Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Fubuki hummed a little as she waited for the video call to connect. Glancing at the time on the clock, she did a few calculations and nodded, 'It's just after seven in the evening, so... it should be around eleven in the morning back home.' Suddenly, she noted that the call had connected and called out, "Guys! I got the connection!"

The others in her fleet moved in and got there just in time to see the video light up to reveal Fu-Chan and the others. Upon seeing Fubuki, the Kitsune's expression lit up with joy that made the Destroyer smile, "{Fubuki-San!}"

Hers was not the only voice as the various others tried to crowd the screen to look at the shipgirls, which made Yuudachi calm down, "Relax, Poi. We have plenty of time to talk and such."

From where she leaned against Fubuki's shoulder, Mutsuki also had a smile on her face, "Yuudachi-Chan is right. So relax and we'll all talk."

Just taking a seat and placing Ayame on his lap, Yoshi grinned as his monkey tail swished, "{Not a problem, Yuudachi-San, Mutsuki-San.}"

Clambering up into Fu-Chan's lap, Akane gave a yawn before rubbing her eyes which made Kisaragi coo a little, "You still a little sleepy, Akane-Chan? Or have you not been getting enough sleep?"

Only blinking, the Neko shook her head, "[Um... just a bit tired, Kisaragi-San...}" Shaking her head some as her ears twitched, she frowned some, "{When are you coming home?}"

Softly smiling, Mutsuki shared a look with her sister, "We'll be heading home on the next convoy which won't be long." Then she blinked seven times to tell them how long, which they nodded at. One thing that their new guardians had taught them was that they could not say when the convoys would happen over the Skype and the like. Which they understood when it was explained to them as keeping the Abyssals from knowing, "But when we get back, we'll have a lot of treats for you."

At that, all the children perked up some with Akari leaning in some, "[Treats? For us?}"

With a hum, Kana gave her a smile, "Hai, we'll be bringing treats from America and Canada back. And some other items as well..." She made a motion with her hand, "Our holds are all full of goodies."

Fubuki smiled and gave the two squirrel Yokai a wink, "And yes, that includes things like nuts and maple syrup. We got them cleared for customs and the like." She gave a small shrug, "Hopefully you'll like the tins of mixed nuts for you two and other treats."

Bouncing on her sister's lap, Yomi gave a squeak, "{Do you hear that, Hitomi-Nee-Chan! Fubuki-San and the others are bringing us nuts! Lots and lots of nuts!}"

Unable to help herself, Yuudachi laughed, "Not just nuts, but other things." She patted her stomach a little, "I got an entire trunk filled with potato chips, chocolate bars, and the like, Poi! And those really big peanut butter jars."

Kana raised her hand a bit, "And I got honey jars as well."

Various giggles came across the computer as the Yokai all looked towards an embarrassed Onikuma. Scratching his cheek, he gave them a small smile, "{Thank you, Kana-San. I appreciate it...}"

Smiling, Kana waved it off, "I don't mind at all, Daichi-Kun. There's lots of food and such that we can grab after all." Then, she gave a small shrug, "Also, we have plenty of other foods as well. I have bison and elk meat in my lockers as well as turkeys!"

Eyes wide, the children started chatting at that before turning back as Kisaragi spoke, giving them a wink, "Also plenty of ice cream from America and such." At their wide eyes, she gave them a thumbs up, "We're bringing back plenty of treats for you all."

Just staring, Kasumi had a stunned look, "{A-ah...}"

Noticing how they went quiet, Fubuki frowned a little, "Are you all alright? Did something happen?"

Much to her confusion, some of the children wiped at their eyes and shook their heads. Natsumi sniffled a little as her ears twitched, "{S-sorry, Fubuki-S-San... it's just...}" Swallowing, she looked at the shipgirls on the otherside of the connection and curled up a bit, "{W-why are you getting so many things for us?}"

For several moments, the shipgirls were quiet before Fubuki spoke in a soft, gentle tone, "Why are we getting so many things for you?" At their nods, she shook her head, "Because we care for you, and want to shower you in love and joy. You, all of you, deserve to be taken care of and to be the children that you should have been. Leave it to us to take care of you, just enjoy being children."

If anything, that made the children tear up all the more before Fu-Chan gave a sad chuckle, "{I wish that you were here, Fubuki-K-San...}"

Puzzled by what she was about to say, Fubuki only shook it off before smiling a bit sadly herself, "Hai, and I wish that I was there so that I could give all of you hugs."

Beside her, Yuudachi gave them a nod, "And she's not the only one, Poi. If I was there right now, I would sweep all of you up in hugs! Lots and lots of hugs, Poi!"

At that, some of the children giggled as they stopped crying and told the shipgirls that they would have returned those hugs. Mutsuki then gave a look towards Fubuki before turning to the screen, "Now, how have things been at home? You all been doing good?"

Hitomi gave a smile as she hugged her little sister to her, "{We've been doing good, Mutsuki-San. Yomi-Chan, Akane-Chan, and Ayame-Chan have been doing good in their studies, so they should be able to start school next year. The rest of us...}" The older of the two squirrel Yokai paused before shrugging, "{We've been doing good as well with our studies.}"

Right then, Akane spoke up, holding her hand in the air, "{Oh! Oh! We've been keeping the house all nice and clean, too! Ayame-Chan and myself have even been helping do dishes!}"

Eyes wide, Kisaragi leaned in, "Really now?"

When she glanced at him, Daichi gave a small shrug, "{Um, we let them pick up the forks and spoons to rinse under the water before we clean them. And sometimes we let them wash the plastic cups, but nothing more.}"

Head tilted to the side, Ayame frowned before perking up, "{Oh! And Takao-Nee-San has been dropping by as well!}" Arms crossed, she had a serious expression on... which only made her look utterly adorable, "{She helps and with clothes and stuff though...}" A confused expression crossed the pink haired Neko's face, "{Daichi-Nii-San likes to watch her lots for some reason.}"

Sensing a chance for teasing, all the shipgirls fixed their range finders on a blushing Onikuma. Eyebrow raising as she smirked, Fubuki leaned in, "Reeeally now? Daichi-Kun likes to watch Takao-San whenever she is over?"

Not understanding what was happening, Akane nodded and raised a hand as well, "And sometimes, he transforms to lay in her lap as well! Oh! And he is always red when she compliments him and says that he's a good Nii-San."

Internally, Daichi groaned at seeing the grins being given to him, 'Great...' Looking away with a blush, he huffed a bit, "{L-look, Takao-Sama is just, um... a role model! Yes, a role model for me...}"

Under his breath, Yoshi snorted a bit, "Yeah, a role model for something alright for you." Moments later, he gave a laugh as he dodged a punch to the arm from his fellow male Yokai, "Ha! You'll have to do better than that!"

Growling, the Onikuma glared at him through his blush, only to groan as Fubuki wagged a finger at him with an amused look on her face, "Now, now, Daichi-Kun. Besides..." There was a twinkle in her eye as she continued, "I don't blame you for watching Takao-San~"

All he did was hold his face in his hands and groan.

Roughly an hour later, they all said goodbye and Fubuki turned off the connection followed by the computer which she stowed back in her holds. Stretching a bit, she gave a small groan, "Ah... That was nice."

Placing a hand on her shoulders and rubbing them through her shirt, Mutsuki nodded with a happy smile, "It was, Fubuki-Chan. Especially with how much happier they all seem to be."

With a hum as she look over her shoulder, the first Modern Destroyer smiled back at her, "Hai, they seem a lot happier." Sighing, Fubuki shook her head some, "Though I can't wait to get back home after this."

Lips curling into a bigger smile, Mutsuki leaned in, "Same here, Fubuki-Chan." Giving her fellow Destroyer a kiss on the corner of the lips, she nodded, "But it will be a few weeks yet."

Yuudachi then pumped her fist a little, "Besides! We haven't told them all of the surprises that we got for them, Poi! The game room we're setting up downstairs will be awesome for them!"

That got her nods and giggles as they all nodded. Stretching her arms back, Kisaragi hummed as there was a series of pops, "Hopefully, Ooyodo-San is happy with all that we're bringing back to the base."

Cocking her head to the side, Kana frowned a little, "I hope that she is, especially with all the items in our holds." Eyes furrowing, she shook her head, "Though I'm happy that, um, Costco has that deal with the USN where every shipgirl, visiting from other nations or not, counts as members." Tapping her chin, the Battleship hummed, "Though we got a lot of those chips and sodas..."

Just shrugging, Yuudachi grinned a little, "It is just going to go into that shop along with all the other treats. Though we got what other shipgirls wanted as well, like that Canadian whiskey and wine from Califonia."

Having gotten up, Fubuki patted her knees a little, "Hai, but then, that is what any shipgirl on convoy does when given the list of items to pick up from overseas. I'm just happy that shipgirl customs makes it easier for us to transport food back and forth." Each of the others nodded at that before they began to walk out of their temporary quarters, "I'm really happy that the magical ice boxes were done before we headed out. I was not looking forward to transporting all those frozen items and neither was Hikari-Kun."

Needless to say, that got understanding nods from the others.

Eventually, they made their way down to the firing range where various shipgirls practiced their aim. Currently, it was various Battleships who were doing such, all of them under the watchful eye of Washington as they took aim at targets out on Puget Sound and fired. Mainly because the Battleships practicing were all "Never-Builds", ships never built in the first place. Three of them had Native American looks and were from the "Montana Design" studies, which made them half-sisters to the Iowas and Montanas.

It was two of the others that caught their attention as they came from an earlier design study from 1934, though the Destroyers winced a bit at the booms from the twenty inch guns carried by said Battleships. Shaking her head, Yuudachi leaned forward a bit as they switched to radio to be heard, '{Poi... that's impressive.}'

Watching one shell come down and detonate with a massive plume of water as it struck the target, Fubuki could only nod, '{Hai, it is.}' Shaking her head, she glanced at the others, '{Could you imagine if the Americans built them during the war?}'

All of the shipgirls shuddered a little at that thought before shaking it off.

Finding a seat, they sat down and watched, with Washington glancing at them and giving a slight nod before going back to instructing the other Battleships. Once they were done and the range was able to be used, Fubuki and the others walked over to one of the Native American looking ships. Smiling, Kana gave her a wave, "Sequoyah-San, you did great out there."

Her lips twitching, now named Sequoyah turned towards them, "Ah, thanks Miss Kana, I would like to think so." Rolling her shoulders, she shook her head, "I'm just happy that I'm about done with my training and so is Kanawha."

Said Battleship waved towards them before going back to chat with their fellow sister before Fubuki turned back to Sequoyah, "Have they decided on where they're going to send you yet?"

Just shaking her head, the shipgirl crossed her arms over her chest, "From what I have heard, Okinawa is one possibility, Guam is another." Then, she shook her head, "Though I think that they might send one of the small Battleships up to Hawaii since they have less area to patrol."

That only made them all nod, though Mutsuki placed her hands behind her head, "So, I noticed that you placed the shield for South Dakota on your hull?"

At that, Sequoyah sheepishly scratched at her cheeks, "Ah, well... Miss Dakota did help me out a lot when I was first summoned. So I thought that it would be nice if I honoured her in such a way." Placing a hand on her hip, she chuckled, "Right, I said that I was going to show you this nice little place I found for pizza, right...?" Upon seeing the grins, all the American did was shake her head before gesturing to her sister and beginning to walk, "Well, if you'll follow us, we'll show you where it is..."

Much later that night, Fubuki was asleep in her assigned bunk in a cuddlepile with the others as she slept off the big, even for a shipgirl, pizza. Within her hull, however, she was looking over the Captain's Cabin before turning as the door opened and she bowed, "Yamashita-Kun."

Bowing back, the ghostly apparation smiled at her, "Fubuki-Chan, shouldn't you be sleeping?"

Lightly laughing, Fubuki shook her head, "Maybe, but I..."

His lips twitching, Lieutenant Commander Yamashita Shizuo understood what she wanted and walked over to her and placed a hand on the Destroyer's shoulder, "We're still working on it, Fubuki-Chan, so don't worry. We've already found some of them, but... it will be a bit of time before we can find all of them, but the crew are looking throughout the Afterlife." At her nod, he tilted his head a little, "I must ask, once more, are you certain about this? There could be changes after all."

Not answering him, Fubuki looked into the distance for a time before nodding, "Hai, I am. I'll do them right, and they deserve this."

Softly smiling, the man who commanded her when she sank bowed, "Of course, as expected of you, Fubuki-Chan. No matter what you do, you do your best at it."

All the shipgirl did was chuckle and nod.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Winter's Shadow Over Kingsport (VI)

13 July 2014

Saco Bay (Just North Of Kingsport) Maine, USA

"You cannot pass," he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass." -- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Spoiler: Delilah's Run

"Oŋšimala yo..."

Delilah ran.

Her breath hissed through her avatar's clenched teeth in a rictus grin to prevent a scream of agony from leaking out.

Her connection between her avatar and her revolver body was stretched even further like a rubber band torturing her further with each step that she took away from where it should be.

"Oŋšimala yo..."

Delilah ran.

Lightning flashed ahead of her showing the corpse-pale shapes of the Abyssals approaching the defenseless magical community behind her.

Dozens of shapes of madness and metal, dead shark-like eyes and chitin.

Mankind's evil and hatred returned to destroy that which gave it birth.

Death from the Sea.

"Oŋšimala yo..."

Delilah ran.

Thunder sounded behind her as the twin Kee-Wakw wendigo spirits began to close the distance, for as the legends said, they were swifter than the fastest warrior.

Great taloned hands reached for her and they licked their lips in anticipation of the feast that she was as their hooves closed the distance between themselves and her.

Ice and rime followed in their wake for were not they the terrible cold ever-empty insatiable hunger of famine and winter?

Death from the Land.

"Héya hoyéwayélo..."

Delilah ran.

The Abyssal skull under her arm grew ice cold to the touch and her fingers numbed painfully as frostbite formed.

Witchlight built in the eyesockets of the skull and crackled from the granite tower of the lighthouse ahead erected above the grave of the Abyssal Elder Princess as a focusing mechanism.

"Aŋpétu kin lé makakijélo..."

Delilah ran.

Flickers of light ahead and the first shells screamed in as the Abyssals opened fire on the trio of running figures.

Spray spattered Delilah and then sand, mud and rock chips from the explosions around her as the shore of Wood Island approached with each agonizing movement of her legs, her heart, her mind, her spirit.

"Waní wačhíŋ yé..."

Delilah Naomi de Breuil-Muramasa, adopted as Kills Many the medicine woman and warrior of the Oglala Lakota, ran as she sang her death song.

"Héya hoyéwayélo!"
------------------------------

Kingsport, Smuggler's Cove, Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, Maine, USA
Spoiler: Zamarad's Choice

Zamarad stared at the captured TOTEM researcher with fire in her emerald eyes. One hand gently caressed Delilah's revolver body before sliding it through the waistband of her skirt.

"You will tell me now how to shut this down and save Shaelat ruwhi. Where are your research notes?" The Ifrit's furious voice was the roar of a burning oil refinery the moment before it exploded.

Lavinia Whateley's eyes widened in alarm as she realized that Delilah had summoned up this enraged nonhuman spirit to interrogate her.

She remembered the whispers about the respected and feared Agent Ocelot of MIB, and how that she could be as coldly vicious and ruthless as any Dark Lord when required. The whispers about how many enemies of MACUSA had been rumored to have died at her hands over her long and storied career.

"I... I cannot say without authorization." She choked out.

She then gulped as the eyes of her interrogator narrowed to burning slits. A hand grabbed her cheek and she whimpered mentally as she felt the skin contact, just below the level at which her flesh would burn.

"I do not need you to talk to reveal the location." Zamarad hissed like a steam boiler pressed well beyond its design limits as she touched the cord of fate of the TOTEM mage with her powers.
------------------------------

Tina Goldstein poked her head through the shattered door. "Del... Oh Emma, where's Del?"

Zamarad turned and surveyed the MIB witch. "Del is buying time to evacuate. Take this one and keep her safe. She is a key to many locked doors."

Tina nodded and floated Lavinia with a flick of her wand. "Beacon's up and we have the others assembled for evacuation. Helicopters are coming."

"Good." The Ifrit handed Tina the radio and Delilah's revolver as she stalked past the witch. "You are SAMSON, call GOLIATH and get them down."

"Wait, where are you going, Emma?" Tina said as she followed on the Ifrit's heels through the wreckage of the ritual area.

Zamarad's smile showed all her needle-pointed teeth. "I know where their secrets are kept now. Do not follow me." With that she took the stairs down to the village green two at a time. Thunder both manmade and natural boomed as the Ifrit headed to a nearby building through the rain which flashed to steam around her.

Tina raised the radio to her lips. "GOLIATH, this is SAMSON. We are ready for evacuation, over."

As the witch watched in shock, the door to the building suddenly burst into flame and burned to ashes in a split-second as Zamarad approached it.
------------------------------

Alondra David's radio buzzed as they approached the pillar of gold light. Beyond it in the bay, flashes of shellfire illuminated a swarm of misshapen figures fighting around the greenish-glowing beacon of the lighthouse offshore.

"GOLIATH, this is SAMSON. We are ready for evacuation, over." The voice on the radio was different than Del's Alondra noted as she responded.

"GOLIATH here. I see your LZ. Landing now." the shipgirl responded as the pilot cut forward momentum.

Scant seconds later she leapt to the grass and ran toward the figure with the radio.

Behind her her team piled out with the shipgirls running toward the battle raging offshore.

The FBI agents hastily helped the civilians and captives on board her helicopter before running to the nearby houses to evacuate anyone there.

Wind lashed Alondra's hair as the first helicopter took off to make room for the next helicopter's landing from the holding pattern overhead.

To her surprise, the figure waiting for her was not Del, but an elderly witch with her hair in a pageboy cut. "FBI Special Agent Alondra David here, we're your backup. Del's not here, so where is she?"

The witch grimaced. "Tina Goldstein, MACUSA Auror. The one at my feet is the ringleader of this clusterfuck. Delilah is busy out in the bay buying time according to Emma."

Alondra blinked. "Emma, who's Emma?" She asked in curiosity as another helicopter landed and shipgirls boiled out of it to run to the sound of the guns.

Tina shook her head as the helicopter took off and another landed.

Cannon fire from the bay began to pick up into a thunderstorm of noise as she shouted over her head. "Delilah's friend, she went in there."

The witch pointed at a white frame house.
Spoiler: Tunin Alnaar

A split second later the house erupted like a volcano into burning fragments of timber that pinwheeled through the night to start smaller fires across Kingsport.

A monstrous dragon formed of living white hot magical flames reared up from the smoking glass-bottomed crater where the TOTEM Secure Vault had been with a scream of triumph that shattered glass all over town.

"oh...." Alondra whispered in shock.

 

[darthcourt10]

lt_agn02

This is more of a recap than anything, but we need a distraction.
____________________________

"Unryuu-nee! Amagi-nee!" Katsuragi called out as she held a printout in her hand. "We got a letter from Aso-neechan!"

Looking up from the shogi board in front of them, the two carriers glanced at their younger sister.

In truth, it had been almost a week and a half since they saw their youngest sister off with the Hawaii-bound convoy.

"To Houshou-san, Unryuu-nee, Amagi-nee, and Katsuragi-nee,

I just arrived safely in Hawaii. I wish I could video call you, but for the sake of operational security, I have to wait. The trip was rough since I had to stay onboard the transport ship most of the time, but thankfully we never ran into any Abyssals until I was let on the water.

I will have to thank some of the Allied Abyssals for that later.

Near the end, Missouri-san came out to greet us after Guam-san forgot to tell me the password to let us in. She's nice and all, but I would hate to get on her bad side.

When I went to the armory to leave my gear, I met a few Filipino sailors.

Did you know that my name means "dog" in Tagalog? I didn't. Some of the non-Filipinos said things about the Filipinos eating me because of it and everybody laughed except me. I don't get it at all.

They also called me 'Anak' or something like that. I don't know what that means, so I'll ask them later.

I met the admiral after that and he seems nice. I took a selfie with him and attached it to the email."

Curiously, Unryuu took a look at the picture that Katsuragi set down in front of them.

Houshou suppressed a giggle while Unryuu and Katsuragi both snorted in amusement. Meanwhile, Amagi stared in bewilderment at the picture and her family's reactions.

"Am...Am I missing something?" Amagi asked, holding up the picture. "It's just Aso-chan and Admiral Smith, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes it is," Houshou responded, "but Admiral Smith just so happens to greatly resemble a very famous American celebrity. Come to think of it, you've never seen any movies since you were Summoned, correct?"

Amagi shook her head in denial.

Pressing her hands together, Houshou flashed a gentle smile. "In that case, let's make tonight a movie night. I can rent a copy of Pulp Fiction and Snakes on a Plane at the base library."

Amagi nodded, turning back to Aso's letter.

"He looks exactly like Samuel L. Jackson! He even named the Air Force's Anti-Abyssal strike force The Motherfuckers!

Anyway, he assigned Bowfin-san to be my battle buddy while I am here. I don't really like that system, but it can't be helped. I will be staying with her and Tsushima Maru-san in their dorm while I am here.

Tsushima Maru is around Katsuragi-nee's age, I think. I still don't understand how she and Bowfin-san have a mother-daughter relationship, even after the incident, but I suppose it's not my place to judge.

Anyway, in the morning, I have to go to a briefing about disaster relief and sustainability. I hope to learn a lot from it so I can help everyone. I also heard from the grapevine that two ship girls named Alton and Despatch are going to be there too. I hope we all can get along.

When I'm cleared for social media use, I'll be sure to contact you on Skype.

Your sister, Aso."

Looking up from the printed email, Unryuu glanced at Houshou. "Houshou-san, would Aso be all right?"

Houshou smiled at them. "I think she'll do fine. It seems she's doing well so far, after all. Now, would you two like some dinner? Katsuragi-chan helped make nikujaga tonight."

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

Random Short

CFB Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Admiral Diana Lombard was reviewing a morning brief as she drank a cup of coffee. She hummed as she read a report about preparations for a new offensive operation in the Pacific. She shrugged as a B-25 Mitchell bomber flew past her office window.

"Merde de Tabernak!!!!"

Said window was promptly dripping with coffee as Diana scrambled to an adjacent, clean, window, and watched as the medium bomber circled around. She quickly sent a message to Admiral Settle, asking if Hornet was in Bremerton. A few minutes later, he replied that Hornet was still training folks in California, but was reported to be grinning like an idiot. She looked closely at the bomber overhead and groaned. Over the American roundels were hastily painted RCAF roundels, with the Maple Leaf in the centre.

"BONAVENTURE!!!!!!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Appearing outside a mountain Colorado, the young woman nervously rubbed her hands on her jeans as she looked around. Granted, part of that was due to how beautiful the surrounding countryside was. The Rockies were not far off after all and rose majestically upwards. After a minute or two, she jumped a bit at a voice in a slight Scottish accent, "You look a bit out of sorts, m'dear. Are you Miss Abagail Stevens?"

Whipping around, the young witch swallowed and nodded, "Um, yes? Mr. Mulberry, I presume?"

Lips twitching, the old man smiled broadly and walked up before shaking her hand, "Yes, and I am always pleased to see someone new out here. Lovely spot after all."

Somewhat unsure, Abigail gave a slight nod, "I... see?" Glancing around, she cleared her throat some, "I was told to report to my posting at the Ark? But..."

Chuckling, Mulberry simply shook his head some, "Ah, I can tell you are at a loss. Please, lass, follow me." As he walked with a cane and a slight limp, said cane capped with a yellow gemstone, he noted her look of confusion and patted his leg, "1903, was on a hunt with an old friend of mine, Delilah de Bruil and Theodore Roosevelt himself. Unfortunately, the big horn didn't quite agree with me. One of the very few that skelegrow won't work for, but it is a hazard in this line of work."

Considering that, the witch gave a small nod, "I suppose so..."

Despite his age and wound, the old man easily kept up a good pace, "Oh yes! But it is our duty to Mother Earth as her caretakers, as much as some might think otherwise, especially among the No-Maj."

Frowning, Abagail gave him a look, "They have gotten better."

Only shaking his head, he raised a finger, "I never said that they have not, something that I am thankful for. Nor did I say that it was only them as there are some among us magicals who should be reminded of such as well." After a few moments of thought, he shook his head, "Still! That is what our job is here and I for one am happy that they sent someone to give this old man a hand."

Not quite sure, the witch frowned and looked around, "Is it just us out here?"

Lightly chuckling, Mulberry gave her a smile, "No, there's a few others. But we were never really all that important and Magical Department of Fish, Aerial, and Wildlife has never really been considered all that important." When she grimaced and nodded, he continued, "So I have been told that you got a No-Maj education? In regards to... Zoology, I believe that they call it?"

Blushing a little, she nodded, "That's right, with a minor in Biology and Botany."

Moments later, she jumped as the old wizard clapped his hands, "Excellent! Always stated that the No-Majs knew quite a bit when it came to such things. Did you hear about how they sort out life? Absolutely splendid really. Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, makes things easier for us if only more decided to actually pay attention."

A frown on her face as she remembered his earlier boast, she raised an eyebrow, "Did you really run in the same circles as Teddy Roosevelt, Sir? Because since that was the time of Rappport's Law..."

Pausing, he turned and gave her a measuring look before digging in one pocket. Moments later, he removed his wallet and removed a photo that he held out. To her stunned amazement, there he was with said President as well as a woman with one of the biggest handguns she had ever seen. Seeing her expression, he grinned a little, "Perhaps you can tell me?"

Now really blushing for doubting him, she coughed a little, "I-I'm sorry.."

To her confusion though, he just held up a hand, "Don't worry about it, when you get to my age, such things are not worth being insulted over." Once more starting to walk with a grunt, Mulberry shrugged, "As for your question? It was indeed against the law at the time. But I was young and filled with piss and vinegar! And because of Delilah, I adored nature. Her stories of the plains when she told us younger years at Ilvermony... they were enchanting. So when she asked for my help? And for what? Why, I had to go along with it." He gestured around them, "And now, the wild places are kept for the next generation to enjoy. Also..."

Frowning, Abagail leaned in, "Also?"

Mulberry turned and gave her a look, "His name was Theodore, not Teddy. Hated the name from most people and very few were allowed to call him that. Most certainly not either I nor Del and we were good friends!"

A little bit lost, the witch just nodded a bit, "Um, right..." Wanting to change the subject, she looked around, "Where is the Ark, anyways?"

Humming a bit, as if he did not hear her, the old man came to a rock face with a pictograph carved into it, "Ah, yes..." With a nod, he brought up how cane and tapped various places, the rock seeming to melt away. Walking inside, he was followed by the young woman who stared at the sight before them, "Why, right here." Turning, Mulberry gave her a smile, "Miss Stevens, welcome... to the Ark. A place where our Heritage is held safe and sound."

Eyes wide, she took in the rows of shelves lined up all the way to the wall. Mouth open, she stared for a few moments before looking at Mulberry, "Is this?" He gave a nod and she laughed, "I don't believe it!" As the two walked down the stairs, Abigail looked at him, "Doesn't anyone know about this?"

Bemusedly shrugging, Mulberry chuckled, "Know? This isn't a secret facility, my dear. In fact, it is wide open, just... not really paid all that attention to." Scratching his beard, he frowned a little, "I wish that Delilah would take me up on coming here as I know she would love it, but... she's more interested in running around the world than seeing a 'Collection', especially the part that I know she would be interested in. You would think that she thought that it was a museum collection or something."

Glancing at him, Abigail shook her head, "Her loss." Coming to one row of what looked like display cases, she looked inside and looked at the still birds that filled the space, "They look like... pigeons?"

With a hum, the old wizard nodded, "Passenger pigeons as a matter of fact. Roughly about fifteen thousand in this facility, all in stasis thanks to Deathless Sleep Potion. Recently we've been talking with a former member of ALADDIN about a personal project of theirs. With their help, we've increased our numbers still further." Pausing got a moment, he rubbed his beard, "I'd much rather deal with ALADDIN than TOTEM. At least ALADDIN actually does useful things."

They were walking along when Abagail paused at another tank which seemed to be filled with toys. Raising an eyebrow, she glanced at the smiling old man, "Whales?"

Only humming, he walked up and tapped his cane against the glass, "Indeed! North Atlantic Right Whale as a matter of fact, about six thousand. We've been adding a whale or two each year, using shrinking potion to get them down to this size, and then Deathless Sleep potion to place them into stasis and allows us to use less stasis potions. We also have six thousand humpback, two thousand sperm whale, and the like." Further on, he came to a stop again and nodded towards another display, "This... is what I would like to show my old friend, Delilah if she ever visited. Plains Bison, roughly twenty thousand. All shrunk and placed into a suspended animation." Eyes trailing along each of the still bodies, he hummed, "She always did go on about how much she missed the great herds that thundered across the plains."

Mouth dropping, Abagail boggled for a moment before she turned to him, "Where did you get enough for all these?!"

Amused, the old man chuckled, "As a matter of fact? We make most of the potions we need over time. The higher ups know that most of these can have materials that can be used in potions, and so allow it. Bison, for example, in traditional Native American rituals. We don't gather them all up at once though, we do so with a dozen or so across the species we collect a year. Some have gone extinct though, but others are near to it or have come back. I have been working here for... almost a hundred and thirty years. Each one I save from Death's cold grip, I count as a victory. And perhaps one day soon, they can be released once more."

For several moments, the two stood there, quietly thinking. Eventually, Abagail cleared her throat, "Um, Sir? You mentioned ALADDIN, right? The research group?" At his nod, she frowned, "One of my friends said that it was basically magical DARPA for MIB. But, um... does that mean that we might work with TOTEM?"

Blinking for a few seconds, Mulberry laughed loud and hard for five minutes before calming down, "No, no, not at all. Well..." Stroking his beard, he frowned, "Not unless something has gone really badly wildlife wise anyways... like back in 1983."

Confused, the witch blinked, "1983? What happened then?"

Glancing at her, he gestured for her to follow, "What almost happened, my dear Miss Stevens. And that would be nuclear war, which scared a number on the government." Seeing her wide eyes, Mulberry nodded, "One thing that you must understand, ALADDIN and TOTEM, while externally similar, are highly different. While some of ALADDIN's projects are classified, they're done in such a way to limit effects and have large amounts of oversight. They don't do anything unless they have had permission and explained it with a good chance of success. They'll experiment, of course, and try to find the edge of knowledge. TOTEM, on the other hand? No one but perhaps the highest offices knows what they do and one must be careful around them."

Scratching her head, Abagail frowned, "Yeah, I can guess why..." Then she turned to him as they reached a door in the back and he opened it to reveal a forest, "But... what does this have to do with something that happened in 1983?"

Turning to her, Mulberry chuckled a little, "Well, both ALADDIN and TOTEM had different ideas of how to handle a nuclear exchange in the case of magical areas. ALADDIN had come up with a method to speed up time in a particular area. Hundreds of years passing in a matter of days, which would lead to lower radiation levels. Meanwhile, TOTEM's idea was to use a temporal version of a switching spell to switch the burnt out land with the land moments before destruction. I was one of those called when one of their tests went... awry due to them misplacing several decimal points."

Just about to ask, Abagail froze and stared as Mulberry smiled at her.

The old wizard took in her paling face, and reached up to scratch at the lower jaw of the animal, "Yes, they got something a bit... further back." Looking up at the massive head and yellow eye looking down at him, he smiled, "This is Roxanne, I named her after my wife... the No-Maj's call her species a 'Tyrannosaurus Rex' or 'Tyrant Lizard King'. But she's more of a queen, aren't you?"

Abagail twitched a bit as he leaned up and gave the T-Rex a kiss on her lower jaw and was answered by a rumble that made her bones shake. Swallowing, she gave him a look, "That's... a dinosaur."

With a nod, and ignoring the massive predator, the old wizard nodded, "Oh yes, that is what the No-Majs call them. Though they thought that somehow they had a flightless dragon when their experiment brought back an area of ten square miles. Thankfully, the spells around kept anything from escaping and we transferred as much plant life here with other animals as we could after putting out the fires that were going on before they had to sterilize the area. Even had found a hunk of some piece of space rock that interested TOTEM. Had the idea to use a phantom island and had one chosen, but then Blood Week happens."

Eyes still wide, Abagail looked along the body of the creature from the past and took a step back, "I-I think that I can see why people think TOTEM is nuts... but, uh, isn't she dangerous?"

That got her a snort from Mulberry, "Of course she's dangerous, all wildlife is. But I know her after all and her cues. Also raised her from an egg as a matter of fact as her mother died from a bird flu. Thankfully, there's spells and rituals to make it where despite coming from the same egg clutch, the hatchlings will be diverse enough that inbreeding wouldn't be an issue. The others are in stasis so we could have a breeding population."

The Tyrannosaur gave another rumble and licked him which brought a laugh from the old wizard. A few minutes later, he left the forest behind with Abagail and closed the door. Though the witch noted the golden eye watching her closely...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Bull Moose and Butterknife

Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, New York

March 5th, 1900
Spoiler: TR

"Hello Theodore, Edith." A woman's voice caused the middle aged man to turn and adjust his pince-nez glasses. A broad smile showing his white teeth underneath his bushy brown mustache split his face in a grin.

"Delilah de Breuil, as I live and breathe! Bully! What brings you out here?" Theodore's voice boomed out to fill the parlor where he had been writing while his wife taught his youngest son the alphabet.

Edith politely nodded, getting a return nod from Delilah, who was well aware of the woman's preference not to shake hands with anyone but the closest of friends. Which Theodore was to her, she mentally added as his firm handclasp and squeeze caused her eyes to water with the vitality and force in it.

Delilah returned the hand-grasp as best she could while wondering -- not for the first time! -- if Theodore one day would leave dents in her steel body with one of his handshakes.

She glanced briefly at Edith. "I just got back from handling some business in the Dakota Territory, and thought you would like to see a daguerreotype of my most recent trophy. Also I wanted to stop by and meet your youngest. Hello Quentin, I'm Delilah de Breuil. Your father and I met out in the Dakota Territory in 1883 and we have been friends ever since."

"Just so, just so!" Theodore exclaimed as his son looked at the auburn-haired woman. "I was surprised to meet someone from society out that way, much less an equestrian and crack shot. Those were the days, weren't they... our first buffalo hunt."

Delilah smiled wistfully as she accepted a glass of apple cider from the servant. "Indeed they were, Theodore, indeed they were. Days that made us all realize what a wild and wonderful country that we have been given by a gracious and generous God. A land that we are called upon to be good stewards of."

The adults nodded as Delilah leaned forward. "I know other members of the Republican Party have spoken to you about taking up the open Vice-Presidential spot on the ticket beside President McKinley since poor Hobart died of a weak heart in office four months ago. I know that you have publicly said that you shall not pursue or accept the nomination. And I know how stubborn you are about your word, you bull moose. All I shall ask of you as your friend is when you go to the Party Convention as a delegate, keep an open mind about events. Nothing more, nothing less. If you are called upon to serve by your fellows, well, God calls us to our roles and His ways are always to the benefit of us all."

Theodore Roosevelt stared into her eyes, bright blue meeting leaf green then nodded slowly. "'There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.' I'll go with an open mind, Delilah."

Delilah's lips curled in a smug smirk. "Shakespeare has a way of cutting to the heart of matters. Now, you have to see the size of this she-grizzly that came out of the Black Hills to prey on my cattle...."
-------------------------------

Gardiner, Montana

February 19th, 1903

President Theodore Roosevelt stepped away from the cornerstone of the new entrance arch to the world's first national park that he had just laid. Flashes and smoke showed the photographers practicing their craft. He gave his patented broad grin underneath his graying mustache then walked over to the group of friends and dignitaries who had taken the new rail line to the entrance that was being constructed under his watch.

Delilah winced once again as he clasped her hand hard enough to produce a pained hiss. The man that the papers called the Human Dynamo, The Lion, and the Rough Rider grinned and leaned in. "A good start, Delilah. Those laggards in Congress will pass the bill to expand our conservation and protection programs of the wilderness and Mother Nature for generations yet unborn to enjoy and profit from as we have if I have anything to say about it. And I do!"

Delilah gave a matching smug grin as she thought of the talisman that she had persuaded Theodore to include as part of the time capsule that was now buried at the entrance to Yellowstone. A talisman that was not just a 'gift from an Indian friend who was my ranch manager in the Dakotas' but also the keystone of the wards that she was going to activate tonight to conserve and protect Yellowstone's magical places as well.

Another small step for MACUSA alongside the no-maj efforts that her friend was pioneering to one day make America the great and good nation that it had the potential to be. For all its people, black, red, yellow or white. Man or woman. No-maj and wizard. Human and nonhuman one and all.

Tears of joy filled Delilah's eyes and voice as she responded, "A good start indeed Theodore. A very good start on the great task remaining before us all that we so far have nobly advanced."

Theodore looked as if he was going to ask her a question, but then shook his head, gave her a smile filled with respect, and moved on to the next person.
-------------------------------

Rio da Dúvida ("River of Doubt"), Amazon Rain Forest, Brazil

March 17th, 1914

"In Xanadu did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure-dome decree; In Xanadu did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure-dome decree; In Xanadu...." The words spilled forth in a broken endless torrent of phrases from the rail thin man who thrashed by the dying campfire. A jaguar's scream from the darkness of the rain forest punctuated the feverish babble of maddened words. Another thrash of his gaunt body in the throes of the fever that was eating him alive showed his injured leg, the gash crudely bandaged with angry red and purple streaks runnign the full length along with the myriad of mosquito bites from that had given him and the others malaria and yellow fever.

Delilah de Breuil, equally haggard, exhausted, starved, and sick wearily crawled over and grasped Theodore Roosevelt's skeletal hand. She choked out in a hoarse croak. "I'm here Theodore. Just as I promised you and your son Kermit when you decided on this expedition." Her thin fingers squeezed the burning feverish flesh loosely hanging from the bones of the near-dead man.

Delilah's tears filled in her eyes as Theodore Roosevelt gasped out once more, "In Xanadu did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure-dome decree; In Xanadu..." An endless stream that was all that he could comprehend as the fever baked him alive as it had for the last nine days. Even her subtle spellcasting and her last healing potions could do nothing more than give her great friend a fighting chance as he wrestled with Death.

She pulled out a canteen of water from the uncharted river that they were mapping and tapped her wand to it to purify the life-giving fluid, before raising it to his lips. "Here, drink, Theodore." She whispered. "Please, do it for me, old friend. Please."

Automatically he swallowed and his hand squeezed hers briefly in wordless thanks as fresh tears trickled from her eyes. Then his hand relaxed as she tore a strip of cloth from her tattered safari uniform to dab warm water on his forehead to try to cool him.

He coughed and then fever-bright blue eyes focused on her face. "D-- Del?" His hand grasped hers with a tithe of his normal crushing grip and she gasped.

She wept in relief and covered her mouth with one dirty hand as his fever finally broke. "H-hoow..." he gasped out as he looked at her. "It was... wasn't it?"

She hesitantly nodded.

He nodded once in understanding then grasped her hand with all the strength in his body. "W--when you go f-f-f-orward..." A gasp and he pinned her with his stare. "Remember me."

She squeezed back in an unbreakable grip. "Always, Theodore. Always."
-------------------------------

Roosevelt Family Cemetery, Oyster Bay, New York

January 6th, 1947

"Edith." A quiet voice from one of the two veiled women approaching the elderly lady in a wheelchair sitting alone next to a tombstone.

"Delilah." A nod from Edith Kermit Roosevelt as the black wool of her mourning garb rustled. "Who is your friend?"

Delilah knelt and laid a bouquet of lilies on the grave. "Zamarad. She is... well..." A brief hesitant smile. "Special to me."

The Ifrit nodded politely and laid her own bouquet down on the snow-covered grave.

"Ahh..." Edith said. "How Progressive of you. That explains a few things. I always wondered why..." she trailed off.

Delilah nodded and spoke in an emotion-filled hushed voice. "This is part of why. Also I knew him when his first wife died. I was -- am -- unsuited to fill the hole in his heart that he had then. But you did what I never could do for him."

Edith spoke quietly in turn, "So you brought her to meet him then?" She shook her head with a small fond smile."Twenty-eight years gone today and yet he looms large over all our lives."

Delilah wiped tears from her eyes. "You, and he, deserved to know the truth about me, or as much of it as I can reveal without breaking my oaths. Zamarad came over to America after the War, and I'm teaching her to love it as I do, as you do... as he does. We honeymooned at Yellowstone and I explained about his dream there when I showed her what we all saw."

Edith spoke reminiscently with a smile that illuminated her aged face. "He dreamed large and well and then surpassed his dreams. The saying about him was right. 'Death had to take him sleeping because if Theodore was awake, there would have been a fight.'"

Delilah laughed in agreement. "Just like the Old Lion fought off Death in the Amazon before my eyes."

Edith looked at Zamarad as her maid approached to wheel her inside the house. "It is pleasant to meet you, dear. Take good care of Delilah when we are gone into the dust."

Zamarad nodded. "I have been exceptionally blessed to know her, Edith."

Delilah linked her hand with Zamarad's, their wedding rings glinting and looked at the grave of the 26th President of the United States. "and I am exceptionally blessed to know you and Theodore, Edith. Rest assured you will be remembered for all that you were and did."

"Always."

 

[darthcourt10]

Gmergurrl99

Knock, knock.

The President of the United States looks up from files he is reviewing.

Aide: Sir, the Secretary of the Interior is here.

Prez: Let him in Simmons.

Secretary of the Interior walks and greets President

Secr. Int. : You look like hell (insert name here).

Prez: Well yeah. With the way the war's been going and the emergencies going on 24/7, working late nights and early mornings managing crisis after crisis isn't conductive for one's beauty sleep? Especially that last clusterfuck up in Maine... (Snarky and dry tone).

Secr. Int: (Secr. sighs) Well, what was so important that it couldn't wait until the next scheduled meeting? You know my department is running ragged making sure that we have the materials we need for the war effort, especially with coordinating with the other departments and dealing with contractors.....

Prez: Well, you know how we've been working on the SoS collapse? Apparently your MACUSA counter parts have been busy on the conservation end themselves. (Slides over files he's been review to Secr.).

Secr. reads special Eyes Only black-level classified documents. Then facepalms.
Secr: Why? Why do we have a Noah's Ark in our own backyard filled with dinosaurs of all things? I understand that our counterparts contributed to the conservation effort on their end due to economic incentive and resource management, given a part of our job is management of natural resources and assets and making sure that we have something to use in the future. But seriously? Dinosaurs?

Prez: I was flabbergasted too. But the dinos were the consequence of experiments trying to figure out how to deal with radiation during the Cold War. One of the research groups mucked around with time space and tried to do a magic switcharoo of the contaminated land with some of it's pre-irradiated state, but ended up with something out of the 1632 and Ring of Fire series when they did the land swap, only with more fire round the edges and several million years off course. Apparently, they did their math wrong, and ended up with 10 miles of prime prehistoric real estate filled with bunch of prehistoric critters and plants. Those eggheads were clueless about what to do with "wingless dragons" and called ARK to deal with the mess. For now, what I need you to do is to put together a team in the know to take inventory of ARK's collection and to contact experts to look at the specimens and to come up with some kind of action plan so we can set up breeding and reintroduction plans for several of the critters back to the wild, and how to deal with the dinos and the like.

Secr. : I need a drink.

More discussion, Secr. leaves while pulling out cellphone to make calls regarding bombshell that dropped in his lap, and the Prez is humming a hauntingly familiar tune as the door shuts.

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

Sadly, this isn't the next entry to Porta Conquers the Atlantic (yes, very sad, I know), but it's still something everyone loves: Another episode in the lives of Hachiko and Moriko. Specifically, it focuses on Hachiko's little brother Aki. Something that Yellowhammer was sadly unable to adequately show was how much of a budding Tech-Head Aki is - his agreed basis for inspiration was Episode 1 Anakin and Izuku Midoriya: mechanically gifted, sweet as a cherub and with a good heart from the former, and maybe just a little awkward and very nerdy from the latter. Something you'll notice is how Aki has already adopted Moriko as his mother figure, just like how Hachiko is "tou-san" to him.

Enjoy!
------

Hobbyist

Aki Miyata absorbed the information he read like a sponge. Tou-san couldn't afford many toys, so the Inugami had to make due with whatever amusements he could make for himself. Often that meant the other kids either at school or in their apartment. But sometimes Tou-san would bring home a book to read to him. The usual stories of adventures and quests were all well and good, and Aki enjoyed them, but the books he loved the most were the ones about how things worked. Tou-san was a little surprised at seeing him gravitate to science and mechanic-themed books, but he was happy to provide. And it was in one of these books that he found something that immensely interested him: Steam engines.

Kaa-san was a shipgirl, same as Sachi-oba and Suzu-chan. And shipgirls were steamships. But shipgirls also got hurt. And Aki didn't want them to be hurt – he wanted to make sure they were helped! And though Aki was a boy of barely nine years, he was smart enough to know that he would need more than a want to help to actually do that. He needed schooling. Tou-san always said as much. And that lead to the book in hand. It was more than a little to advanced for him, but it had plenty of pictures for him to follow.

And in a fit of excitement over-riding his good sense, the boy ran off to collect supplies. Burnable Trash Day was tomorrow, so finding some cork wasn't difficult. The metal tubing though was more challenging to find. Fortunately, Mister Amaki's shop was just down the street. The man and his employees were always nice to him, and were more than happy to talk to him about how the scooter engines worked, the even let him help sometimes! Mister Amaki laughed out loud when Aki told him what he was doing.

"Well sure kid! I've got some scrap tubes that should be just what you need. OI! Tenchi! Watch the front would ya? I'll be busy for a minute."

Aki was a little irritated at Mister Amaki taking over the job. He was nine years old! He wasn't a baby! He could cut metal just fine; he'd seen the grown ups at the shop do it all the time! But Mister Amaki just laughed and went about cutting the copper tube. But the old man let him bend the metal into a loop and all was forgiven.

That part done, Aki ran home and gathered his remaining parts: A pot for the engine to sit in, a big rubber band, two wheels – one big and one small – from his LEGO sets, a tea candle, a motor he salvaged from a busted drill he saw in the trash once, and the only tools he required: A glue gun and a pack of matches. As the boy put the odds and ends together, his eyes glowed with the gleam seen in many figures when they were his age. The likes of Isambard Brunel, or Thomas Edison, or Guglielmo Marconi, men who saw the potential of what could be, and how to do it, even if they were doing little more than looking at a bodged together monstrosity and saying 'seems legit.'

Fortunately, Aki didn't need to start from nothing. He simply took advantage of little nuggets of information he had learned from a disparate collection of sources, and finding a way to take advantage of them. Things like how one book about electricity Tou-san read to him said that an electrical motor and an electrical generator were one and the same, it just relied on where the energy was coming from. Or a blurb from his science text book at school explaining how Pulleys and Gears worked, and how a big gear connected to a smaller gear – like, say, by a rubberband – would turn the smaller gear much faster, making many turns in the time it took the big gear to make one turn.
------

Hachiko sighed as he made his way up the steps. Another long day. Not as bad as some – especially compared to before he met Moriko – but a long day was still a long day.

"Welcome home Miss Miyata!"

Hachiko suppressed a long-suffering grunt. After all, Hasegawa-San was pushing ninety, and judging by the coke bottle glasses was legally blind. He had long resigned himself to being thought of as a single mother by his land lady.

"Thank you Hasegawa-san. Thank you so much for keeping an eye on Aki for me."

"Oh it was no trouble at all! Aki has always been such a sweet boy. Though I think you should know that I think I caught him rummaging in the trash again."

Hachiko groaned again. 'If I've told that boy once I've told him a thousand times.'

"I am so sorry Miss Hasegawa. I'll send him out in a few minutes to apologize."

But the old woman laughed and waved her hand as if the notion was so much smoke.

"No no, boys will be boys, and he made sure to clean up after himself – such a considerate little boy. I just wanted to let you know that he may need a bath."

Hachiko pinched the bridge of his nose and took a breath. "Right. Thank you Hasegawa-san."

Hachiko tried to think about what to do with his little brother as he rummaged in his pocket for his key. But when he walked into the apartment he barely got half-way through the first half of 'tadaima' before getting tackled in the gut by a dog-eared Aki, his tail a blur of excited happiness.

"Tou-san tou-san! Come and see! Come see!"

Barely able to voice a complaint, Hachiko was physically dragged by his little brother into the kitchen… And gawked at what he saw.

On the table sat one of their cooking pots, filled with water. And on that water was a mat of cork, on which sat a lit candle, and over that was a small coil of copper tubing, the whole affair spinning contently like a little top. And on the top of that coil was one of the large pulley wheels from Aki's building toy sets, hot-glued on. That wheel was connected by a rubberband to a small wheel that was similarly hotglued onto the spindle of the drill motor he was sure he had told Aki to throw out months ago. And trailing from the moter were a pair of wires connected to a bare lightbulb.

A glowing lightbulb.

"Wh-what is that?"

The lightbulb was nothing compaired to the beam of wholesome pride in Aki's joyful face.

"It's a steam generator Tou-san! I made it!"
------

Yes, that steam engine is base on a real thing. I found it on YouTube, and it fit my criteria for "small project a bright 9-year old could conceivably build without much adult supervision or complicated/dangerous tools.

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

Well, I apologize for my writing slowing to a crawl. Just find myself distracted by so much nowadays, it's hard to find time to devote to my snippets. I'll try my hardest to get a scene for Regalia out next... in the next couple weeks...

XXXXXXXXXX

"Four years. Four... years." The Demon drew in a shaky breath. "We all thought you were dead."

The defensive fleet had dispersed. The sirens had been cut off. The shipgirls, sensing that the situation had just become personal, quickly threw their hands up and abandoned the pair of Abyssals to the new fleet… their lost sisters.

The Tsu-class struggled to find her voice to respond. She was just as stunned by this discovery as they were. "You're… you're alive. H-how?"

"We fled west," the Airfield Demon—Nuri—said simply. She reached out, cupping the Tsu-class's cheek in her hand, as a tear rolled down her face. "My god… you two are an absolute mess." Nuri gazed to Tampa… her features twisting in horror and pain and grief, as she took in her sister's cobbled-together hull. "Tampa… what have you done to yourself…!?"

The Demon could only stare back at her sister in shock, standing utterly still. "It… it wasn't her choice," the Tsu-class answered in her stead. "She told me that… that Hawaiian spirits did this to her."

"Hawaiian…?" Nuri trailed off, jaw briefly hanging in confusion, before she shook her head. "No, no. That doesn't matter right now. You're alive… and we have to let Mother know!" She took her sister's bolted-together arm and started to tug her forward, as she turned to the others. "Someone get back to the base, set up a FaceTime call! Mother will want to see them with her own eyes!"

On hearing that last statement, the Tsu-class felt her boilers skipping a beat. She and her sister had put their lives on the line… and it paid off. They found more than just mercy… they found their long-lost sisters. They were finally going to be reunited with their mother, their family. But to face them so soon...

She wasn't ready.

The Tsu-class tried to pull her hand from Nuri's grasp. "W-wait, wait!" She exclaimed. "This… this is all happening so quickly! I have so many questions! L-like… how many of us are left? Where's Mother right now? What are you all doing so far south, and… and cooperating with… with… ohh..."

The Tsu class suddenly stumbled and fell back, her free hand against her chest. "What... what's happening…?" She gasped as Nuri rushed to her side. "I… I feel strange…"

Nuri called on her DC team, letting a handful of her imps clamber into her sister's hull to assess the situation. For several long seconds she was terrified by the possibility of her sibling's body shutting down right in front of her—just like Renita—but as information slowly trickled back to her, she felt that great weight lift from her chest. "...she's alright!" She called out. "One of her boilers just blew a valve and shut down. The rest are holding steady."

There were deep sighs of relief from the others. "Oh, thank god. I don't think I could handle another race against the clock," Sunny said. She sailed forward and hooked an arm under the Tsu-class, pulling her to her feet, and helping to support her as they began to make steam for dry land. "You're right, Hatsumo. Talking can wait. For now, let's get the two of you to the baths—you've done well to take care of yourself for this long, but you need repairs now..."

XXXXXXXXXX

It was sometimes unsettling, how utter silence could feel so deafening.

Tanith sat behind the office desk, nervously looking over her hands. To cut down on her intimidation factor, she'd gone through the effort of removing her massive, spiked metal claws and covered up the skeletal frame underneath with a pair of white elbow gloves. Without the thick latex support Ruadri's arms enjoyed, her hands remained unnaturally thin and bony in appearance… but she'd rather come across as creepy than threatening, when faced with potential instructors and business workers that could help develop her family's island. She honestly hadn't been expecting to receive responses so quickly, when she worked with the Japanese to set up recruitment flyers over the region. But here she was, waiting to meet with four potential trainers to determine if they could help her family develop their island home further.

The kicker? Three of them were Yokai.

A small part of Tanith pondered that disparity. Of course, she wasn't about to be nitpicky—in her eyes, four candidates was a lot. But what could be the cause for that disparity? Were Yokai just less afraid of them? Or was their offer of a safe haven far away from any Reserve really that enticing?

"Princess." Tanith looked up to the woman standing in the doorway. "The first applicant is here. They brought their family."

She nodded hesitantly. "Okay. Okay, you can let them in."

The woman dipped her head, before vanishing from sight, leaving Tanith alone to stew in her nervousness and worries once more. Finally, after a pregnant pause, the door cracked open... and what came through was a surprise to the Abyssal.

A small, furry snout poked into view at the foot of the doorway, its little whiskers twitching. It took a moment to sniff around a bit, then poked out further, revealing itself in full—bright, intelligent eyes, a slender body, short limbs with webbed paws, and a long, powerful tail.

An otter.

Tanith blinked, tilting her head inquisitively at the animal… then gasped, as it made a beeline for her desk and leapt up into her lap. "O-oh… hello there, little one..." Tanith said slowly, holding her hands up as she stared at the furry critter that had come out of nowhere. "What are you doing here...?"

The otter spent a few seconds sniffing her legs, letting out little chirps, before looking up at her with an almost curious expression. Seemingly taking Tanith's stunned state and lack of action as permission to remain, it kneaded its paws on her thighs a little, nuzzled against her midriff, and curled up in her lap.

Tanith couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the ridiculousness of the situation. "Well, you just make yourself right at home, don't you?" She asked playfully, stroking its smooth fur. "I heard of Japan having some domestic otters, but I didn't expect to see one up close…" She leaned over a bit, looking down at the critter. "Do you have an owner, little one? Or did you just happen to find your way in…?"

"KIKI! GET DOWN FROM THERE THIS INSTANT!"

The little otter's gaze snapped to the doorway. It quickly hopped down from the Abyssal's lap and scampered out of the room, leaving her a little bewildered. "Ah… thank goodness," she sighed, relieved. "For a moment, I was worried a wild animal had gotten into… the…"

Tanith's words trailed off as another, larger otter came into the room… this one standing on its hind legs, wearing a simple hakama, and carrying a satchel on its back. "I apologize for my youngest daughter," the otter said with the voice of a middle-aged man, dipping its head. "She has very little self-restraint . Always trying to pose as a pet to get treats from unsuspecting strangers…"

Tanith sat back in her seat staring at the otter for several seconds, stunned. "You… you talk," she eventually said, pointing at it.

The otter cocked his head. "Of course I do. Did the ladies we spoke with not warn you we were Yokai?"

Tanith's eyes widened, her brain finally making the connection. This was the first applicant—a Kawauso. "W-well… yes, they did. They told me several Yokai clients were supposed to be coming, in fact. It's just that… I was not expecting something as mundane as… intelligent otters."

The otter waved his paw. "We can shapeshift, too. There's just not much use for it in today's society."

"...I see." Tanith coughed lightly. "A-anyway… I am Tanith… nominal leader of the Fleet of Laughter. And if I might know your names…?"

The otter nodded. "Of course, of course…" He patted his chest with a paw. "My name is Tarou. You've already met my youngest daughter, Kiki…" the otter pup in question rose up on her hind legs, sulking as she moved to her father's side, while he turned back towards the door. "Come in, everyone. It's alright in here."

The door creaked open a little wider, and three more dressed-up otters trotted in. One of them was dressed in a basic hakama like Tarou, with the addition of a little ponytail and an adorable little finger-length knife at its hip. The other two, however, were instead garbed in little yukatas and had what almost seemed like eyeliner marking their little face. "This is my wife, Ayana..." Tarou continued, gesturing to the taller of the (apparent) females. "Beside her are our two other children, Miki—"

"I'm the oldest," the other female said, holding up a paw.

"—and Riki."

"No relation to that video game character…" the smaller male huffed.

Tanith chuckled, feeling a little more at ease. "Well, then… you have a very nice little family here, mister Tarou," she said. "So, you came hoping to apply as a tutor for myself and my sisters?"

"Among other things, yes…" Tarou said with a nod.

"Alright, then." Tanith clasped her hands together. "In that case, I am quite intrigued to hear what sorts of skills you could bring to the table, considering your… smaller stature." After a moment to think, she shrunk back a little bit. "I mean…"

Tarou shook his head. "Relax. We get those sorts of comments all the time. Sure, we don't get much taller than a meter, but that doesn't mean we can't be productive members of society. After all, the No-Maj's have those reality shows about… er, what was the socially-accepted term for them again? Dwarves?"

"Little people, I believe," Tanith corrected.

"Right, little people. Anyway…" Tarou rummaged through his satchel, producing several sheets of paper, and set it on top of the desk. "My family's most prominent skills are water diversion and irrigation. As otters, we make a lot of our living off rivers and streams and whatnot; sometimes, though, we need the water to flow a different way. To avoid predators, hide from humans, that sort of thing. So our clan took a few lessons from our cousin, the beaver, so we could make that happen… and while we were at it, we learned to funnel some of the water into crops."

Tanith picked up the papers and examined them. They were sketches of river damming plans, routes for digging new streams, runoff for irrigation systems. Looking over all of it, she gradually perked up. "That… is actually quite impressive," she said with a hint of awe. "We could really use your expertise on Avrora; my daughter handles a farm there, and we recently uncovered an underground spring deep in the woods that we want to funnel to our residential area. Your knowledge would be invaluable for both of those."

"We also know how to make sake, if any of your brethren are interested," Ayana added. "It's practically common knowledge for Kawauso like ourselves."

At this, Tanith shrugged. "I cannot say for certain if any of my sisters would be interested, but it is a generous offer regardless." As she handed the papers back, the Princess thought to herself. "...I take it you were hoping to apply for permanent residence on our island?"

The otters glanced between one another briefly, before looking to her and nodding. "The river we called home is no longer safe for us," Tarou explained solemnly. "Humans are developing land further upstream, and the sediment it's released into the water is starting to contaminate everything downstream—the fish, the soil, our crops. The only other rivers close enough for us to relocate to, already have human visitors on a regular basis… so trying to move to them risks our family being exposed, possibly even captured and thrown into a Reserve."

Tanith considered asking why the family couldn't just stay away from the rivers altogether… but she quickly squashed that thought. Otters were aquatic animals. Swimming and hunting in water was integral to their way of life… much like Abyssals. "I understand…" she said. "As long as the Statute remains intact, you're in danger… but on Avrora, you believe you would be safe."

"To some degree, yes."

Tanith was quiet for several seconds, thinking. Finally, she spoke. "Alright, mister Tarou. I think that both our families will benefit from cooperating on this matter." She gestured to a nearby window. "We have a cruise ship docked at Yokosuka's port undergoing some finishing touches. You'll be able to meet some of our family, and get to know one another once we're ready to make the trip back to our island."

The younger otters' eyes lit up with excitement and joy, and they began to bounce and skitter around making delighted noises. Tarou and his wife, meanwhile, gave little bows. "Thank you, Princess. We will do our best not to disappoint you."

Tanith simply smiled. "I'm sure you will not. If anything, I think my family will be delighted to have you around." She gestured to the door. "Now, if you would kindly step out of the office, so I can start on the next applicant?"

"Of course."

With that, the couple herded their three kids out the door, out of sight. Tanith sat back in her chair, letting out a small sigh. That had gone a lot easier than she had expected it to; she supposed it was due to the otters being small and cute. It helped put her a bit more at ease when she wasn't being faced by something big or imposing, like one of those spider-ladies...

"My, oh my… what do we have here?"

Occupied by her thoughts, Tanith almost missed the fact someone had entered the room. Standing in front of her was a tall, voluptuous woman. She had her long, silk-like black hair woven into a braid over her shoulder, with a few stray locks hanging over her forehead, and was dressed up in a form-fitting professional business suit, complete with short-cut skirt. If she had any interest in romance or sex, Tanith might have thought her quite attractive… but the way the woman was eyeing her with an almost hungry look was a little unnerving.

Tanith opened her mouth to speak. "Ah, hello the—"

"Shh…" the woman silenced Tanith, holding up a finger. She slowly stepped forward and around the desk, looking the Princess over carefully. "...nice full figure besides the arms… no need to go overboard accentuating her curves…" she could be heard muttering to herself. "But the fur is gaudy, the hat is ridiculous… saw the reports from way back, so I KNOW the gown is purely for showing modesty in public… the boots work, at least." Making a full circle back around to the front, the woman pulled out a small notepad and began scribbling something down. "Just need a few hours on the drawing board—and maybe a White Russian or two to get your hull out of my view—and I can turn you into a right bombshell…"

"Ahem…" Tanith cleared her throat. "Can I help you?"

In response, the woman looked up. "Oh, right! Sorry. Got caught up in my thoughts for a moment. Allow me to introduce myself properly…" She reached up and brushed some of her bangs out of the way...revealing three extra sets of eyes. "Kaori Fujioka, Jorogumo and professional tailor. I'm here to make you an offer: hire me, and we'll do away with the cookie-cutter outfits you and your followers wear all the time, and make each and every one of you uniquely fashionable!"

Ah, hell… Tanith thought to herself, suppressing a grimace. This one is going to be a trial.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 166: Harry Leferts

The Sun had barely risen above the horizon in the Ryukyus, and already the temperature was hot. Wiping his forehead as he cooked some breakfast, Haruto grimaced a bit, "It's going to be another scorcher..."

Stretched out in jean shorts that left little to the imagination for her legs and a canvas tank top, Haruhime sighed a bit as she fanned herself, "What did you expect, Haruto-Kun? We're not far from Okinawa and the area is tropical."

When he glanced at her, the teenage Healer blushed a little which seemed to amuse her if the wink she gave him said anything. Rolling his eyes, Haruto sighed a little, "I know, I know... but still."

Raising an eyebrow from her she laid, Ichika gave him a look, "Don't they have air conditioning up at the fort though?"

That got her a look from Haruto, "They do as a matter of fact, but if you think that I am going to leave all of you here to suffer from the heat while I stay cool..."

A soft smile on her face, Mie hugged him from behind and kissed his cheek, "Something that we are all thankful for." Brushing some sweaty hair from her forehead, she shook her head, "I wish that we could do something about the heat however."

Just snorting, Mikage jerked her thumb in a certain direction, "Well, we got the fan going..." Suddenly, she smirked a bit, "But there seems to be a blockage."

Everyone turned to where the solar powered fan was to find Chikako looking at them, "Nya? What?" When they shook their heads, she turned her head back to the fan and closed her eyes as the wind blew past and her voice became distorted, "Nyaaaaaaaaaa~"

It took everything for Haruto not to laugh at that as he grinned, "I suppose so." Finishing breakfast, he placed the food onto plates and reached into the icebox to pull out a pitcher of water to which he added powdered juice and stirred it. That juice was then poured into glasses for everyone, "Okay, breakfast is ready."

Moments later, everyone made their way over to the table, with Hachimitsu sitting in his lap. Granted, Haruto cast a spell to conjure a block of ice in front of the fan, the breeze coming off of which cooled everyone slightly and made them happily sigh. As they ate, however, the blonde haired Kitsune hummed a bit, "You know, it is really hot out so maybe we should do something."

Her eyebrow raised as she looked at her sister, dressed in similarly skimpy clothing, Haruhime blinked, "Like what? It's too hot to do much." She grimaced a little, "And going to be worse in August."

Nodding, the Healer frowned some, "Hai, hopefully I won't have to worry too much about heatstroke or sunstroke from people on the island."

For a few moments, Hachimitsu was quiet before humming, "Actually, we might want to go down to the ocean pool." Everyone blinked at that and turned to her, at which she shrugged, "What? The water might be warm, but Haruto-Kun could use some magic to cool it off enough for us."

When they turned to him, Haruto was tapping the top of the table as he chewed before giving a small nod, "I guess that I could cast an ice cube conjuring spell to create ice to float around. That should be enough to keep it nice and cool..."

As the others nodded, Chikako frowned, "Swimming? But... I don't know how... and I don't have a swimsuit..."

Reaching over, Mie gently rubbed her head, "Don't worry, we'll drop by Ayane-San and pick one up for you from there. She's made a couple after all."

Head tilted back and forth, the little Neko hummed a bit with a smile on her face and eyes closed, "Nya... nya... nya..."

It was a short time later when they entered into a small store with a bell above the door. Almost immediately, the Jorogumo everyone knew as Ayane appeared with a smile, one that grew a slight bit wider as she recognized who it was, "Haruto-Sama, Hachimitsu-Sama, Haruhime-Sama, Mikage-Sama, Ichika-Sama, Mie-Sama, and Chikako-Chan! How are you this fine day and how can I help you?"

Lightly laughing, Haruto scratched the back of his neck, "Sorry to bother you, but... Chikako-Chan needs a swimsuit and I was wondering if you had any in stock?"

More than a little amused, Ayane giggled some and shook her head, "I take it that it will be a beach day than?"

With a hum, the Healer nodded, "Hai, I already left information at the clinic letting everyone know where they can find me. It should be spread fast enough anyways..." He gave a sigh and shook his head while wiping his forehead, "It is just too damn hot out at the moment."

Chuckling, Ayana gave a small nod, "Yes, it is quite warm today, I suppose for most."

Head tilted to the side, Chikako blinked a bit as she noticed something, "Aren't you hot, Ayane-San?"

Lowering her body down, the Jorogumo bent her top half enough to look the Neko in the eye as she patted her on the head, "I'm a Jorogumo dear, we actually like hot weather. Comes from being part arachnid, I suppose." Straightening back up, she gave a small shrug, "But I do like how many people like buying swimwear here."

Placing her hands behind her head, Haruhime had a grin on her face, "True, and your bikinis are pretty good..." She gave a leer towards Haruto who looked away, "Especially for some~"

Unable to help herself, Ayane laughed a little, "Yes, I do suppose that there is that." Then, she shook her head as she gently guided the young Neko further into the store towards the changing area, "Now, I do have some swimsuits that should fit you..."

It was only a few minutes later that they returned, with Chikako skipping as she had something in her arms. Coming to a stop, she held it up, "I found a swimsuit, Haruto-Nii-San! It's cute!"

Eyebrow raised, Haruto noted that it was a indigo one piece, likely dyed using the indigo plants that grew on the island. With a small nod, he smiled down at her before patting her head, "Hai, it looks like it would be very cute on you."

Winking, Ichika gave her a thumbs up, "Super cute even."

That only got a happy smile and nod from the young Yokai as she enjoyed the headpats, "Nya... nya... nyaaaa~"

Once he was done, Haruto reached into his backpack and pulled out some cans of spam which he placed onto the counter, "This should do it for cost, right?"

Giving him a look, Ayane shook her head, "You know that you don't need to pay, Haruto-Sama. Not with everything that you do on the island after all."

However, she was already placing the canned meat into a drawer to be kept safe for later, even as the teenage boy shrugged, "And like I told you before, I get paid by the Diet to be a healer here. I will pay my way for the rest just like anyone else will." Reaching into his backpack, he took out some lollipops and placed them onto the counter with a small smirk, "Or perhaps you think I should pay more."

That got him an unamused look as the Jorogumo crossed her arms under her bust. Somewhat to her disappointment, he only gave her a raised eyebrow in return, "You know what I mean, Haruto-Sama. You don't accept payment as a Healer from any of us, or for supplies. Also..." Ayane pouted some as she pushed up her breasts and still got nothing more than an amused tilt of the lips, "Whatever happened to you? It used to be so fun getting you flustered."

Mikage grinned a bit and grabbed Haruto's arm and held it to her chest, "Mainly he got five very beautiful girlfriends, Ayane-Chan."

All Ayane did was nod and sigh, "I suppose." Then, she smiled and took the lollipops before placing them in the same drawer, which also held things like dried fish in a basket, "Thank you anyways, my Imoutos will enjoy the candy."

With a nod, Haruto smiled at her, "Good to hear, Ayane-San. I hope that you have a good day..."

From where she stood, the spider Yokai watched as he left and walked down the street. Leaning forward, she propped herself up with one arm in a pose that would have given anyone walking in a view that would have likely made them stumble into things as she wore a loose tanktop, "A shame that you're taken and not taking on anyone else, Haruto-Sama..." Shaking her head, she hummed some before smiling, "Though a spider could still dream~"

It was a twenty minute walk before they reached their destination, but when they did, Chikako's eyes lit up as she clutched at her straw sunhat, "Ooooh!" Running forward, she stopped at the water's edge on the white sand beach and pointed at it, "Look, Haruto-Nii-San! Nee-Chans! It looks so nice!"

Lips curled into a smile, Hachimitsu nodded some, "It certainly does at that!" Chuckling slightly, the Kitsune shipgirl looked at the Neko, "Do you know why they call it the Ocean Pool?"

Confused, Chikako shook her head, "Um, no? Why do they call it the Ocean Pool?"

Smile on her face, Ichika crouched down and pointed, "There's a wall of coral that stretches across this area right over there. Waves can get over it at low tide if they're big enough, and at high tide, the ocean comes in." She made a motion with her hand, "Also? There's small tunnels in the rock that lets water in and out. But it's popular for swimming because there's no currents here and the waves are small ones usually."

Eyes wide, the young Yokai stared, "Oooh! That's so cool, Ichika-Nee-Chan!"

Glancing at her friend, Hachimitsu shook her head for a moment. Humming, she looked around the beach. As it turned out, they were not the only ones who had decided to come and swim to beat the heat. But there weren't that many there either. Spotting a place, she made a gesture, "How about we set up over there?"

Throwing her hands in the air, the Neko rushed over, "Nya! I help! I help Haruto-Nii-San and Nee-Chans set it up!"

Unable to help herself Mie giggled softly, "That does sound good, Chikako-Chan. Now..." Gently taking Chikako's hand, she led her over to the spot before pulling a blanket out of a pocket which belonged to her crew, "You can unroll this while we set up the shade, okay?"

With a sharp nod, Chikako performed a salute, "Haaaai!"

Needless to say, it did not take them long to set up an awning up to shield them from the Sun. After that was done, the girls retreated behind some rocks to get changed, though not before the older ones teased him a little bit which made him blush slightly. As they got changed though, he motioned with his wand and a stream of ice cubes shot out and into the water. It was not a whole lot, of course, and they were already melting... but they did cool the water slightly.

Of course, he heard a throat being cleared and turned around to find that Mikage was poking her head out from behind the rock, "We're done, Haruto-Kun~ Here we come~"

Moments later, she stepped out followed by the others outside of Chikako and Haruto felt his face grow hot as all of them stood there in bikinis for the most part. He was unable to stop staring as his eyes went from one to the other, though he noted that Mie had a sarong on, "Um..." Noticing the amusement from the Kitsune, he coughed, "You all look really good."

Slowly walking up to him, Hachimitsu smirked as her tail wagged behind her even as she trailed a finger down his chest, "Is that just so? We look just good, Ha-ru-to-kun?"

Closing his eyes, Haruto took a deep breath before letting it out before grabbing Hachimitsu and pulling her into a tight hug that made her squeak and blush, "Well, that is a mild way of saying just what I am thinking."

For her part, the Kitsune had a deep blush on her face, "I-I, um..." Looking away, she cleared her throat, "I am glad that you think so, Haruto-Kun."

Now smirking himself, Haruto let go and nodded towards the rocks, "Where's Chikako-Chan?"

Sharing a look with her Mikage, Haruhime grinned, "Well, we didn't want to take any attention away from our Chikako-Chan!" Stepping back, she gave a nod, "Drumroll, please!"

Highly amused, Ichika began to pat on her stomach to produce the sound even as Mikage spoke up while holding out her hands as if presenting a grand prize, followed by her sisters and Mie as the Inugami and blonde Kitsune got down to one knee, "Introducing... the ever cute and lovable Neko that is our Chikako-Chan... in her new swimsuit!"

Jumping out from behind the rock, Chikako smiled brightly as she thrust her hands in the air, "Funya! Here I am!"

While extremely amused by their antics, especially Hachimitsu and Mie, Haruto didn't laugh. Instead, he smiled and nodded with a wide eyed look, "Wow! You really look cute in that swimsuit! Great choice of one!"

Brightly smiling, the Neko twirled which allowed the light purple skirt attached to her one piece, which itself was a deep purple, to swish in the air, "Thank you, Nii-San!" Running over, she hugged him around the waist as he patted her head, "Mmm... nya... thank you for buying it."

Glancing at the other female Yokai, who seemed more amused than anything else, Haruto gave a small nod, "You are very welcome, Chikako-Chan. Now... it's my turn to get changed."

Unnoticed by the young Yokai, the older female ones all got hungry looks on their faces as they heard that, which made the Healer weakly chuckle...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-Well I got argued into posting this here so as not to let the bastards win (you know who you are). Please don't make me regret this decision, guys?

A Winter's Shadow Over Kingsport (VII)

13 July 2014

Saco Bay (Just North Of Kingsport) Maine, USA

There was the first of those special messages to the troops. These were printed on sheets, some 11 inches by 8 inches, and were widely circulated. The first gave the gist of the famous address to the staff. We were going to fight where we stood. There would be no withdrawal, no surrender. We had to do our duty so long as we had breath in our bodies. -- Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Spoiler: Advance To The Bay

The blond haired and blue-eyed shipgirl of USS Olympia leapt to the grass of the village common from the helicopter. Automatically she ducked her head and grasped the dark green wool of her walking dress to raise her skirt above her ankles for ease of movement.

Inside her power plant the reciprocating engines hammered faster as her stokers, stripped to the waist, moved like automatons of living bronze while they shoveled coal as fast as was humanly possible into her fireboxes in a mad rhythm.

Her Marconi wireless operator tapped out the dots and dashes of Morse to USS Pillsbury as the Natural-born shipgirl commanding the FBI portion of this operation hurried to the side of a witch -- a witch -- to liaise with their magical allies.

"MOVING TO POSITION, GODSPEED PILLSBURY"

Her signalman snapped off blinker light commands to her small squadron. Automatically they shook out into line ahead.

Chester, the first light cruiser of the US Navy, took the lead position and pushed herself to her -- fast for her day -- flank speed of 24 knots. The small shipgirl's twin Five-inch Mark Six 'popguns' that were her main armament sought targets as worried faces watched her pass from a window as they waited for evacuation.

Behind her Olympia belched coal smoke and embers from her stacks as she pushed on at twenty-one knots. Directly astern was Delaware, followed by her younger twin sister North Dakota. Contemporaries of HMS Dreadnought, the third and fourth American dreadnought battleships trained out their five twin turrets containing twelve-inch Mark Five rifles and loaded armor-piercing. Aboard them, faeries stood to their stations grimly as their newfangled forced lubrication and more powerful triple expansion engines allowed them to keep pace with the elderly protected cruisers screening them.

Bringing up the rear was San Francisco. Two years older then Olympia, she was also a Spanish-American War veteran, although she had never fired a shot in anger in the 'Glorious Little War'. She had been overlooked in favor of her more famous namesake who had won the Presidential Unit Citation on the hellish night of November 13th, 1942 in Ironbottom Sound off Guadalcanal. That would change tonight, her captain promised his crew, as he ordered her casemated six-inch rifles to be loaded.
-----------------------

Inside Olympia's conning tower, the faerie of George Dewey, Admiral of the Navy and a veteran of the Civil War and the Great War, glanced at the captain standing silently next to him. He stroked his bushy mustache and chuckled. "Long way from Manila Bay, Gridley. No?" He said in his nasal Vermont accent with a twinkle in his eye before packing tobacco into his pipe.

Beside him, the pale-faced officer chuckled hollowly. "At least this time I am not dying of cancer and having to argue with you to keep you from relieving me of duty before my boys went into action."

"True, true, Gridley." Dewey responded as he lit the pipe with a lucifer wood match. He squinted at the gun flashes ahead as the first shells screamed in as they hit the water around them. "Reminds me of running past the forts of New Orleans under Farragut in '62. Now he was a hard one, could chew iron and spit out nails. When we reach Fiddler's Green again, I'll introduce you to him. Speaking of, time to open this dance. Squadron turn to five points starboard."
Spoiler: The Battle Of Saco Bay

As the line shifted to clear their broadsides for action the first shell slammed into Olympia.

White hot splinters scythed across her decks and Dewey's eyes narrowed as he heard the screams of the wounded.

He took a pull on his pipe and then nodded.

"You may fire when you are ready, Gridley"

The rifles of the veterans of the Great White Fleet roared as their first salvos hammered into the mass of Abyssals ahead surrounding two misshapen giants. Torpedoes followed, fired blindly into the thick of the mob by all the ships.

Explosions blossomed and pale forms turned from fighting each other and the Wendigo to attack the new threat.
-----------------------

Dewey gave an impressed whistle as a deer-headed giant grabbed a screaming Abyssal and used her as a living flail on her distracted sisters. "Hot work tonight, Gridley."

Olympia shuddered as more shells slammed into her coal bunkers and belt and Chester staggered ahead of her then gritted her teeth and returned fire with her small guns at a destroyer coming for her. "Hotter than the devil's frying pan, sir."

"Sir, wireless message from Admiral Thomas, he's on the ground and hastening to our aid." The white faced midshipman trembled as the boy relayed the message over the mad thunder of the guns and the screams of the wounded and dying.

"Well done lad, wireless him to move Maine and Minnesota astern of San Francisco and engage at will." Dewey looked through the smoke from the cordite of his red-hot guns and the fires burning amidships in the smashed superstructure. "Enough work for all of us tonight."
-----------------------

An explosion turned night into day as astern of Olympia, Delaware's number one turret lifted off on a volcano of flame as a shell found her forward torpedo room, blowing the front quarter of her hull into scrap metal.

The crippled shipgirl screamed in agony and then roared her defiance with her three remaining turrets at a Ru-class Battleship in the point-blank savage death grapple.

Alongside her the Great White Fleet's obsolete shipgirls stood and delivered like women possessed as they held the Abyssals away from the town with desperate courage in the face of overwhelming odds.

Slowly Delaware turned away to limp toward shore to beach herself before she foundered so she could fight as a shore battery as long as she drew breath.

Dewey puffed his pipe. "Signal North Dakota and San Francisco to tighten up and close that hole!"

The boiler explosion of the Ru punctuated his next words. "Hotter than the devil's frying pan indeed, Gridley."
-----------------------

"Sir! Urgent signal USS Pillsbury! 'MAKE A HOLE!' Message ends sir."

Dewey turned to look at the town and his pipe fell from nerveless fingers. "Good God," he whispered from an ashen face.
-----------------------

Spoiler: Fiendfyre

"oh...." Alondra David, natural born shipgirl of USS Pillsbury, whispered in shock at the creature that had just turned the seemingly innocent frame house into burning debris still falling through the night.

Beside her, Tina Goldstein turned ashen as the dragon formed of living white-hot flame screamed triumph in the voice of an inferno. The Auror gasped in terrified shock "Fiendfyre..."

As Alondra watched in awe, the fires set in town by the explosion suddenly shot tendrils of flame linking them to their monstrous parent. "Fiendfyre, what's fiendfyre?" she screamed half hysterically at the witch.

Tina gulped and licked bone dry lips, "Powerful Dark Magic. Those flames can't be extinguished, even with magical water, and if their caster loses control it will burn everything in it's path. Everything."

As if summoned by her words, the dragon looked their way with twin burning dark emerald eyes for an endless moment then cried out once more in a voice like molten bronze in agony. "DELILAH!!"

With that suddenly it flowed in a tsunami of flame in a direct line toward the lighthouse in the distance, avoiding the occupied houses, helicopters, and refugees. As it did, the lesser fires suddenly extinguished themselves, leaping to the body of the monstrous dragon as it shifted between serpentine and avian forms like a chimera, growing in strength and size to a skyscraper-sized mass of flame. "DELILAH!!"

Alondra gasped as she realized that this thing was being controlled by an ally and screamed at her radioman to order the shipgirls in its way to let it pass.

"MAKE A HOLE!"
-----------------------

Spoiler: The Love Of An Ifrit

In the bay, the combat tapered off as shipgirl and abyssal alike stared in disbelief at the battleship-sized flaming serpent-dragon coming through the night like a runaway train.

The flame spirit slammed into the ocean water and steam rose in a dense cloud obscuring vision as it headed toward the island

A cry of flame in mortal agony sounded and fresh tendrils of flame leapt to the fires burning aboard the battered shipgirls. "DELILAH!!"

Aboard Maine, her faeries watched in disbelief as the roaring coal bunker fires threatening to ignite her magazines suddenly snuffed themselves in an instant, cherry red-hot bulkheads starting to fade to normal under the streams of water from her hoses.

Abyssal shells screamed in and detonated on the dragon approaching as it came on unstoppably. Fresh billows of steam erupted and it began to visibly shrink. Then a tendril of flame leapt out to a nearby Chi-class cruiser who was burning from a shell hit from San Francisco.

A split second later, a firestorm enveloped the Chi from bow to stern and she detonated like a firecracker as every flammable substance aboard her flashed over.

The Abyssals broke and fled screaming as more tendrils lashed out, exploding them like popcorn.

On the island, the one surviving Kee-Wakw wendigo staggered toward a pile of corpses at the base of the lighthouse as it regenerated. Barely visible on a limp hand protruding from the bottom was a blood-covered platinum wedding ring with a Imperial Topaz glimmering with the same light as the fiery dragon that was approaching.

The dragon, now merely the size of a large house, staggered ashore on Wood Island. "DELILAH!!"

The Kee-wakw pulled the unmoving and blood-covered body of Delilah de Breuil out in its taloned hand and licked its lips.

For a brief instant, emerald eyes of flame met cold black eyes filled with insatiable hunger.

Then Wood Island exploded in a mushroom cloud of flame that rocked Kingsport.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Upon seeing his girlfriends' expressions, Haruto's went blank, "Somehow, I feel more in danger now than I have ever felt when crossing between the mainland and the island."

Smirk still on her face, Haruhime raised one eyebrow as she practically purred, "Is that so, Haruto-Kun~"

Before anyone else could say anything, Chikako stepped between the girls and Haruto with a huff before crossing her arms, "Don't worry, Haruto-Nii-San! I'll guard you!"

If anything, that made everyone amused and it took almost everything for the girls not to coo over the "Serious" expression the Nekomata had on her face. Lips twitching, and coughing to cover up a laugh, Haruto looked down at her, "So you'll guard me while I get changed and make sure that your Nee-Sans can't bother me while I do so, then?"

With a sharp nod, Chikako puffed out her chest before thrusting her fist into the air, "HAI, NYAA!"

Lips still twitching madly, Haruto patted her on the head, "Thank you, Chikako-Chan, I know that you will be able to keep them from doing anything with me while I get changed."

Giving them all a wink, he went behind the rock to do exactly that as Chikako stood in their way. With an amused look at the others, Hachimitsu stalked forward, only for the Neko to step in her way, "Come on now, Chikako-Chan, let Hachimitsu-Onee-Chan past? She needs to peek in on Haruto-Kun after all."

All Chikako did was narrow her eyes some, "No! I'm guarding Haruto-Nii-San!" She then wagged a finger at the Kitsune, "So you're not going to get past me!"

Unable to help herself from giggling madly, Mikage moved to the side, only for one of the Neko's tails to move in her way, brushing under her nose. Sneezing a bit, she blinked, "Hey now."

Hopping over, the Nekomata stretched out an arm, "No!" When Haruhime tried, she got Chikako leaping in front of her and bopping her on the head, "You too, Haruhime-Nee-San!"

Just rubbing the top of her head, the red haired Kitsune pouted, "Now that is being mean..." Then, she grinned, "But you shall fail just the same!"

Each of the three Kitsune tried to get past the smaller Yokai, only for Chikako to block each one. Glancing at the pouting fox Yokai, Mie stepped forward, "Chikako-Chan, if you let us by, I'll make sure to get you plenty of fresh fish, right from the ocean. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Chikako swallowed some as her ears and tails twitched, "M-munya? Fresh fish?"

Slowly grinning, Mie nodded, "That's right, fresh fish. Right from the ocean too, as much as you might want. You just need to let your Nee-Sans get by to see Haruto-Kun."

Beside her sister, Ichika wagged a finger, "I'll even make sure to throw in that rock candy that looks like gems you like so much. All you need to do is let us by, that's all... You can even tell him that all five of us ganged up on you..."

On the young Nekomata's forehead, sweat began to gather. It was true that she adored and loved fresh fish. And the rock candy that she really liked looked just like gemstones of various kinds. Haruto sometimes got her to do things, like helping clean up the hut, in exchange for said candies. But being reminded of that...

She was also reminded of what she was doing.

Quickly, she crossed her arms with a scowl, "No! I won't let you past! Not even for fresh fish and gemstones, nyaa!"

Despite their cajoling, their attempted bribery, and the like however, none of the older girls succeeded and Haruto called out before Chikako gave in, "Thank you, Chikako-Chan." Stepping out from behind the rocks, he looked down at the Nekomata and rubbed her between the ears, "I was safe because of you."

Brightly smiling, Chikako gave a sharp nod, "Hai!" Then she blinked and cocked her head to the side, "What's with them, Nii-San?"

With a glance at them, he gave a slight chuckle, "They're just being really silly, that's all, Chikako-Chan."

More than a little confused, the Neko shrugged it off even as the older girls continued to look Haruto over with slight blushes on their face. Mainly due to the fact that all he had on him was swim trunks, with the rest showing that he lived a very active life. Between running back and forth over the island with his healer's bag, helping out wherever needed with various things including helping to lift cargo off his boat, he had gained a wiry physique that got looks from the opposite sex.

Inside Hachimitsu's head, she giggled a little, 'Oh yes~ We are very, very lucky vixens...'

Glancing at the older girls, Chikako blinked before frowning and leaning towards Haruto. Placing her hand beside her mouth, she glanced back at the other female Yokai, "Haruto-Nii-San, are they hungry? Because they're drooling, Nya..."

Just patting her on the head, he gave an unsure chuckle, "Um... maybe?"

A giggle escaped from Haruhime as she leered and gave him a once over, "Oh, we're hungry alright, for some real meat."

Not impressed, Chikako frowned before wagging a finger, "Lunch time is in a few hours though, so you'll have to wait."

Coughing into his hand, Haruto looked away, "Uh... how about we get some sunscreen onto you? That way, you don't get sunburned."

That got him a pout from the Nekomata as she allowed herself to be lead away, "I don't like sunscreen, it smells funny. And makes me sneeze..."

Mie shook her head a little before wagging her hand, "Perhaps, Chikako-Chan. But better that than getting a sunburn after all. And sunburns are not fun, are they?"

Rapidly shaking her head, Chikako grimaced, "No, they hurt, a lot."

Having sat down, Haruto pulled out a bottle of sunscreen roughly the size of a large shampoo bottle. As he squeezed out a little, Mikage sat down next to him as she glanced at it, her tail swishing behind her, "You handed out a lot of those this year again."

With a glance at her, he gave a small nod, "Hai, I have. But they help stop people from getting sunburned, especially the children, Mikage-Chan." As Haruto began to rub the sunblock onto Chikako's arms, he continued, "Besides, its not that much work for me. All I have to do is buy those travel size tubes of sunscreen the No-Maj have, cast an engorgement charm, and there's enough to do the entire summer."

Simply giving him the point with a nod, Mikage shook her head, "True, Haruto-Kun. And it does help out a lot with the children." Watching as he moved on to Chikako's neck and shoulders, while having given the little Yokai some to put on her legs, she smiled, "Less sunburns at least."

Only shrugging his shoulder, Haruto shook his head, "Which means less work for me. Granted, I have that aloe plant to make some burn soothing cream with, but still. Best to prevent it to cut down on the amount that I need."

Listening with half an ear, Chikako scrunched up her nose as he rubbed some there before sneezing, 'I hate this, Nya...' Once it was done though, she jumped up and looked back, "Are we going into the water, Haruto-Nii-San?"

About to answer, the Healer was stopped as Haruhime placed her arms over his shoulders with a grin, "Only after he puts sunscreen on us and we get to return the favor, Chikako-Chan. But it will be a few minutes, so you can have a look around."

Confused, the Neko tilted her head and blinked before shrugging it off and running off, "Okay!'

Lightly blushing, Haruto chuckled a little, "Haruhime-Chan?"

Still grinning, the Kitsune in question leaned more into him which made him blush a bit more due to how her front pressed into his back, "Don't worry, Haruto-Kun. We're going to do exactly what we told her, though it should be... enjoyable, for all of us." Nipping his ear lightly, she let out a low growl, "But seeing you with Chikako-Chan and how you treat her... it makes our boilers run hot. I cannot wait for the day when we have your children, Haruto-Kun. Because you will be a great Otou-San to all of them, no matter what."

Twisting his head around, Haruto cupped her chin and pulled her into a kiss that deepened for a few seconds before pulling away, breathless, "And I can't wait for that day either..."

As promised, it did not take long for the others to put on their own sunscreen and soon they joined Chikako down at the water's edge as the Neko would walk forward until a wave washed up, and then back up only to repeat. Not a single one of them did not find that cute and adorable. Leaning forward, Hachimitsu smiled at her which was partially because she could feel Haruto's stare behind her, "Scared of the water?"

However, Chikako shook her head, "No." Looking at the water, she placed it in and smiled a bit before frowning, "But... I don't know how to swim or how to have fun at the beach..."

Coming up on her other side, the teenage boy crouched down, "Well, that's easily fixed. I can teach you a little about swimming if you want. And then we can have some fun on the beach as well."

Eyes widening, Chikako nodded, "I would like that, Nya."

In reply, Haruto held out his hand which she took as he lead her further into the water, the warm water lapping at his shins, "Okay, we'll start with the basics then, just floating." Roughly an hour later found him basically sitting down in the water holding out his hand as Chikako swam towards him in the shallows, "Almost there, Chikako-Chan!"

Narrowing her eyes a bit, the Neko swam a bit faster until she lunged the last few feet into his arms, "Munya!"

Unable to help himself, Haruto laughed as he held her, and gave her nose a nuzzle which brought a blush to the young Nekomata, "Great job, Chikako-Chan! Excellent even!" Looking towards the others, who were lounging in the shallows, he grinned, "What do you bunch think?"

Clapping her hands together, Mie smiled, "That really was a great job, Chikako-Chan!"

Beside her twin sister, Ichika grinned and gave the younger Yokai a thumbs up, "Wicked! Soon you'll be swimming like you were in the Olympics even! Just you watch and wait!"

With a smile on her face, Chikako gave a thumbs up back, "Hai, I'm wicked!"

Meanwhile, Hachimitsu flicked the grinning Inugami's ears, "Don't be teaching her that language." ignoring the grumbling, she turned back to Chikako and clapped her hands followed by the others, "You did a great job though, Chikako-Chan. A natural, you really are."

That made the Nekomata blush as she buried her face in Haruto's neck, "Thank you..." Feeling Haruto's fingers go through her wet hair as he patted her, she blinked and looked up, "Haruto-Nii-San?"

Looking down at her, he smiled and his next words got a gasp from her, "I'm really proud of you, Chikako-Chan."

For a few moments, Chikako just stared at him before sniffling as she felt tears prickle at her eyes and hugging him even tighter, "Nii-San..."

Softly smiling, he looked at the older girls, and they nodded at him. Haruto then turned back to Chikako and hummed, "Chikako-Chan? Do you trust me?" At her blink and nod, he began moving backwards, "Okay, we'll go a bit deeper. Just trust me, I won't let you go, okay?"

Noticing the water getting deeper, she nodded, "Mm-hm..."

Haruto continued backwards while keeping an eye out for any deep spots in the cove, not that he expected there to be much. The water was only deep enough that when he measured the deeper areas, it was eight feet deep. And it was kept that way via aquatic Yokai dregging it using buckets they filled with sand and transported elsewhere. Hence, it was a very safe area for children to swim in.

Once he was deep enough that the water lapped at his neck as he stood up, Haruto came to a stop. Feeling the Nekomata tightly holding onto him, he rubbed her back a little, "Hey, look at me, Chikako-Chan." When she did so, he smiled, "It's fine, I'm right here, okay?"

Yet again, she buried her face in his neck as she held on tightly, "Hai..."

Between the feel of the warm saltwater around them, him holding her as he rubbed her back, Chikako closed her eyes and let out a purr as it felt nice and safe.

After a minute or two, Haruto smiled at her, "Chikako-Chan?" When she opened her eyes, he continued, "Now, I'm going to duck under the water with you, okay? Nothing will happen and as soon as you want, we'll surface."

Getting an unsure nod, he took a deep breath with her following before ducking under the surface with her. Blinking her eyes, Chikako looked around as a bubble or two escaped her mouth and nose, only to turn back to find Haruto smiling at her as the sunlight danced from above. Despite being underwater, she felt... safe, 'Haruto-Nii-San...'

It was only a minute later that he rose back up and the two broke the surface. Blinking away seawater from her eyes, the Neko whipped her head back and forth, which made Haruto laugh, "Hey now!"

However, all she did was smile back at him and close her eyes, "Nya..."

Both of them swam around a bit before he brought her back to shore where the others were waiting and clapping, which made Chikako blush. Then, Ichika brought out a beachball which she tossed up and down in one hand, "So, whose ready for some beach fun?"

Shooting her hand into the air, Chikako smiled, "I am!"

Lips twitching, Ichika bouced the ball off her wrist towards the Neko who caught it and stumbled back into the water before falling onto her behind. Rather than be angry or hurt, she giggled and got to her feet before tossing the ball to Haruhime, who bounced it towards Mie. Soon, the air filled with laughter and the like as they bounced the ball back and forth in the shallows.

Shortly after lunch, however, Mie took Chikako off to explore a bit and see what sort of interesting shells they might find near the seawall, which had a beach on the other side of it. Haruto, who was standing ankle deep in the water, did not have long to ponder on it when a Kitsune leapt onto him and the two tumbled into the shallows. Spitting out some water, the Healer blinked and flushed some at Hachimitsu straddling him as his hands went to her sides, "Hachimitsu-Chan?"

Humming, she pressed herself against him before kissing him and pulling back, "Mmm... now we have some our time..."

With a glance towards where the Nekomata had gone, Haruto winced, "Sorry about that, I know that with her around-"

Finger pressed against his lips, Hachimitsu leaned in, "Don't ever say you're sorry about it, Haruto-Kun. Firstly, because we all know that you are not. And secondly..." Her expression softened as she pressed herself into him, "Secondly, Chikako-Chan is a precious member of our family and we will not hear for such, you understand?"

Chuckling as he gave her a soft smile, Haruto gave her a soft kiss, "Hai."

Quirking her lips a little into a smirk, the blonde Kitsune shook her head some before kissing him again, almost immediately deepening it with a soft growl. Breathless, the two pulled back a minute later, only for her to snort, "There's only one thing that could make this better..." At his confused look, Hachimitsu reached down and took his hands off her sides and placed them lower, so that he could feel both fabric and skin under them, "There."

Flushed, the teenage boy looked up at his girlfriend, "Hachimitsu-Chan? B-but..."

Just shaking her head, she chuckled, "Haruto-Kun, you're our boyfriend. And we already told you that you can touch us where and however you want." Pausing, Hachimitsu gave a shrug, "Well, at least when not around Chikako-Chan, she's too young to see that sort of thing."

Stealing another kiss, which deepened, Haruto hummed, "True enough..."

Upon feeling splashes against him, he found that Mikage and Haruhime had leand down beside him, while Ichika kept a look out and a grin on her face as the three Kitsune enjoyed the private time they had. Though she did snicker a bit when Haruto groaned as Mikage gently scratched him as the two made out.

Later, when Mie returned, both her and her sister walked off with Haruto as the Kitsune played with Chikako. And when Haruto got back, he had all sorts of red marks on his neck and shoulders, which he explained were insect bites. The Nekomata had wagged her finger at him and, much to his embarrassment and the amusement of his girlfriends, told him he should have bug spray. Of course, Chikako followed that up by using his lap as a pillow as she dozed off in the Sun with a happy smile.

_______________________________________________________________

The group had stayed at the beach until the Sun began to set, upon which time they returned home. After a quick, simple dinner, they all went to the bath and washed off the accumulated salt and sand from their bodies. With that done, they all had entered the bath together as the stars came out above.

Leaning back in the bath, Haruto smiled a little as the tired Chikako sat in Mie's lap, eyes half closed before he blushed as Mikage then sat in his lap, "Mikage-Chan!"

The bluette looked over her shoulder with a slight smirk as she giggled before whispering, "Don't worry, Haruto-Kun, nothing else is going to happen as I know your rule about nothing like that before marriage. But... that does not mean that I can't enjoy some things~"

Just softly groaning as he pinched his nose, Haruto sighed, "And frustrate the heck out of me." That got giggles from the others which made him smile as well before a soft 'Eep' came from Mikage as he slipped his hands around her midsection and held her close as he growled into her ear, "Really frustrate me."

Giggling a little, Mie shook her head as she continued to gently pat Chikako's head as said Nekomata leaned against her, "Speaking of, Haruto-Kun... when do you think that you might, um..."

With a soft sigh, Haruto leaned back and looked at the stars, "I... don't know, but it will be pretty soon." His mind went to the rings he had already bought for them before he shook it off, "Most of Kyushu has already thrown in for Kyoto-"

Ichika brought up one hand and shrugged, "Actually? Word came over the wireless that all of Kyushu just voted to secede from Tokyo and join Kyoto."

That made him blink a little, "Really?" At the nods from the others, Haruto frowned a little, "Huh... guess that means that the full collapse is coming sooner than expected." Shaking his head, he sighed, "Anyways, once Kyoto takes over... then I'll be able to ask you all for your hands in marriage. And we can get married, Otou-San and Okaa-San both said that they approve."

A soft look on her face, Mikage reached down and placed her hand over his, which laid upon her stomach, "Hai... and we can't wait." Leaning back into him some more, she sighed, "Seeing you with Chikako-Chan, well... it makes us look forward to when you give us children. Because we know that you will be a wonderful Otou-San for them."

From where she sat in the slightly cramped tub, arms over the sides, Haruhime nodded, "Hai, Nee-San is right about that."

Humming, Mie gave a nod of her own, "Our pups will be wonderful and have a wonderful Otou-San."

Lightly blushing, Haruto smiled a bit, "Thank you." Hearing a soft murmur from Chikako, he smiled a bit at her, "Poor thing... she's all tuckered out."

A smile on her face, Mie cupped her hand into the water before bringing it up and releasing the water on Chikako. Smoothing out the Neko's hair, she leaned down and gently kissed her on the head, "Hai, but then she's had a very busy day. At least she will sleep well tonight."

With his eyes meeting hers, Haruto was once more struck with how lucky he really was. And later, when they got out of the bath and laid down to sleep, he gave each of his girlfriends a goodnight kiss, which they returned, followed by kissing Chikako between the ears and making the ten year old purr in her nearly asleep state. As he closed his eyes, he wished them all the happiness he could and once more thanked whoever allowed them into his life...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-I may regret this snip, but there are necessarily some MACUSA/TOTEM segments covering the fallout of Kingsport and also showing what the No-Maj USG is doing to make ready for the Statute. Since that is a hot-button item in the past for some people's revenge porn fantasies, but is a necessary step in the world-building, I'm letting it known right now that any kind of ITG behavior or similar actions will get reported by me as soon as I see it. FFS keep the criticism constructive, think twice before you post on that subject, ask yourself how it will look to other people, especially if it might be seen as touching on RL issues with the US/US policies, and don't try to back-seat author me here, folks.

(Also regarding MACUSA's reaction, Obliviations and memory fuckery to keep the Masquerade up go both ways. Keep that in mind when you read Raven and Laird.)

A Winter's Shadow Over Kingsport (Epilogues)

13 July 2014

Wood Island, Saco Bay, Maine, USA

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." -- Mahatma Gandhi

Alondra David stared as the dragon made of flame passed them to head to the sound of guns, the heat radiating from it causing her to shudder. She then looked at Tina Goldstein and at the paralyzed and staring form of Lavinia Whateley at their feet.

"Good God in His Heaven," she whispered in awe at the trail of destruction that the Fiendfyre construct left as it burned everything save the people and helicopters in its path in instants, leaving smoking ash and cinders in its wake.

"Impossible...." Came the shaken mental voice of the wide-eyed TOTEM researcher. "Our spell... no wizard could do that...."

Pillsbury looked at the ringleader of Project LORELEI. "Andrews, get her out and under shipgirl guard! We need information and she is our best lead. You have a way to restrain wizards, right Tina?"

Tina nodded and then slipped another enchanted bag over Whateley's head, producing a squawk. "Just cuff her so she can't run or remove this. She won't suffocate and spell-casting without sight is tough enough without a gag and distractions. ALADDIN did good work with this setup."

"ALADDIN?" Alondra asked as they followed the trail of utter destruction that the dragon had left.

"Our... My agency's in-house R&D unit. New spells, potions, and enchanted items don't grow themselves on trees. That came out of a no-maj book about police that Del gave them back... in 1994 I believe. Lone Star?" Tina explained as the firing ahead began to slack off.

Alondra began to laugh hysterically, remembering her time in the Marine Corps and then the FBI, with a fair amount of hurry up and wait as she and her unit waited for orders or data to come in. Role playing games were one of her hobbies and ways to pass the time while on alert and she had game mastered Shadowrun. "No fucking way! Wiz, chummer, you crazy fuckers actually made a magemask!" A pause as they watched the Dragon reach the island. "I wonder how I can get Accounting to sign off on a couple dozen for the Hostage Rescue Teams as part of our kit."

A split second later the Dragon erupted in an explosion that devoured Wood Island to the granite bedrock.

Tina suddenly screamed in pain and grasped her waist where Delilah's revolver was glowing red hot. "shitshitshit... OW!"

Alondra grabbed the smoking handgun and stepped to shield the witch if it exploded. Black powder popped and smoked in the chambers but somehow did not detonate. "What the hell was THAT?"

"I don't know, Delilah's no-maj revolver never did that, although she has had it enchanted to a fare-thee-well," Tina hissed between swigs of a healing potion for her burned hip and leg, "she loves that thing, she really does. Hell of a shot with it too, really any kind of nomaj firearm."

Alondra squinted at the revolver in question. "1847 Colt Dragoon." Tina looked at the shipgirl and got a shrug. "Assistant Engineer was a major firearms collector, crew called him 'Nine Mill Bill' behind his back. Really rare gun, wonder when she got it. Beautiful one though, that damn cowgirl Houston would be drooling all over it if she was here. Wait...what the hell? It's got an incorrect serial number for the production run, must be MACUSA fuckery for some reason. Here you go."

Tina took the revolver back like she was handling a hatchling Basilisk thanks to her husband Newt. "Thanks. In fact," the witch paused and resumed in a slower thoughtful voice as the smoke and steam ahead began to clear, "I have never seen Del in all the decades I have known her to be without this gun around her. I wonder..... Dammit, I wish Newt was here, he's the Magizoology expert."
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Spoiler: Wood Island

"...For about twenty feet aft of Mount No. 3 the main deck is like a sieve with many small holes and 24 holes at least one foot in diameter. The same is true of the superstructure deck in the vicinity of the after 40mm mounts..." -- USS Laffey (DD-724) excerpted from damage report April 16th, 1945

Alondra stared in disbelief at the carnage in the bay.

Oil patches burned, dead Abyssal bodies were floating, and four Viking-looking Abyssals were kneeling under guard of the shipgirls. All of whom looked more like barely floating scrap piles than anything else. The only thing that Alondra could think of that approximated was seeing USS Laffey after the destroyer had somehow survived twenty-two kamikaze attacks during eighty minutes of hell off Okinawa on April 16th 1945. Behind them all Wood Island smouldered and steamed like an active volcano

Then Alondra stopped dead and snapped to attention before saluting the seven bloody and battered shipgirls ahead. Beside Alondra, Tina followed suit. "I... don't have words to say that can give you the honor that you have all earned tonight." she whispered with tears in her eyes as Olympia gave a vacant stare as she returned the salute automatically like a broken puppet. "Stand down, the Little Beavers are on the ground now and half of LANTFLEET's hot on their heels."

Alondra looked at the near-dead members of her shipgirl command. "We have a team behind me to airlift you to Boston and Nestor's waiting at the repair docks. I need a triage for who medevacs first. DESRON 23 radioed me to tell you that the Taffies are so taking your sleeves for this." Alondra swallowed around the lump of pride in her throat the size of one of her boilers. "And I'll take it all the way to SECNAV Almighty Himself to push for the Presidential Unit Commendation."

Olympia looked through her with a thousand-yard stare. "The town?" she spoke in an exhausted hoarse voice.

Alondra spoke with quiet pride. "Safe now. Thanks to you."
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Alondra gave a low whistle as she surveyed the island.

The waves were still steaming in places where they broke against the red-hot rocks on the shoreline.

Her faeries played their fire hoses to cool down their path ahead as she and Tina picked their way forward. Beside her, the witch cast fire suppression and cooling charms.

"Del! Emma!" The two called through the smoke filled air.

Only the pop and hiss of dying fires answered them. Those and the Abyssal corpses littering the shore and the land.

Tina paused several dozen paces in and whistled. She then cast a spell to cool down a Re-class corpse. The tail and torso was missing chunks thanks to heavy-caliber shellfire from other Abyssals... and apparently shotgun blasts, and her head was impaled by a Bowie knife that had been slammed through her brainstem from behind and left in the dead Abyssal. Tina looked at the corpse with an awed expression. "Del's knife. She made it this far at least."

Alondra removed the knife from the corpse with some difficulty. "I'll keep this till I can give it back to her."

Tina nodded. "I hope so... if not?" The witch and shipgirl detoured around a pool of still glowing granite lava. "She took one hell of an escort to Valhalla with her tonight. Both of them did."

Alondra gave a sober nod as they continued their walk through the aftermath. "That one... got eaten."

Tina shuddered and clutched her wand tighter as they followed the trail of carnage and destruction.
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Presently they reached the half-melted granite stub of the lighthouse. It drooped and slumped like a wax candle model of a lighthouse that had been attacked by a maniac with a blowtorch.

Alondra's eyes widened in shock. To one side was the outline of a massive horned and hideous giant the size of a house that had been charred into the very stone itself by the force of the flames.

Next to it, in a pool of their own blood, two bodies lay unmoving.

"Del! Emma!" The witch and shipgirl rushed there and then stopped.

Delilah lay like a broken toy with an arm and both legs clearly shattered and torn. Her torso was blood-covered with pink-white ribs showing and a bloody froth covered her coldly smiling lips, barely distinguishable among the bleeding and torn flesh of her head. Delilah's broken arm still clutched in a severely frostbitten hand her emptied shotgun with shattered stock and scorched barrel.

The other hand was clutched by Zamarad in an unbreakable death grip. A wedding ring of goblin silver and fire agate clutched one of orange topaz that weakly shone in the light of the nearby fires in a platinum and diamond flame setting.

The Ifrit was smoking and steaming and covered with terrible third-degree burns from head to toe. Alondra swallowed down bile at the memory of a drug bust gone bad when a meth lab in Illinois exploded and killed the cartel members manufacturing. This was far worse than what had happened to them.

Beside her, Tina took a deep breath. "I hope this works. I really wish Newt was here to let me know if my guess about Emma is right. Alondra... please don't stop me."

She waved her wand over the Ifrit "Incendio!"

Before Alondra's shocked and horrified eyes, a rope of flame leapt from the tip of Tina's wand to Zamarad's body and was absorbed. "What are you doing!?!?" she shouted, barely restraining herself from grabbing the witch and shaking sense into her with her full 6,000 horsepower

Tina continued pouring fire into the body. "I think she is a jinn. Arabian fire spirit. Newt told me about them once; he's the premier expert on Magizoology. He has branched out from the study of Beasts to sentient non-humans in his studies like Centaurs and Merfolk."

Alondra blinked. "Then the dragon?"

"Was her, yes. It all fits, she's from the Middle East, you saw what she did, and jinn are known to be 'the rulers of flame' according to the local folklore Newt studied." Tina responded. "I'm trying to reignite her so she can draw power from the fire. If she didn't get extinguished by the water and how much of her essence she expended doing what she did."

Alondra nodded and then pulled a jerrycan of diesel fuel from her stores. "This is no crazier than anything else tonight. Let me help." She carefully poured the petroleum fuel over Zamarad's body and Tina ignited it to try to revive her as Alondra's medical faeries tended to Delilah's wounds aided by healing spells cast by the witch.
----------------------------------

16 July 2014

MACUSA Headquarters, Woolworth Building, New York City

Athena Laird stared at the Raven-masked mage who was the only other person present in her office. "Repeat that?!" she said with a glare at the TOTEM researcher.

"We were running another test of the LORELEI system that is intended to buy time for PILGRIM tokens to be manufactured and distributed. The spike of magical energies attracted some Abyssals that penetrated the obscuring wards around Kingsport and attacked the town. Casualties were heavy and the town was severely damaged in the fighting before a shipgirl patrol arrived offshore and the Abyssals withdrew to engage them." Raven sighed. "Also Shark or someone tripped the Fiendfyre security measure for LORELEI and the discharge rampaged through town in the confusion before dissipating. Hence many of the bodies were burned to unrecognizable remains when we surveyed the scene this morning."

"Shark..." Athena thought out loud, "that was... is... your researcher there? I remember that in the brief unclassified summary you gave me for authorization right after Blood Week and then the verbal after you opened up MAYFLOWER."

Raven nodded. "Yes. She was brilliant really; one of our best and brightest. There's no field of knowledge that she would allow to remain unplumbed. LORELEI was based on a nexus of power on an island near Kingsport similar to Crater Lake. When it was settled in 1698, we determined that the nexus was some form of an ancient weather control device. Which we used to protect Kingsport by summoning storms to discourage no-maj shipping. Add in the land approach is trackless forest which is both warded heavily with the usual concealing charms and very rugged to boot and it was perfect for the village to remain unobserved."

Athena nodded along, "And this would buy time HOW exactly? No bullshit, Raven."

"When the Abyssals appeared, fascinating creatures really, we realized that the nexus could be used to pacify them and cause them to visibly work together with the right raw materials used in the activating rituals. A larger and more dangerous Abyssal presence off the coast of New England would force no-maj eyes outward to the seas as they thought a second Blood Week was nigh. Also that points the Scourers at the shipgirls as they become more prominent in no-maj eyes as 'their line of defense'. So while the no-maj cat is away, us magical mice will play." Raven shrugged as he continued, "we even had hopes that we could turn the Abyssals to our will to use as protectors similar to how the no-maj claim the shipgirls are. Plus duplicating the LORELEI Nexus effect on other sites of power we control such as Crater Lake, Mesa Verde, Wind Cave, Yellowstone, Mammoth Cavern, or use it to control the shipgirls alongside Abyssals. They are, after all, just spirits."

Athena looked hard at Raven. "So now what?"

Raven sighed. "Between the damage to the wards and the damage to the town, plus the destruction of the LORELEI nexus, we shall have to inactivate the project until after MAYFLOWER runs its course. The survivors can be relocated to Cahokia, Roanoke Colony, or other hidden villages easily enough, there are only about thirty of the hundred and ten souls present. As for the Masquerade? If the no-maj stumble across one more small seaside town destroyed by Abyssals and then abandoned, it will pass unnoticed."

"Good. We dodged a Killing Curse here. Now, what is the status on PILGRIM's progress?"
----------------------------------

17 July 2014

Cactus Forest Subdivision, City of Florence, Arizona
Spoiler: A New Life Of Freedom...

"And here is your new house Ms. Marsh." The olive skinned and dark-haired small town realtor gave the pale skinned and red-eyed albino witch a friendly smile as he opened the front door on the tidy house in the exurban subdivision. "don't hesitate to call me if you have any questions or worries about your new life. Also, we have a 'Welcome to Arizona' barbecue laid on at the school two blocks down the road there at noon, and my wife Dagobert makes potato salad to die for. I hope to see you there before it is all gone."

Ishtar Marsh blinked at the man as her two small children dashed inside to examine their new life. "I don't believe this, Mr. Lysander. What brought this on?"

Alexandros Lysander walked her to the pre-furnished family room and guided her to a new sofa. "Back in the 1980s, when Uncle Sam became aware that the statue of secrecy was coming down, we started a program to help people like you transition to what you call the no-maj world. At first it was Squibs who our allies on the magical side lied about Obliviating and sent to us. So we established these safe communities as a halfway house where you are surrounded by magical neighbors and those of us like me who know about the existence of magic. It was an outgrowth of the means we, and by we I mean my old job in DEA, did to hide witnesses who the cartels wanted dead. But instead of a narcotraficante hit squad or Mafia assassins for the FBI, we conceal you from the Scourers -- yes we know about those domestic terrorists! -- give you federal funds to buy the necessities of life initially, job training and schooling, and then let you live the American Dream."

The witch followed along, "I suppose as a Mediwitch I will wind up helping heal people?"

"If you have the calling, yes. Meanwhile your two sons will go to school with both magical and non-magical children. Just don't be surprised to have one of them get interested in non-magical girls in a few years if they stay here. That's what happened to Dagobert after she moved here in 2006 as a Squib. Eight years happily married next month." Alexandros said with a happy grin. "The FBI said your two are six and three?"

Ishtar smiled, "Yes, yes they are. Their father died last year. Storm at sea got his fishing boat." Her face dimmed.

"Ahh, well when they enroll in kindergarten, I'll call Ms. Varnell and see if your oldest can get put in my daughter Aphrodite's class. Ms. Varnell is a great teacher." Alexandros spoke sympathetically. "And I can relate, before we came to America, my family lived on Delos and we gave our own sacrifices to the sea then according to the old family stories from my grandmother who heard them from her grandmother."

Ishtar sighed, "And those of us who... well...?"

Alexandros became more solemn, "That's sticky since the Sixth Amendment gives us all a speedy and public trial in front of a jury of our peers. never mind it could be argued -- and no doubt will by the lawyers! -- that your home town of Kingsport was part of a different sovereign country than the US and therefore not inhabited by citizens under the Consitution. So the workaround is holding those of you accused of federal felonies under US law in pretrial detention until the Statute collapses enough that we can then go to the other part of the executive order, which is impanel a grand jury within 15 days and begin criminal proceedings then with all due process rights and all defense lawyers of the defendant's choice paid for by Uncle Sam. The detention is cross-checked by sworn officers of the judicial branch who record everything us in the excutive branch does while this goes on. We had the Executive order signed and then confirmed by the Supreme Court in closed special session after they were briefed in on magic, so it is Constitutional. Barely." He thought about the Federal Magical Supermax prison that had been constructed on the far side of Florence to hold the thirty-three individuals arrested by the Kingsport Raid until their trial.
----------------------------------

Spoiler: ...Can Only Be Purchased In One Coin

16 July, 2014

Zuchi, Japan

"Letter for you, Norimune!" Akutoku called. "Owl Mail no less."

Norimune blinked and examined the return address. "New York, it must be from Delilah."

Akutoku muttered something nasty under her breath that Norimune elected to ignore as she broke the black sealing wax.

14 July, 2014

Dear Norimune,

Our daughter had asked me not to write you until you were ready to initiate contact with me, but Man Proposes and God Disposes.

You should know that yesterday Delilah led an Auror raid on a magical terrorist cell. During the fighting, which was complicated by an Abyssal attack on the magical village where the action was going down, our daughter and daughter-in-law were critically injured saving innocents from a terrible fate.

I do not know when or if either will ever awaken from the comas that they are currently in.

I shall write you immediately to inform of any change in their condition. I just pray that you are reading my letters and not returning them unanswered as what had happened before.

I am sorry that I must speak to you after so long with such ill news, you truly do not deserve for me to redouble the wounds upon your heart. Truly we hurt that which we most love.

I close with my prayers for your health and healing as I have prayed every night since we spoke last.

Your humble servant,

Jézabel de Breuil

Akutoku, looking over Norimune's shoulder, whispered."Fuck me, I never wanted THAT for that little car-stealing bitch." She then grasped her sister in a crushing hug as the Unrepentant Blade cried in heartbroken grief.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Moving quickly, though not running, the shadow made its way along the dirt road until reaching a hut in the village. For a brief moment, they grumbled about being out of shape and how much Sensei would be disappointed in them for that before raising their hand and knocking. Inside the hut, ears twitched at the knocking and several pairs of eyes opened. A frown on his face, Haruto muttered a spell and his wand lit up with numerals appearing above his hand. For several seconds, he blinked as he stared at the numbers, the ones at the far end moving upwards, "It's after twelve? Who..."

When the knocks came again, the others moved to let him up even as Chikako sat up and rubbed at her eyes, "Who is that, mmnya? I was having a nice dream with Nii-San giving me lotsa tuna..."

That got her looks of amusement from the others as well as head shaking before Haruto patted her on the head, "I don't know who it is, but I'll go and find out." Throwing on a cloak, he walked to the door and opened it before blinking, "Sunada-San? What are you doing here?" Eyes narrowing, the Healer frowned, "Did something happen?"

Glancing past him, Sunada raised one eyebrow at the female Yokai before turning back to Haruto. Internally, he gave a low whistle without it showing on his face, 'Very good taste...'

Then, he gave a mental shrug and shake of the head. After all, the old Auror unlike others was not a pervert. Which was not to say that he could not appreciate the female form like the piece of art he considered it as, but go no further than giving the odd look and perhaps nod. He did have a wife after all and he was loyal to her.

Besides, he was here because he had a job to do.

Clearing his throat, Sunada nodded a short distance away, "Something came up, Haruto-San. Rather important as well... mind if we take a few steps away."

Suspicious, Haruto narrowed his eyes some, but when he got no reply gave a nod, "Very well, Sunada-San." Once they were a few feet away, he watched as the older wizard pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the tip glowing orange in the darkness, "You realize that those will kill you one day."

With a shrug, the older man chuckled, "Maybe, but other things have tried and failed, so it has as much chance as anything else." Pulling it from his lips, he let out a stream of smoke, "Besides, it is pretty much my only vice and we're not in your clinic, Kid."

Only shaking his head at that, Haruto frowned, "What's going on that is so important that you would come to see me this late at night? And want to speak to me privately?"

For a few moments, Sunada stood there as he took another long drag of his cigarette with the tip glowing. Once he was done, he let out a soft sigh, "You hear about what happened earlier today? With Kyushu going fully for Kyoto?"

A frown on his face, the Healer nodded a little, "Hai? I did hear about that... Does this have to do with this?"

Chuckles escaped from Sunada before he grunted, "You could say that." Shoving his hands into his pockets, he looked at Haruto's hut. Oh, he was no idiot, he knew that they were listening in. Yokai senses were not to be trifled with after all. But... the distance was enough that most would understand the meaning. Turning back, the old Auror looked all his nearly seventy years, "We just got orders from up on high, Haruto-San."

That made Haruto blink a little, "Orders? What sort of orders...?" Furrowing his eyebrows, he gave the other man an unsure look, "And why do you keep running around telling me what is happening?"

Pulling a scroll from his coat, the old wizard handed it to him with his next words hitting the Healer like a punch to the gut, "We're pulling out. Everyone is back at the Fort packing right now and getting ready to leave in an hour." He gave a small shrug and shook his head, "I don't have much shit up there so I was able to pack quick and come see you."

Utterly stunned at what he was hearing, Haruto boggled at him before quickly opening the scroll, "What the fuck?! They're pulling out?"

Taking another drag, Sunada hummed a bit, "Hai, they are as a matter of fact. Everyone is to be off the island in one hour. We're not the only one as the other Reserves in Kyushu are in the same situation." Letting out another stream of smoke, which curled around his head like a cloud, the old Auror grunted, "Hence why I came to see you and not one of the others." Glancing at the hut, he grimaced a bit around his cigarette, "For obvious reasons."

Still reading for a fourth time, Haruto ran a hand through his hair, "What in the hell... when is Kyoto supposed to arrive then to take over? There's nothing here about a hand over..." Having spotted the expression on the Auror's face, he paled, "Please don't tell me..."

Sunada growled softly and the smoke cloud around his head seemed to become more of a thundercloud, lit from below by the orange tip of his cigarette, "Kid, I'm going to level with you, this whole thing? It pisses me the fuck off." Letting out another stream of smoke, he glared at the Fort, "I've checked and made a few calls best that I could. No one seems to know if there is going to be a handover. There is nothing about an official handover of the Reserves to Kyoto."

If he was pale before, the teenage Healer was practically transparent at this point, "There isn't one, is there? They're just abandoning the Reserves..."

With a grunt, Sunada took the stub of his cigarette from his mouth and crushed it under one foot. Pulling out another, he placed it between his lips before snapping his fingers and creating a hovering flame over his thumb which he used to light it, "No, pretty sure that there isn't. Orders from nowhere in the Kami dammed middle of the night? And for them to be basically pack up everything not nailed down and take it back to Tokyo? Even if I did not have my years of being an investigator behind me, I could smell the rat." Angrily puffing, he snarled, "I have seen a lot of acts of spite in my day, but this? This takes the fucking cake. They're creating one hell of a fucking mess and leaving it to Kyoto to solve. Hell, I would not be surprised if there was not an owl just now being sent out the slow route so that it arrived sometime after dawn."

Blinking slowly, Haruto groaned and ran his hand through his hair, "Fucking great, I would say that I am surprised at this, but really?"

Softly snorting, the Auror grinned around his cigarette, though there was nothing in it that showed he was amused, "You really aren't? Neither am I, Kid. Shit's going down to say the least."

Right then, a thought struck Haruto and he looked at the older wizard with a frown, "Wait, they want to take everything? Records up at the Fort and everything?"

With a grunt, Sunada scowled, "Got it in one, Kid. Nothing is to be left behind that could be of use besides the Fort. Which is why I was supposed to come and get you." Frowning, he looked towards where he knew the clinic was, "I was supposed to come, grab you, and all your shit. Notes, potions, everything, and get it back to Tokyo. Nothing could be left behind. And better me than some of the other assholes." Narrowing his eyes some, the old Auror frowned, "Some of them might just burn down your clinic so there is nothing of use."

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Haruto clench his fist, "I see..." Taking a deep breath, the Healer let it out, "I'm not going."

Rather than argue, Sunada nodded in understanding, "I figured that you would say that, which was another reason why I came." Giving him a long look, he frowned, "You do realize what that would mean, right Kid? Right? You'd be going against direct orders from the higher ups. Automatically they would fire you and I would not be surprised if someone pulled your Healer license. Complete and utter blacklisting. There's a possibility that Kyoto won't touch you either."

Just staring ahead, the seventeen year old shook his head, "I know. But..." He looked out onto the village, "When I became a Healer, I swore an oath. To heal any that come to my door, to stand between them and Death. To provide succour whenever I can. Some Healers mouth the words, not caring... I'm not one of them."

For several minutes, the two stood there silently. Finally, Sunada let out a chuckle, "Kid? Don't let anyone ever say that you are not a man. Because that is all that I see standing in front of me." With a sigh, he looked up at the stars, "We need more people like you in this damn world of ours, though we don't deserve them."

Nodding, Haruto gave him a smile, "Thanks." Voice lowering, he gave the other man a look, "What about you? What are you going to do?"

Bemused, Sunada gave him a look, "Me? I'm going to follow my orders to the letter and nothing more." With a sigh, he shook his head, "I would have gone to Kyoto before now, and maybe once the Diet collapses fully... but the Missus and I needed the pension. Neither of us are getting any younger and my job payed well enough that I could help support my kids some alongside her own pension from the Diet. Not much, but... both myself and my wife lived through the end of the last war. We can deal without a lot of shit if it means our kids and grandkids can be happy with the little ones getting tutoring in magic."

Eyes softening, Haruto gave him a nod of respect, "I see..."

Scratching his grey, thinning hair, the Auror shrugged, "Life's shit and then you die. Nothing more for it than that... But then, I'm a cynical old shit anyways." Glancing at him, he raised an eyebrow, "You wouldn't have any copies of your notes, right?"

Lost at the change in conversation direction and at the question, Haruto gave a small nod, "Uh, yeah? Of course I have multiple copies. Why would you even ask that?"

Somewhat amused, Sunada chuckled a bit, "Give me some copies to take back and I'll state that I got them from your clinic. I'll also claim that I was going to take the rest, but that it would take too long to break through the spells shielding the medicine cabinet and would be too noisy doing so that the Yokai around would wake up." He nodded towards the scroll itself, "I'll state that I barely caught you running for some medical emergency or another. Maybe some old fuck like myself was having a heart attack because he was having sex with a young thing. I'll come up with something..." He nodded towards the scroll, "But I still gave you that scroll and you opened it before shoving it in your bag as you took off. Give your ass some cover for a few days, anyways. After..." The older wizard gave him a thin smile, "Ain't much to cover your ass, but... you're a good kid. And with how the Diet is falling apart? It might last long enough that things will get to the point that no one in the Diet will give a flying fuck about some Healer in a Reserve in the ass end of nowhere."

The two shared a look of understanding and Haruto left for the hut. Returning, he had a several notepads which he held out, "Here. They're not patient records, but..."

With a shrug, Sunada took them and shoved the books into his pocket, "Eh, they won't give a shit and likely think that this is it." Taking a long drag, he let out the smoke which, Haruto noticed, took the form of a serpent flying through the air, "I suppose that this is it, Kid. Might not see each other after this."

Slowly nodding, Haruto smiled slightly, "Hai, it seems so." Holding out a hand, he gave a chuckle, "Thanks, for everything."

Grasping said hand, he pulled the Healer in for a manly hug, patting his back before stepping back and giving him a shake, "You're welcome, Haruto-San. Like I said, you take care of yourself and your girls. We need more people like you in this world. Maybe... it will make it a better place."

With that, Sunada tipped his hat to both Haruto and the girls in the hut before walking off towards the Fort.

About to go in, Haruto paused as he heard his name and turned to find Sunada smirking at him from a distance, his face lit by his cigarette and showing a grin, "Oh, just one more thing, Kid? I'll be looking forward to your girls when I get to see them cruising and protecting all our collective asses out on the sea with their guns and such."

Upon seeing them stunned, he laughed and turned, throwing a wave over his shoulder towards them. Coming up behind her boyfriend, Hachimitsu stared first at the old wizard and then at Haruto, "Did he... all this time he knew and..."

Sighing, Haruto chuckled and shook his head, "Somehow, I'm not too surprised he did. He is rather observant..."

Mie walked up and gave him a frown, "Haruto-Kun? What are we going to do now?" She gestured towards the Fort which, we they watched, had a few lights turn off, "They're abandoning us here."

For almost a minute, Haruto looked at the scroll in his hands and frowned. But, finally, he took a deep breath and nodded, "Mie-Chan? You stay here with Chikako-Chan. Mikage-Chan? Haruhime-Chan? Ichika-Chan? I need you three to head to the other villages and get the local leaders together as well as Riki-San up at the Shrine. Give them, briefly, what is going on in private and tell them to come to my clinic. It has the most room and privacy. Myself and Hachimitsu-Chan will head into town and grab the Headman and help him gather up anyone else that needs it.

Each of the girls nodded and went off to their individual tasks with Haruto and Hachimitsu making their way into the village.

Both of them kept an eye out for anyone, but this late, everyone had gone to bed some time ago. Hence, they saw no one at all by the time they reached the Headman's hut in the same village as their own fifteen minutes later. Knocking on the door, they were greeted by an old Tanuki, "Haruto-Sama? Hachimitsu-Sama? What seems to be the trouble?"

Glancing around, Haruto lowered his voice, "Something is happening up at the Fort tonight. And I think that you should know about it..."

As he was told, the Yokai's expression became more and more grave. Finally, he gave a sigh and shook his head, "We should have expected this, I suppose." He gave a look towards Haruto with a small frown, "Are you..."

Understanding the question, Haruto shook his head, "I'm staying. Might get me in some trouble, but this? This isn't right."

That got him a slight smile from the Tanuki, "I see, that is to be expected, I suppose." With a sigh, he considered things before nodding, "I shall send some of those who are best at stealth to observe the Fort. They'll be able to tell us when and if they are leaving. In the meantime, let us go to your clinic as you are quite right in how private it is..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Shinr

Kiba Residence

Kiba slept, the occasional nearly quiet ambient sounds of passing far away vehicles nowhere near enough to wake him up.

Then his phone came to life, the loud ringtone pulling the Okuri-Inu out of his slumber. As the grumbling Kiba reached out for his smartphone on the nightstand, the tengu with whom he shared the bed tonight slowly roused as well.

Grabing the phone and inspecting the caller ID, he grew concerned and accepted the call.

"Koga, what is goin-?" he asked.

"They're pulling out of the Reserves." The Okami interrupted him.

"W-wha?" The Okuri-Inu eloquently asked.

"Tokyo is pulling out of the Reserves." Kogamaru repeated "Without informing Kyoto."

"...They can not be that stupid." Ai said in disbelief.

"Ai, you're with Kiba? Good, it will save time." The clan head stated "Osamu-san just informed me about this, it seems the Diet wants the reserves to become Kyoto's problem in the worst way possible."

As if to punctuate the point, Ai's smartphone gave a ringtone that identified the caller as the JSDF.

Hashida Automative Garage

"Yes, I need all hands I could get and I need them half an hour ago! Don't worry about costs!" Kensuke finished the call, just in time for his smartphone to ring again.

"Suigetsu-san, I was expecting you." Kensuke greeted.

"Hi and I assume that Kiba already told you?" The kappa responded "I will be in your place with the Scubaru and few others in ten minutes."

"What do we need to do?" Kensuke asked. "I assume that speed and carrying capacity is a priority here?"

"You got it."

"Should we completely get rid of stealth features?"

"Yes and no." The kappa responded "Keep the minimum amount of stealth spells, just in case."

"Got it. See you in eight minutes." And with that the Tanuki ended the call and turned to the workers in the garage "All right people! Get ready to modify at least a dozen cars with Speed and Capacity spells!"

Nakano Seed, Venture & Hedge Offices

<Yuno and Kiba are on their way.> Moreau stated.

"Good." said Long-Wen-Shi "What resources we can immediately use right now?"

"<I already compiled the list just for this occasion.>" The french vampire said while giving the a of documents to the Dragon "<But from my calculations, it will not be enough. We will have to burn more if we want to avoid a worst-case scenario.>"

"I don't think we have any real choice here." Long-Wen-Shi stated "What of JSDF?"

"<Kiba told me that Ai was urgently summoned.>" Moreau responded "<Considering the timing, I doubt it is a coincidence.>"

Long-Wen-Shi's smartphone started ringing, showing a caller ID of Admiral Goto.

Somewhere in one of many reserves

A smartphone ringed, and a woman promptly picked it up.

"Kurosawa speaking." the woman responded.

"Miki, have you noticed any strange Auror movements?" Suigetsu cut straight to the point.

"If you call a complete withdrawal 'Strange', then yes." Miki responded.

"Shit." the kappa cursed "Miki, a question, about the people you smuggled INTO the reserves."

"Yes?"

"Can they run things, become de-facto authority, until either Kyoto or the No-Maj restore order?"

"They will try, but don't expect miracles."

Hokkaido, Hokubu Clan Compound

Kogamaru puts the phone down after a series of emergency calls, and tiredly rested his head on his hands and taking a chance to rest a little.

Urgent messages were sent to various magical community leaders closest to the Reserves, and right now all he could do is wait until they replied back.

Not for the first time and definitely not the last, the (relatively) young head of the Hokubu clan prayed to all the Kami for any blessing he could get.

----

A/N: Small snippets of what JNHRO members (click here for the character list) are probably experiencing right now.

 

[darthcourt10]

Kab2

Today I bring you the start of another story, I hope you like it.

-----

The sea, often seen as whimsical, it was mostly safe to travel until recently; now you need to be escorted by shipgirls if you don't want to risk an hostile encounter with Abyssals; but here, between Scylly Islands and Cornwall, it was secure as the line where the shipgirls patrol was further offshore.

But a lonely Abyssal submarine was exploring the seabed, having eluded the patrols.

In there she found some ruins, which caught her attention.

'Hmm, this ruins are interesting, this would be an impressive construction in its prime.' thought Sofia, taking notes of the sea floor she was investigating.

She dived to the bottom, where she took land and began to travel between the ruins, a pile of stones there and the remains of a wall suggested she was currently in what in its prime was a big construction.

'I have to pinpoint this location as a point of interest, like all the wreckages I found earlier, they may come in handy later. Luckily I have that big island as reference.'

But at one point she felt something.

'What is this feeling? It seems like someone is calling me... from below?'

She was confused, this ruins were sunk a long time ago, and they seemed undisturbed for the same amount of time, so what was what was calling her like a tug on her sleeve?.

She went down to the sea floor and wiped the sand from it, under the sand she found a stone floor that obviously meant that the ruins had an underground level. She could burst open a hole in the ruins floor, but she didn't like to tamper with what was left of an human construction, so she began to search for an entrance to go down, after a bit of time she found what it seemed an iron rusted door; breaking the lock she opened it and discovered stairs going down.

'I wonder what I'll discover down there, and who or what is calling me' she thought descending into the depths of the ruins.

Using her spotlights she began to explore the area, slowly she saw holes in the walls that she suppose it were used to hold some font of light, when she reached the bottom, she passed an archway, opening in a big chamber that in its walls were niches, a lot of them were empty but some of them were closed and others had crumbled and she saw skeletons inside, discovering that is was a crypt, where the owners of the ruins were buried when it were over the sea a long time ago. In there she felt the calling again, more powerful, drawing her to the other side of the stairs, to a door across the room.

Opening the door, she encountered another room, but with a single tomb inside.

'The calling comes from the inside' thought Sofia, approaching the tomb, she traced her fingers across the stone. 'Hmmm, as far as I know, this is a resting place for the humans when they got wrecked, I'm not sure if I want to disturb it' She remembered the times she had to enter the wrecks of some ships to get fuel first for her fleet, and lastly for herself as she ditched them, always saying sorry for intruding and trying not to disturb it more than neccesary, as she felt respect for the ships and the humans that built them and travelled with them, unlike the rest of her fleet that only wanted them dead or for materials.

'I'll try to not disturb it more than neccesary when I open it' she thought reaching for the lid of the stone tomb she carefully opened it to take a look inside, revealing an human skeleton dressed in the remains of an ancient armor with its hands crossed upon its chest, and between them a sword was lying.

'Is the sword the source of the calling I'm sensing? That's strange.' she thought as she pondered what to do. 'I better get it and find the cause later, I'm reaching the safe limit to go back.'

She carefully took the sword from the skeletons dead hands and she felt something in the sword.

There was no doubt that the sword was made of abyssal steel, and that it was calling her.

'Hmm, interesting, but I need to go now, I'll check it later in the isle.'

After closing the tomb, she exited the underground and immediately went west to reach her refuge as soon as she can; but in her haste she didn't notice her movements had been monitored.

The submarine shipgirl that was monitoring her went inside the underground, and after confirming that the abyssal didn't left any nasty surprise, she returned east to report.
As she reached her destination, she emerged to the surface.

"HUZZAH!" she exclaimed to the shipgirl in waiting. "Knight of the sea Upholder ready to inform to the dearest of Troy!"

Sighing Hermione asked "So she did the same again?"

Getting serious, Upholder answered "Almost, she explored the seabed same as the last times, but this time she discovered a gate in some ruins with stairs going down, which was an old crypt, after that I confirmed that she only tampered with a tomb in there."

"It seems that this abyssal is only exploring, but for what motive?" pondered Hermione "And why did she open the gate and the tomb? The next time we find her we will surround her and ask for her reasons."

"Why don't we sink her?"

"She hasn't attacked any humans or shipgirls." explained Hermione. "So she hasn't done any hostile action, and she saved one transport from sinking by running the ship on rocks."

"But have we confirmed she is she same one?" questioned Upholder.

"We haven't seen any other red-headed abyssal submarine around here, right? Anyways we're going to resume our patrol" said Hermione as she prepared "I'll write the paperwork for this encounter." then she and the others began to move in formation to make sure no hostile abyssals were around.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-Since I paused this arc for a week to do Kingsport, Chapter 4 is here: https://forums.spacebattles.com/thr...ppet-collection.772633/page-642#post-64220919

A Belgian Butterknife's Japanese Vacation (V)

11 July 2014

JNHRO Beach House, Zuchi, Japan
Spoiler: A Family Dinner

Ehren sipped her cup of Sapporo Yebisu Premium beer and her pale blond eyebrows visibly raised. She took another sip, swirling the liquid slowly in her mouth to savor the taste then swallowed with a thoughtful hum.

Next to her, Umitsubame looked at her niece. "Is there a problem, Ehren-chan?" The Su Yari spear spoke before taking another takayoki octopus ball from the bounty on offer at the family picnic.

"Nein, Aunt Umi. Quite the reverse," Ehren said slowly and thoughtfully, taking another sip, "this is quite good beer. I would almost think this was a Bavarian or Franconian Dunkel brewed under the Reinheitsgebot beer purity laws."

Past Umitsubame, Tonbo leaned over to speak with Ehren "I remember hearing that the brewery hired a German master brewer to train them back.. around 1890. That is probably it."

Ehren smiled slightly and drained her glass before picking up an onegiri rice ball. "That would make sense. One should learn from the best in the world, after all."

Umitsubame nodded after she refilled Ehren's glass with more Yebisu, "Germany is known for beer, are you a connoisseur?"

Ehren shrugged slightly after taking a bite of the tuna-filled rice ball, "Somewhat I suppose, Aunt Umi. I have not been manifest very long, but Vati left a strong impression on me, and he was interested in sampling different beers. So I suppose that I am, although I have not been outside Belgium until very recently."

Umitsubame made a sound of agreement. "Our families are like that. I can remember the first samurai who held me as if it was yesterday."

On the other side of Ehren, Kagotsuruhe spoke in her emotionless voice. "And I remember Lord Urabe-dono as well. I have realized that I was blessed to know him and have his imprint upon my soul. Not all of us were so lucky in our First Masters." Her eyes turned to the squabbling pair of Akutoku and Norimune on the far side of the picnic as they fenced with their chopsticks over the last pickle.
Spoiler: Vati

Ehren blinked, "I see. I miss Vati even now in some ways." She said with a quaver in her controlled voice that she hid with another drink of beer.

Umitsubame leaned in curiously. "What was he like? Nori said very little about you. She... said it was not her place to talk about your past and your mother has not said a word."

Ehren closed her eyes and breathed in and out. "A man of honor. He," her voice cracked and she bit her lip, reflecting on how her family deserved to know, that Norimune had told her that all of the aunts next to her had their own inner dark secrets and traumas. She finally spoke again in a quiet hesitant voice, "you know of my origin?"

Kagotsuruhe spoke in a grave tone as she placed an unnaturally cold hand on Ehren's and squeezed, "yes, but I am the only one here tonight among us." The most feared of the Demon Blades paused and then pinned Umitsubame and Tonbo with a cold gaze to warn them not to press the issue, "suffice it to say that Ehren's past, in her eyes, was as dark and traumatic as Chisuheri's deeds before she found religion, or elements of my own. She was created by evil men for evil ends and fears that part of her locked deep inside her soul that forever rattles at the cage of her will."

The Sword of Hopelessness surveyed her Ehrendolch niece who nodded silently in agreement, then she continued in that solemn voice. "Her father left his marks upon Ehren for good and for ill for those with eyes to see as I have when I tested her alongside her family. He was a man of great honor, as much as her mother is perhaps, and he had as much courage and strength of will and determination as the men who have Mastered me. All things that could be used for great deeds... or deeds equally terrible as we all know from our past experiences. We are all given gifts and abilities and what we make of them define who we are. Ehren has much of her father in her, she is indeed his daughter in spirit, but the seeds of his gifts and talents in her soul and what she makes of them when she calls them forth to bear fruit.... That I cannot say. Not yet."

Kagotsuruhe gave a hollow chuckle, "After all, If you had asked me, or any of us a year after manifesting what we would turn into, this would not have been in any of our dreams." She released Ehren's hand and gestured at the family picnic as a driftwood fire popped and crackled, sending sparks to join the stars above.

Ehren took a deep breath. "Vati was a candidate at SS-Junkerschule, first in his class when I was awarded to him. I served him faithfully and well and truly as," her face twisted in icy hatred and disgust, "he was tricked to serve the madmen and monsters who led Germany during the darkest chapter of our history. He was a soldier and officer as his father had been in the Great War and Opa had been fighting the French in 1870. He was on duty in France when he met Mutti in 1941."

The dagger sighed as she looked across the picnic to where her mother was talking to Chisuheri, "They were so wonderful together. A perfect match, and loved each other deeply. Then... something happened between them. Aunt Del said that it was duty, since Mutti and Vati were on opposite sides of the war..." She broke off with a stifled sob in her voice.

Umitsubame embraced Ehren around the shoulders. "I know what that is like. I fought in the Jidai when families of samurai were torn apart by honor and duty. Including branches of my own Clan."

Ehren nodded and leaned into her Aunt's embrace as Tonbo moved over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Danke. It was a bad falling out, and Vati changed. He became harsher, darker.... But I could still see the good man in him when he tracked down Mutti. They loved each other so very very much."

A unnaturally cool hand touched Ehren's wrist as the dagger swallowed and finished. "They fought one last time and.... Vati died while Mutti was wounded. She claimed me and I served her honorably and well until I manifested."

Tonbo leaned in to give Ehren a fiercely compassionate hug and whispered in her ear. "I know how traumatic that can be. My enchantments let my wielder fight in ways impossible for even the most skilled swordsman... but they cannot tell friend from foe in the grips of my power. I... know."

Kagotsuruhe squeezed Ehren's wrist. "My own powers when unsheathed affect my wielder as much as my foes. Some... have not survived the terrors I inflict when manifest."

Ehren looked at her aunts with suspiciously shiny eyes and then nodded sharply. "How are you so insightful?"

Umitsubame chuckled harshly, "Centuries of hard-earned experience. You learn the most from the mistakes and bad times, I have found."

Tonbo nodded in agreement after she released Ehren from the hug. "Oh yes."

Kagotsuruhe flipped her face to a 'wise sage' expression. "In order to fear, one must understand first. For fear is a mirror held up to a soul to show the truth of what lurks within. Courage, true courage, is comprehension of the fear of the darkest part of oneself."


A.N.-This...went places on me.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Haruto took the kettle off the small heater he had and brought it over before pouring the steaming water into the waiting cups filled with green tea, which he proceeded to stir. With that done, he set out the cups with a small nod, "Sorry that it is not much, Iwao-San."

The Tanuki Headman of the village smiled and waved him off, "It is fine, Haruto-Sama. Better than fine." Iwao took the cup and blew on it gently, "Besides, I think that we could all use a drink to calm us down."

Lips curling, Haruto chuckled a little, "I would recommend some medical alcohol, but..."

With a snort, Ayane motioned with one hand, "We need to be as sober as possible right now." Sighing, she shook her head, "Kami, I need some caffeine, but that would be the wrong decision."

Murmurs came from the other community leaders as they accepted their cups. One of them, a Kawauso, grimaced a little, "I just want to know if what the Auror said to Haruto-Sama is correct. Haruto-Sama, I trust, and while Sunada-San is better than most guards... he is still a guard and not one of us."

Various nods met that before Iwao frowned some, "Hai, I agree with that my friends. But we must still prepare just in case. It would be better if this was all some false alarm rather than actually true. But if it is..."

It went without saying that a number of grimaces met him at that as they all gave nods.

Sipping her tea, one of the kijimunā on the island, frowned as she kicked out her legs with the grass skirt she wore swishing as she did so, looking like nothing more than an eight year old girl despite being one of the oldest Yokai there, "Who did you send to check?"

Iwao gave a small sigh, "I sent Kohaku-Chan and Naoko-Chan to go and keep a watch out. They would be the best ones to do so after all."

For a few moments, the kijimunā considered that before nodding, "I see, yes that does make sense. Kohaku-Chan is the lone Uwabami and Naoko-Chan is Nure-Onna. Both of them would be able to see into the Fort without needing to go in thanks to having heat vision."

Various others gave nods of agreement as they made their own comments.

The clock continued to tick by and Haruto watched it until it reached the point where Sunada told him they were all to be gone by. Half an hour later, they could all hear noise from outside and a tall, thin woman stumbled into the clinic out of breath before looking at each of the island elders there as well as the human Healer. Hand to her chest, Kohaku took several breaths before shaking her head, "They're gone, neither I nor Naoko-Chan can see any heat signatures from the windows and all the lights are off. I even took a chance to look inside where the Floo fireplace is and that's dark as well, no fire."

Everyone started murmuring at that in shock and dismay before the kijimunā slammed a staff down on the floor, "Enough!" She gave them all glares, "I swear, each of you are acting like children! Yet I am the one who looks like one." Getting sheepish looks, she sighed and ran a hand through her reddish hair, "This is... unfortunate in the extreme, I will admit."

A frown on his face, Haruto looked at the others as he leaned forward in thought. He was not quite sure why they wanted him there, after all these were all the leaders of the community and he was just a Healer. Yet each one told him to stay there and acted like he was an equal for some reason. Shaking that off, he frowned a bit, "How much food do we have?"

Blinking at that, Iwao considered the question before turning towards Taiki, who was a squirrel Yokai. Said Yokai considered the question for a few moments before letting out a sigh, "The next shipment of food was for tomorrow. Without that? We have... maybe two or three days worth if we stretch it out at least."

Haruto gave a small shrug at that, "If you want, I can increase the amount of food with magic. With the Guards gone, I can at least do that now."

Moments later, he blinked at the smiles and such he got from the various Yokai, with Iwao placing a hand on his shoulder and nodding, "Thank you, Haruto-Sama. That... that would be very much appreciated." Pulling back his hand, he gave the Healer a look of respect, "Just like you staying is much appreciated. We all would have understood if you had gone with the others as the Diet is not forgiving of people who disobey them."

Lightly blushing to their amusement, the Healer scratched his cheek, "I swore an oath as a Healer, and I stand by it. Besides..." Shrugging, Haruto shook his head, "You're all friends and I couldn't just abandon you all like that."

If anything, the looks of respect only increased at that to his utter confusion.

Clearing her throat, however, the kijimunā frowned, "There is still what needs to be done next. With that, we should send a message to the JNHRO and to Kyoto from them." Upon hearing the chair scrape, she turned to find Haruto standing up, "Haruto-Sama? What are you doing?"

Jerking his thumb towards the back of his clinic, Haruto shook his head, "Going over there so that I won't hear something that I shouldn't-"

The kijimunā gave him a small glare, "Stop acting like a child and instead like the man that we all see you as. You do not need to worry about such as Kyoto would not care one way or the other." Much snickers were to be had as Haruto did exactly as she told him to, being reminded of one of the grandmothers... which, he mused, she actually was with a grandson according to her. Ignoring that, the kijimunā turned to the others with a frown on her face, "With that out of the way, we'll use our methods to contact the smugglers and the like to get the word out. But we should double check first."

Near the door, Hachimitsu spoke up, "We'll handle that." As she pushed off the doorframe and stood up, she smoothed out her clothes, "Our human fairies can go and check the entire fort within an hour or two. Being human, they won't show up on the spells that would detect Yokai entering it."

Various elders nodded at that and she gave Haruto a kiss on the cheek before leaving to check as Haruhime continued watching from the door.

Over the next hour, the elders discussed what they should do even as the other two Kitsune shipgirls alongside Ichika and Haruto added their own opinions from time to time. The first thing that they decided to do was perform a check on everyone as soon as day broke to make sure that there was nothing wrong. The second thing was to take stock of all their supplies they had on hand as it would be a few days until Kyoto likely arrived. Not that anyone could blame them as the other two big reserves on Kyushu and five smaller ones needed attention and securing first. It just made sense as they were more isolated after all.

Before anything else could be said, however, Haruhime perked up and placed two fingers just below her ear and pressing against her temple. After a few moments, the red haired Kitsune nodded, "Hachimitsu-Chan is done with her inspection of the Fort using her fairies. They confirm that everyone is gone, the Floo is shut and sealed, and they took practically anything not nailed down."

Grimaces met that announcement, but Haruto turned to the map with a frown, "If they shut down the Floo... that would mean that Kyoto would need to reach via either apparation or flight to get close. Flight would be too dangerous from the mainland though..." After a few moments, he placed his finger on a spot, "Which means that they would need to base from a nearby island to reach here. And with the anti-apparation wards over the island for the most part? The closest point would be here, Kikaijima. It is out of range of the wards, and they could fly the rest of the way in or boat as it would take an hour."

Leaning forward, one of the Oni stroked his beard before grunting, "Hai, you would be right, Haruto-Sama. They would need to base themselves from there to reach us by going West-Northwest. Most likely via broom, I would think, and at night. But it is still going to be at least a day, most likely three as they will be busy covering the other Reserves and securing them."

A cough made them turn to Mikage who gave a small shrug, "Hachimitsu-Chan's fairies also checked your office, Haruto-Kun."

It went without saying that Haruto blinked, "Checked my office? Why? I haven't used that place in... nine months? Maybe?" Scratching his head, he furrowed his eyebrows, "And even then, it was more for a meeting with Head Healer of the Reserves on his rotation as he wouldn't come down there. Why they kept it..."

Much to his confusion, that seemed to amuse the others there. Haruhime had her lips twitching a little before she coughed, "Well, there was nothing there but an envelope from Sunada-San to you, Haruto-Kun." At the nod, she continued, "He stated that since you were likely to leave the island via boat due to being left behind, you should check your boat for any stowaways."

Utterly confused, Haruto frowned, "Are you sure that it is from him? I told him that I wasn't leaving. And even if I did, I wouldn't bother as I would have no issue with it as long as they kept out of my sight."

Once more, that got him grins and smirks to his confusion. But he shrugged it off as Mikage spoke up, "That was what it said. Hachimitsu-Chan is having one of her broom riders bring it and they should be here in a minute or two."

Sure enough, three minutes later the tiny broomstick rider came through the door and landed there in front of them before dropping an envelope much bigger than he was, "Desu! Desu desu desu desu-desu!"

With a nod, Haruto took the envelope with a smile, "Thank you, Takashi-San." Opening it, he read the letter and frowned, "Weird, this is his writing. But why would he..." Suddenly, the Healer trailed off, "Wait, the way he said it..."

He got up and made for the door with the others following. Frown on her face, Ichika looked at him, "Haruto-Kun? What's wrong?"

Glancing at her, he gave a slight nod, "Nothing. But if what I suspect is right..." Not saying anything more, Haruto continued to make his way quickly to the docks where his boat was tied up. Sure enough, the Kudagitsune was there. So very we one of the Nekomata patrolling along to make sure that none of the boats drifted away or were damaged, "Takato-San!"

Blinking, the Nekomata turned towards him, "Ha? Haruto-Sama? What seems to be the issue."

With a deep breath, the Healer came to a stop, "Was an Auror by the name of Sunada here just a few hours ago?"

That got him a nod from the cat Yokai, "Hai, he was here actually and went to your boat. Didn't seem to care that I was watching and left some box behind. Why?"

Just shaking his head, Haruto smiled, "Is it still here? The box, I mean?" Several minutes later found him opening said box and grinning, "Records... he must of copied most of the records and hid them on my boat."

Even better news arrived fifteen minutes later as they were informed that Kyoto along with others were securing the other Reserves, but that they would send help to them as soon as possible.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Belgian Butterknife's Japanese Vacation (VI)

12 July 2014

Tully's Coffee, Kamakura
Spoiler: Vacation In Kamakura

The bell rang as Colombe opened the door to the coffee shop. She grinned at her two daughters as Claire stepped inside, with the grin widening as she saw what her middle daughter had decided to wear for her visit to the shrine. Jackie, Jackie, Jackie....
Spoiler: Claire's Shirt

Ehren, also dressed casually in jeans and a black T-shirt, brought up the rear with the squinting eyes of the caffiene-deprived. The blonde dagger nodded thanks to her mother before she headed to the counter to order a double espresso.
Spoiler: Ehren's Shirt

Colombe followed Ehren and then bought a bottle of green tea and a muffin. She chuckled at the glance the cashier gave her, clearly trying to puzzle out the Belgian coat of arms on her shirt (a Christmas gift from Ehren).
Spoiler: Belgian Rapier Pride!

Colombe sat at the table next to Claire, who was musically humming as she sipped her hot chocolate with whipped cream. She then glanced over at Ehren who was methodically increasing her caffeine to blood ratio with each sip of the espresso. "Didn't sleep well, Ehren?"

The dagger shook her head which caused her blond ponytail to swish. "I was unused to the futon, Mutti. Also," she paused for a swig of the black brew of life before resuming, "I had several things to think on about our aunts."

"Oh!" Claire interjected, giving her sister a smile. "Aunt Kyoshu and Aunt Akutoku are nice and funny, and Aunt Chisuheri said that she would send me some Buddhist meditation chants to help me unlock my insight. She really liked the introspective piano pieces I recorded for her. Do you want another cup of espresso, Ehren?"

"Ja, bitte. A muffin as well?" Ehren responded as she finished her drink, then focused on her mother. "Thank you for inviting us along for this trip."

"You're welcome, Ehren. So what do you think of Japan?"

Ehren frowned thoughtfully as Claire paid for the muffin and espresso, and the door opened to let Toku inside. "It is... different. I did not expect Japan to be so crowded, and yet for all the hustle and bustle, I feel if I could step around the correct corner and emerge centuries in the past in some ways."

"Good morning, Co-chan, Ehren-chan." Toku said as she walked to their table. "That is quite insightful. I apologize for not seeing you yesterday but matters came up."

Colombe's eyes widened at the sight of the miko's fading black eye. "To-chan, what happened?"

The Masamune shook her head slightly. "Musashi-oneesama happened. My sister stopped by with a freshly carved bokken."

Ehren blinked in bewilderment as Claire returned. "Oh, hello Toku!" the piano said as she set down the muffin and espresso before giving Toku a hug. "It's good to see you!"

Toku returned the hug. "And it is good to see you all. Musashi-nee is perhaps the greatest living master of The Way of the Sword and strives to continue her understanding. One way is for her to spar with other masters to learn from her victories, or far less frequent defeats. " The Muramasa gave a small smile. "She said that I showed some improvement, which for her is praise indeed. She also wishes to meet and learn from you, Co-chan. She heard of Verdun, you see."

Colombe nodded. "I'd be honored if such can be arranged while I am in country. Ahh... I must ask, your last message mentioned Fudo was in some distress...?"

Toku sighed and then cast a privacy ward. Colombe's eyes narrowed and she followed suit. "What's wrong, To-chan? You know that I'll help you with it."

Toku grimaced. "The day after I returned to Japan from Moulbaix, a group of schoolchildren stumbled across a bunker complex from the Pacific War outside of Yokusuka, across the peninsula from us here. It was part of a mad scheme to use powerful undead to fight the Americans if they had invaded here. Extremely powerful undead."

Ehren blanched and Colombe's eyes narrowed. "I see, Judging from your tone, matters went poorly then?"

Toku nodded. "Fudo-nee was also on the scene and saved the children from what was inside until rescue could arrive, including Norimune-san and myself, among many others. However Fudo-nee was injured physically... and spiritually."

"Spiritually?" Colombe asked as she leaned forward, her eyes intent. "How did that happen, To-chan?"

Toku made a face. "You must understand during the 1930s when Japan slid into madness, Fudo-nee was a vocal supporter of the Kamo government before the war. She... was not alone, Kotegiri-oneesama was a fervent supporter until quite late in the war." The Masamune sighed deeply, "She was ignorant of the truth then, and the Kamo government lied to her about some of their activities. I was unable to convince her until after the Marianas fell late in the war, to my eternal regrets."

Colombe reached over and squeezed Toku's hand. "You did the best that you could. As much as you may wish otherwise," the rapier looked at Ehren, who was sipping her espresso as she listened with an intent look on her face, "you can't shield people from certain truths. Everyone must experience some things for her own, I've realized."

Toku gave a thankful smile, "Domo arigatou, Co-chan. The information in the bunker that was discovered ripped the comforting illusions from Fudo-nee's eyes and the insight hit her very very hard. The days immediately after the rescue happened were difficult for her."

Colombe winced and then spoke quietly, "I am sorry to hear that, To-chan. Would... would it help if we visited her?"

Toku nodded, "I shall ask her, although there are some others among my family who wish to meet you when their schedules permit. Also, you mentioned wishing to meet the Arashi clan?"

Colombe smiled and nodded, "I do. I gave Ian my word of honor to help his... ahh... other wives." Colombe's lips curled in a smug reminiscent smile, "he rescued several dozen ladies from," she glanced at Claire and hastily and visibly edited her choice of words, "a house in the floating world and assisted them and their children in making a new life for themselves. They were Yuki-onna, Hone-onna, and Tsurara-onna so this was an exceptionally good deed to help them."

Toku blinked, "I... see. I wish that I would have met him, that was an exceptionally good deed to help them in their distress. I would like to meet them myself, in fact, if you do not mind another coming with you then."

Colombe grinned smugly, "Not at all, To-chan. Whatever we do here, you're of course invited. That said, I am looking forward to you showing my... our daughters the shrine complexes here."

Toku blushed slightly then looked at the younger spirits. "It would be my honor."

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

Moving along......

*********

The young couple watched in surprise as a group of Abyssals casually walked down Georgia Street, escorted by men who looked too much like sailors in civilian wear. Some of the abyssals were dressed up in their recent purchases, while what some knew as a Wo-class, was enjoying a stack of pizza slices, her hat also joining in. Some of them were dressed in hockey jerseys, either from the Canucks or Team Canada.

The couple looked at each other.

"Goths?"

"Sure, let's go with that. Coffee?"

"Let's."

*********

The Cashier looked astounded as the tall woman pulled out stacks of bills and placed them on the counter.

"Uh... keep the change."

"Er.... okay Miss Habbukuk, thank you."

"Thanks!"

The towering carrier shipgirl cheerfully took a gulp from her slurpee cup. Which was actually a sports water cooler, with a PVC pipe used as the straw.

Habbukuk carefully opened the door as she continued to drink from her "cup" while carrying a ton of snacks and drinks.

The cashier sighed as he went to the door and stuck a sign up. Not the first time this sign was used.

"Sorry, out of Slurpees."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Rubbing his eyes, Haruto looked out the window of his clinic at the Sun which had risen over the roofs of the village before biting back a yawn. However, he was not quite quick enough as Iwao gave him a look, "Haruto-Sama, maybe you should head home and rest a little."

Just shaking his head, the Healer smiled a little bit, "I'm fine, Iwao-San, just a little bit tired is all."

With a snort, the kijimunā gave him a smirk, "I think that is putting it rather mildly, Haruto-Sama. You seem a bit more than a little tired after all." Her expression became one of concern as she hopped off her chair and walked over before placing her hand on his shoulder, "You can lay down for a few hours and we'll inform you of anything that might happen if needed. Right now, we all need to be as ready for anything as possible." Eyes narrowed, the small being continued, "Which means being as rested as possible in your case as you are our only Healer."

About to say something, Haruto looked around at the others and noted their expressions before sighing with a wry smile on his lips, "I take it that this is one of the times when I can't say no?"

Placing a hand on his shoulder, Ayane shook her head with a small smirk, "Nope, not at all." She patted his should a little bit while smiling, "Go and lay down, Haruto-Sama. We'll handle things here and that way you are rested in case anything does happen."

Just sighing, the young Healer gave them a nod as he got up and stretched, "Fine, I know that I have been outvoted."

Mikage walked over and slipped her arm into his before giving the others nods, "I'll make sure that Haruto-Kun gets home and actually sleeps before I come back with Mie-Chan. My Nee-Sans will inform me of anything that might happen on the way."

That got her nods, though the Healer blushed at some of the comments that it better just be sleeping and not sleeping as it would not do for him to be exhausted. A glance to the side showed him that Mikage herself had a slight flush to her cheeks. Something that amused Haruto, but he placed that aside and stretched a little once they were outside and walking back towards their hut, "I cannot believe what's happened in the past few hours."

Only shaking her head, Mikage sighed a little, "It is the same for us." Despite not saying more than that, Haruto knew she meant her and her sisters before she continued, "I would like to say that I am surprised at this, but..."

Voice soft, Haruto nodded, "You are not."

Shaking her head, the Kitsune growled a little, "No, no I am not. We all knew that they could be petty and spiteful, but this?" Her shoulders slumping, she ran a hand through her hair, "This just goes beyond what we could have expected from that bunch."

Haruto reached out and grasped her hand with his before entwining their fingers, "I'm much the same way, Mikage-Chan. Them doing something petty and spiteful? Not surprising, it is just the plain range that is what is surprising, that is all."

Thumb gently rubbing along his knuckles as she wrapped her tail around his waist, Mikage grimaced a little, "That is true, I suppose." Then, her lips curled into a small smile, "I am glad, however, that Kyoto was prepared for something to happen. That speaks well of them at least."

With a slow nod, the Healer made a sound of agreement, "Hai, but that does not surprise me." At the look, Haruto gave a grim chuckle, "Most of Kyoto did come, originally, from Tokyo after all. If there is anyone who knew how spiteful the people in the Diet could be, it would be them." His thin smile disappeared, however, "Still, they were not ready for something quite this big or idiotic. They need to secure the other Reserves fully which, according to them will take at least three days before they can arrive here." Tons dry, Haruto looked around, "Can't get much more secure than an island three hundred some odd miles from the mainland after all."

Eyebrow raised, Mikage gave him a small look, "Yet, they stated that no later than tonight, they're going to have food transported to the island for all those here. I wonder how, but... I suppose that is ultimately not that important in the end."

That got her another nod and soon their conversation drifted to other subjects.

Upon reaching their hut, however, the male of the two found his arms full of young Neko as she glomped him. Looking at Mie, he sighed a little as he stroked Chikako's hair, "I take it that she knows most of it?"

With a slow nod, Mie sighed as she walked over and joined him as she patted the Nekomata's hair, "Hai, she does. I wasn't going to keep this from her after all. That would... likely not be the best idea, to say the least."

Understanding, Haruto nodded before turning to Chikako, "Chikako-Chan? It's fine, everything is just fine."

A sniffle escaped from Chikako as she looked up at him, "Really?"

Lips curling into a small smile, Haruto chuckled, "Really. There is enough food for us in our hut to last for at least two to three weeks if needed, we have plenty of clean water and fuel. We're well prepared for this sort of thing, so you don't need to worry."

Happy hums escaped from the young Nekomata as she enjoyed the headpats. Nodding, she looked up at Haruto with a small smile on her face, "Okay, Haruto-Nii-San."

Nodding slightly, Haruto yawned before shaking his head, "Now, I'm going to go and get some sleep, okay? You go off and have some fun and I'll see you in a few hours."

That got him a nod before Chikako gave him a hug and ran off to find someone to play with.

Once inside, Haruto gave a kiss to both Mie and Mikage before laying on top of the futon and stretching out. Not long after, he slipped into a doze as his tiredness caught up to him. How much time passed, the teenage Healer didn't quite know. It seemed like only an hour after laying down that he could hear the floorboards creak which brought him out of his slumber...

But it was the harsh kick to the side that fully woke him up.

Hitting the floor, Haruto gasped and held his midsection before he was hauled up to see Ichiro sneering at him moments before another blow hit him in the stomach. Nearly puking, he pulled in a breath and coughed, "Ichi-Ichiro..."

Another blow caused him to nearly fall to the floor if not for the hands holding him up. Just adjusting his glasses, Ichiro glared at him, "Hello, Otouto."

Moments later, Haruto was punched in the face and he spat out some blood. Coughing, he gave his older brother a look, "What the fuck... is this... for...? I already told you that I don't know about the smugglers."

The breath was driven from his lungs by an kick to the stomach as his brother sneered, "That does not matter! Do you have any idea what you have done!? To our family?!" Grabbing the Healer's hair, Ichiro yanked his head up, "I found out last night that you stayed here. Oh, apparently you missed the last ones out... But then, one of the Guards told me the truth, that you were involved with some of these fucking beasts! And that you likely stayed behind for them." Pulling out a photo, he shoved it into his brother's face. Said photo showed him kissing Haruhime, "How dare you...?!"

Completely nonplussed, Haruto gave a coughing chuckle, "I didn't know that you cared."

However, that got him another punch as his brother snarled, "I don't give a damn except for how it affects our family image. If you wanted beast pussy, you should have gone to a brothel. But no, you instead fucked them here. And more than that, you are involved with the same creatures that I had sent here in the first place!"

Eyes meeting his brother, Haruto narrowed his eyes, "The only beasts and creatures here are you and your two goons. Haruhime-Chan and the others? I couldn't say that even a thousand of backstabbing bastards like you are worth even a fraction of them."

And, to empathize, he spat in Ichiro's face.

For several moment, the older sibling looked stunned before wiping it away and then punching Haruto several more times, "HOW DARE YOU?! HAVE YOU NO SHAME?! BECAUSE OF YOU, OUR FAMILY'S HONOUR HAS BEEN BESMIRCHED! IT WILL TAKE ME YEARS TO FIX THE DAMAGE YOU HAVE CAUSED!"

From the door, the Auror standing there glanced outside before turning back to Ichiro who was panting, "Sir? We, uh... should hurry up just in case. I mean, we're running on a set amount of time."

Running his hand through his hair, Ichiro turned to him, "I know, and we'll be done here soon. Besides, we have silencing charms up. Now, keep watch out." Turning back to his coughing brother, he snorted at the glare, "What?"

Despite the pain he was in, the Healer glared back, "Just a few things... you go on about 'Family honour and reputation', but you just mean yours." Grunting at another punch, he continued, "That is all you fucking care about."

Pausing, Ichiro gave a shrug, "And? In the end it is the same thing. Otou-San is a fool as is Okaa-San. Do you know how much trouble I have had climbing the ranks." Lashing out with another kick, he gave a bitter laugh, "Too much trouble because he is a bumbling fool who has not ambition, no drive. One day, I will be at the top. One day, I will be the Japanese Minister Of Magic. And you? You won't even be remembered." Yanking his brother up by the hair, he gave Haruto an expression like he was an interesting insect, "But that does not mean that you cannot be of use."

Ribs aching something fierce, Haruto internally frowned, but said nothing, 'Now what is he talking about...?'

Moments later, he felt coldness at his brother's smile as Ichiro spread his arms, "Such a scandal it will be for Kyoto! A young, promising Healer who was unfortunately left behind... beaten to death by the beasts he tended. They even torched the home he stayed in to try and hide evidence of their crime! A tragedy, truly... and a black mark against the 'Kyoto Magical Government'. One that will cause an outcry and a turn back to the proper Diet, as things should be."

Noticing the uneasy expressions on the two Auror's faces, Haruto gave his brother a look, "Somehow, some people don't seem enthused about this as much as you are. And to kill your own brother..."

Ichiro simply shrugged without a care, "They know their duties and what is good for them. In fact, they understand that they will be Obliviated after this. As for the second?" Adjusting his glasses, he kicked out again, "Sacrifices must be made for the good of all. Unfortunate, but you threw everything I gave you back in my face in disrespect. Be thankful that your tragic death will clear the way for better things for others."

Suddenly, the Auror near the door noticed something and shot out with his arm. Haruto felt like his heart had stopped at the sight of Chikako in the man's hand struggling, "Hey, look what I found!"

Thrashing, Chikako tried to break free, "Let go!" However, seeing Haruto, she gasped, "Haruto-Nii-San! Let him go!"

Disgusted, Ichiro looked at his younger brother who looked shocked, "'Nii-San'? Really? Just when I thought that you could not get any lower."

Meanwhile, the Auror continued to hold the struggling Nekomata who called out for Haruto, "What should we do with her?"

Once more turning, Ichiro gave him a look of disbelief before shaking his head, "Get rid of her." Turning back to the Healer, whose eyes were widening, he snorted, "One less animal in the world."

Uncomfortable, the Auror winced before giving a sigh, "Sorry, Kid. Bad luck for you, I guess."

He brought up his wand and pointed it at Chikako who froze in fear as he began to pronounce the spell that would end her life...

But something else happened instead.

Gritting his teeth, Haruto pushed back until his palms were flat against the chest of the Auror holding him. Ignoring both the pain he was in as well as the question of what he was doing, he focused and then... released a pulse of magic that sent the man flying back causing the other Auror to stop in shock. Before any of them could react, Haruto was already running, lashing out at his brother and sending him crashing to the floor before tackling the Auror that had Chikako to the floor and making him let go of the young Yokai.

Snarl on his face as he wrestled the older, larger man, Haruto turned to Chikako, "RUN! CHIKAKO, RUN!"

Unknown to him, those words stirred something deep inside Chikako, an old memory from years and years before. An female Nekomata carrying her as explosions rang out all around them as people screamed in panic. Distant sounds like blasts, with buildings being shattered and craters dug by shells. An older, male Nekomata behind them was shouting at them as they ran, "AMI-CHAN! GET CHIKAKO-CHAN TO SAFETY! RUN!"

Then... an explosion consumed the man before his family's horrified eyes. A building then began to topple with Chikako's mother shifting to her true form of a giant cat, her kitten held in her mouth as she tried to outrun it... only to fail and toss her child to safety as tons of concrete and steel landed on top of her.

In the present, Chikako relived her parents deaths with her father's face overlaying Haruto's as both voices shouted for her to run. A spell lashed against the Healer's back, sending blood splashing. Right then, Chikako knew that he was going to die for her. That the man who had cared for her when no one else would, had healed her wounds, had taken her into his home and family... was about to die for her, just like her parents.

Within her chest, her heart was pounding when it suddenly stopped, never to beat again... and her boilers roared to life.

Everyone else froze as sparkles came into being around the young Nekomata, surrounding her in a glow that was hard to look at. Until it burst apart revealing her in a one piece white dress that had sleeves a bit too long, and a red ribbon tied in a bow around her neck. But what truly caught attention was the parts of a ship around her including the gun at her waist, the cranes over one shoulder, and the giant one across her back.

However, they only had a few seconds to notice before she was grabbing the Auror in top of Haruto, the one who was going to kill her, "LEAVE HARUTO-NII-SAN ALONE!"

Said man was lifted into the air as if he weighed next to nothing and thrown across the hut at the other Auror. They collided with the sound of breaking bones before slamming into, and through, the wall. Almost immediately, shouts and screams could be heard outside.

But all Ichiro has eyes for was the snarling Chikako who turned her attention into him. Paling, he whispered the words that he could not believe were true, "A... a Yokai shipgirl... that's... that's not possible..."

His arm with the hand holding his wand was grabbed though and he was twisted around by Haruto. Said Healer had a snarl on his face as he pulled with one arm, slamming his other fist into Ichiro's shoulder with the crunch of his older brother's joint becoming dislocated as the older wizard screamed, "Don't you-" Lashing out with his foot, he snapped Ichiro's knee, "Ever dare-" His fist buried itself in his brother's gut, driving the air from his lungs, "Threaten Chikako-Chan-" The same fist slammed into his jaw as he bent, shattering it and snapping his head back, "AGAIN YOU BASTARD!"

A final blow hit Ichiro in the side of the head, whipping it around. Said wizard only felt a burst of pain and saw stars before darkness enveloped his vision and he fell unconscious before he even hit the floor. Breathing hard, Haruto looked down at his brother before he was tackled by a crying Chikako, "Haruto-Nii-San!"

Despite the pain he was in, and that was a lot, he still patted the Neko who was currently sobbing into his shirt, "Shhh... shhhh, it's okay, Chikako-Chan. I'm..." About to say he was fine, Haruto paused and thought otherwise, "I'm alive."

It did not take long before various Yokai showed up, Ayane being one of the first on the scene. At seeing Haruto's state, she was utterly horrified and, at his word, quickly tied up the three other wizards though none too gently. She was followed by Haruhime, Hachimitsu, and the other shipgirls, who were stunned to find the awakened Chikako there. Shaking it off, Haruhime looked at Ichiro and growled, "What is he doing here?!"

About to answer, Haruto was cut off as Chikako, whose medical fairy was healing him, spoke up with a shaky voice, "H-he was beating u-up Haruto-Nii-San a-and w-was going to... to..."

She was unable to continue as she burst into tears with Haruto holding her close. There was still disbelief in his voice as he closed his eyes, "He was here to kill me. And, when Chikako-Chan stumbled across us, he was going to add her to it..."

Continuing the story of what happened even as Chikako continued to sob into his chest, Haruto noted that the crowd of Yokai, originally shocked, turned horrified and angry. Very, very angry, at what they were hearing. Eyes ablaze, one of the Oni grabbed the groaning Ichiro and lifted him with a snarl on his face, "Do not worry, Haruto-Sama... these... rabid creatures won't ever harm anyone again."

Much to their surprise, however, Haruto stood and shook his head, "Please, don't." Signing, he looked at his brother and grimaced, "Despite everything, and my own feelings... I don't want to be party to his death. I'm not him."

Voice soft, Hachimitsu sighed, "No, you're not. You're a far better man."

To her confusion, however, Haruto had a dark smirk on his face, "Don't mistake me, Hachimitsu-Chan. I'm not doing this out of mercy, trust me. No." Looking at his brother, he narrowed his eyes, "I got a far better punishment for him. One that would have made him wish for death instead."

Searching the Aurors, including invisibility cloaks, Ayane blinked as she pulled a vial from one of them. Inside were three strange balls that looked like they were made from tendrils and covered in slime, "What the hell are these...?"

Not saying anything, the Healer held out his free hand, the other rubbing Chikako's back, and took it when handed over. Looking at it, he grimaced, "That explains how they got in and were going to get our unseen." At the looks of confusion, Haruto held up the vial and shook it, "Gillyweed. It would grow them gills and they could sneak in and out underwater, completely undetected."

Murmurs met that pronouncement before Mikage crossed her arm, "Haruto-Kun? We still got a problem..." She nodded towards the Nekomata shipgirl, "They saw her awaken, so they know that Yokai shipgirls exist."

Chikako froze at that and hung her head, "N-nya... I-I'm sorry..."

Just crouching, Mie gave her a hug, "You have nothing to be sorry about, Chikako-Chan. Because of that, you saved both yourself and Haruto-Kun's life."

Patting her shoulder, Ichika nodded, "Nee-San is right, Chikako-Chan. That was the right thing, nothing will change that, okay?"

Their attention was grabbed, however, as the only conscious wizard got to his feet. Haruto waved them off, but allowed for Chikako to keep a hold on him as he walked over to where the three other humans were. Pulling out his wand, he took a breath before casting a stunning spell at each one, hitting them in the head. He followed up with another spell, this time silver, that settled around their heads. Confused, Iwao frowned at him, "Haruto-Sama? What was that? That was not an Obliviation spell..."

Haruto smiled a bit thinly before going to sit back down as Chikako's medical fairy was joined by ones from Mie and Ichika, "Because it wasn't." At their looks, he shook his head, "When they're brought in by Kyoto, they'll be scanned for any spells. A recent Obliviation would be picked up on and questions might be asked. The spell I used? Helps with concussions... but interacts with the energy of a Stupify oddly." Reaching up, he tapped the side of his head, "It basically scrambles short term memory pretty badly for a few weeks at least. Not badly enough that they would not be able to remember what they were doing, but the closer the time to when the spells are cast, the longer it takes to remember, if ever, specific details. Such as, say, seeing a shipgirl awaken?" His expression changed to one of fake sympathy, "Unfortunately, the only Healer available was myself, and in the state I am in, I made such an obvious mistake."

Snickers and dark chuckles met him at that before Ichika frowned a little and crossed her arms some, "Won't people wonder about who took them out though? I would..."

Ayane then raised her hand, "Blame me." When everyone looked at her, the Jorogumo grinned, "After all, I am already the hot, sexy, home-wrecking Yokai who was the source of the heart attack that was the cause of Haruto-Sama getting stuck behind when they cut off the island after leaving." Leering, she gave him a look up and down before licking her lips, "Obviously, I came by to, ah, thank him, when I noticed Chikako-Chan in the hands of that Auror and charged in to save the day! Hoping, of course..." Leaning forward, Ayane once more licked her lips seductively, "For a little, ah, reward~"

Unable to help himself, Haruto coughed and looked away with a blush much to the amusement of the Yokai there, even his girlfriends, "You, uh, don't need to do that. It might get you into trouble."

Her expression softening, Ayane shook her head, "I don't mind at all, Haruto-Sama." The smile on her face became a little brittle, "At least this time I would be blamed for something that I want to be blamed for." Glancing to his girlfriends, Haruto got nods and got up. He then made his way over to her and gave the spider Yokai a hug. One that she smiled appreciatively over and returned before they broke apart, "Thank you."

Just shaking his head, the Healer smiled back, "No, thank you." Wincing a bit at the pain in his side, he took a deep breath, "Anyways, we should heal these three up and take them to the Fort. They can go into the cells there and cool their heels until Kyoto shows up to get them." A small, vicious smirk crossed Haruto's face, one mirrored on a number of the others at his next words, "Of course, without the keys it will take a few hours to get them out of said cells..."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Three days...

Three whole days since Kyoto got them off that island, which itself had taken hours as they needed to break the locking spells on the cells that had held them. Those two days on the island were some of the worst that Ichiro had ever had. Not once were they alone in their cells as there was always Yokai standing outside. Part of him suspected that the horrific nightmares were caused by some Baku from the Reserve eating their good dreams and only leaving the bad. Granted, he found himself hating that Jorogumo, 'Ayane' the most.

Not only did she claim that she had been the one to knock them all out, but there were other comments that damn spider had made. Due to the design of the cell, the toilet was fully visible to those outside. Partially for a safeguard, but mostly to embarrass any Yokai in said cell. Except in this case, it was not Yokai as it should have been to his mind, but himself. And hearing that fucking Jorogumo comment that he was rather on the small side while his brother was at the other end of the spectrum not only hit him in the pride, but also pissed him the fuck off.

Enough to try and attack her, much to the Jorogumo's high amusement, when the Kyoto Aurors had finally gotten the cell door open.

It did not help that the other Yokai had, over the two days there, made comment after comment. Each one making him hate them all the more as they needled at him and his pride. Comparisons between him and his bastard of a little brother, and how much better Haruto was, human traitor, compared to him. It only fueled his hate and anger.

He had thought though that he would be sent on his way, but oh no. The Aurors from Kyoto had frogmarched him into old cells in their "Diet" building under Kyoto, which dated back to the Second World War at least. Cells that they commented had been used to hold Kamo and the like while awaiting trial. Words that sent a shiver down his spine no matter what he tried to portray.

Stewing in his cell, however, Ichiro didn't notice the man arrive at his cell door until the clearing of a throat made him look up to find his father there, "Ichiro-San."

With a sigh, Ichiro finally stood up and walked to the cell door, "Finally, Otou-San. Now get them to end this farce and open that door."

Much to his shock, however, his father shook his head with a sigh, "I can't do that, Ichiro-San." His gaze, when they met those of his son, contained shame, anger, and sadness, "You're being charged with assault, assault of a member of Reserve Personnel, assault with deadly intent, breaking into a Reserve with the intent to commit a crime, two counts of Attempted Murder, Conspiracy to commit Murder, and a number of others." Frowning, the older wizard frowned, "You're not leaving here until you go to trial, and likely straight to prison afterwards."

Completely and utterly shocked, Ichiro boggled at him before shaking his head, "No, no! You're wrong, I am not going to prison." Glaring, he scowled, "I have friends after all, powerful ones, and there's no real proof."

For a few moments, Hiashi looked down at the papers on a clipboard before closing his eyes with a sigh, "No, you don't have any friends, Ichiro-San. All those you are counting on? They're too busy at the moment attempting to save their own skins. At best? You're going to be made into a scapegoat. I would not be too surprised if you have already been made one. As for proof? Not only is there evidence from your brother, such as pictures taken of his injuries and scans showing that he had them at the time, but also the eyewitness accounts of the Yokai themselves. Also, the two Aurors already told the investigators everything. It seems that they hold very little loyalty to you."

Paling, Ichiro boggled for a few moments before taking a deep breath, "T-that does not matter!"

Once more, his father shook his head, "No, it does. Because the weight of evidence is such that you will be in prison for a long time." Closing his eyes, he sighed, "Why? Why did you do it?"

Hands clenched in rage, Ichiro twisted around and paced a little, "Why?" Suddenly, he faced his father through the bars, "Why!? Do you have any idea how much work I have put into my career? Rising in the ranks as I have!? I started from almost nothing!" He pointed his finger at Hiashi, "Because of you and how your career has gone! Like a fumbling fool, you don't understand how things work! Hence I needed to build everything myself! My reputation, my alliances, favors... everything!" Still snarling, the younger wizard faced his father's bland expression, "I was not going to lose all that because of a foolish Otouto who does not understand a single thing about this world!"

With a hum, Hiashi looked at him, "Is that so?"

Just snorting, his son gestured at him, "He could have gone far if only he listened to me. I had a job, a proper one, lined up under Healer Yamahara. But what does he go and do?" Turning, Ichiro sneered at his father, "Throws it back in my face like the idiotic, ungrateful brat he is! Instead, he goes into the Reserves as a Healer, a dead end job with no prospects. And out of what?"

Frowning, Hiashi slowly blinked, "Out of kindess, humility, and a want to help his fellow being. A calling to help those that need it."

Eyes rolling, Ichiro shook his head, "Spare me. Those creatures don't need it..." He tapped his own chest as he continued, "But no, just so that he could find those damn monsters that you and Okaa-San allowed for him to call 'Onee-San'! And even worse, he began a romantic relationship! It's sickening!" Smacking himself on the chest, the younger wizard continued, "HE WOULD RUIN OUR REPUTATION... MY REPUTATION! RUIN EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE BUILT BECAUSE HE IS SOME SORT OF DEVIANT!"

Raising an eyebrow, his father frowned slightly, "A... deviant. Is that what you think he is for having a relationship with them?"

In reply, Ichiro threw his hands into the air, "Of course he is! It is like having sex with a dog you picked up at the pound!" Kicking the bars, he turned, "I would have thought that he would have forgotten about those creatures after I got them taken away. Become a proper wizard. But no..." Pointing in no direction in particular, the younger of the two growled, "That is why I did what I did! Because he is a stain on our honour!" Once more, he tapped his chest, "On my honour! And I was willing to do what was needed to remove it!"

Pain was on Hiashi's face as he closed his eyes, "I see..." Opening them, he gazed at his son with shame and agony, "Where did I go wrong as an Otou-San..."

Snorting, Ichiro shrugged and waved him off, "Who knows, Haruto was likely always a deviant, twisted by those creatures."

Moments later, he was brought up by his father's next words, "I didn't mean Haruto-Kun, Ichiro-San. I meant you."

Utterly stunned, Ichiro twisted around, "Say what..."

Only shaking his head, Hiashi sighed, "Whatever happened to that young boy I once bounced on my knee. Who used to bring flowers to his Okaa-San. What happened to him, and where did I go wrong..." Lips pressed thinly, he looked at his son for a few seconds before shaking his head, "Do you know why, Ichiro-San? Why I never got into bribes?"

Confused, his son blinked, "I... because you are a fool. Everyone knows this and says it."

His confusion increased as Hiashi snorted, "No, because I was too smart." Now it was his father's turn to roll his eyes, "Do you know what happens when you take a bribe to do something? Or accept doing something for a little, ah, favor?" Crossing his arms, he continued, "You now become caught with a stone around your neck. Because those people that bribe you? They know that they bribed you, and can use that against you. Yes, you can move up the ranks and such. But if you don't have lots of blackmail yourself, or powerful patrons? Then those that bribe you can hurt you such as when they get pulled in for an investigation on 'Corruption', like what happens every couple of years. Do you know why so many get charged? Because the others will take a plea by giving up information on those they bribe. And so they move down the chain until they come to people like you... who are then given the axe and charged fully, just to be seen to be doing something."

Mouth opening and closing, Ichiro stared at him, "I... no! You're wrong!" Shaking his head, though there was some unsureness in his eyes, he pointed at his father, "You're wrong! And even if that was so, somehow, I was rising up through the ranks quickly! I am a rising star!"

Slowly, the older of the two raised an eyebrow, "And you think that makes you safe? Because I can assure you, it does not. Quite the opposite." Stepping closer to the bars, he stared at his son, "Let me give you a piece of information, something that you have obviously ignored. Those who climb upwards quickly? Often step on the heads of those they pass. And those people remember, and look forward to the day when they can knock the ones who stepped on them down. I, perhaps, have risen very slowly, but I have not stepped on anyone. Perhaps I do not have connections with those higher ups, including politicians. But that does not mean that I do not have friends, ones who can pass things on and know that they can trust me not to stab them in the back. Despite everything that I tried to teach you... that is something that you have never understood."

Boggling, Ichiro stared at his father for several moments, "Y-you..."

For several more moments, Hiashi stared back at him, right in the eyes. Then, slowly, he turned to the papers on the clipboard, "Do you know what these are, Ichiro-San?" Getting the shake of the head, he sighed and continued, "These papers will make you dead to us."

A choking sound came from Ichiro as he realized what that meant.

Disownment.

Shocked, Ichiro shook his head, "N-no... you can't be serious!"

Not making any sign that he had heard him, Hiashi gestured with a hand and an ink pot floated up with a brush in it. Taking the brush, he sighed, "You will no longer be part of this family, of my family, as you wanted. No longer will you be burdened with being my son, Ichiro-San."

Hitting the bars, the younger wizard grabbed them, "You can't... YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!"

Eyes meeting those of the man on the other side of the bars, Hiashi's voice was filled with emotion, "I came here today to see if there was anything of my son left. If there was something of the young boy who once loved his Otou-San, Okaa-San, and adored his Otouto. But I see now... that my son died long ago without me noticing, and I shall live with that shame for the rest of my existence." Before Ichiro's disbelieving eyes, Hiashi took the brush and dipped it into the ink before slowly writing on the forms. Closing his eyes, the older man had a tear run down his cheek, "It is done."

Still gripping the bars, Ichiro slid down them until he was on his knees, "No..."

With a sigh, the older of the two shook his head, "There are some things that even family cannot forgive, Ichiro-San." Turning, he felt another tear leave his eyes, "Now, if you will excuse me... I must leave for home and tell my wife that not only is her eldest never coming home, but that he has now died. We shall grieve long and hard for him and hope, perhaps, he shall find peace of some sort. Thankfully, we can take solace in that we have one son left alive, who hopefully will gift us with grandchildren in a few years with fluffy tails and ears. Goodbye, Ichiro-San... I wish you a long life."

Ignoring the shouting and screaming behind him, the crying Hiashi left the jail behind him, knowing that he would need to comfort his wife in her own grief later.

 

[darthcourt10]

Shinr

Harry Leferts said:
Snip​

Sometime later, officials came to holding cells for a routine inspection of the detainees, and in very rare cases to determine if they were more valuable in Kyoto's shackled employ than being left to rot.

Ichiro was determined to be among those to get out, for he recognized one of the officials, a witch of a prestigious family he was courting once in pursuit of her family power with her beautiful body as a bonus, but failed at the time because of, in his mind, Haruto's shameful refusal of a prestigious healer position making him look bad.

As Ichiro was about to speak to her as she was passing by to the exit, hoping to reignite the fires of passion between them, blossoming into his ticket out of here, he was preemptively silenced by the look she gave him:


"You're so lucky, kid." One of his more....peculiar cellmates said "That was the 'Even-before-this-you-were-gutter-trash' glare. What would I give to be on the receiving end of it~"

Ichiro wanted to cry.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Belgian Butterknife's Japanese Vacation (VII)

12 July 2014

Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Kamakura, Japan

As Ehren watched, Mutti gave that Muramasa smug grin that she had seen on several of her aunt's faces last night. "Not at all, To-chan. Whatever we do here, you're of course invited. That said, I am looking forward to you showing my... our daughters the shrine complexes here."

Across from Colombe, Toku's cheeks visibly reddened. "It would be my honor."

Ehren felt her own cheeks heat. She knew that Mutti and Toku were romantically involved -- the blush deepened as the memory of how she had opened the door to see them together curled up in bed asleep the day of Toku's unplanned arrival in Moulbaix surfaced -- but those words had just opened a door that Ehren had been trying very hard not to think about.

Stepmother.

Claire, to her side hummed a fragment of Wagner's Lohengrin and Ehren felt the blood rush to her cheeks with a vengeance.

Claire---!
Spoiler: Troll Piano Strikes

She hastily took a sip of her espresso to try to get her expression under control. She desperately forced down the memories of Mutti and Vati hugging each other and kissing as they watched Elsa be escorted to the bridal chamber after her marriage during the third act of Lohengrin.

Unseen below the table, her fist clenched, digging her fingernails into her palm. An image of blond hair and gray eyes flashed through her mind before she got control of her emotions. Finally she forced a small cool smile on her blushing face. "It would be my honor, Tokunotakai."

Toku smiled as they walked outside "Unfortunately, the major religious festivals are in Kyoto at the Gion Matsuri this month. The alternative is Obon at Yasakuni Shrine in Tokyo but," the smile dimmed, "I would prefer not to do that."

Ehren blinked and asked curiously, "Is there a problem with Yasakuni Shrine?"

Toku nodded sharply as they waited for the crosswalk light to allow them to pass. "Hai. It... honors and enshrines the dead of our wars, including some whose actions dishonored Japan in the Pacific War. If I were to be seen there and recognized, it would imply support where such does not exist and shall never exist until certain kami are removed from veneration there."

Ehren frowned thoughtfully as they crossed to a tree-lined sidewalk running down the median strip of the main street between the Hachimangu and the seashore. "I... see. Let us not." She cast about for a change of subject and found it where she stood. "This is an unusual place for a sidewalk."

Toku smiled, "In fact, this is part of the shrine grounds. Wakamiya Ōji, or 'Young Prince Avenue' was built by the first Kamakura shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1182 as a prayer for the safe delivery of his firstborn son. This road where we stand was used for ceremonial processions as a sacred site."

The du Chastelers looked interested as Toku pointed to the south toward the bay where in the distance a red gate was faintly visible. "That is Ni no Torii, the second gate of the shrine. Further past it at the seashore is Ichi no Torii, first gate. When Norimune and I were presented for consecration five hundred and three years ago, we were ceremonially carried by the daimyos who commissioned us from Ichi no Torii up the sandō sacred approach road through Ni no Torii to where we stand today to San no Torii, third gate." With that Toku turned and began to walk underneath the cherry trees growing on both sides. "The current Ichi no Torii was built of stone in 1673 by Shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna and I helped consecrate it. The current San no Torii and Ni no Torii were built in 1934 of concrete, and again, I consecrated both."
Spoiler: San No Torii

With that Toku pointed at the third massive gate ahead. Ehren gave an impressed whistle, seconded by Claire. Ehren asked curiously as they waited for the light to change "There is a reason for the red color?"
Spoiler: Touring The Hachimangu

Toku nodded and gave Ehren a approving smile. "Indeed. It represents fire and the sun, and warns off evil spirits and bad luck. Beyond the torii is where the kami dwell."

Ehren rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "That is... gods, yes?" She frowned as the language spell made connections. "Although that is...not quite the concept."

Toku gave a serene smile, "The kami are the gods and spirits that inhabit the world around us. I am the kami of my blade, just as you and your family are the kami of your true bodies. And your mother and I serve Hachiman-no-kami, the Protector of Warriors who resides here, among other kami who are honored, although this is His primary shrine."

Claire spoke up. "That's funny, there are three bridges, but the two on either side are flat and the center one is arched?"

"Hai. During the days of the Shogunate, there were only two made of wood. The arched bridge was painted red and known as Akabashi, to be reserved for the Shogun's exclusive use while the flat bridge was for the common folk. The ponds to either side have their own story. They were dug in 1182 to honor the two clans who fought in the Gempei War. The one to the east is the Taira with the white lotuses referring to their colors. To the west is the Minamoto, with the red lotus blossoms reflecting both their color...and the spilled blood of the Taira that they defeated to claim the shogunate." Toku explained as they walked alongside the ponds.
--------------------

Suddenly a commotion sounded from their side and Claire turned to see a shiba inu dragging along a young man on its leash as it barked and wagged its tail wildly.

"Puppy!" The brunette piano promptly hustled over, knelt down, and began to pet the overjoyed dog as the owner apologized to Toku. "Who's a good girl, yes you are..." Claire said as she hummed happily while supplying ear scratches.

Colombe facepalmed and Ehren patted her mother on her back. "Everywhere I go, dogs love her. I don't understand it at all."

Ehren's lips quirked as a pair of poodles followed by a shih tzu made a beeline for Claire. "The saying about music charming savage beasts applies to her?"

"Oui. I swear every dog in the village and Ath know her by name. Every single time." The rapier smirked slightly. "At least she has retrieved a few strays who got lost."

"Ja." Ehren commented as she watched her sister finish petting the small pack of dogs.

"It's really good to meet you all, but I need to do my walk too. Be good boys and girls!" The piano said with a twinkle in her eye as she hummed happily before returning to Toku, Colombe, and Ehren.

Ehren leaned close to her Big Piano Sister. "What was that about Claire?"

Claire smiled happily, "They were lonely and wanted to make friends."

"Ach, so...."
--------------------

Toku eventually reached the 800-year old stone staircase. "Every morning, I sweep these steps during the third hour of the morning, before dawn, as part of my duties."

Ehren made a thoughtful sound as Toku and her mother climbed ahead of her.

Stepmother....

She did not know what to feel. Some part of her spirit viewed that word as a betrayal of Vati. And yet, Toku was a good person, and clearly cared for Mutti deeply. Mutti had thrived under Toku's care and attention, two parts of a greater whole, Ying and Claire both liked her.

But she was not Vati.

But Vati was dead.

Ehren blinked as they reached the top. Her mother and Toku had stopped dead with shocked looks on their faces. To her side Claire gave a shy smile and wave.

Ahead in the courtyard, an elderly and wizened Japanese monk in saffron robes was kneeling and feeding a small flock of pigeons with a handful of bread crumbs. His other hand held a plain wooden staff that supported him

He looked at the four tsukumogami as they stood there.

Eyes that were filled with both wisdom and power deep in their brown depths caught her gaze, sucking her into their knowing brown pools.

Automatically, Ehren snapped to rigid attention under the gaze of a superior officer's inspection.

To her side, Toku and Colombe spoke as one in an awed voice.

"Hachiman."

 

[darthcourt10]

Shinr

Horace Slughorn was looking at the Daily Prophet, Foreign News section.

Another boondoggle from Tokyo as Kyoto more or less turned the whole mess with the reserves to their favor, helped by some Tokyo officials getting caught red-handed trying to sabotage one of the reserves.

That one of the officials turned out to be at the center of a vast network of bribes, illicit favor trading and all sorts of under the table shenanigans (the unauthorized ones) was an icing on the cake.

Slughorn was no stranger to the game, and recognized the obvious scapegoat ploy, both for Tokyo to shift or mitigate blame, however futile that is, and for Kyoto to put a punchable face on the villain.

Scapegoat or no, Slughorn had to shake his head at the stupidity of this official, for you send deniable assets, not yourself to do the fieldwork.

Of course, Slughorn had little interest in what happens in the orient, it just that this article reminded him of his own personal stakes.

Ever since the collapse of Statute became a matter of when and not if, he was, for a lack of better word, dismantling his social network.

When the Muggles will arrive, they would have questions, very pointed and uncomfortable questions, to the Wizards in charge.

And to the Muggles he, a wizard with many connections to powerful, influential and in many cases just plain convenient people in the right places, will look like a head of an influential Wizard clique at best, a behind the scenes Webweaver at worst.

And so he worked, sending messages to his friends, associates, former students and the like, suggesting that for both of their sakes they should maintain a healthy social distance, to avoid implicating each other if worst comes to worst.

And then of course, a complication came in form of personal visit from Albus Dumbledore himself.

The Headmaster asked of his assistance and his connections, so that they could soften the inevitable fall of Magical Britain into the Muggle world.

And in return he will be shielded from the worst of the consequences, of course.

And so Horace Slughorn had a Damned if you Do, Damned if you Don't choice before him: Completely go to ground and hope to survive, or help Dumbledore for a chance to be on the right side of History.

A difficult decision he will ruminate on for a while longer.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Okay, all, the next Select snippet is supposed to be in the works, but there's been a bit of a snag. See, the Select snippets require me to get into a bit of an "oohoohoohahaha!" headspace to write. Unfortunately, with a personal project that I've been working on for literal years reaching a point of readiness that it's never truly been at before, all I'm good for is kind of a "wee, fluffy!" headspace. And I have several non-Select snippets that have been begging me to write them for a while now.
-----
When the bell rang for lunch, Minato all but sprang out of her seat on her way out of the classroom. Down the hall, out the door, walk along a little further, ducking past a hedge, was a small bench in a shady spot. She' found it at the beginning of the school year, and now more or less exclusively ate lunch there (except when friends asked her to eat with them. Then it was just rude not to). She thought it was a bit romantic, sitting alone surrounded by a halo of green growing things.

She knew, of course, that she probably wasn't the only one who knew of it, but it was still so easy to make it into her "secret" place.

That was probably why she felt so puzzled to find a large envelope—the kind for documents that weren't supposed to fold—sitting right where she usually did.

She looked at it, picked it up, turned it over in her hands. It was oddly heavy, and… she looked at it… filled rather full. Shaking it, the contents moved like paper. She opened the envelope, and pulled out a manga. It wasn't all stapled together in a magazine or anything, but it was a manga.

Huh.
-----

Heart pounding in her chest, Haruka burst out the door. How had she not realized "Ever Onwards" wasn't in her bookbag? Where had she even left it? She'd taken it out once today—couldn't remember any other time—a little hiding space for when she didn't want to deal with somebody.

She pressed down the guilt, she'd make it up to Yakumo, she promised, right now she had other concerns.

She ducked around the opening in the hedge to see some first year carefully inserting her work back into the envelope what what WHAT?

"Give me that!" she almost squawked, tearing it out of the girl's hand and hugging it to her body.

"Uh, okay," the first year replied a bit posthumously. "Are you the one who wrote that? Uh, super popular third year idol Tachibana Haruka-sempai?"

Haruka froze, then turned to gape at her. "Who calls me that?"

"Ohgi-sempai."

"Since when?"

"Well, our houses are in kind of the same direction, so I'm walking just a little bit in front of him a lot—"

"You know what? Never mind." Haruka turned her attention to "Ever Onwards." "I don't want to know."

She pulled the flap open. Were all the pages there? She thumbed through as quickly as possible, counting until she hit the final piece of paper and almost reflexively thumbed past it.

She paused.

Carefully, gingerly, fished a piece of note paper out from behind it.

"What's this?"

The first year sat up straighter. "A critique? Your art was really good, but I noticed some problems in the story so I wrote them down for you."

"Problems?" Haruka had poured her all into writing this! It was beautiful—perfect! "What kind of problems?"

The first year nodded solemnly, tapping a finger to her chin. "Well, let's see… First off, the idea of a world where everyone lives above the clouds on airships is cool, but the only purpose it seems to serve in the narrative is that everyone's scared of falling through the floor during the fight at the end. You could do a lot with a setting like that, like… money and food concerns. That's something to think about."

Haruka blinked.

"Then, the thing where the main character grows wings out of nowhere? It was cool, but if people have powers like that, why would everyone freak out seeing them? Is it weird mechanically somehow? Try to set up how weird it is a little earlier, maybe just something in the dialogue to suggest it."

Haruka opened her mouth.

"Third, you, uh… all your characters are kind of flat. They all have some kind of funny quirk, like the guy who likes hot dogs, but… that's about it. I engaged with the old captain guy, since he was trying to be the main character's dad, but, uh…

Haruka closed her mouth.

"Actually, come to think about it, that bit with him finding her in a box as a baby? What was that—

"What was your name again?"

The first year trailed off, looking up at Haruka again. "Hayami Minato, Sempai," she said, standing and bowing courteously.

Haruka looked the smaller girl up and down. "You have a very critical mindset, Hayami-san."

"I am a fan of shonen manga, Sempai," Hayami replied to the rhetorical question without missing a beat.

"…right." It was beginning to occur to Haruka that her kohai was just a card or two short of a deck. "Why did you decide to open this, anyways?"

"It was in my spot." She could feel her eyelid twitch. Her private little hiding place was lost to her forever.

Actually, more than that, why was she treating this so casually? The girl was actually looking up at the trees now, absentmindedly humming to herself. What was with her?

Haruka cleared her throat, and Hayami glanced back at her with a quizzical expression. "Did you need something else, Sempai?"

Part of her jumped up, trying to point out that the first year clearly didn't mean anything by it—something about her was just guileless, almost half-aware of her surroundings, like… she wasn't trying to be rude, she just didn't seem to completely understand what she was saying!

The other half, the one that drowned the first out with its roaring, wanted to do something to get a proper reaction out of her!

"Well, you see," she said, tucking "Ever Onwards" under her arm, "it's generally considered very rude to look at someone's work without permission."

"Ah, yes," Hayami looked aside, features actually flushing slightly. "I… I was curious, sorry."

"So I was thinking…" Haruka stepped towards her, looming as best she could with the centimeters she had on the other girl, "about maybe some recompense."

Hayami leaned back a little. "Mwirp?"

"I'm going to write another story," Haruka said. "And we're going to see what you think of that one. And then I'll keep writing them until we have one that you actually do like. How does that sound, my cute little kohai?"

"Are you… bullying me?"

Choking on her next words, Haruka gave the question a quick thinking over. "I… I don't think so?" she admitted—but maybe she would need another opinion—

"Okay, then. Sure!" Hayami smiled brightly.
-----

Nemo blinked, looking down at her hands as if she was trying to keep track of the conversation on her fingers. Yakumo shook her head in what Haruka hoped wasn't disappointment or amusement.

"You didn't think that one out at all, did you," Takumi noted.

"Just… shut up," Haruka groaned into her hands, because with Takumi, that was basically the equivalent of laughing his head off at her silliness.
-----

Not my best work, I'll admit, but I had fun writing it. The Select snippet should be out on Saturday, hopefully. Next scheduled snippet, Norihara needs advice!

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Belgian Butterknife's Japanese Vacation (VIII)

12 July 2014

Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Kamakura, Japan
Spoiler: The Master Of The Hachimangu

"Hachiman" Colombe said in a shocked voice as she remembered this very monk beating her more than half to death in this very courtyard a century and a half ago. Old and long healed bruises from the duel that she had challenged him to began to ache in memory.

Beside her, Tokunotakai spoke as well in a voice of humble reverence. "Hachiman-dono."

The wizened Japanese monk stood and the pigeons that he had been feeding took wing to circle around him. He nodded once, and then silently gestured for them to follow him as he walked past the dojo where Tokunotakai had taught swordsmanship and bushido for generation upon generation to her students.

As if that gesture broke a spell, Hachiman's Blades walked together to follow their Master. Ehren blinked and then fell in alongside Claire. Instinctively, the young dagger spirit straightened her back and raised her chin. After all she was in the presence of someone worthy of her respect by all Toku's accounts.

They turned a corner and approached a small rustic tea house set in the garden. Toku's eyes widened as she divined the kami's intent, and bowed to him as he opened the screen to the waiting area. The Masamune spoke quietly to the others. "It seems that He wishes to give us a cha-no-yu. Ehren, Claire, please do as I do?"

Ehren nodded, then placed her dagger body in the offered rack alongside her mother's rapier and Toku's katana.

Inside they slipped on fresh clean tabi socks and then knelt. Ehren blinked at the sight in the viewing alcove. An arrangement of witch hazel and purple Chinese Bellflowers seemed to be in motion, while above it a simple circle was drawn in a single calligraphic brushstroke.
Spoiler: Ikebana

The dagger frowned at the scroll, for all it had was a simple inked circle. What does this mean?
Spoiler: Enso

Toku spoke meditatively in response to Ehren's unspoken question. "This is ensō. It represents enlightenment, strength, the universe, all encapsulated in the moment of time as the brush met the paper. The circle of rebirth, of time, of our actions, that is part of our striving for perfection. See how the circle is incomplete but strives to fill that gap as it cycles forward, rotating endlessly?"

Ehren frowned slightly as she examined the circle and flower arrangement. Time seemed to flow past as she pondered their meaning, Toku's explanation, her steps that led to this moment.

A click of a screen opening sounded, and Hachiman reappeared. He looked at them and nodded silently. With another silent gesture, he escorted them to the roji garden where a stone bench awaited.

Toku seated herself and then spoke quietly. "We shall purify ourselves at the basin when summoned by rinsing our hands and mouth. We shall now meditate upon the garden. When he returns we shall not speak until we enter the teahouse and are greeted individually."
Spoiler: Roji

Ehren looked at the small garden, with a stone lantern, natural stone stepping stones, and a white and pale gray rock 'river' flowing through it. She sighed slightly as she felt the peace and tranquility in each rock, in each branch, in each shade of green soak into her steel bones.
Spoiler: Hachiman's Chanoyu

Finally they rose as Hachiman appeared and proceeded in single file to the stone basin with the waiting dipper and flowing water from a bamboo tube. Ehren accepted without needing to understand why when Toku performed her purification the miko's T-shirt and jeans shifted to a plain red kimono. Her mother was next, and her clothing shifted to a matching red kimono. Then Claire purified herself, smiling happily as she wore her pink kimono.

Ehren rinsed her hands and mouth, feeling a tingle as the ice cold water caressed her skin, and her clothes shifted to a wolf-gray kimono.

Feeling as if she was standing outside herself, she walked slowly behind Claire to the teahouse. Somehow, she knew how to move in the strange outfit.

Once inside, she watched Toku take a seat on a low chair marked with a katana patterned cushion in front of a low table. Claire followed suit to sit upon her piano-embroidered cushion. Ehren then sat upon the dagger-patterned cushion to Claire's left, and her mother sat to her right.

As Colombe took her place, Toku waved her hand and the entrance door slid closed with a audible click of wood on wood.

With that, their host appeared from his entrance and bowed to Toku. "Greetings, Masamune-no-Tokunotakai. It is my honor to serve you tea today." His voice was that of a fond father speaking to congratulate a daughter, and Ehren's spine stiffened, for she understood the true meaning of 'A Father To His Men'.

Toku bowed in return from her seated position. "I am greatly honored, Hachiman-dono."

The Protector of Warriors gave the Masamune a pleased smile, and then bowed to Claire with a twinkle in His eye. "Claire du Chasteler. It is my honor and pleasure to welcome you to Japan."

Claire bowed as best she could. "Thank you for having me, Lord Hachiman."

Ehren felt a shiver of deep emotion run through her steel body as Hachiman bowed in greeting to her. "Ehren du Chasteler. I am pleased to welcome you to Japan."

Ehren bowed awkwardly from her seated position. "Vielen Dank, Herr (Thank you very much Mr
)Hachiman."

Hachiman then bowed to her mother. "Colombe du Chasteler. It has been too long since I had the chance to speak to you, My Blade. I am honored to serve you tea."

Colombe bowed, "Oui... I know your voice now. 1902 in the Congo, yes?"

"When you swore yourself to me, yes." The Protector of Warriors agreed with a nod and a twinkle in His eyes as he began to brew tea for His guests.
--------------------

Spoiler: Instructions

Ehren sipped the green tea in her bowl, raising an eyebrow at the taste. The eyebrow raised further as she contemplated the cosmetic crack in the bowl caused when the potter fired it that seemed to be a branching tree growing up the side.

She glanced at the others. Claire was humming happily as she finished her tea and then ate another of the small candies. Toku, past her was serene, with a calm smile. To the other side, Colombe seemed to have the years and toils fall from her, as Mutti had a shy smile on her face.

"My Blades, and My Grandchildren. No doubt you have wondered why I have called you here today." Hachiman spoke in that voice of quiet command.

Ehren nodded, and next to her Colombe spoke, "Oui, this was... unexpected."

"I wish to say to you all that I am pleased with your service. Although not all of you are sworn to My service, or shall swear yourselves to me, you have done well." He paused and gave Tokunotakai and Colombe a look that caused Toku to blush and Colombe to look away bashfully. "In the main."

Ehren flushed and felt a fire of pride fill her spirit at those words.

Hachiman looked at the two Blades. "My Blades, I wish for you, all three of you, to attend Kannazuki this year. Tokunotakai, Colombe, it shall be your task to insure that Muramasa-no-Norimune attends, for it is time for you three to speak with Me directly there."

Colombe bowed her head in a single motion with Tokunotakai. "Oui." "Hai."

"Claire du Chasteler. You have a gift of beauty and love and healing that is a mighty weapon for good. Continue to develop it and use it when circumstances call for you to soothe the wounds of those whom you meet and know. There are things for you to do here on Earth during Kannazuki, though." The Shinto deity said to the piano spirit.

Claire smiled happily and hummed a musical phrase as she nodded her head.

Hachiman turned to Ehren and the dagger spirit felt his gaze plumb the depths of her soul as he stared into her heart.

"Ehren du Chasteler. Honor is your name and honor is your very being. In the days ahead, you shall be stringently tested upon your understanding of true honor and faith. Prepare yourself, for your childhood is coming to an end, and the choices you shall make in the events ahead shall leave their mark upon you for all time. All necessary steps come with sacrifice as well as gain." The kami's voice was compassionate as he finished. "You also have duties during this Kannazuki if you follow the path ahead of your feet that you cannot see yet. Let your honor illuminate it."

Ehren bowed her head, feeling the weight of those words, encouragement and warning both, settle into her soul. She took a deep breath and then spoke the only words that she could say.

"Jawohl(Yes Sir), Herr Hachiman."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Checking her internal clock, Jintsuu frowned a bit as she looked out onto the darkened waves from where they were. She could see the three small cargo ships that they were to escort out on the water ahead of them as their crews for ready for the journey ahead. Even in the night, however, she could see how some of the crewmembers had features denoting them as being Yokai and a few were using their wands to help light their way as they secured their loads.

Part of her was still bemused about the whole thing as it still seemed like something out of a fantasy novel.

After a moment, the Light Cruiser shook her head and turned her attention to the boats themselves. Not one of them were larger than five hundred tons, the sort of cargo ship that once plied the waters up and down the smaller island chains that were part of Japan to deliver things like food stuffs to places such as the Izu Islands... or in this case, the Ryukyu Islands. All three had basically been abandoned, among others, in one of the ports as part of a ship graveyard. Thankfully, they had just been newly built when their owners left them in the Post-Blood Week shipping downturn.

Which was good as the Japanese government had bought all three on the cheap and turned them over to the Kyoto government two years before. It took people from both sides, but they managed to bring them up to full working order and the fact that it helped give some insight into enchantments that magicals placed on their ships was a bonus. Currently, however, all three ships had their holds stuffed with supplies, mostly bought by the Kyoto Government. Granted, what amused Jintsuu about that was that meant that various wizards and witches simply apparated around the country and bought rice, canned meat, tea, and the like.

That said, what was not amusing to either Jintsuu, or the non-magical government, was why that was the case. The fact that Japanese citizens had been abandoned left a sour, bile filled taste in everyone's mouth. From what she had been told, the Prime Minister himself had nearly had a fit, and after coming to Sasebo to give the mission personally, left with the expression he had wanted to kill someone. The fact that the name "Kotegiri" gave up in his mumbles left her with an expression as to how though he wished to do so.

Unclenching her fists as she noted Shimakaze raising an eyebrow at her, she let out a sigh, "I'm fine."

Scowling, the Destroyer crossed her arms over her chest, "No you're not, Ou!" Then her own expression darkened, "I'm not either."

At that, Jintsuu's lips twitched a little bit, "I heard as much from Arizona-San. She said that I should keep an eye on you in case we somehow, for whatever reason, stumbled across members of the Tokyo Diet."

Looking away, Shimakaze huffed, "Kaa-San worries too much."

Only humming, the Light Cruiser checked the time again before giving a nod, "We should be going then. Shimakaze-Chan, Nishikaze-Chan? I want you to form up ahead to scout." Both Shimakaze-Class members nodded and saluted before launching. She then turned to the smaller Submarine Chaser girls there, "Chachi-Chan? Chyonjuushi-Chan? Chgoyuu-Chan? Form up and keep a watch out."

Each of the three Submarine Chasers, CH-8, CH-44, and CH-50 saluted before they entered the water and took positions around the small cargo ships, Jintsuu following. As she came up alongside the lead cargo ship in the convoy, the Skipper smiled at her and saluted as well, "Good day, Jintsuu-Sama."

With a chuckle, she nodded at the old wizard, "And a good day to you as well, Captain Matsu." Glancing around, she hummed, "Thank you for having us."

Laughing, Captain Matsu shook his head, "Oh, trust me, we're happy to have you." He hummed a bit before pulling out a pipe and lighting it. At her raised eyebrow, he shrugged, "Been smoking since I served on the Shōhei Maru."

About to comment, Jintsuu remembered something and gave him a look, "I take it that you are not talking about the passenger vessel from the War."

Broadly grinning, the old wizard chuckled, "Nope, not at all." He gave a small shrug as he puffed, "Served on her proudly and fell in love with the sea... well, on her until she wrecked. One day, I hope to see her as a shipgirl."

Simply nodding, Jintsuu smiled back at him, "I think that when that day comes? She would be happy to see you."

Not saying anything, the Captain gave her a salute before walking off to bark orders and soon the small convoy headed southwards.

Thankfully, the seas were calm and there wasn't much Abyssal activity in the area that had been mentioned in recent reports. Which meant that the trip went relatively quickly and dawn broke as they came into view of the island with Jintsuu nodding as her floatplane went through the wards around it, '{We're nearly at Fushūjima.}'

From where she was, Jintsuu could see the distaste on Shimakaze's face, '{Do we have to call it that?}'

Jintsuu sighed and shook her head a little, '{Unfortunately, we do. Because that is what the island was named after all and has been for centuries... no matter how distasteful we might find it.}'

In reply, she got grumbles from the Destroyer before they quietened down and they continued their journey.

Meanwhile, on the island they were heading to, the Yokai woke and went about their day. Within one hut, Haruto sighed a little as he sat down before the small table that was there, "You know that I am fine, right? My injuries are all healed."

Beside him, Haruhime gave him a small look before she reached over and poked him in the side which got a small hiss, "Oh, I'm just sure that you are alright, Haruto-Kun." She then wagged a finger at him, "Not. Now, just sit back and let us handle things for you."

Yet again, Haruto sighed a little before smiling and kissing her cheek, "Fine, I'll give in."

Eyebrow raised, the red haired Kitsune smirked, "Good." Leaning in, she gave him a kiss which deepened a little before she pulled back, "We were scared though."

Looking down at the table, Haruto scratched the back of his neck, "Well... you weren't the only one that was scared there. I was pretty scared with what was happening myself to be honest. But..." He gave them all a smile, "At least we're alright and I already repaired our home."

Just nodding from where she was cooking some breakfast, Mie gave him a smile, "Hai, we're glad for that much at least." Cocking her head to the side, she gave a small smile towards Chikako who was beside Ichika as the smaller girl's fairies gave the other Light Carrier some work, "How are you doing, Chikako-Chan?"

The Nekomata blinked before turning to give her a smile, "I'm doing good, Mie-Nee-Chan. Nya... almost finished all the repairs too!"

Reaching over, the Healer gently rubbed her between her ears, "And you are doing an extremely good job of it, Chikako-Chan. I'm proud."

Head rocking back and forth, the newly awoken shipgirl smiled happily, "Thank you, Nii-San!" Lightly blushing, she looked down as the last of her fairies came back to her, "I like it that I am sort of like you. A Healer."

Expression softening, Haruto gave her a small nod of his own, "As am I, Chikako-Chan... and you are a great Healer for shipgirls already, though that is to be expected."

Placing some food in front of him, Hachimitsu snorted some, "Because of course she is! Not only is she named after the great smith Masamune as the name ship of her class... but she's got the best rolemodel as a Healer in you, Haruto-Kun! How could she be anything less with that."

A light blush on her face, Chikako, also known as the Masamune and nameship of the Masamune-class ships for the Imperial Magical Navy, shook her head, "I think it is more because of Nii-San. I want to be more like him..." A grin crossed her face and she wagged her fingers at the others, "But if you want upgrades, you should give me lots of rock candy!"

Unable to help herself, Ichika laughed as she took some food onto her own plate, setting another plate in front of Chikako, "I'll keep that in mind, probably those ones that look like gemstones especially." Getting a happy cheer from the Nekomata, she shook her head and took a bite with a hum, "Great food as always, Mie-Nee!"

Her twin smiled at her as she sat down as well, "Thank you, Ichika-Nee."

With that, they all began to eat various foods, though every so often Chikako would munch on an old metal can or other piece of metal to get enough to work on more repairs. Something that made Haruto rather amused because of the sight of the cute Yokai chomping on an old piece of metal and leaving a bite mark shaped just like her teeth. Granted, he was sad as to why she was awoken now... and was also reminded of the fact that she had barely left his side at all.

Though she was not the only one who hovered around him as the others did as well.

Shaking that off, he went back to his breakfast until Mikage asked him a question as she poured some evaporated milk into a glass for Chikako, "I heard that they're sending a convoy, Haruto-Kun? Is that true?"

Just holding up a finger, he gave a swallow and nodded, "Hai, that is what I was told. And it would be the first of many as two of them are loaded down with food like rice and such. The third as well... and a bit more."

Confused as she drank her milk, Chikako pulled it away which left a milk mustache on her face as she cocked her head to the side, "Munya? A bit more?"

Lips twitching at the sight, Haruto nodded with a chuckle of his own, "From what I have been told, the third one will have animals like goats for milk and meat. Chickens as well which can be raised for both eggs and meat as well."

Murmurs came from the other girls at that as they shared looks. New livestock? That... was a rather big deal. Because that meant more food for everyone as well.

Not understanding, Chikako blinked before shrugging, "I like chicken, Nii-San. It's good."

Reaching over, Haruto gave her a pat on the head, "You're not the only one, Chikako-Chan." Briefly, he paused a little and looked at each of the girls, "I... talked to some people. While they will be allowing for Yokai to slowly leave the Reserve, it is going to take some time. But they also said that there's the possibility of authorized, escorted visits to the mainland where Yokai can journey there and back."

Each of the shipgirls froze at that as that was an even bigger deal and they shared looks before turning back to Haruto. But it was Hachimitsu who reached over and grasped his hands, "That sounds wonderful, Haruto-Kun. Does that mean that we could..."

Slowly, Haruto gave a nod, "Meet my parents? Hai, that would be possible. And Otou-San and Okaa-San both stated that they want to see you three again, Hachimitsu-Chan, Mikage-Chan, Haruhime-Chan." He then turned towards the others, "And they want to meet you as well, Mie-Chan, Ichika-Chan... and especially you, Chikako-Chan."

Widening her eyes, the little Neko pointed at herself, "They want to meet me? Really, Haruto-Nii-San!?"

Chuckles escaped from him as he gave her a nod, "Hai, they do." A sigh escaped from Haruto as he shook his head some, "I am not looking forward to Okaa-San spoiling you however."

Happily humming, Chikako shook her head, "I don't mind as long as it is Obaa-San."

Facepalming, Haruto laughed, "Oh... I cannot wait to see Okaa-San's expression if you call her that. It would be hilarious."

The three Kitsune also laughed at that and he shook his head some while still snickering himself.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Belgian Butterknife's Japanese Vacation (IX)

13 July 2014

Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan

Ehren adjusted the new dark blue yukata with silver carp patterns that she was wearing. The Teutonic dagger spirit smiled slightly as she walked alongside Claire down the street to the National Noh Theater.

Following their visit to the Hachimangu yesterday, Toku had suggested that they do some shopping in Kamakura which Claire and Colombe had eagerly endorsed. Shockingly enough, rather than terrorize the local music stores, Claire had elected to clothes shop for something to wear at the festival, which Ehren privately viewed as a sign of the Apocalypse. She noticed with interest that Toku was apparently well known around town as the tailors had greeted her by name with swift and courteous service.

The clear respect that her future stepmother was held in around town gave Ehren much to think upon. She had seen similar when Mutti had taken her shopping in the nearby village of Ath. With that in mind, she looked at Toku, now in a black floral print yukata as she spoke to Claire, who had colorful flowers covering her pink yukata.

Colombe joined them with four tickets in hand. "Aunt Kago came through with her ticket reservations." The rapier said, which jarred Ehren out of her private thoughts to focus on events. "They are for the final play she will be starring in."

"Which play?" Toku asked curiously as she looked at Colombe.

Ehren spoke up with confidence in her organizational skills. "Aoi no Ue. We shall have three hours before it begins."
Spoiler: A Walk In The Gardens

Toku smiled serenely. "Well, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens are nearby. Shall we enjoy the afternoon there?"

Ehren looked at Claire, and the twin girls nodded enthusiastically as they chorused. "Please!!"
-----------------------

Toku smiled serenely as she watched the brunette head of her future stepdaughter bow as Claire happily petted yet another in the never-ending stream of dogs who had been appearing to make her acquaintance. To her side, Ehren photographed a bed of roses in the French Formal section of the gardens with a shy smile on her face.

The Mansamune leaned closer to her companion as they strolled leisurely through the symmetrical and orderly European garden that they had journeyed to after enjoying the Japanese garden. "I am glad that this was restored after the Pacific War damaged it so, Co-chan."

Colombe nodded slowly, looking at the symmetrical and orderly rows of flowerbeds, walking paths, trees, and hedges. "This reminds me of Versailles in 1722 To-chan. Papa had to attend Louis XV that summer, and I was part of the family trip then." Colombe's voice was contemplative and distant. "Marie-Claire met the Vicomte Gustave Visart de Bury et de Bocarmé for the first time at an evening concert. I can remember the two of them walking hand in hand, chatting and admiring the hedges and fountains as the servants trailed them." She sighed deeply with tears in her eyes. "I miss them both."

Colombe then chuckled self-deprecatingly and shook her head, "I confess that I spent most of my visit there in the hedge maze labyrinth looking at the water-spouting statues from Aesop's Fables and exploring as if I was Theseus seeking out the Minotaur." The rapier shook her head. "I was saddened to hear that Louis XVI had torn it out for an English-style arbor shortly before the Revolution."

Toku placed her hand on Colombe's shoulder and gently squeezed it as the rapier looked at the gardens with a distant gaze. "I can remember the first two statues as if it was yesterday. Aesop to the left with a roll of paper to map his steps and the inscription: Love, that slender thread might get you lost: the slightest shock could break it. Facing him, Cupid to the right holds a ball of thread like that Ariadne gave to Theseus as he speaks: Yes, I can now close my eyes and laugh: with this thread I'll find my way. I suppose in the end, when I walked into the Labyrinth of my life, I chose the thread to guide my turnings and discoveries when I wandered."

Toku nodded as they watched the two younger children crafting memories that they would carry with them forever. "You chose well, Co-chan. You chose well."
-----------------------

Spoiler: Aoi No Ue

Ehren watched with interest as the attendant spread the empty kimono representing the deathly sick Lady Aoi, the wife of Hikari Genji and daughter of the Secretary of State on the boards of the 400-year old cypress stage.

She was privately happy that the seats they had been escorted to had a small touchscreen to give subtitles for the Japanese dialogue. To her side, Toku leaned forward as the courtier announced that the family had invited Priestess Teruhi, the renowned miko who could call forth phantoms with the sound of her cherry birch bow.

The musicians on stage played an eerie melody as Priestess Teruhi performed the ritual to identify the phantom tormenting Lady Aoi.

As the melody continued, to her left at the end of the walk way for actors to enter the scene, the fabric curtain rolled up silently.

The figure that slowly emerged sent a chill like ice through Ehren's veins. A hushed stir rippled through the crowd at the sheer presence of the lead actress in the production

She knew intellectually that it was her aunt Kagotsurhue playing the part but...

Beautiful and elegant behind her noh mask of a beautiful woman, the spirit of Rokujō-no-miyasudokoro the wife of a deceased crown prince and a former lover of Genji, now spurned and abandoned appeared. Her scale-patterned crimson kimono rustled with her regal steps as she glided across the ancient hardwood like the evil specter that she was playing.

Then she spoke in tones of woe and regret, filled with desperate insane longing for a man and a status that had been cruelly ripped from her.

If I ride on the three carriages provided by the mercy of Buddha,
and if I follow upon the path of Buddha, could I escape through the
gate of this agonizing world?
I, who ride on a shabby broken carriage, will be able to go nowhere.
Ah, my resentment can go nowhere

Life is unstable like a wheel,
Life is agonizing like a wheel,
The wheel of karma keeps turning round.
My anguish goes round and round, the result of my actions in a
previous life.

Ehren watched enthralled as the phantom of the evil spirit, as dignified as the noblewoman that she was, expressed her hatred of Lady Ai for stealing Genji from her.

Oh, how reproachful!
So reproachful!
No matter how deep my grudge against you are, and no matter
how much you scream, you can be with the beautiful Genji or
make love with him as long as you live.
On the other hand, I, like a weed,
was abandoned by my dear Genji.
It is the same as if nothing had happened.
I disappear like the dew on a leaf.
How hateful you are at the thought of it!
Even in a dream,
I can't make love with him again.
Our relationship became an old story.
Thus my love grows more and more, and I shame myself while
longing for his shadow.
Or better yet,
I stand by your pillow with this broken carriage, and shall take you
away with me.
I shall take you away with me.

As Kagotsuruhe spoke the lines while beating Lady Aoi out of jealousy and dancing across the stage, a menacing terrifying undertone filled her demeanor and her character while preserving her aristocratic airs. Even not knowing Japanese, the breath caught in the throat of the enthralled Ehren as she felt the insane jealousy and spite for something that she once had before it was taken from her in Kago's masterful performance.

Suddenly, in the middle of her insane frenzy, Kago opened her kimono and Ehren gasped in terror as her heart pounded in time with the stamping of Kago's feet, turning the cypress planks into a fearsome drum. Next to her, Claire grabbed her hand and squeezed it as she soaked in the performance.

Kago then turned and retired to a corner of the stage with a kimono over her head as a Buddhist holy hermit priest entered as he was called by the commotion and the desperate pleas of the servants.

The courtiers explained that the evil spirit tormenting Lady Aoi was present, and the priest spoke of his spiritual power and understanding. He began to chant a sudra....

And then Kago stood.

Still covered by her scarlet scaled kimono she approached the priest and knelt.

She then slowly raised herself enough to look at him.

Ehren squeaked in terror and Claire gripped her hand tight for instead of the noblewoman's mask, the spirit was now that of a furious evil ogre.

The music began the wild pulsing rhythm of their spiritual battle.

Priest and Ogre dueled across the stage and up and down the walkway.

Back and forth they went as good battled evil.

The priest used his rosary against the wand the insanely spiteful and jealous ogre employed as they clashed.

Ehren's heart pounded like a drum as she sensed the mad obsession that the priest grappled with in the climax of the play.

Finally, the Kago-ogre calmed down and her stick was replaced by a fan as the battle ended. Now at peace, she rose gracefully like the crown princess that she was and exited the stage to wild applause as the play ended.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

And now...

A thingy!
-----
"So, what did you want to talk about?"

Yumeno glanced up from her pasta, glancing at her old teacher before lowering her fork to her plate. Honestly, there was a part of her that was still trying to avoid the question. It was… uncomfortable, in its way. Confronting that it was there in the first place. But in the end, questions need to be answered one way or the other. And who better to help her work it out than Professor Mori?

So she steeled herself, folded her hands in front of her, and spoke.

"I have a patient… former patient, really, but…" Yumeno sighed. "I was her primary caretaker for several years, so I still feel a little like her doctor."

"You're attracted to her?" Professor Mori noted, gruff as ever.

"I—she's attracted to me," Yumeno confessed. "Looking back, I don't think she ever made much of a secret of it… But now that I'm not caring for her, she's… well, she's started dressing up."

"Got your number, did she?"

"Guess so," she shrugged. "I'm starting to think that… that maybe I am interested, just a little. But after being her doctor for so long, I'm still not entirely certain that this doesn't go against the spirit of the law somehow." Picking her fork up again, she poked at her spaghetti. "I just… need a second opinion."

"And you settled on the teacher you learned all this from?" Professor Mori took a sip of his water, examining the liquid under the light. "Well, you're pretty much the first girl who's asked my permission to fall in love."

"Professor!"

"Not even my own daughter. That… that one was rough." Giving the exasperated Yumeno a look of amusement, the professor chuckled. "This patient. What does she mean to you?"

Yumeno looked down at her lap. "Well… she's my friend. I helped her out of a bad place, and… honestly, I feel like she admires me a little overmuch for it. She can be a bit of a handful, once she gets it into her head to do something…"

"Not what I meant."

"Huh?"

"Spend time with her, Norihara-kun," Professor Mori, punctuating the sentence by jabbing his finger at her. "More than you are now. Try to get a feeling for what's between you."

"So, you're saying…"

"I'm saying that you have a chance at something good, girl. Don't leave it by the wayside."

Yumeno nodded quietly. They would probably come back to this topic later in dinner. The question was a difficult one, after all. But for the moment, just a little it of the roiling in her stomach had subsided.

So for now, she took a bite of her spaghetti.
-----

This one came out... short. Maybe I'll do something unscheduled a little later. As for scheduled next time, there's this character named Dana that I haven't done anything with since I created her.

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Something unscheduled happened.

You all remember Francine "Frankie" Linnet, right? The one new Select girl who takes a pacifistic approach? There, now I've told you. Here you go!
-----
Franky had become oddly comfortable with being guarded, as strange as it felt to say. Not the kind of guarded where she tried to draw a shell around her to block out the things that hurt, but the literal kind, with a Shipgirl following her around keeping watch for anything that would try to do her harm. After that night behind the convenience store, and as weird things had kept happening around her, she could understand why they would want to keep an eye on her.

She liked it best under the eyes of Hiei and Oboro. Hiei because she was the first friend that she'd made here in Japan. Oboro because she hadn't tried to offer up any words of empty condolence—just listened to her sorrows and held her up as she cried. There were other girls, who were around less or she didn't interact with as much, but those were the two she was the most comfortable with.

Having Mutsu walking along beside her, though, was an extremely novel experience.

"You're… sure you want to leave the babies alone with Hiei and Jane?" Franky attempted

The battleship shrugged. "I can take a little time away from them," she pointed out. "And Hiei and Jane can take perfectly good care of them. I hope."

Franky nodded, more to herself than anything. There was probably something more to Mutsu's decision than taking some time away from the kids. She probably would have brought them along if there weren't the danger of something crazy happening. Maybe it would come up in conversation…

"Anyways, I wanted to get to know you a little better," Mutsu continued. "You spend a lot of time around the girls, after all."

Ah. It came up.

Resting a hand on the railing, Franky examined the stairs leading up to her apartment thoughtfully. "What were you curious about?"

"Well, your father, for one thing. He was at the base when… that happened," Mutsu tapped her fingers together, "but other than that, I haven't really heard anything about him."

Oboro hadn't said anything? That… held an odd kind of relief. Like some vague celestial law was satisfied by their conversation being and remaining private.

"Well, he tends to be busy, so I can't say you'll be able to talk," Franky mused, starting up the steps, "but I guess we can see if he's home?"

"Lovely," Mutsu smiled. "Considered what you have to deal with regularly I'd expect him to at least be in better communication."

You'd expect that, Franky thought bitterly, hiding the way her mouth twisted by biting down on one of her fingers. Mutsu gave her an odd glance. "Well, like I said, he's busy," she laughed, and walked down the row of apartments, three doors away from the end—

She paused.

Turned around.

"Actually," she said brightly, "maybe we could talk about it over ice cream? I'd like some ice cream."

"Huh?" Mutsu asked, perplexed.

"Hey, I ironed things out with that club full of living musical instruments last night," Franky pointed out, trying to take the battleship's hand and guide her away from the apartment. "What did you call them? Something-gami? I'm gonna have to get all these yokai down—maybe you could help me with that?"

She pulled, and Mutsu didn't move. She pulled again. Not a budge.

Franky looked up at the battleship, and followed her gaze towards her apartment door. Specifically, to the sock that had been haphazardly stuffed into the door handle. Dad must have been trying something different tonight.

Something snapped.

Suddenly feeling the air go cold, Franky glanced back up at Mutsu. The battleship was smiling, calm, restrained, perfectly still, yet something. Something in the very core of Franky's being was absolutely certain that there was a giant fanged turtle snarling behind her.

Mutsu walked forward, quickly, firmly, pulled the sock out of its place and dropped it disdainfully, and wrenched the door open.
-----

I was going to write that forever ago, when I was better at things, but I just never got around to it. Here it is now.

Well what do you think, sirs?