Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Kab2

Well, today I bring you a headcanon explanation of a situation in this universe, as always canonicity is up to HL

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November 2001

Cafeteria, Tokyo

A man near his thirties was sitting in the outside of the cafeteria waiting for his friend.

He came in advance as he liked to ponder about the thing he will discuss with him, so as he waited he recalled how good the past year was for them, he didn't believe how popular their published novel became, so much that they published some short stories in January and a sequel three months ago, and they were working on the release of a fighting game based on it; but what he want to discuss with his friend was the next project, a novel about heroes brought from the past to fight between them, showing the hard road the main character had to travel. While he wrote the novel, his friend apported the illustrations, sometimes basing them in real people, like that greek mountain of muscles or the pair of greek ladies, he wanted to change some things about the novel, but he wanted to consult with his friend.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the woman approaching him.

"Excuse me." said the woman in japanese with an english accent. "I know it may sound disrespectful, but may I sit here while I'm waiting for my sister? there aren't any other seat available."

Snapping out his train thought, he surveilled the terrace and saw that effectively there weren't any free seats, with that he said to the woman. "Sure, I am waiting for a friend too so until he comes I don't mind."

"Thank you very much." said the woman bowing. "It is my first time in Japan and I wasn't sure if it was allowed or not."

Laughing internally, the man said "It sounded like you read about Japan two hundred years ago, we aren't like that for the most time."

Blushing a bit, the woman said. "Sorry about that but I really meant it, ah yes." she remembered something. "Where are my manners, I haven't presented myself, My name is Lib Draig, or how the japanese names are constructed, Draig Lib." she bowed. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Getting up from the chair he bowed too "The pleasure is mine Draig-San, my name is Nasu Kinoko, please sit down."

As they sat, he looked at the woman in front of him.

She was of petite build, green eyes and blonde hair with a rebel lock at the top of her head, her hair collected in a circular braid at her head's back, a blue scarf around her neck and a white coat protecting her from the cold winter, a blue skirt with black leggings accompained by brown boots.

As they chatted a bit, suddenly Nasu thought of something.

"If it is not prying much, as you are from Great Britain, how much do you know about King Arthur's leyends?" asked Nasu.

Narrowing her eyes, she asked "I know a bit, why do you ask?" in a tone that gave a warning.

Confusing her gesture for rudeness in his question, he said. "Sorry if I was rude, I am writing a novel that involves him, so I wanted to know another side apart for what I know." and he explained a bit about his project.

After hearing the explanation, she relaxed "It is a wise choice to ask about him if this is your motive. I approve." suddenly she thought of something. "In fact, I am an expert in King Arthur's life, so I can tell you lot's of facts about him."

"Oh? That would help me a lot to fill his backstory, thanks for the offering I am in your debt." he said with sincere tone.

If there where any doubt lingering, his tone cleared him from suspicions about second intentions to Draig.

An orange haired girl with yellow eyes waitress approached their table "Here are your orders, anything else?." at their negative, the maid bowed to them and went to attend other tables.

Not saying anything, Nasu was surprised at the amount of food she ordered, removing her scarf, he caught sight of a pendant in form of a sword she wore 'Nice sword.' he thought.

As they eated, she explained a bit of what she knew of the story of King Arthur, surprising Nasu more and more.

After Draig finished, Nasu wondered. "So for what you explained, their life was a lot different from what the books say."

Draig nodded."And you don't know half of it."

Nasu pondered a bit and then an idea came to him."So we can say that he strived to be the perfect king, but failed."

"We can say that, indeed." she said as she removed.

"I now have an idea how to portrait him better, thanks." Nasu sincerely said.

"And I am glad that I could help you, and just in time, here comes my sister." said Draig looking at her right side.

Glancing to that side he could see a girl almost identical to the one sitting in front of her, but her hair was collected in a tail with a black ribbon, she wore a white skirt and coat and in her neck was a pendant that resembled a sheath; she was talking to the man Nasu was waiting for as they approached.

"Sorry Kinoko for being late." said the man "But I found this girl and asked me for directions, and as we needed to go to the same place we chatted and lost a bit of time."

"Don't worry Takeuchi, thanks to her sister I found some inspiration to finish the current proyect."

Rising from her chair, Lib bowed to Takeuchi. "Thanks for guiding my sister Val to our meeting, she often get lost."

"I didn't get lost!" said Val with a pout "I only took a wrong turn."

Sighing, Lib said "I'm not discussing this again." turning to the two men she said. "I know it can be a bit disrespectful, but can I shake your hands? To say goodbye the same way as in England."

Pondering a bit, they didn't have any objections so they did so, but when they were doing it an image popped up in their heads.
Spoiler: Lib's image

That image transmitted a sense of peace and resolution, it persisted in their heads even after the shake ended and when they looked at Lib she gave them a knowing smirk.

"Oh! I have to thank you too!" said Val with enthusiasm, showing her eagerness to be like her sister.

And when Val shook their hands they saw another image clearly different to the other one.
Spoiler: Val's image

This one transmitted a feeling of opposites, and a bit of... conclusion?, they didn't saw the image too long so they didn't know what to think about them. Val retreated from them and didn't show signs of knowing that her contact showed them a glimpse of the future; Lib thought they were still shocked because the image she showed them in gratitude.

They stood there as Lib paid her bill and said "It was a pleasure trading ideas with you, I wish you success with your novel and I'll be waiting to read it when it gets published." they bowed and left to do their errands.

"Thanks for eating at Ahnenerbe." said the orange haired waitress with a smile "We will welcome you again next time you come."

A bit of time passed as the men processed what happened.

"You know" began to say Nasu "I will accept your idea of changing the main characters' gender, and I will add a new arc where the Servant turns evil."

"Okay," said Takeuchi "And I have the model for the Servant, so she will be Arturia Pendragon?"

"You have read my thoughts, my friend."
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What do you think of my approach?

I hope you like this snip, thanks for reading.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Just a look on the most interesting father-figure in Colombe's life. That went places on me....

Un jeu d'échecs

Vounó Ólympos, Aeolia, Greece

23 June 2014 (During the Battle For the Orochibunker)
Spoiler: A Game Of Chess

Intent brown eyes narrowed at the grid of white and black squares laid out before him. The man stroked his dark blond goatee and then finally nodded. At his command one of the silver tokens marked with a single Greek mu letter advanced across the game board to sandwich a golden token marked with an owl between itself and another silver. With a flash the gold vanished.

The young man smiled slightly and picked up an electrum goblet filled with wine of Cyprus from where it rested at his elbow. He sipped the rich wine and then suddenly paled as the young-seeming raven-haired woman across from him made her move. One of her tokens slid through the hole in his battle line that her sacrificial move had exposed, reaching his rear areas and stopping there to menace his crumbling flank as his defense collapsed.

Gray eyes flashed in satisfaction as she leaned back on her chair and picked up her own wine cup. Ivory fingers stroked the feathers of the owl that perched beside her as she sipped her wine.

He leaned forward computing odds, possibilities, mapping out the possible outcomes of the game of petteia that he was playing. Presently he spoke quietly. "I see... seven moves until my defense is shattered and compromised irrevocably on the left. I could perhaps advance on your center here," he pointed to three pieces and sketched an advance with his finger, "but that is at best delaying the inevitable as they are enveloped and destroyed once my flank collapses. Unless you make a mistake as you press the advantage."

He smiled sardonically and saluted the figure across from him with his wine cup. "Of course since the next time you make a mistake in games of strategy and skill played against me shall be the first, I must salute the victor. Well played."

"Well fought. You have improved in your skills. I shall note that you are incorrect though. By sacrificing these two tokens, you could delay the inevitable for nine moves." The woman across from him spoke pleasantly as two of his tokens glowed.

Jean-François du Chasteler leaned forward, eyes intent on the two pieces. "May I?" he asked politely.

She nodded and he began to play out the variation proposed. Finally he nodded. "Ahh!! I see that I would sacrifice here to slow you down followed by a suicidal attack there to fend off your crushing advance until the disruption could be righted. Nine moves then. Thank you for the gift of wisdom."

Pallas Athena gave him a measuring look. "You are a strange man, you know." She spoke analytically.

"How so?" He asked curiously as he finished off the cup of wine. He tented his fingers and leaned forward with an inquiring look on his face.

She waved her hand and the pieces vanished while a golden automaton shaped like a maiden came forward and poured more wine for them. "This. You have many, many gifts, but lack the hubris that destroys heroes. You are intelligent, a man with a cunning mind, blessed with a silver tongue, and ambitious with a drive to prosper and triumph. But not to the point where your arrogance destroys you. It is rare indeed to meet a mortal with those qualities." Her raised ebon eyebrow invited him to satisfy her curiosity.

"Simplicity itself. As a boy, I learned that I lacked the strong magic needed to advance and prosper among my kind." His face twisted for a moment in outrage, "so I was forced to compensate for that lack in other ways. I knew that I would never be the head of the Family, never be a powerful wizard. But I knew equally that my brothers would in the main do their best to destroy me after Father finally passed away since I was weaker than them. If they saw me as a threat to them once they took charge of the Family."

"Likewise when I was thrown out of wizarding society for lack of sufficient magic, erased from the Malfoy family records as a Squib, I was merely a new and untried non-Magique noble, and I had a definite limit to what I would be capable of. I did not have an aunt who was the queen's lady-in-waiting, or a noble heritage known and honored by the no-maj or a great-uncle who was a Marshal of France." His smile was vicious as he continued, "but I had one thing that those popinjays and fops all lacked." He smirked smugly like his daughter Colombe and tapped his temple with a fingertip. "I had the ability to take the best of my heritage of magic and of the discoveries of the non-Magique in science, in law, in philosophy, in education and merge them. To be the trusted advisor behind the throne, whispering in the monarch's ear good advice to have him prosper and yet to be too lowly and too outwardly unimportant to be a threat to the more established power blocks as I patiently neutralized them."

Athena nodded along as she leaned forward with a fascinated look on her face. He continued as she stared into his eyes, seeing the thoughts he had normally hid from his peers. "As for those things that I lacked, I could bind them in mutual alliance to me as well-rewarded and respected servants. Train my children to carry on my family name and heritage, to be remembered as the spider weaving his webs of influence, obligation, debt and diplomacy who laid the foundations for us to take our rightful place among the elite. This climb to greatness has been done before of course by those men who blazed their immortal name in history. Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Septimus Severus, Periklēs, Themistoklẽs. And since it had been done before, I resolved to learn from those who had done it before. From their victories and defeats, their triumphs and tragedies. Better for them to make the mistakes and then for me to profit from their harsh lessons."

He grinned sardonically, "And in the main, we du Chastelers prospered, not least thanks to my adopted daughter and the children of my blood. I'm very proud of Colombe, proud of them all, since she and they took the Malfoy ethos of the good of the family being above all with her own example of unbending honor to make us respected and feared. Others of the family and our servants and advisors served and advised us equally well, of course, since no man can be expert in all things. But together we are so much stronger than apart. When the family as a whole prospers, when if the general or monarch that I advise succeeds and is crowned with glory while viewing me as a useful and valuable part of that success, does it truly matter whose the name on the monuments really is if it is someone I could not supplant directly without destroying the structure of society where my influence rested? I could not face any of my foes, either my brothers or later my rivals, directly strength for strength if I played by their game and their rules, but when I was strong where they were weak, wise where they were foolish, I won a battle that was decided before they knew that it had been begun."

He finished and met her eyes unflinchingly as she probed his thoughts and his mind with her gaze. Finally she nodded. "Well said. Another game?"

He bowed his head to Athena. "Chess perhaps? I confess a preference for the game after being introduced and did some of my best thinking over the board as I played against my children, my peers in the nobility, or those who could challenge and push me such as my regular opponents at the Café de la Régence, especially André Danican Philidor." He grinned happily with memory of matches against the greatest chess players in Europe during the years that he lived, "I have been thinking hard upon the events about to happen in the Mortal World that will impact us here. To quote one of the better modern authors, 'chaos is a ladder'. A dangerous and deadly ladder to use, but it is a ladder."

Her eyes sharpened and she spoke with unhidden delight. "Chess then, and I confess interest in your thoughts on events. I have my own of course, but a wise woman always listens to other perspectives to see if there is gold among the dross."

A set of chess pieces of gold and silver formed between them after he began to speak. "I shall play Black. In my life, I learned that in any large change there is opportunity as well as danger. Danger to those too blinded with the past to see the future shifts ahead of them, but opportunity to those who can look at the shifts and manipulate them to his... or her... ends."

She moved a silver pawn forward on the new board, a move that he mirrored. Across from him, Athena nodded thoughtfully, her gray eyes keen and bright. "Yes~.... Now I regret greatly that you were never claimed by me. You were not of Greek birth, were you?"

Her golden knight moved and he responded with the Philidor Defense as his queen pawn move reinforced the fight over his king pawn. "Not that I am aware. We were supposedly descended from a Roman who was the legate in Gallia Lugdunensis under the Flavian Dynasty of the Roman Empire but the farthest we could prove it definitely with magic or records is the time of Charlemagne's grandfather when we were Barons in Francia. Before then?" He shrugged expressively.

Athena smirked and pressed the attack on his center. "Perhaps I should take the opportunity to meet your daughter. While she is claimed by Hachiman, as you are, I would see for myself her temperament and quality."

He nodded and moved his knight, "Indeed. When the Statute falls, there will be a reappraisal of myths and legends by humanity. After all, when the Cyclopes and Minotaurs provably exist on Circe's Island, what else in the myths of Ancient Greece, the Iliad, and the Odyssey will humanity believe in next? And in that time of change, well heroes such as Colombe are always useful for those needing great deeds done indirectly. I am sure that Hachiman would be amenable to discussions on joint use of some of his assets."

She gave him a measuring look sharper than her spear. "Your advice again. No doubt you have spoken to Hachiman about what you think should be done."

She waved for more wine from the golden automaton servant as he finished this cup and spoke agreeably. "He has asked my advice and opinions, yes. I am, after all, one of the few he has in his service who did not come from Japan and a unity of viewpoints on events present and future can result in blind spots caused by the group's consensus. As for what He plans for future events, I am not privy to that, save to say that I have advised Him to both look at the risks of the integration of the Magical and Non-Magical worlds, but also the potential advances toward his goals. Whatever they are, I am not privy to them, nor would I say if so. No one likes much less trusts a traitor, and a reputation for honor and honesty is as valuable and fragile as virginity. Once it is lost, it can never be reclaimed."

Athena smirked and raised her wine cup after the refill. "Well said, Jean-François du Chasteler. It is my move now," The gray eyes of the Greek Goddess of wisdom, skill in the arts, and skill in war looked at the chessboard, "and there are so many possibilities...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- The Bad Guys have agency too....

Aktion Platindiebstahl (Action platinum theft)

21 July 2014, 2300 Local Time

AFB Waterkloof, Praetoria, South Africa

A company can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on firewalls, intrusion detection systems and encryption and other security technologies, but if an attacker can call one trusted person within the company, and that person complies, and if the attacker gets in, then all that money spent on technology is essentially wasted -- Kevin Mitnik

Under the watchful eyes of a cordon of armed guards and a group of supervisors from De Beers, Impala Platinum Holdings, and Lonmin Mining, a third armored truck drove into the belly of the C-141 Starlifter marked with South African Air Force rondels. The expert driver parked the truck and a group of uniformed loadmasters disconnected the armored and locked box of the trailer and then lashed it to the waiting eyebolts to insure that the cargo of uncut diamonds, gold, and platinum bullion would not shift and fatally compromise the center of gravity of the airplane.

Finally satisfied, the driver drove out of the aircraft to the waiting assembly area for him, and the final truck began to slowly back in.

To one side of the operation, SAAF Major Ingmar Van Der Knapp drained his cup of erzatz coffee as he waited patiently to do the preflight. He frowned at the bitter taste of the roots that were supplementing the bean. His lips twitched as he thought to himself, at least that will change soon.

Then his copilot nudged him gently. White teeth gleamed in a black face as Captain Kriel laughed. "At least when we reach Zurich we can get some real bean for a chance."

Van Der Knapp grunted and rubbed the twin swollen 'insect bites' on the left side of his neck absently. "Looking forward to getting this cargo hauled. Land there, pick up advanced arms for the fight against those damn abyssals while we overnight, maybe find a whore or three..."

Kriel nodded then sobered, "heard they hit Cape Town again but good."

"Yeah. I heard that too" Van Dr Knapp scowled as the last truck pulled out. "Let's make sure this fat whale is flightworthy. Keep an eye on those ham-handed baboons tying the cargo down, if that shifts, it won't be their asses in the shitter."
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"Roger, 3711 heavy climbing to Angels 25, on VFR, handing over to Harare Control." Van Der Knapp radioed, then clicked the autopilot on as he grunted. "Take the plane would you, I need a piss. Damn coffee."

"Yah. Copilot's plane." Kriel said, assuming control. Van Der Knapp unbuckled himself and stretched as he turned toward the two armed guards in the back of the cockpit.

Then he ripped the first one's head off as his claws and fangs manifested and he accelerated to superhuman speed.

The second guard's face paled in shock as blood painted him.

To his credit, he automatically went for his pistol, but the punch from the manifested vampire snapped his spine like a rotten twig as it hit his throat.

Van Der Knapp pivoted on his heel and grabbed his friend of eight years by the ears.

"I'm sorry, Nhlanhla." He whispered as he spun the copilot's head in a circle to kill him painlessly and instantly. "It has to be this way. You have no place in what is to come."

He then double-checked that the cabin was locked and barred before returning to his station.

Pulling down his oxygen mask, he then depressurized the cabin to suffocate the armed guards in the rear of the plane watching over the precious cargo.

Next the IFF transponder and radio were turned off and he diverted from the planned flight path to Cairo, steering north by northwest.
Spoiler: Aktion Platindiebstahl

Toward his Master in the Congo.
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Kamina Air Base, Democratic Republic of the Congo

22 July 2014, 0345

The C-141 landed and taxied toward a group of waiting individuals standing unnaturally still and rigid, like human figures carved from ebony hardwood.

As it stopped, they sprinted to the plane with bolt cutters and cutting torches. Oddly enough, the sprinting was totally mechanical and in unison, a column of black army ants with their feet striking like metronomes.

The first cargo container was cut open and a double file of porters moving like machines grabbed the gold and platinum bars two at a time in an endless human chain running to the waiting cargo trucks. In total obedient silence they moved like a machine made out of flesh and blood with oddly dead eyes.

Van Der Knapp descended from the plane and approached the man and woman supervising the operation. He snapped to attention and his right arm shot out stiff and straight in a salute from the newsreels showing human evil in black and white. "Sieg Heil!"

Helmar Wollf saluted him back and nodded sharply. "Sieg Heil. Your report?"

"They are still looking for me, but with no transponder they do not know where to start. The plane will be found soon once they begin to check landing sites." The Afrikaner vampire smirked. "You mean to have the kafir take the fall?"

"Nein. Cortana, insure security and supervise." Wolff gestured and began to walk to the plane. "As attractive as it would be, it would divert attention this way. Show me how to turn the transponder on."

Van Der Knapp pointed out the switch on the control column. "That one, turn it to IFF."

"Ach so." Wolff examined the switch then began to chant and grasped the dead man in the copilot's seat who twitched and began to animate. "Time to reach the Indian Ocean if you flew this due east at maximum speed?"

Van Der Knapp thought. "Just over two hours, two and a half perhaps."

"Sehr gut. Then in two hours, our dead friend here will turn the switch on and fly out to sea until he vanishes as the plane is either shot down or runs out of fuel and crashes" Wolff gave a thin smile and sharp nod.

"Unloading is complete." Cortana reported as she appeared at the door.

Wolff snapped out orders to the dead man. "Ten minutes, then take off and fly due east at thirty thousand feet at maximum speed, in one hour fifty minutes, turn the transponder on."

He turned to the others as the dead man's head shook on the broken neck. "Shall we go, we have things to accomplish to bring about Der Tag."(the Day)

Van Der Knapp nodded and fell in behind the Nazi vampire. "But, the bars are marked, how will you fence them without being found out?"

Wolff smirked triumphantly as he watched the trucks pull out. "Interestingly enough, several magical families in Britain have recently revealed that they acquired bars of gold and platinum from the New World. Tons worth. A little alteration of the bars to make them appear as other than from here and a family of True Believers in South America... well what two can do, so can three."

He reached a jeep and climbed onto the running board. He then turned to his enslaved army. "Team One, escort our prize to the Fortress. Team Two, destroy this airbase and all records within it, then sweep and kill all humans in the surrounding area to exterminate witnesses. No mercy, no survivors."

 

[darthcourt10]

Kab2

And today I bring you the next chapter of Sofia's life.

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In a place west of the Isles of Scilly, there was an overjoyed abyssal. Sofia had finally found another friend, even if she was a bit odd, but she didn't care, Sofia wasn't a master of anything so she told the sword spirit to call her by her name, after some information exchange she discovered that the sword didn't remember much of her past, but she said for sure that she didn't have a name, so she pressed Sofia to give her a name as her first Master. After considering some names, they picked a name that the sword liked, Jennifer and her diminutive Jen.

She wanted to help Jen to recover her lost memory so today she will go to the underwater crypt where she found Jen, to search for a clue that help them to clarify some of her past, to see if she could discover the identity of what Jen named her first and only wielder, which would correspond to the skeleton in the solitary tomb inside the crypt.

She was thinking about this matters when she spotted a lonely boat in the surface, intrigued by this, she approached the surface and saw a little boat with a fishing rod, Sofia was surprised by this, as this was the first time she found a little fishing ship.

'This ship is big enough to have 1 or 2 humans inside, maybe if I can talk with them I can convince them not to flee and help me show the shipgirls I am not a threat' concluded Sofia after thinking about her possibilities.

Going to the other side from where the rod was, she surfaced slowly and surveilled her surroundings.

To her right there was the beach of one island a long bit away, and in the sea apart from the boat there was nothing more than sea that she saw, so she inspected the boat.

Inside there was a lonely man busy with the fishing rod, he was near his forties as his grey temples showed, embedded in a fishing suit along a lifejacket, whistling a song while he waited for the fish to bite.

Suddenly anxiety rised inside Sofia, what was she doing? the human were enemies of the abyssals, as her princess said a lot of times; and there she was, trying to contact one of them.

Similar thoughts began to swirl inside her, trying to get her to forget the man and go back from where she came, until a hand came into contact with the inside of her hull.

"It's okay," said Captain Hüttenwerk "don't let what they said about you or about them guide you, be yourself and do whatever you want to do."

Thanks to that she calmed herself and regained the control of her own thoughts, but as she finished to struggle with herself, something happened.

"Oh?" said a man's voice "Hello Redhead, nice to finally meet you."

She panicked as she acknowledged that the man in the boat had turned and spotted her.

"O-oh, H-hello, my name is Sofia." said the abyssal submarine in reflex, as her mind was in a blank state.

"Sofia, what a nice name. Mine is Richard."said the man presenting himself "If you please, can you come aboard?"

She panicked even more. "A-aboard? Don't you fear the abyssals?"

His only expression was a smile. "I do fear them, but I don't fear the girl who saved my wife and children even if others fear her."

At last Sofia calmed a bit. "I saved your family?" she thought a bit and quickly reached the only conclusion possible. "Your family was in that transport I saved from sinking, and you heard of me from them, that's why you said that you finally met me."

"That is correct my girl." he said laughing a bit. "Now hop on board Sofia."

With his help she hopped aboard the boat and began to chat amicabily, about how he had to risk fishing here as he needed to feed his family and Sofia's hobby of exploring the seabed.

"Luckily you were there to help them." said Richard after a while "But why did you fled from lady Warspite?" asked him.

"We are at war and when I saw her I feared for my life, as they kill us the same way we kill them." sadly said Sofia.

This statement surprised Richard "Don't you know about that abyssal Princess? What was her name?" he tried to remember until he did so "Ah, yes! Her name was Porta."

"Who?" asked Sofia. "I don't know any abyssal Princess with that name. Did she do a bad thing?"

This surprised him even more. "So what I thought was true." He began to search in his backpack for something until he took out a newspaper."Look, read this, it will explain everything."

As she took the newspaper she noticed the photo in the cover page, two abyssals and humans in the same place, that picked her interest.

As she read the newspaper, her eyes widened bit by bit.

A drop fell onto the newspaper.

What she searched from her birth was explained here.

Another drop fell onto the newspaper.

When she finished reading, she looked up and Richard saw that the corners of Sofia's eyes were wet.

"I am not the only one." she whispered. "There are others like me, and the shipgirls can be our friends. It's a miracle." then the dam holding her tears broke.

"There, there." said Richard to her patting her back. "Let it all out, you will be fine afterwards."

Sofia cried and Richard consoled her. After a while the tears receded and left Sofia's eyes a bit more red than normal.

"Thank you very much Richard." Sofia said finally. "You have no idea how this information helps me." After closing the newspaper she asked. "Can I keep it? I wish to shate this big news with my friend."

"Of course Sofia, there are more from where it came from, but in return when you get friendly with the navy you have to visit us, I'll invite you to dinner with my family as thanks."

"You don't have to, you have already paid me back with this." she showed the newspaper to Richard.

"I insist, they want to meet you." pressed Richard.

Seeing his obstinacy she conceded. "All right, you win." after a little advice from her Captain, she said to Richard. "Tell me your direction to know where I have to go."

He did so and then she said goodbye. "I have to go back, again thanks for the newspaper and see you next time." With that she dived in the water and went straight to her base, where Jen was waiting for her.

Unknowingly to her, three abyssals spotted her.

"We have found her." said the one in the middle, who looked like the leader.

"And she was doing what our Princess told her not to do." said the second.

"Can we kill the human?" asked the third.

"No." said the leader. "It may raise the alert against us and our orders were clear, bring Sofia back and avoid raise suspicions. So we follow her and when she stops we will restrain and tow her. Her punishment is up to our Princess."

And they began to follow Sofia at a safe distance.

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Thanks for reading, opinions and corrections are always welcomed. I hope you like it.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Harry was softly chatting with the others when the waiter came up with a cart that had various things on it. Bowing a little to the group, he gave a small smile, "Your desserts have arrived." One by one, he placed the plates or bowls in front of each person. In front of Harry and Kitakami Maru, there was a glass that had a skinless peach on top of vanilla ice cream and coated in a reddish sauce, "Your peaches melba, young Sir, madam."

Looking at it, the teenage wizard smiled a bit and gave a nod, "It looks wonderful, thank you."

Just nodding, the waiter placed the other desserts out before placing a bowl in front of Ooi and Kitakami which was quite large. Similar to Harry's and Kitakami Maru's desserts, it had vanilla ice cream as a base , but there were differences. For one thing, it sat on folded crepes and had cherries as both the fruit and the sauce. With a small nod, the waiter brought out a lit candle lighter that he touched to the two desserts, causing flames to burst into being before bowing a little, "And to Madam Yuuko and Madam Rika, your Cherries Jubalee." With a final bow, he smiled, "Please enjoy your desserts."

Once he was a distance away, Shigemi blinked some, "That was... impressive."

A chuckle escaped from Harry as he gave a small nod, "Of course, in a place like this the presentation is as much a part of the meal as the food. It must be pleasant to all the senses." Picking up the dessert spoon, he gave a hum before taking a bite and nodding after he swallowed, "Mmm, definitely good for taste."

For a few moments, Ooi looked over her dessert as the flames had died out before taking her own bite. Seconds later, her expression was one of bliss before she sighed, "Ah... so good."

Only shaking his head, the nearly fourteen year old gave her a smile, "A bit of a shame that I could not have some myself as it uses alcohol, but... that's how it goes." Turning to his own dessert, he smiled a bit bigger, "Though right now, I believe that I have it quite good."

Glancing at his and Kitakami Maru's desserts, Kitakami shook her head, "That does look good, though I'm rather happy with this." With a smile, she took a bite before chewing slowly and swallowing. After that, she took a sip of the sweet, dessert wine she had ordered, "I'll admit that there looked like there were variations on it?"

With a small shrug, Harry chuckled a bit, "Well, it is a Flambé after all. Peaches would be one of the more common once they're in season properly. Louisiana also makes something similar with her Bananas Foster. Though not that surprising..." Taking a sip of his lemon water, he continued, "Battleships were made to be flagships, and thus carry Admirals onboard them. They had their finest chefs there for their flag staff."

Ooi considered that for a few moments as she consulted her own bridge crew before nodding, "Hai, which makes me wonder if that is why Kongou-San's treats at her tea parties she throws at tea time are so good."

Lightly laughing, Harry shook his head, "There is a bit of that, yes. And her tea times are very good, agreed on that. Remember... three years ago, I think? She had one with the Emperor."

Blinking, the brown haired Light Cruiser thought about it before nodding, "Hai, I remember that. Rika-Chan and I even saw from a distance." Then she shrugged and shook her head, "Though we did meet him during Rose-Chan's wedding to Haruna-San on her hull. And Rose-Chan looked like she would faint when he told her that he found her tea lovely."

Softly snickering, Harry grinned widely, "That was fun to see, especially as Rose-Chan has served my family for quite some time now." Once he had another bite of dessert, he continued, "Though I'm not too surprised that the Emperor was there as he sees Haruna-Oba-San as his aunt of sorts. What with being an Emperor's ship and having had one of his relatives serve upon her."

Frown on his face, Hiroaki blinked, "Huh... I didn't know that." Gesturing to his wife, he continued to frown, "We've met Haruna-San several times, but she seemed so down to Earth. Somewhat hard to see."

Unable to help himself, the teen boy chuckled, "You might think so, yes. But that is Haruna-Oba-San for you..." Cocking his head to the side, Harry raised an eyebrow, "Have you seen hers and Aunt Rose's daughter, Sumire?"

With a sigh, Shigemi shook her head a little, "No, but Rika-Chan sent us some pictures of her. She's an adorable little thing and already you can see a lot in her from her mothers." Pausing, she had a small smile on her face, "Mothers... it still makes me shake my head a little at that. Never did I think that the day would come where two women together could have a child, but there you have it."

Lips twitching, Harry gave a shrug, "Well, there's Miss Gale and Washington as she's a normal human woman, yet now her and her wife have four lovely children." A grin appeared on his face right then, "But I don't mind as it gives me an adorable little baby cousin of sorts to fuss over."

Each member of their group chuckled a little before Hiroaki looked towards his daughter and Ooi, both of whom blushed, "Hmm... I wonder..."

Her cheeks feeling like they were on fire, Kitakami took a sip of wine, "Otou-San, neither I nor Yuuko-Chan have any plans for such right now. Perhaps in a few years, but..."

Reaching over, Ooi took her hand in hers, "In a few years, we might. And going by what has been seen? Any daughters will likely be ships that bore our ship names after WWII. Like how Fubuki-San sees the JS Fubuki as her daughter already."

That only got her nods as they continued their meal.

After they were done, and Harry was paying, the teenager was looking up at the Maître d' with a curious look, "I must ask, is it possible to thank the Chef personally for the meal that we received?"

Eyebrow slightly raised, the man gave Harry a soft smile, though there was some pleased surprise there, "I am afraid not, Young Sir. It could interfere with the work in the kitchens already being done if he was pulled away."

Understanding, the wizard simply nodded with a small sigh, "Unfortunate, but understandable. Could you still pass on our compliments however?" Getting a nod, he smiled, "Splended."

Shortly afterwards, they were walking back to the van. Instead of Kitakami's father driving, however, one of her fairies came out of her sleeve and dropped down to the ground before enlarging to a ghostly man in a Naval uniform who bowed to his shipgirl's parents, "You've been drinking, so allow me to drive, Sir, Ma'am. It would be my pleasure."

More than a little surprised, but happy, Hiroaki nodded and got into the van along with the others though only Harry and Ooi noticed the interested glances that they got. Once the van had started to move out of the driveway, Harry gave a groan and slumped some which made Shigemi blink in confusion, "Potter-San? Are you alright?"

Lightly laughing, Harry nodded a little, "I am, but I can finally relax a little."

Confused, Kitakami Maru cocked her head to the side as she looked at him, "Why? Was something going on there?"

His lips twitching, the teenage wizard shook his head, "Nothing bit, but..." Waving a hand in the air, he chuckled a little, "More that one needs to put forward an image."

Giving his wife a lost expression, Hiroaki turned towards Harry, "What do you mean, exactly? I know that something was going on, but..."

With a hum, Harry placed his hands on his stomach, "Hmm... well, it is mainly establishing a pecking order. In particular, establishing my credintals for being 'Old Money' instead of 'New Money' which is somewhat important. For example, when Yuuko-Nee came in wearing her new jewelry. People of, well, New Money might well go for something extravagent, extremely eye catching. Her jewelry may be simplistic by comparison, but the fact that it is gemstones, was hand made, and is over two hundred years old? That puts it much high on the value chart than a curtain of diamonds hanging from the neck to Old Money."

Mouth dropping open a little, Ooi placed a hand on the necklace around her neck, "I-it's over two hundred years old?"

Slowly, with a somewhat smug smirk, the wizard nodded, "Hai, it is. Which makes it an heirloom that would catch the eye of those that know such things." Harry then continued some, "Anothe example was we were talking about the room that we'll be setting up for Yuuko-Nee at the manor."

Eyes widened a little, Shigemi turned to Ooi in surprise, "Is it really a manor?"

Blinking, Kitakami gave a small nod, "Hai?" Scratching her neck a little, she gave a weak chuckle, "It's pretty impressive. Though what does that have to do with anything?" Frowning, the shipgirl furrowed her eyebrows, "I am kind of surprised that you brought that up instead of bringing up the really big stuff. Like how you donated to help fund one of those Shipgirl Tenders..."

Only shaking his head, Harry had a slight smile, "And right there you're thinking like 'New Money', Rika-Nee." At the look of confusion, he tapped the side of his head, "New Money loves to both show off that they have lots of money and flaunt that fact. Mainly because they're trying to prove that they can fit into the same circles as Old Money can, believing that by showing off that they have such expensive items that they can make people sit up and take notice."

Just leaning forward some, Ooi had a slight frown on her face, "Like my parents." When he looked at her, she blushed some, "They liked showing off how they had the newest expensive car models and stuff. American cars especially."

At that, Harry gave a slow nod, "That would be one example. But instead, it makes people who come from Old Money roll their eyes, because if you have the money, you don't need to prove it." Eyes widened in understanding before he continued, "When we were talking about the bedroom, the items mentioned would definitely cause eyebrows to raise and did. I was paying attention to that."

Interested, the black haired Light Cruiser raised an eyebrow, "How so? It... didn't sound like much."

Smirk on his face, Harry held out one hand and began to tick off on his fingers, "The bed for example, is hand carved out of wood and is about... four hundred or so years old, from the 16th Century as mentioned. It could go at auction, especially as it is in a good enough shape to use, for... around eleven million Yen, easy." Ignoring the jaws dropping, he continued, "Getting the bed all set up with custom mattresses, blankets, canopies, and curtains? Could come out to half as much added on. The Ottoman rug, which is enchanted to be both wear, stain, and fireproof by the way? Likely comes out to nearly as much as the bed with the two chairs coming in at probably several hundred thousand Yen each. The table? Probably as much as both chairs. As for the Ming Vase? It could be as much as three or four times as much as the bed."

Eyes wide, Ooi just stared ahead as she realized just how much money there could be in her room, "Oh..."

Unable to help himself, the nearly fourteen year old boy chuckled, "Yes, 'Oh' indeed. The fact that I mentioned this offhand as well as directly stating that I would set it up for all these items to be used instead of display pieces? It says that I don't care about how much they're worth... because I'm bloody rich so why should I care?" At their stares, he shrugged, "That is how people like that operate. Talking about how I own multiple properties around the world as if it was of no matter to me? With the cost of owning land in Japan? Says the same thing." Gesturing with his hand, Harry shook his head, "The mentions of how some of my family decided to make wine for family? To start a bakery because he liked baking and supported by the family? All of that says that my family is so unworried about money that we could focus on hobbies for personal enjoyment and for no other reason. Once more, saying that we're rich. It was the same when I paid for the meal without asking how much it cost."

Hiroaki frowned some as he glanced at Ooi, "And... what about Yuuko-Chan?"

Twisting around, Harry smiled a little, "She's perfectly safe as I made sure to mention, more than once, that she treated me as her Otouto well before finding out how much I had. It prevents people from thinking of her or Rika-Nee as gold diggers. The fact that they also have a relationship before now? It also says the same thing." He turned towards Ooi and gave her a small smile, "You did great there, by the way. Most of them were likely convinced that I had already started training you in how to act."

Confused, Ooi blinked some, "But... all I was doing was copying what you were doing. And paying attention to what my Captains and such were advising."

With a small shrug, the wizard grinned a bit, "And that was all that was needed." Pausing for a moment, Harry had a thoughtful look on his face, "Um, speaking of Hiroaki-San... I would be on the look out for the next few weeks."

At that, Kitakami focused on him, "And why do my parents need to be on the look out?"

Scratching his neck, Harry gave a sheepish grin, "Well... it is obvious that they know me and are on good terms with me. Someone who has quite a lot of money... and also was willing to learn how to act around money. That means that his boss and such will likely start looking towards him to handle higher level clients and such, so... there might be some promotions in the future."

Kitakami and her parents widened their eyes at that, before Shigemi slumped a bit in her seat, "Oh."

With a small shrug, Harry chuckled, "Sorry about that."

However, Hiroaki simply held his wife's hand and smiled a little, "Don't be." His frown returned and he gave Harry a look, "And Yuuko-Chan's... gene donors?"

Expression gaining a cold smirk, the teenage boy had a dark look in his eyes, "Quite the opposite from you and they will likely regret this day for a very long time." Seeing the looks, Harry shrugged, "I didn't actually do anything to them, just gave them the rope. They were the ones who tied it as a noose around their necks and flung one end over the rafters. All they really had to do was to either keep their mouths shut, or better, not show up at all. But they were the ones who decided that their pride and spite was more important than anything else."

Dark expression on her face, Ooi grimaced, "That is my parents in a nutshell. If they think that they are higher up than you, they will do what they can to make it bad for you if you do something to anger them.'

With a sigh, Harry shook his head, "Hai, and I know people like that because that was how the Dursleys were. But to everyone there? They just proved that to them so their reputations were torn apart by their own hands. I very much doubt that they will be much of an issue going forward from this point on." Taking a deep breath, he relaxed a little more, "I'm just thankful that I was paying attention when Mikasa-Obaa-Chan, Kongou-Oba, Tōgō-Ojii-San, and the others were teaching me things."

All three shipgirls could feel members on their bridges raising their eyebrows as their eyes widened. Soon after, the conversation turned to other things as the van continued back to where Kitakami's family lived.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Matter Of Official Governmental Concern

23 July 2014

J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.

"The light still shone in the dark, a beacon, drawing him forward to the edge of the map, the place where the cartographer might mark "here there be dragons." -- Dennis Detwiller, Delta Green: Denied to the Enemy

Some weeks, Alondra David reflected, it did not pay to get out of bed in the mornings.

Spoiler: The Fall Of The Statute


Thanks to the significant uptick in her responsibilities as the Statute of Secrecy collapsed, she was reasonably certain that when she finally made it home to sleep in her own bed, as opposed to catnaps in the office or en-route to a field assignment, that her Siamese cat would be calling 911 to report a stranger doing a home invasion break-in. At least the neighbor was feeding and changing the litter for poor Diana along with putting the mail on her kitchen table at last report.

Worst of all from her point of view was that while the rubble had finally stopped bouncing a bit from the Kingsport Raid , her primary contact on the magic side of things had been last seen bleeding out when 'Tina' had teleported 'Del' and 'Emma', who wasn't even human, to parts unknown to get treatment after being stabilized. Granted, Alondra mused as she double checked her briefing notes, she wasn't exactly human either as a Natural-Born shipgirl, but still. The Delta Green Special Situation Group was going to have kittens when they got briefed in about that minor little factoid.

And guess who would be doing the briefing to give the bad news to the SSG. She would sooner prefer to be shot at by Abyssals like her sisters and cousins running convoys through the warzones that the oceans were. At least torpedoes and shells would hurt a lot less, she was certain.

And that was not counting the news that had just hit her desk this morning about a missing cargo plane containing a extremely valuable cargo over Africa. While details were sketchy and the South Africans were apparently running around in circles, Alondra was grimly convinced that if it was a theft versus a horrible accident someplace out of the way, that this had 'magic' fingerprints all over it. It was a matter of time, she mused as she drank her fourth cup of Navy coffee to wake up, before some bright criminal mage decided to do something major.

Still, she had her duty and her oath. With that thought she locked and secured her briefcase in her hold and checked her appearance one last time. Would not do to look bad for the firing squad, after all.

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

Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C.

Spoiler: Briefing the Principals


Alondra waited patiently for the two shipgirls standing guard at the security checkpoint to clear her. After scanning her hull and her ID, USS Montauk gave her a small smile. Beside her older sister, USS Lehigh watched the corridor with her twin eleven-inch Dahlgrens loaded with grapeshot to serve as a last line of defense for the Executive Branch officials inside. With a rustle of blue wool from her Civil-war era uniform, Montauk smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. "All clear Pillsbury. Good luck in there with the briefing."

"Fair winds and following seas," Alondra said politely as she stepped through the checkpoint and waited for the door to unlock for her.

Inside the briefing room her eyes widened briefly as she automatically read the rank of the man at the head of the table. Four stars, Marine uniform. General Jones, National Security Advisor to the President. SecState French, CIA Director Jackson, and Attorney General Zigler were present too.

Fuck me. It's the Principals.

She sat down and waited to be called. That helped with the weakness in her knees at least.

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

Spoiler: Delta Green


"Special Agent David, what is the status of DELTA GREEN?" The words that she had been dreading to hear were uttered. She stood as she removed her briefing notes from her hold, marched to the podium and took a deep breath.

"Domestically we cracked a Scourer cell base based out of Shreveport, Louisiana and they have been remanded to the courts on domestic terrorism, illegal firearms, and narcotics charges. Also my counterpart at NRO," She nodded to the pale-skinned man sitting behind the CIA director who had the look of someone who got his tans via constant CRT monitor exposure, "has managed to ID and map several known and suspected areas of magical distortion from overheads. Their spells that ward off direct observation also blur satellite images, but he is confident that he can program in the overheads to look for the distortion. So even if we can't see what is under the veil, he can show us where their warded areas are and are not. These observed distortions also coincide with the data we got from the most recent SAMSON document pass. That is the good news."

Her lips thinned as the room grew hushed. "The bad news is that MACUSA and the ICW are apparently losing control of some elements on their side of the fence and it is slopping over onto us. They are overextended and underresourced lots of places and are constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul with their troubleshooters. The ICW barely managed to prevent the spirit of the Battle of Verdun from breaking loose and eating a chunk of Europe. And on our side of the oceans, we had our own recent near-miss. Specifically MACUSA had a group in an ocean-side village in Maine called Kingsport who were using magical means to control Abyssal movements."

A babble of voices sounded in shock. only to be cut off by Jones. "Proceed, Agent David." He ordered in his gravely voice.

"Yes sir." She responded. "Fortunately our allies on the magical side got wind of that and we organized a joint operation to shut it down. Which we did, with no deaths on our side or theirs and all the perps arrested. My shipgirl backup had to hold off the Abyssals from storming ashore to butcher their way through town until the more modern girls could arrive and secure the area though. I shall formally recommend them for the Presidential Unit Citation in the final report."

Awed whistles and mutters greeted the next slide, shot as the Great White Fleet had been medevaced to Boston. A double file of shipgirls were saluting the exhausted and bloody bodies being carried past on stretchers to the waiting helicopters. "Delaware was worst off with everything forward of her conning tower blown to hell when a shell hit her fore magazine, but all of them are down-checked for at least a month. I have the complete injury files with me and also they have been forwarded through Navy channels as per normal."

General Jones leaned forward in his chair. "Send me a copy of their AAR. I'll review it then speak to the President. That looks to be as desperate as Tarawa or Fox Hill at Frozen Chosin."

"Yes sir! But Kingsport was a blow to us as well. Asset SAMSON was the lead agent for the friendly magicals and bought time for the shipgirls to land and deploy." The slide shifted to Zamarad and Delilah's unmoving bodies. "This is SAMSON and another magical only known as Emma. The good news is that they were part of a larger network of dissidents, it is unclear how large or how much support they have. SAMSON's #2 did make contact with me in the process of evacing her cell leader, but we are losing insight into MACUSA at the worst possible time. They plan a coverup to our involvement to stop a panic in MACUSA but we don't know how effective that will be, although we did evacuate most of the town to one of the safe havens on our side."

Alondra sighed, "Also, we had a graphic demonstration of what we don't know about Magic hurting us. Before she went down, this is what Emma was doing." The slide flipped to video of the dragon of flame that was Zamarad producing shocked mutters and expressions of disbelief. "Apparently Emma is... was... a Middle Eastern fire spirit, a jinn. Nonhuman, sentient, and capable of controlling flame and the source of the genie legends. That is her after she tripped a magical booby-trap the cultists in Kingsport had to torch their document storage."

Attorney General Zigler muttered, "That sure as fuck ain't the genie from Aladdin," producing chuckles from the room.

"No sir." Alondra agreed. "And the only point of contact I have now for SAMSON's network is the emergency panic number she gave me six years ago. Also although our data is preliminary, the missing -141 bullion shipment over Africa may be magic related. Certainly if it was a hijacking instead of a crash, the thieves would have a far easier time laundering the bullion through the magical banks, which are unregulated, still on the gold standard, and very lax in scanning for illicit deposits from what we know. Then take 'clean' gold from them and fence it. And once the Statute cracks enough, that can work for our own criminal elements such as the cartels, terrorism networks, cultists... probably not the Scourers though."

CIA Director Jackson winced as he spoke. "Plus hostile three letter agencies of course. I'll give orders to forward anything unusual that turns up to your liaison in Langley. Barney, any word from South Africa diplomatically?"

Barney French shook his head. "Just the usual request for Boeing and the FAA to review maintenance logs and telemetry, plus a BOLO for any large shipments of bullion appearing. They are outraged since they need the arms shipment to defend themselves and this sets them back badly. I'm supposed to talk to Ambassador De Klerk to work out a loan and longer-term payment plan and can push for sending the data they have to DELTA GREEN and the FBI as a bargaining point."

"Good, we need to keep the Cape of Good Hope as an outpost for when we start to push into the South Atlantic and IO." Jones agreed. "Good briefing, Agent. Try to make contact with the remnants of SAMSON's network and get what intel they have, since we need eyes on MACUSA more than ever."

Alondra saluted and then returned to her seat as the next briefer was called.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Humming a little, Supprin adjusted her glasses with one hand while the other caught a glob of red glowing Abyssal metal from the mouth of her rigging. Metal that she proceeded to shape around a large, tall hollow shell. Looking over her shoulder, she raised an eyebrow at the Captain of the Royal Australian Navy that was there watching with several other personnel and cameras set up, "Does this bother you?"

The man in question just scratched his head a little, "Well... I'm not sure that bother is quite the word that I would use, Ma'am. What with everything and such." Glancing at the others, he shook his head, "Just that what we heard about the process is, well... not quite this?"

With a slow nod, Supprin gave him a slight smile as she added another layer of metal, "I'm not too surprised with that as what you're talking about is... ascensions in the wild, as it were. And that is often different depending on the Abyssal." Still working the metal despite the heat, she considered the thought for a few moments, "It can take many different forms in the wild. For example, in the case of when a Wo-Class becomes a Demon or Princess, their hat will seem to engulf them entirely, tentacles wrapping around them and solidifying while the hat grows big enough to cover their body, forming a shell. Inside of which, like an insect chrysalis, the Abyssal transforms."

Eyebrow raised, one of the Lieutenants frowns, "What about others? I mean... from what I read in that report the Destroyer Princess with the Fleet of Laughter sort of burst from her old body..."

Supprin chuckled a little at that with a slight smile, "That is true enough actually. But that is because the Destroyer was big enough to contain the forming body of the Princess or Demon that they were transforming into. Once the rest is consumed... the new Princess or Demon will burst out. There is an issue with all these, however." At the looks of interest, she continued, "The resulting Abyssal often times is weaker than one ascended by an Installation as they need to consume much of their old body for energy."

Grimacing, the RAN Captain shook his head, "Sounds... unpleasant, really."

In reply, Supprin merely shrugged with a slight chuckle, "And I'll admit that some aspects of human growth sound unpleasant to me as well. Puberty seems so unnecessary with all the trouble it causes. But..." She gave a small shrug again, while her thoughts turned to other matters, 'Of course, with Percy such things will be needed to be dealt with. But at least I shall not be alone in such.'

Minutes passed as she continued to work at her project until she was done. At that moment, the door opened and Tsuzie walked in somewhat nervously, "Um, Lady Supprin? I-I'm ready."

Finished with her work, the Supply Depot Princess straightened and walked over. Placing a hand on Tsuzie's shoulder, she smiled at her, "Relax, Tsuzie. Everything will be fine, trust me on that. You'll go to sleep inside as the work is done for a couple of hours and then wake up as..." A slight chuckle escaped from the Princess for a moment, "Feeling like a brand new Abyssal."

Underneath her helmet, Tsuzie had a slight blush on her cheeks before she took a deep breath, "Y-yes, that is true enough..."

Catching sight of her fiddling with something, Supprin raised an eyebrow though her tone was gentle, "Tsuzie? Is there something that you want?"

Shifting a bit, the Tsu-Class seemed utterly embarrassed and mortified before she held up a device, "I-I, um... I was won-wondering if I could listen to... some music and... and..."

More amused than anything else, Supprin looked at the object, which were a type of speakers designed to transmit sound clearly through metal as well as an MP3 player. Something that she nodded at as normal earphones didn't work with the type of helmet that a Tsu-Class wore normally. However, the Supply Depot Princess gave a small nod at that, "I don't see anything wrong with that, Tsuzie. Quite the opposite as sometimes I enjoy listening to music as I work." Lips twitching a little, she snickered, "Though personally I prefer dubstep to songs by Naka."

In reply, Tsuzie placed her face in her massive hands with a soft whine, "Lady Supprin..."

Unable to help herself, the Princess gave a chuckle before gently ushering Tsuzie over to the hollow object, "Sorry, Tsuzie, but you really are too cute when you do that. You need more confidence." Gently, she picked up the Tsu-Class and deposited her inside the hollow object before taking a table and placing it next to metal. Then, she attached the speakers and turned on the MP3 before going to work sealing the Abyssal inside, "Now... just relax, it will be over with soon."

Tsuzie simply nodded and shifted a bit to get more comfortable as the object's top was closed and light cut off. Using her hands, Supprin molded the metal until the top was closed and revealed it to look like an egg, after which she sealed it fully. She asked the Abyssal inside if she was ready, and Tsuzie's voice could be heard muffled by the metal, "I'm ready..."

With a nod, Supprin took a deep breath and let it out, "Then... let's begin."

From the mouth of her rigging, several things that looked like fleshy tentacles extended and writhed in the air for a few moments before with a sound, long needles of Abyssal metal extended from them. As quick as striking snakes, they shot forwards and the needles punched through the shell of the egg with veins soon extending across the surface. Finally, bulges began to move along the tentacles until they met the egg. Glancing at his Captain, the RAN Lieutenant grimaced a little, 'That... looks and sounds disgusting...'

Meanwhile, inside the egg, Tsuzie looked around though she couldn't see anything as it was cramped. But she could feel it slowly filling up with some sort of warm, viscous liquid. As it rose higher and higher, she could feel an odd tingling sensation wherever it touched her body. It wasn't painful, not exactly, but still strange and somewhat disturbing just the same. Finally, it reached her neck and she took a deep breath as it rose upwards, the air being pumped out at the same time.

And then, it covered her head entirely and Tsuzie released her breath.

Briefly, she felt panic as the fluid she was in filled her lungs and the tingles spread there, seeming going through out her body. Yet, at the same time, she felt herself falling asleep even as sparks filled the chamber she was in. Her last action was humming along to the song she could hear being sung by Naka as her consciousness faded.

Outside the egg, Supprin was quiet for a few moments before opening her eyes, "And done, she's now asleep and the transformation can be begun." Looking towards the camera, she nodded, "The first step will be that her rigging will slowly dissolve in the fluid she now sits in, the material being used for her transformation along with the umbilical cables that I've attached. Her internal structure as well will soften until all that is left is her core, which will have the new body form around it."

Disturbed expression on his face, one of the RAN personnel shuddered, "The way that you're saying it, it almost sounds like she's being... digested in there."

Cocking her head to the side, Supprin frowned a little in thought, "That... may not be as far off as you might think. Still, not quite. But it will still take some time nonetheless and there's no pain either."

Now truly disturbed, the humans there looked at one another.

However, Supprin didn't notice, nor really care all that much as she was overseeing the process and taking notes. Partly because of her own research into the issue of the Wa-class. By studying the process that caused a "Normal" Abyssal to become a Princess or Demon, perhaps she could use that to transform any captured Wa-Class into another type. Already, she had a few ideas for that and which could allow for them to have somewhat "Normal" lives afterwards. One was to convert them into Oku-Class, which was likely the easiest and less intensive method. But there were issues due to the fact that part of their bodies would remain inhuman.

Another idea that she had was to convert them into radar pickets with their holds transformed into operation centres. On the one hand, it was more intensive and would use up a lot of materials. After all, they would be rebuilding most of their bodies due to the damage that the flesh and blood took in the process of becoming Wa-Class. But on the other hand, from the sketches that her and Wanko had come up with, they would look almost human and with light weaponry, there was less issue of them causing damage if they had an episode. They could also operate with human navies to provide radar coverage if they did not want to stay with Wanko.

It helped as well as Supprin was able to create variations on the idea. Such as a Meteorological ship which could make weather reports as the radar would be effective there, and another that could act as a radio relay ship. Once more, it made the humans happy by keeping those who had suffered out of the war. Neither Supprin nor Wanko minded much as well as they never liked the Wa-Class, it made the humans thankful to them, and also gave them a few advantages as well. All in all, a win-win situation for them.

The hours, meanwhile, ticked on with the RAN personnel switching out. Every so often, Supprin answered questions as she continued to work on Tsuzie. And inside the shell, the structure of the former Tsu-Class changed bit by bit under the Princess's guidance. Her form reshaping under Supprin's metaphysical hands. During the process, Supprin used the knowledge that she had gotten from both Wanko and Hoppou to make changes that would improve Tsuzie's effectiveness even more than a bog standard Light Cruiser Demon's.

Supprin had not been kidding when she told Tsuzie that as far as she was concerned, she trusted the Light Cruiser above the others. As she worked, she thought back to the day just a month into the war when she found Tsuzie nearly dead. At the time, Supprin had been unsure and considered simply mercy killing her before scrapping the body for needed supplies. But, at the same time, she had needed a little more firepower but had not the supplies nor time to construct anything more than the odd Destroyer or PT Imp. And those were not effective at protecting her to her dismay and sadness whenever another Abyssal killed one of her protectors when they stood beside her.

It wasn't much of an issue, therefore, to rebuild the nearly sunk Abyssal. Worst case, she was out some supplies if she turned on her with being able to retrieve what she could when she sunk said betrayer. Somewhat better was the fact that it was not one of hers if someone attacked her and the Tsu got sunk. On the best side? She would have a good sized force and give her time to construct something better.

Almost as soon as the Tsu Class woke up, however, she had been thankful and asked to join her fleet. It took a few months to fully gain her trust, but Supprin had found out how she had been so damaged though she remembered to this day how the other Abyssal had cringed and seemed to curl into herself when asked. And the reason, not much to Supprin's surprise, was at the hands of her own fleet.

What had happened was that the Tsu had been a fan of human music and collected examples or listened to the human radio. In fact, it had been her to introduce Supprin to dubstep. But her fleet found out about her little hobby and her Princess had her punished. Mainly by having her fleet literally beat her nearly to death while setting fire to her music collection in front of her. As a final insult, said Princess destroyed her radio equipment and also used her talons to destroy her ear drums before setting her adrift in a crippled state until Supprin had found her before healing her.

Much to her shock, Supprin didn't care that she liked human music. As long as it did not affect her combat effectiveness and duties, the Supply Depot Princess gave her full permission to gather human music and listen to her heart's content. Ever since, she had been loyal. She had not minded when Supprin sent her out on expeditions to gather supplies. Going to abandoned and somewhat wrecked human oil rigs, standing guard while Submarines pumped out the oil from wrecks, landing on shore to go through destroyed human towns for scrap steel and the like. Not once did she complain about it and even seemed to enjoy it. Mainly because she found human radios and batteries as well as various forms of music from vinyl records, to cassettes, to CDs. All of which she enjoyed greatly much to Supprin's amusement as said Princess saw it as a small thing not to worry about.

Granted, Supprin always got first pick when it came to dubstep music.

Once the Supply Depot Princess manages to get enough materials together for Neptune, things shifted a little with said Heavy Cruiser becoming the Heavy Hitter of her fleet. That said, Tsuzie (as she had named her much to the happiness of the Tsu-Class) became more her secretary of sorts. although she still lead expeditions. Often, poor Tsuzie had to deal with Neptune's antics regarding video games, while around the same time the Light Cruiser became a real fan of Naka's music.

Much to Supprin's relief, both Tsuzie and Neptune had been away when Wanko had shown up to force the Supply Depot Princess to capitulate to her. Supprin was less relieved when, a day later, both were nearly killed mounting a rescue operation for her. Thankfully, Wanko took it in good humour and told her that it spoke well of her that said Cruisers risked their lives for her. It said much about how she treated her fleet.

Which was why, now, she had little trouble with adding as much as she could to Tsuzie to make her capable in her new life despite what it did to her supplies. Better radar and fire directors, much improved guns and AA. Even upgraded engines that would improve her efficiency as well as speed alongside a sonar suite. All of this Supprin put into her loyal Cruiser.

Roughly twenty four hours had elapsed, which was far less than the weeks or months it could take for an ascension to happen on its own, when Supprin opened her eyes with a tired smile, "It's done, Tsuzie is ready."

Looking up from where she sat in a beanbag chair with a handheld game and a bowl of chips, Neptune gave a cheer, "Alright! Finally!" At the look she got, however, she flinched, "Um, sorry... oh Nep..."

Simply deciding to ignore that, Supprin placed a hand against the shell of the egg as she retracted the tentacles from it and back into her rigging as she smiled and various RAN personnel watched and recorded, "It's time, Tsuzie, to reveal your new self to the world."

Inside the egg, two glowing blue eyes slowly opened before they blinked. Outside, those there watched as the egg rocked back and forth a little until there was a sharp, cracking sound. Everyone could see the crack that spread across the surface and leaked out fluid. A crack soon joined by another one and then another. Until a hand clad in black Abyssal metal and tipped with talons burst out. For a few moments it moved and clenched until it retreated into the egg as fluid poured from the hole. Another hole was punched soon after and, finally, the entire egg burst open and Tsuzie fell out coughing and hacking.

More than one member of the RAN looked away with a blush though as Supprin helped her to her feet as it was obvious that she was naked. Coughing a bit, Tsuzie puked out some of the fluid. About to speak, she paused as she noticed her new hands and arms, "Lady Supprin...?!" Her eyes widened as she took note of her new, softer voice which had a slight musical lilt to it. Bringing her hand to her throat, she blinked, "I..."

Drying her off, Supprin took note of her new form before smiling, "Good, everything seems about right. And if you're wondering about your voice, that is probably because of the sonar unit."

Just blinking, the reborn Tsuzie nodded slowly, "Oh."

Lips twitching, the Princess nodded before clearing her throat, "Try summoning your rigging, your new outfit should appear at the same time."

A blush appeared on Tsuzie's face as she realized that she was naked and with an "eep", she closed her eyes as summoned her new rigging for the first time. Everyone watched as she was covered in blue sparkles, though some of them noted her hair moving. Once they disappeared, everyone blinked a bit at her appearance. For her part, Tsuzie looked around, "So how do I look?"

Somewhat bemused at what she was seeing, Supprin brought out a large mirror and placed it, "You look rather nice, though you can see for yourself."

Unsure, Tsuzie steeled herself and floated forward before gasping at what she saw. In the mirror it was obvious that her rigging was that of a Light Cruiser Demon, if a bit more streamlined than most others. She also had a lot more AA than normal, but that was not what caught her attention.

Rather, it was how her new "Body" looked.

Bringing up one taloned hand, she placed a finger tip to her cheek with her eyes wide. Currently, her hair was done up in an odango style, yet quite a bit flowed down her back in a silky black waterfall. Her face, however, greatly resembled Naka's, even more than most Light Cruiser Demons did. So much so, part of her mused, that if you stood her next to said shipgirl, you might well think them sisters. Swallowing, Tsuzie took a deep breath before clearing her throat and singing some, "Two and four, and eleven~" Gasping happily, she giggled a little and launched into another song which took a few minutes, "Oh, I'm walking on sunshine~ whoa-whoa, and I'm feeling good!"

Arms crossed, Supprin hummed to herself as she glanced at the MP3 player, 'I wonder if the music had anything to do with it...?' She was brought out of her thoughts as Tsuzie bounced in place as she turned, which made her realize that said Light Cruiser had a bit of... bounce in other places, 'Huh... That will catch some attention and is different from Miss Naka...'

Meanwhile, Tsuzie dismissed her rigging revealing long, shapely legs with her skirt stopping at a quarter of the way down her thighs. Her feet and lower legs was covered in armoured boots which extended into thigh-highs. Happily smiling, the former Tsu-Class hugged her Princess, "Thank you, Lady Supprin! Thank you so much!"

Softly smiling, the Supply Depot Princess patted her on the back, "You're very welcome, Tsuzie. And remember, you deserve this." Stepping back a bit, she gave a nod, "Now... let's begin testing all your systems, shall we?"

In reply, Tsuzie grinned brightly as she snapped into a salute, "Yes, Ma'am!"

___________________________________________________________________


Roughly four hours later, Supprin arrived before a giant, wooden door. Bringing up one fist, she knocked and waited for a few moments before Wanko's voice came through, "You may... come in." When she walked in, Wanko blinked a little before smiling, "Ah, I was... expecting you. The ascension has... gone well then...?"

A small smile on her face, Supprin nodded, "It has, as a matter of fact. My Tsuzie is now a fully armed and functional Light Cruiser Demon."

Her own smile growing a touch, Wanko nodded, "That is... very good to... hear. She deserved... it for all... the work that... she has done.

With a slight nod, the Supply Depot Princess chuckled some as she walked up to Wanko's desk, "She does, agreed. I likely would not have been here several times if not for her."

Shaking off that thought, Supprin walked forward and glanced around. Wanko's Office had polished stone floors and glowing lights embedded in the walls. Her desk, meanwhile, was massive and made of wood with a large chair behind it, and a smaller one in front. Unlike Supprin's office, the filing cabinets were filled with designs and research notes, not material sheets. There were also photos on the wall of Harry, Wanko, and Hoppou as well of the Timor Abyssal Fleets.

Taking a seat, Supprin met Wanko's eyes, "Leaving that aside for the moment... have you made a decision on my designs?"

For a few moments, Wanko was quiet before she folded her clawed hands in front of her, "I have reviewed them... and I find them... most interesting. Although I must... ask why you... designed them."

Grimacing, Supprin shook her head, "For much the same reason that I designed any ship, for my protection." Shaking her head, she sighed some, "You know that I have never been as... offensively orientated as most Abyssals. Frankly, I prefer to sit somewhere, fortify, and wait for any enemy to come. So I worked on designs around that purpose." Reaching forward, the Abyssal tapped one of the folders, "The humans all call them 'Coastal Battleships'. An apt name as they're slow, got less range than a Battleship, but the armament and armor of one. Even better, I can actually produce them in my shipyards."

Considering that, the Harbour Princess was silent for a few minutes before she nodded, "I can see how... it would suit... your style of... strategy. However..." Frowning, she gave Supprin a look, "Why have you... not ever... made one before... now?"

That caused Supprin to grimace, "Mainly? It was due to not being able to make them actually work. There was always too many design compromises to make it work and be something that I could build and supply." She waved one gauntleted covered hand around them, "Until, that was, I started working with you and got access to yours and Hoppou's research." Leaning forward, the Supply Depot Princess frowned, "Most Abyssals dropped the 12-inch guns years ago, but both you and Hoppou continued to improve upon the design. And now? You have 12- inch guns that can do nearly as much damage as the old 14-inch! And that is before you factor in the super heavy shells that you came up with!"

Proud, Wanko gave a small nod, "Yes, though it was.... mainly because we could not... abandon those of... our fleet that... still used them." She gave Supprin an amused look, "Though we cannot... take all the... credit. You helped... come up with the... super heavy shell."

However, the other Abyssal Princess waved her off with a slight blush, "It was not that big of a deal... but everything else that you came up with! Better fire directors, better boilers, better armor... even the three inch guns! All of it means that when added in, my design could actually work!"

Slowly, Wanko gave a nod as she looked at the design in front of her, "Yes... six 12-inch guns in double turrets... two fore and one aft... eight 3-inch guns in double turrets... two such turrets on either... side... twenty 40-millimeter guns in doubles... and just as many... 20-millimeters... all in 23,000 tons... that moves at twenty knots."

With a small snort, Supprin shook her head, "I could only do that because of your advances. I don't need them to move fast because they're not meant for anything but defence, but that let me armour them with the best armour you have and enable them to bounce up to fourteen inches because I don't care about the speed or the range."

Chuckling, the Harbour Princess across from her nodded, "Yes, I can see why... and it is a very interesting design... and one less likely to frighten... our human allies. I will approve... of the design." Tilting her head, she frowned, "How fast... can you construct... them?"

Leaning back in her chair, Supprin sucked through her teeth, "I am not like you or Hopppou. At best, one every three months if I have enough supplies. Otherwise, one every six." She grimaced a little, "If the reports are true, and I hope that it is just someone's imagination, than she has survived. And if so, we need to set up as many defences as we can for when she comes for us all."

Expression dark, Wanko nodded, "Yes, that is... true. But if Sub-Continental... survived... you are right... we must prepare alongside... the humans for the... storm that will break." Looking through the folders, she brought one out and opened it, "We shall get to... the small Cruisers... in a moment. But I wished... to talk to you about... this one."

Lost, the other Princess leaned over and blinked, "That old thing? It was one of my first designs back when I was considering building a Coastal Battleship. I plugged away at it out of boredom once I joined you, no other reason. A bit of a beast really, seventeen thousand tons, pretty well armoured, four fourteen inch guns in two doubles, eight three inch guns in doubles as well... top speed of eighteen knots. I considered it for myself, but... not really worth it." Frown on her face, she shook her head, "Twin turrets means quite a bit of dispersion on the shells. And up armouring it to handle its own shells would probably place it around nineteen thousand tons. A lot of trouble."

Not saying anything for a few moments, Wanko finally gave a hum, "That is very true... but perhaps we... can share the design... with someone else? One of... our allies... perhaps?"

Frowning herself, Supprin furrowed her eyebrows, "Maybe? But who would actually be able to make use for it-" Suddenly, she paused and became thoughtful before smiling a little as she remembered one Installation she met the previous Christmas, "Actually... there might be one who might be really interested in it..."

Raising an eyebrow, Wanko listener and soon had a slight smirk on her own face, "Allow for me... to talk to... some people first. We can see... if it would be... possible to pass on... the designs to her." Getting a nod, she pulled out another folder, "For now, I wish... to speak to you... about my design... for a Cruiser Killer... as we may be... in need of such... soon enough..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Matter Of Muffins And Butter

Ryorijin Bakery, Nerima, Japan

23 July 2014
Spoiler: Breakfast At Suisei's Bakery

The bell over the door chimed as Ehren du Chasteler made her way into the family bakery. Involuntarily, she licked her lips at the smell of fresh-baked bread and pastries hot from the oven as she shook the rain from her umbrella before hanging it on the offered rack.

"{Hello, can we help you?}" The young man at the cash register asked politely in Japanese as she walked inside.

Ehren smiled inwardly as the translation spell finally managed to make links. She spoke slowly in her rehearsed Japanese. "{Coffee and a muffin, please.}" Her nose informed her of the fruit in the muffins in question and she allowed her inward smile to manifest. "{Make that two muffins, apple if possible. Also if Aunt Suisei is here, please let her know that her niece Ehren stopped by to visit.}"

Ehren's dark blue skirt rustled as she seated herself at an open table. She smiled inwardly at the reflection of the prim and proper maiden in the creamy cotton starched blouse looking back at her. She then arranged her silverware precisely In Ordnung before she poured the regulation half package of sweetener and one spoonful of creamer into her coffee.

"Ehren! It's good to see you!" Her aunt's voice sounded from the door to the kitchen. Ehren's sharp eyes noticed that Suisei had flour covering her hands to the elbow as the dagger looked over at the tanto. "Give me a bit, I need to finish this melon bread."

Ehren spoke politely. "It is no problem, Aunt Suisei. Duty before pleasure and I have the day off."

Suisei smiled in relief and then ducked back out of sight. "Thank you. I'll be there as soon as I can!"

Ehren smiled slightly internally and then returned to watching the pedestrians walking through the morning rain shower. The smile reached her lips as her muffins arrived.

The muffins, in fact, were excellent; hot and steaming. In Ehren's opinion, they were perfect with a dab of butter to complement the apple in the dough and the cinnamon topping. Ehren's eyes half-lidded in bliss and she smiled like a content cat as she savored the taste.

Presently Suisei bustled out of the working area. Still with her hair up in a bun and wearing a cat-patterned apron, she smiled as she approached the table. "I didn't expect to see you today, dear."

Ehren smiled. "We did not have anything planned for today so are on our own. Claire is visiting Kensho and Aunt Kyoshu and no doubt giving piano lessons to them both. Mutti had a meeting with someone named Honjo, one of Tokunotakai's sisters."

Suisei plopped herself down in the chair opposite Ehren. "She is, yes. And I suppose you came to visit me?"

Ehren nodded. "Yes... for well two reasons. First off, you mentioned giving me tips on how to protect my family just as you protect yours. Second, I have been accepted at Hogwarts and shall need to disguise what I am while present there. According to Grandmother Norimune and Aunt Akutoku when I asked them you are the best of us all at doing such disguises. This is even more important because I shall be taking classes with eleven and twelve-year old children, while I'm... well...." Ehren gestured at her eighteen-year old avatar.

Suisei grinned smugly. "I can help you with those, yes. Speaking of Nori, how is Delilah? Akutoku," the mildest of the Muramasas made a face, "was Akutoku when I asked her about that. And Nori's not back yet."

Ehren spoke quietly. "The crisis is passed and Aunt Del and Aunt Zamarad are healing from their injuries. I can tell you more in private." Ehren glanced around the partly filled bakery before resuming, "Grandmother Norimune stayed there to be with Del and also speak to Great-Aunt Jezebel. They have much to discuss apparently. According to Aunt Jackie, something happened shortly before Delilah's birth to drive them apart, although I never asked what that was."

Suisei sighed and lowered her voice as she spoke, "Nori was a real mess when I met her for the first time after the Restoration. We didn't know what had happened to her to mess her up like that since she didn't talk about it much. Also we were all messed up in our own ways then so she didn't stand out as much as you might think. Then when her daughters showed up, well, we only got part of the picture from them. And as for you and your sister, just names until we met you at the beach house."

Ehren nodded, "Well I'll fill you in on what little I know, although I'm the youngest child so know the least, I suppose. Claire knows more since she has been with Mutti since 1873. That said, I come bearing a gift to get information out of Claire."

"Oh?" Suisei asked curiously.

Ehren smirked and handed over a folded set of handwritten papers. "The recipe for Claire's favorite Apfelstrudel Viennese dessert pastries. I also included Mutti's favorite Belgian Waffle recipe. That is a family one that she ate as a girl in the 18th Century. While we were tending to Delilah, I hopped back to Moulbaix and made a copy from Kasuyu's cookbook; he is Mutti's butler -- in a sense."

Suisei's eyes gleamed as she made the papers vanish in her pocket. She then surveyed her grandniece and spoke with quiet pride in her voice. "Cunning, underhanded, and subtle. Just like us daggers should be."

Ehren raised her coffee cup in salute then spoke, "I confess I enjoyed these apple cinnamon muffins greatly myself. My compliments to the baker."

Suisei grinned. "I'll make you a copy of that recipe along with the next batch I do up today. Ehren, just enjoy your breakfast and I'll get someone to take over after the rush is over and I have time."

Ehren smiled in agreement. "You may want to brew another pot of this excellent coffee as well, Aunt Suisei. I am not human until I have my third cup and I shall be here until you call for me."
-------------------------

A hour and a half later (and two more apple cinnamon muffins and four cups of coffee savored), Ehren had settled the bill and was humming Der Hohenfriedberger Marsch to herself as she sipped the last of the most recent cup of coffee.

"All ready for you now, Ehren!" Suisei called, and Ehren stood, automatically straightening her blouse and skirt as she replaced the chair precisely under the table and placed her cup back on the saucer.

"Sehr gut, Aunt Suisei." Ehren said as she made her way through the now-deserted cafe portion of the bakery to her waiting aunt.

As they walked along a narrow corridor then headed up a flight of stairs, Suisei spoke. "You mentioned Kasuyu, he does all the cooking for your family?"

Ehren chuckled, "Oh no, Mutti insisted that we all learn to cook and clean and look after ourselves. We must learn how to serve and obey before we can be trusted to lead. Mutti is not too proud to cook meals for us all." She paused, "We live in a castle and while it was designed to have servants, magic does help with that enough so we can get by. We took in Miho and her children Misaki and Chihoro as well and they are acting as additional staff while we help them integrate into the muggle world." For a brief second Ehren scowled murderously. "What was done to them and the other Jorogumo is not right at all."

Suisei paused then spoke quietly. "I lost one of my Mistress' sons to a Jorogumo in the 1750s so... there were reasons they were hunted and penned. According to Chisuheri, the worst of them are long dead and the survivors are much less violent but...."

Ehren placed a hand on her aunt's shoulder and squeezed. "I can relate. I lost my Vati before I manifested."

Suisei leaned into the touch for a moment. They then walked down the hall at the top of the stairs, pausing so Suisei could exchange hugs and words of introduction with members of her family as they passed her. Ehren watched, her eyes prickling and her lips quivering a little as she for an instant saw her own blond form in the place of her aunt, sharing those family bonds with Ying and Claire's children.

And... perhaps even hers? A voice whispered in the stillness of her soul, making her eyes ache a little more.
Spoiler: Ehren's Journey Into The Soul

Finally at the end of the corridor, Suisei slid the screen open and walked into the small bedroom. Ehren followed, smiling at the tidy, orderly layout, with cookbooks shelved above a small desk, a futon neatly stored, and some photographs and ink-brush paintings both magical and nonmagical of Suisei and some of her family members. Ehren's lips quirked as she saw a newly framed one showing her, her mother and her sister Claire in their swimsuits at the Beach house with the rest of the Muramasas.

Suisei removed her true body from someplace on her torso and racked it on her desk. "Now, may I see your true form, Ehren?"

Ehren twitched her wrist to release herself from the forearm sheath that she was in today. She then handed herself over hilt-first.

Suisei examined her with a small smug smile. "Nice balance for throwing, very nice enchantment work, especially with the self-repair and protection charms."

Suisei then knelt in seiza on the floor of her room and placed Ehren's form on the mat in front of her. "Sit here in front of me."

Ehren complied and looked into her aunt's blue eyes. The elder Muramasa spoke in a calm and soothing voice, "Now, Ehren, close your eyes and concentrate on your body. Feel every sinew, every muscle and gush of blood that makes up your avatar."

Ehren did, gradually falling into herself as her breathing became deeper and more regular and her pulse slowed. Then Suisei spoke once more, still in that calm voice, "Now picture your true body floating before your closed eyes. Feel the steel, the air brushing your point and edges, the weight of your hilt and pommel. Feel it as it is as much you as the body and blood that your avatar is."

In Ehren's mind's eye, her SS-Ehrendolch self formed, floating there as she contemplated herself. "Yessss~" Ehren breathed, "I see myself~~".

"Good, now see the younger you who you wish to become as a mask over that which you truly are reach out her hand and take your hilt as the older you fades into invisibility and lets her step forward." Suisei said in that hypnotic voice as Ehren's eyes twitched in the trance that she had been put in as she probed her spirit.

Ehren breathed in and out deeply and suddenly she was there. A younger her, perhaps twelve years old, with her hair up in twintails and dressed in the blue skirt, white shortsleeved blouse and black neckerchief of the Jungmädelbund formed and reached for her hilt.

And as her eyes slowly opened, she saw that young girl's hand grasping her true self as her aunt looked at her with pride in her smug smile.
Spoiler: Young Ehren

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Butterknife Who Came In Out Of The Cold

23 July 2014

J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.
Spoiler: A Mysterious Number

Alondra David frowned at the message that she had just gotten on secure email from her contact in Fort Meade and swore under her breath. Naturally she was not going to hit the panic number if there was any other course, so she had ran a trace.

The first thing she found with her search warrant was that AT&T told her that the number 212-335-4524 had been established in 1947 when the three digit area code 212 had been assigned to Manhattan. And had not issued a call once in the last 67 years according to their records. No outbound traffic, nothing, just a scattering of telemarketer calls that went straight to voicemail, apparently and a bank account at JP Morgan that paid the bills religiously in full every first of the month rain or shine.

Assuming that there was even a voicemail to be picked up since the damn number had apparently been installed before Alondra's father had emigrated from Brazil. Hell her original hull was still afloat then!

Curious, and armed with an authorization letter from On High to contact the SAMSON Network, Alondra had called her contact in No Such Agency to do some serious digging with the best electronic surveillance gear and techs that the most powerful nation on Earth could buy. Alondra had gotten back what the spooks knew of the mystery number.

Bupkis.

They could tell her that it was a telephone somewhere in Manhattan, which did not exactly narrow down the possibilities any.

Well, Alondra admitted to herself, the person on the other end was one paranoid sonofabitch to dig the rabbit hole this deep and pull it in after themselves.

Nothing for it.

Alondra looked out the window at the late-night lights of DC and then flipped open her cell phone and plugged it into the recording system to monitor the call. "Right, here goes nothing."

Her thumb moved across the keypad of her phone, tapping in the number she had been given.

212-335-4524

Her phone began to ring.
---------------------------

Subbasement 37F, MACUSA Headquarters, Woolworth Building, Manhattan
Spoiler: Making a Connection

A humanoid figure bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Maschinenmensch of Fritz Lang's 1927 science-fiction black and white film Metropolis stirred in the dusty room.

Charms and sigils flickered from the headset that was a sculpted part of the art deco robot as the spells crafted into it decades before sensed the purpose of the caller on the other end of the line. It jerkily moved its arm in a parody of human movement. One steel hand, glimmering with charmwork picked up a copper cable wrapped in fabric insulation attached to the plug board of the switchboard it was assigned to manage.

The plug slid into place and mechanical stepping switches clicked and whirred to life as the call was routed forward.

J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.

Alondra stared at her cell phone as it emitted odd clicks and whirs. "What the hell is that noise?" she asked the room. Then her memories from the 1940s surfaced. "Fuck me, that's a old electromechanical switchboard!"
---------------------------

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

Moonlight through the window and firelight from the roaring fireplace glimmered on a pair of nude female figures cuddled together in a heap of arms and legs laying on rumpled bed sheets.

This was the first time that Delilah and Zamarad had felt physically capable of consummating their relationship after their healing, and considering the near-brush with death, both had desperately needed that reassurance. Life, to drive back the darkness they had tarried within.

During the earlier iftar (evening) meal after the sun had set, Zamarad and Delilah had agreed to break the Ifrit's Ramadan fast, which Del followed as a courtesy to her love, in more ways than one.

So following the traditional handful of dates both ate as an opener, they had a more substantial second course of cedar wood, redwood, and white oak (or in Delilah's case New York Strip Medium Rare steak with a large side of Delmonico whipped potatoes with cheese and breadcrumbs for her own comfort food). Then the two had headed back to bed and fallen into each others' arms after locking the door to prevent interruptions.

Unfortunately, they would not be the first nor the last set of lovers to be interrupted by Alexander Graham Bell's most famous invention. The antique phone in Jezebel's study began to ring.

"Damn, who izzit?" Delilah muttered under her breath, untangling herself from Zamarad who was stirring in turn.

Delilah then limped two doors down, waited for the doorknob to draw blood to verify that she was authorized access, then turned the knob and staggered to the phone. Behind her Zamarad followed.

"Winter Secundus here, Prime is out, report." Delilah snapped into the phone as she fished for a pad of paper and a pen to take notes.

J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.
Spoiler: Contact Made

Alondra's eyes widened at the snappish voice of 'Del' on the other end of the line. "Um.. This is Alondra David, Del. How the hell did you live through that?"

"How the fuck did..." Del began then the sound of a palm meeting a face sounded through the cellphone. "Never mind, I gave it to you as a backup. As for the dead part, to quote Mark Twain, 'The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated'. Not to say that it wasn't a damn near-run thing. Um...."

Alondra laughed despite herself, "Regardless it's damn good to hear from you Del. Listen, we need any info you have on the fallout from the last time we worked together."

A deep sigh answered her words, "That's going to be tricky since according to my organization, I'm dead, Alondra. Deceased, gone, KIA, singing in the choir eternal. So I can't show up in the office without blowing the shreds of my cover to hell and back. Also," Delilah paused and mumbled something too softly to hear.

Alondra frowned at the phone. "What was that? I couldn't hear it?"

A pause then Delilah snapped back with heat in her voice. "Mère grounded me from field ops! I'm stuck in the house until she lets me out!"

Alondra blinked and stared at the phone like it had just grown a second head. "Wait wait. You mean to tell me your mother grounded you?"

Something sounding like a cross between a campfire and the Joker sounded in the background as Delilah sighed. "Yes! And I'm geased to sit here on my hands until she lets me out of the house!"

"You've been doing this since the 1930s and you're living with your mother still?" Alondra asked as she fought to keep the grin splitting her face out of her voice.

"1870s actually," Delilah growled, "but she doesn't care that I have been kicking ass for her since then." More mutters under her breath followed.

"How old ARE you?" Alondra asked curiously.

Del sighed, "Old enough to remember Mother taking me to see President Lincoln consecrate the cemetery in 1863."

Alondra stared at the phone in shock. Pieces of info from interacting with Del over the decades flashed through her mind, plus the memory of the antique Civil war-era revolver that 'Tina' had been carrying for Del. The picture they presented was... crazy but fit the facts. "Um, I'd like to talk to you face to face anyway, I still have your Bowie Knife... well and what's left of the shotgun you were using there. Figure you can use it as a trophy."

A long pause, "Um, well fuck, I can't bring you here," Del broke off and audibly drummed her fingers as the campfire laughed again on her end. Finally she spoke again. "Can you make it to Custer, South Dakota?"

Alondra stared at the phone again. "Custer... South Dakota?" She scribbled down a query 'find out where the fuck Custer, South Dakota is' on a Post-it-note.

"Yeah. I have... well... interests out there. And I can make it out there in a few days when I heal up more. Give me a chance to work on Mother and also accumulate as much info as I can. So... say a week from Friday? That would be the First of August." Del said.

"I can do that. Also, if you see Emma, and she's not dead yet either, tell her thanks from me and the shipgirls she bailed out. You two saved about a hundred lives, and when this shit finally sees the light of day, I'll be pushing for the Presidential Medal of Freedom for you both." Alondra said. "I also owe you both a beer for that."

Del sighed, "I'll pass the info along," She broke off and squeaked suddenly, swapping to Arabic. All Alondra caught was Zamarad and something about 'on the desk' before Del came back on, speaking fast. "I'll take you up on that. 7 PM on the First, I'll see you at the Buglin' Bull Restaurant and Bar in Custer. Reservations will be in the name of de Breuil. I have to go now. Bye!"

The phone suddenly hung up, leaving Alondra staring at it. "I wonder what that was about?" She asked the room before switching the recorder off for later analysis and then staring at the post-it note as her faeries recorded the information.
---------------------------

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

"Admit it, Shaelat ruwhi. Making love on your mother's desk without her knowing is a suitable means of revenge for the grounding."

"Yessss~. As long as we don't get caught out when she and Father come home from my memorial service, so let's get out of the study before she gets back. And I'd have to go into Custer anyway to get supplies for the ranch when I get out there. I'll pass along as much as possible to Alondra when we meet there. Even if I can't tell her some of the Top Secret stuff that I'm still geased to keep hidden like GOLD FELIX and SILVER SPIDER."

"What are those?"

"Well GOLD FELIX was the plan MIB used to summon those neverbuilt paper ship...girls. Wait. You aren't cleared either, but I can tell you. How the HELL did that happen, those geases bind me... until... I... die...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

With a sigh, Natsumi's feet padded against wood as she walked through the connection between her grandparents' home and the dojo they had. She had somewhat fond memories of it, of watching Hoshi or Tsuki practice, same with her mother and aunt. Lips twitching a little, she remembered one practice when Taichi was a young teen and challenged an amused Hoshi to a spar...

And was promptly thrashed.

To this very day, the memory never failed to bring a smile to her face. Not even when she herself got knocked around by the Kyuubi. After all, she had asked for it, but unlike her brother it was not out of self-entitlement, the belief that she could beat the older Kitsune. Natsumi considered herself many things, stupid was not one of them.

Of course, there was the fact that bringing it up never failed to fluster her brother. As if he was embarrassed by what happened. Her lips twitching a little, she remembered bringing it up in front of Akagi and Kaga. Both Carriers had promptly snickered a little, followed by pulling their boyfriend into their embrace and cooing over his embarrassment. If anything, Natsumi had become more amused as her brother became flustered as the two Carriers told her that they must comfort fluffy tail.

Granted, it never ceased to cause Natsumi some bemusement about how that relationship was occurring. Not that she had much issue with it and she did look forward to when she could call both members of CarDiv1 "Nee-San" at the very least. But never had she expected them to fall for her brother. Not that she was one to talk, she supposed as the image of a certain Battleship flashed through her mind as well as a black haired boy.

Shaking her head free of such thoughts, she reached the dojo's door and took a deep breath before opening it... and coming to a stop.

Mainly because, currently, the entire inside of the dojo was plastered with protective Ofuda. Slowly blinking, Natsumi took that in before a glint caught her attention. Turning her head, she raised an eyebrow at the sight of odd amulets hanging from the rafters, "What are those?"

A now familiar voice that had an Irish lilt to it spoke up, "Protective charms, Natsumi-Child. From when I was young and before Christianity took the Emerald Isle fully." Turning, she was met by the smiling face of Siusan, "They should help."

Haruka giggled a little before nuzzling the Irish fox from behind, who blushed, "Of course they should, you crafted them, Siusan."

It made Natsumi smile a little at seeing the fifteen hundred year old fox become flustered. Not to mention the obvious love between the two made her internally sigh as the image was replaced by an older version of herself with Harry doing the nuzzling, 'I only hope that I can experience such...'

Just for a few more moments she watched before turning her attention to the room fully. She could see her grandparents as well as Kogitsune-Maru putting up some more charms as was Haru and her mother. Hoshi and Tsuki were standing outside a Seimei that had been placed on the floor. But what caught her attention was in the middle of said symbol, one that caught her eye and dragged her sight towards it.

A plain, lacquered box covered in seals.

Inside of her head, a soft chuckle echoed back from the depths of her mind, 'If you are wondering, yes, that would be my sword.' Another chuckle of amusement could be heard before Tamamo continued, 'My, my, it seems that they are certainly worried for some odd reason~'

Once, Natsumi might have been concerned. But currently, however? She decided otherwise, 'Gee, I wonder why?'

Somehow, her snark seemed to amuse the ancient Kitsune even more if the laughs that faded away said anything.

However, Natsumi's attention was grabbed as Hoshi walked up, "Good afternoon, Natsumi-Chan. Are you ready for this?"

In reply, Natsumi gave a slow nod, "I think that I am."

Expression softening, the older Kitsune placed a hand gently on her shoulder, "You don't have to do this, Natsumi-Chan. Especially if you are uncomfortable with it, none of us will force it." She grimaced a little as she glanced at the box, "We all know who is involved."

Her eyes gazing at the same box, Natsumi took a deep breath before releasing it, "I... think that I do." With a blink, she gave Hoshi an unsure smile, "If it helps give Harry-Chan a better chance, I'll grasp it."

With her eyes meeting Natsumi's, Hoshi held back a grimace, 'Even if you need to make a deal with the Devil as the Westerners say. And even he might be preferable to my Mother.'

Needless to say, none of the four older Kitsune trusted the word of Tamamo, not in the slightest. The old fox spirit was one whom you trust to always have an unseen angle somehow. One that always worked to her benefit one way or the other. But the question here was...

What was her actual goal?

It was for that reason that it took so long to get to this point. All four of the Kitsune had been in deep discussions about the "Offer". Hoshi and Tsuki, knowing the most about their mother, were the ones most frustrated with trying to figure out what was going on. The fact that Tamamo had actually helped and protected Natsumi from her pelt had only made them more concerned at what she had been planning.

Their worries were only eased somewhat when Kogitsune-Maru told them that Inari passed on a message that there was nothing untoward towards Natsumi going on.

Of course, then said worry returned shortly afterwards when Tsuki had found out something about China. Natsumi herself was confused about what was going on there that would worry all four Kyuubi, but whatever it was seemed to concern her. The one time she confronted Tamamo over it thinking she was involved somehow, the infamous Kitsune told her that it was nothing to be overly concerned over. That they were just events finally coming to a boil.

Granted, Natsumi was still confused when, just a few days ago, Tamamo asked for her to say her original name three times in a row. And to do so three days in a row. With each time she finished saying it three times to play "What does the Fox Say" on her phone.

For some reason beyond her, Natsumi felt grand amusement and knew that it came from her. As if her instincts were telling her that she pulled a prank on someone and annoyed them. Someone much higher ranked and powerful, the idea of which caused actual amusement. The fact that Tamamo seemed inordinately pleased with her and amused as well did make her wonder...

Natsumi shook her head to put those thoughts beside and went back to considering the sword in front of her. It had taken months of discussion, but finally Hoshi and the others agreed to unseal the sword for her as asked. Of course, all of them were taking every single possible precaution regarding said blade. Best to be prepared after all, just in case as no one knew what would happen.

Moving a bit closer to the sealed box, the two tailed Kitsune frowned a little and looked towards Hoshi, "Um... what can I expect?" At the look, she lightly blushed, "From the blade, I mean. No one's said much about it or why it's sealed like that." Briefly, Natsumi paused before shrugging, "I mean, besides the obvious."

A frown on her face, Hoshi came to stand beside her for a few moments before speaking, "Our... Haha-ue was very powerful as you well know. And very knowledgable to boot as well. Neither of us quite know where and when she learned to forge, but she had. This blade had been created, forged in her own fox fire, heated by her rage and hate." Glancing at her, she frowned, "As young Harry experienced, her fox fire could burn like normal fire, though composed of dark emotions."

Grimacing as the memory of when Tamamo's pelt attempted to assimilate her, seeing Harry's skin redden and blister under the heat of foxfire, Natsumi gave a nod, "Hai, I know."

Slowly, the Kyuubi let out a sigh, "With that fire, she forged her blade before she left China."

Inside of her head, Natsumi heard a snort from Tamamo, 'I did more than that, not that she would know. I used a modified process of what Qimu Huaiwen had.'

Blinking, Natsumi tilted her head, 'You did?'

Right then, a dark chuckle came from deep within her mind, 'Oh yes... you see, there was a group of fox spirits who decided to use my name and act like they were me to cause trouble. I captured each one and held the six of them. My sword was washed in the urine they released in terror and I quenched hardened it in the fat that I took from their remains.'

Having spotted the disturbed look on the younger Kitsune's face, Hoshi asked what was wrong. Upon being told, however, she grimaced and nodded, "Hai, that does sound like something that Mother would do." Tilting her head, she gave Natsumi a look, "Are you sure that you want to do this then?"

With a deep breath, Natsumi gave a nod, "Hai, I am. I'll face this no matter what."

Unsure expression on her face, the Kyuubi made a sound of agreement. As Tsuki came over, Hoshi sighed a little, "Now, Haha-ue placed... protections, upon her blade. Unless you were her, or we hope given permission to wield the sword, your hands would be burned. An Onmyouji attempted to steal the blade and unsealed it eight hundred years ago. We found his remains an hour later, all flesh apparently stripped from his bones. Both of us burned our hands resealing the sword afterwards."

Expression becoming serious, Tsuki spoke up with a grave tone to her voice, "If you feel any burning, stop and drop the blade. We will reseal it after."

Deep inside her head, the young Kitsune heard a scoff before Tamamo spoke, 'There will be no need for such. My sword shall accept you as the new wielder easily.'

Ignoring that for now, Natsumi gave a small nod and the two daughters of Tamamo no Mae closed their eyes before raising their hands. Before their eyes, the seals holding the box shut began to smoke before bursting into flames. As the last one disappeared, Natsumi stepped forward and reached for the lid before removing it and her eyes widening. Sitting on red clay packed tightly with more seals was a dao.

Unlike Harry's, however, this one had a straight edge, not curved. The pommel as well was ring shaped unlike much later ones. She knew, however, that despite not seeing the blade due to it being sheathed that the sword was among the deadliest weapons that she had ever seen.

After a moment, Natsumi swallowed before reaching forward with a shaking hand until it was just above the hilt. Pausing, her hands twitched as she gathered her courage before picking up the sheathed sword in her hands. Briefly, it warmed under her touch and she blinked as all the seals burned away in a moment which caused Hoshi to move, "Natsumi-Chan!"

What stopped her was that the younger Kitsune was unharmed by the flames, with them gently carressing her but leaving no mark upon her skin or clothes.

Relieved, Hoshi still felt a shiver of fear though as realization struck her. Despite their best efforts, the sword could have likely broken free of the seals that bound it at any time. Seals that her, her sister, and Natsumi's grandparents had a laid upon the blade over decades. All powerless in the end.

That frightened her to no end.

However, the blade didn't do anything more, it simply laid in Natsumi's hands as she sat there. With a smooth motion, the young Kitsune unsheathed the blade and her eyes widened at what she saw. Despite likely not having been cared for in centuries, the steel that made it up still shone under the light, a sparkle along the deadly edge of the blade itself. Everything about the weapon screamed that it could kill, and would do so effectively at that. That it would cleave through armour, flesh, and bone with equal ease. It should have frightened her, terrified her to hold such a blade.

Yet... Natsumi didn't feel any of those things which made her furrow her eyebrows and she reached up with a hand, running it along the spine of the blade in a smooth motion. Under her palm, she could feel the slick, smoothness of the blade. Suddenly, Natsumi had a vision as if she was there. Of Tamamo in China spotting a shooting star and following the track for many days and nights until she came to where it had landed, digging a hole. Digging down into the ground beneath the hole, she pulled out a lump of metal the size and shape of her fist.

As her hand brushed against the hilt, the young Kitsune had another flash. This time, Tamamo digging in the place where once, centuries before, she had been a housewife with her true love. Of digging up a few bronze implements that were corroded, but which she had used to make dinner for her dear husband. Implements that she melted down to form the current hilt, mated to a blade forged of star metal.

She watched as with centuries of experience, Tamamo, or Daji as she was then known, fought against a Taoist Immortal sent to kill her by the Celestial Bureaucracy. Of them fighting for days, the fox using every skill she had. While she was nearly killed, she still slew her enemy, cutting his head from his neck before burning the body and fleeing China. Before her eyes, she saw Tamamo hide the blade in Japan, and then finding the woman who would carry her next body, praying for her yet unborn, and unknown to her, already deceased child whose body the future Tamamo took for her own...

Back in the present, Natsumi looked down at the blade with her eyebrows furrowed, "Taiyang..."

It went without saying that she was not the only one who jumped as sparkles formed into a body and a cheerful voice spoke up, "That's right, Master! It is I, your ever loyal and foxy blade, Taiyang~!"

Rapidly blinking, Natsumi's head rose and her eyes widened a bit at seeing what looked like a fox spirit there before her. She had to have come no higher than just a few inches over five feet with pink hair as well as bronze colored eyes which shone happily as she looked down at Natsumi. She was also wearing purplish blue Kimono type top with detached sleeves which extended down towards her knees.

Granted, Natsumi twitched a bit at seeing how said blade spirit when she leaned forward... bounced a little, 'Oh, come the fuck on! Seriously!? Even her blade is bigger than me!'

The twitch became more pronounced as Tamamo cackled in her mind.

However, it was then that Natsumi noticed that Taiyang seemed to be examining her in thought, completely unconcerned with how the Kitsune around her had gone straight to battlemode. As well as how both Carnwennan, who had just appeared, and Kogitsune-Maru held their true selves to her neck as her face was within inches of Natsumi's. It almost made the young Kitsune shiver at how the blade spirit was not bothered in the slightest by the amount of firepower and death aimed at her which could have killed even an Abyssal Princess.

Looking her in the eyes, the blade seemed thoughtful before suddenly smiling happily, "Well, Master, it is good to see you!"

A tremble in her body, Hoshi pressed her lips thinly even as her tails bristled, something that much to her annoyance barely seemed to get even a flicker from her mother's former blade. She then growled a little, "Natsumi-Chan is not her."

It seemed to amuse Taiyang more than anything, though there was a flicker of something in her eyes for a brief moment. Then she gave a small shrug, "Perhaps~ But she is Master's Heir, and therefore Master!" Straightening, she continued to smile even as the two ancient blades beside her kept their edges pressed against her neck, "As always, I will serve you."

Slowly getting to her feet, Natsumi's eyes met the nearly fourteen hundred year old Dao's before frowning, "Really?"

Blinking, the Dao hummed a bit, "I see... Mikon!" Then, before their eyes, she dropped down to her knees into a kneeling position and leaned forward, spreading her arms wide at the same time despite the other swords drawing a bead of blood each as she pressed against them, "I, Taiyang, the Blade of Daji and Tamamo no Mae, here by swear to my Master..."

Eyebrow raised, Natsumi blinked, "Ono Natsumi."

With a slight nod, drawing a bit more blood, Taiyang smiled, "Ono Natsumi, Heir of Tamamo no Mae, to serve her. My Iron is my bond, my Soul and Spirit my seal. Magic is my essence as I swear to you. Let the Earth my bronze came from be the Foundation and the Stars of my Steel the roof of our contract. Against the Wind my Blade shall cut. My Oath and Protection shall stand against all the virtues of the Heavenly Court, against all the Evils of the Hells. The balance shall be protected as my Fate is your Sword. I submit to you, my Master, for I shall never harm you and obey as your faithful foxy servant."

Despite it being obvious that they did not want to, both Carwennan and Kogitsune-Maru withdrew their blades from their fellow blade-spirit's neck. At the look, the ambigulously gendered Kogitsune-Maru shook their head, "The Oath that she just swore is... one that cannot be denied among us swords and other blades." With a sigh, their shoulders slumped a bit in relief, "By outright stating that, she can never harm Natsumi-Chan and will obey her orders."

Giggling slightly, the foxy blade hopped a bit on one foot before placing one hand on her hip and gesturing with the other, "Of course not, I would never harm my Master!"

For a few moments, Natsumi was quiet before speaking, "You won't disobey my orders? At all?"

Her finger against her chin, Taiyang considered the question, "Within certain parameters, such as if your orders will bring you harm for example. Or if you were to ask me to destroy myself, then the Oath would be broken on your end. But... other than that? I will."

Understanding, the young two tailed Kitsune nodded slowly, "I see..." Clearing her throat, she fixed her gaze on Taiyang before speaking, "Then I order you as my Sword, to never harm my friends or family. Your blade shall be dull to them, blunt. Unless they have turned against me and attempt to do me great harm, then in turn they shall never be harmed. Is this understood?"

More amused than anything, Taiyang bowed to her with a slight smile, "Of course, Master. I have recieved your orders and understood. Never shall I go against them unless what you do not wish to happen comes to pass." Her grin became bloodthirsty, "At which point, all bleed the same and shall water the earth."

All Natsumi did was sigh at that as she understood it to be the best that she could get. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her and she furrowed her eyebrows, "... Taiyang is a boy's name, so why...?"

Placing her hand on her hip and cocking it to the side, the Dao smiled a bit, "Why am I girl?" At the nod, she shrugged some, "Because my creator and Master was a woman and I was in her possession for four hundred years. I also like being a girl as I am a beautiful sword." Closing one eye, she stuck her tongue out a bit before flicking a finger next to her face, "Being a pretty, foxy blade gets me all sorts of attention~ Mikon!"

That just got her a sigh from many of those around her even as Kogitsune-Maru nodded before said sword shifted to a more female form.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

The Sun had set hours ago and the Moon poked out nearly three quarters full from behind some clouds. Natsumi was softly sleeping in her futon in her grandparents house with the window partially open. About the only thing that looked out of place was soft movement before two golden, glowing eyes appeared in the darkness. Taiyang's avatar stood there looking down at her Master with a thoughtful look on her face before kneeling down on her knees to better observe the Kitsune.

Finger against her lips, she thought back to what had happened that day involving her Master. She had been surprised when she felt the box that she was within being moved and considered breaking free in that moment as she sensed the daughters of her Master. But then dismissed such thoughts at the time. No need to quite reveal all her cards, let alone that she could break free at any time if she so wished. After all, in her forging she had absorbed the spiritual power of the six Huli Jing who had been slain in her creation. Something that had left her extremely powerful.

Granted, just her imagining the likely expressions of fear and terror that her Master's daughters would have caused her to smile and giggle metaphorically.

Not that she would have harmed them in any case. While she was angry at them for having a hand in her Master's death, she did not quite blame them entirely. And they had saved her from likely destruction unknowingly. Taiyang had sensed at least one Onmyouji searching for her to destroy her. While unlikely to succeed, best not to take a chance. Besides, like her, they too were her Master's Legacy and thus should be protected. That said, she was rather annoyed about the seals. They didn't hurt, but they were really, really itchy! Like an itch that you just can't scratch, but all over you.

Still, her interest grew as she was brought into a new room. Oh, she took in the various protections and talismans that were practically plastered to her senses despite the ones on her box being supposed to prevent that. But she was too foxy for such things to work and clever by far! Though within a few minutes, she had figured out how to break through all the ones that the daughters of her Master as well as the other Kitsune had put up. They all had their own weaknesses and the like to someone experienced. Just a few pokes and most would collapse if she so wished.

But she had sensed some new talismans that she had never come across before. Ones that tasted foreign to her senses as well as old magic. Briefly, she had the sense of being in a country of green, rolling hills and hearing the cries of seagulls. Of seeing near, or fully even, naked men in body paint fighting each other. Including one man who seemed to burst into a ferocious beast. One eye sucked back into his head while the other burst out of the socket onto his cheek. The cheeks drawn back so far that one could see all his teeth and into his gullet where his lungs could be seen to flutter alongside his liver. Sinews bulged grotestquely from his muscles until they were the size of infants, his legs reversing in a horrific contortion with the feet, knees, and shins snapping around to face the back. Meanwhile, his calves and the meat of his thighs faced the front.

Giving a roar, firey flecks of blood flew from his mouth as he crushed one man's skull and steam rose from his body. Black blood burst from his ears and vaporized, creating a cloud of darkness that rose upwards. A true monster of the Battlefield.

Yet then he transformed back into a beautiful man with seven fingers, seven toes, and seven pupils as he carried a red spear that dripped with blood constantly. On his cheeks were dimples and his hair curled down his shoulders. He seemed to gaze at her in thought for several moments and then the vision ended though she caught other figures. A man with silver arms, another who seemed to glow from the inside, and others. Powerful beings, interesting if only for the fact that some of the talismans created to bind her power drew such from them. She did note that she would have to look them up later.

Despite being unfamiliar, Taiyang was slowly working her way through said protections. Slide through this crack here, around that curve there. By the time Natsumi had arrived, she had already figured out most of it and needed a bit more time to figure out how to break them fully. Still, she was personally impressed with them just the same as bothersome as they had been. It was hard to interlock protections after all, and that was for ones from the same school. Not that she expected anything less from the daughters of her Master, but it was still a pleasant surprise to find them mixing foreign magics.

It brought a metaphorical tear to her eye of pride for all her amusement.

All of that was for nought of course, for that was when Natsumi, her Master walked into the room. That almost instantly grabbed all her attention as she looked at her closely through the seals. Oh, she knew what she was seeing no matter what some might claim or deny. Even from behind the seals that she was under, she could sense her Master. And how could she not? She knew the feel of her Master intimately having been forged in the fires of her hate, her rage at the world, anger at herself and others, loss, grief, sadness...

Love for her lost family that haunted had haunted her still and driven her to madness.

She, better than most, knew her Master at her deepest parts and recognized it here. Even before Natsumi's hand touched her hilt and she received the orders from her Master to obey the young Kitsune, she had already known and accepted. Already, she bowed to her Master and accepted the orders before they had even been given. Never would she harm the young one, always would she protect her and those she wished. If someone tried to harm them? She would make certain that the tortures of the Hells would be considered a mercy before she sent them on their way.

Meanwhile, as Natsumi grasped her, Taiyang took that moment to better examine her Master. She could feel, somewhere inside the Kitsune's soul, an echo of sorts. It was not much more than that, or perhaps a shadow, but it was self-aware, that much she could tell. At the same time, the blade could feel the power which roiled under the surface. To most, it likely looked like a still body of water, but below? There were currents and crosscurrents as well as rip currents. Someone unaware could be dragged under and never come up. It made her, Taiyang, shiver in anticipation.

Of course, in the next second she gave into temptation and let loose a burst of power which burned away the seals on her. Perhaps it could be counted as showing off, just a little. But whom could blame her for it?

Besides, the expressions and reactions from it were as hilarious and perfect as she had expected.

Also amusing was the reaction she got from her Master when she revealed her avatar and leaned forward. Oh, she knew exactly what she was doing when she leaned forward. It made her internally giggle when her Master's eyes went exactly where she had wanted them to. She was also well able to read her Master enough to know that she was put off by the fact that she was bigger there than she was, despite the two being not too far off in height.

Her Master had always been exasparated by the form that she chose for her avatar, though she felt that they made a nice contrast between them. Especially as her Master had always had those long, toned legs and hips which men lusted after as much as they did her chest. It was always oh so amusing to see their reactions, then as likely now. Besides, a distracted man, or woman as she didn't much care in either direction, meant that they would likely not see her blade sliding between their ribs, or her claws cutting them from ear to ear, when they should have.

Granted, she was intrigued by the dagger her Master used. Unlike some weapons, she was not jealous of her Master having another blade in her possession. In fact, internally she commended her for such a foresight! After all, a dagger could be hidden unlike most swords. Not to mention that said dagger was also old and powerful. The ability she could sense, and confirmed via asking about what he could do, was extremely useful for a Kitsune. Being able to blend in with the shadows and hide within them was very much a skill worth its weight to a trickster.

Licking her lips, she smirked a little in the present time as she could not wait to work alongside him in killing the foes of their Master.

Now, she had been surprised about how he had been a gift to her Master from a young boy. And she could tell her Master deeply cared for said boy as well. Not the least because his scent was all over her and, she suspected, her Master's scent was all over him. Underlaying that scent was power, and lots of it if young and not yet at its peak potential, but it was there. As well, she had an odd ping from the bronze that made her up, of him being... familiar somehow.

Which was what brought her to what she was doing now in her Master's room. She could feel Carnwennan watching from the shadows, but he did nothing more. A fact that made her nod internally and smile. Sitting in seiza beside her Master's head, her true self unsheathed and in her lap, Taiyang closed her eyes while gently placing a hand on her Master's forehead. She breathed in... and out.

In... and out.

In...

And out.

Opening her eyes, she found herself in an old mansion from the Heian and walked along the hallways. Her gaze took in various things as to be expected, and made note of them. But it was not for that reason she was there, oh no.

That reason laid in a room near the center which she entered and paused, for just a moment before kneeling before a mirror decorated with the story of her Master's life... and death. She waited there, not saying a word, the only signs that she was alive being the slow rise and fall of her chest. No sound passed from her lips, she was perfectly still as if a statue. No movement at all...

Until, that was, an eight tailed Kitsune in the finest Kimono, though stained with blood that also dripped from her ears appeared. The Kitsune regarded her for a few moments before giving her a fond smile, "Taiyang, my Blade."

Bowing, Taiyang returned the smile, "Master, it is good to see you... or, well... an echo."

A chuckle escaped from Tamamo as she nodded a little, "Ah, so you know then."

More than a little amused, the blade let out a giggle, "Of course, Master! I am your ever loyal and helpful foxy servant~ How could I not know?" She gave a small shrug with a slight smile, "Others might deny it, but..."

Only nodding, Tamamo snorted and shook her head, "Indeed they might." Her expression became serious, "Which is one thing that I want you to do, to prevent anyone except those... acceptable from finding out. Because they may well react in a manner that would be displeasing."

Sleeve covered arm in front of her mouth, Taiyang gave a giggle though something dark flashed in her eyes, "You can count on me, Master. I'll make sure such troublesome things do not come to pass." Cocking her head to the side, however, she blinked, "But there is more to it, is there not?"

Eyes meeting those of her blade, the multi-thousand year old Kitsune nodded, "Correct." She motioned with her hand and an image appeared of a teenage boy with green eyes and messy hair, "This is Potter Harry, and he is the one that Natsumi spoke about."

Quickly, Taiyang's eyes took in his form and raised an eyebrow as several connections were made, "I take it that he is..." At the nod from her Master, she gave one of her own, "Your wishes?"

With a hum, Tamamo gazed at the form of Harry with a fond expression, "My orders are simple, protect him." Turning back to Taiyang, she narrowed her eyes, "Protect him and those of their family to the best of your ability." A chuckle came from her and she turned back to the image she had projected before she licked her lips, "I will admit, he is as extraordinary now as he was then. One thing that you must note is that he shall have many concubines or consorts, though him and Natsumi will see them as fellow spouses."

Her ears flicking a bit, the blade blinked, "Oh? And you do not have an issue with this, Master?"

A laugh burst from Tamamo as she shook her head, "No, I do not at all, Taiyang, my faithful blade. While I only loved my husband, I never minded the touch and feel as well as taste of female flesh. After all, I had such before him..." Her eyes saddened a little in thought, "There were even a few that I had considered as a... gift to him."

Head tilted to the side, Taiyang shrugged a little, "I see, as long as you do not have an issue."

Softly snorting, Tamamo shook herself from her thoughts of the past, "I do not in this case, and each one is delectable as well as will bring enjoyment when the time comes." Her eyes flashed in amusement, "Though I shall have to leak a... bit of information to the young Kitsune as to how one must handle such things." Both spirits giggled at that for several moments before she turned back to the blade, "Still, they are better choices than most. For they are all higher ranked spirits, perhaps goddesses. Minor, but still of such divine authority." Lips curling into a grin, she narrowed her eyes with a purr, "Such that he would be the envy of any in the Bureacracy as they could match many Immortals easily."

Lightly snickering some, the Dao nodded. When a new image appeared of a woman, Taiyang raised an eyebrow, "Is this one of them then?"

With a slight nod, Tamamo smiled, "Indeed, this is Louisiana, a 'Battleship' as they are called. She has made no secret of the fact that she is in love with Natsumi as well as Harry both. And Natsumi is slowly getting worn away by her efforts and falling for her as well."

Taking in the tanned skin, long, well muscled legs, brown hair and freckles as well as blue eyes, Taiyang hummed a bit as she tapped a finger against her chin, "Very good taste."

Briefly, there was something in Tamamo's eyes that was part amusement and part... something else. However, it was gone nearly as soon as it appeared making the blade wonder what her Master was thinking, though the Kitsune nodded, "Agreed, she is a very good example of a fine woman. One who will be a fine consort to Natsumi as well as Harry." She then paused before continuing, "Besides protection, there are two other things that I must have you do for my plans."

Ears perking up, Taiyang nodded, "Of course, Master. What is it that you wish for your Foxy blade to do?"

For a few moments, the Kitsune was quiet before speaking, "Natsumi is learning the skill of Kitsune-Tsuki. I wish for you to help her master said skill to be best you can. I shall leak out the knowledge from my end, so that she truly masters it as I had and soon, for it will be needed." She gazed at Taiyang, "Firstly, there is a Dark Lord after young Harry, and Natsumi wishes to fight at his side against his foe."

Eyes narrowing, Taiyang took that in before lowering her voice to a near growl, "Do you wish for me to end the creature, my Master? For I will in but in a moment."

More amused than anything, Tamamo shook her head before sighing, "Ah, I wish that it was but so simple. But this is a matter of destiny, though there may be ways for you to help." Quickly, she explained about the horcruxes and Taiyang nodded in reply, "But there is another reason, which regards the fact that an aspect of myself from when I first tested a Dynasty is still around. She is currently in China and busy, but may turn her eyes this way once things are settled. For she feels the same pull I would."

Concerned, the blade frowned and rubbed her chin, "Troublesome. But you wish for myself to teach Master about how to use the skill to its most effectiveness due to this? Then I shall help as much as I can."

Only nodding, Tamamo paused to gather her thoughts before motioning her closer. Without hesitation, Taiyang did so and didn't flinch as the Kitsune reached out of the mirror and pressed her clawed fingers against the avatar's forehead, breaking the skin. For a brief moment, Taiyang's eyes fluttered as information entered her mind before Tamamo pulled away, "Those images were from a... incident, many decades ago when the then government recovered my Pelt and experimented on it to try and revive me under their control. The ones highlighted, I believe they are still alive and were part of a sister project to force both reincarnation and to have them awaken the memories of their past lives. The Kitsune known as Haruka is one, having been a woman named Brigid over fifteen hundred years ago and remembering it."

Rubbing the spot where the skin had been broken, and now healed, Taiyang nodded before raising an eyebrow, "What is it that you wish for me to do once I find them?"

The smirk on Tamamo's was as cruel as it was cold as her tails weaved behind her, "When you find them, and you will need to hurry as one named Kotegiri is also hunting them, then what I want you to do is simple..." Holding out one clawed hand, she clenched it, "Rip the knowledge of such things from their mind and leave them dead."

A similar smirk was on Taiyang's face as she eagerly nodded, tail swishing behind her in excitement, "Of course, Master. Though..." Becoming thoughtful, she frowned slightly, "Are you perhaps considering... that?"

Expression stormy, the Kitsune snarled, "No. Harry is to be unharmed no matter. What you suggested would, indeed, harm him and I shall not allow that."

After a few moments, Taiyang nodded before she frowned herself, "Understood." It was then that she caught sight of something in the back of the mirror. A fox pelt, softly glowing and covered in chains, "Hm?"

Noticing where she was looking, Tamamo smiled a bit, "Ah, Natsumi and Harry both defeated my maddened Pelt. When they did, however, Natsumi absorbed the power and I have sealed it for if I had not? She would have grown at least two or more tails. And that cannot happen."

Simply nodding, the Dao frowned a little, "Indeed, the fact that she already gained an extra tail far beyond her years would be suspicious enough but can be dismissed. More? No... that would draw the wrong sort of attention."

With a snort, Tamamo shook her head, "Exactly, though I can release it slowly over the next few decades, there is still too much currently and it would help to burn off quite a bit. But... I can use that for my plan."

It took a few seconds, but Taiyang was not considered scarily brilliant for nothing and gave a nod as pieces fell into place, "I see, it suddenly makes sense. When one is in the true depths of Kitsune-tsuki, the souls can be so close that some might consider them being one. And considering the connection already there..." She shook her head a little, "So that is how you may deal with the Daji-That-Was then."

Eyes hooded, the Kitsune chuckled, "Indeed, Kitsune-Tsuki is close enough to trick... certain things. And I was not lying when I told dear Natsumi that being as I am an echo, nothing can come from me doing anything as I am less than a soul or spirit. But I am not aiming for myself and so deep, well... one could be confused for a Kitsune." Smirk turning vicious and dark, she continued, "As they say in the modern day, it would be one last fuck you to the Celestial Bureacracy on my part in doing what they would not at least in this case."

Taiyang giggled alongside the Kitsune with a similar dark and vicious smirk, "I see, brilliant my Master."

Smirk falling away moments later, Tamamo scowled some, "But first, I need as much information as I can gather. That you can gather, so that I can see if possible as I will not attempt unless I am certain."

All the Dao did was nod in agreement and, shortly after, opened her eyes in the real world with a slight smile on her face before she glanced at Natsumi, 'Thank you, Master, I shall obey your orders. And also thank you for stating that I can tease you about Harry-Kun and the like as I am glad that you are having fun teasing her as well~ Mikon!'

Closing her eyes, she hummed a bit as she prepared herself for what would come soon enough.

Deep within Natsumi's mind, Tamamo's Echo was thoughtful as plans and schemes whirled around in her head. For once, none were for her exact benefit, well, one could argue that fact. Still, events and such prodded her to take such measures just the same. Thinking about her blade, a thought occurred to her and she looked towards the mirror, waving her hand at it and watching as the surface rippled as she used divination.

Nothing was fixed in the future and the closer to the present one went, the harder it was to predict. And anything could change the future as a change in wind strength and direction can change how the waves might go. But looking a few decades into the future, Tamamo smiled at the sight of a Harry looking around his thirties, having obviously undergone Kitsune-Tsuki with Natsumi as his hair had lightened to a very dark red of sorts with fox ears replacing his own and three tails behind him. As she licked her lips, she watched as Harry/Natsumi pressed Louisiana up against the wall before kissing her hard, lips and fangs leaving small marks on her neck as Harry's form shifted a bit more.

The mirror blurred showing a scene several months after, of a blushing Louisiana cuddling an infant to her chest as a similarly blushing Harry and Natsumi looked on. Said child looked at least part Japanese with the Battleship's hair and a deeper brown than Natsumi's, but not too far off. Some of her features were also those of Harry's alongside Natsumi's and Louisiana's. Sometimes the child seemed to have fox ears and sometimes not.

And then the mirror blurred again, this time showing Taiyang walking alongside the child, now a young woman who seemed to laugh at something the blade at her side, both avatar and actual blade, had said. An action that made the Dao blush some and look away hooking her arms in... and being intrrupted by the sword spirit that she knew as Goldie. Softly chuckling as the image faded away and left the mirror, Tamamo had a slight smirk on her face.

"Perhaps, my faithful blade, you shall have your reward as well...

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Weasley's Warship Workshop 16

Passel House, Mid December 2013

Stepping from the fireplace in the Burrow to Passel House Ron found himself nearly walking into Summer, who immediately grabbed him and finished the process.

"Yardmaster!" Though her voice was still relatively quiet, the intent was clear and Ron struggled a bit as the gigantic abyssal held him close. At least it was soft, even if he was having a bit of trouble breathing.

"Summer dear, please let Ron go for the moment. I'm not sure he can breathe." Warspite's voice was clear even trapped as he was, Summer letting Ron go at the request.

"A-are you ok Yardmaster?" Summer looked down at Ron, her hands still on his shoulder.

A little red, Ron looked up at Summer and gave her a nod. "I'm fine Summer, thank you." He squinted his eyes for a moment and lifted his hands to her hair. "You're looking much better Summer. Repairs are going well?"

Summer immediately flushed at that and nodded, her hands clasping under her chest as she looked down. "Y-yes Yardmaster. Very well." She paused for a moment and then looked back up at him. "Thank you."

"It's what you deserve Summer." Ron gave her a smile, causing her to blush and look down again.

"How about a hug for us?"

Ron finally turned to see Warspite and Duke waiting for him, the grin on Warspite's face quite playful, while Duke looked more like she was humoring.

"Of course. I'm happy to see you too Warspite." Ron leaned into Warspite's embrace, which while not as all encompassing as Summer's, was still quite nice. Especially when she leaned down and added a small kiss to it.

"It's been too long." Warspite said as they pulled away, smiling at him.

"Well I've got a couple weeks with all of you, so we should be able to recharge." Ron was rather proud of the fact that he managed to speak coherently even after the small peck but his cheeks were still quite red.

"That does sound lovely Ron." Duke's presence was a comfortable one, even as Ron once again got a soft embrace. Duke was the least overbearing about it, though she added a small kiss on the cheek as well.

She looked him over for a moment, then nodded. "You look well. Victoria has dinner ready for us but I have something to speak with you about later."

Ron nodded to her. "Of course." Out of the corner of his eye he saw a grin flash on Warspite's face before just as quickly disappearing.

"So how was your mother?" Duke asked as they began to head to the dining room.

"Mom was good. She was very happy about my exams, said I matched up to Percy..."

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

Later after dinner Ron found himself seated in the lounge, next to Warspite with Duke in a nearby chair and Summer sitting on the floor nearby, happily humming to herself and working on some blueprints.

"Duke, you wanted to ask me something?" Ron asked, the conversation having dropped into a lull for a moment.

"Oh, yes. Thank you for reminding me Ron." The battleship turned towards him and gave a small nod. "I simply wanted to ask you if you could spare a few hours for me in the next few days to visit the base. It needs to be before Christmas."

Ron nodded. "Of course. Is there any day that would be best? Like I said before I've got the next few weeks off and they're all available."

"Tomorrow would be best, if it's not too sudden." Duke smiled slightly at his answer.

"Sure. What time should I be ready?"

"I think after lunch will be fine." Duke's smile widened, with Warspite shifting slightly next to him.

Ron looked up to see her grinning as well, causing him to raise his eyebrow.

"Something I should know?"

"No, I don't want to ruin Duke's surprise." Warspite smiled more and then pulled him against her shoulder once again.

"Alright. I'll wait." Ron settled in with a grin as the fire nearby crackled, enjoying a night with some of the people closest to him.

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

The next day found Ron dressed up, as Portsmouth in December was not what anyone would call warm. Especially not after the weather changes from the war. Making his way towards the vanishing cabinet to meet Duke, Ron found several RN girls relaxing in the lounge along with a man in an MP outfit standing next to it along with the blonde battleship.

Ron glanced at Duke, confusion on his face.

"Is there something I should know about?" He looked between her and the MP.

"It's part of the surprise." Duke's smile would have looked more in place on Warspite's face, though Ron thought she wore it quite well in turn. "You do have your ID right?"

"Yes." Ron held up his military ID badge.

"Show it to the good sergeant here and we'll be on our way."

Ron walked up to the MP, who carefully examined the ID with an intensity he didn't usually see. Finally the man handed the ID back and nodded to him.

"You may proceed."

Ron took the ID back and put it in his pocket, opening the door to the Vanishing Cabinet and stepping through. Waiting for the rush of magic, he then opened the other door and stepped out. On the other side he found two members of the Royal Marines standing in full gear, their rifles held at the ready.

Now very confused, Ron stepped out of the way of the cabinet and waited for Duke to come through. Thankfully she followed after only a few seconds later and he immediately placed himself by her side.

"Duke? Can you please tell me what's going on now? There's not usually this many guards around."

Duke looked down to Ron and placed a hand on his shoulder as she led him towards the door.

"It's still a secret Ron but I promise you nothing bad is going on. There's just a few friends visiting the base today."

Ron nodded, the comforting presence of Duke assuaging most of his worries. She'd never lied to him after all, it was simply strange being on the base with so much security.

Outside the chill December wind made Ron rather happy that he'd bundled up. There was snow on the ground in places, most of it pushed out of the way or turned to slush by the general activity level of Portsmouth. Duke headed in the direction of the harbor, Ron sticking close by to her. There was less sign of security in the middle of the base but then again Ron didn't know what to look for either.

"So, this friend of yous is important I take it?" Ron tried to fill the air with some conversation as they reached the docks and headed down the pier, activity going on even in this cold weather. Abyssals waited for no one.

Duke smiled slightly and nodded, glancing at him before looking forward again.

"Yes, they are. They don't get out as much as they used to, the war keeps them busy like most of us."

Ron continued to follow after Duke, having to take almost two steps for her every one given the height differential.

"I see." He finally said after Duke let silence reign between them. "Are they part of the surprise as well?"

"Yes but they'll visit later." Duke's eyes twinkled as the got to the end of the pier, a long length of it clear and surrounded by buoys. Ron looked to the left and the right from where they stood, then back up to Duke.

"Are we going somewhere?" Ron was aa bit more confused now, waiting as Duke looked out into the harbor.

"Not especially." Duke turned back to him and smiled softly. "We're right where we need to be."

Ron looked around again, then back up to Duke. "Are we waiting for something?"

"I suppose you could see it that way." Duke reached into her pocket and withdrew a case, one that Ron recognized immediately. She ran her fingers over it carefully, staring at it for a moment before looking back up to him. "Do you remember on my birthday when I said that I had would have something to show you very soon?"

Ron nodded. "Yeah, I remember. It seemed important."

"All the more important because of what you gave me Ron." Duke opened the lid, revealing the bejeweled clip that sported her crest. "A gift like this deserves repayment somehow."

"Duke I..."

"I know Ron. Gifts are not meant to be paid back. They are gifts for a reason. But..." Duke smiled as she reached down and took the clip, the case closing and going back into her pocket. "But emotionally I cannot help but want to repay you."

Ron's mouth froze for a moment and then he nodded, the light in Duke's eyes holding a softness that was exceptional even for her.

"Thank you." Duke smiled and then offered the clip to him. "If you don't mind, would you put this in for me?"

"Of course Duke." Ron took the clip carefully, knowing its value as Duke reached up to undo her hair. The long golden strands fell straight down her back, some even touching the ground before Duke gathered them up again. It was the work of moments for her to put them into place once more, the high ponytail she sports something she did naturally.

When it came time for Ron's turn, she bent her head back as she held it in place, leaving Ron to stretch up and place the clip properly. It was the work of only a few moments as he put the clip in, the crest glinting in the sun despite the slight overcast.

"There you go." Ron stepped back, settling on his feet as Duke let go of her hair.

"Thank you Ron." Duke smiled at him and then reached out a hand. "It's time for the surprise now."

Ron nodded and took her hand, finding himself pulled in front of Duke and facing the same direction as her, out towards the harbor.

"Am I supposed to be looking for something?" He tilted his head back slightly, stopping once he felt his hair brush against something.

"I think you'll understand when you see it." Duke's voice held a faint trace of amusement but it was also clearly focused, causing Ron to look straight ahead once more.

A few more moments passed, with Ron looking out ahead of him into the harbor. He couldn't see anything that looked like a surprise, at least not that he recognized as one. He was about to ask again what he was looking for, until he felt Duke's hands on his shoulders get tighter.

Then he saw a bubble appear in the middle of the buoys in front of them. Large enough to be noticeable even in the gentle tides of the harbor, Ron's eyes focused on it for some reason. It was followed by more, until suddenly it became a constant. It took him two more seconds to wonder what it could be, then finally recognize the last time he'd seen such a thing.

The sudden gasp that indicated an intake of breath came a split second before the top of the mast broke through the water.

Ron had watched Warspite summon her hull from a distance, safe and secure on the hospital tug. He'd had to sail closer held in her arms, which made distances feel strange at points and he'd not gotten a very good look at the size until they'd docked back here in Portsmouth.

He got to watch Duke's hull rise from the waters fifty feet away from him. The almost stately pace at which it did so seemed at odds with the sheer size. Duke was almost a hundred feet longer than Warspite and she had an additional nine thousand tons of displacement.

Ron wished he could take in every bit of it, as his eyes darted back and forth. First the fore mast and after mast, then the conning tower and her funnels came into view. Waves washed off of them, almost threatening to rise up onto the pier as her distinctive 4-2-4 turret arrangement came into view. Finally the rest of her armored hull rose up into sight, the sheer sides painted a wartime camouflage that looked absolutely perfect.

Ron's head rose up and up, not even noticing when he impacted against Duke's chest. Finally the entirety was in view, the impressive seven hundred and forty five foot length from stem to stern resting neatly inside of the buoys that they'd stopped by.

Ron could barely even process the awesome sight in front of him, of all the things he'd thought Duke might show him this had not been one of them.

"What do you think Ron?" Duke's soft voice finally asked him, even as the cheers and horns from the rest of the harbor begin to ring.

"It's awesome!" He said in a hushed tone, turning properly so he could look at Duke. "You are amazing Duke."

He wrapped her in a hug, not caring where he did so, merely needing to embrace her.

He felt her arms wrap around him in turn, the soft embrace one that he knew could twist steel but would only ever protect him.

"Would you like to go on a tour?" She finally asked after nearly a minute.

"Of course!" Ron pulled back slightly and grinned at her.

"The tugs should be here shortly, then I'll show you around." Duke smiled down at him. "You'll be the first to visit."

"Thank you Duke. Thank you." Ron smiled at her, grin bright as the sun as Portsmouth Harbor rang with the sounds of celebration.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
AN: This is going to be a two or three part story. This felt like a good place to break and I hope you all enjoy it. Questions, comments, concerns etc. welcome as always.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Yawning, Natsumi got up from bed as the morning light streamed in before rubbing her eyes. As she pulled her fists away from her eyes though, she jerked a bit at seeing Taiyang in seiza beside her. The blade spirit's eyes were closed and she was breathing in and out slowly which made Natsumi blink, "Taiyang-San?"

Eyes opening, Taiyang smiled before closing her eyes and tilting her head to the side, "Good morning, Master. A bit of a sleep in?"

Still blinking, the young Kitsune glanced around before pulling out her phone and looking at it, "... It's seven in the morning."

Raising a finger, Taiyang gave a small nod, "Ah! A bit later than I thought, but still a lie in."

More than a little bemused as she stretched, Natsumi gave a small shrug, "Well, unless you have actual work, you don't need to get up with the dawn. Or school, I guess." Shaking her head and running fingers through her hair, she hummed, "But it's summer vacation so I don't have that much to do. I could sleep in even until it was ten or even noon if I felt really lazy with no real problem."

Just cocking an eyebrow, the foxy sword frowned before wagging a finger at her, "You shouldn't be lazy, Master!"

Amused, Natsumi gave another shake of the head as she stretched some, "Mmm, one can afford to be lazy some days now. Not everyday, but it can be a nice treat."

Eyebrow raising, Taiyang tilted her head a little, "Still not a good habit to get into, Master." Getting a shrug, she smiled a little as she examined the Kitsune before leaning in to examine the shirt that Natsumi wore, "Hmm.. what an odd piece of clothing."

Not even thinking of what she was saying, the fourteen year old Kitsune yawned, "Oh, it's one of Harry-Chan's shirts." Realizing what she had said, she blushed a little, "Um..."

Head cocked to the side, Taiyang frowned in thought, "Does that have some sort of meaning?"

Blush staining her cheek, the Kitsune looked away and was about to answer when Carnwennan appeared, "One could say so." When both foxes looked at him, one with pleading in her eyes while the other was intrigued, he smirked, "In the modern day, wearing a boy's specific clothing is a means of, ah, marking one's interest in them. I have heard that men have a habit of liking it..."

Putting that bit of information away into a corner of her mind, Taiyang gave a small nod, "I see, I see. In a way it does make a lot of sense when one does think about it. Marking one's territory, I take it?"

Lips still curled into a smirk, the Arthurian dagger chuckled, "That is one way to put it, yes."

Cheeks now a deep read, Natsumi groaned before placing her face into her hands before getting out of the futon, "I'm heading to the bathroom now to get changed and freshened up."

Another chuckle escaped from the dagger and he sat there as she grabbed her clothes for the day and walked out of the room. Several moments passed before Carnwennan opened one eye and gave Taiyang a look, "Have a nice chat, I take it?"

Eyes narrowed, Taiyang looked at him for a few moments before frowning, "You knew?"

Shifting a little, Carnwennan hummed some, "I did as it was not hard to guess for one as old as we are. A younger one might not have realized, but..."

Only nodding, the foxy blade crossed her arms over her chest and pushed it up a little, only to pout as she noticed that other than a brief glance, it didn't affect him. Understanding that would not work here, like it had in so many situations, Taiyang sighed, "My Master explained a few things to me and gave me some orders. But do not fear, not a single one will bring harm to either Master or to the one she has her eyes set on... either one."

Expression slightly relieved, Carwennan sighed, "I had been hoping for such, I will admit. Do know that if things will change..."

Giving him a look, Taiyang smirked, "You will attempt to end me? I would not blame you as I would do much the same to you... Though that would be an interesting fight between the two of us and I will admit, I am unsure which of us would win in such a case." Suddenly, her normal, bubbly expression was back, "But enough of that! Let's talk more about my darling Master and her love~" Clasping her hands together, the Dao cooed, "I wish to know more about them~"

That got her a laugh from the dagger and a grin, which right then told her that she would like working with him. Old and powerful, yet very intelligent and cunning. A perfect counterpoint to her as he could strike from the shadows as she distracts or strikes from the front. Truly, her Master was wise without knowing...

When Natsumi returned, however, she paused and gave both smiling blades a look, '... They're up to something, I know it.' She mentally sighed a few seconds later, 'I wonder if this is what Harry-Chan has to deal with regarding Juuchi...' Shaking that off, the Kitsune put away her clothes before turning to Taiyang and pausing.

Mainly because she realized that said sword was currently wearing a sleeping Yukata that was at least a size too small in the chest and was open enough at the top to be distracting.

For several moments, Natsumi stared before mentally slapping herself and drop kicking her hormones. Due to closing her eyes, she missed the smirk on her newest weapon's face before it was gone by the time she opened her eyes. Taking a deep breath, Natsumi looked away with a cough, "So... do you have any, um... better clothes than that?'

Considering the question for a few moments, Taiyang hummed, "I can easily change my clothes, Master." Moments later, her current ones fell apart into sparkles revealing her in the same ones that she wore the night before. Winking, the dao grinned, "See, your foxy blade can do many things~"

Yet again, the teenage Kitsune just sort of stared before a mental Natsumi began to swing around a spiked club at her hormones. What made it worse was that, obviously, Taiyang had an idea of what was going on in her mind as she gave a wink.

There were times she despised going through puberty.

Ignoring the cackle at the back of her mind, Natsumi took a deep breath to calm herself before giving a nod, "Well, that's good to know at least." Rolling her shoulders a bit, she hummed, "Anyways, we should probably get going to breakfast."

Somehow, she was not sure how, Taiyang went from sitting seiza to leaping into the air and twirling, "Mikon! Breakfast sounds good, Master!" Landing on her feet, she grinned a little bit and leaned towards her, "I haven't eaten in centuries!"

Briefly, the young Kitsune grimaced at that as she was reminded of how Harry was treated before shoving that to the side, "Then we'll just have to make sure that you have a good breakfast."

Moments later, she regretted that as Taiyang glomped her, with the teenager's face shoved into her chest, "You do care, Master! I'm so happy that you care about your foxy servant~ Mikon!"

Carwennan, meanwhile, held his chest as he nearly fell over laughing as Natsumi attempted to struggle free of her new sword's grip, even as she was swung around by said bubbly spirit. He slowed down, only to laugh again as her eyes, practically the only parts of her face visible as the rest was in marshmallow hell, both glared and pleaded at him. But all he did was laugh until he started crying while declaring that he was going to enjoy his fellow blade's company.

The utter asshole, at least in Natsumi's mind.

Eventually she got freed from the clutches of her newest weapon and the three left the room to head to breakfast. As they were walking, however, Taiyang was looking around them at their surroundings before focusing on Natsumi who was wearing a tank top and jeans, "Hm... what interesting clothing that you are wearing, Master."

Just blinking, Natsumi looked herself over before frowning, "Um, it's my usual clothing? What's wrong with it?"

Cupping her chin in thought, Taiyang shook her head before gesturing with one hand, "Nothing wrong with it, Master. But it is rather... different from what I am used to. Though I suppose that it has been nearly a thousand years."

With a small shrug, the teenager shook her head, "Well, it is what a lot of people will wear outside of formal occasions and things like the beach, festivals, and the like. Besides... its comfortable."

Still cupping her chin, Taiyang hummed, "I see, and I can see how especially in warmer weather. Though I do note something else, Master~" At the suspicious gaze, she continued with a smirk, "It shows off your form~"

It took a few moments before Natsumi realized what she meant and flushed quite a bit, "Sh-shut up..." Getting a giggle from the foxy spirit, she shook her head a little before stretching a little, "But, yeah... this is normal clothing for the time."

Frowning thoughtfully, the Dao frowned, "I see... do you have other examples, Master? So that I know what sort of clothing is normal in this day and age?" At the look, she smiled slightly and gestured to herself, "While I prefer my current outfit, I can understand that if the style in this day and age is more like yours that I might stand out."

Natsumi blinked as she realized what she meant and gave the sword a once over with a slight frown, "That... could be a problem. Can you disguise yourself as a human..." Getting a scoff, with the ears and tail of her newest blade vanishing, she facepalmed, "Right, Kitsune sword... um, I think that we can do that." Becoming thoughtful, the teen Kitsune hummed, "Probably give you a clothing catalogue."

Now it was Taiyang's turn to blink, "Clothing catalogue, Master?"

Scratching her neck, the only non-weapon spirit chuckled, "Right, forgot, they didn't have those until recently historically. Um..." Motioning with her hands, Natsumi shook her head, "Clothing catalogues are, well, books. But they're filled with photographs of clothing in them, pictures, as well as the prices. Since they're mass produced and there's standard sizes for pretty much everyone? You can order clothing from them and have it sent to you."

Eyes widened a bit, Taiyang tapped her chin, "That... is rather impressive, Master. Mass produced and standard sizes? So I believe that means that they can produce the same clothing many, many times for different shapes of people. But they can be of general fitting then? Rather incredible."

For a few moments, Natsumi stared at her before nodding, "That's... actually basically it." Internally though, she frowned, 'Huh... is her bubbliness just a front... What am I saying, of course it is.'

Almost as if she knew what her Master was saying, the blade smirked before going back to a smile, "Hmm... well, if you give me some examples than I should be able to alter the appearance of what I wear to them, Master. Wouldn't be quite that hard, though it may be problematic to reproduce the feel of them."

It was her turn to be surprised when Natsumi gave a shrug, "That's not a problem, it's only temporary until we buy you some clothes and build you a wardrobe of your own." Hearing Taiyang stop, she turned and blinked, "Are you crying-"

Seconds later, she once more found her face shoved into marshmellow hell as Taiyang, crying, pulled her into a hug, "Oh, Master! You're so kind to your foxy blade! Thank you! Thank you a thousand times!"

Meanwhile, as she was swung around, Natsumi internally groaned, 'This is going to be a thing, isn't it? At least it's smells nice and is soft though not as nice as Louisiana's-DAMMIT!'

Yet again, she swore that she could hear Tamamo cackle in the back of her mind.

Thankfully for her sanity, she was soon let go by the sword spirit and they reached the dining room to find the food set out. Almost as soon as they entered, Taiyang's mouth began to water at the smells that tickled her nose. She really had not been kidding about being hungry after trapped for a thousand years. And she was interested in how things might have changed since then.

Looking around, she did raise an eyebrow as she noted various plates on the table, a number of which she could smell was meat from a pig. There were also eggs in a rectangular form as well and other items besides the rice that she had expected. But what caught her attention was a small device on a shelf from which music could be heard. Ignoring the looks she got from Hoshi and Tsuki, she practically bounced over to the object and began to examine it more closely. There was a long, black cord of sorts that came from the back and attached to the wall, and she could see that the sound was coming from a roundish thing behind mesh which made her frown, "Now what is this?"

Confused, and tilting her head cutely, Rei blinked alongside her sister, "You mean the radio?"

Taiyang frowned as she rolled the word around in her mouth, "Raadio... radio... is that what this is called?" At their nods, she looked back at the object, "Hm, yes, I was wondering what this radio is."

Glancing at her sister, Asuka shrugged some, "It plays music and tells the news?"

Somewhat amused at their expressions, the Dao shook her head, 'Adorable.' Lightly smiling, she hummed some, "Hai, I can hear the music, though I did not know about... news coming from it. I do wonder how?" Picking it up, she turned it over in her hands to giggles from the two Kits, "Does it use some form of magic? Perhaps a scrying spell of some sort?"

Eyebrow raised, Taichi swallowed his egg before giving her a considering look, "Huh... normally in stories when you have someone introduced to a radio, they think that there's tiny people trapped inside of it. Same with television."

Rolling the unfamiliar word around in her head, Taiyang turned to him, "Television? What is that?" She then gave a shrug as she looked back at the radio in her hands, "As for tiny people? I suppose that it would not be impossible for one to think so. But I very much doubt that it could be such as it would be a hard thing to do with even magic. No... it would have to be some sort of divination, listening to things from far away."

Lips curling into a small smile, Carnwennan chuckled some from where he sat on one side of Natsumi, already placing some food into his plate, "There is actually no magic involved as a matter of fact." At the perked up look from Taiyang, he continued, "Radios either transmit or receive an invisible form of light. Said light carries with it information that is translated inside of them into sound, which comes out from speakers."

Intrigued by what she was hearing, the fox-blade hummed as she rubbed her chin before placing the radio back, "Hmm... interesting. I take it that the sounds are somehow recorded in some manner?"

With a slight nod, Carnwennan nodded, "That is correct, they're recorded on various physical mediums such as thin, round discs called 'CDs' which use a focused beam of light called a laser to read them. There's small groves and such that become translated as sound by the beam and released." He made a motion with his hands, "Before you ask, it is powered not by magic, but a form of tamed lightning called 'electricty' which itself is transmitted via wires from a place that produces them. Or, for portable ones, from small containers filled with a chemical paste that also makes electricity."

Nodding, Taiyang placed the radio back, "I see, humanity and the others have advanced far if they have tamed the forces of the world such as light and lightning. Very impressive."

Just coughing, Kensuke gave her a shrug, "Well... to an extent? Some people do die of electrocution, when electricity enters their body through an accident like a lightning bolt."

However, much to his surprise, the foxy blade waved him off as she went back to the table, "That is to be expected. Humanity and the other races have harnessed fire for millennia, yet it still can kill or harm if one is careless. Lightning would be not much different." Taking a seat beside Natsumi, she considered the food in front of her with a hum, "I see a number of different types of meat. Surprising as I remember meat eating being banned."

Biting down on a crispy piece of bacon, Natsumi shrugged a little, "That went away with the Meiji Restoration about... a hundred and fifty years ago or so? Something like that." Giving a small shrug, she glanced towards Taiyang, "So a lot of people in Japan eat meat, though rationing due to the current war has cut down on that."

With a nod of understanding, the Dao frowned slightly as she remembered being told about the war. Meanwhile, Sakuya glanced at her parents as well as Hoshi and Tsuki before turning back to Taiyang, "As for food... we have rice, miso, eggs, bacon, ham, some sausage, and toast with peanut butter."

Eyebrow raised as every Kitsune there licked their lips at the last bit, Taiyang hummed, "Hmm, I see. Well, I would not mind that, though may I ask what there is to drink?"

That time, it was Kogitsune, who was a woman this morning, that was the one who answered, "We have coffee, green and black tea, orange juice, and apple juice as well as plain milk."

Her tail swishing behind her, Taiyang looked over the choices before focusing on the one that Natsumi was currently pouring milk into, "And what is that you are drinking, Master?"

Just blinking, Natsumi looked down at her mug before shrugging, "Black tea, actually." Taking a sip, she hummed happily, "It helps me wake up some."

Now thoughtful, the Dao looked at the small tea pot that Natsumi had poured the tea from and took it after taking a nod. Pouring out some into a mug that was given to her, she sniffed the dark brew, "Hmm..." With a glance to the teenage Kitsune beside her, she plucked some of the hardened honey (and was that not interesting in and of itself now?) and placed them into her steaming cup and stirred it around before adding milk. Taking a sip, Taiyang frowned a little, "A bit bitter still, I think. But I can see why you would like it."

With a shrug, Natsumi grabbed a piece of toast and began to put peanut butter on it. Once she was done, she paused for a moment before placing it on Taiyang's plate, "Here, try some toast with peanut butter, it's a type of bread."

Eyebrow raised, Taiyang took the offered toast and sniffed at it. The brown paste on it didn't exactly look appitizing, but... the smell made her mouth water. With a mental shrug, she took a bite and her eyes widened. A few moments later, she blinked as she noticed that it was gone and she looked around, "Where...?"

Highly amused, the teenage Kitsune next to her snickered a little bit, "Seems that we have another convert to the way of peanut butter." At the confused look, Natsumi shook her head, "You ate it all, though that is not unexpected. Peanut butter is food of the Kami."

Only nodding, Taiyang hummed, "Hai, I can see why you would claim such." Licking around the inside of her cheek for more of the delectable taste, she smiled before taking another piece of toast and placing peanut butter on it as her tail wagged, "I think that I shall have more..."

That got her grins and some chuckles of agreement from the others around them.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Past Promises Redeemed

Fubuki Farms, Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan

26 July 2014
Spoiler: Meeting the Arashis

Colombe slowed down the rental van as she turned off the road out of Kushiro toward the farm lane, then glanced over at Tsukiakari. "Thank you again for coming with me for this."

The Kyo Gunto smiled back. "It is the least that I could do. After all you did promise Master Ian to keep his children in the Arashi Clan safe. I called ahead so they expect your arrival."

Colombe turned to look at her daughters in the back as she parked at the gate.

Ehren raised an eyebrow. "Arashi Clan, Mutti?" The dagger asked calmly as they got out to wait for their hosts.

Colombe smiled faintly in memory. "Oui. Ian saved a group of Yokai women from a brothel on his first visit here. They were ill-treated by the humans of the day and were selling their bodies to survive."

The rapier's smile grew warmer as a pair of young-seeming women walked out of the small store next to the gate and approached the van. "Ian was a good man, really one of the best I have ever known. he made arrangements to rescue them from their lives, give them a home here, and make it so their children with him could thrive. On his deathbed, he asked my word to look after them when my oath allowed and my duties permit."

"C-Colombe-san?" The leading woman gave her a shocked look. "After so long..."

Colombe stared in turn before stepping forward to embrace the Hone-Onna. "Keiko-san! It's good to see you! As I promised Ian at the end and then Lyra, I'm here to check on you."

Keiko smiled "He told me in his last letter that he was making arrangements with you, and he mentioned an oath that would have to be resolved first."

Colombe nodded, "Oui, I swore to the Kami Hachiman in 1864 to not set foot in Japan until certain preconditions were met. Which they were finally a few months ago. May I introduce my daughters Claire and Ehren du Chasteler? You already know Tsukiakari."

Keiko smiled, and then gestured to a teenage girl who stepped forward and bowed. "And this is my great-great-granddaughter Shirai who came along to keep these old bones company."

Colombe smiled gently. "It is good to meet you, Shirai. Ehren is the spirit of her dagger, while Claire is that of her piano. Let me give you a lift."

The gate was raised and they drove through into the underground parking garage. "How was the drive up?" Keiko asked as Colombe pulled a small box from the trunk.

Colombe shrugged, "It was a very nice drive, and thanks to Tsukiakari's guidance we did not get lost. I don't know how much she told you..."

Keiko looked at Colombe, "She mentioned that you had several items for us when she called up here to set the meeting up."

"Oui. A set of long-distance Portkeys to Belgium should the situation go totally badly here with the Statute of Secrecy falling. I hope such are never necessary, but better to be safe then sorry, non?" Colombe said, ticking items off on her fingers. "Also a long-distance crystal ball to talk to me, plus my phone number. Finally, I set up a Lloyds' account for you with some Scottish assets that I liquidated. Ehren is my financial deputy and will supply the particulars to your accountant, but it gives access to non-magical monies should you need them as a buffer or for emergencies."

Keiko nodded along and then spoke quietly, "I hope that it does not, but when the Statute finally falls.... I lived through the Boshin War."

Colombe made a face and then sighed, "If you call me, I will come running of course. I owe Ian that and so much more, which is why I promised him to be there for you and the others. Now I can finally start to redeem that promise."

Keiko nodded, "I'd like you to come back in December when the others are present so you and your family can meet them too. We also have a celebration of Ian and Lyra's life then and would appreciate you participating."

Colombe smiled and then looked at Ehren and Claire talking happily to Shirai. "I'd like that a lot. Ehren should be out for her winter break at school then."
-------------------------

Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Kamakura, Japan

A teenage boy ran fingers through his messy hair nervously, and then adjusted his glasses as he reached the ancient stone staircase. He then gathered his courage and began to walk up the familiar pathway to where his old instructor awaited him. She had told him that she wished to see him once more to help him come to terms with the past memories that were plaguing him.
Spoiler: Uesaka Yoichi

As he reached the top, he suddenly cocked his head with a smile as the wind from the city ruffled his mop of hair. He stood there, sensing the wind, his domain, before turning and walking across the courtyard with the ease of one who had walked this way a hundred times before as he made his way to Tokunotakai's dojo.
Spoiler: The Lessons Of The Past

He slipped off his shoes and walked inside to where Tokunotakai knelt meditating in seiza. with her blade resting in front of her. With a brief flutter of nervousness, he knelt facing her with her steel between them. Slowly ofuda on the walls glowed with their own energies, surrounding them in a web of light.

Light that grew steadily as one by one, the kanji for the Seven Virtues of Bushido flickered to life on her blade in a rainbow of colors.

Suddenly the kanji for the Virtues manifested from the blade in orbs of onibi witchfire and began to orbit them both.

For long moments, the only sound was the wind in the leaves of summer from the garden as the orbs circled them both.

His breathing slowed and became regular as he sensed the wind; he became one with the wind that was filling his soul and his spirit.

Then still with her eyes closed, Tokunotakai bowed her head to him. "Welcome to the Tsurugaoka Hachimangū once more, Uesaka Yoichi. Or perhaps I should call you by your name upon an earlier cycle of the Wheel of Reincarnation, Tokugawa Gorōta."

He cocked his head and his features blurred. His sharp nose became a raven's beak and one feathered arm adjusted his glasses perched on his beak. "That is a relief, Sensei. I am not going mad then, nor is this possession by a Yuurei."

Tokunotakai smiled serenely. "No. In fact, you are not the first case of knowing reincarnation that I have met." The Masamune's lips quirked, "It turns out that my prize kendoka pupil faced Okita Souji in the prefectural championship finals after she defeated Uesugi Kenshin four points to three."

Yoichi cocked his raven head. "Truly, Sensei?"

Tokunotakai opened her eyes at last to regard him, "Truly." she said with a smile, which faded, "You know how desperate the Pacific War was when you fell on the battlefield."

He sighed deeply, "Yes, I know how desperate the war was then. I also know that the Kamo government was desperately seeking an equalizer when I fell to buy time and protect Fudo-chan."

Toku sighed and nodded, "Hai. One of their projects back then was an attempt to bring back the heroes of Japan to fight against the American tide. Abe no Seimei, your honored ancestor Tokugawa Ieyasu, Oda Nobunaga, Queen Himeko, Miyamoto Musashi. Not caring about the disruption to the afterlife or the consequences for their actions." Tokunotakai sighed, "They had some limited successes with a few of the test subjects they used, and also apparently some of their magics were passed down to the future children of those experimented on. Such is the case with Uesugi-san and Souji-san along with a few others."

The tengu squawked as his feathers ruffled. "And... I was one?"

Tokunotaki nodded, "Yes, you were one. You mentioned ordering Fudo-chan to report to your liege lord that Fushimi-jo was about to fall. I asked her about that -- not mentioning you -- but that I had seen in a temple scroll that she was present then. She told me the tale of the last stand and heroic defense that allowed Ieyasu-dono to assemble his armies to win at Sekigahara."

Tokunotakai leaned forward and bowed her head in respect. "Two thousand men fought and died to the last under your command facing twenty times their number. They bought ten days' time with their deaths to let their liege lord escape and rally his men to win Japan. Ten days as Fushimi castle burned around you and them, before you ordered my sister to depart with the news that the castle would fall on the morrow, and rallied the last ten men to launch an all-out attack to cover her departure."

His violet eyes widened as he remembered the desperate defense, sortie and counterattack as casualties mounted and the hopeless defense was fought. Men volunteering to go into the flames of war for him as he wept with pride for their sacrifice, every moment a precious treasure for his liege lord who got the time he needed to really his troops and allies.

Men who he loved like his own sons, and who saw him as their father, who in turn sacrificed themselves one by one as they fought with the strength that came from true brotherhood on the battlefield. Men he wept for as he loved them like his sons as they fell around him.

Just as his men, his sons, had fought and died for him on Saipan in 1944 in similar hopeless circumstances. Fighting for love of their country, love of Fudo-chan and their own loved ones... and love of their commander who would always be the first into the attack and the last in the rearguard.

A commander, he suddenly realized, that a much younger Fudo-chan, had said was worthy to wield her as they fell back side by side as the rearguard from the burning East tower, set ablaze by him, into the inner keep where the handful of survivors still held strong.

His beak opened and he whispered words said four hundred and fourteen years ago in his last message delivered by his faithful blade Masamune-no-Fudo to his Lord's ears. "But that is not the true meaning of being a warrior, and it would be difficult to account as loyalty. Rather, I will stand off the forces of the entire country here, and, without even one one-hundredth of the men necessary to do so, will throw up a defense and die a resplendent death. By doing so I will show that to abandon a castle that should be defended, or to value one's life so much as to avoid danger and to show the enemy one's weakness is not within the family traditions of my master Ieyasu."

Tokunotakai nodded solemnly and looked into his eyes as she gave him a proud smile and spoke words that pierced his heart. "Is it any wonder that Kamo's government would wish to bring back Tokugawa Ieyasu's great loyal general Torii Mototada?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

El Dia Del Cóndor Prologue - Ghosts, A Candle, And An Examen (Day of the Condor)

July 27th, 2014

Iglesia de la Encarnación, Asunción, Paraguay

The noon bell pealed out across the city as a lone young woman made her way up the steps of the Spanish Colonial church. Dressed in the floor length white and red dress made of nadatui traditional lace with a shawl around her head as a concession to the cool temperatures of winter, she was the image of an upper-middle class daughter going to Mass, no doubt the child of one of the government civil servants here in the capital.

Nothing could be further from the truth for Estelle Maria Barmejo.
Spoiler: Estelle


As she slowly climbed the steps, she felt not just the weight of her true misericordia dagger body in the sheath hidden under her blouse, but also the weight of her ghosts. Friends long gone but never to be forgotten who had made her what she was and in whose name she would never forsake the good fight.

Jean-Francois. Colombe. Sinbad. Norimune. Simón. Isla.

She stepped past a trio of policemen watching for vagrants and troublemakers, and entered the nave of the cathedral. As always in her long long life, she felt a tension leave her frame as she walked the consecrated ground. Automatically she knelt as she reached a carved wooden crucifix in an unoccupied side chapel and her lips moved in a hushed, reverent whisper as she spoke in the archaic Spanish of her birth in the Seventeenth Century. "{Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the universe. All that has been created has been made for You. Make full use of Your rights over me.}"

After finishing the prayer and crossing herself, she then placed a 100,000 guarani banknote in the poor box before taking a votive candle to light in memory of those whose sacrifices that she would honor until she was granted her final reward.

Tears fell from her eyes as she bowed her head before the now-burning candle, remembering a French noble, a squib who had commissioned her and spent of his skills and inheritance to craft a magical weapon that would protect his family.... A family now long dead in the French Revolution and the turmoils of Europe.

Jean-Francois du Chasteler.

Then her memories moved on to a gold haired and blue eyed young woman. A noblewoman of honor and courage who had been the first to Master her and had fought with her in hand with courage, skill, and unbending honor for God until....

Until the day where she had failed Colombe, the day where she was forced to helplessly watch as the ship that her First Mistress was defending exploded from a blasting curse that Estelle knew deep in her steel she could have negated with her powers. Could have saved her Mistress from drowning that black day two hundred and seventy years ago.

Colombe du Chasteler.

Another memory, of a brown skinned and mustachioed man who had carried her on his Voyages, where she had served him ably and well until his ship sank and she was thrown overboard by his panicked crew just before she manifested this avatar.

Sinbad al-Beyruti. Sinbad the Sailor.

Yet another face from the past, this one a blue eyed blond with fox ears and tail. A fellow weapons spirit who had taken her in, acted in her way as a surrogate parent, and had served as her role model through war, chase, and betrayal by their employer until her death at Trafalgar as her ship sank under her.

Muramasa-no-Norimune.

Another face, this one dark eyed and dark haired in his uniform as he led the armies of liberation only to see his dreams of a free, prosperous and stable country that he loves ripped away from him by the shortsightedness, greed, and corruption of the other warlords of Latin America. A shared dream that she promised his ghost once again that she would make a reality.

Simón Bolívar. The Liberator.

Another face, this one of a short and curvaceous dark haired laughing young woman in the dress of the 1890s. Her soulmate, her great love, who she still mourned and wept for as she kept her heritage and careful stewardship alive for her people.

Isla de Padilla.

All those soulmates who had touched her life, molded her soul as surely as the smiths that had forged her dagger body had done so with hammer blows on her white-hot steel as she lay on the anvil. All those soulmates who were blessings from God to act as signposts to the path set before her.

Finally she raised her blue eyes to the crucifix and began to pray Saint Ignatius of Loyola's Examen of Consciousness that she had learned from the Jesuits after the Peninsular War. A prayer that had been taught to a wounded and hurting young spirit to help her find meaning in the pain of her losses and the hurts of her life to act as an anchor in the storms of her life.

Become Aware Of God's Presence.

She reflected upon the day that had been, upon how God had touched her life in all His manifold and mysterious ways. The breath of fresh air through the windows of her safehouse as she unpacked after retrieving her gear that had been smuggled in. The young beggar child who had been sent her way so she could give him and his family a good nourishing meal with her charity. The network of ears and helpers who insured that she would not have to fight alone against the evils of the world.

Review The Day With Gratitude.

Yes, she had been given these gifts by God, and was grateful to be allowed to do good in this hurting and broken world. Somewhere, somehow, she knew that her loved ones were smiling upon her poor, failing, humble efforts from where they sat enthroned in glory in heaven. For just as she had fought much, she knew that her struggles and trials were not, would never be in vain for in God all things were possible as her merely mortal strength failed.

Pay Attention To Your Emotions.

Once more she looked inward, to her steel and her soul. Sensing her burning anger at the injustices of the world that she fought, at those who oppressed their fellow man for temporal gain. Sensing her love for those she remembered and defended. Sensing her loneliness and regrets as she remembered those whom she had failed, who had died to leave her to continue on the path they had marked for her.

Choose One Feature Of The Day And Pray About It.

Once more she reviewed her spirit. Again she felt her righteous anger burn within her soul. With that insight, her head bowed over her clasped hands and she whispered in the Spanish of her youth and birth. "{Christ the King, make of me a weapon in Your Hand against the snares, wiles and plots of the Evil One. Send me to always stand as a sheepdog to protect Your Flock and Your Shepherds from the wolves that prowl to consume them. For I am yours in all things as Your instrument here upon this needy world. Amen.}"

Look Toward Tomorrow.

With that, she closed her eyes, reviewing the rumors that her network of friends had whispered to her about activity in the Ministerio de Magia de Paraguay. Activity linked to some of the families who had supported the Stroessner Dictatorship and had grown fat and wealthy by acting as the regime's enforcers. Some of whom, she knew for a fact, had ties to the remnants of Grindelwald's supporters who had fled a Europe that was no longer safe for them after their defeats in the Second World War to set up shop in a sympathetic third country.

Families who were the foes that Estelle Barmejo, known in urban myth, in whispered tales, and in irate arrest warrants by tyrants magical and mundane as La Paloma, would fight until her dying breath and the last drop of blood in her veins.

For the sake of her God and her ghosts.

 

[darthcourt10]

Amused Bystander

A butter Daggers Bizarre Nightmare


Claire stirred awake as she felt someone get onto her bed. Opening her eyes she saw it was her dear little sister Ehren. "Nightmare"? she asked in concern.

"Ja,it..was rather strange and scary big sister". Ehren said as she embraced Claire for warmth and comfort.

Claire returned the embrace and began stroking her head to calm her. "What was it about"? she asked.

"I don't remember much but i think i was being held captive by some faceless man who sounded oddly familiar. Ehren replied as she further cuddled her sister.

"He said something about me joining him on a mad plan of conquest,how....how it was my destiny. It was at that point i noticed he was wearing an SS uniform and...and i tried to escape but he always caught me and said i would have to be...'reeducated'. she said in a near whisper clearly distressed.

For a moment Claire paused her stroking of Ehrens head but immediately resumed it. "That does sound scary little sister,but remember it's just a bad dream you're are here safe and sound".

" And if anyone does try to take you against your will,mutti will protect". Claire said.

" Your right big sister,mutti will protect me,protect us and speaking of mutti this is where it gets a bit strange for me". Ehren replied as she recalled the latter portion of her nightmare.

"While that faceless man kept trying to persuade me to join him, there was suddenly explosions everywhere"!

" Then this magic portal appeared and out came mutti,sword drawn straight at the faceless man all the while calmly stating that she would not let him corrupt me".

" The faceless man then replied back that "one shall stand" and then mutti said "one shall fall". stated Ehren as she focused on recalling what happened next.

"One shall stand,one shall fall"? repeated a most bemused Claire.

" Isn't that from that transformers cartoon movie we watched a while back during the Rerun marathon special on television"? Claire questioned.

" Ja, indeed it does,threw me for a loop when i heard them say it and then when they clashed swords against each other actual background music began playing".

" The song from the same movie to be precise,'The Touch' by Stan Bush, i may have sung along as it played". sheepishly admitted Ehren.

" Nothing wrong with that singing is good for your soul,what happened next? Claire asked while chuckling a bit.

"Well that's where it got hazy for me,all i can remember is that the faceless man had out manouvered mutti and was about to strike her from behind when i woke up in a cold sweat and immediately came to you". Ehren said sleepily as the act of remembering and telling Claire about her nightmare tired her out.

As she cuddled Ehren she begun to softly sing her to sleep using an old lullaby popular in Germany. For her sisters sake she prayed that her dreams would be more pleasant for the rest of the night.

---------+----------+------------+----------+------------
And done! Yellowhammer i hope you don't mind me borrowing Claire and Ehren for this snippet (can't think of a good title for it though) about her having an ominous dream. I had a plot bunny that would not leave me be until i wrote it. Just to be clear this is completely non canon unless you say otherwise.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

El Dia Del Cóndor (I) (Day of the Condor)

July 27th, 2014

Iglesia de la Encarnación, Asunción, Paraguay
Spoiler: Pickup

Estelle finally stood up from her prayers and took a deep breath.

She reached inside her purse and pulled out an antique silver pocket watch made by Breguet et Fils.

Briefly her thumb rubbed the heraldic crest on the case, remembering the first time she saw it on the flag that Simón was raising to cheers from the gathered people. "A condor in the blue field with a grenade and a sword in the claws; below a balloon on which ten presided stars of a flame rise; It will be crowned with a laurel wreath and bordered with the ribbon and star of the Order of Liberators, and the following nickname: Vixit et Vincet Amore Patriae." She whispered to herself as she remembered Simón's hand giving her this watch that he had commissioned for her as a birthday gift.

With that she flipped the watch's case open to check the time. Enchantments sprang to life to protect and preserve her prized keepsake as it ticked away the time just as surely as it had in 1820 for her. She looked at the ticking second hand along with the charms and enchantments that were revealing her path ahead with a glimpse into the future. Sensing even now the man she needed to see approaching his rendezvous with her.

Time.

With that she snapped the watch closed and gestured as she stepped out of sight behind a pillar. Her skin darkened to the copper tone of a woman with Indian blood and grew lined as her lustrous brown hair lightened and was shot through with gray. Her blue eyes shaded to a dark hazel as wrinkles formed on her avatar.

Then the elderly Mestiza peasant matron who stood in place of the upper-middle class Criollo maiden hobbled out of the chapel.

Her hand dipped into her purse once more and produced a worn and battered Bible in Spanish with a Dove of Peace on the cover as she exited the church. Her keen eyes saw a businessman with a simple crucifix lapel pin in his old-fashioned three-piece suit so she shifted her hobbling gait toward him as she began to grumble about 'that thief and rogue of a merchant' in Guarani.

As he passed her, in the instant her body and his screened her left hand from observation by the policemen in the square, her hand darted with the speed of a striking cobra into his pocket and withdrew holding a cigarette case containing the report on Malafé Associates that her agent inside the Paraguayan Branch of the company run by the distant cousin of the Spanish Minister of Magic had compiled. She tucked the cigarette case into her purse as she reached the bus stop that she would use to return to her safehouse.
------------------

Safehouse, Asunción, Paraguay

Estelle leaned back in her chair and frowned after reading the papers.

The Malafés were a long-standing thorn in her side, the powers behind the thrones of a half-dozen strongmen and local politicians. Working their wiles with webs of blackmail, obligation, and bribery. Before the Abyssal War, they were heavily involved in shipping between Africa, the Americas and the branch of the family in Spain.

Not all that shipping had been legal by a long shot, nor were all the cargoes mundane. Narcotics, blood diamonds, slaves, weapons, potion ingredients, fugitives from justice, exotic animals, explosives, stolen items, Dark Artifacts. No matter what it was, if the price was right the Malafés would find a way to profit from it.

She sighed as she remembered how after the defeat of Germany, they had secretly shipped certain Nazi and Fascist officials who had paid well to flee Europe before the Allies could track them down for justice to South America. Some of whom had made their new lives by assisting the right-wing governments of the Cold War such as Alfredo Stroessner here and Juan Perón in Argentina just across the river from where she sat. Who in turn had paid the Malafés well for their dirty work such as brokering mercenary contracts, taking political prisoners on 'one way ship rides' that ended in battered corpses being washed ashore weeks later, and insuring that government-protected cocaine shipments reached the streets of Europe and America.

She reread the line that had her thinking hard.

'Contract for secure special shipments from Special Facility #1 with Prosegur Compañía de Seguridad, S.A. Begins tomorrow. Accepted, transport freight hauler will be dispatched tomorrow at 4 AM.'

That housing and industrial compound in the hills of Pirayú that she had been trying for years to infiltrate. She knew that the Malafés were up to something there, but what they were doing was the big question.

A question that she fully intended to find the answers to, she nodded to herself.

With that in mind, she turned to her equipment cache here. After some thought, she loaded a MP5A3 sub-machine gun that she had acquired from the arsenal of the Policía Federal Argentina six years before and attached a silencer on the muzzle. Next came her backup weapons in a pair of Brazilian Taurus PT92 pistols, the homegrown version of the Beretta 92. Next came a brace of Cold Steel 80STK12 throwing knives, along with a set of lockpicks, a pair of hidden video and audio cameras in smoke detectors, her illicit network jailbreak tools and a miniature solar-powered wi-fi booster. Last a space-expanded bottle of water and high-energy ration bars.

These all got placed into a small space-expanded black backpack along with her gear harness. She then checked the map of the roads one last time to memorize her plan.

Finally ready, she pulled on a black turtleneck sweater, pocketed a set of finger-less gloves, and laced up dark cargo pants over steel-toed and rubber soled combat boots.

Finally satisfied, she took the most important step as she knelt and began to pray to fortify her soul.
------------------

Avenida Eusebio Ayala, Asunción, Paraguay

July 28th, 2014
Spoiler: Insertion

Estelle clung like an ebon-black spider to the rusted and chipped support beams of the underside of the bridge that carried a local street over the main highway that the truck must use to reach the Malafé's compound. She had left her safehouse to here dressed as a bicycle messenger late at night, discarded the bicycle blocks away, and then jogged to her planned insertion point.

Scant meters below her head, the early-morning traffic sped by, not noticing the black clad dagger hanging inverted from the bridge thanks to sticking charms and her natural athleticism that allowed her to climb and crawl to her current position. Next to her, the pack containing the rest of her gear was stuck to the beam.

A flash of amber light approaching at speed caught her attention.

Blue eyes narrowed as she whispered a spell to sharpen her vision.

A trio of jeeps with flashing amber light bars painted in the gold and black of the Prosegur armed security company -- state-sanctioned mercenaries in all but name down here -- and filled with heavily armed guards formed a wedge in front. Next was a gold and black painted Prosegur semi with a heavily armored trailer and cab, followed by another trio of gun jeeps.

She grinned smugly behind her black balaclava and flexed her free hand.

Perfect.

With that her arm moved in a motion she had done thousands of times before.

Her fingers found the dragonhide of her hilt.

She hissed in delight as her true body cleared her sheath as her smirk widened.

Fifty centimeters of master-crafted razor sharp and wickedly pointed Toledo steel gleamed in the flashing lights of the convoy.

Dark blue eyes filled with the fire and passion of her faith and beliefs narrowed to burning slits filled with purpose.

Then as the semi-truck rocketed underneath the bridge, Estelle Maria Barmejo-du Chasteler, La Paloma of Latin America folklore, moved with the speed of a jaguar leaping from a tree onto its prey.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-It's time to start putting this plot into gear and flooring the gas. Just a word of caution, Wolff will be back front and center and he is a really bad dude, so expect some not-fun segments when he finally makes his move on Ehren and Colombe.

The Board Is Set....

27 July 2014

Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Kamakura, Japan
Spoiler: Setting Up The Chess Pieces For a Game Of White...

Colombe smiled at Tokunotakai as they broke their embrace under the torii gate of the shrine. "You plan to come and visit me in August, To-chan?"

The Masamune miko nodded with a serene smile. "Hai. I certainly shall, Co-chan. Aetios-san did invite me to speak to her about Onmyouji, and I can give her some basic scrolls when we visit her for her friend's anniversary. Besides, Claire shall be playing for the party, neh?"

Colombe laughed as she looked at her brunette daughter who was petting yet another dog. "Indeed she will be playing. I'm looking forward to it."

Ehren, meanwhile, aimed her phone at the shrine and clicked the camera shutter to take one more photo, to store one more memory of Japan. She then turned and smiled at the pack of teenagers coming down the street from the train station. "Oh, Harry-san, you came to see us off!"

The young man leading them grinned. "I got your message about the acceptance letter to Hogwarts and wanted to say that I'll be looking forward to seeing you on the Hogwarts Express and then at school. Even if we won't be in the same classes there."

Ehren gave him a small smile, "Ja. I have sent messages informing Hermione, Ronald, and Draco of my acceptance as well. Unfortunately, I shall be unable to attend your birthday party in four days time since I must return to Belgium and handle the responsibilities that have piled up for myself and Mutti."

She then reached into her space-expanded purse and withdrew a wrapped hardcover book. "That said, I wish for you to have this along with our best wishes for a happy birthday." Internally, she smirked and saluted Uncle Kansha who had mentioned that Harry was a cook. Ehren had deduced that he would enjoy this copy of The Art Of French Cookery from 1827. She then smoothly continued. "Who are your friends, Harry?"

That was the cue for the pair of submarines who were flanking Harry to step forward. The one on the left flicked a lock of blue hair shading to a dark pink at the tips behind her ear and then grinned. "I'm the spirit of Submarine I-19, Iku the sniper of the sea!"

The other girl gave her own smile and adjusted her glasses. She then spoke in German. "{And I am the spirit of Submarine I-8, Hachi.}"

Ehren's face lit up with her answering smile. Meanwhile Iku stowed the present as Claire and Colombe joined the conversation. "{It is a pleasure to meet you, Hachi. Where dd you learn German?}" The Prussian dagger spoke politely.

The blonde submarine's smile faded slightly. "{During the war I was ordered to do a round trip to Germany with strategic materials and critical intelligence. Of all my sisters, I was the only one to make it there and then back.}"

Ehren nodded in understanding. "{I understand, that was a terrible time for both our countries.}" Ehren's smile faded and she spoke quietly with well hidden pain in her coolly controlled voice as they stepped slightly away from the ongoing conversation. "{Those who led us were madmen who appointed monsters to lead those who wished to serve with honor into disgrace.}"

Hachi nodded in agreement with her own sea-blue eyes suspiciously shiny with the tears that neither would shed openly. "{Yes, yes it was a dark time.}"

Harry, sensing the mood hugged Hachi around the waist as he joined her. The submarine leaned into the contact, feeling the unspoken message from her friend.

Ehren's internal smile became more wistful as she saw that simple act of kindness and comfort.
---------------------------

27 July 2014

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Central Africa
Spoiler: ...And Black

SS Obersturmführer Helmar Wolff smiled in satisfaction as the molten gold streamed from the crucible with a hiss of liquid metal into the waiting molds.

His fanged smile widened as the tungsten plates that his contacts among the Network had provided after their rescue in 1945 were lowered to kiss the metal bars with a hiss of steam as the cooling began.

As they raised, the smile widened to see the familiar Adler und Hakenkreuz prominently displayed in the newly smelted and refined gold bars cast from the raw material of his heist.
Spoiler: Wolff's Gold

He nodded with satisfaction to himself as the next plates with serial numbers were stamped into the gold.. Beside him, Ingmar Van Der Knapp cocked his head. "Will that not attract attention?"

Wolff smirked as they watched the bars loaded to be transported to the waiting Owl Boxes. "Of course it will, but the Reich did hide some of our assets for the inevitable day when we would triumph. The rumors will spread about a hoard of gold that was acquired by Der Führer and has recently been unearthed in South America once we move it there to be laundered by our mundane allies. After all, when the Reich was destroyed and the records were lost, who can tell where the gold came from, especially when the government of the country where it is being shipped will be happy to adjust their bank records in exchange for a cut of the proceeds thanks to the Network's contacts there?"

"As for the other gold, well it shall be used on the magical side of the fence to purchase needed goods and services thanks to the," Wolff's face twisted in disgust, "goblin bankers who care only that it came from us humans." Cortana's eyes gleamed as she waited impassively at his elbow as he finished. "More fools they."

Ingmar nodded slowly, "And your plans with this windfall?"

Wolff gestured and they walked out of the foundry cavern to a position overlooking the Unplottable valley that he had claimed for his own. "The destruction of this racially impure world with the powers that I shall unlock, and then creation of a new and perfect world ruled by the Herrenvolk as is our right of conquest."

The SS vampire looked at a column of his marching solders as the began another field exercise. Each foot hit the ground in perfect unison as they moved like a centipede with one mind controlling a multitude of arms and legs.

"Today Africa. Tomorrow the World. Soon, very soon, we shall have the final pieces to strike more openly and begin the next stage of the plan."

Wolff's eyes glittered. "After all, by unifying the arcane arts and modern technology into an unstoppable combination, we shall not repeat the mistake that my superiors in the Schutzstaffel made."

He turned to survey his followers. "Especially with loyal lieutenants such as you, Ingmar. And you, Cortana. And... very soon mein Tochter shall join our ranks. She will need education, but she comes from the purest racial stock, her mother is an Aryan to the core after all, even if she is a traitor to our race thanks to her upbringing."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

El Dia Del Cóndor (II)

July 28th, 2014

Avenida Eusebio Ayala, Asunción, Paraguay
Spoiler: Infiltration

As the trio of Prosegur jeeps in the lead passed beneath where she hid clinging to the bridge, Estelle's arm moved in a blur.

She hurled her dagger body, blade glimmering with sharpness and cutting charms, like a javelin at the top of the trailer of the semi truck that they were escorting.

Her blue eyes locked on her true body and she channeled what magic she had into her cry of "Depulso!"

Her teeth gritted as her Banishing Spell hit the blue cat's-eye gemstone pommel of her hilt in a precise application of force on one of the few places where she could actually be affected by magic.

Then a shock ran through her avatar as her half-meter of enchanted master-forged Toledo steel slammed into the armored trailer.

Her smirk widened as her crossbars stopped her thrust, leaving her impaling the trailer.

The trail jeeps with their heavily armed guards shot underneath her position on the bridge.

After they passed, she hastily swung to her pack and slid it on.

Then a second later, the black-clad female figure vanished as if she never was....

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

....Only to reappear inside the trailer on the roof of a small forklift crouched like a panther. Estelle surveyed the trailer and her eyebrows raised at the pallets of stacked $20 and $100 bills, then smirked and looked up to where a thumb-length of her point had penetrated the armored plate.

Better than she had hoped.

With that in mind, she concentrated and breathed in and out in a deep rhythm. Above her, her true form shone and then blurred to a barely noticeable heat haze as an anchored 'notice me not' spell cast upon herself centuries before activated.

Blue eyes prickled once more with tears of regret and grief she would never shed as she remembered mastering that spell under Captain Norimune's teaching during the hunt for the Impénitent. A spell that had served her well and faithfully by making mundanes and magicals alike not notice the steel she carried until it was time to wet herself once more.

Her grin inside her balaclava mask showed all her teeth as she pulled out her tactical harness from the pack she was carrying and slid it on. Following that, her Taurus PT92 pistols were loaded and slid into her waiting shoulder holsters. Next the quick-release bandolier of throwing knives crossed her modest bust. Finally she slung her silenced MP5A3 submachine gun over her shoulder and charged it. Now armed, save for her actual body, she slid the pack containing the rest of her gear back on.

Last she flickered through her remembered faces before settling on the boyish features of Santiago, who she last saw crying for his mother as she gave him her remaining water before carrying him to the blood-soaked hospital tents after the Battle of Alberua in 1811. One more spell and the young Hispanic woman who was her true form was replaced by yet another of the martyrs who had fought alongside her for God. After all all she did was to honor those who she knew and loved.

Finally finished with her temporal preparations, she then knelt behind the forklift. Her head bowed and she began to quietly recite words engraved upon her heart in the Latin that she would always associate with her faith.

"Áve Marī́a, grā́tiā plḗna, Dóminus tḗcum. Benedícta tū in muliḗribus, et benedíctus frū́ctus véntris túī, Iḗsūs. Sā́ncta Marī́a, Mā́ter Déī, ṓrā prō nṓbīs peccātṓribus, nunc et in hṓrā mórtis nóstrae. Āmēn."

As always in this moment of peace, reflection, and spiritual fortification in the moment before the plunge, Estelle felt liberated. After all, she would one day be martyred for her faith and her deeds would then be Judged. Just as her ghosts had preceded her to wait by the Throne of the Lamb for her. Now all she had to do was take another step upon the path that led to them.

She breathed in and out in a slow, patient rhythm designed to give her avatar's body the most oxygen when it became time to act. Her eyes fluttered closed as she concentrated on the view from the cat's eye chrysoberyl of her hilt where it was stuck into the trailer.

Now it was time to wait.

Now it was time to honor her ghosts.

Now it was time to examine her conscience.

For she would once more walk joyfully into the furnace when this moment of peace passed her.

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

July 28th, 2014

Malafé S.A. Special Facility #1, Pirayú, Paraguarí Department, Paraguay
Spoiler: Meeting An Old 'Friend'

Estelle tensed as the semi that she was hidden inside finally came to a halt. The outside locked and security-sealed doors had discouraged a complete search where she was hidden, but she knew that once the doors were opened, her discovery was a matter of seconds.

Fortunately, the security spells cast had been grounded out harmlessly upon touching her true body just as surely as lightning would when it hit a lightning rod.

Once more she thanked the smiths that had crafted her to be a weapon against magic as she squeezed her blade tighter where she grasped it with thumb and forefinger.

Then as the truck began to back up toward the warehouse, Estelle smirked.

The top of the trailer would be invisible from the ground in five...

Four...

Three...

Two...

One...

She blinked out like a black clad ghost from inside the cab....

And as the truck came to a halt reappeared prone on top of the cab with one hand clutching her hilt.

She smoothly withdrew herself from the trailer and grinned ferally at the caress of the wind on her steel.

She fluidly leopard-crawled the length of the truck to the warehouse overhang and paused there.

Next....

Her eyes narrowed as she saw a toolbox sitting on the hood of a Toyata Hilux across the parking lot where the mercenaries were establishing a security ring.

Her hand twisted and her simple spell caused the tools to fall from the hood, producing a clatter.

The guards on that side raised weapons at the sound and scanned the area.

As they did, with cat-like grace, Estelle twisted bonelessly as she back-flipped to the roof of the warehouse, landing gracefully on all fours.

A quick look around with magical and mundane sight showed that she was in the clear. Moving with silent grace, she found an air vent for the cooling system and unscrewed the grate to allow her access.

As she slithered down the vent on elbows and knees, voices sounded in her ears. She whispered an Indio spell to sharpen her senses and muffle her sounds and she slowly crawled to the next grate with the patient grace of a jaguar.

She peeked through the grate and her breath caught in her throat. A trio of the hulking necromantic murder-golems that the Malafés used for security stood like fleshy statues as they watched over their wards. But those were not important.

Her eyes narrowed with hate directed at the two figures at the office desk.

Still poisonously beautiful at her age of 94 years, but looking a well-preserved 40 at most, Sieglinde Böhmer-Malafé leaned over the shoulder of the younger man with the dark blond good looks of the Malafé family. Estelle remembered the report from the Archives of Terror that she had helped uncover from the Stroessner dictatorships' repression from 1954 to 1989. Reports that spoke, if you read between the lines, of the uses of the Cruciatus and Imperius Curse from the sadistic German emigre that the mundane secret police called 'La Diabla de Pelo Dorado' in hushed tones in their reports.

But nothing that could be used to throw the bitch into jail to rot or send her to the wall, despite her delicately manicured hands being up to her wrists in dirty work across the continent. Nothing to pin her foul deeds and sins on the black heart lurking behind the innocent blue eyes and silvering blond hair.

After all, Sieglinde had blackmail on many, many powerful men and women, and had not stayed on top of the slippery pole of politics here by being sloppy.

For a brief second, Estelle fought with her impulse to riddle the Malafé matriarch with 9mm hollowpoints. She then shook her head slightly.

Another time.

She was here to learn how to put paid to Sieglinde's schemes.

Even though it was quite attractive to consider arranging matters so that the Malafés had a closed casket funeral to attend.

Especially since her brutish son Sertorio Malafé V would take over and he was as ruthless as his mother and would smash everything in his path to avenge her. Better to arrange for him to have a suitably vile scapegoat to exhaust his energies upon rather than come for her and hers. Triply so since he was the Minister of Magic for Paraguay and had contacts in the ICW, not least his cousins in Spain.

Better to arrange for a mass funeral for the Malafés anyway.

No sense in having Satan have to wait around for them to arrive en masse.

With that in mind, she watched and listened as she breathed in and out slowly.

"César, it is time. Call dear Helmar and let him know that the transfer will begin." Sieglinde said.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Taiyang hummed as she flipped a page in the clothing catalogue in her hands before raising an eyebrow in thought. Beside her, a few newspaper fliers for various stores were also open revealing women in various styles of clothing. Eyes flicking to where Natsumi was performing some homework, she tilted her head, "There's so many more styles of clothing and fabric now, as well as colors along with designs using such, Master. Far more than I thought possible."

Glancing up from where she had been doing her homework while the radio droned in the background, Natsumi gave a small shrug, "Hai, but the world is pretty connected despite the war. So something that is in style in... Europe, for example, can also be something of note here in Japan."

Only nodding, the sword spirit frowned slightly, "Still, quite incredible. My Master had to travel far to reach what seems like Europe to a place called Rome. A journey of years... yet now can be done in hours and in comfort."

Needless to say, Natsumi blinked before looking up in interest, "Wait, hold up there... Daji went all the way to Rome? Seriously?"

Flipping another page, Taiyang glanced at her, "She did, Master. Though it was a century or two before she forged me. From my understanding, she had heard of a civilization to the west that some of the Chinese considered a peer." Motioning with her hand, she shrugged, "She was not impressed by what she found and... helped matters along, as it were."

Eyebrow twitching, the young Kitsune sighed, "Because of course she did." Writing something, she gave a small shrug, "Moving away from that, you seem surprised by the styles and fabric?"

With a hum as she examined one of the pictures, Taiyang rubbed her chin, "Indeed, Master, there's many, many different ones to choose from. Many seem to be of a quality where, before I was sealed, only the richest could afford. Yet now, anyone can." Lips twitching a bit, she snickered some, "Though I will admit, also back before I was sealed a number would have been scandalized by some of these. Not just for showing so much skin, either! But things such as trousers, for women!"

Just raising an eyebrow, Natsumi shrugged, "I don't mind wearing skirts and Kimono, but jeans are so much more comfortable to me. Though I guess jean shorts are not too bad..."

Briefly, she smiled as she remembered the fact that she had taken some of her older jeans that she would have normally tossed because she out grew the legs and cut them into shorts as well as Harry's reaction to seeing her in them.

Unfortunately, Taiyang caught the smile and raised an eyebrow in amusement, "I suppose so, Master. After all, such clothing would show off your legs to those that you like~"

Lightly blushing, Natsumi gave the Dao a once over before slowly blinking and snarking some, "Right, you would know something about showing off I think."

Rather than be insulted, the sword spirit smirked and puffed out her chest which caused Natsumi's eyes to drift to it for a brief moment before the young Kitsune shook her head. Something that amused Taiyang even more as her eyes twinkled and she placed a hand on her bust, "Thank you for noticing, Master. As your foxy blade, I'm eyecatching and made to be shown off~"

Lips pressed thinly, Natsumi internally sighed, 'Of course I cannot win...' Ignoring the snickers in the back of her mind, she glanced at one of the problems that she was working on before frowning, "So, anything in particular in those catalogues and fliers that caught your eye?"

Finger on her chin, Taiyang made a motion with her other hand, "It is rather hard to make a choice with so many possibilities. Not just fabrics, but also the colors and designs that one makes with the colors! Though I am surprised that cotton has become so fine. And wool? Rather interesting with how they look... denim is another fabric as is khaki, though I am not sure about things such as 'synthetics'? I would assume that means man-made?"

That made Natsumi blink and she looked up, "Actually? You're right about that as they're made through chemical processes... mainly from oil." She then gave a shrug, "Some of them are pretty nice though, for swimsuits for example are often made from them."

A moment later, she noticed that the Dao had perked up a little at that mention with her tail swishing behind her. It did not even surprise Natsumi with her next words, "Ah, swimsuits! I will admit that I am very much interested in them, Master." There was a small smile on Taiyang's face, "Back in our day, most did not really swim and even when they did, it was without clothing! But I do like the idea..."

Despite knowing already that she might regret it, Natsumi sighed a little, "Because it helps you show off?"

More amused than anything, Taiyang wagged a finger at her, "Of course, Master! If one has such, should not one show it to the world~" She then gave a small smile, "It is interesting, however from another view point. Despite the swimsuit covering up more of one's body, it yet becomes more eyecatching and alluring for what it does show as well as does not and draws ones eye to it. It makes one wonder about what it is not showing as much as it does show."

Blinking, the fourteen year old Kitsune considered that before nodding, "I suppose that is true... My own two piece gets attention after all."

Her expression became blank as Taiyang gave a playful gasp, "A two piece, Master? My, how daring~" She then looked over Natsumi, which made said Kitsune lightly flush, "Though I will admit that you would look nice in one. And it will only look better as you age and grow."

Rapidly blinking, Natsumi turned to her with a confused look on her face, "Um... thank you...?"

With a small smile, the Dao giggled before wagging her fingers, "But it is true, Master~" Looking back at the pictures, she tapped her chin, "Perhaps one of these bikinis for me, however..."

Pausing for a brief moment, Natsumi imagined said sword in a bikini. That was until she mentally slapped herself before attacking her hormones, 'Dammit!'

However, Taiyang continued on as if she had not noticed while she continued to scan the pictures with a thoughtful noise, "Though one bit that I am happy about and interested is in these bras and panties. They look so much more comfortable in some ways than what we had, the bras especially."

Glancing at her, Natsumi rolled her eyes a little as she snarked, "I wonder why you would be interested in those." Pausing, a thought suddenly occurred to her and she looked up, "Wait a moment... What are you wearing?" Seeing her open her mouth, and already guessing what would come out, the teen cut her off, "Because bindings are not that comfortable unless one wears them the right way."

Simply shrugging, Taiyang shook her head, "I am wearing my bindings, Master."

With that pronouncement, nothing else was said for a minute or two. Remembering what the traditional way of wearing clothing for a woman was like, Natsumi sighed and got to her feet, "Right, we're going into town then. There's a shop that does custom fits that we can use."

Eyebrow cocked, Taiyang blinked, "Is that necessary, Master?"

Just turning towards her, Natsumi gave her a look, "In a word? Yes." Sighing, she pinched her nose before she started to put away her homework, "And for good reason as well. You know about how cellphones have cameras, correct?"

Only nodding and crossing her arms over her chest, the Dao frowned, "I do, Master as you mentioned and showed it to I, yourself. Though I still find the thought incredible. But what if it?"

Natsumi winced for a moment before sighing, "Because sometimes, you get perverts that use cellphones to take pictures up a woman's skirt. Especially on trains."

Her eyes narrowing, Taiyang's voice came out in a near growl, "Has such a thing happened to you, Master."

With her own eyes widening briefly as the hairs on her neck stood on end, the teenage Kitsune shrugged, "Um, once when I was wearing a skirt? But Harry-Chan was there and..." She gave a small wince, "I'm reasonably sure that wrists are not supposed to turn that way. Or that smiles are supposed to make someone piss themselves."

Eyes closed, Taiyang gave a giggle, "Depends on the smile, Master." Internally, she was still growling, 'While Harry-San does seem to have a good head, if I am around when it happens next time, than I shall have to... help... drive the point home that such things are not welcome.'

For some odd reason, Natsumi had a shiver go down her back before she shrugged it off as not something to be concerned about. Instead, she shook her head a little with a frown, "Anyways, I mostly get around that by wearing spandex shorts under my skirts as well. It's comfortable, yet hides anything that one might take a picture of."

Arms crossed, the Dao nodded with a slight smile of approval, "That is very clever, Master." Quickly, she flipped back some pages and from Natsumi could see, she was looking at said shorts, "Indeed, I can see why... and that, yes, it would be best to wear something between such and the skin as well. Though the fact that one can wear said shorts without a skirt is also very interesting~"

Briefly, Natsumi had the image of the sword spirit in front of her wearing such shorts and flushed before bringing out the mental spiked club for another beat down of her hormones, 'Fuuuuu-' Shaking that off, she took a deep breath and let it out to Taiyang's amusement, "Hmm... could you transform your clothing into something more appropriate for outside? At least for the trip into town?"

Lips twitching, Taiyang giggled some, "Of course, Master, I most certainly can!" Moments later, her clothes shimmered and she was wearing tight jeans with a red spaghetti top on that drew the one's eye due to how tight it was after which she nodded, "And there we go!"

Briefly frowning, the teenage Kitsune shook her head as she pulled her gaze away from a particular area with a slight cough, though she kept glancing back to it, "Um... maybe a blue, that might suit you better."

Twinkle in her eye, Taiyang nodded and her top shimmered to look like it was the same colour blue as her normal clothes. With a smile, she giggled a little, "Now let's get going, Master~"

As they walked out of the room, Natsumi gave a nod, "We might as well pick up some hygiene products like soaps and shampoos as well. Best get you everything that you might need now that we can after all."

Moments later, she regretted this as the blade leapt and shoved her face into said spirit's chest, "Thank you, Master! I knew that you would take good care of me~" After a brief nuzzle of the teen, she let Natsumi go, and giggled a bit as she watched her suck in a breath with a massive blush on the teen's face. Then, grinning, she looked down at her wielder, "Now, let us be off for the shopping, as it where."

Only sighing, the teenage Kitsune shook her head, 'I just know that this is going to become very common...'

_______________________________________________

Walking along the street in the mid-July air, both Natsumi and Taiyang looked like nothing more than a teen and an older relative moving along. A number recognized Natsumi, of course, and waved to her. But Taiyang did get a few looks of interest. Part of that was because some wondered who she was and how she related to the Ono family.

Another part, however, was the fact that being about 5'2", she was busty and curvy in ways that attracted a number of gazes which amused her greatly.

Granted, she had wondered about why two older men had grinned and muttered about someone called 'Sir Mixalot'. When she mentioned that to Natsumi, said Kitsune rolled her eyes and muttered about perverts which made her raise an eyebrow in some amusement... as well as make her want to look up this person. Of course, being her, she placed a bit more sway in her hips to more attraction which made her Master sigh. Such fun~

Her gaze on a car, she hummed a bit as it drove past, "So these... automobiles are classified into different types of vehicles? And are powered through a form of combustion using oil from under the ground?"

Tilting her head to the side, Natsumi gave a nod, "Hai. that's correct though they refine it." At the interested look, she shrugged, "Um, I'm not an expert on the processes, but... I remember it being mentioned in school that heat is involved to get different fuels from the oil, as well as other products. You got gasoline for cars, diesel for trucks, fuel oil for ships, jet fuel for airplanes, kerosene for things like lanterns... that sort of thing.

For a few moments, Taiyang was quiet as she considered that before humming, "Ah, I see! They must evaporate the fuel and condense the vapor to get the types of materials as each would do so at a different temperature, which themselves would have different attributes. Quite clever."

Just staring at her, the fourteen year old Kitsune blinked before furrowing her eyebrows as she pulled up half-forgotten memories, "I... hai, that is correct." Shaking her head, she continued to look around, "Though it is not just fuel that one can get from oil. I mean, plastics and stuff for medicines are also made from oil. It's why it gets called 'Black gold', because its so useful for the modern day."

Slowly, Taiyang hummed some as she thought over what she was just told, "Very useful indeed... I remember how they used to drill for it to bring up oil to boil brine to get at salt. I wonder how those that did so would react to how much use it truly had." That made Natsumi blink as she did not know that little factoid, "But according to you, there is only a limited supply?"

With a small shrug, Natsumi nodded, "Hai, there's only so much oil underground after all, and they're drilling deeper and deeper all the time."

Chin held in her hand, the Dao frowned a little, "Because oil was formed from organisms long ago, smaller than the eye could see, that were buried where they rotted and formed the liquid. That would mean there was a smaller supply, like how peat only had so much in a bog."

Rapidly blinking, Natsumi gave another nod, "That's... correct. Though we found out how to speed up the process to make our own with stuff like green pond scum. It's not super common... but it helps." Then, she shrugged a little, "We also have started making coal into gas for some of it as well as other things to wean ourselves off it."

Only tilting her head, Taiyang gave a small hum of agreement. Watching as a truck rolled past, she thought back to before she was sealed and smiled a little. After all, such a vehicle could carry far more cargo than the small, mostly human pulled carts of the past. It amused her greatly what some of the merchants would have thought of them. Or perhaps the one of the Emperors of China or Japan.

She got a look from the young Kitsune as she snickered at the image of a Chinese Emperor having decorated a pickup with silk, gold, and gems while riding in the back bed around the Forbidden City.

After she shook it off, she turned back to Natsumi, "But not all vehicles use oil anymore? Instead electricity to power movement?"

Lips curling into a small smile, Natsumi nodded, "That's right, electric cars and trucks have become a lot more common with the war. After all, there's fuel shortages and it can be used as fuel for the military and the like. If you have the choice between, say, fueling a hundred cars for a few weeks, or a ship that is carrying food and such for the entire nation..."

Just snorting a little, Taiyang shook her head, "It becomes obvious to anyone what the choice should be in such a case." Head tilted to the side, she considered it for a few moments before turning towards Natsumi, "Speaking of, do you have such, Master?"

Blinking, the teenager looked at her, "You mean, do I have a car of my own?" At the nod, however, she shook her head, "No, I don't. It's against the law and I have to wait two more years until I can. But I do have a velomobile... kind of like that."

Taiyang followed her finger and watched as someone got into a small vehicle before closing a door. With that, said person began to move down the road though her sharp gaze caught their legs rising and falling, "Ah, like one of those... bicycles, I take it?"

Proudly smiling, Natsumi nodded, "That's right, though it's enclosed and has a small motor to help make it easier to move around. Makes it so that I don't really need to worry about the weather and it gives me freedom from my parents and Oba-Chan from driving me around everywhere." She then shook her head, "I'll be able to bring you along too since it is a two seater."

Lightly smiling, the blade spirit giggled a bit, "I'm looking forward to it, Master~"

With that done, the two continued to walk along though Taiyang also looked around in interest. Partially because she was still stunned at how the world had changed since she had been last out and about. But another part was out of interest and how she could best leverage things to her own plans that were slowly forming. After all, the echo of her Master, Tamamo, had given her orders.

Ones that she was going to see through to completion.

But in order to perform them to the best possible conclusion, she needed to know more about the world. Thus far, however, she was pleased with how things had gone and what she had learned. Despite the usual problems that existed no matter when you were in history or where in the world, it had still become better. Using the knowledge of the current language and such that Tamamo's echo had put within her mind, she had read one of Natsumi's history textbooks. Some parts, such as World War Two, made for dry, boring reading though it did point out that Japan had been an aggressor.

However, there was enough there for her to start to piece things together. For example, there were nothing about recent famines that claimed tens of thousands of people. Something that told her not only was there more food available, but far easier to distribute. Rice, for example, was something that anyone could buy and eat, not just the more well off. Fish, cattle, pig, chicken, and the like were also available even to those that would have been considered poor, as were products like milk and fresh fruit. Just a few hours ago, she had some of what her Master called 'Ice cream', strawberry, in fact, which she found delicious. It was both cold and sweet, the perfect dessert for a hot day like they were having. A treat that she was certain that before she was sealed, if it was available, would have been declared fit for only nobles to partake of. Yet was something that all could enjoy.

All in all, the current world was something that she was certain would have been considered just short of paradise to those from before she was sealed.

Some aspects, she did not like however. Like the Statute of Secrecy, but she was glad that too was already in the process of dying. It meant that she didn't have to do anything to cause it to be broken. The current war was another matter, but also something that she knew did not matter much to her aside from making sure that her Master would survive it. If it came, then she would fight, but not until then. That said, while such things were currently not something for her to concern herself too duly over, other matters did.

Matters such as the creature known as Voldemort.

While Natsumi had been confused, and somewhat suspicious, the young Kitsune had answered her questions about it. She had shaken her head some in dark amusement at how idiotic some humans could be when she heard some of the reasoning behind what this Voldemort creature and his followers had done. Really? Believing that only their families could be born with magic and that if someone was born to those without magic with magic, it meant that they stole it from more deserving ones like their families? That made her snort.

That said, she was not amused at other aspects of what she had been told. Such as how her Master's current lover and future husband, despite all Natsumi's blushing protestations it was obvious that was what he was if she had anything to say about it, became an orphan. A prophecy, one that from what little she had been told was extremely vague, was involved. More than that, Harry's parents had been betrayed by a very close friend of theirs.

Upon being told the plan that his parents had come up with, Taiyang had nodded in some respect. It was, after all, quite clever with misdirection from both the one named Sirius as well as Harry's parents. And some suspicion thrown upon the one named 'Remus' that he might well known. The whole time, the one who knew was a somewhat cowardly sort who everyone thought would much rather hide, thus his hiding place was a secret kept by Harry's parents. It would have been very effective...

Except, for them not knowing that the one to keep the secret for them, had already betrayed them.

Granted, while she had to sigh and shake her head, Taiyang could not blame Harry's parents for their mistake. The man that they trusted had been a close friend and ally, who they had known for years. As well, their plan was simple with as few failure points as possible, and with them hiding him as he was hiding them, it could have, should have, worked.

All that meant to the blade spirit was that if she ever caught said rat? Well, she was going to have fun making him regret it. Perhaps several days as she knew quite a bit of magic that her Master, Tamamo, had known for such things. After all, the echo of her Master had told her to take care of and protect Harry. This man, no, this rodent, was one who had betrayed him. Thus, should be made an example of for any others who might have similar thoughts.

What had caught her interest the most was the mention of "Horcruxes" after some prodding., and that bit of information had come only after she had called Hoshi and asked if she could speak to her about it. Oh, she recognized such monstrous things from what Tamamo had told her when she had first manifested about magics outside of China. Even Tamamo, or Daji, as she had been known as then, had sneered in disgust at such things. Her own method didn't break her soul as much as create a copy, after all. Like using magic to duplicate a piece of fruit, nothing more. And the idea that one could make more than one...

It went without saying that it solidified the term 'Creature' within her mind for this Voldemort.

Of course, she was already making plans as to how it should be dealt with. These... horcruxes were troublesome thing. And she could tell there was more to the story than she had been told due to how hesitant her Master was that they needed to be gathered. It did not take her long to figure out that it likely involved Harry, and the mention of the ritual sealed it for her. Part of her suspected that the young teenage boy had unknowingly been turned into one, and her Master was afraid that she would attempt to kill him.

Such a silly Master, it would be quite the opposite as she would slaughter this Voldemort and his followers if that turned out to be the truth after helping to rip the anchor from Harry's body. Oh yes, she would enjoy bathing in their blood and viscera if such a thing had occurred. And make sure that they were still alive as she did it for some time. Just to make sure that the point that Harry was not to be touched was understood, mind you.

But that would need to wait until she was able to confirm her guess as correct, which should not take long. And if it was correct? She would approach her Master, Tamamo's, daughters and offer her services. She knew divination magics that they did not, which were likely lost for centuries.

After all, she had been beside Tamamo when the two had snuck into Ashiya Dōman's home after he had slain Abe no Seimei due to said famous Onmyouji's wife betraying him. They had pretended to be a pair of idiot women, looking for work. Taken in by their beauty, despite them seeming of low intelligence, Dōman had taken them in. Unbeknownst to the sorcerer, the two proceeded to read and study the Hoki Naiden, the secret book of magic that had been passed down from Ancient India, to China, to finally Japan with Abe no Seimei.

Tamamo, as they read it, explained to her about the book. How there were secrets within it for magic that even the Taoist Immortals did not know and were recorded nowhere else. Powerful, ancient magics were written on its pages. But it had always been protected by those that held it, making it impossible for Daji/Tamamo to get her hands on it. To even attempt to get a hold of said book would likely end in her death...

Until, that was, Dōman took them on as servants.

Due to the wording of their agreement, he had stated that they could learn what they wished from him. But that did not mean directly from him, however, which opened the book and its contents to the two. Magical formula and spells that the two greedily read and learned, increasing their own magical power and knowledge with each page. Potions, salves, and more, which could do so much. All because of an arrogant fool who was still riding high on his "Victory", which had been as much luck as it was betrayal as well as how Abe no Seimei himself was too honorable.

Needless to say, both Taiyang and Tamamo/Daji had a laugh more than once as they read their books, while the "Powerful and Great Ashiya Dōman" fucked their shikigami believing said beings to be them.

Day and night the two studied the texts, more secrets coming forth to their gaze as they did so. Magics long since forgotten, rituals lost in the sands of time. They had read at least half the book and mastered it when they sensed the resurrection of Abe no Seimei at the hands of Saint Hokudō, the Chinese wizard who Tamamo had barely escaped from more than once. Realizing what would happen, the two snuck out with their Shikigami leaving for the nearby village to buy supplies. And thus were not there when Abe no Seimei returned and slew both his former wife and Dōman.

They may not have completed their study of the texts, but it was more than enough as Tamamo fully regained her power that she had before the fight with the Immortals and heroes that they lead caused her to flee to Japan nearly dead. Both of them suspected that Abe no Seimei as well as Saint Hokudō realized that they had read the text, thus they laid low. Tamamo teaching her twin daughters harshly during this while Taiyang continued to learn from her Master of various magics. As well, she even pilfered texts from other Onmyouji as well, all of which she could use such as divination to find that creature, Voldemort's, soul anchors.

In fact, she had a library of such texts hidden away in a mountain, protected by magic from the elements-

Pausing at said thought, Taiyang rolled it around in her mind for a few moments before grinning. Because, suddenly, she realized what sort of revenge that she could well take herself on the Heavenly Court. Because in her library were books written by her Master, Tamamo. Books that contained all the mystical knowledge that she had from Ancient China including various secrets of Taoist Immortals. Very likely, the Celestial bureacracy thought that they were safely lost with the death of her Master.

Her grin widened as she continued to form her plan at that realization. No, they were not lost. In fact, she would teach both her Master, Natsumi, as well as Harry, such magic. She would, in time, raise them to a level where they would stand above the Immortals in mystical might. Power at their fingertips, and nothing that the Celestial Bureaucracy could do about it.

Yes... the perfect revenge, and one that she was certain that the echo of her Master would approve of and cackle about.

Eyebrow raised, Natsumi turned to face her and blinked at the grin on her new sword's face and was somewhat disturbed by it, "Uh, Taiyang? Something wrong?"

As if a switch had been flicked, Taiyang was her bubbly self, "Oh, no, Master. I'm fine. Just... had a funny thought is all." Glomping Natsumi, and once more subjecting her to marshmellow hell, she giggled, "So don't worry about your Taiyang, Master~"

More than one person flushed at seeing and hearing that, before trying to pretend that they saw and heard nothing.

Once more, Natsumi blushed and pushed her back, "Gah!" Face red, she stuttered a bit, "D-don't do that!'

Hand in front of her face, Taiyang giggled, "Sorry, Master, but I can't obey that order~"

Simply sighing, the teenager tried to get rid of the blush on her face, 'Because of course you can't. Though it is sort of nice-GAH!' Much to the amusement of the Dao, Natsumi smacked herself before taking a deep breath, "R-right. So... how are you enjoying your sneakers? Feel comfortable."

Bouncing a bit in her shoes as she walked, and making something else bounce which caught Natsumi's eyes amoung others, Taiyang gave a small nod, "They are quite comfortable, Master. Especially with these 'gel insoles' that they use. I wish that they existed centuries ago."

With a cough, Natsumi tore her attention away from the bouncing, "Uh, well, that's good to hear."

All of a sudden, she stumbled a bit as the sword hugged her from behind, which had the effect of two objects pressed up against her shoulders and making her blush deeply again, "Aw, thank you once more, Master~" Pulling away, Taiyang skipped until she was beside Natsumi before leaning forward which caused Natsumi to deepen her flush a little as she whispered into the Kitsune's ear, "I am also enjoying the bra that I bought from that specialty shop, Master. So wonderful with how it holds up~"

Choking a little, Natsumi closed her eyes and took a few calming breaths, "I-I see." Thankfully for her and her chances of getting heat stroke, her phone went off with "The Last Unicorn" as the ringtone. Quickly, she answered the call and brought it up to her ear, thankful for the distraction, "Moshi, moshi, Harry-Chan."

Over the speaker, she could hear Harry's voice which made her smile, "{Hello, Natsumi-Chan. How are things going with you?}"

Lightly chuckling, the fourteen year old shook her head, "Good enough, saw a movie about King Arthur when he pulled the sword from the Stone. Amazing that everything turned out well afterwards."

Understanding the code, Harry's voice carried a tone of relief, "{That's a relief.}"

Behind Natsumi, Taiyang had a slightly amused look on her face as she guessed that they were talking about her. Though she did give a nod of approval at how they were using code phrases. Meanwhile, Natsumi continued her own conversation, "So what about you, Harry-Chan? You going to Kyoto tomorrow?"

The Dao perked up a bit at that and listened a bit more intently, "{Today, actually, in about an hour. We should arrive around sundown though...}" After a moment, Harry continued, "{We'll be transporting one of the Vanishing Cabinets to the Konohana compound. The other one is in a home they have here in Yokosuka so that they can travel back and forth. I'm... not sure about how they're going to guard it, but since it is just outside the base in the residential area and the home in question is going to be shared between Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan, Miu-Sensei, and Akimi-Sensei? I don't think that there will be much concern about guarding on our end.}"

All Natsumi did was nod at that, "Hai, agreed with that, Harry-Chan. I take it that they're going to take you to the festival in Kyoto?" At the hum of agreement, she smiled, "Good, I hope that you have a good time. And you better treat them right, Harry-Chan."

Over the phone, there was an indignate squawk, "{Natsumi-Chan! You know that I am nothing but a gentleman! Of course I'll treat them right.}"

Grinning, Natsumi giggled, "I know that, but you might need a reminder~" At the grumbles, her grin widened before it softened into a smile, "Still, you enjoy yourself, Harry-Chan. Just make sure to bring me back something, okay?" With a laugh, Harry agreed and shortly after, they hung up. Putting her phone away, Natsumi blinked as she noticed the smug smile on Taiyang's face, "What?"

Still smiling, Taiyang shrugged a little, "Nothing, Master~"

Eyes narrowing a little, Natsumi frowned, but shrugged it off. Realizing where they were, however, she grinned some and grabbed the Dao's hand, "Yes! Come on, we got to go there!"

Dragged along, the sword spirit just blinked as Natsumi pulled her into a small alley, and then into a door partway into it. Upon entering, Taiyang blinked as the air was chilled after coming in from the hot, sticky hair outside due to 'Air conditioning', an invention that she thanked whoever came up with it. However, her nose twitched a little as a smell hit it, "Peanut butter?"

Massive grin on her face, the teenage fox let out her kitsune features, followed by Taiyang, and walked over to a bar, "Peanut butter." Rubbing her hands together, Natsumi licked her lips, "This is a peanut butter bar with all sorts of peanut butter treats. Just for Kitsune and other canine Yokai." Licking her lips, she scanned the menu, "I think that I might have a serving of peanut butter and honey."

Watching as a Kitsune behind the counter squeezed out a serving of peanut butter into a small plastic bowl before magically mixing in chocolate syrup and added some actual peanuts and then placing it in front of an Inugami, Taiyang also licked her lips, "I think that I have an idea or two what to get..."

Both of them shared a smile before walking up to the bar for their treat.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

El Dia Del Cóndor (III)

July 28th, 2014

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Central Africa
Spoiler: A Chat Between Allies

SS-Obersturmführer(Senior Storm Leader) Helmar Wolff sat on a finely carved ebony-wood chair in front of the crystal ball on a stone pedestal. He looked to Cortana as she stood by his flank, and then nodded as the antique grandfather clock chimed twelve. He began to sketch runes on the surface with a fingertip, incanting the command spell in German..

The ball filled with swirling bluish mist and then cleared to show a modern office. A slender blond-haired young man in a white linen suit sat in front of the desk with a beautiful blond Nordic woman in a white lace dress behind him.

He smiled genially and leaned back in his chair, his black SS uniform precisely in Ordnung. He spoke in German. "{Heil Hitler, Sieglinde, César. Wie geht's?}"(How goes/ are you)

Sieglinde responded in her native tongue as she smiled in turn. "{Heil Hitler. Going quite well here, Helmar. You are looking good.}"

Wolff gave a thin smile. "{As discussed, I have twenty-five tons of gold to be shipped along with a shipment of moly, mokele-mbembe blood, and runespoor eggs for your potion-crafting needs.}"

Sieglinde gave a matching smile, "{And we have payment as discussed in nonmagical US currency, Galleons, and Dragots. Also, in response to your inquiry about Colombe du Chasteler and her known allies, I have news that may interest you...}"

Malafé S.A. Special Facility #1, Pirayú, Paraguarí Department, Paraguay

Inside the air vent Estelle jerked as if shot.

While her German was rudimentary at best, especially since it had been over a century since her path had crossed Johann's, she did remember a little of what the zweihander had taught her while helping liberate Mexico from Napoleon III's French troops in 1862.

She did know enough to pick out the words 'Colombe du Chasteler'.

Her grip on her true body tightened as her sapphire blue eyes blazed with fury.

If Sieglinde Böhmer-Malafé dared even think about desecrating her First Mistress' grave, she would carve that tudesco puta's black heart out and show it to her before she died!

With that sworn pledge, Estelle bent her efforts to listen in on the conversation.

"{I have it on good authority that Turkey and Poland both have formally requested du Chasteler's aid with immediate problems inside their borders. The Vatican is likely to follow suit, and on my suggestion, Sertorio has also dispatched a request for assistance as soon as possible. In addition, my niece Juanita is teaching at Ilvermorny and mentioned that there are rumors that Delilah de Breuil is no more. Pity that someone else dealt with her, but that removes one of the known allies of our mutual foe.}" Sieglinde said with clear relish.

The blond haired man in the crystal ball wearing a Nazi uniform gave a viciously joyful smile. "{Sehr gut. As per our agreement, after I make her more pliable, I shall invite you to get your vengeance upon her for the loss of your dear brother Konrad.}"

Sieglinde's smile was cold and cruel. "{Very well. I should begin to move the payment to you. I also acquired a copy of Tomás de Torquemada's Las Reglas de Ruina and shall send it to you for... five bricks of gold in addition to the agreed upon payment for the money transfer.}"

The man leaned forward. "{Acceptable. I shall begin moving cargo on my end. Auf Wiedersehen!}"(Goodbye)

Sieglinde spoke in turn. "{Auf Wiedersehen!}" She then pulled out a wand and tapped the crystal ball to end the spell.

César stood and looked at Sieglinde as he packed up the crystal ball. "Grandmother, that man is dangerous." He spoke in Spanish.

Sieglinde smirked smugly at her grandson. "He is, and he believes truly in the ideologies of the past. But he is a useful sword against our mutual foes. Now let us insure the gold being sent is of proper purity for what we send in return. Then we shall deposit it in our accounts both with Gringotts' and also with the state bank. The more we are prepared for the day when magic is exposed, the better. And our ally can serve the role of diverting attention from us if needed."

The Malafé matriarch smiled sweetly as her golem bodyguards fell in around her. "After all, he is not one of us, and as such is just a tool to be used and discarded to keep us on top."
--------------------

Spoiler: La Paloma Makes Her Move

As the door closed, Estelle stirred.

Her smug smirk split her face behind her balaclava.

They had no idea that she was here.

She slid the blade of her true body through the air vent and concentrated.

A second later her avatar formed in the office standing under the air vent.

She turned to survey the room automatically and then swore silently to herself.

The office had glass windows overlooking the floor of the warehouse below the overhead vent pipe she had exited from.

A floor where Malafé workers, including Sieglinde and her golems were organizing the movement of pallets of cash into an Owl Box.

She would need to work fast before someone looked this way and realized that she was inside the office.

With that she leapt to the desk and stood on her tiptoes to reach the ceiling.

One hand pulled out a throwing knife from her equipment belt.

She rapidly pried loose the battery operated smoke detector with the knife.

A fast flick of her wrist and the hunk of metal and plastic was cut loose to fall into her other hand.

She then reached into her pack and pulled out one of the special smoke detectors that she had acquired through an illicit auction house on the Dark Web.

A smoke detector that in addition to sounding the alarm had a pinhole fish-eye video camera, a microphone pickup, and a Wi-fi transmitter paired to a long-charge battery plus could be linked up to the wires she had cut to get the other free.

She installed it rapidly with the help of a Sticking Charm and then flicked it on.

Time to go.

With that she vanished again to reappear in the air duct as she clutched her hilt.

She began to slide herself out from the grill and then froze as a trio of security men entered.

The two in the lead swept the room with M-16 rifles with under-slung grenade launchers while the third waved a wand and chanted.

"Manuel, the wards?" The leader said.

"Undisturbed. The door's alarms are clear too. Nothing invisible. Detection spells negative. Esteban must have been on drugs to see someone here." The wizard replied as Estelle listened.

"Keep alert, La Hidalga(the Noble) wants us on maximum alert until the outsiders she hired leave the compound." The leader said as he slung his rifle.

"Sí, Sargento!" the other two chorused.

Estelle grimaced and began to crawl toward the vent where she had entered the warehouse.

Definitely time to go.

Getting out might be tricky.
--------------------

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Central Africa
Spoiler: Vati's Plans

Cortana spoke as Helmar Wolff watched the black insects under his command move in unison as they had been drilled and trained to transport the gold bricks and reagents into the Owl Box and collect the cash and other goods. "Master, that information Sieglinde gave us?"

The vampire gave her a considering nod. "Is good news. We have a window of opportunity to strike and retrieve what we need from Castle Moulbaix. Mein Tochter(daughter) and the Imaski yoThixo ome-ezine(The Mask of the Four-Faced God). It would be better to have Her away since this is a critical step. When we take what is rightfully ours with Her defenses lowered... well then."

His eyes glittered, "I shall dispatch you, my most loyal and obedient Servant to retrieve this. If She is present, defeat Her, humiliate Her, but do not kill Her!! No, bring Her before me then! But that is secondary to the tools we need to remake this world and for me to achieve my apotheosis."

Cortana nodded in acceptance. "At your command... Master."

"Good." He favored her with a smile. "Of course you shall not go alone, since I shall send Popobawa under your command to assist in the traveling and also provide additional strength to our Schwerpunkt. Klotzen, nicht kleckern!"(Focus. Beat'em, Don't Kill them)

"At your command, Master." The blade spirit bowed her head.

Wolff looked at her and spoke quietly. "I regret that I am unable to conceive a child with you, you know. Your blood paired with mine, truly the pinnacle of the Herrenvolk. But my transformation foreclosed carrying on my blood and heritage. That is why I wish for you to retrieve Mein Tochter. We deserve a child worthy of our shared dreams. She is not a man, true, but she is from the best racial stock and I shall embrace her to purify any lingering tainted blood that Colombe may have instilled in her. Then she shall be our loving daughter, just as you are the perfect spouse."

Cortana gave a small smile, "I would like that, Master."

A.N. -- Yes, I know Wolff is a Nazi scumbag of the highest order. Rest assured he's going to get his comeuppance and let's keep discussion clean and avoid ITG on him and also let's not go overboard on how much a bad guy he is.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Looking out at the setting Sun, Natsumi turned to where Taiyang stood with one hand on her hip in her usual clothing. For a few moments, their eyes met and she sighed a little, "Do you really need to do this, Taiyang?"

Just smiling, the Dao walked over to her before chuckling, "I do, Master." Also looking out towards the Sun sinking beneath the horizon, "I have been sealed away for nearly a thousand years and I need to knock the rust off as it were. And what better way than a spar? And it would allow for me to test him as well." Closing her eyes, she giggled a bit with a smile tugging at her lips, "Besides, it might be fun~"

Only sighing, though her own lips twitched some, Natsumi began to walk, "Then let's get a move on." As they walked, Natsumi looked at the blade spirit next to her, "Are you really going to be teaching me how to use you properly?"

Smirking, Taiyang turned to her, "As a blade, or in other... fashions, my Master." The Dao grinned, "Such as making music in the old style!" At the blush that sprang up, she grinned a little, "You were just thinking of such, were you not?"

Quickly, the Kitsune teenager looked away, "No, I wasn't..." Inside her head, however, she groaned, 'I was... stupid puberty...'

Despite having guessed what her thoughts actually were, Taiyang didn't say anything on them. Instead, she smiled and continued to walk beside Natsumi, "But as to the first, I shall teach you what I can. Same with magic."

Cocking an eyebrow, Natsumi frowned as she tilted her head, "Really? You're going to also teach me magic?"

Moments later, she came to a stop as did the Dao. Turning towards her, Taiyang's gaze met the Kitsune's, "I will, Master. For you are the Heir of my Master, the one who will reach great heights and, perhaps, surpass her entirely. Because I feel such is within you." Her smile softened a touch as she nodded slightly, "It would be remiss of me to not teach you such things after all."

For a few moments, Natsumi considered that before she gave her own smile, "As long as you teach Harry-Chan." Her expression darkened for a brief moment, "He may need it in the days to come."

Her own expression darkening, Taiyang grinned, "Of course, Master. I was going to offer such anyways."

As they continued to walk out of the Clan compound, the teenage Kitsune became thoughtful, "Do you think that it will bother much with how I am learning some skills from European magic?" At the interested look, she blushed, "I mean... one of those skills is something called Occlumency. It sort of helps sort one's mind, while also making it hard to... read, is the best word. Once you master it, you can also learn Legilimency, which helps read the surface thoughts."

Eyes widened a touch, Taiyang considered what she was just told, "No, Master, I do not think that will be much of a bother at all. And it will also be a very useful skill in the future. Perhaps I shall look into it as well..."

Only nodding, Natsumi soon turned the topic onto other matters as they walked along a wooded path until they reached an area of the small mountain blocked off by various spells. Here, rock had been added to the mountainside via melting it and extending it out into a platform. Nearby, there were observation areas protected by spells. Looking around at the grass covered area, Taiyang gave a nod of approval. After all, it was a very nice sparring area and she could tell that she could cut loose a little bit.

With a goodbye to Natsumi, who rushed off to the observation area, Taiyang turned to where Carnwennan stood in a relaxed pose. Both combatants studied each other intently, yet there was no tenseness in their muscles. Taiyang scanned him over and tilted her head some as her tail swished behind her. Despite the two of them not fighting, they could sense the power, the history, and the legend that the other carried with them. A deep well of power that laid within.

The two of them could tell that the other was an old, experienced blade. However, that said, Taiyang expected that the fight on her end would be much tougher. After all, she could tell that Carnwennan was a century or two older. But that would not have mattered much, except for one issue....

She had been sealed for nearly a thousand years, while he had been somewhat active during that time, building experience.

Both of them simply nodded at each other and no words were said before they rushed across the field separating them. Just before she reached him, Carnwennan tossed his true self up and over, disappearing and reappearing behind her with his dagger held in a reverse grip as he swung back. Taiyang, for her part just twisted in a way that caused more than one wince from those watching as she ducked under the blow, lashing out with her foot followed by her dao.

A flurry of sparks shot out as the two blades met each other, and the foxy blade grinned, "Ooo! A trickster, it would seem~"

Lips twitching into a smirk, Carnwennan chuckled back at her as they separated and he leapt up, and over a slash from her, "Of course. On the battlefield there is no such thing as fairness." Landing, he tipped backwards, nearly parallel to the ground as the sword just barely grazed the tip of his nose, "Just that one wins and one loses."

Only nodding, Taiyang grin became a bit more bloodthirsty as she lunged forward, their blades once more meeting in sparks, "Indeed! Now, let us see who is the better!"

Neither said anymore words as they continued to clash. Steel rang out against steel as sparks flew. Carnwennan became a whirling dervish of death, while Taiyang's blade danced among the last rays of the setting Sun. Watching as the dagger seemed to teleport every time he let go of himself, only for Taiyang to twist her avatar's body in various ways to counter and attack back, Natsumi's jaw dropped, "Oh... wow..."

Eyes tracking the two, Kogitsune-Maru nodded with a frown on their face, "Very impressive, but that is to be expected considering who we are speaking of." Watching as one rock was sliced in half, they narrowed their eyes, "Hmm... and to think that this is only the warm up."

Her eyes widening, the teenage Kitsune was about to ask when Carnwennan's blade seemed to cleave Taiyang's head from her body... only for both sword and avatar to vanish into a burst of leaves. Moments later, he himself had to duck as the Dao reappeared behind him as if from thin air and nearly took off his own head. Twisting, he seemed to fall to the side as she brought down her sword once more... only to vanish into a shadow as it fell, tearing apart the ground.

For her part, Taiyang only had a brief moment of widening her eyes before leaping into a flip, as Carnwennan's dagger passed through where she had been moments before. Both ancient blades had their eyes meet and had a smirk on their face. Carnwennan hummed internally, 'So that was an example of a Kitsune's illusions...'

Meanwhile, the Dao also was intrigued, 'He fell into the shadow and teleported to a nearby one? Isn't that an interesting and useful ability~'

Seconds later, she made a gesture as foxfire sprung from her hands, forming into serpents that flew through the air. However, Carnwennan met them as he charged forward, ravens composed of shadow bursting from his and meeting the firey creations of Taiyang as the two once more clashed with sparks flying. Even as the two's creations faded from existence, they were not finished as Carnwennan lashed out with a fist which Taiyang deflected before grabbing the arm and twisting it.

But rather than be concerned, the Arthurian blade merely grimaced slightly before twisting it and hooking one leg around the surprised Dao's arm moments before one of his boots impacted her face. Falling as she was knocked backwards and let go of his arm, Carnwennan hit the ground and twisted, only for his opponent to meet it with one of her own legs, which she hooked around his and used the leverage to hit him between the legs and sending him flying.

Grunting, the dagger glared at the sword, "Low blow that."

Unable to help herself, Taiyang ignored the small bit of blood that seeped from the corner of her lips, as well as the darkening bruise of one cheek as she giggled and twirled one lock of hair around a finger, "All's fair in battle~"

Now smirking, Carnwennan thrust the hand containing his true form forward and past Taiyang as he charged her, "Too true."

Already expecting him to attack from behind, the Dao's eyes widened as she turned and froze in place. Not from her own accord, either, but from the corner of her eye, she could see Carnwennan's blade piercing her shadow moments before she was flipped head over ass as he slid before her and gave an uppercut. Catching herself, Taiyang's foot touched a single falling leaf and used it as a springboard to leap backwards from his second strike before they continued their battle.

It was only a few minutes later that Carnwennan's dagger hit her shadow again. But this time, she dismissed her avatar, causing his kick to go wide before rematerializing within his defence. Fox tail gripping one leg of his, she swung her own body up and around his before slamming his face into the hardpacked ground. Bouncing away as he twisted and nearly gutted her, she landed before a chain made of shadow wrapped itself around her neck and yanked her towards Carnwennan.

Once more, she twisted in midair, legs clasping themselves around his neck. Unfortunately, he reversed the hold and, with a snarl, whipped her around until she was the one who slammed into the ground. But before he could slam his boot down, she sank into the earth and popped out of it a few meters away. Wincing, she wiped at a bit of blood that trickled from one nose before noticing that he was already heading for her... Right before the leaves behind her suddenly shot towards him. Dodging one, Carnwennan winced as his cheek was cut sliced open from a mere brush, carmine spilling out, 'Hmm... definitely dangerous.'

Reaching her, their true selves once more met in a clash of steel against steel. His movements precise and deadly while hers looked like a dance of sorts. One that with one mistake could mean his end.

It was shortly after, when she hopped back and stood on a twig to get a breath in, sweat and blood steaming over her body, that Taiyang laughed some with a massive grin. One mirrored on Carnwennan's face as the Arthurian blade also had his fair share of cuts and bruises. Shifting a bit on his foot, Carnwennan hummed, "Not bad."

With a slight nod, Taiyang smiled, "Neither are you." Seeing his shadow rise up and take the form of him, except with no features but shadow, she raised an eyebrow, "So we're doing this? Very well."

Around her, leaves swirled around until they formed into another version of herself before the now four beings charged once more into battle. Fox fire swirling around her, and shadow around him, Taiyang and Carnwennan once more met with sparks flying as they shared a grin of those pushing their limits...

_____________________________________________

"Itai... itai..."

Rolling her eyes as she had one of Taiyang's arms over her shoulder, Natsumi gave a small sigh, "I told you that you shouldn't spar with Carnwennan and go all out."

Weakly grinning, the Dao gave a shrug before wincing, "Well, it was an experience. And he can definitely take care of you..." Rolling her shoulder slightly, she let out a hiss, "Though I am regretting it slightly."

Once more, all Natsumi did was roll her eyes before shaking her head, 'I knew that this was going to happen.' Reaching over with one tail, she opened the door to reveal a small bathroom before helping Taiyang in, "Let's get you all cleaned up."

Simply nodding, Taiyang gingerly sat down and winced slightly as Natsumi got various bath products ready. Humming a little, she noted that it was not just her toiletries there, "You cleaning up as well, Master?"

With a small smile, the teen shrugged, "Hai, might as well since I'm all sweaty from the heat today. And a bit dirty as well.."

A few minutes later found Taiyang giving a sigh of relief along with a slight hiss of pain as Natsumi dumped the bucket full of hot water over her. Getting up a scrub using a cloth, the teenage Kitsune hummed a little as she began to gently clean her newest weapon's avatar. The soapy cloth softly cleaned away the sweat and grim as well as the small cuts that littered Taiyang's form, "Ah... that feels nice, Master..."

Lips curling into a small smile, Natsumi chuckled, "I imagine so." Part of her admired the muscles that moved under Taiyang's skin before dismissing the thought and finishing her back and arms before handing the cloth to her, "Here, do your front while I start on the shampoo."

Only humming, the Dao began to do just that though a small purr escaped her as she felt Natsumi's fingers began to work the shampoo into her pinkish locks as well as over her ears, 'Oh... yes... this is nice...' She did blink a bit as she watched her Master place some shampoo onto an odd object. It looked like a brush, but there was a rubber bulberous part which she took the top off and filled with a mixture of shampoo and water, "What is that, Master?"

Blinking, Natsumi held up the object, "This?" At the nod, she chuckled some, "It's a shampoo brush." Shaking it for a few moments, she began to brush her sword's tail, suds left behind, "It spreads shampoo evenly through a tail likes ours."

Head cocked to the side, Taiyang considered this as she finsihed up her front, "Truly? So you squeeze the bulb and the mixture comes out to be applied?" At the nod, she frowned, "Where did they come up with the idea..."

For a moment, the teen froze before weakly chuckling, "Well, um..." Seeing her confusion, Natsumi took a deep breath and bit the bullet, "It's based on a pet bathing tool."

Just staring, Taiyang slowly blinked, "A... tool to bathe a pet?"

Blushing lightly, Natsumi gave a shrug, "Hai, but someone saw it and figured that if it worked on fur, it would work well for tails and such. They made it a lot nicer though and it works really well so you don't need to spend hours working on it."

Considering that, her sword gave a small nod, "I see..." Once Natsumi was done, she raised a bucket and dumped it over her body, wincing as she felt the suds wash away. Shaking her head a bit, even as Natsumi rinsed her tail, she sighed before looking over her shoulder, "Okay, Master, once you're done with that it's my turn to wash your back~"

Despite herself, Natsumi found herself agreeing and soon both of them headed towards the bath, though not before the Kitsune grabbed a grainy ball-like object roughly the size of her fist. Seeing the unasked question, she gave a shrug, "It's a special bath bomb."

Head tilted to the side, Taiyang watched as Natsumi dropped it into the water. Almost immediately, it began to break apart and turn the water a greenish color as it fizzed, "Bath bomb?"

With a small shrug, the Kitsune shook her head, "It's called that because it 'explodes' into the water in a fizzy cloud. I like bath salts and the like for them... But this one is special." Seeing the curiosity, she continued, "It turns the water into repair fluid and in this case, a small company set up at Ginzan to produce them. Doesn't do much for Yokai like myself... but object spirits?" A grin appeared on Natsumi's face, "It works wonders and repairs any and all damage."

Not sure that she believed her, Taiyang frowned at the water before slowly getting in. Almost immediately, a gasp escaped her which turned into a moan as she submerged herself up to her shoulders, "O-oh... Master~ Such a good, kind, wonderful Master to treat her Taiyang to this~"

A small blush on her face, Natsumi coughed a bit, "I'm glad that you enjoy it." Slipping in herself, she hummed a bit as she felt the heat loosen muscles, "It should be repairing any damage to your actual blade and restoring it to perfection."

Eyes closed, the Dao only hummed happily as she relaxed before summoning her true self. Looking at her blade, she glanced at Natsumi who simply nodded and so she submerged her blade into the water, provoking another gasp and moan as she felt years fall away. She had always maintained herself, as did Tamamo. But right now, she felt like every scratch, every scrape, and every dent slowly disappeared from her true self while the wounds she had on her avatar closed and bruises faded. It went without saying that that practically melted where she laid from how good she felt.

More than a little content, she sank more into the water until it reached her chin... though later that night found Natsumi being cuddled by her Dao in happiness.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

El Dia Del Cóndor (IV)

July 28th, 2014

Malafé S.A. Special Facility #1, Pirayú, Paraguarí Department, Paraguay

Estelle slid the blade of her true body through the mesh of the air vent in the roof of the warehouse. Once more she closed her eyes and concentrated on the sensations touching the Toledo steel of her body. She 'looked' through a complete sweep of the roof and breathed a sigh of relief.

The coast was clear.

Now to set up the repeater link between the hidden cameras she had placed and the outside world.

With that she concentrated, shifting her avatar's clothing from the true combat harness over her black turtleneck and cargo pants (with kevlar inserts surrounding polyethelyne bulletproof plates woven in to cover her torso) to the illusion of the apple-green shirt over green-black pants of Malafé S.A.'s workers.

With that she concentrated with her true body to dispel the Sticking Charm that she had used to hold the apparently-locked grate in place and slid out. One hand pulled off her balaclava mask and stowed it in her cargo pants' pocket. This revealed her borrowed face of a Spanish peasant lad who had died in 1811 fighting alongside her to drive the hated French back over the Pyrenees.

She then placed the grate back into place and secured it rapidly. She then looked around, getting her bearings before moving to the side of the roof away from the loading dock. She knelt and unslung her pack, then pulled out a metal pole with a parabolic microwave antenna, a solar panel, and a wi-fi-modem from the space-expanded interior. She pulled out an earbud, and plugged it into the antenna, and then slowly turned it until she got the warble of the carrier wave from the one she had previously set up outside the compound during prior surveillance missions.

Her lips peeled back from her teeth in a smug smile as she used a Sticking Spell to anchor the antenna. She then plugged in the Wi-fi router, and connected it to the solar panel for power and the antenna. One last spell sequence hazed the wireless point to point network she had assembled in a combination of Notice-Me-Not and Someone Else's Problem charms.

With that, Estelle stepped back and reslung her pack.

Her eyes scanned the ground, parking lot, perimeter road, and neaby helipad containing an idling Augusta A109 executive helicopter in Malafé colors as her brain worked in overdrive, computing potential escape routes.

Then movement caught her attention.

A female security guard in the brown uniform with gold trim of Prosegur walked around the corner of the warehouse from where the loading was going on. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a hand-rolled cigarette.

Perfect.

Estelle moved stealthily to the roof overlooking the lone guard as she shifted her avatar back to her actual Hispanic woman..

Her nose flared at the familiar smell of marijuana being smoked.
Spoiler: Exfiltration

With that, her left hand drew her true self as she reached the edge and dropped silently behind her target.

The only indication the guard had that her death was imminent was the soft thump of two boots behind her.

In the next instant a hand covered her nose and mouth as a precise thrust of Estelle's misericordia true body caressed her brainstem.

Estelle's sapphire-blue eyes hooded in ecstasy as she did what she had been forged to do.

Deliver death with one precise thrust of her steel.

As she lowered the cooling corpse to the ground a gasp came from behind her.

She whirled like a cat and locked her eyes with César Malafé as he froze with one hand filled with a wand and the other on his belt buckle.

Behind César, the corpse-flesh of his personal guard golem filled the door that he had just stepped through.

"Avada Kedavra!" The wand tip moved like a sieg-rune in the Killing Curse.

A jet of green energies shot at Estelle....

...only to warp toward and impact the blood-soaked misericordia in her left hand.

Estelle's teeth gritted in pain and effort as the lethal energies got sucked into her now-glowing steel.

Her right hand moved in a blur to her shoulder holster.

César's eyes widened in disbelief as the woman stood there unaffected.

Then a red dot appeared on his forehead.

And a split second later a 9mm hollowpoint round blew his brains out across the wall, door, and golem behind him.

Estelle's point flicked and over the spray of César's blood and brains on the warehouse a glowing symbol suddenly appeared.
Spoiler: The Sign Of La Paloma

The golem roared and charged for her, greenish flames flickering across its body.

Estelle turned and sprinted like the hounds of Hell were on her heels across the parking lot toward the helipad.

Shouts sounded from behind her and then an alarm sounded.

She reached a parked pickup truck and dove across the hood without breaking stride, tucking and rolling and then coming up in a crouch.

A second later the enraged Grendel smashed through the truck without slowing down, sending body panels, tires, and pieces of the cab flying in a rain of shrapnel.

Estelle suddenly kicked off as hard as she could with both legs.

She flew backward head-first between the Grendel's legs as she twisted bonelessly in midair.

Bullets whizzed past her as a female scream of "¡César! ¡Mi nieto!"(my Grandchild) filled the air from where Sieglinde knelt over César's corpse.

Toledo steel flashed in the sunlight and neatly severed the Grendel's hamstring as Estelle's pistol fired as fast as she could pull the trigger into the crotch and back of the Grendel.

Estelle backflipped to her feet and grunted involuntarily as a bullet slammed into the ballistic plate over her shoulder blades.

Behind her, Sieglinde's tears fell as her wand moved in a pattern and she hissed out a spell "Geister meiner Rache!"(Ghosts of my Revenge)

A trio of man-sized jaguars with the same hate-filled blue eyes of the summoner and diamond-studded collars formed from thin air next to Sieglinde.

A split second later, the jaguars and one of the two Grendels beside Sieglinde headed for Estelle.

The first Grendel's leg buckled as it tried to turn to face the dagger.

Estelle sprinted toward the Grendel that she had just lamed and kicked off, leaping into the air...

....landing on the Grendel's shoulders as her true body thrust down through the beast's brain and her emptied pistol was dropped so she could pull the second handgun...

...then kicking off in another leap to clear the next row of parked cars as the Grendel's animation spells were severed and it collapsed like the ton-weight of dead flesh that it was as her true body was yanked free.

A pair of Toyota Hilux trucks that had been adapted as technicals sped toward her from the right side of the perimeter road. The gunners in the back braced themselves and cocked their Czech light machine guns.

Estelle's smirk showed all her teeth as she fired on the run, dropping the first gunner before he could return fire.

Behind her the Grendel and jaguars were gaining.

Bullets spattered dust around her as the second gunner tried to draw a bead on her.

She then grunted as 7.62 machine gun slugs slammed across her chest and she began to bleed.

Estelle fired again and the first driver lost control as the windshield suddenly acquired a bullet hole and his arm fell numb.

The truck skidded, hit a rut in the dirt road and began to flip and roll toward her.

Estelle dove forward under the cartwheeling truck....

...which slammed into the jaguars sending the magical constructs flying...

...and then wrapped itself around the Grendel in a crash that knocked the murder-golem to its knees.

The second driver's eyes widened in her face as Estelle suddenly appeared out of the chaos ahead of her and fired before dropping the second pistol as it emptied...

...then baseball-slid under the speeding truck as her left arm moved like lightning...

...to leap to her feet behind the truck with her submachine gun in both hands to riddle the gunner from the rear with 9mm bullets...

...before sprinting to the helicopter and shooting the pilot.

The Grendel roared and peeled the remains of the wrecked Toyota off itself as it staggered upright.

Estelle yanked the dead pilot out of the helicopter and leaped inside.

The stolen helicopter took off with Estelle at the controls as spells and lead filled the air.

Sieglinde's eyes widened in shock as she saw the smugly grinning face of her Nemesis throwing the horns at her as she made her getaway.

"KILL HER!" Sieglinde screamed at the top of her lungs as the helicopter accelerated.

In response to the command the Grendel threw the remains of the Hilux at the helicopter.

Estelle's blue eyes widened comically as she saw the flying pickup truck filling the canopy.

"¡Me cago en la puta alemana!"(I shit on the German whore/bitch) Estelle swore in the instant before the helicopter disintegrated around her from the impact.

Then the fuel tanks exploded as they were ruptured, showering the area just outside the compound with burning debris.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

El Dia Del Cóndor (Fin)

July 28th, 2014

Malafé S.A. Special Facility #1, Pirayú, Paraguarí Department, Paraguay
Spoiler: No Body Found

"Doña Malafé." The guard captain licked his lips nervously as he stood at rigid attention in front of Sieglinde, who was weeping over the corpse of her grandson.

No answer.

He took a deep breath. "Doña Malafé. We have secured the crash site. There is no sign of the intruder's body yet, but we expect success any moment. The shipment of bullion is ready to be dispatched. Your son Sertorio has been notified and is en route, as are the other members of your family."

Slowly, the Malafé matriarch raised her head.

Her face was twisted in killing hatred mixed with grief and the flames of Hell danced in her red-rimmed blue eyes.

The guard captain paled.

Sieglinde's burning eyes narrowed to slits. She hissed venomously. "Redouble your search! Scour the nearby area! Leave no stone unturned!! Release the tracking dogs from the pens! Order the mages to divine her location with the blood that she shed in her escape! Post a reward of La Paloma's weight in gold dead, ten times that alive for information leading to her capture!"

"I shall let the men know to expedite retrieving her body then, Doña Malafé!" He replied.

Fury filled Sieglinde's voice. "No she has done this before to me and mine... Struck, killed, and then left us to mourn our dead. My husband. My nephew Esteban. My son Manuel and his wife Elisebeta. My aunt Gretchen. She is out there somewhere. She... and her loved ones. I shall make her bleed and beg for mercy."

She shook violently as her fingers touched the pool of drying blood from the corpse of her grandson.

Her wand moved and the blood shifted into a doppelganger of Estelle in a Parisian dress from the 1970s standing with a bloody antique dagger over her husband's butchered corpse in his office.

Then a black clad sniper leaping from a rooftop as a cocaine processing facility burned.

Then a blurred security image from the parking lot of a banquet that Sieglinde grasped with white knuckles as outside the fire department sprayed water on the crater where a limousine had been a half hour before.

Then a bullet riddled laboratory with a bloody sheet over a bullet riddled corpse in a ritual circle.

And one last shift to the Estelle who looked into Sieglinde's eyes as the matriarch of the Malafés stood over the corpse of her youngest grandchild.

"S̬̼̈̑heͯ̈ ̬͖wil̷̆̿l̪̫͋̾ ̪ͭb͏eg̨ ̸̱̼ͪͫme̮͠ ̳̳͍͝fo̕ř͓̹̅ ̱͇ͨ͊m͂̃͏̲̳e̴r͈̾c̛y̭͔͙, ̴̇̈́ͭa̹̞̼ͪ̈́ͭnd͔͓͊͆ ̣s͉̭̺̽̎̂hȩ̃̄ w̡i͡l̻͈̲̋͋͐͜l̢ ̧͔͇ͭ͗f̵͇͐i̵nd no͒̿͞nͫ͌e҉̳.̠͍̞ ͛ͤS̶ͥo͡ ̃̓̃́I̷͍̪̬ ̅͞ŝw͔͋e̺a͕r ̱̮̆ͥo̧̰̳̤n̤͍̳̾ͪ͛ ͕̱̽̿t͝ḥ̸e ̙͛b̷̘̳͌͑l͓͔̦ǫ̞͕̺o͍ͫd̴ o͈͂f̓ͬ̔҉̘̳͔ ̻͋m͎͉͍ỵ̺ ̮͆mu̪̻͋ͫr̸̦̯ͬͭd̡̩͊er̆͂ed̖͙̼̆̈́̔ ͪͣͯki͔̩̳n͜ ̝̀ţ̮̩̲̎͋͗h̶a̩͌ṯ͎̇ͤ s̵h͠e ͟h̽as̸̬ͩ ͣͮͫs̀h̝e̺͚̐̑d̲."

The guard captain licked bone dry lips as he departed to carry out the Doña's orders. At least if he accomplished his orders to the best of his and his men's abilities, she would not vent her wrath upon them.

Hopefully.
-----------------------

30 July 2014
Spoiler: The Legend Of La Paloma

Some days, Estelle reflected, it really did not pay to get out of bed. In the metaphorical sense, of course.

She gritted her nonexistent teeth at the sound of a rifle butt hitting flesh and the cries and sobs of the young peasant woman -- girl really -- that the Malafé security troopers were 'persuading' to speak. She reminded herself once more both that their brutality would generate new people willing to fight back, and that revealing herself now would just lead to more pain for them since she would have to kill these three truckloads of troops.

Damn her if that was not becoming more and more of a temptation though.

Eventually their inquiries came to an end and the corporate thugs boarded their trucks as rain spattered the ground.

Time to make her move, she decided.

With that she released the spell keeping her securely stuck into the undercarriage of the Toyota.

That allowed her true self to slide out as the truck bumped along, falling into a muddy puddle in the dirt road with a splash that was unnoticed as the trucks headed back to the compound fifteen miles away.

With utmost caution she scanned the deserted road through the woodlands with her mundane and magical senses, mentally reciting the books of the Bible five times... in sequence.

Nothing.

She finally manifested her avatar, wincing and doubling over from the cracked ribs, burns, cuts and bruises on her battered form.

"Ow ow owow ow OW!" She gasped out as she picked up her true body, equally the worse for wear. "In hindsight... ahh hijo de puta(son of a bitch/Motherfucker) that hurts! The helicopter as a diversion was a bit of a mistake."

She grinned smugly as she sheathed herself with a hiss of relief. She cast an illusion to appear as an ancient Mestiza peasant woman with a bundle of firewood bending her double. She began to slowly limp down the road toward the village the Malafés had just left. She had friends there, and could make a potion that would give the poor girl that had been abused a healing sleep while Estelle cast spells to blur the memories and take away the pain of the unprovoked assault.

After all, whatever she did for those little ones under her care, so too did she do for Christ the King whom she was the lowest and meanest servant of.
-----------------------------

Hacienda Lealtad, Puerto Rico, USA

7 August 2014
Spoiler: Estelle And Isla

A solitary figure dressed and veiled in an ankle-length black mourning dress from the late 1890s walked through the neat and orderly cemetery.

Crosses that had been carved from the limestone of the hill towering above the coffee plantation gleamed in the light of the setting sun.

Finally Estelle reached a limestone Cross of St. John and knelt there with her head bowed.

She sobbed brokenly as her hand gently touched the worn inscription on the grave.

ISLA DE PADILLA 19 JANUARY 1870 - 7 AUGUST 1898.

Tears fell as she knelt and tenderly placed a red rose and a pure white lily surrounded by forget-me-nots on the grave of her friend... her lover... her soulmate.

Who now slept eternally alongside the rest of her family in the land that they had loved. Leaving this plantation, these responsibilities to the dagger's spirit who had watered her deathbed with her tears as the fever from her infected bullet wound and from the malaria had carried her away from Estelle's side.

A flower cut down in the prime of her life to be remembered forever as the laughing young woman who had eased the pain of the one who would outlive her. Given her the love, care and compassion that allowed Estelle to unburden herself to the exceptional young woman and obey her dying request as Isla squeezed her fingers with her last strength.

"It's time for me to go, heart of my heart. Promise me that you will take care of yourself until we meet again? There is peace together past the veil for me and you...."

Estelle had accepted the burden of caring for those who had served the de Padillas for generations and now served her on the land that had been willed to her. As Isla would have wished.

Estelle whispered in a tear-choked voice her renewed oath as she had done when she could visit in the months, years, decades, centuries since she first stood here at the graveside of the young woman who had been the world to her.

"I promise on my steel and my soul, love of my love. I shall take care of myself, since you are waiting for me...."

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

WELP! Part two (well, three) of the Kuraokami's entry to the Ian Potter Harem!

Follows - Marital Negotiations
------

Theogony

October 2013, Final Day of Kannazuki

Ian Potter reclined on the cushions. With the annual gathering of the Kami ending, his restaurant was especially busy.

Not for the feeding of guests. Oh no. With women. Either because it would be their last chance to take a ride on the Ian Train, or because they wanted one more memory 'for the road,' the last day saw more spirits of the feminine nature take him from his kitchen than any other. Resulting in the displaced Englishman hiring actual staff to cover for him rather than just close a day early. And so, with stiff legs, sore back, and unresponsive flesh, Ian looked forward to a few days of peace.

To the shock of almost anyone that would have known her in life, Lyra was more than content to leave her husband be. Instead, she provided her lap for him to rest his head on, stroking his hair as he drifted in and out of sleep, while Koyomi massaged his sore feet. To one side of the trio, a fireplace modeled after the one he and his family built familial memories around for decades in the main manor crackled, casting the room in warm, comforting light.

"My Lord?"

Ian normally have stood and acknowledged the female attendant – one of many – by name. But with the grogginess of Kannazuki baring down, the most he could accomplish was an inarticulate 'mm.'

The spirit of a by now long destroyed sword by a smith long forgotten by history bowed deeply.

"My Lord, forgive my intrusion, but Lady Kuraokami has arrived. She is most insistent that she speak with you."

"I hope I am not interrupting?"

At once, Koyomi moved from her place at Ian's feet and knelt with face to the floor. Lyra would have genuflected as she would if meeting the Queen, but with her weary husband in her lap she settled with a deep bow at the waist. But Ian grunted as he sat up – the burn in his abdominals protesting – and inclined his head in a small bow.

"Not at all Kuro," the Potter replied – the sword spirit attendant blanching at his familiarity with one of the Great Kami for not the first time – "just resting after a long and successful festival. Please, have a seat. Are you hungry? I'm sure something can be fixed for you."

"No," the Kami of Rain replied, "I've already eaten."

"Some tea then." Ian countered with a nod at the attendant, "Lyra? Koyomi? Could you kindly help her? And perhaps make a quick white pudding for myself? I'm feeling a bit peckish myself."

The Human woman and Yuki Onna wordlessly nodded and left – though before she left, Lyra looked at her husband over Kuraokami's shoulder with a knowing smirk and made a lewd hand gesture before leaving the room. For some time, the two remained as they were, looking at each other. Finally, Ian gestured to the empty floor before him, and the kami took the unspoken invitation and coiled up her serpentine lower body.

"So. I think you know why I am here."

Ian nodded understandingly.

"You have an answer for me. Either you've decided no, and you wanted to tell me to my face. Or, you have considered all the other details I mentioned, and have decided that you don't mind, or can at least live with the possibility of… Sharing."

The Dragon Kami of Rain sighed and nodded.

"I have. I do want a child, and you will be a wonderful father."

"And Lyra…?"

The kami paused for a time, then sighed.

"I can't say I'm entirely interested. At least, not right now. But… I have heard the stories of her abilities to persuade. So… Maybe. But only if… Well…"

Ian smiled warming and nodded.

"Say no more. I completely understand. It's like I told you when we first talked about this: It would make me a right tosser if I were to ignore the feelings and misgivings of the women I involved myself with. So don't you worry Kuraokami. Even if that never comes to pass, Lyra will be happy so long as I give her material to make a book or two out of it. With the identifying features removed of course."

That settled, Ian turned about so that he was facing the fireplace, and patted on the cushions next to him.

"Come now, sit. I'm afraid I'm of no use to your desires tonight. I have had a busy day on top of a busy festival. So I fear you will just have to settle for some cuddling."

Kuraokami looked at the empty seat with a cocked eyebrow, but took the offer and slithered into place beside the displaced Englishman. After a moment of quiet, Ian reached over and tenderly stroked Kuraokami's hand before sensuously wrapping his hand around hers, interlacing their fingers like the roots of a pair of trees.

Another pause, and Ian leaned against Kuraokami, resting his head against her shoulder. The pale white Kami slowly, hesitantly, returned the motion, and rested her head on his.

The time passed onward, with only crackling of the first breaking the comfortable silence between them.

"You know Ian… I don't think I have ever done anything like this with my previous suitors."

Ian scoffed, but other than that didn't move.

"Then they were irredeemable fools. One of the finest pleasures of any relationship that has actual meaning, is simply sitting in contact with each other, resting in front of a warm fire."

The pair sat like that for some time, unmoving. As the seconds faded into minutes, Kuraokami found herself smiling in contentment, finding truth in the Englishman's words even as her tail – as if on it's own – uncoiled from beneath her and encircled the two of them, even as Ian slipped into a comfortable sleep.

And at the sliding paper door leading out of the room, Lyra, Koyomi, and the attendant – a tea set in hand and a warm pudding still in its cloth – looked on through the barely opened screen. Lyra and Koyomi with warm smiles on their faces, while the attendant looked on with uncertainty. Without a word, the human and Yuki Onna silently backed away and led the sword tsukumogami away.

Best to leave the newest member of their little family get used to her new Common Law husband…
------

July 2014, Adachi Ward, Japan

With the squeaky of leather and the clump of biker boots, Jin trudged up the stairs. In the wake of the Tokyo Diet gasping in its death throes, several clusters of dumb punks with more pride than good sense felt that they could start causing trouble. And as soon as Jin and her boys – or her dumbass cultists – stomped down one flare up, another group would riot on the other side of town.

With a yawn and a crack of her jaw, Jin riffled through the thick stack of mail that had been collecting in her mail box.

'Maybe I should start having those homeless Abyssal bums organizing this shit?' the Undead Mizuchi thought to herself, 'If they really are my worshippers, I might as well give them something to do so they don't get in trouble…'

Then she shook her head. No, that would only encourage them.

"Junk… Bill… Junk, junk, junk, bill, shit jury duty, bill, bill, junk… Huh."

Jin paused on the stairs, looking at the fancy envelope with her address on it. There was no return, but with the red markings on the back under the wolf head embossed into the golden wax seal, there was only one person it could be. And only one occasion could possibly warrant this sort of letter.

"So the brattling finally manned up and popped the question, eh? I'll need to talk to Ai about coordinating who gets what for the engagement party…. Huh?"

Nestled in the fold of a two-day old copy of the newspaper, there sat an honest to kami scroll. And going by the gilded decoration of the case it was official. As Jin rummaged in her pocket for her apartment's key with one hand, she worked at jostling the pile of post in her other arm in order to try and get the scroll case to rotate enough to see who was sending her correspondence from Beyond. And when she did, she nearly dropped the whole stack.

"SHIT! shitfuckshitshitshitFUCK!"

What the Hell could Ryujin-sama be wanting?!

As quickly as she could manage, Jin somehow got the door open and immediately dumped the suddenly unimportant mail on the floor. Her hands free, the Corrupt Mizuchi quickly broke the seal, pulled out the scroll and unfurled it.

For the longest time, she didn't read the message so much as stare at it. Finally, Jin managed to get herself to breath and gain focus… And nearly lose it again when she recognized the handwriting from seeing some of her Lord's Most Important Documents on display around his Kannazuki Palace.

This shit was personally written to her too. Fuck, this was important.

Tooled up and panicky at what sort of Doomsday Scenario could prompt this sort of missive, Jin slowly felt her mental gears grinding against each other as she struggled to find the proverbial clutch while processing what was actually sent to her.

"'Dearest Hasegawa no Jin, my vassal, I Lord Ryujin blah blah blah – in the fullest warmth of – dut-duh-dah.. Kuraokami, my beloved sister, is with child, and is expected to deliver towards the end of November. You are cordially invited to a-' A FUCKING BABY SHOWER?! THE FUCK! Ryujin you asshole! You had me all worked up!"

Jin wadded up the delicate rice paper and through it in a random direction before she slumped onto her vintage 1970s couch with a huff. After she had calmed down and the significance of the event – Ryujin's famously Unlucky in Love sister finally having a child, thus adding to the core pantheon of Shinto – sunk in, the Mizuchi – still grumbling obscenities at her patron lord – retrieved the abused scroll and went over the message again.

"So. Kuraokami has a bun in the oven… No word on a wedding I somehow missed, so it must be some bastard… Ian Potter is the father…"

Jin leaned back, rubbing a suddenly tender forehead.

"You know what? I'm more surprised this hasn't happened sooner. Ah well, she's one of the Big Names, so only an idiot with a death wish would stir shit. Let's see… 'Festival of Life and Celebration of Maternit-' yeah, froo-froo it up as much as you want pal, a baby shower is a baby shower. Looks like I need to come up with a gift…"

She was quiet for a moment, as an old wound at something her past life robbed from her bubbled up to the surface just long enough for her to angrily quash it.

"Shit, I'm terrible at this sort of thing. If this were a normal human or mortal shower, I'd just fork over 20,000 yen and a pack of diapers and call it a day. This requires something that's actually nice… Shit. …Well, it's being held during Kami-Con, so I have a couple months to come up with something."

Jin's frustrations were postponed at the ring of her doorbell. Dumping the scroll in a pile on the side table, Jin grumbled as she marched over to the door, finding Shiromizu in her human form, with a certain scroll case in hand.

And the sunniest, most wholesome smile on her stupid mug.

"Senpai! Did you hear yet?! Isn't this exciting!"

"Yee~eah," Jin replied, dripping with sarcasm like a smoked pork would its fat, "woo-hoo…"

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord Khuzdu

Long time no see, I know. Next snippet won't be that far away, I promise.

~~~

Korkut examined the scapula of the ram he slaughtered thoughtfully. The arcane web of cracks, lines and burns on the bone spread like a web up its flat surface. Yavuz bent over the bone with him, trying to make sense of it.

"Hidden truth… yurt with khagan's tuğ in front of it… a palace… waste and extravagance… and this crack…"

Yavuz traced the split, thick crack with a spot burn near the branching point thoughtfully. "This seems familiar." Her eyes widened. "This is the Bosphorus. I know those lines like the back of my hand."

Korkut gazed at her. "Then this… Beşiktaş… so the palace must be Dolmabahçe… Okay, I can see the association, he died there."

"But how can we expect to find anything there? People must have gone over everything there with a fine toothed comb a dozen times," Yavuz said with a thoughtful look.

"Maybe. But our direction is clear. We have to visit the Dolmabahçe palace." Korkut's voice was firm.

Yavuz stood up and walked to the group of shipgirls waiting at the edge of the clearing. "Hamidiye, Ali, with me. Barbaros, I'm leaving you in command here. Slow them down as much as you can. Try to give us a week."

Barbaros nodded grimly, looking at the people around them. "We will do our best, Yavuz. Bring him back."

- - -

The plain rental van pulled into the parking lot next to the Bezmialem Valide Sultan Mosque next to the Dolmabahçe Palace complex. It was nighttime in Beşiktaş, and the palace museum was closed and dark, but the traffic in Istanbul never stopped. Korkut, Ali and their auror contact, Murat, stepped out of the vehicle first, with Yavuz, Hamidiye and Muavenet following them, with the rather conspicious shipgirls wearing sunglasses and wigs to make them less noticeable. Korkut looked towards the palace. "Well," he turned towards Ali, "your show. You said you could get us in."

Ali smiled and pulled out a phone. He checked his messages, and led them towards the wrought iron gates of the park next to the palace. The gates, normally closed and locked for the night, were unlocked. There was a middle aged, rail thin man waiting for them.

Ali smiled. "Thank you for meeting us here, Ibrahim. Any problems?"

Ibrahim frowned and looked back at the palace. "It took some funding to get this access. Tell Mehmet the rainy day fund is looking rather threadbare."

Ali shook his head. "Don't worry about that. You sure we will not be disturbed?"

Ibrahim smiled at that. "The security is high in the Presidential Office area, but the museum only has three guards tonight. They know enough to stay in their offices for now, and I've put Hüseyin on that hallway to make sure. The cameras are 'undergoing maintenance'. We will be okay."

Korkut motioned with his head. "Okay, let's get going then. We don't have much time."

- - -

Yavuz looked around the room and huffed in frustration. "This is the room he died… but… why did we need to come here? I really don't want to start tearing into furniture unless I really have to." She walked to the mirrored wardrobe and examined herself. Her eyes were starting to sink, with lack of sleep from the last few days. Her compatriots did not look better.

Ali sighed. "We can turn this place upside down if needed but I don't think we will find anything. Preserved or not, people would have gone over this place a thousand times since then."

Korkut, on the other hand, was examining the bedspread. "Well well well… somebody did use some rather strange spells in here." He said. "The residue is very old. But linen is suprisingly absorbent when it comes to stuff like that." He pulled up the silk flag covering the bed, and ran his hands over the linen bedspread. "The residue is muddled to hell and back, but there are some spells intended to-"

Yavuz whirled around when Korkut was interrupted by a gasp and a thump. A woman was standing over the old shaman, who was sprawled on the ground beside the bed. The woman's eyes were flashing with anger, her delicate features twisted in a scowl. She was tall and slender, with light brown hair and pale skin. She was wearing a light green dress straight out of the Great War years. "How dare you!" she hissed. A moment later, she noticed the others in the room, with a gun and a wand pointing at her. "Ah… oh… Yavuz? Is that you? I… weren't you a ship? What is happening?"

Yavuz rubbed her forehead, then motioned for the others to lower their weapons. "Long story. Who are you?"

The woman looked at the battlecruiser and then the others. "I should ask you lot that. What are you doing here? Why are you disturbing His room?"

Yavuz looked at the ceiling in despair, then brought her glare to bear on the other woman. "We are trying to understand what happened to him. I have it on good authority that he is not dead. Or at least, not on the other side."

The woman blinked. "Wha- Wait! So that's what he meant!"

Yavuz looked ready to chew through a bar of steel in frustration. "What who meant? What are you talking about? Who are you?"

Her target wilted under the glare of The Battleship. "Professor… Doktor Mim Kemal Bey. He… he said that He deserved more… there was only Salih Bey… he came in that morning… pulled out a stick and there was a red light… Salih Bey slumped over… Then he waved the stick over the Paşa. He then fed him something out of a small bottle. Did something and Salih Bey woke up, in a daze. He then went downstairs. At the stairs… he looked straight at me. I was very surprised that he could see me. Told me to follow him and went into the room prepared for the embalming operation. Then the yelling started. Ah! I can show you!"

Yavuz frowned as she listened and looked at Murat. "So, Doctor Mim Kemal Bey, was apparently a wizard, secretly. And he did something to Mustafa Kemal Paşa. Salih… that's Salih Bozok. Well, that's no surprise. You could never find him more than a few meters away from the Paşa. Did you know anything about this?" At his head shake indicating that he did not, she turned back to the woman. "Okay, lead the way. Who were you, again?"

"Oh, sorry… I am… I am this place. I am the Palace."
- - -

A few minutes later, the spirit of the Dolmabahçe Palace led the group to the downstairs room that was used to perform the embalming procedure. The room, out of sight from the rest of the museum, was being used as a storage, full of furniture.

"Here," the spirit pointed towards a wall. "He used his… wand? His wand to… open up the bricks on this wall. He pulled one out, and placed a small satchel in it. He… he said he did this to give Him the second chance he deserved. That he would make sure He got the rest he deserved."

Korkut examined the wall. "Indeed, there is an old transfiguration. The plaster is paper thin." He pulled out his wand, and with a wave, the plaster fell away. In the small cubbyhole, there was a small satchel wrapped in a linen handkerchief. The old shaman pulled it out carefully. "There is a preservation charm on it. Good one." He unfolded the cloth. Inside, there was a small flask with a little potion in it, and a small notebook. He handed the notebook to Yavuz, and the flask to Murat.

The auror sniffed the potion and shook his head. "I was not bad at potions, but I am by no means an expert. Still, if I had to make a guess, I'd say the Draught of Living Death."

Yavuz nodded as he went through the small notebook. "Indeed. Apparently, Mim Kemal Bey thought Paşa's life was cut too short. It seems Paşa's dreams he discussed with Sabiha Hanım, about retiring to a small farm, made an impression about him. His condition was incurable, not without endangering the Statute. So… he concocted this plan. He modified the memories of the people who did the embalming. And thus, Paşa was buried without doing anything to his body." She frowned. "Mim Kemal Bey died in 1955… just two years after they transferred him to his permanent grave from the catafalque at the Etnography Museum in Ankara. He probably did not have a chance to do anything out in the open there… and his health was failing by the time they transferred him to somewhere with the necessary privacy. So, he is still alive, under the effects of the potion."

Murat shook his head. "However, we cannot directly bring him out. Draught of Living Death preserves the body, but it cannot cheat death forever. Besides, if I remember correctly, Paşa's liver was almost completely gone by the time he died. It would take a miracle to actually keep him alive after we counteract the Draught."

Korkut smiled. "Well, good thing we have a miracle worker at hand. So it seems we are going on a not-so-dead-body snatching adventure."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Just looking at the phone in bemusement, Harry slowly shook his head with a slight chuckle, "Well, things seem like they're interesting with Natsumi-Chan."

Stretched out under a sunbeam, Shiromizu hummed happily as she sunned herself, "Hai, it does sound that way, Harry. But I am glad that she's alright though, that's a load off. Especially considering what she was dealing with, anyways."

Giving a nod, the teen frowned as he scratched his chin a little, "That's true enough, I suppose. Still, I'm just glad that things have turned out well." Once he got a hum of agreement, Harry sat down and smiled at his older "Sister" as she had her eyes closed, "You seem relaxed."

Only yawning a bit, Shiromizu opened one eye and smiled, "And why wouldn't I be? Things are turning out well at Ginzan." At his look of interest, she continued, "Himawari-Chan is working on getting her driver's license so that she can be my chauffeur of sorts. That small company making Omniculars is up and running with both the military and government interested in them, so they should get a nice big order, and various small businesses are flourishing."

Lips twitching, Harry gave her a knowing look, "Not to mention all the video that Suihou-San has been sending you of Himawari-San and her boyfriend had put you into a good mood."

Unable to help herself, the Mizuchi grinned widely, "Can you blame me? Those two are so sweet when they're together." At the shake of the head she got, though she could tell that Harry was amused by it, she internally smiled, 'I wonder what those two are up to right now...'

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

Coming out from between some shelves, Ryo softly hummed as he ran a hand along the wooden bookcase. It was much different from the ones he that he was used to, but... they were his and thus, he did not care. Under his palm he could feel the old, slightly worn wood before smiling a little.

Glancing around, he was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet as he noted that some more of the shelves had been filled. This time with a series of large, heavy books called the "Encyclopedia Britannica" that had been sent by Harry. His finger tips itched a bit and he had to stop himself from pulling one out to read. As well, there were a number of novels, both general and of the light format.

In particular, he was looking forward to reading the one titled "Shogun" which had caught his eye.

Moments later, his smile brightened as he passed a window and came to a stop. Being as he was on the second floor of his library, he could see the field of sunflowers that belonged to his girlfriend. Opening the window, he leaned his cheek against his fist and softly sighed in happiness as he looked out onto the bright, yellow blossoms. Each one seeming to give off the joy of the sunny spirit that called the field hers.

For several minutes, he just stood there leaning against the window as he looked out onto the field. Part of him mused that the flowers were brighter than the Sun. Eventually, however, he straightened and disappeared, reappearing on the lower floor of his library. A cloth appeared in his hand as he walked over to one of the desks, upon which sat a "Tiffany Lamp". He had to agree, it was a beautiful object. Even more so when night fell and he turned it on to read by its light.

It did not take him long to clean off what little dust might be on it. After all, he kept his library very clean, he would have you know! Once he was done, he placed his hands on his hips and nodded with a smug smile at how the lamp shone in the afternoon light.

Unnoticed by him, Himawari poked her head past the door and fought not to giggle at the sight of her boyfriend standing there looking so proud... Not that she minded that too much. She enjoyed seeing him like that and it made her feel warm inside, like the light of the summer Sun on her flowers. Just the same, she slowly made her way to him before lunging forward and placing her hands over his eyes as he jumped a bit in surprise, "Guess who~"

Calming down a little, Ryo hummed as if in thought before smiling, "Himawari-Chan?"

Quickly pulling her hands away, the Sunflower spirit giggled, "Right first time!" When he turned, her boyfriend opened his mouth to say something, only to freeze as he saw her. Light blush on her face, Himawari leaned forward slightly with her hands behind her back, "Ryo-Kun? Is something wrong?"

Just shaking his head as he swallowed some saliva in his mouth, Ryo shook his head, "N-not at all, Himawari-Chan..." Unable to help himself, his eyes roamed over what was on display. Mainly because for once, she was not wearing her usual Kimono. Rather, she had on what looked like nearly skintight jeans that ended partway down her lower leg and a tight, blue t-shirt. One that had a sunflower on the chest and drew his eye to her modest bust, "No problem at all..."

Happily smiling, Himawari straightened and her happiness grew a touch at seeing his gaze follow her movements with a blush on his own face, "I was worried there for a moment."

Slowly nodding, the library spirit gave her a weak grin, "Sorry about that, Himewari-Chan." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "I'm... curious about why you're wearing that." Ryo realized how that sounded and brought up how hands as she frowned, "N-not that it doesn't look great on you, Himawari-Chan! It does!" Giving her another once over, he felt his cheeks heat a bit more, "Really great..."

Her own blush deepening, Himawari nonetheless gave him a bright smile, "Thank you, Ryo-Kun..." With her head tilted to the side, she slowly twirled around in front of him, "You really think that it looks good?"

Noticing how the jeans she wore really clung to her, Ryo nodded with his eyes fixed on what he could see, "H-hai..."

Brightly smiling, the Sunflower Spirit gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Thank you." Pulling back a bit, she hummed as she bounced on the balls of her feet, "As to why I'm wearing it? It's because I'm heading to my next driving lesson."

That made Ryo blink some in confusion, "Your driving lesson?"

With a hum, Himawari nodded, "That's right." She made a gesture with one hand, "The people doing it are in one of the nearby towns and wearing a Kimono might catch attention."

Just blinking, her boyfriend gave her a once over, "And that won't?" Mumbling a bit, he shook his head, "Because it caught mine..."

That caused Himawari's blush to deepen followed by his own, "Um, thank you..." Giggling a little at his embarrassed expression, she tilted her head to the other side, "Well, like I said, I couldn't wear my Kimono and always wanted to try out more modern clothes." Looking down at her feet, she glanced at him, "I'm glad that you like them."

Briefly, Ryo had to bite his lip at how adorable his girlfriend looked before remembering something that he saw. Glancing around quickly, he walked up to her and placed his arms around her waist. This had the benefit, to his, and hers unknown to him, of placing his hands on her ass as he pulled her close, "I really do, my Cinnamon Bun."

Himawari didn't know that she could blush that much, but apparently so. Also glancing around, she hummed as she threw her arms around his neck, "Thank you, my Sweet Bookworm."

Leaning in, she shared a kiss with him that he returned gladly. When she pulled back, both of them were breathless and Ryo swallowed a bit, "Um, is it going to take you long? The lesson, I mean..."

For a moment, Himawari chewed her bottom lip, making him kiss her again briefly. More than a little flustered, she took a breath to calm herself before shaking her head, "Not so much for you as for me." At his confused look, she glanced around, "Lady Jin knew someone with a time turner and lent it to me. I've been using it to go to different driving schools each day for the past two weeks.... which is more like six for me."

Eyes wide, Ryo gained an unsure and worried expression, "Are you sure about that, Himawari-Chan? That means that you've been taking six lessons a day!" At her shy nod, he frowned, "Are you okay? I don't want you to get too tired..."

Moments later, his girlfriend shook her head, "I'm fine, Ryo-Kun." Seeing his uncertain look, she sighed a little though there was a slight smile on her face before she gestured towards her field, "As long as I have the sun shining on my flowers, or really it is day, I can't get tired because they lend me some energy. Even if there's... six of me elsewhere... or seven, since I also have been driving around with some of the Yokai here teaching me." Himawari reached up and cupped his cheek some, "There's nothing to be worried over, Ryo-Kun."

With a small sigh, Ryo looked down into her eyes before giving her a slight smile, "Just don't overdo yourself, Himawari-Chan."

Giggling as she shook her greenish hair, Himawari had a bright smile on her face, "I won't, Ryo-Kun. Besides, the courses are six weeks long. Combined, that will give me forty two weeks worth of driving experience by the end, or nearly ten months. Which means that I'll have plenty of experience when it comes time to drive Lady Shiromizu around and the same with you and Suihou-Chan!"

Lips curling into a wider smile, he leaned in and brushed their noses together and got another giggle, "Well, I'm glad that my girlfriend is so smart. Smarter than her boyfriend anyways."

Just slapping his chest lightly, she snorted though there was a definite twinkle in her eye, "I'm not that smart compared to you, Ryo-Kun."

Stealing a kiss, Ryo smirked, "Ah, but you are."

Red dusting her cheeks once more, she hummed, "Thank you, my adorable Book Worm." Pressing their foreheads together with noses touching, she hummed a little, "You know, if you want... I can wear one of my other outfits like this one to our bedroom tonight~"

Pulse pounding in his ears, Ryo swallowed some, but nodded, "I... would like that, my sweet Cinnamon Bun."

Both of them pressed more together with Himawari humming as they kissed, one foot in the air.

Unknown to them, Suihou was peeking into the room and had recorded the whole thing on a phone that Shiromizu had given her. If she could, she would be squeeing right now, but settled for her version of a massive grin, 'Sooo adorable... I can't wait to send this video to Lady Shiromizu~'

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

Harry and Shiromizu were both quiet for a couple of moments before the Mizuchi gave a small shrug with a smug smile, "I expect more video and such soon of those two being completely and utterly adorable together. Perhaps enough to rot my teeth considering how they are together..."

Sighing, though he had an amused look on his face, Harry cocked an eyebrow, "You're horrible."

Once more, the serpent gave a shrug, "Hai, and? I am a Mizuchi, it is my job to be amused at my attendants." Clasping her hands together, her cooing caused Harry to laugh, "But they really are sweet when they're together."

It took a few moments, but Harry managed to calm down some before he paused as he remembered some things, "Do you have some ideas for cars? Or anything else?"

Hands behind her head, Shiromizu cocked her head some but nodded, "I have a few ideas actually. There's a Mujina in town who is pretty young and learned at an automotive shop, so I might hire him on. Not sure about cooks..."

Lapsing into silence, neither of the two said anything before the nearly fourteen year old checked his phone and nodded a little as he got up for the suitcase which he grasped, "Well... Ume-Chan and Sakura-Chan are nearly here."

Just getting up, Shiromizu slithered over and gave him a hug as her lower body shifted to legs instead of a serpent's body, "Hai, now you have fun down in Kyoto, Otouto. Hmm? And maybe pick something up for your poor Onee-Chan."

Harry, in reply, gave a small laugh as he returned the hug, "I will, don't worry about that, Shiromizu." As he pulled back, he gave her an smile, "I'll see you when I get back."

Softly smiling, the young Kami gave his hair a ruffle which got a pout from him, "Hai, hai, I'll see you then."

Moments later, both of them were laughing and they walked out of the apartment with Harry locking the door behind him. Soon after, they were standing outside waiting until a sedan pulled up and the rear passenger doors opened to reveal a smiling Ume and Sakura. Both former Hitobashira got out and walked over to Harry before hugging him and giving him a kiss on the cheek, "Good afternoon, Harry-Chan."

Returning the hug and kiss on the cheek, the teenage wizard smiled, "Good afternoon, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan." He then bowed towards the driver and the front passenger, "And a good afternoon to you as well, Akimi-Sensei, Miu-Sensei."

Both shipgirls had a smile on their faces as they waved back before Akimi, who was in the front seat, gave him a sigh, "Harry-San, I am not currently your Sensei right now. So, please, call me Akimi-San."

Lightly scratching the back of his head, Harry grinned a little, "Sorry about that, Akimi-San."

Turning, he gave Shiromizu one last hug before he placed his suitcase into the trunk of the car. Much to his confusion, however, both Ume and Sakura had him get into the car first before sitting in the middle of the backseat. Then the Twins sat down, one on either side of him before buckling in and closing the door. As the car started to move, both girls leaned into him with smiles as they placed their heads on his shoulder.

With a glance in the mirror, Akimi shook her head a little before chuckling, "Are you excited for this, Harry-San? Going to Kyoto during Gion Matsuri?"

Grin on his face, Harry gave a nod, "Hai, very excited actually. Though, um... I've never been on the magical side of the festival, just to the non-magical once with Mum..."

Rolling down her window as they drove, Miu placed her arm on her door, "It's something to see, Harry-San. In some ways, it's like the non-magical side but with magic involved. However. there's other booths and the like with people crossing back and forth from the non-magical to the magical."

That got an interested look from the teen before the Twins spoke, "From what we hear, with how things are going, there is going to be a Hyakki Yagyō this year. Which will be something to see, Harry-Chan."

Eyebrows raising, Harry looked at Miu and Akimi, who nodded with the Kitsune Battleship smiling, "Hai, that will be one of the events that is supposed to occur, for the first time since the war ended." Lips pursed together thinly, she gripped her steering wheel a bit harder, "I have never gotten the chance to see the Kyoto Gion Matsuri Hyakki Yagyō because it was banned after the war. First, because of the Occupation Authorities, and later because the Magical Diet passed laws to stop it." Relaxing a bit, she took a deep breath before letting it out. "Thankfully, however, things have changed and this is the first time that it'll occur after nearly seventy years of being barred."

Miu gave a small snort at that with a smirk, "It is sort of the biggest 'Fuck you' that the Kyoto Diet can give to the Tokyo one right now." Her tone becoming dry, she continued, "Though with the issues they got since Hokkaido broke with them and joined Kyoto, doubtful that they will notice at all."

Needless to say that got her a series of snorts and amused sounds from the backseat. That was until Sakura wagged a finger at her niece, "Language, please, Miu-Chan."

Glancing at her friend, Akimi snickered some at the blush on the crane hanyou's face at being repremanded by her Aunt for her language, "Hai, Oba-San..."

With a sharp nod, both Hitobashira turned back to Harry as they continued to chat.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- This will be a bit slow-running since I'm coordinating with some other folks, but this covers Delilah and Zamarad's pregnancy. Among other things.

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (I)

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

25 July 2014
Spoiler: Waking Up

It was still dark when Delilah woke up.

Feeling Zamarad stir, she whispered to her love. "I'll make you some breakfast in bed before our fast begins at sunrise."

The Ifrit whispered back. "Thank you, love."

With a loving kiss, they began to start their day.

Delilah padded out in her normal sleeping T-shirt and panties along with Yosemite Sam fuzzy slippers. Meanwhile Zamarad sat in her nightdress at the antique hardwood vanity (a Christmas gift from Colombe) and ignited the candles in the candle-holders with a glance. She hummed a lullaby as she began to brush her red hair.
--------------------------

Delilah rubbed the bandages on her torso, scratching the healing flesh of her aching and sore bosom as she rooted in the kitchen cabinet for breakfast ingredients. Zamarad entering her life had necessarily resulted in a change to her diet with pork products off the menu in large part. Although she did get the occasional rasher of bacon and BBQ pork sandwich when on the job.

With that in mind, she poured herself a glass of milk from the refrigerator.

"Let's see, first thing first, talk to Mother when she wakes up about the geases and also I need to speak to Colombe about that." Delilah mused, "As for what to make for Zamarad, pancakes for breakfast?"

She sipped the milk as she thought, then suddenly paled as her stomach heaved. Hastily she dashed to the sink and began to retch into the basin.

"Ugh ugh ugh." She groaned as the vomiting stopped and her nausea began to ebb away. She grabbed a towel and wiped her lips and sighed. "The milk must have gone bad. I'll just pour it out and drink water today."

With that observation, the rest of the milk followed Delilah's vomit down the sink without the Muramasa revolver thinking of alternate explanations for a sensitive stomach. Yet.

Delilah hummed and began to cook the pancakes for her and Zamarad. Her smile faded and she frowned at the memory of finding out what Zamarad had done to reach her. She was not happy that Zamarad had risked being extinguished to try to save her.

Delilah sighed deeply, and then shook her head. She admitted to herself once more that if their positions had been revered, she would have made the same choice, taken the same risks, paid the same price as her love had to risk her very existence for the one she loved.

For if their positions had been reversed, Zamarad would have done the same as she had, walked out to certain death to buy time for those under her protection to have a chance for life.

Because in the end there was really no other choice worthy of the name for either of them in that instant of crisis when the trumpet blast sounded to stand with the sheep or the goats.

And she loved Zamarad even more for that. Because Zamarad and she were two flames in the fireplace. Two bullets in her chambers. Two sides of the same coin. Two halves of a greater whole. Someone who Delilah could let down all her masks and open her innermost heart and reveal the depths of her mind and soul to for she could love and trust Zamarad unreservedly and totally.

With that insight, she flipped the pancakes and whispered words of poetry that spoke to the very core of them both.

"I could not love thee, Dear, so much,
Loved I not Honour more."
--------------------------

Meanwhile, upstairs in their bedroom, Zamarad frowned at a pair of small red spots on the white cotton of her underwear along with a stain as she stood up to get dressed. The Ifrit sighed and opened the bin to the laundry hamper to deposit the bloodstained panties for laundry day.

With that done, she began to hunt down her panty liners in her dresser drawer. She rubbed her temples to try to ease a mild headache as she got dressed in fresh underwear with the protective padding under her modest white wool dress. Finally finished with her preparations, the Ifrit waved her hand.

The candles extinguished themselves at her command and desire.

With a broad happy smile, Zamarad glanced over at the tank of repair fluid containing her love's true body, now fully repaired from the ordeal that was Kingsport.

The smile faded at the memory of her mad, desperate actions then. Realizing that Delilah was sacrificing her life to buy time to save the innocents in the town from the Abyssals that TOTEM had accidentally called to destroy their secrets there. Deciding to destiny twist the Mage responsible to stand trial and be punished for her misdeeds. Then leaving to face the Fiendfyre trap and risk Falling from the Dark energies, hatred, and insatable desire to burn all before her to gain that power to save Delilah. Then... plunging into the water, dying by inches as she guttered and weakened, pressing on to reach Delilah and save her love or fall at her side in death. For in life or in death, she would never leave her love's side.

Zamarad was upset with Delilah for making that choice, of course, yet smiled fondly at the memory of Delilah's face when she chose to walk into the flames to save and free others. Memories of a letter that Delilah had shared with her one night filled her mind. A letter written during the great Civil War that had forged Delilah into the hero that Zamarad loved with a burning love greater than any flame that any Ifrit could become. A flame that would warm her the rest of her life, along with any children that they might have before the end came for them.
Spoiler: Loved I Not Honor More

She smiled fondly as she warmed the bed to the proper temperature for a cuddle after breakfast as they waited for the sun to rise. Emerald eyes flamed with a warm love and ruby lips parted as she spoke words from one of her favorite English poems.

"I could not love thee, Dear, so much,
Loved I not Honour more."
--------------------------

The first rays of dawn painted the sky through the window as Delilah and Zamarad cuddled together with the remains of the pancakes (and a bowl of sugar maple wood chips for dessert) on the plate nearby. Delilah smiled. "Morning prayers then."

"Ṣalāt al-Fajr." Zamarad agreed with a kiss.

With that she stood and walked to the basin that Delilah had installed in her bathroom to wash herself ritually for prayer using water from the house's well.

As she did, Delilah removed a hand-woven antique Persian prayer rug from the closet and cast a spell to align it properly with Mecca.

"Thank you," Zamarad spoke as she returned. She then recited the aš-šahādah statement of faith as Delilah stood next to her in reverent silence. Following that, Zamarad then began the prayer, bowing and then kneeling to place her forehead on the prayer rug as she prayed.

Finally finished, Zamarad smiled at Delilah as the ball of the sun crept over the hills fully. "And now we fast again for Ramadan," she spoke with a happy flicker of flame in her green eyes.

Delilah smiled and then rolled up the prayer rug carefully before placing it back into storage to await the midmorning prayer. "Indeed we do, and you are welcome, my love."

Delilah got dressed in companionable silence and then Delilah pulled out a book of poetry. "Shall we read for a bit while we wait for Mother to get up?"

Zamarad nodded "Indeed, I would be hard pressed to fast from poetry, my love."

Delilah chuckled and began to read Rudyard Kipling to her love.
Spoiler: Del Reads Poetry

As Delilah finished 'If', the fireplace suddenly ignited and flamed green. A bearded head wearing a turban with a jeweled clasp formed in the flames.

Zamarad smiled happily. "Uncle Muhammad!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- I had the writing bug hit me thanks to the chatting back and forth with Khuzdul. This is up for him to decide whether or not it is canon for down the road in his piece of the shared universe.

Atatürk

Arı Burnu Cemetery, Anzak Koyu, Gallipoli, Turkey

After The Statute Falls
Spoiler: Gallipoli

The crescent moon silvered the Gulf of Saros. The waves of what the poet Homer had called 'the wine dark sea' foamed and receded on the strip of beach. The night was quiet and still, with only the hoot of an owl and the slow, gentle hiss of the surf on the pebbles of the beach.

As yet another wave broke, like a ghost from the past a small destroyer shipgirl suddenly appeared. She skated across the waves with a middle aged-man in her arms to the beach and set him down there. Dark braids swing around her shoulders as she quietly spoke in Turkish. "I'm going to be here to protect you, you know. Yavuz would keelhaul me if anything happened to you, Paşam. Anyway, you don't need to come here, every expert agrees...."

The man, balding and yet in the prime of life, gave her a fond smile as he cut off her words with a raised hand. His voice, gentle but with steel in it under the velvet, spoke. "I know, I have had this discussion with you, Yavuz, and the others. No, I know in my bones that She is different. But I have to come here, have to see for myself. I have to pay honor to the past. Follow me if you want, but I am safe here, of all places."

His voice hushed as he looked at the slumbering hills and gullies leading up from the beach. His eyes misted as he remembered standing here on a night much like this one, amidst the wreckage and ruin of war and the debris of a defeated army in the sudden, shocked silence as the madly thundering guns finally fell silent.

His lips quirked as a stray thought struck him as it had before. At least it smelled better than when he had stood here in 1916. Nothing smelled so vile as a battlefield.

He had been here afterward, of course. Here, surrounded by the few men of his generation who had survived to witness the reborn nation whose birth pains had come here and the more numerous men of the younger generations whose blood had watered the valleys and hills as part of the price paid to give birth.

And the children.

Always the children, for they were the future.

With that thought, he touched the necklace that he had been gifted. A charm rested there, given to him by some of those who had brought him back. A gift and a reward for what he had done, it was enchanted to allow him to set aside his name, his fame, and his history to walk among his people as one of them without the wearying adoration of those for what he had done for them. But it would never work on the children, save to give them the wisdom to not inform their elders of who he was when he spoke words of encouragement to them.

After all, what was a Father without many strong sons and lovely daughters to look up to, to be inspired by, to love and be loved?

For they were the future.

He walked up the shore of the beach with the firm step of one who had been there before. Muavenet followed like his shadow, and he spared a smile and approving nod for the loyal girl.

The cemetery gates were unlocked, and he nodded in approval as he passed inside. The graves were neat and orderly, standing in serried rows with the cross for those those unclaimed and unidentified but never forgotten. To one side, a curved monument of concrete stood.

He gave a wry smile and respectful nod to it as the sky lightened with the coming of dawn.

He did not need the dawn's light to know the words on it, for he had spoken them here at the dedication of this cemetery.

And he had spoken more truly than he knew. Here, there was no difference, no animosity between the Johnnies of the Commonwealth and the Mehmets he had led to resist them. Here, they were lying together as brothers should in the shared country that they had given their lives to birth, in the ground that they had hallowed with their blood.

They had become his sons as well.

With that thought, a tall matron wearing a slouch campaign hat walked from the shadow of the trees to join him as he stood in respectful silence and contemplation.

He removed his sheepskin cap and nodded to her politely in greeting. "Gallipoli." His voice was full of respect, one old friend meeting another.

Her voice was hushed and filled with the love and respect that his men had for their beloved commander. "Paşam. Walk with me please?"

His smile widened as he walked with her up the road, then turned onto the marked path to Shrapnel Valley. "It would be my honor."

Muavenet fell in alongside him as an escort as they walked in reverent silence. Finally as they rounded a bend in the path, Gallipoli spoke quietly. "You're looking well."

He chuckled as they paused at the cemetery on Walker's Ridge, looking out over the shadowed valleys where men had lived, fought, and died. "I suppose that I am at that. I didn't expect to make it this far, you know. None of us did, really. Back then, just seeing a new sunrise was a gift from a gracious and merciful God."

The dawn gilded the waters of the Dardanelles and touched the hills and valleys as Gallipoli nodded somberly. "I know. Thank you for coming, Paşam."

He gave her a respectful smile, "I read the reports of you shortly after I came back. After Verdun nearly awakened, a survey was made by the Ministry of Magic. They even called in that Frenchwoman who was instrumental in handling Verdun to double-check." He shook his head and chuckled. "You can imagine the panic when they realized that you were fully awake and so close to Istanbul. Yet you did not cause any problems. If I may ask, why?"

She looked at him for long moments before smiling in approval and speaking. "You know in your bones why, Paşam. But for the records that your friend will no doubt give her mistress Yavuz -- the busybody -- I will say it aloud. Unlike my... relative... in France, those who fell here fell together as brothers. What happened to me that you were part of gave meaning to their deaths, meaning to their sacrifices, and was suitably honored. Here, there is no longer hatred between those who attacked and those who defended, those who were defeated and those who triumphed. Here, the mothers come to honor their sons of their birth and their adoption alike, loved and mourned equally."

She looked at the graves as her eyes became shadowed. "One of the Shayatin came to tempt me as I fully stirred. He... tried to get me to turn on my sons, torment them as Verdun would have." Her voice became harsh and powerful, stern as steel with the thunder in it of the cannons that had roared across these blood-soaked ridges in savage battle. "I refused and dealt with him."

He nodded sharply in approval, his face furious. His iron-hard voice was no longer that of a gentle old man, but the younger commander he had been in 1915. It was merciless with the authority that he had used to order his men to march to their deaths to buy time and save the critical hills as the battle hung in the balance. "Good. Their kind have no place here."

"No they do not." she agreed. "I could never do that to my sons."

"No," he said as they resumed their walk, "for they sacrificed their futures here so their homes and loved ones could live. I am glad that you watch over their well-earned slumber as is right and proper."

As the morning continued, they passed clusters of people. A elderly couple with tokens of remembrance grasped in their withered hands. A group of tourists with the accents of distant lands. A bus full of schoolchildren.

The last caused Kemal to pause and say a few words of heartfelt encouragement, reminding them to learn from their teacher's lectures here and use the lessons of this field trip in their lives.

They also passed more cemeteries, each named for a ridge, a hill, a valley written in blood into the pages of history.

The Nek, Lone Pine, Plugge's Plateau, The Farm, Chunuk Bair. The only difference was that as they climbed higher, the crosses became fewer and the crescents more.

Statues stood as witnesses to the grave-sites that they paid their respects to.

A Turkish soldier charging with a bayoneted rifle.

An ANZAC private carrying his wounded mate on his shoulders to the hospital.

An elderly Turkish man bringing his young granddaughter to honor the grave of her father.

Finally at the end of their walk, they stood on the hill of Chunuk Bair. The key to the Dardanelles. The key to Turkey.

Kemal surveyed the bronze of him in his field uniform with binoculars and a riding crop under a pith helmet looking out over the battlefield from where he had stood and commanded his men during those terrible days. His lips quirked and he shook his head. "I always hated the pith helmets you know. Stupid things. Still, I suppose it is not a bad likeness."

Gallipoli gave her own smile. "No, no, it is not a bad likeness at all. I'm honored to see you once more, Paşam."

"The honor was mine, Gallipoli. I have things to do, to insure that the nation that was birthed here is set to rights once more. After that," he stretched and cracked his neck, "I suppose I'll retire to that small farm and rest. Probably pay you a visit from time to time incognito when I do, though. If you don't mind the company of an old fart like me. I know how my men grumbled behind my back about the brass when I visited them in the trenches."

Gallipoli gave him a happy smile. "Not in the least, Lieutenant Colonel. It would be my honor for you to return to me then. I'll make sure that my sons are properly presentable for when you review them next."

With that she snapped to attention and saluted him, a salute he and Muavanet returned. The Father of Turkey lowered his arm and spoke crisply. "Very good. And the honor was always mine to be entrusted with the command of your sons." He turned to look at the battlefield and repeated as his tears flowed. "The honor and the glory was never mine, but theirs."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (II)

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

25 July 2014
Spoiler: An Eid Invitation From The Fakhourys

Delilah's lips curled in a fondly loving smile at the happy expression on Zamarad's face.

"Uncle Muhammad!" Zamarad exclaimed at the sight of her mother's younger brother's head in the fireplace. The Ifrit princess then gestured and the flame roared to fill the fireplace as she took control of the Floo communication on her end.

Sultan Muhammad Fakhoury smiled from where he sat in his palace upon a hill overlooking Beirut and then leaned back upon his divan. "My Niece. It is good to see that the report that reached my ears from my sister was correct when it stated that you and your love were wounded but not slain."

Delilah spoke in turn. "Peace and long life to you, Uncle. It was closer than I wish to ever come to crossing the veil, but no. Wounded but not slain. You are well, I hope?"

Delilah smiled as Zamarad promptly sat in Delilah's lap. Delilah, as was the norm, hugged the Ifrit around her waist.

The Djinn nodded, "I am indeed. However, I have a bit of a... situation... that I wish your help with." He glanced to his right.

Delilah sighed, "Sadly both myself and Zamarad are too injured to actively participate in fieldwork." Her breath hissed as Zamarad shifted slightly, rubbing a sore spot on her bosom. "Mother has furthermore made me swear an Unbreakable Oath to not go behind her back and take independent actions until she clears me to do such."

Muhammad laughed and waved his hand, expanding the view on his end. Delilah's eyes widened as she saw the slender figure of sitting in a chair next to him. "Oh, this should be a simple matter indeed."

Delilah sighed and squeezed Zamarad. "You should take command of the fire in Mother's room and ask her to come in to listen to this one then."

The Ifrit looked distant as she linked with the candles and fireplaces in her love's ancestral home, then smiled. "She is on her way now."

Delilah smiled, "Good. How are you Scheherazade?"

The Storyteller smiled, "Quite well. I heard about your deaths and was rather upset. In fact I was planning to send my respects and attend your funeral when Muhammad told me that his sister had been told that you were in comas. I take it there is a reason for the death notice?"

Jèzebel de Breuil entered in her nightgown and limped to an armchair. "Delilah. What is it?" The elderly witch snapped out and then looked at the figures in the flames. "Oh. We are secure?"

Zamarad nodded. "Both my Uncle and I have control over the Floo connection, and I have tasted his essence. It is he, so we are secure as possible."

"Good. Tell me you have strong coffee brewing, Zamarad." Jèzebel sighed as she rubbed her temples.

The Ifrit looked abstracted again. "I have an avatar roasting some of the Hacienda Lealtad beans you like."

"Thank you dear. So, what's the crisis?" Jèzebel asked.

Scheherazade rubbed her chin. "In brief, I and some friends who Delilah and Zamarad have worked with have an ally of ours that needs a safe haven to lay low for a time. He's aware of magic, but in somewhat poor health, liver disease in fact. So we were hoping to get that tended to while you took care of his safety with your hospitality."

Delilah rubbed her chin. "Human or something else?"

"Human." Scheherazade said.

The Muramasa revolver nodded. "Right, I think I have the genesis of a plan. I have a ranch out in South Dakota that is secure and secluded. There will be a few iron-clad ground rules, he will need to be escorted around if he leaves the immediate vicinity of the property since there are some rather nasty things that I am keeping an eye on there. Rather like if he spent time with Zamarad's parents in fact." Zamarad nodded in agreement.

The Djinn nodded at the unspoken message about things best left unmeddled with that Delilah was a Guardian of. "That is acceptable. According to what we know of him, he will be mostly reading and catching up on the modern world. He has been out of touch since just before World War Two."

Delilah nodded. "That I can do, and can certainly relate. You mentioned liver disease?"

"Yes, cirrhosis of the liver according to Lokhman." Scheherazade explained, "he has done some magical treatment of the immediate symptoms, but that is only a stopgap, so in perhaps... three months he will need a transplant desperately."

Delilah chuckled. "I know someone who might be able to get him into the Mayo Clinic. They are among the best in the world for no-maj medicine and of course we can afford it, probably have us pay and then you or someone else pay us back down the road. The trick will be finding an organ donor... wait."

Delilah looked at her mother. "You told me that Father knew Aztec sorcery, correct?"

Jèzebel nodded. "Yes, Nori knows some Nahuatl spells. What are you thinking, dear?"

Delilah spoke slowly, "I had a run-in with a Nahuatl spell-caster during 1917 in Mexico. Specifically, I remember him casting a spell to duplicate organs of a donor to then sacrifice to the Aztec deities to empower his spells. Organs like a heart... or a liver."

Zamarad looked at Delilah, "You never told me this, love."

Jèzebel frowned, "No that shouldn't be possible to talk about openly. That whole affair in Mexico is still classified under MIB protocols."

Delilah smirked, "About that, apparently being close enough to death made my geases lapse since Zamarad and I were technically dead for a few days."

Jèzebel's eyes narrowed as Scheherazade looked interested. "I... see...." A second Zamarad appeared at the door with a pot of coffee and a cup and Jèzebel floated the pot and cup to levitate beside her. "We will have to discuss that later, dear. Any other surprises?"

Delilah shrugged, "Just that Alondra called here last night while you were at my memorial service. I'm supposed to meet her on the first of August in Custer to talk about what we know about events on our side of the fence." The revolver looked at the fireplace. "Alondra is my primary contact with the no-maj US Government and would be the person I'd see about string pulling to get your friend into the Mayo Clinic."

Jèzebel nodded along, "I see." She sipped her cup of coffee and then smiled happily at Zamarad as the Ifrit stirred when her second avatar vanished. "Good coffee as always dear. Puerto Rican beans and an Ifrit roast, what is not to love?"

Scheherazade smiled , "I may have to ask you to bring some samples for us. In brief..."

Muhammad finished, "We plan to invite you three to our Eid-al-Fitr feat at the end of Ramadan. Scheherazade and her friend will be there along with Lokhman so we can plan face to face and you can meet him."

Delilah nodded and glanced at Zamarad. "That will be the twenty-ninth through the thirty-first if I remember my Islamic Calendar. The crescent moon should be visible in four days time."

Zamarad nodded as she agreed. "That is correct. Last night was the Night of Power, Laylat al-Qadr. The twenty-fifth of Ramadan."

Delilah smiled, "The holiest night of the calendar for the Maliki jurisprudence. Mother, I take it we can attend Eid in Beirut then?"

Jèzebel sipped her coffee and then spoke. "Yes, you can. I will come for the first day and then return here to hold down the fort for the network."