That was, until a thought occurred to her and she spoke up, "Yamato-Sama? Is that the sort of thing that one should be imagining?"

It was now Yamato's turn to do a spittake while the Carrier laughed, "Holy shit! Finally, you start!" Slapping Kawa on the back, she grinned, "Now that was the best."

Still blushing, Kawa looked away from where Yamato was wiping her mouth even as the Battleship coughed. Once she had her coughing under control, the Japanese Battleship sighed and gave Enterprise a look, "You are corrupting my Yahagi-Chan."

A smirk on her face, Enterprise leaned back, "She's mine as well now."

Unnoticed by either of them, however, the Light Cruiser in question was heavily blushing and sure that steam was coming out of her ears, 'Gah! Do either of you know what you're saying?! Y-your Yahagi!?'

Meanwhile, Enterprise tilted her head, "Anyways... I can see why you're worried about the politics. Some are going to start screaming their heads off and shit."

Only shaking her head, Yamato sighed, "Yet, one of the other names that they are considering are about as bad, Enterprise-San." At the look, she continued, "Yoshino."

Confused, the American went over her log books and continued to frown, "Uh... okay? What's the big deal about that now?"

It was Kawa who answered her, however, "Um, Yoshino is the name of an old Japanese Province. Yoshino Province split off from Yamato Province over a thousand years ago and stayed separate for a few hundred years before being reabsorbed back into Yamato Province." Arms crossed, she tilted her head, "So... they're trying to get around the issue of naming it after Yamato-Sama by naming it after a... daughter province of Yamato Province, which Yamato-Sama is named after."

Taking a bite of food, Yamato sighed, "Hai, but that does not make it any easier in some ways, Yahagi-Chan." Seeing as they were looking at her, she continued, "Yoshino was not just the name of a Province, but also was the name of a warship."

Enterprise blinked at that bit of information and went over her logs quickly, "Uh, are you sure about that, Princess? I mean, I don't remember any Japanese warship named that. Like, at all. And I sank a bunch of you guys and was around at the end of the war."

Grimacing, Yamato shook her head, "Hai, I am sure. But it was well before our time. There was once a Protected Cruiser called Yoshino which was in the Imperial Japanese Navy. And it was heavily involved in the First Sino-Japanese War including the invasion of Taiwan and the like as well as sinking a number of Chinese vessels."

At that, the Carrier hissed through her teeth, "Yeah, suddenly it becomes obvious why that might be a bad idea. The Chinese would throw a real fit over that." Rubbing her chin in thought, she frowned, "Any idea how long until they make a decision?"

Shaking her head, Yamato frowned, "No, though from the notes they have a year at least before they do. And... I am unsure still how to feel about it."

Much to her surprise, Enterprise patted her back, "Well, for what it's worth... Yamato is not a bad name. Look at how many ships have been called Enterprise for fucks sake."

That made Yamato smile a touch as she understood what her friend was trying to do. After that, the conversation drifted to other matters...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Makes Her (House) Arrest

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

"In the name of the Queen, The High Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Magical Mounted Police, and the International Confederation of Wizards, I, Chief Superintendent and Auror Wei Ying of the RCMMP do arrest you, Colombe du Chasteler, for breaches of the Statute of Secrecy!"

There was momentary dead silence in the hall at Wei Ying's triumphantly smug proclamation.

Jacklyn Fox grinned in smug triumph as her cellphone immortalized her big sister Colombe du Chasteler's aristocratic jaw dropping in blank-faced shock. One hand slid down to Aomi Sato's rear and gently squeezed the Inugami's posterior, producing a low yelp.

From upstairs came the sound of someone hammering a piano's keys, followed by a bang as a string snapped. Claire's avatar twitched as her mouth moved like a beached fish with no words coming out.
Spoiler: Claire's Reaction

Masamune-no-Tokunotakai's serene face hardened and she tensed, only to be stopped by a quelling hand on her arm by a grinning Masamune-no-Fudo who spoke quietly in Japanese to her.
Spoiler: Ehren's Reaction

Ehren du Chasteler's face froze and her eyes became chips of flaming steel-blue ice as she surveyed her eldest half-sister.

The dagger spirit concentrated on one of the jorogumo spells that Miho Fujii had taught her and her fingers flicked, wrapping herself in a weave of illusion that settled over her. Ehren left behind the illusionary 'weave' of her shocked expression and frozen figure as she circled to Ying's unprotected left flank and advanced, her right wrist twitching to let her razor-sharp true body slide into her hand as the spell turned her into a spectral transparent image of herself.

As Ehren began her quiet stalk of Wei Ying, Kasuyu moved in turn. The bare-chested axe Tsukumogami flash-stepped between mother and daughter to block the way to Colombe. One massive arm was outstretched to halt her progress as the other held his axe, ablaze with layered enchantments, ready.

The younger children hid behind Miho Fujii who glared at Ying and hissed venomously.

Delilah winced as the tension in the room spiked thick enough to cut with a knife. She opened her mouth to speak a mass paralysis spell.

"Halt."

The command snapped out in a voice that brooked no arguments, the voice that had commanded on battlefields from Belguim to China and back again, had seen three centuries of combat against foes magical, mundane, and supernatural. A voice filled with the steel-deep understanding that the owner had been born and raised to command, to be at the head of every advance and the last woman in any rearguard.

The voice of Colombe d'Aubigny du Chasteler.

Ehren froze in reflexive discipline, her blade a bare inch from Ying's ribs as her free hand reached for her sister's throat to muffle any attempt to cast a spell when she went for the killing blow. Automatically her gaze flicked toward her mother whose expression was calm, serene in her command of the situation.

"I gave my word to hear you out before acting, Daughter. Speak. I am listening."

Ying automatically straightened to attention. "Yes. In brief, I have a plan to get you a fair hearing with the ICW, allow you to tell your side of the story, and see that justice is done both in your deeds saving others being honored and the crimes that you did not commit out of malice getting expunged from your record." She took a deep breath. "What I have is a warrant requesting you to report in front of a magistrate for questioning regarding the particulars of the crimes the ICW accuses you of. I will note that this is not a confinement order, merely that you notify the Court of any plans to travel in advance so that you can be reached. Voluntary compliance with this warrant will be taken into account by the court and passed along to the ICW as part of the adjudication of your case by a panel assembled to review it, including pertinent documentation which was overlooked by the charging officers when they filed the original case."

Ying looked at Delilah who nodded, "As my niece said, there will also be some review by the ICW jurisdictions who generated the initial cases. For instance, MACUSA should drop the major charges from 1927 outright after I point out to people that it was a case of self-defense, the Ku Klux Klan was a domestic terrorism organization, and the nasty chap you decapitated was a Scourer with a long and violent criminal history. Self-defense is a valid excuse for most of your actions. Expect a fine for vandalism of that damn Civil War memorial statue that I had to unjinx though, Sis."

Ying nodded, "I can't get everything dropped. China and Iran both want your guts for garters and France is being difficult. But I can give you a fighting chance to get things cleared up. I," She took a deep breath, and stared into her father's unreadable crystal blue eyes, "spent a century of my life trying to set this up for you. Give you a chance for a fair trial, for justice to be done, for the truth to come out. Please?"

Colombe looked into Ying's eyes. She then looked over to Delilah who nodded. Jackie gave her a wink as she slowly turned, looking at each person in turn.

Finally she turned to Ehren who was giving her a shocked look above her German T-shirt and sighed. "You can come out now, Ehren. That is not necessary."
Spoiler: Ehren's T-shirt

Ying started as the blonde in question faded into existence next to her as the 'Ehren' across the hall suddenly vanished in an eyeblink. Dark gray eyes found her youngest half-sister's chilly steel blue and then glanced down to an unwavering dagger point an inch from her ribs. They raised to see a ice-cold determined gaze below the pale gold eyebrows.

Ying looked into them for long moments then nodded at the unspoken message.

A thin set of lips pressed tightly together quirked minutely in a cold Teutonic face for an instant in response and the dagger made her true self vanish with a flick of the wrist. Ehren then glanced over to see an approving stare and nod from Delilah in response.

Colombe then nodded once, gracefully. "I accept your conditions for my legal obligations, Auror Wei." She stood ramrod straight as she slowly unbuckled her sword belt and presented it to Ying. "I remand myself into your custody."

Ying placed a gentle hand on the gold of Colombe's hilt. "I appreciate the gesture, but it is not necessary, your sworn word of parole is sufficient for me. I have a draft oath and the relevant paperwork in my suitcase here."
Spoiler: Fudo's Satisfaction

"Wait!" All eyes turned to Fudo as the Masamune walked forward with her gold eyes blazing. "Before she does such, I demand satisfaction for her actions involving defiling my baby sister!"

Toku facepalmed and muttered into her hands as she shook her head in denial, her cheeks scarlet.

Colombe looked at the furious Masamune. "Indeed, I should handle such a matter of honor before I swear to forsake some of my abilities. I have a salle d'armes in the Castle, will that be sufficient for your challenge?"

Fudo nodded sharply and with a convulsive yank loosened her tie. The tie flew over the marble banister of the staircase, followed by Fudo's suit coat as the Masamune rolled up her sleeves. "Quite. You have a lot to answer for dating back to 1864 and beating up my baby sister on a whim. I'll have your head for what you did to Toku-chan."

Toku walked to the nearest wall and began to thump her head into it.

Colombe shrugged and buckled her sword belt back to her waist. "Full power then? Just so there is no doubt of matters being resolved once and for all?"

"To death, incapacitation, or yielding. Full power." Fudo smirked and cracked her knuckles before giving Colombe a murderous glare full of fury.

"Neesan no baka." Toku gave Fudo a disappointed look which the tanto ignored.

Colombe shrugged. "Follow me then. I will request that we are unobserved and I also wish my challenger's indulgence so that I can raise all the wards first to prevent more damage to the castle structure than is necessary. I would prefer not to rebuild part of my home." She looked into Fudo's furious eyes until the Masamune nodded sharply.

Colombe then walked over to Toku, and kissed her, whispering in her ear which caused tears to trickle down the Masamune's flaming cheeks. She then proceeded to Claire and gave her a hug, which the piano spirit returned with rib crushing force as her mother whispered in her ear, producing a nod. Jackie, Kasayu, and Delilah got handshakes and a few quiet words, and then Colombe turned to her youngest and oldest daughters.

"I'm sorry that our family reunion will be delayed, but honor demands. I look forward to hearing your story, my child." Colombe said quietly, giving Ying a hug which the dao tearfully returned.

Ehren got a hug and a hair ruffle, and a quiet whisper. "Sei ein braves Mädchen, meine kleine Tochter." The dagger nodded sharply as her arms of their own accord hugged her mother for what could be the last time.

Few things in her life were harder for Ehren to do than stand there ramrod-straight with her mask of cool professionalism up as Colombe and Fudo walked down the hall to the salle d' armes and closed the door behind them with a hollow boom full of finality.

As a tracery of enchantment covered the door and it locked itself, silence fell in Castle Moulbaix.

 

[darthcourt10]

MagisterAurelius

Alrighty... it's Dalt Smash time.

Lonely Street VI – I Ain't as Good as I Once Was, But I'm as Good Once as I Ever Was.

Just outside the Yokosuka Naval Base Main Gate: An unassuming white van with the Mister Muffin logo on the side panels.

Gorobei finished securing his brand new GoPro to the dash of the getaway van. He saw his two accomplices nab the investigator the boss wanted to 'teach' a lesson to. Gorobei turned the camera unit on and began recording, making sure that the volume on the mic was adjusted just like his squib cousin had told him. If this job went well, Gorobei thought he might use it as useful cred to get inducted into a proper Yakuza organization. Maybe even putting it up on that 'youtube' on the internet thing his cousin had mentioned could open up new opportunities for him.

The side door slid open with Ichiro entering first, while Taro shoved the witch into the middle seat. Taro slammed the door shut.

"GO! GO! GO!" Ichiro shouted.

"WHERE?" Gorobei shouted back. No one had informed him where to drive them to in the first place!

"MAGICAL MINATO WARD YOU DUMBSHIT!" Taro yelled back. As Gorobei rapidly accelerated away from the scene, Taro continued in a lower tone, "2-chome Azabu-juban. You know, the boss's funhouse? He wants to watch this dumb bitch get what's coming to her for putting his dad in jail."

Gorobei made the turn to merge onto the expressway he needed. Ichiro looked at the dash. "Hey are you recording this?" Gorobei nodded. "Cool man. Shit, straighten your ties guys. We gotta look like pros for this, right?"

Taro just chuckled, "Don't worry about it. Once we get there, we can record the fun and games. Boss wants us to make sure we all have our piece of 'Christmas Cake' before it expires."

Gorobei just winced and kept driving. He didn't mind the rough stuff much, but even the actual Yakuza had lines didn't they? High achievement to Gorobei was to approach mediocrity, but even he could see that taking things as far as Taro was suggesting would doom any chance of him of ever coming close to that. All he could do now was keep driving.

-0-

Dalt finished his shower rendition of 'Nessun Dorma' and turned off the water. Years of shipboard practice saw him towel off, shave and dress within five minutes of completing his shower. Picking a black polo shirt to go with the tan chino trousers, he grinned in the mirror, and was walking out the door to the main gate.

As he passed the main gate, Dalt looked to the bench where Kiho would be waiting. Dalt's pace to the bench hurried as there was no sign of her. Coming up to the bench, cold fingers of ice gripped his heart when he saw her notebook just lying on the ground. Dalt picked it up, putting it into his pants pocket, and ran back to the gate where he flashed his ID.

"A woman I've been seeing called me earlier and said she'd be waiting for me on that bench. Have you seen her? Her notebook was just lying on the ground and there's no sign of her in the vicinity."

The guard looked confused for a moment, then recognition set in. "No, wait, yes. Yes, I did see her just maybe ten minutes ago, I think? Yes, two large men were putting her into a white van."

Dalt's voice went glacial. "What. Two men putting a woman into a van is normal at this gate? Did you get a license plate?"

The guard stammered as it seemed like a cloud lifted from his mind. "N-N-No! It's not normal. Then why? I can't remember a plate. But something else. Y-Yes! It was a Mister Muffin van! I saw the logo on the side and thought I could go for a muffin for lunch."

"Call Ooyodo. Let her know that a Mitsue Kiho was just abducted in front of the main gate. Now." Dalt's tone was low, calm and promised horrible things if denied. While he waited, Dalt tried calling Kiho's cell phone. The phone rang until it went to voicemail. Dalt thumbed through the many useless apps on his phone until he came to the one he wanted. He clicked on the GPS cell phone tracker and entered Kiho's phone number.

It was only a matter of minutes before Captain Yonehara, Ooyodo, her small squad of shipgirls, and Haru Ono arrived on the scene. Dalt quickly explained and Ooyodo, Haru and Yonehara took a look at the security camera footage from the main gate.

"I need a vehicle." Dalt's tone brooked no refusal. He wanted to grind his teeth so badly as he could feel the rage building inside. It took a great deal of stress and anguish to loosen the chains Dalton Longsteet had wrapped around the monster of fury and frustration at his life, but god help the doomed target of that rage.

Luckily, before Dalt could simmer any further, a small Honda came up with the ship-girl Takao driving. Yonehara directed her to drive Dalt to wherever Mitsue Kiho was being held. As the destroyers Sagiri and Oboro climbed into the backseat of the Honda, Yonehara turned to Dalt.

"We'll follow as soon as we can. Wait for backup," Yonehara stopped for a second at Dalt's expression, "if you can."

"If worst comes to worst and they harm her, Captain? You might want to bring a Shop-Vac." With a nod of thanks to Takao, Dalt sat in the passenger's seat and the car took off.

-0-

Gorobei parked the Mister Muffin van in front of the Imada compound on a quiet residential street in Azubu-juban of the Magical Minato ward. Taro opened the side door and got out. "Bring her inside." Gorobei grabbed his GoPro and followed Taro and Ichiro as they carried the paralyzed Mitsue Kiho between them. As he passed by the black-suited guard at the gate, he blanched at the guard's muttered disdain. "Fucking morons."

Hauling the investigator into the main house and foyer, they knock on the carved and metal studded great interior hall doors. They enter and find only the two bodyguards for Imada Hayato waiting for them. "Boss is busy breaking in a new pet. It will be a few." After standing around for fifteen awkward minutes listening to the sounds of a lash, yowls of pain and sadistic laughter, Gorobei walks off to the side of the room and sits down with the camera still recording. Eventually his boss emerges from a back bedroom, zipping up his pants with a leering grin. "Alright. Finally, you losers managed to find the bitch. Oh well, it's not like she'll be needing to go back to her shitty trashed apartment or shitty pathetic trashed office ever again. Take that ofuda off her and stand her up. I want her to hear and see what's going to come to her."

Taro and Ichiro stand Mitsue up and remove the paralysis ofuda.

-0-

Mitsue Kiho finally blinks, the paralysis over. It takes a moment to regain her sense of balance, but she realizes she's been abducted and then she sees by whom. Internally, she grimaces but then calms. I still have my wand. Watch for your chance Kiho, then deal with these fools. Dalt must be frantic with worry by now. Her attention latches onto the sneering young man who walks up to her.

"Mitsue Kiho. You put my father in prison for using those animals in the only manner they're fit for! So I'm going to make certain you pay for that. See, I'm going to watch as you get used as a plaything for a group of oni. Then my boys get their turn with you. Only then will I grant you leave to die and we will dump your corpse on the doorstep of those animal lovers in Kyoto."

"Big promises for such a little..." Kiho's next word was cut off as he slapped her.

"Shut up you..." he in turn was interrupted by a ringtone.

'My boyfriend's back and you're gonna be in trouble... ♫'

"Answer that you shithead!" Imada Hayato growled.

Answering the phone the sheepish bodyguard looked puzzled, "That's not my ringtone, what the.. Moshi moshi? Ah Kenta. Wait, what do you..."

THOOMTHOOMTHOOM

-0-

A few minutes before THOOMAGE: in Takao's car.

Takao looked over at the quiet Coast Guard Master Chief. He had said little beyond what driving directions and turns she needed to make, and thanks he had given as he buckled into the passenger's seat. The heavy cruiser could feel the concern and the carefully controlled rage he was radiating. Even the two destroyers Sagiri and Oboro were looking concerned at Dalt, clearly wanting to comfort the upset man.

"There. The white van. Pull over here, and I'll take it from here." Dalt stated this calmly, but Takao caught an undercurrent of terrifying certainty behind that phrase. He's either going to rescue this person or avenge them, even if it kills him. Takao wanted to say something, to tell him to wait for help, but she couldn't force herself to say it. Something within her felt envy of the person that inspired such devotion. She could only blurt out a quick, "Be careful Longstreet-san, these people may try to stop you."

Dalt leaned down and briefly grinned as he stepped out of the car. "They may try. But I will not stop. Though Hell itself bars the way."

Dalt had left the car and was striding purposefully to the gate with the white van parked in front. Takao remained sitting. Until Sagiri poked her. "Ano, Takao-sama? Shouldn't we be following Longstreet-san?" Then Oboro peered at Takao's face.

"Takao-sama? Why are you blushing?"

"YES! Let's follow!" Takao clapped her hands together in an attempt to pull herself together. By the time the three shipgirls had exited the car, Dalt had already gone through the gate and the guard there was speaking into his cell phone.

-0-

"WHAT THE SHIT?" Imada Hayato yells.

"Boss, Kenta says that he quits and there's a very angry man to see you."

"I don't give a shit! And Kenta better get his ass.."

Imada stops as a voice reverberates through the thick doors with their anti-blasting curse wards.

"EITHER MITSUE KIHO COMES OUT UNHARMED, OR I COME IN. ANY MAN WHO DOESN'T WANT TO DIE, BETTER HEAD ON OUT THE BACK."

Imada snorts. "Who is this fool? On the count of three we open the doors and blast him to pieces. You two," he motions to his hulking bodyguards, "get to the sides of the doors. We let him walk in, confundus the shit out of him and kill him."

As Imada backed up with his wand to Kiho's throat, using her as a shield, Kiho worried in her mind. Dalt is here? I hope his resistance can stop a confundus. After Imada had backed himself and Kiho up a distance he started counting, "Three.... Two....".

Gorobei was still off to the side, forgotten but recording everything as Imada counted down. But before the count hit one, the wall next to the door exploded.

-0-

Before Dalt made his ultimatum, he had tapped along the wall next to the door. After all, he had to give them a chance. But he wasn't so angry as to ignore a better option to trying to break down a heavy reinforced door. Interior doors like that were very strong and could take the abuse. But the drywall right next to such doors was so much more accommodating to the dynamic entry he was about to employ. I could shout 'OH YEAH', but I believe it would be wasted on them. The door remained closed. Dalt backed up to the far end of the foyer and took over at a dead run, his arms crossed in front of him in a 'X'

As Dalt burst through the wall, he impacted into one of the goons waiting on the other side of the wall. His momentum allowed him to take the goon for a ride through the semi-ornamental plaster pillar holding up a second story balcony. Dalt let the goon slid off his arms as he pivoted on his foot and launched himself towards yet another goon. Behind him, large chunks of the falling plaster pillar smashed the first bodyguard into unconsciousness. Target two attempted to try a martial arts palm strike on him. Dalt grabbed the extended wrist and pulled. When the target's elbow locked he placed his other hand on it and pushed away, while pulling the wrist towards him. There was a sickening crack as the elbow joint immediately bent ninety degrees the wrong way, and the elbow's owner screamed in agony.

He heard the voices of the two remaining thugs yell out. When he turned his gaze on them, they were blinking at him with vapid surprise as they held wands in his direction. Dalt frowned and grabbed the broken elbowed wretch at hand. Dalt tossed the wailing thug into the more distant of the wand pointers and the collision took them both to the floor. The other punk had recovered enough to try charging Dalt. Dalt backhanded him across the lower jaw with a closed fist. Dalt was mildly aware of the sound of a cracking jawbone, and could even see the flight of almost ten teeth from the thug's mouth to where they tinkled across the marble floor. A follow up punch to the solar plexus doubled the goon over and he crumpled. Dalt strode over to the last thug, who had managed to get back to his feet. As the idiot tried to cast a spell again, Dalt kicked out, his foot catching the man's kneecap and shattering it. As the goon fell, his face caught Dalt's fist and the goon flew back into the wall with a resounding thud. He slid to the floor unconscious. Dalt scanned for more targets, his eyes catching view and dismissing the camera holding Gorobei. In shock and just pissed himself. Deal with him later.

Dalt silently crossed back to the middle of the room towards Kiho and her abductor.

-0-

Kiho was stunned. Dalt had burst through the wall and in less than a minute had completely incapacitated all four of the thugs Imada had. Their magic sloughed off Dalt like water. She felt a shove in her back as Imada pushed her into Dalt. Who caught her and put himself in front of her as a shield as he faced the panicking boy.

"Stay away! My grandfather is an important man! You'll pay for this you.. you.. and that hanyou whore of yours!"

"No, we won't. You.. are already dead."

Imada's eyes bulged at this, he pointed his wand off to an alcove, cast a spell of unlocking and shouted, "Kill them all Malice!"

Kiho had just gotten her wand out, but she gasped as Imada's pet Nundu stalked free of its cage. "No.. Dalt we have to..." She didn't finish as the Nundu leaped.

-0-

Dalt's anger had been on a cold simmer. It had allowed him to take out the goons without resorting to lethal blows. But by releasing a beast as dangerous as a Nundu, Dalt completely lost his temper. As the Nundu leaped, Dalt counter leaped into the Nundu and put his fists together. He brought his fists down into a hammer blow on the Nundu's head. They crashed to the floor together, fists and claws thrashing out at each other in a man versus beast version of going at it hammer and tongs.

When they finally separated enough to circle, the Nundu was warily growling at a foe that would not be vanquished easily. Dalt, veins bulging in rage, snarled back at the beast. When it leaped again, Dalt slipped to the side and grabbed the rear legs of the Nundu. Pivoting in a circle, Dalt pulled forward with all his strength, reversing the Nundu's momentum and cracking it against the marble floor like a whip. Dalt repeated this slam again and again, until at last the Nundu's body lay limp and unbreathing on the floor.

Imada screamed in rage at the loss of his pet. Kiho's hand shot to her mouth as Imada cast a string of dark curses at Dalt. But every curse proved ineffective. Nothing worked.

"Crucio!" Imada screamed, and Kiho watched in shock as the Unforgivable didn't even faze Dalt, except seeming to enrage him further, as he advanced on Imada. Then Imada grimaced and cast.

"Confringo Ultima Maximus!" The most powerful blasting charm Kiho had ever seen hit Dalt head on. The blast raised dust obscuring her vision. When the cloud cleared, Dalt remained standing, albeit now shirtless as the charm proved his polo was not resistant to magic. Then Dalt moved, and held Imada's closed wand hand in his own powerful fist.

"Did you know that the human hand has twenty eight bones in it?" Dalt asked calmly. Kiho saw his fist squeeze and she heard Imada's bones breaking. "You now have fifty six in yours. What else should I break?"

Kiho realized that Dalt was going to continue until Imada no longer drew breath. I can't let him do that. Imada is not worth that. "DALT-SAN! PLEASE! DON'T KILL HIM!"

Dalt turned to Kiho with a look of genuine surprise on his face. He inhaled deeply. Several times. "Is she not merciful?" Dalt looked back to the pained face of Imada Hayato who's broken hand Dalt still grasped like a vice, working the breaks. Dalt sniffed and looked down. "Ah, I believe someone gets a little incontinent when they're in pain. You know, I was going to hurt you a great deal. To try and extract all the pain your body contains, just to make you pay for what you were going to do to someone I care deeply for. Oh, to be sure, there would not be enough. But I would have tried."

Dalt took a breath and his eyes landed on the mook standing stock still with the camera. Pointed their way, as if he was physically unable to stop. Dalt's eyes lit up. And he smiled. "But perhaps the greater pain, will be living with everyone you know and care for having the knowledge of your crimes. Because your faithful minion has recorded everything." Dalt took the wand from Imada's hand and promptly snapped it between his fingers.

-0-

Takao and her attendant destroyers just looked on in shock at what had just happened. She shook herself out of her reverie as Dalt frogmarched a young man towards them and a woman with brownish grey hair marching a shocked man with a camera at wandpoint. By this time Captain Yonehara, and a team of Kyoto aurors had also arrived.

Takao looked at Longstreet and was about to speak, when Mitsue-san wrapped her arms around Dalt's. Dalt handed Takao a GoPro camera. "Here's all the evidence everyone should need. Thank you for the ride here Takao-san. You got me here just in time."

"Indeed. Thank you Takao-san. I am in your debt. Let's turn in these miscreants and leave Dalt-san." Kiho added. Dalt and Kiho walked off, shoving the two walking members of the gang into the arms of the aurors, get into a cab and leave.

"Takao-sama?" Sagiri looked away from Takao as she spoke. "I think Mitsue-san was not amused by your staring at Longstreet-san."

"Totally not okay. Of course you still have a little drool from the corner of your mouth. BUT! I mean, I get it. Longstreet-san has that total Dad-bod thing going..."

Takao wiped her mouth and prepared for a long afternoon of debriefing. "Oboro-san, as New Jersey-san would say, don't be a little shit."

-0-

08:00 pm, Dalt's house on base

Kiho sighed. Her apartment had been completely ransacked by those idiots. She was able to put together enough things to last her until it was put back into order, but she was still happy that Dalt had offered to let her crash in his home till then. She knew he was busy prepping his couch in the front room for him to sleep on, but her mind wouldn't give her peace. No, after this, I have no doubts. She smirked as she held up one of her garments that she hadn't remembered packing from her apartment. Oh well, time for me to amaze Dalt.

-0-

Dalt felt satisfaction as he cricked his neck. He would be paying through the nose for the exertions he pulled today. But that was the price of activating 'Dalt Smash' mode.

"Dalt?"

Dalt turned to his bedroom doorway where Kiho's voice had just spoke... and was struck dumb. Kiho leaned against the doorway, wearing a baby-doll negligee and beckoning him closer. He walked over and when he was close enough she wrapped her arms around his neck, staring into his eyes with longing.

"Please call me Kiho, Dalt. Just Kiho."

"Kiho, I..I umm.."

"Shhh.." She put a finger to his lips and turned out the light.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Whee... finally done with it.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Chapter In Which A Butterknife Mountie Realizes Axe Is For Manly Tsukumogami, A Piano Is Reparoed, A Legendary Pirate Expedition Is Launched, And A Stepmother and Stepdaughter Open Up To Each Other

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

Every eye in the castle was turned to the door which Masamune-no-Fudo and Colombe du Chasteler had just closed behind them for their full power duel of honor.

The thud of the lock shooting home made the silence deepen and become more grave as the first ward flared to life. Another and another flashed to life to contain the energies that would soon be unleashed on the two blades inside.
Spoiler: The Fujii Pirates Set Sail!

A sniffle filled the hall and Jacklyn looked at the young tanuki whose lip was trembling. She walked over and knelt in front of the child, ruffling her hair and spoke with confidence in her surprisingly gentle and empathetic voice. "Oi, no need for that. Me Sister has come through worse fights."

A sparkle filled her eyes as she looked at the two children and their teenage minder and continued in that gentle voice. "In fact, while Sis is bein' all high and snooty, it is time for Capn' Jacklyn Fox, the Terror of the Sargasso Sea to venture forth in search of grand adventure... If I have a few junior pirates to halp me grand and noble quest."

Chihiro blinked and focused on Jacklyn. With a note of interest in her voice and her worries forgotten for the moment the young Tanuki spoke. "Pirates, like in the books in the library that Ehren-chan read to us with the pictures and everything?"

Jacklyn gave a roguish smirk. "Aye, me hearties. I'm the greatest one of them all, The Red Fox of the Sargasso Sea. I have me nose for treasure here," she touched her twitching nose with a fingertip as her tail wagged, "that tells me that there's a hidden treasure in the attics here just waitin' for some brave buccaneer wenches to track it down and claim it for their own."

Behind her the inugami Aomi Sato smiled despite herself as the crafty old rogue spun a tale to reel the children in and take their minds of what was happening.

Miho Fujii also smiled and the jorogumo spoke, "But the attics are such a big place..."

"So we plunder the kitchen for vittles and a dram of rum for the celebration later!" Misaki cheered at the possibility of an adult-sanctioned kitchen raid on the chocolate cake that had been baked last night.

"...and locked up by Lady Du Chasteler..." Miho's smile widened as she listed the 'terrible obstacles' to be overcome by her wards.

"Nae lock exists that the Red Fox can not pick in search of adventure and booty!" Jackie gestured dramatically, her smug smirk promising an epic quest.

"...and we don't have a proper pirate map to that hidden treasure." By this point, Miho was as enthralled as the children hanging on every word of Jacklyn's tale.

"...Hmmph, I have me an old coded map that I won in battle against a fellow rapscallion of the Spanish Main here!" Jackie dug out a piece of parchment covered with scribbles, doodles, betting odds on horses, a figure that might be a beautiful lady's sketch if you squinted the wrong way in poor light (Jackie being an indifferent artist at best), navigational notes, and a reminder to swing by the local dry-cleaner in San Francisco and pick up her second-favorite coat.

"Oooooo!!" The yokai children, Miho and Aomi chorused in stereo as they ignored a muffled thud from behind the warded door.

Jackie never let her true thoughts reach her confident face as she put on her Captain's mask. Colombe, you better come back to me. The fish had been hooked and reeled in, now to land them. "So who wishes to set sail with Capn' Fox's crew brave and true to claim this treasure?"

Everyone's hand shot into the air. "Me!"

"Then hoist anchor and set sail!" The crowd of junior apprentice pirates-in-training proceeded to fiercely charge the kitchen where the cake and milk waited to be pilfered (along with a thermos full of espresso for Miho).

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

Delilah walked over to her niece and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right, Moonbeam?"

Claire shook her head and winced. "Really hurts, Aunt Del..." she whimpered.

Delilah glanced over at where Jacklyn had the children in hand, and then the other way where Ehren, Toku, Kasuyu and Ying stood. "Let's go upstairs and see what happened, then."

Claire leaned on her aunt and sniffled as they made their way to the piano's room. "T-thanks Aunt Del..."

Delilah hugged her niece. "Thank you. I need something to take my mind off," a muffled detonation from downstairs, "that. I really hate not being in control of a situation."

Claire nodded and then hesitantly opened her lid. "Mommy's going to be OK, right?"

Delilah nodded absently, "Think so. She has a lot to fight for like you and Ehren, and she is very good." She then looked inside the soundbox and whistled. "Wow, you blew out a string, Moonbeam."

Claire muttered. "Really really hurts." She looked around her cluttered room with sheet music, speakers, her sound system, her keyboard, and books on composers and music and sat down on her bed.

Delilah pulled out her wand and held the broken string into place. "Let's see if this works. Reparo!"

Claire shivered as the damaged string knitted itself back up. "B-better." Her voice was higher pitched than normal.

"Good. You sound off though." Delilah cleared a stack of sheet music from a nearby chair and sat down.

"Need tuning." Claire reached inside and began to turn the square knobs with one hand as she tapped keys with the other. She hummed idly as Delilah watched.

"I'll get my hands on some Repair Fluid for you, Claire. According to what MACUSA has found out about it, it doesn't just work on ship girls, but also on us." Delilah mused as she watched Claire work.

"Mmm-hmm." The piano responded absently as she made another subtle adjustment to her tune and tapped her F-sharp key. Claire pulled her hand from her case and smiled. "All done."
Spoiler: The Ballad of Black Del and Saloon Piano

Delilah smiled smugly and responded teasingly. "No we aren't. Now I get paid for being the Muramasa Piano Repair Revolver, Moonbeam. I think I'll get my payment in... hm. I know..." She waved her wand and her dress shifted to a cowboy's outfit with a black Stetson hat. "Imma Black Del, the Terror of the Open Range, and I'm gonna come into this saloon where a lovely young piano is playin'..."

Claire laughed happily and shifted her avatar's outfit to a 19th Century Saloon girl's outfit as Del 'swaggered in' and glared at her. "Play me some Morricone, ye flower of the tumbleweed!" Delilah demanded in a raspy accent straight out of a Spaghetti Western.

Claire's fingers found her keys and she gushed, "Oh, is there no brave lawman in this here town to save me?" The ear to ear grin on her face put the lie to this particular damsel being in distress.

---------------------------------
Spoiler: Axe and Dao

Wei Ying took a deep breath. She had few doubts that Father was incredibly capable and experienced in personal combat.

Versus the martial artist she had witnessed fight in Tokyo though....

The question was how good was Father compared to another sword spirit's mastery of battle?

She silently tried to reassure herself and thaw the ball of ice in her gut.

Only a fool would not believe that Colombe was a deadly opponent after reading her ICW case file. That was one major reason that she was still free, in fact. The ICW's concern was that trying to hunt her down would result in losses among the Aurors and further major damage to the Statute of Secrecy from the fight. Better to wait for the right time or for her to make a mistake.

A smug grin tugged at her lip. The time was right, Colombe had made a mistake in a sense.

But have I made a mistake by coming here? By saving Masamune-no-Fudo's existence in Tokyo when she nearly killed herself with her powers? By underestimating how much the Japanese hated Colombe?

No, saving a life could never be wrong. The rest though....?

A muffled explosion and a wisp of smoke coming from under the door redoubled her worries.

Casting about for something, she looked at the three other spirits in the hall. The Japanese girl in the black T-shirt and skirt was pacing nervously, her serene face clearly a facade. No help there, especially since she would talk to a Japanese as a last resort.

Her eyes shifted to the blond girl leaning against the stairs next to Fudo's discarded coat and tie. A cold, measuring stare met her as Ehren returned her gaze and Ying mentally shivered.

What she had seen in the depths of the dagger's eyes earlier had chilled her to the core. If Colombe had not stopped her youngest daughter, the first indication that she would have had that Ehren was planning to remove a perceived threat to her family would have been the feel of steel sliding between her ribs and splitting her heart.

In hindsight, perhaps she should have paid more attention to the I Ching counseling about making sure the river was crossed before exiting the boat. Clearly her younger half-sister viewed her with no small degree of suspicion and mistrust for announcing her 'arrest' of Colombe.

No. Best let sleeping Canada Geese lie there and when Colombe came out - if she came out her treacherous guilty conscience reminded her as a muffled thud sounded - then see about making amends to Ehren.

With that her eyes turned to the massive bulk of Kasuyu as the axe spirit stood like a bare chested rock in his red and green kilt. According to Delilah the axe had been acquired on Colombe's trips to Africa in the late 1890s so perhaps...?

With that she walked over. "Kasuyu, right?"

A nod and a velvet-smooth bass rumble. "I am. And you are the Mistress' eldest daughter, yes."

Ying smiled and nodded, "Since we have the time, I was wondering if you could tell me about how you met my father."

The Axe looked at her for long moments, then his shaved bullet head nodded. "I can. Follow me."

He led her to an octagonal room on the first floor that appeared to be a trophy room. Battle flags, weapons from three continents, stuffed lion and leopard heads, and a pair of massive raw ivory tusks dominated it. He lowered himself into a hardwood and leather antique rocking chair which creaked alarmingly under his weight and clasped his hands in his lap. "Sit, please."

Ying nodded and sat in the matching chair to face him. Unnoticed by her a carved copper bracelet glittered in the early morning sunlight through the window where it was displayed under a snarling lion head. "A story for a story, I tell you a tale of myself and the Mistress and you tell a tale of your travels then?"

Ying smiled smugly. "I can do this. And I suppose as the guest, I shall go first. Far from here across the Atlantic lies the wizarding school of Ilvermorny on Mount Greylock in America. In 1866, as a young girl of eleven I traveled there to learn the magic of Father's people. Mother had begun to teach me the spells of my native China, but she and my Stepfather had decided that it would be better for me to learn gwailou magics too to be licensed and move among them as a known witch. I did not know it then, but later I realized that this was to allow me to cast magic without Mother's enemies in China suspecting that we had escaped them."

Kasuyu leaned forward in clear interest as Ying continued. "Unknown to either of us at the time, the skinny short girl in an expensive and stylish burgundy wool dress and white lace bonnet next to me with the carpetbag valise would be my biggest rival at Ilvermorny. Aunt Delilah accidentally whacked me with it as we got directed to line up in file to approach the Courtyard where we would be Sorted into our Houses, and then gave me a smug smirk when I glared at her. I took the opportunity when she got sent ahead of me to give her arm a pinch, I was spiteful back then, and she glared at me." Ying laughed. "I remember watching her walk into the courtyard where the carving of the Gordian Knot in the stone glowed with a cycle of all four colors. Bright Green for Horned Serpent, electric Blue for Thunderbird, shining Gold for Wampus Cat and Crimson for Puckwudgie. Delilah stepped to the middle of the glyph and a stir ran through the crowd as two of the four statues reacted to her. The Thunderbird beat its wings as the crystal in the Horned Serpent's head sprang to life. She had the choice of which House she would join and picked Thunderbird, the House of Adventurers, walking to stand on the steps to her House next to a First Nations girl, Louise Winona, who would be her best friend."

Ying smiled. "I was next and as before both the Horned Serpent and Thunderbird reacted to my essence. I hesitated, then saw that little shit who had whacked me give me the most smug, knowing smirk that I have ever seen, and refused to put up with that girl for an instant longer than I had to. I walked to stand by the Horned Serpent statue and gave her my best 'My House is better than your House' superior stare as I joined the House of Scholars. Next was our mutual friend Madeline Aetos, from a Greek family in New Orleans, who was picked by Horned Serpent and would be alongside Louise Winona the peacemakers that prevented Delilah and I from killing each other over the next seven years...."

---------------------------
Spoiler: Ehren and Toku

Ehren watched as Wei Ying departed with Kasuyu and her brow wrinkled minutely. She did not know how to deal with this new sister, and was not sure how to explain to her that if she had known Wei Ying's plan to clear Mother's name in advance she would not have tried to kill her.

With that she turned to the Masamune, who had stopped her pacing for the moment and was trying to bore a hole in the wood of the door with her eyes.

Did she dare to open herself up...?

Another dull thump sounded from the Salle d'Armes, followed by a stream of green smoke from under the door.

Toku's fists clenched harder and blood dripped from where her nails bit into her palms. Ehren knew that pain all too well from her own tormented past.

With that insight Ehren acted. She silently walked to Toku's side and placed her hand gently on her stepmother's shoulder. "Watching is hard, ja? Seeing things that you must step in and stop but cannot, actions that you wish to take and being unable to do so." Her voice was quiet and somber.

Toku turned and nodded as she looked into Ehren's slightly shiny steel blue eyes with her tear filled blue-green. "Hai. All my life, I have waited and watched, the habit of a lifetime and yet it never got easier."

Ehren's lip curled minutely up in understanding. "When one witnesses something that she wishes with all her heart that she could have acted to stop and yet has to accept that she was unable to, it is hard."

Toku sighed deeply, "Yes. Before... the Pacific War, I tried to stop it. Spoke against it, counseled those that I knew that the coming war was madness. And... failed." The Masamune's shoulders slumped, "I could have done more, perhaps, but was bound by the chains of what I saw as my duty. Then when the War came, all I could do is help who and where I could. Fudo-nee..."

Toku looked at the door, "My sister, she had a different view back then, she was arrogant, short-sighted, confident in her righteousness. And paid a terrible price for it. The young man that she had feelings for... left for battle, to try to stop the inevitable, and only returned as an urn of ashes after the war. He was one of my greatest students, and..." Toku sighed, "I share some fault for their tragedy, for training him to be worthy of a Masamune's love, for not persuading him that he was truly worthy of my sister, and then for not being there for her both during his life and after he left for Saipan. After his death, things were very hard for Fudo-nee. Ehren-san, my sister is not a bad person, truly, but she is scarred by her experiences. She has lost much, and fears that she will lose me to Colombe and to what I must do."

Tears trickled from blue-green eyes, "Love is a strange thing, neh? If only one shall return to us, I do not truly know whose loss I would regret more."

Ehren nodded and hesitantly embraced Tokunotakai around the waist as they stood vigil. "It is a hard thing to have to choose between two loves, ja." Ehren whispered into Toku's shoulder as a single tear slipped from her iron control.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Soft smile on his face, Haku glanced to the side where Kiyohime was working alongside him to prepare food. There was something undeniably adorable about the sight of the feared "Demoness of the Hidaka" with an apron on and her hair covered by a bandana. Especially when combined with the happy look on her face and the hums coming from her mouth. Chuckling, Haku caught her attention, "Sorry, Kiyohime, but you're being pretty cute right now."

Blushing, Kiyohime gave him a look, "Haku-Kun..."

All he did though was shrug, "What? It's true, you are pretty cute. And especially at times like these." Motioning with one hand, Haku continued, "You just look so... content."

Looking down at her hands as she continued to work, she gave a small nod, "Hai, I guess that I am." A small smile grew on her face, "I... don't think that I can state, Haku-Kun, just how much this is a dream to me. A wonderful dream that I hope that I will never wake from if it is one." Kiyohime closed her eyes as a small tear gathered in the corner, "Growing up, all I wanted was to be a good wife. Much like other girls in the village, but..."

Placing his part of the cooking aside, Haku walked over and hugged her. He put his hand on one side of her face and gently stroked her cheek before wiping away the tear, "Anchin was a fool and an ass for what he did. You, Kiyohime, are a wonderful woman."

With that, Kiyohime opened her eyes though her chest felt constructed, "Thank you, Haku-Kun. Though I feel like I was far more of a fool for ever believing him and what he told me. Especially the night we met in his room and..." Quickly shaking those memories away, as she did not want to think about them, she gave Haku a thankful look and kissed him, "Sorry, Haku-Kun."

Only shaking his head, the eighteen year old frowned at her, "Kiyohime, you have nothing to be sorry about. And I've said before, if I could? I would kick his ass for what he did to you."

Unable to help herself, Kiyohime giggled, "I would like to see that, though it would not be too hard." Leaning into him, she softly sighed, "I am just glad that I have you, Haku-Kun. And I thank the Kami for that."

Gently, he kissed her brow and smiled, "Same here, Kiyohime, same here..." After a few moments, he pulled away some as he decided to change the subject, "Anyways, are you excited about tomorrow? I mean, we are going to head out for Hanami."

That reminder brought a smile to Kiyohime's face, "Hai, I am very excited about that, Haku-Kun." Her expression softened and she blushed some, "Especially as it marks one year since we..."

Grinning a bit, Haku laughed a bit, "Since we became boyfriend and girlfriend." At her shy nod, he shook his head, "Time flies... but I've loved the fact that we've been together for a year." The eighteen year old's lips twitched some, "And I am especially happy that I can now spend more time with you since I've now finished school."

Lips twitching, the Demoness poked him in the forehead which made him chuckle, "But you still have the university courses that you're taking, Haku-Kun."

Eyebrow raised, Haku gave her a kiss and pulled back, "Yes, and? Those are all online courses that I am taking, which means that I don't need to leave the comfort of home..." His arms shifting a bit around her so that they are around Kiyohime's waist, he whispered into her ear, which provoked a shiver as she felt his warm breath wash over her skin, "Or the comfort of your presence, Kiyohime."

Cheeks warm with her heart pounding in her chest, yet feeling like she was soaring, Kiyohime hummed before kissing him. Pulling back slightly, she leaned her forehead against his, "Thank you, Haku-Kun."

All the young man did was smile back at her before they went back to working at making their meals for the next day. Glancing over at his girlfriend, Haku chuckled some, "You do realize that we don't need to make that much food, right? It is just the two of us after all."

Giggling, Kiyohime nodded, "I know that, Haku-Kun. But... best to be ready in case I do get that hungry." Looking at the stew, she laddled it into some containers to be put into the fridge. With her ability to create fire and heat, she could easily reheat it so that they could have some hot food with their date, "Sometimes I get very hungry."

That got a laugh from Haku who grinned back at her, "I can confirm that." Moments later, he let out a fake ouch as she whacked him in the arm, a grin on her own face, "Ow... that hurt, Kiyohime."

While she attempted to keep a stern expression on her face, and failed due to smiling too much, the young woman next to him scoffed, "You should know better than to poke fun at a young woman's eating habits."

Of course, seconds later, Kiyohime let out a squeak as she found Haku hugging her again and nuzzling her behind the ear. The feeling of which made her squirm a little before he kissed her ear and made her shudder, "Sorry about that, Kiyohime... Forgive me?"

Swallowing as she breathed a bit harder, she gave a nod before turning towards him. A slight blush sprang up on Haku's face as he saw her pupils had narrowed to slits before she took a deep breath and let it out, reigning herself back under control. Part of him did wonder what would have happened if she had not gotten herself under control again...

Then, Kiyohime gave him a hard kiss before pulling back, "Always, Haku-Kun... always."

Giggles escaped her as it took Haku a few moments to get his thoughts straightened out after the kiss that she had given him. Once he had, the eighteen year old and given her a grin, "Thanks."

In return, that got him a brilliant smile and another kiss.

Later that night after they had gone to bed, Haku was staring up at the ceiling as Kiyohime peacefully slept with her head on his shoulder. Inside of his head, he went back over the conversation that he had with his girlfriend. In particular, the part concerning how he was happy to be out of school now. Especially as it meant that he could spend more time with her.

Not that he had lied about that, not in the slightest as he was extremely happy that he was now out of school and able to spend all the time in the world with Kiyohime. And both of them had enjoyed that fact, often just smiling and laughing between housework's for Kiyohime and Haku writing some. But... that conversation had brought him back to when he had graduated.

As he had always been told, graduation was a happy day, and it was. The Sun had shone down and it was a nice day. Much to his joy, he spotted Kiyohime in the back of the crowd watching him with a bright smile on her face. Akira, being a Tanuki and thus an expert in illusions, had gifted them with something that would hide Kiyohime's more inhuman features for a time. Which allowed the dragoness to come to her boyfriend's graduation. And it made his heart soar to see it, especially the look on her face that told him that she was proud.

Much to his amusement, it had seemed like she was more excited for it than he had been! Not too surprising as she had told him that few were the ones back in her day that had any real education. And to graduate marked one as being someone who would go far...

Well, that and gently tease him about how it made him even better husband material in her eyes.

Yet...

Yet...

There was some sadness there. And not just of the melancholy sort that a chapter of your life was now closed, never to return. Part of that sadness was because in the crowd, there had been one person missing. One that he wished would have been there with him, his grandmother. But she had passed some years before and thus, on one of the most important days of his life, he had to deal with the fact that she was not there... at least, physically. Kiyohime had told him that she had felt his grandmother's spirit there on that day, and that it had felt proud of him. That had helped.

Of course, the other issue was... also more obvious. It was not just his grandmother who was not there. No, his parents were also missing as well from the ceremony. While he had expected it, at the same time there was a small part of him, which seemed like himself when he had been a young child, asking why they did not come. Sure, they had sent some congratulations to him in the mail and told him to keep up the good work, but that was all.

And that hurt, a lot.

Not enough to ruin the day, but enough to put a damper on it. Then again, Haku had not actually seen his parents since he was about eight. Both of them were more married to their careers than to each other in his head. Which meant nearly continuous business trips. Once he was old enough, they mostly left him to his grandmother to raise, something that she did marvellously. In many ways, his grandmother was the one that he considered a parent, not the actual ones he had. When he had a scrape, she would kiss it better. When the bullying at school got too bad, his grandmother would take him down to a candy store or ice cream shop for a treat to dry his tears.

With that in mind, in some of his darker moments, Haku wondered... If his parents died, would he even notice the difference? And he was somewhat disturbed to find that he couldn't exactly come out with a counter to that thought.

So into his thoughts, he didn't notice Kiyohime shift until her face filled his vision,'"Haku-Kun? Are... are you alright?"

Blinking, Haku looked at her for a few moments before giving her a small smile, "Hai, I am. Just... thinking, you know."

Head tilted to the side, his girlfriend frowned, "About what?"

For a few moments, Haku was silent. Finally though, he sighed and shrugged, "My parents and, well... they weren't at my graduation and the last time that I've seen them."

Now frowning, Kiyohime looked at him before pulling him into an embrace, "Haku-Kun... I don't understand your parents. How could they not see the wonderful son that they had? Why? Why ignore you...?" Sniffling, she shook her head, "They don't deserve you."

Gently stroking her head, Haku shook his head, "Who knows? I guess... work is just more important. Maybe one day, they'll realize what they gave up, like that one American song... Man in the Moon with a cat's cradle or whatever it is called. Or maybe they won't, I don't know. But..." Looking down at her, he smiled, "I know that as long as I have you, I don't need them. And it is not like I actually need them anymore, not since Obaa-San's last gift."

All the dragoness did was nod. That... had been a surprise. How Haku's grandmother had left a will that upon his eighteenth birthday, would transfer everything she had to him, also declaring him Head of the Family. It meant that both him and Kiyohime were financially secure. Also, it took care of the worry that if his parents ever did figure out who he was dating, that they would not be able to disown him.

Kiyohime shifting brought Haku back to the present though as he felt her body press against his. Moments later, she cupped his cheeks before kissing him. Eyes closing, the young man simple enjoyed what was happening. As she pulled back, he opened his eyes to see hers glowing, "Hai, as long as we have each other..."

Waking up the next morning, Haku was greeted by a sight that he felt he would never get tired of. Mainly, that of Kiyohime sleeping on his chest. But what truly made it great, in his mind, was the soft smile that was on her face. A smile that showed just how peaceful she found everything.

And, as usual, Haku gained a similar smile on his own face as he chuckled, 'Kiyohime...' With a sigh, he laid back and shook his head some as he continued to gaze on his girlfriend's form. Nothing lustful was in his gaze, but there was still a warmth there for one person. Eyes trailing along her body, they fell on the horns she had. Unlike some, they did not bother him in the slightest.

Rather, he found them just as beautiful as the rest of her.

Gently, he ran the back of his fingers along the skin of her cheek, which made the sleeping dragoness sigh happily. For several minutes, the two of them laid there as he stroked her cheek, content with the world. However, all good things had to come to an end and he gently shook her, "Kiyohime, time to get up. We need to get going to make Hanami for the day."

A grumble escaped her before she opened her sleepy, golden eyes. Almost immediately, a happy smile appeared on her face, "Good morning, Haku-Kun."

Chuckling, Haku brushed some of her hair aside and kissed her forehead, "Good morning, Kiyohime. Time to get up for Hanami."

With a hum, Kiyohime leaned forward and kissed him for several moments, "Mmm... that's right, we're going to see the sakura."

Grinning slightly, Haku nodded, "Exactly. Which means that we should get going."

In reply to that, she sat up and grinned back as she noted his eyes trail along her body, clad in one of his shirts as always, "Just give me some time to wake up, Haku-Kun. And then we can get something to eat."

Licking his dry lips, Haku only nodded. Though his mind drifted to something else entirely even as he felt a bit nervous...

Soon enough though, breakfast was done, the dishes washed, and everything set for the day. Placing her hands on her hips, Kiyohime smiled before grabbing the basket, "Okay, Haku-Kun. Looks like we're ready."

Tossing Kiyohime her jacket, Haku smiled back, "Seems so, Kiyohime. Come on then..." After locking the door behind them, they both got into the small car he had bought with some of the funds from his book sales and they were off...
____________________________________________________

Above where Kiyohime and Haku laid, branches covered in cherry blossoms rustled in the wind. With a soft sigh, the female of the two looked at her boyfriend, "This is nice."

His arms around Kiyohime, Haku chuckled some before kissing her at the base of her horns, provoking a small shudder, "Hai, especially with you here."

Somewhat bemused, Kiyohime giggles a bit, "Aren't you supposed to say something else, Haku-Kun? Like how they cannot compare to me?"

One eyebrow raised, the eighteen year old boy snorted, "Why would I need to say something so evident?" That brought a pretty blush to his girlfriend's cheeks, which made him internally chuckle. Shifting her a little, he hummed into her hair as he continued to look around the small grove filled with cherry blossoms, "It really has been a full year, hasn't it, Kiyohime?"

Lips curling into a happy smile, Kiyohime nodded, "Hai, it has. And it has been a wonderful year as well."

For his part, Haku looked down at his girlfriend before taking a deep breath, "Kiyohime? Could... could you stand?"

Confused, the dragoness looked at him in befuddlement. But despite that, she did as he asked and stood up. When he stood up and took her hands though, she frowned, "Haku-Kun? What's wrong?"

On Haku's face was a somewhat nervous smile, "Well..." Coughing and clearing his throat, he continued, "Well... we have been boyfriend and girlfriend for a full year, Kiyohime. A year of where we could fully show each other the love we had in each of our hearts for the other. A year of warmth and joy... but even before that, we cared for each other for years. Even before we met, we cared. I spoke to you, and you listened. And you saved my life that dark day years ago."

Blinking away tears that gathered in her eyes for some reason, Kiyohime felt her throat choke up a bit, "But you saved me, Haku-Kun. From loneliness and my dark fate... you showed me love."

All that did though was make the eighteen year old shake his head, "Perhaps... but still. One year ago, I found myself making a step towards you. Just one more step, but an important one that found the two of us able to love each other as we felt. And as the cherry blossoms came and left, and have once more returned... it is time for another. And so, Kiyohime..." Getting down on one knee, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box which he flicked open to reveal a ring, "Would you do me the greatest honour in the world of being my wife?"

For several seconds, Kiyohime boggled and felt like her heart, like the very world around them, had stopped. She could see the ring in the box, made of gold. But more than that, it looked like a dragon that was eating its tail with a blue diamond. Finally, she looked at Haku directly, "B-but... I thought that it was... was impossible for us to be married...?"

Smiling easily, Haku shook his head, "What is marriage? A piece of paper? Or a promise that two people hold within their hearts? This ring represents the promise, Kiyohime. Though the rest of the world might not agree, you are my wife and that is all that matters to me. And, one day, I will hold for you a wedding, but this proclaims to the world my promise to you."

Now shaking, Kiyohime's opened and closed her mouth, "I... I..." Swallowing, she shook her head, "But... I'm a monster, Haku-Kun. A demoness... a beast of vengeance..."

Haku shook his head and stood, "Kiyohime? Transform into your other form." At her look, he smiled, "Please... trust me."

With a slow nod, she did so. Her legs merged and lengthened into a long serpent's body. Meanwhile, her hands grew scaled and the nails transformed into claws. So, too, did her horns lengthen on her head as scales grew up her neck and onto her cheeks while within her mouth, mostly human teeth were replaced by fangs. Now fully in her monstrous form, Kiyohime stared at him, "Haku-Kun..."

Rather than say anything, Haku plucked the ring from the box and set the container aside. Taking her hand, he held the ring before her finger, "The serpent eating itself is a symbol of eternity in many cultures. And thus, here, it represents my eternal promise to you, Kiyohime. I do not care that you are a monster, a demoness. Because you are my Kiyohime, and I am your Haku. That is all that matters." With a deep breath, he continued, "And so, with this ring, I, Kobayashi Haku, hereby take Kiyohime to be my wife. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, in the good times and the bad, until death do us part." A slight grin crossed the young man's face, "And I promise to try and find my way back to you even then." His expression once more became serious, "But I will stand with you as your husband. Will you, Kiyohime, take this man before you as your husband?"

Unable to say anything as she began to cry, the "Burning Serpent of the Hidaka" could only nod. But, finally, she spoke, "I-I do... I, Kiyohime do take Kobayashi Haku for my husband. In si-sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in the good times and the bad, until death do us part..." Giving him a watery smile, she continued, "Though I know even then, he will come back to me because he promised..." With another deep breath, Kiyohime nodded, "But I wi-wi-will stand with you, at your side as y-your wife."

Gently, he slid the ring onto her ring finger, "And thus, do the two of us take the other as their wife and husband, sealing our promise with this ring." Reaching up, Haku cupped her cheek as liquid fire in the form of tears dripped down them. But it did not, would not hurt him as her flames never had and never would. Slowly, he pulled her closer and they touched their foreheads together, "My beautiful wife."

Outright sobbing with pure joy, Kiyohime nodded, "My handsome husband..."

Closing her eyes as he did the same, the two kissed. Her talons lightly scratching his scalp, though not hurting him while his own arms held her close. A kiss of love and joy.

And a promise kept.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Courtship Display VI

Magical Diet, Tokyo
Spoiler: Naomi in the Diet

Naomi Miyata was not having a good day at all.

First, Councillor Ito had to be talked down first thing in the morning from a brainstorm that involved a planned formal proposal to consolidate all the social service outlays such as food rations, medicine purchases, guard salaries for their own protection and so on under one centralized office for each Reserve.

At least she managed to persuade him to let her personally tour several Reserves as a special investigator to look into the social services and how the funds were being used. If nothing else, that could be spun to buy time and keep his 'bright idea' safely dead and buried until it could be cremated. The fact that she would be missing her husband's birthday was a small concern for keeping the government from imploding, and at least he was a very good man when it came to work coming first.

Perhaps she could persuade the 'officially unofficial' MACUSA representative de Breuil, who she was going to have a nice social dinner with day after tomorrow, to come along and get the damn Yankees off Japan's case to keep this ramshackle structure going for a few more months. MSIA had really come through for her, since the briefing file on de Breuil that Naomi had read highlighted her deep ties to the 'black' part of the American Magical Government in MIB, not least the fact that she was the only child of a former MIB director who was nicknamed "The Black Widow" even in her retirement from her habit of wearing mourning black for de Breuil's century and a half dead father and spinning webs of intrigue over the first half-century of MIB's existence. De Breuil was officially on the books as a senior MACUSA Auror, although she was clearly a spook, considering that she did not clear one law enforcement case 1941-45, and then again 1950-53.

Unfortunately the file was less helpful in providing handles as to persuade her to see things Naomi's way. No family save the aforementioned mother, no known usable vices, eleventh in the Ilvermorny Class of 1872 - although she sure did not look her age! - no romantic interests, independently wealthy thanks to being a daughter of those de Breuils. At least it was noted that she was fluent and literate in Japanese after studying the language in the 1970s and 1980s as a pastime. Naomi's English was somewhat rusty, after all.

Of course, her working lunch was interrupted by charming news. Councilor Hayato's grandson had apparently decided to test whether, as the old political joke went, a Conservative Democratic Values dango could be elected to the Diet from Minato-3. The Councilor, a long time parliamentary titan and arch-conservative firebrand, was going to have an interesting re-election campaign next year since his grandson had gotten arrested with an apparent Yokai teenage sex slave maid and an unregistered Nundu in his house. Plus attempted kidnapping, supposedly to add the girl to his harem as the rumor was spreading.

She had heard of 'interesting alternate lifestyle choices' before, but this was one for the record books. A Nundu, really??!

Naomi couldn't wait to see what kind of hay the papers made of this scandal and how long before they pointed out that just like Councilor Hayato's grandson, his youngest son had been charged with trafficking in underage Yokai girls for the carnal pleasure of himself and some other 'young bloods'. Followed by his 'suicide' in police custody two days into the trial.

Which ugly business had gotten Kiho Mitsue kicked out of the Aurors for daring to be a honest policewoman and blow the whistle, rather that act as if it was business as usual and let the big fish go. Still, since Mitsue was doing superb work for her and her father Shigeru with her background check of her nephew's girlfriend, there truly was a silver lining in her dismissal as an Auror. Naomi was definitely going to recommend her services to her friends, and perhaps hire her to do some informal outreach with any Yokai community leaders that she knew.

Still, this budding scandal would be taking a large chunk of the oxygen out of the room, and perhaps tamp down the press coverage of the failure of the Aurors to find the rumored rogue jorogumo who had escaped Aokigahara with the aid of the notorious international criminal Colombe du Chasteler. Which could only be a good thing, since the Nundu spreading a plague right now would poll better than the Diet with a quarter of the electorate.

Naomi chuckled hollowly at the thought of a Nundu being seated in Minato-3. It would at least make the Nonhuman Policies Parliamentary Committee meetings run faster without the pontification from that windbag.

Hm, where should I make reservations to take de Breuil to dinner? Well she is an American, so Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan Steakhouse then? Father's five percent quiet investment share in the 'company' that ran it should be good for something, after all.

With that in mind, she checked the Rolodex and called the manager's private number.

Naomi blinked as she hung up the phone. The manager had sounded... disturbed. When she had explained the situation, he promised to do what he could, then she heard him yelling to someone in the background to 'get the damn dead Oni out of the kitchen' before promising that he could find her a table for the day after tomorrow. Still the reservation was made, which was the important thing when a person was trying to schmooze someone that you needed to impress.

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

Ibuki House, Kanmasu Housing, Yokosuka Naval Base

Suzume Ibuki smiled at the K'nex set that she had gotten with her paycheck.

Aki-san was a cute child, and she saw a little of a younger her in him. Just like him, she enjoyed puzzles and learning how things operated. Kyudo was another aspect of with that as she chained each step from her breathing, and her spiritual preparation through her draw, her release and her recovery into a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts.

She smiled and touched the box on her desk with one finger. She wished that when she was growing up that she had access to this, but it would have been impossible in the Reserve even if she had the money, since it was non-magical. But with this she could act out one of her secret dreams from her youth through him, since he had opportunities that a young Suzume Ibuki, burdened by being an Okami and with a sickly baby sister, never had.

She sighed. At least Aki-san can enjoy being a child just like Moriko-chan and I sacrificed to give Sachiko what semblance of a happy childhood that we could afford. She barked a laugh as she began to wrap the box for Aki's birthday party ten days from now. At least Sachiko-chan found her dream prince in Kogamaru-san, and Moriko-chan found a good man in Hachiko-kun. Two out of three wasn't bad at all, and if it meant that she watched over her sisters at a distance, scouting for them, supporting them, and protecting their happiness from afar.... Well that is what a Light Carrier did for the rest of her squadron.

With that she stuck her head out to see Sachiko sitting at the kitchen table looking at a book of clothing patterns from the library. "Sachiko-chan, have you seen the clear tape?"

Sachiko nodded and reached for her walker. "I have it in my room on my desk, Suzume-chan. Oh, can I ask a question?"

"I can get it Sachiko-chan, please keep studying. What's the question?" Suzume replied as she headed out of her bedroom door.

Sachiko grinned and held up her book on "How to make the Perfect Cosplay Outfit". "I bet Hachiko-kun would make a better girl than Moriko-chan if we can persuade him to prank her...." She said mischievously.

Suzume's teeth showed in a lupine smirk. "That's genius, Sachiko-chan. Pure genius, just be sure to bring a camera."

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

Savato93 said:
Keeping MSP's soul dew as a paperweight, out in the open? Unlikely. There's every possibility her twisted spirit would try to influence whoever got close to it.​

...Now I'm seeing The One Paperweight being like The One Ring - Kept as a warprize of a beaten foe, only for it to twist and corrupt those around it before it is lost. Then, centuries later RP's spirit is stirring, and The Paperweight seeks to rejoin it's mistress...

Harry Leferts said:
*Cocks eyebrow* So... he too, can confused guys as to their sexuality?​

Eh, as we saw in the first or second snippet, Hachiko isn't likely to go for it, no matter how much his future in-laws plead.

"Stop teasing me! I'm a boy dammit!" *most assuredly masculine tears twinkle like bishojo diamonds as he ineffectually slaps his limp-wristed fists at his sister-in-law, Moriko cuddles her boyfriend in comfort, glaring at Suzume and Sachiko*

Now that... could be very interesting...​

Hmmm....
------

Jin's capacity to Give a Fuck, she had found, was well and truly exhausted. Many years would her Fuck Fields need to be left fallow before she could attempt to harvest more. Her mission from Lord Ryujin to invite Kiyohime - yes, that Kiyohime - to next year's Kami-Con was odd enough. Shiromizu came too naturally enough, odds were good that she would need to bring newly manifested into the fold too in time.

The other dragon was not at all what Jin was expecting. Rather than a crazy bitch with a hate-on for priests, she found a girl with horns happy to play Waifu for a guy who seemed nice enough, if maybe a bit boring. Still, that made Jin's mission all the simpler - just tell her to show up at the Izumo shrine next summer, show Shiromizu the sights, then hop on the next overnight train back to Yokosuka. Then came the yelling.

"ALL HAIL THE DARK ONE! Terrible Be Her Wrath, black as The Abyss itself!"

Somehow, what looked to be a sizable collection of her Cultists had followed them.

"ALL HAIL THE FIERY ONE! Whose very ire consumes all FOOLISH enough to draw her gaze!"

And they had friends, going by the Re-Class and collection of other Hobo Abyssals. Although these losers liked to mount lit candles on their heads and shoulders like those guys from Dark Souls.

"Senpai?"

"I know."

"ALL HAIL THE WIND HOWLER!" proclaimed an Abyssal Jin would be informed was a Light Carrier Princess, who seemed to have had her eyes gouged out going by the gaze wrapped around her head, and seemed to have a need for repairs going by her rigging, using a Wo-class' cane altered to be some sort of Shinto priest's staff, going by the rings of wire on it, "She in the guise of a Bird in the guise of a woman! Whose Chariot spits Brimstone and whose road is the very Wind of Her breath!"

"They've multiplied."

"I know."

"ALL PRAISES BE TO THE BEAST OF THE EARTH!" and oh look, there was another group, this one lead by a Ru-Class, who had replaced her turrets for saplings and a stump, with a pidgeon looking most content inside a notch therein, "She of Nine-Tails, whose very stare can suck the souls from all who have gained her Wrath and Fury!"

What followed was a series of proclamations of their chosen gods' names and abilities. Any amusement Jin got from the strong likelihood that their 'Wind Howler' was in fact Ai was soon enough swallowed up by annoyance at how loud the group had gotten. And, against her better judgement, Jin scolded them.

"Hey ASS HATS! Either do something productive or FUCK OFF!"

"The Dark One has spoken!" spake the Re-Class priestess of The Cult of The Dark One.

Jin muttered an 'oh fuck' through her palm at the sounds of awe coming from the collection of Abyssals.

"Come sisters! If our goddess wishes us to not be idle in our worship, then we are to comply!"

"In that case," answered another cultist Jin suspected was the Re's Number Two, "then I say we conference with these Worshipers of foreign gods, to decide if they are our friends or if they are base blasphemers!"

There was a pause, then the Re-Class coated in melted candle wax stepped forward.

"In that case, if thy petition be in good faith, then my sisters, and I, the Bearer of The Sacred Fire, shall gladly sit and reveal unto ye the Glories of The Fiery One!"

"Agreed!" said the Abyssal in charge of the wind bag. And, true enough, she was blind, unless she was looking in the wrong direction for laughs, "The Wind Howler's Fury is a horror to behold! Therefore, it is the Mercy of this one, the Zephyr Priestess, that sees you all educated, lest you be caught in her jaws!"

Then the Ru-Class stomped on the ground, which startled the dumb bird in her tree stump, but it just rustled its feathers and sat back down.

"The Beast of the Earth did warn my Late Princess against continuing her attacks on the Meat Bags during The Days of Flame. In failing to heed this offer of mercy, she and many of my sisters were slain without a second thought. If one who matches her Power speaks with the same ends in mind, then I too shall submit to rounds of talk and listening."

"Senpai?"

"Fuck it. Let's go Shiromizu-chan, the faster we talk to Kiyohime the faster we can lose these loonies..."

And thus was the First Profane Council held, which would see the believers be revealed by Divine Inspiration to be sisters under The Elementals of Wrath... All Hail the Elemental Goddesses - The Sacred Text, 1st Edition, Potter Printing House, (c)2066
------

Not sure how Shiromizu becomes known as The Pure One, goddess of Void, but that 'revelation' can likely come to this Unified Cult at a later date I suppose. I just hope that Lord K likes this enough to include it.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Pas de Deux for Rapier and Tanto(Pas de Deux=Two Dancers)

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium
Spoiler: Fudo and Colombe

Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler slammed into the stone wall of her ancestral castle's salle d'armes(weapons room) face-first with bone-crushing force. The stabbing pain in her chest from her shattered ribs felt like a cannonball had just hit her through her shield spells.

Or in this case a Qi-enhanced roundhouse kick from Masamune-no-Fudo.

Colombe flexed her hidden left hand in a specific pattern as she spat teeth out from her ruined mouth. As Fudo closed for the kill point-first, the Muramasa suddenly spun with superhuman speed, kicking off the scorched and cratered stone wall to leave only one thing in the path of the Masamune's fury filled snarling face.

A fist glowing too bright to see with the energies of the Bijalee Kee Mutthee(fist of power) lightning punch spell that Colombe had leaned two and a half centuries prior from a blind guru needing a guide to the Ganges in far-distant India.

The detonation of energies as her fist connected with Fudo's nose left Colombe with spots in front of her eyes, more than half deafened, and wobbling on her feet as she staggered like an exhausted drunk. Fudo had it worse, being blown all the way to the far end of the salle(room) to slam into a fresh crater in the wall and topple to one hand and her knees.

Gold eyes that could barely see through her blood-covered cut and bruised swollen face narrowed on the rapier as the Masamune pulled herself to her feet.

Almost have her. Enough power left for one good shot....

Colombe began to gasp out a spell, her point moving in precise arcs as the shattered stones around her levitated and with a crack disintegrated into fine, razor-sharp chunks of gravel. She chanted gutturally in Arabic as the dove engraving on her scorched, chipped and battered rapier shifted from white to a rainbow glow and grew in intensity.

"Min rabi Alkhali, 'adeuk..."

Fudo shook her head to clear the ringing in her ears and gestured in turn with her incandescently blazing blade as the tattoo of Fudo Myoo on her back began to move His hands in a Buddhist mudra to gather and concentrate spiritual energies. She began to chant from the Kongō-kyō, the Shingon Buddhist translation of the Diamond Sutra, as a fivefold mandala of magical energies began to cycle around her avatar.

"Subete no jōken-tsuki genshō yume, gensō, awa, kage..."

The stones around Colombe suddenly spiraled in a howling deafening tornado of air as the rapier levitated from the air pressure. Her entire blade was glowing rainbow colors as the energies that she was invoking spiraled and built.

"Laqad 'ursil Allah afat al'ard min kli sharin..."

With a thunderous roar a flaming aura surrounded the Masamune. Her eyes were replaced with burning white hot flames as she continued to chant and the mandalas accelerated their spiral as Fudo My'oo's Blade continued the mudras to harness her link to the Divine..

"Ro matawa inazuma no senkō no yō ni. Shitagatte, wareware wa sorera o chikaku shimasu..."

As if obeying an invisible signal by an unseen referee the rapier's blade lunged to point at Fudo at the exact moment that the tanto slashed out to point at Colombe.

"Gensō Setsudan Ken!!" "Shifrat Aljini al'Awal!!"

The resulting detonation shook Castle Moulbaix to the foundations.

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

In the attics Captain Jacklyn Fox-Muramasa froze and took a deep breath at the thunderclap shaking the castle. Slowly she looked at the innocent children playing with the 'pirate cutlasses' that she had carved out of some Styrofoam packing sheets in one of the trunks which the 'Fujii Pirates' had opened and plundered (resulting in a brace of inerted flintlock pistols and some period clothes that the giggling imps had promptly worn).

She swallowed around the lump in her throat and schooled her voice to steadiness, the same she had done when giving orders to her crew in a Caribbean hurricane in 1748. Any sign of panic would have killed them all, and so it was today. Just as it had been in August 1942 when USS Foxfish was getting brutally hammered for hours by the depth charges of a quartet of Japanese destroyers who 'objected' to her attack on their convoy.

The Captain was the loneliest man aboard ship for a reason, after all.

Her lips quirked and she spoke with a confidence that she did not feel. "Avast me hearties, I heard thunder from outside. It's foul weather brewin' and a wise pirate will listen to her Captain tell a sea yarn to pass the time while it blows over."

As the young Yokai sat on either side of their big sister, Aomi Sato sat next to Jackie and hugged her around the waist. She was not good for much, she thought, a young orphaned country girl who had been trapped and enslaved by her dreams of fame as an idol in the big city, but she could give what reassurance she could.

Perhaps it might be enough.

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

In Claire du Chasteler's room the piano paused from her rendition of Western themes at the sound of the explosion. As the silence afterward lingered, Delilah walked over to Claire and gently hugged her niece. Numbly, Claire allowed herself to be led to the bed and hugged to Delilah's bosom.

As she cried into her aunt's bosom, and Delilah's worried tears fell onto her head, the now unattended grand piano began to softly play the Third Movement of Chopin's 35th Sonata.
Spoiler: Claire's Worry

Delilah gently patted Claire's head and back as the piano clung to her. All she could do was wait, pray, and listen to the heart-rending music that said in its own way what her niece had trouble expressing with words.

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

Downstairs in the Billiard Room Kasuyu broke off his storytelling about Colombe's fight against the Dark Lord that had enslaved him in the Congo. Ying bit her lip and her fists clenched.

Involuntarily both sets of eyes went to the entrance hall where Ehren and Toku stood vigil in front of the sealed door.

Ying picked up her chair and carried it to where she could look into the hall. She then sat down and looked across the hall at the door to the salle d'armes.

For an eternity all was still and quiet.
Spoiler: Ying's Doubts

A massive hand on her shoulder caused her to start and look up at the African axe tsukumogami standing next to her. Softly she whispered, "I could have prevented this you know. But I chose to heal Fudo, chose to bring her here. I am responsible for the outcome of this duel. Did I do the right thing?"

The Axe stood quietly then sighed with a rumble. In his deep, smooth voice he responded, "Mercy is never a mistake, save to the merciless."

Wei Ying, oldest daughter of Colombe du Chasteler, placed her hand over his and squeezed. "Xiè xiè nín de bāng zhù,"(thank you for your help) she whispered her thanks in Mandarin Chinese.

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

Masamune-no-Tokunotakai prayed. Unlike everyone else in the castle, she knew deep down that when the door opened, that no matter who the victor was, she would mourn the vanquished.

For she would lose someone she loved deeply and sincerely. She would never see that person again, and have to live with the awful might-have-beens.

Is this how Fudo felt year after year after Gorōta Tokugawa passed away in the Pacific War?

Is this how Colombe du Chasteler felt as she mourned her Papa, Lyra and Ian Potter, and her blood family?

Is this what Hachiman-dono meant when he warned me that if I left the shrine that the innocent shrine priestess that departed would be lost forever?

For I have taken a life to save my Co-chan. I have experienced human evil and cruelty in the tale of Miho Fujii. I am no longer what I once was, for I have passed through a door that can never be reopened.

Tokunotakai looked down at Ehren du Chasteler as the dagger's spirit hugged her around the waist as they stood side by side.

Her arm moved to hug the dagger around the shoulders and with an exhalation of breath that sounded suspiciously like a muffled sob, Ehren burrowed into her side.

Co-chan. If you have fallen, I swear that I shall do what I can to be there for your daughters and sisters. I am a pale reflection of your love and care for family, but I shall do my utmost to achieve the standard that you set.

Fudo-nee. If you are no more, I swear that I shall do my best to honor your spirit by assisting the Owari Tokugawas that you served so long and so faithfully. You are a true hero, Sister, and while all heroes fall one by one in time, the deeds they do live on in the memories of those who they touch. So shall it be with you and I.

So I, Masamune-no-Tokunotakai, the Masamune of the Warrior's Virtues, Consecrated of Hachiman, swear upon my honor and my very soul.

Ehren gasped as the wards on the sealed door flickered and faded one by one. Her arms tightened around Toku's waist as the click of the lock sounded.
Spoiler: A Debt Of Honor Paid In Blood

The door swung open and thick sulferous black smoke billowed forth.

Was that...?

Movement in the cloud of smoke.

A bloody hand with broken fingers waved smoke from her face as a figure slowly limped through the door on a clearly shattered left leg with her left arm hanging limp.

"Well I think that settles THAT...." An aristocratic French voice laced with smug satisfaction.

"Like Jigoku(hell) it does! Once I heal up I demand a rematch!" A Japanese voice with the fires of divine wrath simmering under the surface.

A second figure dragging herself painfully through the door with a death grip on the wall to keep her upright.

"Next time don't come here low on energy from a minor pissing match with the yakuza then. Not my fault that you decided to fight me while low on power, Masamune." Colombe snarled as she turned her scorched and burned face to survey Fudo from her good right eye. "If you were a little less hotheaded and rash and prepared properly at full strength, you might have taken me. Might."

"Big words, Muramasa." Fudo wheezed out, looking like someone had run her avatar through a rock crusher. "Don't spend too much energy in bedplay with Toku-chan and get lazy and fat, because I'll channel Musashi-chan and use a bokken to beat the fat out of your ass. I'll give you this, at least unlike your kin, you are no coward, although it is probably because you are too dumb to run when you are outclassed!"

Colombe snorted in response and nearly collapsed. Ehren rushed to her mother's side and supported her. Meanwhile Toku sprinted to catch Fudo before her sister crashed to the floor.

"Wie gehts(How's it going), Ehren? You ought to see Fudo-san," Colombe gave a smug smirk at her daughter, "oh wait, you can."

Ying hurried across the floor to support Colombe on the other side as Kasuyu followed with a medical satchel.

"Kasuyu, fix Masamune Divine Fury first so she doesn't complain about how thoroughly I stomped her. Since I probably knocked her around enough to not know which end is up, we can put her up in Toku's room until she can figure out which direction home is." Colombe hissed out as she coughed up more blood.

Fudo gave Colombe a flat stare as Toku prevented her from crashing to the floor. "Just for that the next time you are in Tokyo, I'll teach a gaijin Muramasa rapier like you how to do proper hospitality. Since I managed to pound some respect through your thick skull, it will be easy to hammer it home!"

"Let me have my daughter fix my legal trouble and I might take you up on that then. Just to prove you wro---" Colombe's voice broke and she wheezed as Ehren accidentally touched her shattered ribcage. "Easy there, Ehren! Mutti ist sehr verletzt."(Mom is very hurt.)

A crystal blue-eye winked as Colombe's head drooped, to be returned by an eye of seething molten gold.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Pas De Sextet for Butter and Bread Knives (Pas De Sextet = A Dance for Six)

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium
Spoiler: Kenshō

Masamune-no-Fudo gasped in pain as she was carried upstairs by her sister Tokunotakai.

A small, silent, hidden part of herself remembered the last time that Toku had carried her like this.

She realized with a start that the physical pain that she was feeling was greater than in 1945, since she had been only unable to walk then with her hands and feet burned to the bone in the firebombing from her inadequate attempts to save everyone who she could. But the far greater emotional pain that she had been in that dreadful night, seeing Gorota Tokugawa's face in everyone who she had failed to save from the flames, hearing his voice in every scream for help and mercy from the Kami as the world burned around her was muted now.

Curious.

She could barely remember a time when the memory of her lost love, that wonderful, infuriating, noble, honorable man had not tormented her, reminding her that she was imperfect, flawed, unworthy. Every time she had failed to accomplish something, that memory resurfaced and ripped further bleeding chunks from her spirit.

But not this time.

Instead, as she had laid there in a slowly growing pool of her own blood after Colombe's spell had slammed kilograms of sharpened granite shrapnel into her at supersonic speed, too exhausted to do anything but gasp for air and quietly bleed on the scorched and shattered stone, insight had come to her with the sudden flash of Fudo My'oo's blade cleaving through the illusions of existence to the fundamental truths within.

There was no dishonor in defeat when one gave her utmost efforts in a worthy cause. Even a hero of legend would face a foe one day that he could not overcome, but the heroism was in the attempt despite knowing the doomed outcome in advance.

For if there was dishonor in that defeat, than would not Gorota's own honorable death fighting an impossible foe to overcome to protect her have not been equally dishonorable?

She knew deep down in her steel core that he would never have flagged, never have faltered, and would have had his last thought be of her before the darkness took him from her. But also, that his willing sacrifice was just that. A sacrifice for her, for as Toku had warned her and then as Gorota had learned on the battlefield, one warrior, no matter how filled with fighting spirit, could only fight against multiple foes of equal determination and greater strength for so long and no longer.

And if he had not sacrificed himself on Saipan to save her, to pry that first crack open in her armor of anger and misguided fury, then she could not have accepted Toku-chan's unconditional sisterly love truly in 1945. Love that saved her, that she was unworthy of, but love that she had received anyway. Love that she received when she admitted, as painfully and hesitantly as she had, that she was wrong, blinded by her arrogant self-righteousness before the pain of his loss cleft through the illusions of her existence on the Wheel of Suffering and Rebirth to give her a chance to be liberated from her shackles of dukkha and samsara and achieve nirvana.

A chance which led her to this moment, bleeding out on the floor of du Chasteler's castle gasping for breath.

Somehow that thought gave her strength that she never knew that she had to flop her head the other way and stare at the crater in the wall where the Illusion-Severing Sword's strike had thrown the limp body of the Muramasa rapier.

A chance that would depend on her actions.

With that she coughed, feeling fresh agonies spread through her body as things popped and moved unpleasantly and croaked out. "Du Chasteler-san?"

A wheeze from the far end of the smoke-filled room as a equally bloody and battered rapier's avatar focused on the Fudo-shaped blur vaguely in the direction of the voice. "Quoi?"(what)

"If you even think of hurting Toku-chan..." Fudo paused to spit out more blood, "...I won't hold back then. You're just lucky you caught me the day after putting down a dozen Yakuza wizards."

A pained gasp as Colombe slowly raised her head. "Lucky for you that I'd sooner..." A yelp followed by a string of incomprehensible words that from the tone of them were heartfelt pained curses, "...snap my blade than harm one hair on To-chan's head. And killing you would make To-chan unhappy."

Fudo felt a bubble of painful laughter swell within her at what was said and unsaid in this moment of understanding. "I don't know what she sees in you, du Chasteler-san." She then emitted a few curses of her own as her effort to focus on Colombe sent pain shooting down her spine. "You just don't know when to leave good enough alone." Toku was right, she has the same spirit as a true samurai. Pity that she was born here and to a Muramasa.

Colombe gave a ghastly chuckle. "So, call this a honorable draw or do I need to come over there and give you the coup de grâce?" She made a motion in that direction and screamed in agony, "Merde(shit) that's broken!"

Fudo let the pained laughter out, "Funny, once I caught my breath, I was going to crawl over there and take that stubborn head of yours, du Chasteler-san. Toku-chan would be a little upset when I presented it to her as a trophy, though, so I'll take the draw this time until the rematch."

"I look forward to the rematch." A thoughtful pause, "I should have enough energy left to throw a healing spell on you if you need help to the door once I pull it from the wards and heal myself. No sense in you dying on me before the rematch"

The grudging sincere respect in Colombe's voice warmed Fudo and made her pain ease slightly. "I won't say no. This once, du Chasteler-san."

"I won't tell a soul." Colombe gasped out a spell and the first ward symbol faded....

Fudo blinked and returned to herself as Toku opened the door to a plain and spartan bedroom. She immediately identified the flower arrangement in Toku's favorite black enameled vase with a pair of white cranes as her sister's eye for color and harmony.
Spoiler: Toku's Vase


Toku laid her down on a clearly new futon and began to tend to her injuries after taking her battered and damaged true self to the polished pine that was Toku's second-best swordrack. Fudo focused on her sister's face, seeing the slight concerned wrinkle of her brow, and sharper focus in her blue-green eyes. Just like at the Hachimangu in 1945 as Toku-chan nursed her back to health.

It was secretly reassuring that her attempt to kill her sister's lover had strained but had not snapped her sister's feelings for her.

"Fudo-nee." Toku spoke quietly as she surveyed an assortment of potions from the medical kit.

"What is it Toku-chan?" Fudo gasped out, feeling a refreshing numbness as the healing potions went to work. In the distance past the closed door there was a thunder of running feet.

"We need to talk about... certain matters." Her sister turned with a resolute look in her eyes.

Fudo swallowed and spoke slowly. "Colombe du Chasteler... I do not like her. I may never like her. But in there... she proved that she may one day be worthy of your steel. When she becomes worthy, I wish you happiness with her, for your sake. Do not make me regret this decision."

Toku gave Fudo an unreadable look, and then nodded. "She would not be Chosen by Hachiman as I am if she was unworthy."

Fudo gasped, "I never suspected that she..."

Toku knelt gracefully beside her sister's body and took Fudo's newly bandaged hand in both of hers. "Indeed you did not, Fudo-nee. That is the tragedy of our sisterhood. None of us truly see clearly. Before I left for Fujiyama, I had tea with both Kotegiri-oneesama and Honjo-oneesama. They commented that it was too long that we had shared tea, had spoken as sisters, and they were right. Kotegiri-oneesama was shocked to her very core that I had changed so greatly from the young blade that she thought that she knew, that I had found love in the embrace of another spirit when I discovered a Muramasa that I found worthy of my heart."

Toku stared into Fudo's shocked eyes, "I also petitioned Hachiman-dono to alter my duties so I could venture outside the Shrine. When we spoke, He informed me that I was at grievous fault." Toku's voice grew sad as tears trickled from her eyes and Fudo stared in naked shock as she continued. "In my dedication to duty, no, what I thought was my duty as his Chosen, I had lain idle rather than perform His will in the world outside the Shrine as He intended for me. Furthermore, this was not the first time that I had fallen short and failed Him."

Faintly, Fudo heard a sudden pop of Apparation. She paid it no mind as she listened to her sister's confession. "In 1864 when Colombe and I first met, I had fallen far from the Way, and needed my defeat at the hands of a samurai in her innermost spirit who matched my skill and power and had superior understanding of the Way of Bushido to set me straight. Truly, I was what Co-chan called Miko Punchable Face then, and it was only by her example and my humiliation at her hands that I found myself again and discovered the Way."

Toku leaned forward and stared into Fudo's eyes. "If I can make such terrible mistakes in my judgement and vision and have to accept correction, even harsh correction. If Kotegiri-nee and Honjo-nee can be so blind as to not see a young girl turn into a maiden who finds a Muramasa that she determines is worthy of her love. Can not the Masamune of Fudo My'oo, my beloved sister, see with equally clouded sight, just as all our family does?"

Fudo's mind whirled at the revelation that Toku... and Honjo... and Kotegiri herself... were all imperfect. She blinked as the half-noticed at the time memory of Toku requesting a dinner outing struck her consciousness. "So that is why you wished to meet me for dinner." She stated half to herself.

Toku's lips twitched and she nodded serenely, "Indeed, so we could have this talk. Unfortunately, Fate and the kami had other plans for me. Co-chan and I were to climb Mount Fuji before then so I could fulfill my childhood dream. What resulted from that showed that the Lord of Eight Banners had other plans for us." Toku's face became sad.

Fudo licked her battered lips. "What happened? I heard about Aokigahara and the jorogumo du Chasteler-san broke out..."

Toku's eyes flashed fire as her lips thinned and her face filled with a serenely controlled righteous fury at the mention of the Aokigahara Reserve. "Indeed, you should know what happened. It began when Konohananosakuya-hime advised us to take the trail down from Hakusandake Peak when we visited her shrine atop Fuji-san...."

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

Across the hall, Colombe du Chasteler groaned in relief as Ehren and Ying lowered her bandaged avatar into her bed. She looked over at her oldest and youngest daughter and gave a weak smile. "Now if one of you can get Claire we can have that overdue family reunion."

Ehren snapped to attention and barked out. "Zu Befehl, Mutti!"(At your command, mom!) With that she spun on her heel and marched out of the bedroom.

Ying watched her go, then turned to her father. "Is she always like that?" She asked.

Colombe nodded, "She is, and you get used to her. Eventually. Ehren is..." Colombe trailed off and thought, "I'm perhaps not the best person to explain. Your little sister is the way that she is because of my mistakes with her father." Colombe shrugged with a pained hiss. "Some decades my whole life has been a series of mistakes, such as abandoning you and your mother accidentally. Doesn't change the fact that I let family down."

The sound of running footsteps came from the hall. "Better get away from the door, over by my standing wall screen will be safe."

"MOTHER!!" The door burst open and Claire rushed inside, jumping on the bed and hugging Colombe. "You'reOKIwassoworried..."

Colombe gasped in agony as the piano spirit squeezed her and returned the hug with her one good arm. "I love you too, Claire. But Mommy is very sore and hurty. Give me a kiss someplace with no bandages or bruises and then summon yourself and play me some music?"

Claire complied with a smooch to Colombe's right temple and then hopped off the bed. Ying watched the proceedings with a shocked expression. As Claire moved to an open space in the room and began to glow gold, the dao moved over and whispered. "She acts younger than she looks."

Colombe gave a fond smile and whispered back. "And I wouldn't change her for the world. Claire is the light of our lives. Ahh... I hope that you like piano music."

"Actually, I do." Ying admitted and then paused as with a bang of displaced air a grand piano appeared in front of Claire. "That wall screen is Chinese?"

Colombe nodded and spoke with a sad expression in her eyes, "From the Summer Palace in 1860, yes. I managed to save it from the flames, but it was a drop of water in the ocean. So much beauty lost..."

Ying glanced at the door as Ehren walked inside carrying a carved walnut arm chair, tensing slightly.
Spoiler: Ehren's Chair

Ying stared at the ornately hand-carved chair as Ehren set it down next to Colombe's bed. Colombe gave a faint smile. "That was a gift from Johann Potter of the German Branch to his cousin Ida-Helene du Chasteler on her fifteenth birthday in 1820 as part of a set. When Ehren manifested, Kasuyu and I raided the attics and brought down her furniture to furnish Ehren's room."
Spoiler: Claire Serenades Mother

Claire cracked her knuckles and began to play softly.

Ehren nodded, sitting stiffly upright in her chair after closing the door. "Ja. It is quite sufficient for my needs and fine craftsmanship in the style of the Schwartzwald.(Black Forest)"

Ying pulled an upholstered white oak Louis XV armchair from next to Colombe's small vanity to sit across the bed from Ehren. "I see. So... I suppose introductions are in order. I am the eldest daughter of Mei Yuying, a huli jing fox spirit from China who Father... Colombe saved from the Red Turban Taiping rebels plaguing Southern China in the 1850s. Mother is well and passes along her best wishes to you, Father. She would like to talk at some point, to thank you for helping her establish her own life."

Colombe spoke with a distant look, staring at the wall screen. "That is good to hear. I looked for her in 1866 when I passed through San Francisco, but according to what I could dig up, she married a mining foreman, was pregnant with twins by him, and had left with him in search of another gold strike. That would have been you?"

Ying nodded, "To hide ourselves from anyone from the Middle Kingdom still pursuing Mother, she married into the Wei family, and got a divination that our wealth would be made in Canada. Plus MACUSA is not the most open society for non-humans, and the 1850s were very bad. So we moved north to Victoria, where my eldest half-brother was born eight months after me. I was called his twin growing up, although Mother knew from the start that I was yours." She twirled a lock of her shoulder-length dark blonde hair around a finger. "The blonde hair was the obvious sign."

Colombe gave a pained laugh and Ehren a lip twitch. "Indeed, Daughter. Us du Chastelers all have blonde hair, except Claire because she's our special Piano sister." Claire trilled a giggle with a series of quick high notes before shifting into another song. "Del said that you were her classmate?"

Ying grinned smugly and leaned forward. "Indeed so, number ten in Ilvermorny's Class of 1872, Del was eleventh. Oh I have some stories to tell about our misspent youth." Her eyes flicked to Ehren, who was no longer straight-backed with a steel rod in her spine but leaning forward very slightly with a well-concealed flicker of interest in her cool gaze. Well. well, my Ice Queen little sister might just thaw after all.... "It was Second Year when we cooperated on our first prank. Perceval Graves of Horned Serpent House had jinxed Louise Winona, Del's best friend and my partner in Herbology with the Dancing-Feet Spell while calling her a 'stupid savage' to her face. Louise was a really sweet girl and later became one of my best friends in school; her and Maddie made up our little group, looking back on things. So I headed down to the library to find a way to get Perceval back for what he did to her...."

Author's Note: I do hope this helps explain Fudo's relationship shifting

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Courtship Display VII

The Kappa's Catch, Magical Roppongi, Magical Tokyo
Spoiler: Rumors

Kiho Mitsue hummed happily as she entered the seafood restaurant for a working lunch. Dalt was one in a million and while she had to go out and actually do her job today rather than help him recover from saving her life, the past 24 hours since her rescue had been quite enjoyable.

She thought that it was a minor miracle that she was not walking bowlegged now. She and he had certainly made up for lost time and lost opportunities, even though she informed him that she planned to do most of the work so he did not injure anything else. After all, the hero was the one who got the reward. She could certainly handle living with a heroic manly man who loved her enough to fight a group of kidnappers and a juvenile Nundu.

The fact that she had passed a visibly drooling shipgirl staring at the prime-grade specimen of bare-chested manhood on her arm en-route to their taxi was just the chocolate sprinkles on the hot fudge sundae of her life. She planned to insure that she had Dalt all to herself for the rest of their lives. Judging from his reaction to supplying him with painkillers and a Pain-Be-Gone potion to chase them down when he woke up groaning yesterday morning was his announcement that she was an angel, she was off to a good start.

However, it was time for business instead of pleasure. Pleasure paid no bills. With that she approached the maitre'd. "Kiho Mitsue here as part of the Miyata party."

He nodded and escorted her to a private room where Shigeru Miyata was waiting along with Naomi. Kiho closed the screen behind her, and then used her wand to reinforce the anti-scrying and silencing privacy wards.

Shigeru smiled at her. "I took the liberty of requesting a minor delay before the serving staff check on us, Mitsue-san."

Kiho nodded and then cast one more spell summoning a ball of lightning that arced and flashed with a small bang before vanishing.

Naomi raised an eyebrow. "To deal with muggle listening devices then?"

Kiho nodded as she sat opposite them. "Yes. Thank you for responding so promptly to my request Miyata-san."

Shigeru smiled toothily. "When you told my daughter yesterday that you needed to speak with her personally on a matter of some importance, well then."

Kiho took a deep breath and pulled out a handwritten scroll. "Here is my report on the research I did looking into the rumor that your grandson's friend told him, Miyata-san. I will verbally add, that the young lady in question is no liar, nor are her sisters."

Both the Civil Servants on the far side from the table showed clear shock. "Truly, Mitsue-san?" Shigeru spoke as he made the scroll vanish into his sleeves.

"Truly, Miyata-san. The reason that I asked to speak with you today is that after I spoke to my contact who confirmed that information, and who is in a position to know what is going on at Ibuki-san's workplace, I was attacked." Naomi's lips pursed as Kiho continued. "While to all appearances the attack was a matter of extremely poor criminal judgement by the son of a man whom I arrested in my last case as an Auror, their timing and actions were... suspicious. Especially since I cannot confirm if there are not deeper meanings to this."

Shigeru nodded slowly; his face was grave, "I see, and considering how rumors in the wrong ears can cause problems..."

"Exactly, Miyata-san. Also, the Aurors who were summoned to deal with the kidnapping were accompanied by several shipgirls who have a copy of their evidence now, including magic use. I believe that it was a case of the second calling the first to assist as well. Although while to all appearances what happened to me was a case of criminal stupidity, the kidnappers planned to silence me permanently and also ransacked my office and apartment although all my notes were secure. So...." Mitsue trailed off indicatively.

Shigeru looked like a man eating a sour, rotten fruit. "Just so. I am minded to triple the bonus that we had planned to give you for clearing up rumors about Ibuki-san's place of employment plus cover damages incurred by the burglary. Also, you should be aware that we are planning to ensure that disturbing rumors do not threaten the smooth operation of government, but rather will be dealt with in an Inter-Departmental Committee for policy review that will formulate a draft response and a potential legislative framework. Purely routine and involving some acquaintances of mine who are taking a honeymoon on the shores of Lake Biwa."

Kyoto would be brought in to deal with the explosive issue of Yokai shipgirls alongside Tokyo. Mitsue breathed a sigh of relief. "I am pleased to hear that, and I shall ensure that such information does not spread, of course. It is bad professional ethics and can cause political issues if believed. I shall be looking into Ibuki-san's early history next unless you have anything else of interest?"

Shigeru rubbed his balding scalp, then glanced at Naomi, who shook her head. "No, nothing that we can think of. Just the normal history for the young lady. While I am going to delay the ultimate decision until your final report, she seems to have her virtues outweighing her flaws currently. Not ideal, but better than I feared might be the case."

There was a knock at the screen and the waitress entered. "May I recommend the Special of the Day, Miyata-san, Miyata-san, Mitsue-san?"

Naomi smiled, "I shall have that, and I must concur, the young lovebirds seem to have a strong bond of feelings for each other. One should not interfere unnecessarily when the red string of fate ties two people together, no?"

Kiho smiled and placed her order. "Indeed, although considering how affectionate they are, in their fumbling first love way like two young puppies frolicking together, I may have to buy insulin shots and speak to my dentist."

Shigeru chuckled wryly and placed his order. "Incidentally, you need to see this masterpiece that some genius in Minato-3 came up with and is putting up all over the place." He slid across a political poster, and the ladies started giggling. On it, in full color, an animated Nundu was chewing on a Conservative Democratic Values party insignia as a message scrolled over the top.

VOTE POLITICAL NUNDU FOR MINATO-3, TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME

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

Yokosuka Municipal Library
Spoiler: An Accident in The Stacks

Hachiko smiled as he finished reshelfing this section of books at the library. Today was a near-perfect day, honestly. The sun was shining and it was warm but not overly hot. The library was busy enough to make time go by swiftly but slow enough so he was never overwhelmed.

Best of all, Moriko-chan's scarf was more than halfway done. With a song in his heart he rounded the corner of the shelves with the next stack of books for reshelfing in his hands... and bumped into a buxom young lady.

Books went flying everywhere, as did his glasses.

"Oh, here, let me help, Miyata-san." Came the familiar voice of the Karaoke cafe manager. She scooped up his glasses and helped him to his feet.

"Thank you Manager-san." He bowed as she handed him the last book and turned to go.

He never noticed that she had slipped two discount coupons to an onsen that she knew the owners of into his pocket.

A.N.-So. Much. Subtext. Kiho is a little shaken by the whole near-miss kidnapping/torture/murder plan and feels it has to do with the explosive political secret of Yokai Natural-Borns.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Pulling back from the kiss, Kiyohime gave a soft sigh before laying her forehead against Haku's. Fiery tears dripped down her cheeks before she opened her eyes which were filled with pure love and joy, "Haku-Kun..."

Just looking into her eyes in return, the eighteen year old man smiled, "Kiyohime." Glancing at the ring, now in what he considered it's proper place, Haku sheepishly smiled, "Hopefully you like it?"

Now looking at the ring itself, Kiyohime smiled even more as her eyes sparkled nearly as much as the blue diamond on the ring, "Hai..." Turning back to him, she nodded, "I do."

Giving her another kiss, Haku smiled, "Then I am glad."

For her part, Kiyohime shifted back to her more human-like form before hugging her boyfriend, and husband in both their hearts, "I never expected... or even hoped..."

Only holding her close, the young man shrugged, "Well, I have been planning it for some time..." At her look of confusion, he smirked, "I've been saving up for a ring since last year. Just the past few months have given me enough funds in order to actually buy the one that I wanted to."

Blushing, Kiyohime was unable to look him in the face, though she was smiling, "You... you've been planning on giving it to me for months? Really, Haku-Kun?"

Hand gently grasping her chin, Haku turned her head so that they were looking each other in the eye, "Hai. Because I want you as my wife, Kiyohime. And just telling you does not prove that like giving a ring."

Yet again, Kiyohime's eye was drawn to the sparkle of the stone and she felt tears well up once more. Inside her chest, she swore that her heart felt like it would explode from all the emotions that it held within it. Yes, Haku had told her almost every day since they had gotten together that he would marry her. And she had believed him, how could she not? But...

There was always that small voice in the back of her mind whispering to her, telling her that he could well be lying to her.

But she had never believed that voice, and instead believed Haku, her beloved Haku. The young man whose voice as a child had reached her in that dark place in the depths of the Hidaka River. A young man who as a child, had given her kindness and happiness. There was one person in this cold, cruel world that cared for her.

A young man who since they had gotten together had become even more special. Who had shown her love and care every day that they spent together. And who she fell more and more in love with each day. Someone who had smiled at her and she had smiled back to. A person who did not care what she looked like... or her past.

With that thought, the tears once more came to Kiyohime's eyes. But these were not the happy tears of before, and her voice was hoarse with emotion as she spoke, "Haku-Kun... why? Why?"

Eyebrow raised, Haku gave her a look, "Because I love you."

Despite those words filling her with warmth, she shook her head, "That... I know that you say that, and I believe it, I do! But..." Taking a deep breath, Kiyohime continued, "B-but... I am not pure, Haku-Kun. Not anymore."

Frowning, Haku gave her a look, "I don't care."

Just sniffling, Kiyohime gave him a watery smile, though there was sadness there, "But why? Why do you not care? I... I am not taking about being a monster, a demon... A honnari Hannya."

It took only moments for the young man to piece it together, "Anchin."

Slowly, Kiyohime nodded before speaking in a near whisper, "Anchin..."

Gently stroking her hair, Haku shook his head, "I don't care about him, Kiyohime. Except for hating him because he hurt you. That's all he is worth in my book."

Burying her face in his chest, the Demoness shook her head, "B-but..." With a deep breath, she sniffled a bit, "For years... he told me that he was going to marry me. If I was a good and virtuous girl. T-two years before... I was a young woman. He had told me that he would marry me and later, he... he asked to meet me in his room, and I did. And each n-night that he stayed at our home. O-otou-San was so angry when he caught us, he was enraged at Anchin and demanded that he make it right. That he would be marrying me."

Still stroking her hair, Haku nodded. After all, he had been told this story before, "And Anchin told both you and your father that as soon as he returned from his pilgramage, he would do so."

Only nodding, Kiyohime was silent for a few moments before speaking, "Hai. Otou-San let him go because... it would look bad if he kept him there. B-but then, he never returned when he was supposed to. And... and it was horrible. Everyone in the village knew what had happened and I..." Shaking her head, she swallowed, "I chased after him and caught up with him. I had to because... B-but he pretended not to recognize me and tried to escape. Until I cornered him. And that... that was when he told me that he was a Monk. Thus, to reach enlightenment, he had decided to cast off such earthly desires such as that which was between us. And so we could not be wed. He... he did not care how it would affect me. I was about t-t-to... when he cast a spell. A sacred spell that caused me to freeze in divine light, stunning me long enough for him to run the rest the way to the ferry."

Grimacing, Haku sighed, "And he paid the ferryman not to take you across. With him bowing to you from across the river stating that he was sorry, but him being a Monk came first before you jumped into the river and transformed."

Eyes closed, the Demoness of the Hidaka nodded, "I was just... just so angry. It felt like I was burning alive from the inside from the anger and the hate. How dare he... how dare he do what he did and decide that his reputation was more important. Did he not care how it would affect my Otou-San? My family? Me?" A thin smile crossed Kiyohime's face, "When he saw me transform, the flames burning away my humanity, I saw him get scared and he ran for the temple. The rest..."

Just nodding, the eighteen year old sighed, "I already know." Looking down at her, Haku smiled, "And once more, I do not care. He brought it upon himself for both what he did that night and ones afterwards."

Looking down, Kiyohime swallowed, "But I am not pure, Haku-Kun. How... how can you want me for a wife when I have been sullied..."

A hand gently lifted her face up to where she could see Haku smiling at her, "You are not sullied, Kiyohime. You could never be sullied." Thumb wiping away the fiery tears that dripped down her cheeks, he kissed her, "I do not care what happened between the two of you. To me, you are the woman that I love, no matter what."

If before, she was crying, now Kiyohime was nearly outright sobbing, "Haku-Kun..." Grabbing him tightly, she held on as her eyes closed, "Haku-Kun... thank you... thank you..."

With gentleness, Haku kissed the top of her head, "You don't need to thank me, Kiyohime. I love you, and nothing is going to change that. Nothing at all."

Simply nodding, Kiyohime smiled brightly before kissing him back, "Hai."

That night, Haku was laying on their shared futon and looking up at the ceiling. Part of his mind had gone over what had happened earlier. It went without saying that the young adult was over the Moon. Despite all the worries and self-doubt, Kiyohime had said yes. She had said yes! Just that fact made him smile brightly, even though he was saddened by the fact that she still suffered some self-doubts. Not that she loved him and vice versa, but that she was worth it.

Not, for the first time, did Haku curse a certain monk.

His thoughts though were pulled from such matters as a happy Kiyohime walked into their bedroom, the ring on her finger sparkling in the light. Just as happy himself, Haku smiled back at her, though he blushed a bit at the fact that she was once more wearing one of his shirts, "Ready for bed, Kiyohime?"

Just humming, Kiyohime nodded before turning out the light. As usual, one of the few sources of illumination came from the dragoness' eyes, which softly glowed in the darkness, "Hai."

Slipping into their futon, she waited until Haku brought the blanket up to cover them both before sighing. Eyebrow raised, the eighteen year old gave her a look, "Something wrong, Kiyohime?"

With a blink, she looked up at him, "No, just... wondering if this is a dream."

Lips curling into a smile, Haku gave her a kiss on her forehead, "If it is, than it is our dream, Kiyohime. One that we both will adore." Head tilted to the side, Kiyohime smiled suddenly and shifted so that she was astride him. Nearly automatically, Haku's hands went to her toned legs and gently grasped them, "Hmm?"

Bringing up her hands and cupping his cheeks, Kiyohime smiled, "Haku-Kun." She leaned down and claimed his lips for her own before deepening the kiss, 'Haku-Kun...'

One of her hands left his cheek though and reached back for his own hands, and grasped one of them. A hand that she used her own to shift up her leg, a shiver running through her as his rough palm glided across toned muscle covered in soft skin until it reached the destination in mind. A destination that made Haku pull out of the kiss with a surprised look, "Kiyohime?"

Part of him knew that if he could see better in the darkness, the dragoness' face likely was lit up in an atomic blush even as he felt a firmness under his hand. But he didn't do anything, simply wait for her to answer him, which she did in a soft whisper, "Haku-Kun, please... you are my husband now, and I am your wife. I... I want more, but..."

A small smile appeared on his face, "But not too far."

To that, Kiyohime smiled and even in the low light, he could see it, "Hai, but far enough." Grasping his other hand, she moved it to her front, "Please..." When she let got, Kiyohime's hand lightly scratched his chest, "Please..."

Seeing her eyes glowing and the pupils slit, Haku gave a squeeze which made Kiyohime sigh. His lips close enough to feel her breath on them, he smiled, "Kiyohime..."

In reply, Kiyohime reached up and grasped the back of his head before kissing him, and doing so hard and deepening it right away.

While they did not consummate their marriage that night, that did not mean that they did not enjoy what they did. Quite the opposite in fact. And that morning, when they woke up, the two smiled happily at each other.

Because that was all they needed in the end, each other.

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Weasley's Warship Workshop 7

Jean-Bart stood at the main gate of the arsenal de Toulon, waiting for Ron to appear. With Toulon being the largest naval base for the Marine Nationale even after the affects of Blood Week and a shift of forces towards the Atlantic, there was plenty of traffic and she was glad her bike allowed her to lean against it while she waited. She got a few looks from passers by but she ignored them, the guards at least were familiar with her and that was all she cared about.

It was only a couple minutes after the designated meeting time when she saw a red haired boy walking towards her hand in hand with another red haired man. They were clearly related, most likely making the man Ron's father. Since Ron was only thirteen she should have realized somebody was coming with him and she shook her head. Hopefully there wouldn't be too much fuss from the man.

To her surprise, the man stopped once Ron pointed her out and nodded to the boy. There was a brief moment where the two hugged and then Ron was jogging over to her. The man saw her looking and gave her a brief wave, which she returned in acknowledgment. Then her eyes went back to the redheaded boy after a brief glance to the guards, who were busy enough with the auto traffic at the gate.

"Sorry I'm late." Ron said as he approached, the boy not out of breath from his short jog. "It's dad's first time here too so we had to take it slow."

Checking her internal chronometer, it was only 12:05 so Jean-Bart shook her head.

"It's not a problem, you aren't that late." Reaching behind her she pulled out a helmet, small enough to fit on his head or so she hoped. "Put this on, we're going for a bit of a drive."

Ron took the helmet and looked at it curiously for a moment before managing to slip it over his head and get the strap attached correctly after only a couple tries. Looking up at her he glanced towards her head.

"Where's yours?"

"I do not need one because I am a battleship." She said before rapping him on the helmet lightly. "Underneath this you are soft and squishy."

Turning, she clambered onto the bike, starting it up and feeling the familiar rumble of the engine.

"Your father isn't going to be upset about you getting on a motorcycle is he?" Jean-Bart turned to Ron, then glanced towards the crowd where the redheaded man had already disappeared.

"No, my dad likes mechanical things and how they work so he told me to ask you a bunch of stuff about it." Ron looked at towards the crowd as well and then back to her. "He doesn't get as much time to tinker as he used to."

"Well good then, get on behind me."

Ron looked from Jean-Bart, then to the bike and then back to Jean-Bart.

"What?" She asked him.

"Nothing." Ron's words weren't convincing but he climbed up behind her without further fuss, Jean-Bart able to support his weight easily with her leg.

"Now hold on tight." Jean-Bart said, gunning the engine slightly as she pulled out into the street.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ron's first motorcycle ride was so full of interesting things that he could barely keep track of them.

The most mundane of them was the city itself. Ron was an engineer and not an architect, so aside from a few particular buildings that stood out to him it seemed more or less the same as England. There were differences of course but he could be forgiven for missing them given the situation.

The next thing to notice was the motorcycle that was rumbling between his legs. It was like riding a broom but only in the loosest sense, your legs went on each side of the thing and it moved. The vibration and the noise from the engine was quite unlike the automobiles and trucks he'd been in before. Especially since with the motorcycle the noise was unfiltered by windows or the vehicles frame.

Lastly and most prominent in his teenage, hormone ridden mind, was Jean-Bart. Despite his exposure to ship-girls and their looks, Ron was not quite as familiar with the kind of casual, prolonged contact that riding a motorcycle even a relatively short distance entailed. It certainly didn't help that the sort of in-built filter he had for Warspite, Duke and even Summer simply didn't exist when it came to Jean-Bart.

So from the moment he realized that he'd have to be pressed up against her back to ride properly, his mind decided to remind him about the fact that Jean-Bart was as much a very attractive woman as she was a battleship. From the placement of his hands around her stomach to the fact that her long hair whipped by him close enough that he could smell the shampoo she was using, all of it reminded him that she was soft, smelled nice and tickled the part of his brain that did funny things to his stomach and other parts of his anatomy. It certainly didn't help that she didn't seem to mind or even notice, so Ron ended up spending a lot of the trip running through the parts of a shell hoist and how many nautical miles Warspite or Duke should be able to get with so many tons of bunker oil.

Thankfully the trip wasn't all that long, Jean-Bart having picked a local cafe that she apparently frequented, judging by the ease at which they got seated at a table inside and tucked away in a more private corner. Ron barely even remembered to take off the helmet she'd given him before they were seated and she was ordering for them. He was fine with that, seeing as he couldn't speak nor read French in any meaningful capacity. Something he'd have to correct, he realized as Jean-Bart rattled off words he only had a vague understanding of at best.

It wasn't until the waiter stepped away and Jean-Bart turned her attention back to him that Ron realized he'd been staring. Thankfully it had been at her face instead of any other parts of her anatomy but he'd still been staring.

"Is something the matter?" Jean-Bart asked, looking mildly concerned about him. "You haven't said a word since you got on the bike. Nerves? I tried not to go too fast."

Ron hadn't really noticed how fast they were going, given they were on a motorcycle and going through city streets it couldn't have been all that fast. He shook his head no and put a smile on his face.

"No, no. Nothing about the bike was all that nerve wracking." His voice wasn't the most convincing but Jean-Bart didn't push it, instead looking him over once more before nodding.

"In that case why don't you show me what we are here for? I assume this isn't secret information?"

Ron nodded, reaching into his back pocket to pull out his space enhanced wallet. Opening it, he found what he was looking for and felt himself regaining his metaphorical feet as he pulled out a number of sheets of paper and parchment with diagrams on them. "Well as you can see here..."

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

Jean-Bart could not quite get a handle on Ron. He seemed to be easily distracted on certain matters and somewhat nervous. Yet when he began to talk about engineering and repair, he turned into some kind of savant, producing drawings and diagrams that seemed to have been produced by a professional firm. She knew he had gotten help with them, Summer and Angie had both professed their interest in seeing things through in her presence, yet he seemed to be the overarching designer for them.

Of course what he was discussing brought on headaches of its own.

"What do you mean charms and runes?" She asked as he was pointing to the breech block of one of her 15'' guns.

"Uhm… didn't they tell you I was a wizard?" Ron asked, clearly concerned about the development.

"I'd seen the term used but I assumed they were speaking metaphorically." Jean-Bart realized that she'd not quite paid as much attention as she should have to some of the forum posts. Either that or the full details hadn't been made public on the internet.

Ron looker around a moment, to make sure they wouldn't be overheard. "Well, you know magic is real right?"

Jean-Bart snorted and gestured down to herself.

"Yes I am aware. There were also security briefings about strange men and women wandering around in silly robes trying to make naval personnel forget things but I've never seen one."

Ron visibly winced and Jean-Bart realized that she'd hit something very close to home with the boy, much more so than anything he could likely fake.

"Well… yeah. There used to be but according to my dad most of the ministries have developed a hands off approach after ship-girls made people immune to Obliviate spells. Except for a few edge cases or idiots, military personnel are off limits."

Jean-Bart looked at Ron, decided he was telling the truth and then nodded.

"Alright." She looked around, waiting a moment as the first part of their meal was brought out and then continued. "So I accept that you are not talking strangely out of your ass for this. What do these charms and runes do?"

Ron seemed somewhat relieved she believed him, even as he dug into his salad.

"Well, long story short you'll have a two or three second decrease of your salvo reload time and improved gun up percentage rate. We're not sure how much since there's not a lot of public data on it but we estimate five to ten percent. There's also a decrease in barrel wear but it should be roughly the same amount of time firing with the reload increase."

Jean-Bart wanted to wince at his statement but it was only the truth and her salad was the perfect way to distract herself. What Ron was saying was quite extraordinary, even if the numbers didn't seem all that impressive at first glance. In a short swift engagement things likely wouldn't change much but in a running battle, the kind of fight she would be engaged with if she was chasing enemy forces those numbers added up over minutes and hours.

"That doesn't sound bad." She finally said as she finished her salad, just in time for the next courses to come out. "What about the rest?"

"Your engines and machinery are straightforward enough. There's heating charms to produce a steadier burn rate, runes of cleanliness to prevent debris build up and anti-friction charms and runes so things run smoothly. There will be a moderate increase in power and you'll be able to run like you're just out of the yard for longer but mostly it prevents down time. You might get a knot or two if we're lucky and do both sets of boilers and machinery."

Speed was not quite life but it was useful to have and as Jean-Bart ate she examined the diagrams Ron had pushed towards her. They meant little to her, outside of the fact they were very clearly of her machinery spaces and had small additions to them. Runes per meter, layout of where they would go and how many charms would be needed in theory.

"Everything will run as normal even if your magic doesn't work?" That was her main concern with most of this.

"If it doesn't work everything should run as normal." Ron nodded. "We aren't changing anything big with these, just adding improvements."

"You are changing something big elsewhere?" Jean-Bart raised her eyebrow sharply at Ron.

"Only if you want." Since he was in engineer mode Ron didn't respond to the sharp glance with nerves, instead spreading out a stack of diagrams instead of only a few. "This is our proposal for your secondary turrets. I'm not sure what you know about other nations shipbuilding but what you have in front of you is what Summer, Angie and I think a French built version of the American 6"/47 Mark 16 DP mount adjusted for a triple barrel configuration would look like."

Ron paused, pointing at the diagrams as he went.

"The turrets are high-angle dual-purpose, autoloaders and we figured out how to tie them into your fire control directors so they can actually shoot down planes instead of just making pretty explosions in the sky. There's also a shell proposal here to replace your older style 6" ammo, including one that is VT fused for AA work. We essentially just copied the American's again but with French design principals. With that shell and the turret mount you should get 12-14 rounds a minute since we're including all the little magical work we did on your main guns too."

Jean-Bart felt her mind racing as she strove to keep up with Ron, as the idea he was laying out was simply audacious. If it worked properly she'd nearly triple the fire rate of her secondaries, add an equally hefty throw weight to her AA suite and it would be a surprise to anyone who fought her. At least the first few times.

It was risky for sure, as these were designs that had never existed until now. Had no historical backing whatsoever aside from an American design that had never used a triple barrel configuration. Yet…

Yet Ron seemed certain it could work and from what she'd seen of him he wasn't one for boasting. Perhaps he had made a step to far with these but as her own engineers argued the finer points of the design, she came to her own decision.

"Oh, I think I do want this, Ron." Jean-Bart smiled as she tapped the diagram. "It's bold but then, so am I." She grinned wider, finding it returned by Ron.

"I thought you might like it." He said confidently and Jean-Bart found herself wondering just what else the young boy's mind might hold.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
AN: This one got away from me a bit so I think there's going to be a second part. Hope you all enjoyed and comments, questions and concerns are welcome as always.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Canadian Mountie Meets Her Sister

Castle Moulbaix

Wei Ying paused in her story. Sometime after she had started to tell Colombe about Delilah and her working on dismantling the White Lotus Association in 1880s San Fransisco, the injured rapier had succumbed to the fatigue of her wounds and exertions. Now, lying in her antique bed, she was sound asleep.

Ying glanced over to the other two young women in the room. Claire du Chasteler gave her a shy smile and raised a finger to her lips before seguing into Brahms' Op.49 No.4 Wiegenlied played very softly and gently on her piano true body.
Spoiler: Mother's Tired

Ying then looked over to the other woman present. Across from her, Ehren du Chasteler nodded, then silently got up and walked to a wardrobe. Opening it, she pulled out a white embroidered Provencal French quilt and Ying stood. Carefully and gently, they covered Colombe with the fabric as Claire played softly.

As they finished, Claire and Ehren looked at each other for several seconds, then the piano nodded and shifted into another gentle lullaby. Ehren walked to the door and gave Ying a cool look before jerking her head at the hall outside in silent request.

The dao swallowed, remembering the cold and determined look in the dagger's eyes several hours ago when Ehren had viewed her as a threat to the du Chasteler family. Taking a deep breath, she stood, circled the bed, giving Claire a thankful smile in the interim, and headed into the hall outside where the blonde dagger was waiting for her.

Ehren gave her an unreadable look. "We need to talk," she spoke in a cool, clinical tone in slightly German-accented English.

Ying nodded and responded steadily. "Yes. We need to talk."

"Privately. Are you hungry?" Ehren continued as they walked down the hall to a door at the end.

Ying tapped her cheek with a finger. While she had eaten before Portkeying to Moulbaix, a top-up would not be a bad idea. "I could handle a light lunch."

Ehren opened the door and nodded. "Excellent. I'll fix us a tray then. You have no objection to pork sausage and potatoes?"

Ying shook her head. "None whatsoever. But I would prefer to talk first."

She stepped inside and her eyes widened. The room beyond was octagonal with bookshelves separated by dark wood paneling and windows looking out to the castle grounds. African weapons and masks hung on the walls and Ying sensed protective enchantments on the furnishings, artifacts, and books. A massive carved hardwood desk dominated the room with a computer and telephone on top. Ehren walked to the desk and with a flick of her wrist unsheathed her dagger, before placing it in a carved black walnut display stand next to the computer.

Ying raised an eyebrow at that, then unbuckled her swordbelt and hung it up on a convenient peg by the door next to an odd African mask with four eyes. "Dare I ask?" She asked coolly.

Ehren turned from opening a panel to reveal a dumbwaiter and surveyed her for a moment. "Before I manifested, I spent my life here next to Mutti's computer. It is... comfortable." She then paused, before opening a nearby cabinet and removing a pair of old socks wadded together in a ball. "Lock the door please?"

Ying complied and watched with interest as Ehren stuffed the socks into the end of a brass tube extending up from the floor. "Now I do have to ask, why do that?"

Ehren gave a fractional smile. "The voice tube connects to the kitchen. it was originally designed for the lord in his study to communicate with servants in the kitchen..."

Ying walked to the desk and leaned against it. "...but someone downstairs can listen in without precautions being taken. Clever."

Ehren bowed her head slightly, then stood ramrod straight. She opened her mouth, then closed it with a click of her teeth. "..."
Spoiler: Sisters' Secrets

Ying cast about for something to say to break the awkward silence. "That was an impressive illusion that you used to fool me earlier, Ehren." she settled on, wincing mentally as it opened the subject of earlier.

Something like hidden relief flickered in the dagger's steel-blue eyes. "I managed to put my lessons from Miho and Delilah together into coherent use. I seem to have an inborn flair for illusions."

"I can see that. I know the art too, but that is because of my mother's heritage." Ying took a deep breath, then continued, "I am half huli jing, a fox spirit from China. Normally I would not tell you of this, but," Ying took another deep breath, then closed her eyes, opening them to reveal that her pupils were vertical slits as a pair of ghostly golden tails flicked behind her, "we are family, and you deserve to know."

Ehren blinked, and had a brief shocked look on her face before she re-exerted control. Her eyes then showed curiosity. At Ying's nod, she walked forward and gently touched the spectral tail flicking behind Ying, realizing that it was solid. "So you use illusion to hide these from sight, ja?"

Ying smiled slightly as she looked over her shoulder at Ehren. "Actually, no. Huli jing are shapeshifters as well."

As Ehren watched in awe, the tail vanished like smoke from her hand as Ying's hair lengthened and paled, turning wheat-blonde. Her older half sister shrank slightly, and when she turned, Ehren gasped as she saw her own face in Ying's Chinese dress. The lips opened and her voice spoke in English lacking her native German accent. "Just like so."

Ehren's eyes narrowed at the revelation and she spoke thoughtfully. "Then if you had truly meant ill for Mother...."

Ying-Ehren shrugged awkwardly. "I could have impersonated you or anyone else in the house with study and practice, yes. Probably Delilah since I know Del very well, honestly. It would not have been easy, I would have to mimic your voices, movements, habits, and accents which are a real pain, and I don't speak German while you do, for instance. But not impossible." Ying took a deep breath, held it, then flowed like water back to her normal human form as she released it in a controlled exhalation. "I have done it more than a few times as an undercover agent."

Ehren nodded slowly with a thoughtful expression on her face. "I see."

"I owe you an apology. I intended to wind up your mother with that arrest, since I have been hunting her off and on for a century, and both Del and Jackie asked me to. But I would not harm her, she is family." Ying sighed, "I should have known better, but truly I forgot to finish crossing the river before leaving the boat."

Ehren crossed her arms under her modest chest and leaned against a bookcase. "Mother needs to know what you told me."

Ying nodded. "Oh, Colombe knows our capabilities, Mother told me that she revealed most of what she can do to Colombe back in China. Plus folklore and so on. I shall just tell her what my half-blood allows me to do. But I thought it best to clear the air with you, younger sister, since you saw me as a threat to your family and if your mother had not stopped you...." Ying trailed off and shivered.

Ehren sighed. "Apology accepted, and if I had known, I would not have done to you what I did do. I would like to learn illusion crafting from you, since it is invaluable for my combat style and preferences. I prefer fights that are weighted in my advantage." She scowled, "Experience has taught me that I must 'cheat' to have a fighting chance against Toku, Colombe, or Kasuyu in a spar. Lack of reach and personal power is frustrating to deal with."

Ying nodded. "I can also teach you at least the basics of Mei Five Ancestor Fist if you want. It is our family's wǔshù style and... well... you are my sister. I shall have to petition Amah since she is the sifu who taught me what I know, but I actually enjoy teaching."

Ehren gave a slight smile. "Good. That said, I must ask." Her face clouded and became more serious as she stared into Ying's eyes. "Why show and tell me this? I am not ungrateful, but this is too good to be true."

Ying paused, and walked to the window, looking out it at the small lake behind the castle. She spoke somberly as she rested her head on the glass. "Two reasons. First, even if my plan proceeds perfectly, several governments will still want Colombe imprisoned or killed. This does not count her habit of finding new trouble as well. The enemies that she has made... many of them are furious because she has cost them liǎnmiàn in the eyes of their peers. She has humiliated them by her very presence, as you saw with Masamune-no-Fudo. The only way for them to regain liǎnmiàn(face) is to humiliate or destroy her in turn. So they will make a move on her, and your... our family."

Ying turned her head to look at Ehren as the dagger nodded sharply. "Second and more relevant, the Statute of Secrecy is collapsing, and when that happens, there will be chaos. Even in the best case, ambitious and unscrupulous people magical and nomaj will act to take advantage of opportunities. And when that day comes, as wise as it would be for your mother to hide here and protect what she has...." Ying trailed off and sighed.

Ehren nodded, "Mutti will never do that. Especially if it involves you, Aunt Del, or Aunt Jackie."

"Exactly. I have spoken with Delilah on this subject before and I strongly suspect that she has her own plans ready to go. I know that she is not a supporter of the Statute." Ying sighed. "She told me that you had decided to stand alongside her on that day despite your youth and relative inexperience."

Ehren nodded sharply. "Ja. We have discussed that, along with dealing with some of the intolerable abuses." Her eyes hardened on the last.

"As well, she said that you have trust issues because of your past, and while I erred badly in my introduction, I would not wish them to poison my relationship with my Youngest Sister."

Ehren stiffened at Ying's words and then strode forward, invading Ying's personal space. Steel blue eyes stared fiercely into dark gray ones for long moments. "She told you that?" Ehren barked out sharply.

Ying spoke calmly, returning the furious stare with one of her own. "She did. She told me little of you or Claire, but she said that when we talked in the morning before Portkeying here."

"Anything else?!?" Ehren snarled, her eyes shimmering and her fists clenched.

"Merely that you do not trust easily or lightly but when you do, you are the truest friend one could have. And... that you are the spirit of a dagger that Father acquired in World War II in Europe and manifested just under two years ago. Nothing more." Ying replied thoughtfully. "I am sorry for bringing this up."

Ehren spun on her heel then strode to the desk and slammed both hands down on the polished wood, her shoulders shaking with emotion as she bent over the desk.

Ying froze in shock then walked to Ehren's side. She gently placed a hand on her back and spoke quietly. "I'm sorry, Ehren. I don't know what I did wrong, but I did not wish to hurt you. Let me help you please."
Spoiler: Ehren's Answer

"Help me?" Ehren's voice was icy and filled with self-loathing as she turned to look at Ying, her eyes shimmering. "Help me! Look at me and tell me if I deserve your kindness, 'sister'!!" One trembling hand raised and pointed at the display stand.

Ying's eyes followed the finger and she froze in shock. Shining brilliantly on the polished nickel of Ehren's pommel were the twin silver siegrunen(Victory Rune) of the Schutzstaffel(Protection Squad), while below them equally brilliantly embedded in the ebon leather of her grip was the Adler und Hakenkreuz of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei.(Eagle and swastika of the National Socialist German Workers' Party.)

The symbol of the Nazi party's feared paramilitary arm.

Darthcourt Note
Siegrune was Originally the Sun rune Sowilo, the same rune Harry Potter has on his head.

The SS were Originally Hitler's Personal Bodyguards

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Taking a deep breath, Akimi let it out in a sigh as she looked down at the basket in front of her where the clothes that she would be wearing would go. A hand on her shoulder made her turn to find her friend there, "Miu-Chan..."

Rather than say anything right away, the Crane Hanyou simply hugged her friend. After a few seconds, she softly whispered to Akimi, "Are you okay?"

Unsure grin on her face, Akimi was about to brush her off when she stopped. The grin slowly fell away and she closed her eyes as she leaned into her old friend's embrace, "I don't know... I'm nervous and somewhat scared, but... I need to do this."

Only nodding, Miu kissed her head, "Hai, I understand, Akimi-Chan." Pulling back a bit, she cupped the other Hanyou's cheek with her hand, "I know and understand. But we'll do this, together."

Just nodding, Akimi returned the hug before turning back to the basket. With another deep breath, she began to strip off her clothing and place it into the basket. Glancing over her shoulder at where Junyou was waiting with a Miko, she frowned a bit, "Question?" Upon getting a nod from the Light Carrier, Akimi continued, "Why do we need to remove our clothes?"

Motioning with a hand, Junyou frowned, "Well... it is because otherwise, you'll lose said clothing to the aether." At the confused looks, the shipgirl shrugged, "No one is quite sure if the clothing disintegrates under the sheer magical and spiritual power being released, if it is consumed by the energies of the ritual as part of the sacrifice, if it transfigures into the shipgirl's uniform, or if it just... disappears. No one knows, but that just means that unless it is something that you don't care about, you shouldn't wear something besides clothing that is made to be lost."

Both Onmyouji shared a look with one another at that before turning back to the Light Carrier. Raising one eyebrow, Miu frowned, "So the clothing just disappears? Nothing else?"

With a shrug, Junyou shook her head, "Like I said, no one knows what happens to it. All we know is that it can't be found afterwards and that the Natural Born is then wearing what we term their 'Working Uniform', which is the clothes that they are wearing alongside their rigging. The Kami knows that myself, Hiyou, and Ryuujou have all attempted to observe it, but we still have not figured it out for ourselves."

Yet again, the two soon to be awoken Natural Borns shared a look at that.

However, before they could ask more questions, Haru appeared in her Miko garb and bowed to them slightly, "Good day to you both, I am Ono Haru and I am the main Miko for the ceremony."

Bowing back, the two Onmyouji smiled with Akimi speaking up, "A good day to you, Haru-San. I suppose that it is now time for the two of us to be purified before the ceremony commences?"

Just nodding, Haru smiled, "That is correct." Motioning with one hand, she chuckled, "If you'll follow me?" From there, she lead them both to a tiled room with a Torii over one door. They recognized that it was a small Shrine to Amaterasu, her brother Susanoo, Ryuujin, Hachiman, and Inari. With a small nod, she gestured at the tiled floor, "If you would.'

Without saying a word, the two kneeled onto the floor in Seiza position. Once they had, Haru walked over to the chōzuya and took some water with a wooden dipper which she used to purify first herself, and then passed it to Junyou who did much the same. Haru then brought the dipper over to first Akimi and then, Miu. Both Onmyouji noted that the water was seawater from the scent. The Miko continued purifying them with seawater, chanting as she did so to wash away any impurities before finishing.

Once they were done, Haru motioned for them to rise and they did so with her activating a small waterfall which they stepped through as she continued to chant and they stayed there for several moments before she shut it off. Water still dripping off them, they looked to Haru and Junyou who smiled. Gesturing to the door, Junyou smiled some, "Let's get you dried off a bit and dressed."

Thus, fifteen minutes later found the two walking out of the changing room in cheap, though finely made, white Yukata. Glancing to where people were already filing in, the two soon to be awoken shipgirls felt their eyes widen some as the Destroyer Fubuki with a few other shipgirls walked in with some kids... who soon let out Yokai features. They were followed by a group of what had to be sisters with one in a wheelchair. But one of the sisters, Miu recognized as she leaned towards her friend, "Wait, is that Ibuki Moriko? The Mixed Yokai Martial Arts Champion?"

Her own eyes wide, Akimi nodded, "Hai, it is... But..." Furrowing her eyebrows, she gave a look towards Junyou, "What is she doing here?"

Somewhat bemused, Junyou shook her head, "They're Natural Borns themselves." At the wide eyes, she continued, "Moriko is the Heavy Cruiser, Ibuki. Her twin sister, Suzume represents the Light Carrier Ibuki which was being converted from the Heavy Cruiser. And their little sister, Sachiko, is an unnamed sister ship that did not get much further than a keel and some hull plates before being cancelled."

More than a little surprised, they simply nodded before continuing to walk towards the pier that jutted out into the Summoning Pool. Akimi was the first to climb down the ladder onto a wood platform and kneeled on it as Maruyu towed it out towards the center before diving. Looking over the side, the Hanyou could observe Maruyu taking the chain and hooking it into an anchor point at the bottom of the pool to secure it.

It was then Miu's turn and she was towed out as well to where Akimi was. By this point, various people were gathered and her eyes widened even as they watered a touch, "Haha-ue... Chichi-ue... Okaa-San..."

When Akimi looked, sure enough, she could see her friend's parents as well as her mother's co-wife standing at the rails. All of them looking proud though a little nervous. Part of her mood fell at that though, as none of her own relatives were there and-

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement towards one corner of the Summoning Pool and looked at it. Her eyes widened and her breath caught as she saw a translucent Kitsune standing there smiling at her... her own mother. The Kitsune merely nodded before fading away and Akimi felt her heart soar at that.

Soon enough though, the ceremony began and she could feel the spiritual energy began to swirl around them. Faster, and faster, stronger and stronger. At the same time, in her chest, her heart began to pound as the hairs on her skin prickled. The platform began to rock back and forth as the waters in the pool sloshed.

Right then, she could sense it.

Due to being an Onmyouji, she had a sense for her body's own magic, spiritual power, and the like. And so, she could feel the energy swirling around entering her body, infusing every bit, every cell that made up her form. Merging with her own magic and spiritual energies. Already, she could feel her soul begin to... bloom, was the only word that her mind could bring forth. As if it had been a closed bud that now was being given nourishment. Enough so that it began to open revealing the beauty and brilliance that was inside.

Already, she could not see what was around her. But she could sense her friend, Miu, next to her. And she could also sense that she was undergoing the same thing as the wood began to crack and splinter under their feet from their increased weight. It... it was invigorating as all her fears and nervousness began to fall away, like snow melting off a roof. Right then and there, she felt like there was nothing that she could not do as the magic and spiritual energy in her body crackled.

Finally, right when it felt like her heart was about to explode from all the power, the ritual reached it's height. And her heart just stopped with her knowing that it would never again beat. But at the same time, she could feel her boilers come online fully, flames composed of pure spiritual might igniting as power rushed through her. And deep within her, she could feel her soul, the mental manifestation of which to her sight was like that of the Lotus fully coming into bloom.

Though she noted that in that split moment, her ears and lower back felt... odd, for some reason.

Beneath her, the wooden platform for all intents and purposes shattered, exploding outward and being consumed by the energies released. And as the light faded away, Akimi had to hold back a gasp as she could suddenly see so much more. Around each and every shipgirl, she could see the ghostly form of their hull. When she looked at Miu's mother, she could see the wings of a crane spread wide with one gently cradling her husband.

It was then that she noted that everyone looked sort of stunned for some reason. Already, the Onmyouji could feel and hear her crew rushing around her decks. She could also, somehow, sense her grandfather at her bridge. He felt... sad, regretful. But he did not say anything yet, and so she did not speak to him. Instead, she turned to her friend and smirked a bit. Her friend was wearing a rather revealing Kimono like top that showed quite a bit of cleavage with a open haori over that. At her neck was an almost collar like object with a chrysanthemum on it, while her legs had were colored by purple leggings. Akimi's lips twitched a bit as she chuckled and gave her friend a smile at the sight of the two projections of hair, or perhaps feathers, from her head that looked sort of like wings, "Miu-Chan.'

Looking herself over, Miu chuckled a bit, "Not quite the clothing that I was expecting, but still quite nice. Right, Akimi-Chan..." Turning to her friend, the Light Carrier's eyes widened and her jaw dropped some, "Akimi-Chan?"

Just blinking at the tone of shock, Akimi gave herself a once over. Eyebrows raising, she noted that she was in a Miko-style outfit that was partially open around her breasts which showed some cleavage herself, though thankfully not much. It definitely showed off her... fuel tanks, as it where. Due to the embarrassment, her ears twitched a bit as she opened her mouth and...

Wait...

Her ears just twitched.

Slowly, she reached up with a trembling hand to where the side of her head was and frowned as she felt perfectly normal ears where they were supposed to be... before her ear on that side twitched again which made her eyes widen. Her hand continued to move up until it came to a stop at the feel of something rather triangular on the stop of her head, which her finger grazed along as she boggled. Fox ears... she had fox ears...

Looking over her shoulder, she noted the two fox tails that swished behind her with a utterly stunned look on her face, 'Oh... that's why Miu is shocked.' Somewhat numb, her mind brought back the memories of all the times she wished that she had been born a Kitsune instead of leaning towards her human side, 'Guess that one should watch what they wish for...'

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

And now, I finally have been able to squeeze this out of my head! I blame Three Houses, it's very distracting.
Flash Back: Things Start Falling Down
Under Xiang's watchful eye, that man and his companion took their seats across the table from Cynthia. Xiang herself remained standing by her side, quietly glaring at the two.

"Have you been having security issues of some kind?" the blonde woman asked abruptly, rubbing her hands together and smiling in a way that made her seem almost snake-ish. "We're meeting in some old, abandoned fire station, and I'm not exactly an expert on such things, but I imagine that it would be… hmm… though I suppose, if you were…" She leaned back, looking up at the ceiling thoughtfully. Then she glanced back down and shrugged. "Just trying to break the ice," she added.

Cynthia sighed. "… Well," she said, "you're not entirely wrong."

This wasn't anywhere near their "hideout," if that location could, in turn, be called that. But secrecy was paramount, and any potential applicants or recruits were interviewed in outside locations before anything like the Fidelius came into play.

"But that's beside the point," the Holy War Sword continued, steepling her fingers and leaning forward. "You tracked down one of my agents—granted, not anyone with any important place, but still something that puts my work at risk—and asked for a job interview. You even asked to induct a whole research cabal into the organization. So tell me, old man… why would I want to do that?"

The old man gave her a thin smile. "It just so happens," he said in a reedy voice, "that I had a part in developing a particular spell…"
-----

"Old guy's talking now…" Tatsuya grumbled into the handset. "Facing away from the window, but… the War Sword and her buddy seem interested. Wonder what he's saying… how are those ofuda coming?"

"Slower than they should be," DuBois's irritated voice came through. "Are you sure your spider friend is on the level?"

"You don't. Rush these things," Reiko snapped back. "You want the spell to work, you need to have everything in the exact right place at the exact right time. We're lucky that they don't have to be on an even plane in the first place!"

"Are you… sure she's for real?"

"She's saved my life once or twice," Tatsuya replied smoothly. "Whoop, she's talking again. 'And what exactly…'"
-----

"… would your research team require in order to make this a reality?" Cynthia asked. The old man's smile grew wider, and Xiang bit back her disgust.

"Simply access to greater resources than we have at the moment," he replied. "The memory spell is but one small part of our work—all of which could be used for your benefit, of course—and while our present location has allowed us to make remarkable progress, we still need more samples, more test subjects, more money…"

Cynthia gave him a noncommittal look before glancing over at his woman companion. She took a moment to register that she was being cued, then shrugged again. "What can I say?" she said, nodding, "we're starting to hit some walls."
-----

"She's talking again," Tatsuya's voice came in over the walkie talkie. "'I suppose that wouldn't be hard to set up… and it sounds like your research might be helpful in some way…'"

"'Ow long is this gonna take?" McKay grumbled, nudging the ofuda that sat on the room halfheartedly. Benio groaned, and brushed her hand away from it.

"Don't play with that," she remonstrated the older girl, returning her attention to Tatsuya's half-narration of the conversation. The Holy War Sword was continuing over the different benefits that she might find if she accepted the wizards into her ranks.

"'… would allow us to function under even greater secrecy than before, or even permit a certain degree of openness…'"

How far did her influence run, Benio wondered. Was it centuries old, inserted into the very highest levels of the government, all but strangling Magical Britain? No, that was ridiculous—from what she had seen, the Holy War Sword didn't seem the type for such a duplicitous rule. Something recent then—but still not too high up, probably taking advantage of the wars with the different rent-a-Dark Lords to increase power, waiting for the right time to strike… impractical, but maybe the way the Holy War Sword thought they were to be done?

Benio grumbled in frustration—she was going to need some time to put her thoughts together better—as Reiko came up the back of the building and scurried closer.

"Almost ready," the jorogumo explained breathlessly. "Just need to make some final adjustments, and—"

"Wait!" Tatsuya cut her off, voice suddenly frantic. "She's still going—I think this part's important!"
-----

"… And in light of all that you would bring to our cause," Cynthia finished, "my final answer to you is 'no deal.'"

The woman shrugged carelessly. The old man's eyes widened with shock, a momentary fury running through them before he bolted to his feet. It made sense, Cynthia had spent the past minute praising his work, after all, but this, Xiang thought, was the only way it could have ended (and she would have been lying if she said it wasn't her favorite way for it to end, as well).

"What do you mean?" he demanded angrily, voice shrill. "Our work would be nothing but helpful to you—you said it yourself! You clearly don't care about motives—why would you refuse us?"

For a moment, Cynthia said nothing. She simply pressed her forehead to her fingertips, breathing quietly. Finally, she lowered her hands and fixed the man with a glare that, to Xiang's amusement, actually caused him to start and back away a little.

"For starters," Cynthia said, voice low and cold, "we already have researchers working for us. Researchers with access to the magical government's advancements in magic—" the woman snorted and Cynthia rolled her eyes, "—which is, at this point in time, frankly of more use to me than the money sink that your project represents."

"Second…" the sword spirit shook her head in dark amusement. "Your big, fancy spell needs test subjects. I get that, practical experience is needed in order to iron out the kinks, but… really, we kind of need Shipgirls. The war with the Abyssals isn't over, it's only in a lull—trust me, I know war. I've seen quite a few in my day. Shipgirls are the only soldiers who can fight this war, and—leaving aside whether or not it could ever actually work—any risk of doing damage, no matter how small, is simply too much of one. Your research cannot through any practical means progress."

The old man's teeth ground. "Anything else?" he seethed.

"Just one point," Cynthia promised. "See, Xiang here has been in the care of your previous science club. Yeah, not these jokers—" now the woman looked affronted, "—the guys who you were running with in the 1940's. It may not have been you exactly, but she's got a nose for you people… and me?" She glared, the kind of soul-shattering death stare that could only come from literal millennia of experience. "I've got a feeling for, well, people. And even if Xiang couldn't tell me how you people ripped her vocal cords out, I've got a pretty good idea of your type... old man 731."
-----

Inadvertently, the binoculars dropped. Tatsuya fumbled, trying to retain his grasp, bring them back up to his eyes. 731… memory… how did Honjo Masamune describe him again…

"Oh shit, it's him." he whispered before bringing the handset up to his mouth. "Benio! Tonbo! That guy—Nameless, he's the one that did it! Reiko, how quickly can you—"

"Uh, before that?" Benio cut it, voice uncomfortable. "Our problem child is being problematic."

McKay dropped down into his line of sight through the binoculars, swinging on a line she had pulled out of wherever to try to smash through the window
-----

Not too satisfied with this one again... but at least things are finally starting.

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

Regalia giggled quietly to herself as she sat with the others at the picnic table, a pair of small cloth satchels held in her hand.

"Those little sacks sure seem to have you excited." The Re-class looked up to see Nero sit down opposite her with her breakfast plate. "What's in them?"

"Oh, hey Nero," Regalia greeted her cousin with a smile. "These are… just some special seeds I picked up while I was at Hogwarts checking on Uncle Harry with the others. I can't wait to plant them—the palace courtyard should be an ideal spot."

"Special…?" The Ne-class's eyes widened slightly. "You mean they're magic?"

Regalia shrugged. "Sort of…" setting one of the pouches on the table, she opened it up and reached in with a couple of fingers, pulling out some tiny brown-green grains of what looked like rice. "This batch is just some special grass seed. It'll grow fast and thick, resistant to all sorts of nasty stuff. But that's nothing compared to this." She tapped the other pouch. "These seeds? They'll grow into sheep."

At that moment, Nero was sipping from her cup of juice; hearing Regalia's claim, she nearly spat out a mouthful of her drink in surprise, coughing and spluttering. "They'll what!?" She gasped. "How is that even possible? And how did you get your hands on such a thing?"

In response, Regalia rocked her head side to side, a pleased look on her face. "I took advantage of our visit to talk to the school's herbalist."


XXXXXXXXXX

Pomona Sprout walked alongside the row of plants, inspecting each one carefully. The saplings all looked good… lush leaves, healthy color, no signs of infection by foreign agents. With continued care, she expected them to remain healthy well into the fall.

Hearing slow, cautious footsteps, Sprout turned to see a pale, nervous-looking face peeking out from the doorway to the greenhouse. "Can I help you, young miss?" She asked.

"Um…" The girl slowly stepped out from behind the door—revealing herself to be an Abyssal, to the Professor's surprise. The Re-class waved a hand meekly in greeting. "Hi. You're… Professor Sprout, right?"

The witch nodded. "Indeed, I am. And you are…?"

"Regalia." She brought a hand to her chest. "We, er, actually met a little while back… I'm part of the Fleet of Laughter. I was there when Aunt Ruadri got her finger bitten by that plant."

Mulling her words for a moment, Sprout's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, yes! I remember you, now. Out of the visitors we had, you seemed especially taken with the sights our Herbology department has to offer."

Regalia nodded. "Yeah, I was. It's because… back at our home, I actually run a farm. The island we live on, it's a phantom island, hidden with magic, so we're pretty isolated. Before our fleet came out into the open and started getting aid from humans, it was up to me to grow a lot of our food."

"Is that so?" Sprout's wrinkled face lit up in a smile. "That's a wonderful thing to hear. You're quite a special young lady, to do all that for your family. Were you a witch, I think you would make a superb Hufflepuff!"

Regalia blushed lightly at the compliment. "Thank you…"

Stepping away from the row of plants, Sprout pulled off her thick soil-crusted gloves and tucked them away. "Now then…" she said, coming over to Regalia, "Do correct me if I'm wrong, but I take it you're here to explore the possibility of adding more fantastical crops to your repertoire?" Seeing the Abyssal's eyes widen in surprise, she chuckled. "You wouldn't be the first person to ask; the world of magic has a lot to offer humble muggle farmers like yourself."

After taking a moment to compose herself, Regalia nodded. "Y-yeah, you're right. The thing is, we can't really rely on normal crops alone to sustain us… we need meat, too. We've rounded up some wild pigs on our island to try and breed them for their meat, but it's going to be several years before that really pays off. At the same time, we want to be able to support ourselves completely eventually, meaning being able to produce our own fabrics and stuff. Because of that, the vegetable lambs and goose trees I heard about in our last visit really interested me. They would provide not just meat, but also fleece and feathers we could use for other things… and I would be able to raise them with the skills I've already developed farming."

Sprout hummed thoughtfully. "A noble idea."

"I know obtaining some of those plants to grow probably won't be as simple as coming to you and asking for some," Regalia continued, "and caring for magical plants like these may require some extra training I don't have yet. But I just wanted to explore the possibility, while I'm here."

The greenhouse was silent for a while as the professor pondered Regalia's story. Eventually, though, she spoke up once more. "You would be right, to assume such special plants don't come freely. And yes, many plants with magical properties require very precise conditions and care to grow properly. Lastly, although your home island is hidden, its existence, I presume, is now known by many officials. Your isolation does not necessarily mean that it would be safe to start growing blatantly-magical crops in the open, not while the Statute of Secrecy still stands."

Regalia looked disappointed, but she nodded in understanding, lowering her head.

"However…"

Regalia looked up as Professor Sprout pulled out her wand. "Accio Tartary seed, accio grass seed." Moments later, a pair of small brown pouches came zipping from the far corners of the greenhouse, to rest in the witch's outstretched palm. Pouches in hand, she turned back to Regalia.

"For a young, selfless girl like yourself, acting with her family's prosperity in mind… I feel an exception can be made for these cases," she said, holding them out. "Providing you can keep from declaring your intent to the world, of course."

Regalia blinked, at a loss for words as she picked up one of the pouches, gently rubbing the fabric between her fingers. "These are…?" She gasped.

"The Tartary vegetable lamb is fairly simple to care for, much like normal crops," Sprout explained. "So long as you plant it in fertile soil, keep it watered, and protect it from weeds, pests and the like, it should only take a few months to reach full size."

"I see..." Regalia glanced to the other pouch. "And that one? I heard you say it was grass…?"

Sprout nodded. "Once the plant blossoms, and the lamb itself is exposed, it will consume all the surrounding vegetation it can reach before expiring; in this way, the lamb will grow to a more suitable size for consumption. This breed of grass will grow fast, dense and healthy with relatively minimal upkeep, and are highly resilient to pests and whatnot. Plant this grass in a circle around the Tartary, four to five feet in diameter, and the lamb will have plenty of vegetation to feed on when it emerges, to fatten up well."

"I… wow." Regalia worked her jaw. "This is incredible." She looked up to Sprout. "Is there something you want from me in return…?" She asked.

The professor shook her head, smiling. "You can consider this a gift, dear… a gift, and a trial." Regalia tilted her head in mild confusion. "I want you to take these seeds and take good care of them. Make sure they grow large and healthy. And once your work has finally borne fruit, I'd like you to return to me with the roots of the lambs. If you can show me you can look after magical crops, I would be thrilled to look into the possibility of having someone tutor you further on the subject." Sprout gave the Abyssal an expectant look. "Are you up to the task?"

Regalia grinned brightly. "Yes, Ma'am! You can count on me!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-This one gets a bit dark and heavy in places

Jiā jiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīnɡ (Every family has its own issues/everyone has a skeleton in their closet)

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium

Ying stared in horrified shock at the Nazi insignia on the true body of her youngest half-sister Ehren. Ehren's heart-felt acidic words thundered through her head.
Spoiler: Bloodstained Pasts

"Help me? Help me! Look at me and tell me if I deserve your kindness, 'sister'!!"

Ying gently squeezed Ehren's shoulder as she thought. She opened her mouth, then closed it. She could feel the vibrating tension in her sister's frame, barely held in check.

As much as she wanted to comfort her pain-filled half-sister, long and unpleasant experiences as Oldest Sister, then Oldest Aunt, then Oldest Grandaunt to generation upon generation of the Wei family, had taught her that sometimes, that would be counterproductive. The recipient of the comfort had to want to accept it.

Which Ehren du Chasteler clearly did not, viewing herself as too tainted by her past to deserve such a gift.

A strong fortress indeed, and not one to be taken lightly.

But Chinese history was full of stories and tales containing the wisdom of the past. Many of which Wei Ying had read thanks to Amah's gentle but steel-hard determined guidance of all her children. After all, in order to know where we shall go, we must know where we came from. And the Thirty-Six Strategems of Combat spoke of how to defeat such a fortification. Fǔ dǐ chōu xīn, remove the firewood from under the pot.

With that Ying spoke firmly as she closed her eyes in pain and gathered her huli jing powers of shape-shifting and illusion. "Ehren, let me ask you this. Do I deserve the kindness of my youngest sister?"

The dagger blinked as the question, said in a voice of command caused her to refocus other places than the self-loathing spiral she was in for the moment, "Of course you do. You are Aunt Del's friend and classmate, a RCMMP officer who upheld the law in all your stories to Mutti. Why do you ask?" She turned to look at Ying.

Ying sighed deeply, tears in her eyes. She then spoke bitterly, with loathing in her voice. "Yes, all that is true. But not the whole truth."

With that she breathed out a silver mist which shifted her Chinese dress to an Imperial Japanese Army cavalry officer's uniform with a white kempetai armband. Her body swelled and turned into that of a young Japanese man.

"During World War II, I had been sent with C Force to reinforce the defenses of Hong Kong. I was to serve as an interpreter and liaison with the local magical community. We arrived two weeks before Japan attacked." Ying's eyes were distant and her smile was twisted. "As you might guess considering events, we were forced to surrender on Christmas Day, 1941."

Ehren nodded, "Then what?"

Ying sighed, "I used my abilities to slip away in the confusion as yet one more frightened Chinese civilian clutching the possessions that were all that was left of her home. Fortunately, I had a long-range crystal ball that I had brought along against the rules so I could speak to Mother. I used it to contact Australia and get orders, which were to serve as a spy in Hong Kong. Keep my head down, report troop and ship movements."

Ying paused and shook her head. "Which I did until the liberation in 1945, where I resumed my duties with the RCMMP as a policeman and Auror. That's what everyone knows of my wartime service. Everyone knows and believes that except me, Amah - my mother - and now you, because you need to know the truth about monsters."

Ehren took a deep breath. "There is more, Ja?"

Ying's smile turned dark and vicious and her voice was savage. "Oh yes. Much more. The man whose face I have right now is Captain Okita of the Magical Kempetai(Secret Police). He was called in to hunt down a serial killer in Hong Kong on January 19th, 1943. Someone the Kempetai called 'Lady Kitsune' since their queries revealed that she was a fox spirit. According to their files, she was responsible for seventeen killings of Japanese officers, policemen, and local 'patriotic citizens' who supported their 'Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere'."

Ying shook her head. "They were wrong. I was stalking my twenty-second target then. That does not count the people I used as intermediate steps to get close enough to the real monsters to strike. Counting them, it was thirty-nine. At least my intermediate victims got a quick death and were presentable for their funerals. Not so my primary targets."

"For Okita, when I counterstalked him down on March third, I used his entrails to spell out the characters for 'rapist' on the wall of his office so he could observe them as I worked on him. I remembered what his detachment of troops did to the nurses at the hospital that C Force was defending when we surrendered, you see. He was still screaming then, for his mother as I recall, but the Dark Spell that I had adapted from those a Wendigo uses to isolate human prey to be devoured silenced all his cries along with keeping him alive until I left." Ying spoke, her eyes distant. "I then walked out of his headquarters with his orderly's face which let Okita be discovered by the next person to give him a report a half hour later. They thought that I had headed out the bloodstained opened window, you see. Well until the Orderly vanished two hours later en-route back from the barracks to start the manhunt."

"By then, I was a street peddler shining shoes and boots five blocks away. Which almost got me killed, by then they were doing mass random executions of a hundred for every victim of mine and the next block over had a mass roundup. They bayoneted them in the streets to 'send a message' and I marked the sergeant in charge as a future target of mine."

Ehren paled at the dark tale.

Ying shifted back to her normal state as she finished, and spoke contemplatively to herself. "The worst part... is twofold I suppose, Sister. First, part of me actually enjoyed it. The panic, the terror, toying with them like a particularly sadistic cat does to a mouse. Walking through a room, into a bar, out of a brothel, reporting to a police station while knowing deep in my soul that if I wished, anyone I saw, anyone I met could be my prey either to replace or kill however I chose. Knowing how to defeat their police handbook magical and mundane because I had read the same book."

She shuddered, "The other bad part, is that I had my reasons to do what I did and if I had to, I would do it again. Let that dark part of my soul that I kept chained and controlled before and after Hong Kong out to play. I know that when I am working as a policewoman, part of me deep down in the dark corners of my soul enjoys thinking about how the criminals who I catch feel as they sense me coming unstoppably for them to hold them to account for their crimes. How, just like Lady Kitsune's victims, I have complete power over their freedom. I felt it before Hong Kong, but did not realize that dark part of myself getting expressed until I let it loose with the thinnest of restraints on it."

Ying looked Ehren in the eyes. "It may be the huli jing blood, since the most famous of my kind, Lady Su Dájǐ, has been infamous for over two thousand years for what she did and caused to be done to destroy the Shang Dynasty. Decadence, depravity, bloodlust, murder, torture. Neither of us are foreordained to follow the call of our darker natures, but it is a constant struggle that we must win because the consequences are too horrible to contemplate."
Spoiler: Sisters

"We Chinese have a saying. Jiā jiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīnɡ. The translation is 'there is a skeleton in every house', and you have seen mine now. When I spoke to Amah about this after the war, she reminded me of another teaching by our greatest philosopher. 'The real fault is to have faults and not amend them' and I have my faults, of which this is the greatest that I strive to amend." Ying looked distant and as old as her century and a half true age as she spoke to herself, turning to stare at her true body. "Amah gave me mercy when I confessed, but it was hard, hard for me to accept that. It still is and I have difficulties even contemplating forgiving myself."

"Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein." Ehren said solemnly, hugging Ying as she did. "It is Nietzsche's words of wisdom. The common English translation is 'Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.' although that lacks some of the nuances it has auf Deutsch. Something that I have learned myself from studying my own evil nature and flaws."

Ying nodded and returned the hug. "So I say to you, Ehren du Chasteler. Do I deserve the kindness of my youngest sister?"

Ehren's arms squeezed tighter. "As much as I deserve the kindness of my eldest sister, Wei Ying."

"As much as I do."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Relaxing into the chair, and taking care to not to sit on her... new tails, and that was something that she needed to get used to, Akimi sighed a bit. Across the desk from her, Goto had an expression of concern, "How are you feeling?"

All Akimi did was shift a bit and gave a slight smile, "Well... actually, I am feeling pretty good." Holding out one hand, she rotated it until the palm would be facing upwards and clenched it into a fist tight enough for everyone to hear the straining steel, "And I mean really good. Just so much power that..."

Just tilting her head some, Miu smiled at her friend, "I think he means in regards to your new... additions." She giggled some as Akimi's new ears twitched before turning to the Admiral, "Though I will agree with Akimi-Chan that I am feeling quite good." Bemused a little, she reached up and adjusted her shirt a little, "Granted, I am having to adjust to some things as well."

Coughing into his fist, Goto nodded, "Yes, well, I can see that." He then looked at the ceiling as Miu continued to mumble and adjust her shirt some. The bit where she wondered if she went up a bit in size caused him to flush a little, 'Think of Kongou... think of Kongou... think of Kongou in that school uniform of hers...'

Beside him, Kongou gave him a look, 'He better be thinking of me. Perhaps I should wear that schoolgirl uniform tonight...'

Once he had himself under control, the Admiral turned his attention back to Akimi who was sighing at her friend's continued actions, "But yes, I am wondering how you are fairing with your new additions. I will admit... it was a surprise that it happened."

For her part, Akimi reached up and gently rubbed one of her ears, "Not just for you, Teitoku. I don't think that any of us could have expected this to happen... not that I have much issue with it." At their looks, she shrugged, "I've always sort of wished that I had been born a Kitsune. Right now? I... feel more complete than I have in, well... ever, really. Which is more than worth it in my view."

Somewhat bemused, Goto chuckled a bit, "I see." He then became serious once more, "But considering things, I must ask... can you disguise yourself?"

Akimi chewed her lips some as she thought it over and slowly nodded, "While I was not a Kitsune before this, I... did learn quite a bit in regards to illusions and the like from my Okaa-San. I may not be able to hide from magical forms of detection, not until I master what abilities that I might have gotten, but I can walk around the Base and the like looking like a normal human, if that is the issue." Furrowing her eyebrows, she gave a hum, "Given some time, I should be more than able to fully disguise myself."

Lips curling into a slight smile, the Admiral shook his head, "It does not need to be for very long. With the Statute failing more and more, probably a year or two at the most."

It was then that Kongou spoke up, "If I may make a suggestion?" Now that everyone was looking at her, she gestured at Akimi's ears with one hand, "Perhaps make them seem like hair tufts? Like Yuudachi-San and her sisters?"

Now considering that, Akimi frowned, "That... would be much easier, I suppose."

Having completed her adjustments, or the best that she could do, Miu spoke up, "From what Junyou-Sama stated, there is a period of about two to three weeks where a Natural Born needs to adjust to one's new self, correct?'

Only leaning back, Goto nodded, "That is correct, yes. You'll have to get used to your new strength as well as controlling your weight. It takes some time for everything to settle in, though usually after three days, we begin training Natural Borns with how to, ah, ship as it were." Remembering something, he gave a small shake of the head, "Though in your case, we may need to wait on such a thing fully as we do need you for something."

Both Akimi and Miu looked up at that before the Kitsune frowned, "You do?"

Much to their confusion, Goto's lips twitched a bit into a ghost of a smile, "Hai, we do, though nothing really all that important when we get down to it." Turning towards Miu, he gave a slight smile, "I assume that you know about your Oba-Sans?"

Confused, the newly awoken Battleship turned to her friend who seemed surprised and then thoughtful, "Oba-Sans?"

Slowly, Miu nodded before motioning with one hand, "Hai, my Oba-Sans... Otou-San had two Onee-Samas, remember me telling you about them when we were in school?" Getting a nod, she continued, "Well, we finally found out what happened to them..." Briefly looking like she bit into the rotten apple and found half a worm, Miu looked directly at Akimi, "It turns out that the Elders had agreed to them becoming Hitobashira for a hidden naval shipyard. Their spirits are still there with the area having been purified over time, but..."

Goto clasped his hands on his desk, "Hai, and from all accounts the caldera where the shipyard was is practically cleansed and should be finished in a few days. At which point, we'll summon the ships that are there in a single ceremony." With a small nod of the head towards them both, he smiled, "I've had it suggested that it would be a good idea to have not just the rest of your family, Miu-San, but also yourselves and the other magical warships there as well."

The two newly awoken shipgirls raised eyebrows at that in askance, but didn't ask any further.

Instead, they focused on other matters, such as how both their stomachs chose that exact moment to growl loudly to let them know that they needed to eat. Placing a hand against her stomach, Akimi blinked, "That... feels odd." Glancing at the shipgirls, she frowned, "Is thtat normal?"

Lightly chuckling, Nagato gave a nod, "It is, and nothing to worry about as we have plenty of food for you both. We just need a few more minutes of your time before we head to the mess hall to fill those fuel tanks of yours."

Her tone dry, Miu adjusted her shirt a little, "Somehow, I doubt that my fuel tanks need anymore filling..."
____________________________________________________________

Closing the door behind her to the dorm room that she was going to share with Miu, Akimi took a deep breath as she leaned against the door. With her friend talking with her parents, there was now time that she could spend with just herself... or herself and her crew. Taking another deep breath, the newly awoken Battleship opened her eyes and looked around the room.

While there was not too much there, even Akimi had to nod that it was a nice room. It was less a dorm room really and more a small apartment. There was a small kitchen and a nice sized living room with three rooms and a bathroom. All in all, she had to admit that it was much nicer in some ways than the dorms at Mahoutokoro.

Something which, when she heard that they would need to stay on base in a dorm, she was worried about due to knowledge of military life.

But it turned out that the shipgirls had much nicer residences than was normal. After all, each and every one of them was the equivalent of an Officer. Thus, they could have nicer places to stay on base. Part of her would miss staying in her family home, though her shikigami would keep it nice and clean, so that was not a worry. And before she left, she had set up several nasty defences that added to the ones already there. Say what you would about her family, but they had a few centuries to make the home secure and it was certainly that.

The reminder of her family made her wince and she quickly turned her mind away from that. Instead, Akimi decided that she needed to focus on something else. With that in mind, she looked around before removing her shoes. Briefly, she picked them up to better examine them. Eyebrow raised, she looked at the metal footwear with an intrigued look. Above a certain point, they were the same steel color as a warship, but below they were anti-fouling red with a metal strap that went across the foot to secure it, "Hmm... I never thought that I would be wearing Okobo. But... I suppose that it makes sense."

For a few more moments she considered the Okobo with an amused air. They were something that she was familiar with after all, having worn both such as well as other forms of traditional footwear before. So wearing such did not bother her in the slightest, though she was happy that they were not of the same sort that a Maiko, an apprentice Geisha, would wear. With a shake of her head, she walked over to her bedroom and walked in before looking around.

It did not take her more than a second or two to find what she was looking for and so she walked over to the full length mirror that was there. Once she was in front of it, she came to a stop to better look at herself in it. Ignoring the rest of her body, she leaned forward and examined her face with a slight bit of awe as one finger gently traced along her cheek. It had always been a bit of a point of pride for Akimi, but she looked rather good for her age of thirty six years.

Yet now? She swore that it looked like she had dropped a few years. A few wrinkles and stress lines were now faded to the point where she could barely see them. In fact... leaning in closer, her eyes widened as she noted that some of those lines were fading even then, slowly, but visibly. Even as she watched, one of her few grey hairs regained it's original color. Shocked, she muttered a bit to herself, "Am I... physically de-aging?"

That was a surprise, though a pleasant one.

Lips curling into a smile, she took a step back to better examine herself. One of the first things that she noted was that her usual, beat up glasses had been changed into much better ones. Behind them, her eyes shone out brightly. Frowning, she furrowed her eyebrows. The other thing that she noted was the metal eboshi that sat on her head between her fox ears, a red stripe near the bottom and at the top, the gold Chrysthemum sat proudly, sparkling in the light.

From there, her gaze went downwards, first coming across the metal choker that covered her neck with a small strip coming down to her sternum. From the joint running along it, Akimi knew that she could separate the halves to remove them. Eyes going further downwards, she came to her clothing. They were modified Miko robes with detached sleeves being one aspect of it. Another aspect was the fact that there was just a small bit of cleavage visible...

And then she turned to the side and blinked as she could see a small amount of skin visible there. Not that she really had too much issue with that, if was more than some outfits that she had worn after all. Akimi's lips twitched a bit, 'And really, it is not like I have too much to be ashamed of. Sure, I might not be as big as Miu-Chan, but I am above average.'

Giggling to herself, she continued the rest of her examination. That was, until she finished the examination of her outfit, which she did not mind too much. It was, after all, a very nice one considering what she was worried about. And more traditional than Miu's. And that was when she took a deep breath as she came to the next part of her personal examination...

Mainly, that of her new "Features".

With another deep breath, Akimi removed the eboshi on her head and set it aside. Leaning forward like she had when she first began her examination, she noted that her eyes had changed, becoming more fox-like. Her eyes were drawn though as the fox ears on her head twitched, which made her frown some in thought. They were longer than those on a normal fox really, but not enough that they would not be recognized as belonging to a fox. Reaching up, she paused for only a moment before taking one between her fingertips and gently rubbing.

Briefly, she felt a rumble come up from deep within her chest because, dammit, that felt good. Really, really good at that. Of course, that was when her eyes widened and she blushed some at those thoughts, 'Dammit, calm yourself, girl!' Taking a moment to calm down, she went back to examining them. The fur that covered them was both soft, and fine. Almost silky between her finger tips really. It was also the brownish red of the rest of her hair as well, which made her nod in relief as it did not stand out too much.

Frowning in thought, she narrowed her eyes some and tried to move them much like a normal Kitsune could. There was a brief moment where she could feel knowledge bubble up from somewhere, but then she was able to move them. This way and that, she rotated them. Lowering and raising them as well which made her nod as she slowly got used to such. Another thing that she noted was how good her hearing was now, much better than as a human. Same with eyesight and smell, all three senses having been boosted which both impressed her and made her frown in thought.

However, she shook that off and opened her mouth wide. Reaching up, she moved her lips aside to look at her teeth, which made her internally nod as each canine was bigger than a human's. They were fangs, really, 'Just as I thought...' Akimi then poked at them with her tongue, making her wince a bit, 'Okay, those are really sharp...'

Just letting go and going back to her examination, the Kitsune raised one hand and looked at her nails. Or, rather, claws as they were now. She could tell without testing that if she wanted, she could easily cut someone with them due to how sharp they were.

Only shaking her head at that, Akimi turned her attention to another matter...

Mainly, that of her tails.

Yes, she had more than one tail weaving behind her. Currently, there was only two swishing through the air before she concentrated. Those tails then split into two each, showing four tails which made her breath catch before they merged back into two tails. Akimi turned around and looked over her shoulder at the mirror at the tails, reaching down. Gently, she placed her hand where they met her body and examined the attachment point with a look of awe on her face, "These... really are mine, aren't they?"

Running her fingers through the fur, she shivered a little at the touch. The fur was silky smooth as well as soft. Gently running her hand along one tail, she mumbled a bit, "I am going to need to get a nice brush for you guys..."

It took her a few minutes of hard work, but she managed to get her tails under control. She also tested moving them around to get a feel for her tails and how they operated before nodding to herself. Turning back, she could only smile a bit. After all, she had not lied to Goto, she was not angry or even annoyed at being a Kitsune.

As a matter of fact, she was happy with that.

What caught her attention though was the fact that in the mirror, she could see a Kitsune standing before it. A rather beautiful one, eyes sparkling. For the first time, in a very long time, Akimi found herself happy and relaxed. As if something that had been missing for so very long was now back where it belonged. Part of her wondered if this was what every shipgirl felt when awoken, but decided to shelve that as something else, more important needed to be done...

The long awaited meeting with her grandfather.

Simply taking a deep, calming breath, Akimi let it out. Twice more, she did so before kneeling down into a seiza position. For a moment or two, she stared at her reflection in the mirror before closing her eyes. She then breathed in deep, and then out...

Breathe in... breathe out...

In... and out...

When she opened her eyes, she found herself on what she somehow knew was her bridge with everyone around her stilled. To anyone else, they would have taken shadowy forms, but not to her. To her, they were only slightly translucent, but indistinguishable from their original selves. A presence behind her made her pause, only for a voice that sounded so tired and sad, yet also emotional, "Granddaughter..."

Turning, her eyes met those of an older Kitsune, and she nodded, "Ojii-San."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Akimi and her Grandfather stood mere feet apart as they looked at each other. Two members of the same family, separated by a generation and many decades. One casting a deep shadow over the others of his family, and one who was born and lived under that shadow their entire lives. Neither said anything as they simply watched the other.

Inside of her mind, Akimi had planned it all out. How she would rage against the man for what he had cost his family in his quest for vengeance against the Americans. Demand answers or force them from him if needed. Ask him why... why did he do what he did? Did he not care for his family? About what they would need to live with due to him?

But... all of that died when she saw his face.

His expression was one of sadness and grief as well as remorse. There was also love there, love for her she could tell. However, it was another emotion that she saw that caused the words in her mind to die. Mainly, the self-hatred that was on his face, something that she had seen more than once in the mirror herself. And an emotion that she had seen on her mother's face many times. There was also self-incrimination.

For a moment, he reached out for her before he stopped and pulled back his hand with a wry smile. Swallowing, he gave a small nod, "You're a beautiful Kitsune..." Pausing, Kaito continued with a sheepish look, "I mean, even as a human you were beautiful. But now... you remind me so much of my Musume, your Okaa-San. And your Obaa-San. Though, I suppose that one should have expected that being who they were."

Lightly blushing a bit, Akimi nodded, "Thank you."

Opening his mouth, the older Kitsune looked to say something more when he paused and closed his mouth. An awkward silence descended on them both as they tried to figure out what to say to the other. The Bridge crew glanced at one another, not quite sure what they should do or say. Finally, he sighed and his shoulders slumped as he looked around them with a saddened look, as if he was taking it all in. A somewhat heartbroken look was on his face before he nodded with a deep breath, "I suppose that this is it then."

Now confused, Akimi frowned, "'It'? What do you mean?"

Still looking heartbroken, Kaito looked at her, "I am no fool, Granddaughter. I... know of my reputation. And I know too that as you are my ship, you can forbid me from coming back." A small tear ran down his face and he chuckled weakly, "Well... as I said, this may be the last time I stand upon this bridge."

Much to Akimi's surprise, seeing his look and hearing his tone... it made her boilers and metaphysical heart hurt. This... this was... Closing her eyes, she gave a nod before opening them, "First... I would like to talk with you. But somewhere..."

Thinly smiling, her grandfather nodded, "Hai, I suppose that..." With a deep breath, he let it out with a sigh, "I suppose that there is that. Perhaps the main planning room?"

Getting a nod, he began to walk in a manner not dissimilar to a man walking to the gallows. It did not escape Akimi's notice that the bridge crew, as well as those they walked past, all had saddened looks on their faces and saluted her grandfather, which he returned. Not long after, they reached the planning room, with Kaito running his hands along the table that was there. On one wall, there was a portrait of Emperor Hirohito which made Akimi chuckle, "You know, I always did wonder why it stated in the books that the magical ships had such portraits."

With a look at her, Kaito shook his head as he turned to regard the portrait, "I was in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the war with the Russians. And it was... tradition, to have a portrait of the Emperor on our Capital ships, though I suppose that you might have to change it to the current one. We also had another portrait in my office... I mean, the Captain's office. A magical one with which we could communicate with Tokyo no matter where we were. Mine was... was of your Obaa-Chan, who died after..."

Not quite sure what to say, Akimi chewed her lip, "I... see."

Just glancing at her, the ghostly Captain turned and walked to a small safe and reached for it before pausing with a small frown, "I... would offer you a drink, but, um..."

Lips twitching, Akimi chuckled a bit, "I am not sure how that would work in this case since I am the ship, and the alcohol would come from me. Could I even drink it?"

Shrugging, Kaito shook his head, "I will admit, I do not know. This... is not what I expected when I went down with my ship, with you, all those years ago. To come back with my ship as my granddaughter, I..." Leaning against the wall suddenly, he laughed bitterly as tears ran down his face, "No, I never expected this at all."

Eyes widening, the shipgirl took a few steps towards him, "Ojii-San..."

In reply, he held up one hand and turned to her, "Why? Why call me Ojii-San... when I... when I caused such horrible things to happen to you, to your Okaa-San who was my Musume... to our family? I... do not deserve such."

Walking forward, Akimi came to a stop within a few feet of him, "Because..." She smiled sadly, "No matter what, you are my Ojii-San. Did you do terrible things? Yes. And did our family suffer for them? Also yes. But... you are still my Ojii-San despite that."

Turning to her, he had tears running down his face and nodded slightly, voice hoarse, "Thank you." With a small sigh, Kaito shook his head, "I... heard everything. Every time you spoke to my picture, to me. And... I'm sorry. I am so, so very sorry." Collapsing to his knees, he closed his eyes, "I am so sorry..."

Now kneeling herself, Akimi looked at the broken man before her. One question, just one, was on her lips, "Why?"

Almost a minute passed before Kaito began to speak, voice soft and filled with grief and sadness, "Your aunt... my daughter, Ren. She was... such a beautiful child. So filled with life and kindness. Heh... I remember her doing things like carrying spiders and such outside so that no one would step on them. Your Obaa-Chan gave birth to her after the war with the Russians, when I returned. She... she was the youngest of my children. But she also wanted to see more of the world. I... I did not want her to go to that accursed island, but one of the officials who organized the trip stated it was safe."

Her own voice soft, the Battleship nodded, "And she was murdered."

Bitter laughs came from Kaito, "Yes, though that was not what the Americans said. They claimed that she had attacked their Auror in a rage, yet he did not have a wound on him. And the other females, they claimed that the same one had come onto her earlier that day, stating that something like her was good for only one thing, and that was warming the bed of a human."

Guessing already where this would go, Akimi nodded, "But they were dismissed due to not being human."

Eyes closed, the Captain nodded, "Hai..." Opening them again, he continued to look down at the floor as tears dripped from his eyes, "Because as non-humans, as 'Beasts', they were inherently untrustworthy. Obviously, they were trying to besmirch the Auror's reputation, you see. The fact that my daughter's clothes had been torn was dismissed as being from herself. I... was enraged, but there was nothing to be done..." Once more, Kaito closed his eyes and clenched his fist hard enough to draw blood if he was alive, "They did not even return her body, cremating it and putting it in an unmarked grave. There are spells, after all, which could reconstruct a body that was even burned you know."

Only nodding as this was what she had been told, Akimi frowned, "I see..."

Shaking his head, Kaito sighed, "No, no you do not. Because even on our side, the investigation was dropped. Too much trouble and we could cause an international incident over nothing important, you see. Not to mention, the government before Kamo came to power was extremely pro-ICW and pro-MACUSA. The Officials involved, well... the ICW did not want the possible interruption in trade and MACUSA was making too much money with the island in question with trade. So it was dropped." With a deep breath, he sighed and looked Akimi in the eyes, "But... it did not stop there. I was given threats that if I continued to push, our family would find themselves in the reserves. So I was unable to bring my musume's killer to justice. And your Obaa-San, she... it was three years later. The official cause was disease, but all of us knew that she died because of a broken heart. After that..."

At that, everything fell into place for his granddaughter, "And when the Kamo Government came to power and approached you with becoming the Captain for their Battleship due to your experience..." The only thing her grandfather did was nod, "I see..."

Now looking back at the floor, Kaito shuddered a bit, "You... cannot understand how much anger, how much rage and hate I held for the Americans and the previous government. When the Kamo Government in 1934 had a number of them killed, including those who dropped the investigation? I was right there when they were executed for treason. And I felt glad for it. When they told me that I would perform an attack simultaneously with the No-Majs performing their own on Pearl Harbour, I was gleeful. Finally, finally, I would have my revenge. Making it even better was that the man who killed my Musume was now in charge of the island itself. Due, mainly, to his own Otou-San being in the Cabinet for MACUSA's President. So I would be able to kill him... which was why I planned for an oiler to wait halfway there for refueling, with the Carriers laden down with bombs while there was so many shells for our guns..."

On his face, there was a far off look.

He slowly shook his head, "I ordered them to continue firing the guns until we nearly ran out of shells, to bomb the island until there were no bombs left. We focused on where the island's administration was, where that bastard likely was. So much ordnance fell that the rubble bounced. The only place not touched was the graveyard, where your Oba-Chan's remains were likely buried. Everywhere else... burned." Looking at her, Kaito slowly blinked, "I made sure of it because-"

Akimi continued for him, "Because you ordered the planes to drop drums filled with fuel onto the burning buildings. Which fed and spread them still further."

Just nodding, Kaito sighed, "Hai, I did. I did not want any part of that island, that place that caused me so much pain to stand. Once that was done, we left. Had to replace the barrels of your guns, right after we had done so before our mission, they were so worn. That asshole that killed her had escaped though, badly burned. Had an international portkey on him... and his Otou-San was enraged and really pushed for no quarter. But even that left me... feeling empty. I still fought but..." Thinly smiling, he shook his head, "I suppose that there was a part of me that was glad as the waters closed around my head as you sunk, my arm tied to the wheel, as it where. Because finally, it was over for me..."

Noting the sadness there, Akimi frowned, "But... it was not, was it, Ojii-San?"

Bitterly smiling, her grandfather shook his head, "No, no it was not. Because I went through my judgements and met Ren. She... she would not look at me and was horrified and ashamed of what I had done as was my wife. That... that ripped me apart. And since then, we... we have not seen each other. My personal hell, which I am sure that the Yama Kings knew when they sentenced me. How could they not? And after, I saw what happened to our family, to your Okaa-San and you. I... I... there is nothing that I can say or do. Because there is nothing, no forgiveness that can be given to me. All I ask... is for you to take care of yourself, my granddaughter... my wonderful granddaughter, Akimi-San, as well as the crew once you remove me from the crew register. They were a good crew, it was only I, their Captain, who deserve punishment."

For several moments, Akimi did not say anything, simply looking at the utterly broken man who lowered himself and placed his forehead against the floor. Her thoughts went over not just what she had been told, which fit so well with what she knew. But also other things, such as how it was that one attack that condemned him as a war criminal. For everything else, he was no better or worse than other Captains in the actual IJN like Yamamoto.

Slowly, the Battleship rose to her feet, "Captain Aranami Kaito? I hereby pronounce my punishment..." Her grandfather closed his eyes, only to be surprised at her next words, "You shall work off your crime."

Opening his eyes in shock, he found Akimi's hand held in front of him, open as she smiled a bit down at him, "I... what?" Eyebrows furrowing, he looked at her in confusion, "W-what? But..."

Just shaking her head, Akimi chuckled softly, "Yes, you have done horrible things, Ojii-San. But you acknowledge them as such, which is far better than what I have heard of a number. However, you can still work it off if that is what you feel like. It will be a long time before you finish doing so." Her expression became stern, "There is a war against the darkness for not just Japan, but the world. Do you wish to take up arms and cleanse yourself by giving aid? To take up arms and help?"

Hope was within the older Kitsune's eyes, "Do you...?"

All Akimi did was nod slightly, "I do... I need someone with experience to Captain me after all. And, perhaps... our family will be able to look at you once more.'

Staring at the offered hand, Kaito did not say anything before he reached for it and clasped it. Brought to his feet, he looked at his granddaughter, someone who despite everything was willing to give him this chance. And so, he snapped to a salute best that he could, "Hai! I will do my best to aid the world, to cleanse myself of my crimes by helping those who need it. This, I swear upon my soul."

Returning the salute, his granddaughter and ship smiled, "Good... now we have a lot of work to do."

Kaito just smiled at that, "Perhaps, but I shall be there every step of the way as long as you shall have me."

Both members of the Aranami family shared a slight smile at that before they walked out of the meeting room and onwards to what may come.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-Got WAFF?

It's A Butterknife's Life For Me

Castle Moulbaix Attics

Kasuyu walked through the door at the top of the attic stairs with a wicker basket of sandwiches and bottles of water for The Mistress' sister, Aomi Sato, and the Fujiis.
Spoiler: The Elegant Captain Fox

He looked at the dimly lit attic stretching the length of the north wing and sighed. While he had cleared corridors among the heaps of boxes, bags, trunks, chests, old furniture, and a million and one other things collected over three centuries of occupancy by the Du Chasteler family, he could spend weeks up here.

Still the young ones and their guardians would be hungry, and he had good news to report. The Mistress had vindicated his belief in her. He had seen many, many legendary warriors in his existence, and she certainly ranked among their number.

"Hello?" He called into the dimness as he followed the trail of feet in the light dust. He sighed and made a note to remind the Mistress to renew the dust-repelling spells up here once she was mobile again.

"Hello?!" Movement to his left. He turned and then sighed as a rat the length of his forearm appeared and glared at him from beady black eyes before scurrying down the chest it had been on top on. It jumped down to the floor to run away... then froze in midair, thrashing a foot above the floor. Kasuyu blinked and then smirked as he realized that it it had hit a near-invisible spiderweb.

"Yatta! I got another one, Miho-nee!" A happy chittering voice sounded in his ear and suddenly a spider body the size of a Golden Retriever descended silently from the rafters above him on a thread of her own silk. Kasuyu blinked at Misaki Fujii as the the young Jorogumo descended her line. The girl's humanoid torso was now dressed in a red and gold suit coat above a white linen shirt and she had a battered black tricorn hat on. One of her hands held a curved 'sword' carved from Styrofoam, and the other had a flintlock pistol, which Kasuyu devoutly hoped was unloaded.
Spoiler: Misaki's Outfit


"Misaki. It is good to see you. Where are your sister and the others?" Kasuyu rumbled as the girl began to cocoon the helpless rat with more silk from her spinnerets.

"Oh hello Kasuyu-chan!" Misaki waved a foreleg at him as her back two continued to cocoon her prey. "Hunting is really really good up here."

"Misaki-chan! Remember the Pirates' Code!" Chihiro's voice sounded from the next row over. Kasuyu gave a low rumbling chuckle at the embarrassed look on the jorogumo child's face.

"Oh right! Halt and avast you scurvey landlukk--- landlabb---" Misaki waved the 'sword' in a supposedly threatening manner. Kasuyu was reminded as nothing quite so much of a particularly small and cute kitten trying to intimidate its owner.

"It's landlubber, Misaki-chan. Want me to come over there to help?" Chihiro was stifling an attack of the giggles from the sounds of things.

"Thanks Chi-chan! Halt and avast you scurvy landlubber! Yatta!! Be warned ye are trespassing in the super secret hidden lair of the infamous Fujii Pirates and we will make you walk the plank!" Misaki beamed as she got out the requisite 'pirate challenge'.

Kasuyu could not resist a smile as he was 'marched at swordpoint' to the Throne of the Dread Pirate Queen to supply a ransom of bottled water, sandwiches, and news.

------------------------------
Spoiler: A Pirate's Mysterious Lair

To Kasuyu's distinct lack of surprise Jacklyn had found an antique featherbed and matching sofa and was using at her 'Court' under a grimy window. Aomi Sato had clearly signed up for the 'pirating life' considering the repurposed dirndl dress, Brunswick Death's Head Hussar's traveling hat and cavalry knee boots as the Inugami lounged on the bed reading old newspapers.
Spoiler: First Mate Inugami


Jackie looked up from where she was working on picking the lock of a brass and fabric covered chest. "Oh, Kasuyu, Is..." Her voice was almost totally absent of the normal devil-may-care insouciance.

Kasuyu nodded, "The Mistress and Miss Toku's sister have ended their fight. Both are being treated for their injuries in Toku and the Mistress' bedrooms."

Jackie closed her eyes and Aomi slid off the bed to hug her from behind. One hand covered the Inugami's and squeezed before Jackie opened her eyes. "That's good news. What's in the basket?"

"Water and food for you and the others. Where are they?" Kasuyu inquired as he pulled out a picnic cloth and then started to remove sandwiches. He pulled out two small bags of chocolate covered coffee beans and handed them to Misaki. "Here you go, for you and your sister."

"Yay, thanks Kasuyu-chan!" The young jorogumo squeed and hugged him with a ear to ear smile. She then dashed to the nearest beam and scurried up it to vanish into the shadowed rafters overhead. "Nee-chan! Look what I just ransomed!"

Jackie shrugged. "Miho along with Misaki are enjoying hunting the wildlife as you may have saw, apparently jorogumo enjoy hunting like spiders, go figure. Chihiro's found a bunch of books and I loaned her a monocle with a universal translation spell so she can read the titles as she sorts through them. Won it in a card game in Baltimore in 1837. How are my nieces and Toku?"

"They are watching over the injured." With that the aforementioned Tanuki showed up in the blue coat dress and black fishnet stocking version of Junior Pirate Uniform and carrying a stack of books as big as she was.
Spoiler: Chihiro the Curious Pirate


"Kasuyu-chan!" The tanuki hugged the axe around the leg after dropping off the books inside a nearby enchanted chest. "When I get done will you help me take this downstairs?"

The massive Axe tsukumogami winked at her then brayed like a donkey before nodding. Everyone broke out in laughs for him yet again demonstrating his soft spot for the children.

"Almost... justa... shit who forgot to oil this... GOTCHA!" The padlock that Jackie was working on popped open and with a squeal of rust the pirate opened the lid of the chest that it was holding closed. "This is me favorite part." She grinned and rubbed her hands together as Aomi's ears perked up and her tail wagged.

Aomi looked over Jackie's shoulder as she pulled out one of a pair of portraits. "Who are they?"

Jackie scanned the portrait of a young blonde man dressed in mid 19th century upper-class clothing and shrugged, before flipping it over. "Just says 'Raoul' and an artist's signature. Might be one of Sis's relatives, have to ask her."
Spoiler: Raoul

Kasuyu nodded. "A good plan. We can perhaps use these to furnish the room the Mistress' eldest daughter claims."

Jackie nodded. "Works for me. The real fun is finding these anyway, and this is all her family's stuff anyway." She pulled out the other painting and whistled. "Or not, pump my bilges dry, that's a rare bird and a half. If it was anyone but Sis I would pirate it."

The painting was a nude of a sensual and ethereal young blonde woman with bright green eyes, slightly pointed ears, and pale gold hair. Not crass or vulgar at all, she exhibited an erotic innocence as she poured water for her bathtub in the painting.
Spoiler: Christine

Aomi spoke. "Any idea who she is?"

Jackie flipped the painting. "Just the same artist's signature as Raoul. Says Christine, no last name."

Kasuyu nodded. "I shall show them to the Mistress."

Jackie nodded and began to sort through the clothing in the chest. "Linens are embroidered R. du C and the coat of arms. Raoul is definitely a du Chasteler then. Not much else though, we can drag it downstairs and ask Sis about it."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Coming out of her meditation, Akimi softly sighed, 'Well... that seems to have ended well.' A chuckle escaped her as she turned only to pause at seeing Miu there leaning against the doorframe with a concerned look, "Miu-Chan? What are you doing back?"

The Light Carrier shrugged a little before smiling some, "It's been a few hours, Akimi-Chan. You were really out of it."

With a blink, Akimi turned towards the wall and stared a little, "I've been meditating for four hours?"

Arms across her chest, Miu nodded, "It seems so, like I said... you were out of it."

Lightly blushing, her friend sheepishly smiled, "Ah, my bad then." Rising to her feet, she straightened her back some, "Hmm? Now that is interesting..."

Eyebrow raised, Miu gave her a look, "What is?"

Stretching, Akimi smirked a little bit, "Mainly that I'm not sore in the slightest despite being in that position for so long." With a sigh, she chuckled, "Remember Takahata-Sensei?"

That got her a snort from the other woman, "Who couldn't?" Reaching out with her hands, Miu made groping motions, "Those muscles and that ass! Mmm... I liked it."

Unable to help herself, Akimi laughed and lightly slapped her friend in the arm, "Down girl..." Thoughtful, she grinned, "I will admit that he was a fine specimen of masculinity. And I still say that you could have bounced a Ryo off his behind."

Sighing, Miu nodded, "A shame that we never got the chance to try..."

After a few more moments of considering lost chances, the Kitsune shook her head, "Anyways, remember one of his favourite forms of punishment?"

It took a few moments, but Miu winced, "Ah, yes... having us sit in the Seiza for two hours. Not fun, at all." Feeling phantom pains, she rubbed her legs, "Really not fun. My poor legs ached for a long time after each one. Better than Matsuhada-Sensei. Kami, that shinai she used for troublemakers..."

Frowning, Akimi tapped her chin, "Whatever happened to Matsuhada-Sensei anyways?"

That made Miu frown as well as she thought and tried to remember, "Hmm..." After a few seconds, she snapped her fingers, "I'm pretty sure that she died three years before Blood Week. Unless I am misremembering... she passed away in her sleep. Matsuhada-Sensei was, what? Two hundred and eighteen?" Glancing around, the Carrier shuddered, "Though I swear that sometimes I turn thinking that she is about to use that Shinai of hers on me."

Akimi glanced around herself with a shudder, "Same here."

Deciding to change the subject just in case they attracted attention from a possible Yuurei of their feared teacher, the Crane Hanyou cleared her throat, "Anyways... I brought some stuff for us to eat." Miu's lips curled into a slight frown, "By the way... judging by how you came our of your meditation, how did it...?"

Expression softening as she understood what her friend did not say, Akimi nodded, "I've talked with Ojii-San and cleared the air as it were. He wishes to make up for what happened, and I am allowing it. We spent some time talking afterwards and sorting things out."

Her own expression soft, Miu smiled, "That is good to hear. You were pretty nervous about that." Getting only a shrug, she motioned with her hand for Akimi to follow her, "I bought something for both of us to enjoy as a celebration of sorts after Otou-San, Okaa-San, and Kaa-San left."

Raising an eyebrow, the other shipgirl followed, "Should you have done that? And how did Oji-San as well as Oba-San and Oba-Chan take it?"

The fact that she spoke of her parents in such familiar terms never ceased to make Miu smile. And it was true as her parents had all but adopted the other woman as a niece of sorts as she stayed with them over the summer at times and had lived in their home for about a year after Akimi's mother's suicide. Hence the familiar terms she used for them, though Miu was happy to hear such for another reason:

It spoke to how much better her friend was now mentally since she was using them again.

Shaking her head, Miu walked towards a box that had Ofuda on it, "They're pretty happy about what happened. And they're proud as well that we're stepping up to defend our nation in the way." At seeing her friend open her mouth, she held up her hand, "They also do not see any issue with what happened with you, Akimi-Chan. To them, you are still you."

More than a little relieved, Akimi sat in a chair, only shifting a bit due to her tails, "That... that is good to know. I was, well..."

Bemused, her friend wagged a finger at her, "You know my parents, Akimi-Chan. They would never have a problem with you in regards to that." Her tone becoming dry, Miu continued, "Though Kaa-San made mention of wanting to see how fluffy your tails were, so I am jealous there." She then grinned a bit, "Especially as I want to touch fluffy tail."

Unable to help herself, Akimi laughed at that. As she calmed down, she grinned right back, "Trust me, Miu-Chan, whenever you want, you can touch Fluffy tail."

Brightly smiling, Miu shook her head, "Glad to hear it." Opening the box, she reached in and pulled out two massive parfaits, "Now for a celebratory snack!"

Eyes wide, the Kitsune boggled as one was set down in front of her, "Snack? This is a meal! I don't even know if I'll be able to finish even half of this!" Hearing a snicker, she frowned at the shipgirl across from her, "What?"

Only shaking her head, Miu smiled, "These are made for Capital Shipgirls like we are, Battleships and Carriers especially." she then gave her long time friend a look, "Also, remember dinner?"

It took a few moments, but Akimi flushed a bit as she remembered his plate after plate went down into her gullet. She had been feeling like she had fasted for weeks. And that was something that, as an Onmyoji, she was not unfamiliar with as for some rituals one did need to fast for some time. Shaking her head, the Battleship smiled, "I suppose so." Her spoon filled, she put it into her mouth and hummed happily as she swallowed, "Delicious."

Also swallowing some of her parfait, Miu nodded, "Hai, and that is putting it mildly. Glad that Fubuki-San pointed me towards Mamiya's if this is the normal fare there." Taking another spoonful, she put that into her mouth with a happy look on her face. After a minute or two though, she spoke up, "Oh! You wouldn't guess who I spotted just outside the base."

Spoon in her mouth, Akimi blinked, "Hmm?" Pulling out the spoon, she swallowed and wiped her mouth, "Someone outside the base? Who?"

Madly grinning, her friend gestured with her spoon, "Kiho-Chan, as a matter of fact."

Eyebrows raising, Akimi stared at her before frowning, "Kiho-Chan? She was outside the base?" Getting a nod, she furrowed her eyebrows as she considered what she just heard about her old schoolmate and friend, "What was she doing there now?"

Only shaking her head, Miu smirked a bit, "She was in disguise, though attracting some looks from guys. "Then, she frowned back, "As to why she was here? Your guess is as good as mine, Akimi-Chan. And you've been in contact with her more than I have over the past few years."

Rubbing her chin in thought, the Kitsune thought it over, "I would guess that she is in some sort of investigation? Not sure who would have her do it in the area though or why. Mostly I've chatted with her or sent the families of students her way who have needed her talents for something. And sometimes she's sent clients my way that have needed members taught Onmyoudo. Though it is kind of strange..." Putting another spoonful of parfait in her mouth, she hummed, "But most likely some sort of investigation for someone though."

Just nodding, the Carrier decided to defer to her friend's belief. Instead, she reached into her purse and pulled out a booklet, "Oh, and we're both supposed to read this. It is about being a shipgirl since we're doing orientation for the next few days."

Intrigued, Akimi took the booklet and read the title, "'So You Find Yourself A Shipgirl, Now What? By Matsuda Ryoko/Light Cruiser Tenryuu'?"

Lightly chuckling, Miu shook her head, "It surprised me too. Apparently Tenryuu-San wrote a book for us Natural Borns to go through everything that we need to know. Some of it is... rather intriguing and could help us both."

Flipping through it, her friend gave her a glance, "Oh? Such as?"

Miu pointed at the booklet with her spoon as she swallowed another bite of parfait, "One of the many benefits of being a shipgirl is that all the skills our crews had? We have." At the surprise on Akimi's face, she shook her head, "The example she gives is her daughters, the Destroyers Inazuma and Ikazuchi. Neither of them knew any actual martial arts before being awoken. But their crews had been trained in Aikido and others. It took them only months to hone said skills and reach their first Dan. Tenryuu-San also mentioned that she did not really know how to use a sword, but after awakening she knew the basics and was able to use the skills her crew had and build on them for her own style."

For a few moments, Akimi slowly blinked as she rolled that around in her head, "Well, Ojii-San does know a number of martial arts and how to use a sword-" She froze and gave her friend a disbelieving stare, "Wait, are you suggesting that..."

Leaning back, the Crane Hanyou nodded with a thoughtful look, "Within our crews are people that have been around for hundreds of years. Onmyoudo with decades of experience on our own. Not to mention Yokai such as your Ojii-San who have their own knowledge beyond that. Each and every one of them. And those skills are now at our fingertips, we just need to ask and practice."

Slumping back in her seat, Akimi just stared off into space at nothing in particular. Finally, she began to snap out of her shock and ran her hand through her hair, "That... that is unbelievable. But looking at my own knowledge, I... I can access it!" Rubbing her palms against her head, she laughed, "I can actually 'Know' what my crew did! All of it, so..." Looking at her friend, Akimi shook her head, "This... this is big."

All Miu did was nod in agreement with a grin, "Very big." Tapping the booklet, she continued, "And that is just scratching the surface of our new existence..."

Quickly, the Kitsune grabbed said booklet and began to read through it even as she ate, much to the amusement of her friend.

 

[darthcourt10]

WickedestCard

So...a quick cute and silly snippet for the Floofy escort Carrier that helped get Solie to the people that can actually save and repair her. Next one should be the one dealing with the fallout of Solie being found, at least to some degree.
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What Happened during Christmas: Gambier Bay


Tired and shaky breathes could be heard in the hallway of the Carriers Dorm as a blond haired USN escort carrier uneasily made her way to her dorm. While Gambier Bay has improved herself in terms of her nerves and confidence this last impromptu mission really frayed and scared her in ways she hadn't felt for a long time. She and the other shipgirls and Navy personnel onboard had reported to Admiral Goto what had transpired on the medical transport and he had gained a steely look and had a few more assigned to the escort detail to the Yokosuka Shipgirl repair area. He did tell them they were clear for R&R and so all of the others had gone to the mess or exercise rooms to cool off from their experience. Even the pilots had been shaken and unnerved by the flight let alone those in close proximity to the So-class.


Gambier Bay however elected to head to her dorm after reassuring Raymond and Dennis that she would be okay. While the two destroyer escorts gave her a look that told her they didn't quite believe her the two nodded and headed off to find a cuddlepile to relax in. Gambier knew what they were all trying to do; trying to get rid of the feeling of crushing loneliness and dread. All the others went to places on the base where there were lots and lots of people and activity. The blond carrier however wanted to be with her sister, fall onto her bed and make a certain call. Still, as she was musing she realized that she was in front of the door to her dorm room with three names on the door and each have a small decoration of a plane next them.


Shin'you

Taiyou

Gambier Bay


For a second she looked at the door before the small of fried dough started to hit her and she slowly opened the door to find out why. Just inside she could see her sister White Plains walking back and forth in front of the counter as her dorm mates adorned in aprons and cooking hats were trying to make doughnuts. At the noise of the door opening all three turned to look at her and White's eyes shone with excitement as she saw Gambier.


"GAMBY/GAMBIER-SAN!" all three of them shouted as White managed to hop over the counter and launch herself at Gambier and hug her. For their part Taiyou and Shin'you ran over and hugged her tightly as well.


"Gambier-san! Weren't you supposed to get here in like two weeks? What are you doing here so early?" Shin'you asked as she and Taiyou moved to the carrier's sides to better form a hug.


"W-Well...something came up d-during the convoy mission and...well I can't really s-say much more than that" Gambier Bay stated as best she could, her words making White hug her tighter.

"Wait...like 'don't want to' can't say more or 'top secret hush hush' can't say more Gamby? Cause those are two are very different." White asked, trying to figure out if she should push more or let it end there.


"The second one...Admiral Goto and Admiral St. John both feel that what had happened during the convoy is going to be top secret in a few days so I can't say anything. Fe, Dennis and Raymond can't either. I-It's great to see you guys!" she explained as she hugged them back, already starting to feel better than a few minutes ago.


"It's great to see you too. Oh, Plains-san was teaching us how to make doughnuts because we, uh, wanted to surprise you when you got back for New Years. They're not great just yet but you can have them if you want" Taiyou said as she explained what they were doing. The two other escort carriers took her hands and walked her over to the counter to show their handy work.


"We wanted to thank you for helping to teach us and for the escort and convoy runs you've been doing so we asked Plains-sans if she could show us how to make some American comfort food." Shin'you told her as she grabbed the platter of their attempts to make doughnuts. It was fairly easy to tell their first few attempts from their rougher shape but they did smell good.


"I've already told you two it's okay to call me White or White-san if you have to. Anyone as good a friend to Gamby is as good as one to me. In fact, I'm a little surprised you haven't replaced the -san with -chan yet." White said with some good natured mirth as the other two carriers gave her a small bow.


"Mmm...you know for your first time trying...these are pretty decent...some more practice and you two will be pretty good." Gamby said honestly as she ate a couple of the sugary treats. This caused the other two to smile happily as they bowed deeper. That is before Gamby quickly remembered what else she wanted to do.


"I need to make a call back to the US to let him know I made it here early. Oh, and White, Shin'you and Taiyou I need all your help finding Christmas presents for everyone else." the carrier stated as she went to her bedside table to rummage around for her phone before she walked out the door. The other three girls just turned to each other as they were left behind by the surprisingly animated blond.


"Boyfriend?" a confused Taiyou asked.


"Boyfriend." both White and Shin'you confirmed without skipping a beat.


"Was this before I was summoned?" the dark haired carrier asked in return.


"Yep, met him once before, seems like a decent enough guy if a bit reserved. Did handle the combined Taffy Glare and questioning pretty well so that was points in my book." White responded easily.


"I-Is that normal?" Taiyou asked once more, not really know much about this outside of the gossip she sometimes hears around the base.


"I don't think so. We Taffies are a tight group so we look out after each other a lot. I was more annoyed that I learned from SGO and not directly from them but they made up for it. The others aren't as easy going as I am."


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(Shadowy dark room with several dark robed people at table)


"So it seems with the coming of SmolFloof we have lost Gabby to vile clutches of romance and dating. Status report on Johnston?"


"She seems to be getting close to a platinum haired boy from England, seems a bit stuck up and rude. Johnston though seems to have knocked him down some."


"Damn it...that's two Taffies down. We must close ranks and keep an eye out to make sure any more of us fall."


Suddenly the door to the room opened up and light poured into the room, startling the destroyers, destroyer escorts and escort carriers.


"Alright you little shits, dessert is ready, ice cream sandwiches and banana splits are on the menu so let's get a move on."

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"Oh...well it's good that all of you are close and look out for each other. Since we probably won't get to meet him it's nice that you and her sisters are making sure she doesn't get hurt. Gambier-san seems to have...gotten more confident and assured of herself since she started dating." Shin'you responded, remembering time her friend almost seemed afraid to even be on a base with a Japanese capital ship. Now while she still dreaded actual surface action Gambier Bay could have lunch with someone like Yamato.


"Yeah, besides he keeps up the Smol image thread on SGO updated with SmolFloof and while it's taken a bit of a back seat to the shipping section it's great to see a Taffy Smol. Now it's no longer a monopoly of Smols based out of here and Kure." White said as she remembered when the tiny carrier first made her debut online. It was the biggest blow up until the latest happy and cute couple in the Shipgirl Shipping and Relationship subsection started to grey South's hair. Thankfully no one was really upset seeing as that thread was adorable as all get out.


"Hey, I'm back. Seems he's going to have to find another way to get packages over here since he was also expecting me to get here later. I could hear SmolFloof in the background being excited about coming to Japan. I'm not sure exactly what she had in mind." Gamby said as she came back through the door with a bright smile if tired smile on her face and just looked more relaxed. Her previous loneliness and dread having slowly melted away now and she was grateful that she wasn't in a bad state to talk with her sister and friends.


"You'll probably not get all the presents ready by Christmas in two days but we should be able to help you get some. Not that anyone would hold it against you seeing as you getting here this soon was really unexpected. We can probably get a couple things this evening before going to sleep." White stated as she thought about how much time was still in the day. It wouldn't be a lot of time but all three of them could see that even with her mood Gabby was quite tired from her emergency mission. Better to have her wind down from the mission and get some sleep.

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(The next morning)


The quiet pitter pattering of feet was softly echoing around the room as a small figure was slowly making its way through the room to the triple bed before it climbed up. Gently it made its way to the top of the bed and began to pat the sleeping shipgirl's shoulder.


"Bay! Bay bay bay." she said as she tried to wake up the occupant. Soon enough the shipgirl sat up and looked down before her eyes widen in surprise and moved to turn on the lights.


"Shin'you, Taiyou look. It's my Smol!" Gamby said quietly as she went to wake up her friends.


"BAY~!" the Smol said is a large amount of happiness and pride as she pulled out a few large presents out of a bag. She even had a small santa hat to complete the look.
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So, what do you all think? I have to say...it's really weird trying to make reference to alt!me and all that for the sake of not cluttering up the snips. Still, even twice removed the affects of our favorite deep sea Princess can be felt and it can be seen as troubling to a certain section of people. And yes, that was a large gathering of Taffy 1 through 3 and members of a few more destroyer groups.

For reference, this is kinda how the scene looked like
Spoiler

In fact, for Fleet Week, if Gamby is on base you can bet the three of them would open up a cute little cafe.